Orlando Timeshare

Disney will be offering timeshares at Animal Kingdom.

Walt Disney Vacation World in Orlando, Florida will soon be adding 458 new timeshare units to its Animal Kingdom Park. The timeshares will include new construction and renovated accommodations in part of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This means that members of the Disney Vacation Club will soon have a brand new option for timesharing.

The African themed décor of the new property will offer guests views of the open savannah-like area where animals roam freely in ways that replicate their natural habitats. Some of the timeshare units will be available as early as Fall 2007, with a full project completion date set for Spring 2009.

With the inclusion of the new vacation ownership venue at Animal Kingdom, members of the Disney Vacation Club will have their choice of eight Disney-branded timeshare properties. Disney Vacation Club timeshares include the beachside resort at Vero Beach, Florida; the golf and tennis resort at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; and the five other Orlando Magic Kingdom properties: Saratoga Spring Resort and Spa at Downtown Disney; the Old Key West Resort; the Villas at Wilderness Lodge; the Disney Beach Club Villas; and the Boardwalk Villas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urR9_UWyCJ8

Members can also exchange their points for vacations at resorts in other Disney parks, including Disneyland in California and Disney Paris, as well as exchanging through Interval International for more than 300 affiliate locations worldwide. Animal Kingdom is the largest Disney park and covers more than 500 acres.

The Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club in Orlando, Florida now has a new identity as the Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club. If that name already sounds familiar, it may be because Tempus Resorts International is simply renaming their flagship Orlando property to carry the name of their well-known golf course.

Roger Farwell, president and CEO of Tempus Resorts International Limited, says, “Our new brand is a perfect fit for our resort as it reflects the unique beauty and topography of our property and the quality vacation experience that we currently provide to our owners and guests, while lending opportunity to expand our property and services even further.”

When Farwell speaks of unique topography, he is talking about the fact that the Mystic Dunes golf course, and much of the overall property of the resort, has been built on some of the highest elevations in Florida. Where once two prehistoric oceans lapped at the sandbar that is now the Florida peninsula, the high sand ridge left behind in the center of the state represents the apex of the ancient beach. Perfect for golf, this land offers natural elevation changes not found in most other areas of the state. Likewise, because the soil is so high in sand content, when the semi-tropical rains fall during hurricane season (late May to mid-November) the high percolation rate of the sandy soil means the greens and fairways drain and dry quickly. Golf courses built along this ancient sand ridge are rarely unplayable because of standing water. No wonder people often liken Mystic Dunes to the sandy links land that buffers the fairways of so many famous British golf courses.

Along with the Gary Koch-designed golf course, the resort offers timeshare vacation owners at Mystic Dunes beautiful vistas of rolling hills, orange groves and native vegetation surrounding each timeshare condo. With the new identity, the timeshare company is expanding accommodations from 652 one, two, and three-bedroom timeshare condos to 717, as well as adding high speed internet access, DVD players and video-on-demand to every timeshare unit.

In the Central Florida Orlando-Kissimmee vacation destination area, Mystic Dunes offers a chance to savor the peace and quietude of the great outdoors, with the convenience of being less than three miles from the Walt Disney property.

Tempus ranks as one of Central Florida’s top 100 privately held companies according to the Golden 100 Rankings established by the Orlando Business Journal 2006. The resort itself has maintained a “5-Star Resort” ranking from Interval International since opening in 1998.

The rumor mill about new projects at Disney is always churning. But it probably doesn’t require inside connections or a crystal ball to predict that the next new development in Orlando will involve the vacant land on the west side of the theme park property.

In the Orlando-Kissimmee vacation destination of central Florida, the Disney folks have already given us the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom and a host of other entertainment venues including Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island. All of this fun and activity is surrounded by Disney’s themed hotels and the vacation villas (Disney timeshare) of the Disney Yacht and Beach Club, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, the Disney Beach Club Villas, the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, the Old Key West Resort, and the 450-plus new Disney World timeshare villas already under development at Animal Kingdom. But as we all know, enough is never enough at the “Happiest Place on Earth,” and no one really thought that Disney would sit on those hundreds and hundreds of acres of undeveloped land it currently owns.

So while there’s nothing official yet, we’ll take it as a big clue that the Walt Disney corporation was not likely to build a highway to nowhere. With traffic now moving on the four-lane road known as the Western Way, (which Disney kindly shouldered much of the bill to construct) many believe that new Disney development is imminent.

To put the location in perspective, the Walt Disney parks are situated south and west of the city of Orlando and the Orlando International Airport. They are west of the smaller city of Kissimmee. Everything around the parks and to the north or east toward Orlando and the airport is high-dollar real estate. While there is some budget-friendly lodging scattered throughout this area, most tourists looking for a Disney vacation without the big price tag currently head south and southwest of the parks. Along Highway 192, one can find a motel, hotel, timeshare deal or timeshare promotion. Vacation accommodations and fast food restaurants abound in a high-traffic triangle created by the Disney parks, Kissimmee and State Road 27.

Some forecasters say that Disney will construct a new theme park in this area and more accommodations in keeping with their other properties and Disney timeshare. Other sources speculate that they will go head to head with the budget properties that already surround the area, and build Disney timeshare units, economy hotel rooms, quick-serve restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and budget-conscious retailers.

Either way, here’s my prediction: whatever the people behind the Mouse decide, it will include more Disney timeshare resorts and Disney World timeshare vacation villas. Central Florida is consistently a top family-favorite vacation destination. With more timeshare units and timeshare promotion in Orlando than anywhere else in the world, vacation ownership in Central Florida is a proven triumph. Whether Disney goes upscale or budget-friendly, you can bet on the fact that future development in Orlando will prominently feature Disney World timeshare.

Most first-time timeshare owners buy their first timeshares in Orlando. Like any timeshare purchase, a buyer should consider the pros and cons before putting ink on a contract.

Florida has more timeshares than anywhere else in the world, and Orlando has the most timeshares out of any region in Florida. RCI and Interval International show a  combined total of about 100 timeshare resorts in the Orlando area. Though there is clearly a high density of resorts offering vacation ownership in this part of Florida, the demand for Orlando timeshares is so high that new resorts are being scheduled for development all the time. Within the industry, it is said that most first-time timeshare buyers choose to buy their first timeshares in, or near, Orlando.

This has a twofold effect. On one hand, this situation creates a wide variety of options for timeshare buyers to choose from. On the other hand, a high consumer demand creates plenty of opportunities for timeshare scammers to ply their nefarious trade.

Before you buy Orlando timeshares, here’s some timeshare advice.

-Orlando is a great place for a high-intensity vacation, but if you’re looking for peace, quiet, and relaxation, keep in mind that even during some low-demand weeks, Orlando is jumping with activity. Plan any Orlando timeshare purchase accordingly! (Of course, if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, you can get what you’re looking for and save a bundle if you buy time during Orlando’s slow season).

-In Orlando, the word “resort” can describe a wide range of different properties. Some have less-than-amenable amenities. Be sure that you know what you are getting before you buy.

-Anyone buying timeshare in Orlando is likely to be approached by people working for a resort development company. Sometimes these people offer cut-rate theme park tickets or other incentives -provided that the prospect attends a timeshare sales presentation.  While high-pressure sales pitches are frowned upon by ethical timeshare salespeople, the high demand for Orlando timeshares attracts a wide variety of people to the scene. Some of these will not hesitate to apply high pressure tactics to prospective buyers. Others are most certainly scammers. Investigating the resale market is almost always preferable. Due to the availability of inexpensive timeshares on the market, there are a lot of budget-friendly options available for the resale buyer. Also, when buying timeshare directly from an owner, a buyer doesn’t need to sit through a hard-sell presentation.

Though navigating the world of Orlando timeshares can be tricky, owning timeshare in Orlando can be immensely rewarding. The exchange value of Orlando properties is traditionally very favorable.  An Orlando timeshare purchase might be a smart move if you are buying timeshare for the exchange value. Location is another important consideration. There is so much to do in the Orlando area that a family could vacation here for twenty years and continually find new places to explore, or new activities to enjoy. As stated before, the sheer variety of options and amenities offered by resorts in Orlando allows a timeshare buyer to find the exact combination of amenities and facilities that he or she is looking for. Whether you are an avid golfer who wants a high-class resort with a first-rate course, or if you want to camp out under the stars at a wilderness retreat, Orlando probably has what you’re looking for. It may take some time to find the right resort, but in Orlando, chances are you’ll discover your ideal vacation spot.