Timeshare Real Estate

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.

WorldMark, The Club, (owned by Trendwest Resorts, Inc.) has purchased Oakwood Mission Valley in San Diego, California. WorldMark will convert the apartment complex into San Diego timeshares.

The Mission Valley resort is less than five miles away from the current WorldMark San Diego Resort and is a 10-minute drive to Sea World San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, and other popular area attractions. It is located north of downtown San Diego and conveniently close to shops, restaurants, and a large mall.

Scheduled renovations call for the space to be converted into 58 one-bedroom timeshare units and 112 two-bedroom timeshare units, which are scheduled to reopen in 2008. Amenities will include an exercise facility, outdoor pool, spa, sauna, and a recreation center. Parking for the resort will include an underground, secured lot for guest use.

The 170-unit apartment complex is currently utilized as long and short-term rental apartments and corporate housing. The purchase price for the property was just under $33 million.

Hospitality industry giant Cendant will create Wyndham Worldwide, a new business entity

Cendant Corporation is expected to spin off Wyndham Worldwide during the third quarter of 2006, making Wyndham Worldwide the largest hospitability company in the world to offer a range of lodging products and services. The spin off will establish Wyndham Worldwide an independent, publicly traded company, with the following branded products: Wyndham®, Ramada®, Super 8®, Wingate Inn® and Days Inn®; the vacation exchange and rental businesses of RCI®, Novasol® and Landal GreenParks®, and the timeshare businesses, Fairfield® Resorts (FairShare Plus®) and Trendwest® Resorts (WorldMark®)

The company has mentioned no plans for merging the two timeshare giants, Fairfield and TrendWest. As Stephen P. Holmes, Cendant vice chairman explains, “Even as we adopt a new corporate brand to represent the sum of our hospitality businesses, we recognize the tremendous value and equity of each of our brands. Our commitment to our total brand portfolio remains just as strong, and we will continue to grow and enhance the presence of our brands within their respective market segments.”

Residents of the Cayman Islands and timeshare resorts there report minimal damage from Hurricane Emily, while Mexico’s Riviera Maya is hit hard.

Timeshare owners everywhere are following the course of Hurricane Emily, which is expected to hit the coastline of Central Mexico by the end of this week. Not only is this an issue of importance those who own timeshare in Mexico  at the beautiful timeshare resorts there, but it is also a matter of life and death to thousands of local residents in the path of this hurricane.

Early on Sunday, the Cayman Islands were the next group of islands in the path of Hurricane Emily. Fortunately, the storm was far enough offshore as to cause less damage than expected. Flooding, downed power lines, and fallen trees were common in many areas, but local authorities are confident that life will return to normal within the next few days. This comes as good news in an area that was mauled by Hurricane Ivan last year, which caused over 100 deaths and untold property damage.

Hurricane Emily is passing over the Yucatan Penninsula, and the initial reports indicate massive power outages across the Riviera Maya coastline. Many local schools served as makeshift shelters from the storm, housing tourists and local families while Emily raged outside. More than 60,000 tourists were evacuated from places like Tulum, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. The most dangerous part of the storm hit Cozumel directly. Cozumel sustained a severe battering from the pounding seas and high winds, which were able to break billboards and concrete utility poles in many areas. In Playa del Carmen, flooding was the major problem, with streets knee-deep in water. Cancun, already concerned over the erosion of its beaches, reported that Emily caused significant erosion damage to waterfront property. Though the number of resorts in this area has grown by leaps and bounds during the past decade, emergency facilities have been able to keep pace with the new demand. Adequate fresh water and food was provided to evacuees, and a system of busses was able to carry tourists to safety.

Belize reported high seas and some stormy conditions, but seems to have been largely unaffected by Emily. A hurricane watch is in effect for the southern Gulf Coast of Texas and a wide section of Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Emily should be over the warm waters of the Gulf tomorrow, and she is likely to increase in force.

If you are an owner at timeshare resorts in any areas which may have been affected by this hurricane, you are strongly advised to contact your home resort or management company as soon as possible.