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INTERCOT Insider
July
2005
- Edition One |
Brought to you by
INTERCOT's network of sites:
INTERCOT - Walt Disney World
Inside & Out
INTERCOT West - Disneyland Inside
& Out
INTERCOT's WebDisney - Guide to
Disney on the Internet
INTERCOT's MousehutMail - Free Web
Based Email
INTERCOT's Thrillride
Experience - Thrill Ride Parks & Attractions
<< Introduction >>
Those dog days of
summer are upon us, and boy is it hot! We’ve also entered the ‘05 hurricane
season and hope Mother Nature is kinder to us all this year. Everyone please
stay safe!
For now, let’s take a few cool minutes to enjoy the latest offerings of the
Insider. Grab a refreshing beverage, pull up a chair and relax, as you get
up-to-date on everything Disney World and everything INTERCOT. In this issue
we have the details on The Radisson
Resort's exciting Summer special. We'll also get to know our newest
sponsor, The Timeshare Store, much better. Casey fills
us in on Walt Disney World news and events, Ray gives us an INTERCOT tutorial, and Jane
brings us June’s Water Cooler happenings. Let’s get started!
<< Radisson
Resort Parkway Specials >>
The Radisson Resort
Parkway, located just minutes from Disney World, has announced even lower
rates! Rooms are available starting at $79.95 from July 27 through September
30, 2005.
The Radisson Resort Parkway is located on 20 acres of beautiful tropically
landscaped grounds, offers free shuttle service, Free High Speed Internet, 3
beautiful pools and KIDS EAT FREE.
Book A Trip Now!
<<
The Timeshare Store FAQs
>>
In our last
issue we introduced you to our newest sponsor, The Timeshare Store. They
offer the largest selection of Disney Vacation Club Resale’s anywhere. They
are also the number one Disney Vacation Club Reseller in the world. In this
issue their staff has compiled a list of frequently asked questions to
assist you in understanding the Disney Vacation Club, getting to know them
better and how they can help you with a DVC purchase.
Why should I buy Disney Vacation Club (DVC) timeshare through the
Timeshare Store?
The reason is simple....SAVINGS. On average, our customers save $5 to $10
per point when buying a resale rather than purchasing directly from Disney
Vacation Club. Also, the real estate interest (Membership) that you purchase
through The Timeshare Store is exactly the same as if you purchased directly
from DVC. You’ll even receive the same welcome package that includes your
Member ID Card, Member Handbook and Vacation Planner.
Will I receive the same treatment as DVC members who purchase direct
through Disney?
Absolutely. Our customers receive the same first rate treatment as those
members who purchased direct from the Disney Vacation Club. You will even
receive a new members kit directly from Disney.
How do I know how many DVC points to purchase?
The answer to this question really depends on your personal vacation habits.
There are a number of options available to you when you purchase an interest
in the Disney Vacation Club. Your points can be used at any DVC Resort (Old
Key West, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Hilton Head Island, Vero Beach Resorts,
Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs Resort).
You can also use
your points for member getaways through Interval International, which offers
timeshare resorts all over the world. Disney has recently added the Disney
Cruise Line to the long list of choices that DVC
members have.
Can I use my points to stay at resorts other than Walt Disney World?
Yes. Your Disney Vacation Club Membership allows you great flexibility to
enjoy resorts all over the world.
HOW LONG HAS THE TIMESHARE STORE BEEN IN BUSINESS?
The Timeshare Store sold it’s first Disney Vacation Club resale in 1993 and
had two employees. Today, we have five full-time licensed real estate
associates - Pat, Jerry, Jason, Kristie and Jamie - and 4 administrative
assistants - Leslie, Yamilin, Rose and Emily. You will never “talk to a
machine” when calling The Timeshare Store during business hours. We are open
7 days a week and pride ourselves in always being available to answer your
questions and present offers.
WHEN CAN I MAKE MY FIRST DVC RESERVATION?
About 7 days after closing. DVC enters you into the database as a DVC Member
and you may begin making reservations by calling Member Services at
1-800-800-9800.
WHAT DOES “USE YEAR” MEAN?
The use year is the month you receive your points each year. It has nothing
to do with when you can make your reservations, however. Example: If you
have a June use year, you can call Member Services in February (or even
earlier) to make a reservation for August. (You may book up to 11 months in
advance at your home resort and up to 7 months in advance at any of the
other Club locations.) Or, if you want to vacation before your use year
begins, you may borrow points from the upcoming allotment.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLOSE?
Approximately 7 weeks. After we receive both Buyer’s and Seller’s signed
contract, everything goes to Disney for ROFR (Right of First Refusal).
Disney has 30 days to review the contract and decide whether to exercise
their right or not. They generally make that decision in 3 weeks. Once
approved, Disney forwards everything to the title company and they prepare
final documents. After the final
documents have been executed and returned (along with the monies due from
the Buyer), the contract closes and Disney is notified of the transfer of
title.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY MEMBER ID CARD, NEW MEMBER HANDBOOK AND
VACATION PLANNER?
Approximately 30 days after closing. You do not need to have your ID card in
order to make a reservation, Member Services will look your name up
alphabetically.
CAN DVC MEMBERS HAVE MORE THAN ONE USE YEAR?
Yes. If you have the same use year for all of your packages, you will have
one ID card for all of them. If you have more than one use year, you will
receive an ID card for each one
DO I HAVE TO BUY A MINIMUM OF 150 POINTS?
Not when buying a resale from The Timeshare Store. You may purchase as few
as 25 points and Disney Vacation Club will consider you a Member with full
benefits. You will receive your ID card, New
DVC Member Handbook and Vacation Planner just as though you had purchased
150 points directly from DVC.
ARE THERE ANY HIDDEN COSTS WHEN BUYING A DVC RESALE?
No hidden costs. When you purchase a DVC resale through The Timeshare Store,
you will have your purchase price, closing costs and applicable Annual Dues.
That’s it.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT THE CLOSING COSTS WILL BE?
The closing costs average between $400 and $500 based on the purchase price.
Your agent can give you an exact amount on each of our listings.
ARE PRICES NEGOTIABLE?
Some Sellers are negotiable and some are firm at their asking price. We’ll
always be happy to present an offer for you. The agents at The Timeshare
Store will advise you if your offer is in danger of not
passing ROFR so you may make an informed decision about the price you’d like
us to present.
WHAT IS ROFR?
Right of First Refusal is the option Disney Vacation Club has to purchase
any resale package after a sales price has been agreed upon and a contract
has been drawn up. Each contract must be forwarded to DVC for review. If the
price is too low, Disney will step in and purchase the property themselves
at the terms agreed upon by the Seller and original Buyer. DVC then becomes
the Buyer.
DOES DISNEY EXERCISE ROFR VERY OFTEN?
Not if the Buyer presents a reasonable offer or asks The Timeshare Store for
advice before presenting an offer. Some Buyers are willing to “take a risk”
and make low bids just to see if they can sneak one through. For example, if
a Buyer wants to offer $76 per point for a Beach Club listing, the Timeshare
Store agent will advise that Buyer that the low price is going to raise a
red flag for DVC (even if the Seller is willing to accept that amount). When
and if DVC exercises their ROFR, the Buyer is notified immediately by The
Timeshare Store and their deposit is refunded in full.
IF DISNEY EXERCISES ROFR, CAN I COME BACK WITH A HIGHER BID?
No. Disney has advised us that once they have exercised their ROFR, the
bidding process is over.
HOW DO I KNOW HOW MANY YEARS ARE LEFT ON EACH LISTING?
All of the Vacation Club Resort listings except those at Saratoga Springs
end the same day - January 31, 2042 (Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Beach
Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Vero Beach Resort and Hilton Head
Resort.) Saratoga Springs memberships end on January 31, 2054.
IS FINANCING AVAILABLE?
Yes. The Timeshare Store works with Tammac Financial Corp. You may be
pre-approved for a loan by applying online at
http://www.tammacfinancial.com
or by phone at 1-800-640-6753.
AFTER I'VE BANKED MY POINTS, CAN I GET THEM BACK IF I DECIDE TO TAKE A
VACATION THIS YEAR?
Once points are banked, they cannot be returned to the current year.
However, if you decide to take a vacation after banking this year’s points,
you may always borrow up to 100% of next year’s allotment.
WHY DO SOME LISTINGS SAY “CANNOT CLOSE UNTIL XX/XX/2005”?
If a Member has an outstanding reservation, the sale cannot close
until that vacation has been taken or the Seller's reservation will be
cancelled when the deed is transferred to the Buyer. If the vacation is for
May 30th-June 6th, then the sale cannot close until June 6th but all of the
paperwork can be prepared, signed and ready prior to that. On June 6th, the
title company will close the sale, transfer title and notify DVC.
HOW MANY YEARS CAN I BANK MY POINTS?
Your points may be banked every year, but the same points cannot be banked
more than once. In other words, if you have a June use year and bank your
points from June 2005 into June 2006, those points may be used until the
last day of May, 2007. They cannot be banked again. However, the June 2006
points may be banked into June of 2007 and are good through May 31, 2008.
HOW CAN I ACCUMULATE POINTS FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS?
By banking and borrowing. Bank your 2005 points into 2006. In 2006, borrow
your points from 2007. You now have 3 years’ points available all at once.
The Timeshare Store
<< Disney World Events with DisneyWizard >>
With the heat of the summer comes another end of an attraction and some
welcomed discounts. After the Ice Station Cool closure and the announcement
of Tarzan Rocks closure it’s almost as if the events in Walt Disney World solely revolve
around closing attractions for the 50th Celebration. Luckily there is some
good news for those who use a Disney VISA credit card.
- Lucky the Dinosaur No Longer -
Fans expecting to see Lucky the Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom, advertised to
help kick off the 50th Happiest Celebration on Earth, will be sorely
disappointed to hear he will no longer appear at Walt Disney World past July
26th. Lucky’s last day, after a brief 3 month affair, is rumored to be due
to his transfer to Hong Kong.
“I was hoping he would be there for the whole Celebration.” –Here we go
again…
“Lucky was so much better than I thought he would be.” –Iago
“Both of our sons were convinced he was real and they wanted to take him
home with us.” –Momof2boys
- New Offers for Disney Visa cardholders -
Disney Visa cardholders will receive new discounts and benefits at Walt
Disney World effective immediately. Discounts on merchandise, park tours,
and an exclusive cardholder meet and greet with a Disney character are just
some of the benefits. Click
here for the complete post with more
information.
“It's about time they offered something for WDW!” –Spindrift
“It looks like a pretty good deal for the cardholders.” –disneymom2000
“It’s about time!” –BklynChick
<< Bytes and Pieces with TiggerRPh >>
Honey…where’s my super suit?
- Frozone (The Incredibles)
INTERCOT gets email everyday from members who have difficulty finding things
on the site. If you’re one of those, I’m here to help you find your way so
you can get the most out of the site. You really don’t need to be a super or
have super powers to find your way; you just need a good map. Yes, you
gentlemen out there….I know this word may be foreign to you…a map is kind of
like a set of directions…oops, another bad example…okay, a map is like a
guide so it’s easier to find where you’re going without having to ask
directions, and we all know us guys can’t and won’t ask for directions,
right? Alright then, I’m your tour guide and my name is Ray.
Let’s start out with the Front Page. When you come to INTERCOT, this page is what you see first. On this page you’ll find current
Walt Disney World News on the main part of the page. Along the right side of the page
you’ll see the five most current threads on the discussion boards. Along the
left side of the page you’ll find links to various places on INTERCOT, like
the Discussion Boards,
Insider Archives
, Theme Park Guides
such as for the Magic Kingdom,
Resort Guides, and Info
Central to name a few.
Along the very top you’ll see tabs for Disney World, Disneyland, Mousehut
and WebDisney. The Disney World tab is on top because that of course is
INTERCOT, where we currently are. The Disneyland tab
will take you to INTERCOT West, our sister site that has news and discussion
about everything Walt’s original park Disneyland and Disney California
Adventure, along with the hotels and Downtown Disney.
Mousehut
is INTERCOT’s free web based email service.
WebDisney is the definitive guide to Disney information & Disney web sites. WebDisney
currently has 791 sites in our online directory for your surfing pleasure!
Is everyone keeping up? Good…okay, let’s move on.
Now, as you can see (extending my arm and point as all good tour guides do),
we are on the Discussion Boards. Along the top you will see tabs News, Theme
Parks, Resorts, Info Central, IINTERCOT Shop, and Interactive. These are
essentially the same category tabs that were along the left side of the
Front Page.
INTERCOT's Info Central is
the place to learn more about the Most Magical Place On Earth. Here our
experts will help you plan your next vacation with this collection of
Frequently Asked Questions.
Along the left side of the Discussion Boards are links to our sponsors and
affiliates. Going to any of these sites and using their services helps
support INTERCOT and keeps the lights on and the server humming. There is
also a link to Site Search (INTERCOT Search) which combines the power of
INTERCOT's top rated content on Walt Disney World with the wealth of
knowledge shared by the INTERCOT Community in the Discussion Boards. There
is also a tab for INTERCOT’s Vacation Planner. This unique program will aid
you in planning the perfect vacation to Walt Disney World. It's like having
a smaller version of INTERCOT right there on your computer... complete with
links to the most popular sections of INTERCOT. The DVP is FREEWARE which
means there is no cost to download and use it.
Is everyone still with me? Good!
Before we end our tour, we’re going to go back to the Front Page and show
you something that you’ll be able to take home with you. If you glance under
the “Interactive” heading on the left you’ll find
INTERCOT Radio.
The new and improved INTERCOT Radio, features the sounds of the Disney Theme
Parks via two great radio stations programmed for your listening pleasure!
INTERCOT Radio features mainstream park and attraction fare, most of which
you should be familiar with if you have visited the parks. WebDisney Radio
(a premium service available to Live365.com subscribers only) goes even
deeper into the park music archives and even covers Disneyland Paris and
Tokyo Disneyland. There…a souvenir…everyone likes a souvenir, right?
Thank you for sticking with me on our little tour of INTERCOT. Again, my
name is Ray and I hope you enjoyed the tour. Have a magical rest of the day.
<<
Off Topic with ChipDale
>>
June…the school
year ends, we celebrated Father’s Day and the first day of summer. We had a
busy month in the INTERCOT Water Cooler – let’s get on with it!
Were you aware that June was both National Dairy Month and No Dairy Month?
Crazy, huh? Well, those are just some of the monthly June celebrations that
Lizzy shared with us. June was also National Candy Month, National Iced Tea
Month and National Accordion Awareness Month! Did you celebrate Flag Day on
June 14th? How about Donut Day on the 10th? And Upsy Daisy Day on June 8?
Every month Lizzy posts some crazy and not-so-crazy reasons to celebrate –
come check them out this month!
The INTERCOT Pixie Dust program for Sam concluded on June 15th and we’re
hopeful that it was a great success. The final tally for bracelets and
donations should be available in July. Thank you to all of our INTERCOTees
who donated for this extremely worthy cause! Now that little Sam’s
transplant is completed, we hope that he is on the way to permanent good
health!
Congratulations to SpecJoeMagic and Captain Brooke on their engagement!
They’re planning a December wedding with a Disney Cruise honeymoon. We’ll be
expecting trip reports! Best wishes to you, Joe & Brooke!
Congratulations to citizensnoopy for graduating summa cum laude from UCLA!
We’re proud of you, Brittany! And more congratulations to Edzter86 on your
high school graduation! Eddy, you’re the kid brother that we’ve watched grow
up at INTERCOT and we’re very proud of you – good luck!
Fridays just would be the same without INTERCOT’s official Party Hostess
Jamie. And this month’s parties got off to a fun start with the “Where’s
Jamie?” party. We got a small taste of what it would be like without her and
it wasn’t pretty! Jamie’s other June Friday parties included Hurricane Party
2005, the INTERCOT Father’s Day Festival, and the INTERCOT Start of Summer
Bash. Drop in the Water Cooler this Friday and find out what Jamie has in
store for you!
Special happy anniversary wishes go out to Nana (formerly known as
bradleysnana) on her 5th year at INTERCOT! Congratulations, Becky! INTERCOT
just wouldn’t be the same without you!
June birthday celebrations were held for: Goofy Forever, Horizon93,
kelley635815, dixiepixie, Goofy,Esq, Disney Doodle, Sylvia, mmdestin,
MickeyMoose15, KylesMom, CinderellyCinderelly, SgtTigger, TwoTinyWings,
Tinkerbell@heart, vic, DisneyBeth, TooGoofy (Dave), ChipnDaleGal,
Disneycrazed, angelagirl, LorrieP, buzznwoodysmom, Chrisx2, Patricia, AmBo,
WDWFanatic, alittle figment of your imagination, Disdude, Zawadi Bill,
MinnieMav, dvc4us4, Chickie, IluvDVC, RAIDER, Cinderelley, Goofy about
Disney, ccchild, Ms Mouse, MickeysGirl, leftear, Ronald milner, and
disneynarula. I hope that all of you enjoyed your special day!
June posting milestones were reached by: PolyGirl40 – 29,000 posts,
TiggerRPh – 27,000 posts, ChipnDaleGal – 13,000 posts, faline – 13,000
posts, MickeysGirl – 12,000 posts, Jeff – 11,000 posts, MauiMouse – 11,000
posts, vizsla – 8,000 posts, Patricia – 6,000 posts, Piglet822 – 5,000
posts, pdrlkr – 4,000 posts, DisneyDog –2,000 posts, Vacation Dad – 1,000
posts, Iago – 1,000 posts, Meag0728 – 1,000 posts, Googlie Bear – 900 posts,
threeh – 500 posts, Movieguy – 500 posts, Zawadi Bill – 500 posts,
sportsguy2315 – 200 posts, DisneyLuvnNooks – 100 posts. Congratulations to
all of you! Keep up the great posting!
That’s about it wraps it up for June – I hope everyone’s having a wonderful
summer!
<< Conclusion>>
We hope you’ve
enjoyed the latest INTERCOT Insider. Again, please continue sending your WDW
tips or memories to [email protected]. We'd love to share your
experiences with everyone in a future Insider. We also want to remind you to
check out the details for INTERCOT's
Happiest Gathering on Earth.
The three-day event, October 7-9, will bring together people from all over
the globe, to share and celebrate their common love of Walt Disney World and
we'd love for you to be a part of it.
We’ll be back later in the month with another mouth-watering dining review
from MickeysGirl and DrNigelC, more interesting trivia from WDWDriver, and
other great articles to help plan your dream vacation to the Happiest Place
on Earth! See you all on the boards!
<< INTERCOT Would Like To Thank>>
The INTERCOT Insider and INTERCOT.com
are supported by the following sponsors who in turn, help us bring the Magic
to you!
All Star
Vacation Homes
When you need a home away from home, look no further. From comfort to
luxury, All Star Vacation Homes has it all in four series of homes to fit
any taste and any budget just moments from the magic of Walt Disney World!
Website:
http://www.allstarvacationhomes.com?ovchn=OTHER&ovcpn=Listing+Sites&ovcrn=intercot&ovtac=AD
Happy Limo
Providing ground transportation to the entire state of Florida.
Website: http://www.quicksilver-tours.com
Magical Journeys
Magical Journeys is your Disney Vacation specialist. Start planning your
Vacation Discount Dreams today!
Website:
http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/
Official Ticket
Center
Walt Disney
World’s, Universal Studios and Sea World’s #1 guest service provider for the
last 3 years. The Official Ticket Center has been servicing vacationers for
more than 7 years now and sells tickets only, at a discount price.
Website:
http://www.officialticketcenter.com/default.aspx?affid=TC21LBC
Radisson Resort
Parkway
Right in the heart of action! Only 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World is an
oasis of ponds, beautiful landscaping, serene waterfalls and relaxing
options hiding in every corner.
Website:
http://orlando.guestselectresorts.com?pid=INTERCOTN
The Timeshare Store
The #1 Disney Vacation Club Reseller in the World. See how easy and
affordable it is to purchase your very own piece of the MAGIC!
Website: http://www.dvc-resales.com/
- - - - - - - - - -
The INTERCOT Insider
Copyright
© 1997-2005 Levelbest
Communications - All Rights Reserved
Comments or questions may be sent to
[email protected]
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