Quantcast
 
INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Mousehut Mail WebDisney News INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Guide
News Discussion Theme Parks Resorts Info Central Shop Interactive Podcast INTERCOT Navigtion
Quick Links
  discussion boards
  INTERCOT insider
  countdown timer
  RSS feeds
  insider archive
  site search

Discount Tickets
  official ticket ctr

News
  site search
  headlines
  past updates
  discussion boards
  email update

INTERCOT Other
  advertising
  sponsors
  link to us
  contact us
     
 

INTERCOT > Interactive > INTERCOT Insider Archive > July 2005

Intercot.com 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]

 

 
Social Media

Sponsored Links

Disney Community Discussion
New Page 1

Sponsored Links

Get INTERCOT's Free Newsletter

The INTERCOT Insider is a twice monthly email
update with tips and informative articles.
To subscribe, enter your email address:


Sponsored Links

 

 
Company
Advertising
Guest Relations
Community
Discussion Boards
Podcast
Newsletter
Shop
Social
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our newsletter:
INTERCOT Logo PRIVACY STATEMENT / DISCLAIMER | DISCUSSION BOARD RULES
© Since 1997 INTERCOT - a Levelbest Communications Website. This is not an official Disney website.
Levelbest Network Site