Gatlinburg to Disney?

I can buy a Gatlinburg Town Square 2br lock out that floats for $1,200.00 or a Westgate Gatlinburg 1 br that floats for $1500.00. We like Gatlinburg, go there 2 or 3 times a year, and Orlando every other year. Would either one of these trade for Disney? If I can't get a Disney trader, I think we'll buy Fairfied points. Any advice or words of wisdom?

Thanks Jim

Either of these might trade for small Disney units in the off-season if they trade with II. If you need large units or prime time, I wouldn't count on. It would also be best to reserve the best weeks possible to increase your trading power.

If you want to go to Disney on a regular basis, it would probably be best just to buy DVC points. If you buy Fairfield, you'll probably want to buy enough points to get you into Bonnet Creek in the season you would normally go.

The Fairfield in Pigeon Forge is not as conveniently located as the other two resorts you mention. I'm not real fond of the Westgate location either, but it would depend on where you plan to spend your time.

If you want to use your units to trade into non-Disney Orlando resorts, either of the resorts you mention would do the trick, particularly if you reserve good weeks. We are Tree Tops owners and it trades very well.

Sheila

We stayed at Westgate Gatlinburg and really enjoyed the feeling of being in the woods. Our balcony was surrounded by trees. The 1 bedroom unit (not a grand one bedroom) was OK. Not as nice as Marriott's, but we most certainly would return to Westgate Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg Town Square, Sunterra's Bent Creek Golf Village, Tree Tops Resort, and Westgate Smoky Mountains are listed in our DVC Interval getaways brochures that Disney gave us as places we can trade to in Gatlinburg through II.

My parents own at Westgate Smoky Mountains and really love it. They like DVC, too, and bought some points recently with DVC. That way they can go to Disney when they want to and use the Westgate Smoky Mountains for Gatlinburg trips (which they love and have never traded).

If you want prime time or holidays with DVC (Disney), you really need to own some points with Disney and book early (11 month window at your home resort). I think it's mainly shoulder season when DVC shows up in II.

If you couldn't trade into a Disney unit, the Marriotts in Orlando are really nice. We stay at Marriott also (when we aren't staying on our DVC points).

The II listing through DVC is a listing of resorts members may TRY to trade in to. Those resorts do not have any advantage to trading in to DVC outside of the fact that they may be many of the nicer resorts in II. One can trade for a DVC studio or 1 BR about half the year. The chances of getting a larger unit or a resort other than Saratoga Springs or Old Key West are pretty slim.

Reddino, I'm not sure how difficult a trade into Disney really is. I just accepted a trade in Nov. 2006 for Old Key West. I wasn't sure I wanted that particular resort, so I went to the resort reviews. 5 of the 16 posted reviews were by exchangers who used an AC for their exchange!!

Thanks for the help. We go to Disney in October and we just need a 1 br. What to do? I'll have to make that decision, but I have great info to go on.

Thanks Jim

October is getting pretty busy at Disney with the Food and Wine Festival. You'd have a lot better chance in September or January, IMHO.

Sheila

Thanks Sheila,

Disney is busy all the time now. February was our time to go in the 90s, it was like we had the park to ourselves. Now that time is busy; we switched to Oct. and along came the Wine Fest. The crowd gets larger each year, but Lauren has fall break then so we have to go in Oct.
We stay at Star Island often and there is usually space late to get the gold (Fairfield) discount. We rent from a friend, but we can't always use his points. A 1 br with the gold discount at $5 a K is a great deal.
We want to buy a ts so that we don't beg from friends as much.

Thanks Jim

reddino said:

Thanks Sheila,

Disney is busy all the time now. February was our time to go in the 90s, it was like we had the park to ourselves. Now that time is busy; we switched to Oct. and along came the Wine Fest. The crowd gets larger each year, but Lauren has fall break then so we have to go in Oct.
We stay at Star Island often and there is usually space late to get the gold (Fairfield) discount. We rent from a friend, but we can't always use his points. A 1 br with the gold discount at $5 a K is a great deal.
We want to buy a ts so that we don't beg from friends as much.

Thanks Jim

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Busy or not for Disney does not necessarily translate to availability at DVC, or lack of. The first half of Dec is light for Disney but fairly busy for DVC. Jan and Sept are still the lightest for WDW and easiest to get in to DVC as well.

Im a Westgate Vacation Villa in Orlando owner. I have traded my 2 bedroom for the Vegas and Park City. I dont know if its possible to trade into Gatlinburg, but I would think so. You can get 2 bedrooms Westgate in Orlando pretty cheap on ebay. That way if you wanted to go to Disney you could always stay there or trade. It by no means compares to being on Disney but I dont go to Orlando just for the Mouse. Its just an option to add to your choices. If you want me to call Westgate as an owner I will.