DCTraveler

Any other UE member having no luck with the new web-site that is supposed to show availability across both clubs? As far as I can see there is no reservation data at all for the Ultimate homes coming from the PE perspective.

willmyclubmakeit

I am glad I am not the only person having challenges. I have not been able to get onto even the old UR site so I presume the system modifications are being processed today and am unsure if we will actually see the availability right away or have to rely upon our representatives to let us know--you know the way system conversions happen at times. Patience I guess.

willmyclubmakeit

I can see some PE availabilty now...looks like the changes are in process

Desties

I guess that's what happens when nearly 1300 members hit the system at the same time!

Yes, I too did a double take when I noticed wide open availability on the UR properties. I was still able to put in two requests. My planner called me a little while later to let me know that one of the two was available.

This will obviously be corrected. I also hope the sparse property details get beefed up to PE standards. No photos, floor plans, member hints, etc. -- just a brief description of the place and the bedding arrangement.

Desties

One thing I noticed is that the Naples home is not in the system, oddly enough. There were three Naples properties. One in Elite. Two in Signature. One of the Sigs got moved to Premiere, but now even the one that was supposed to be in Sig isn't in the system (at least on the PE side) and the system just shows two (Elite and Premiere).

Kagehitokiri

if PE and UR dont have members forums, you should tell them to watch for bug discussion here.

Desties

The Signature home in Naples is definitely a bug. The Monteverde home went to Premiere but the Strada Bella home is still in Signature. However, it is not currently in the booking system on the PE engine's side. You CAN call or email your planner for availability-bookings on the property.

And in a case of bad news -- at least to me, with dreams of hitting that cool Orlando home in Reunion next Spring -- is that it's a lease that goes offline in December.

So Signature loses another home, after the six that went from Signature to Premiere this month. The availability looks pretty good across all of the remaining properties, and save for the Orlando home there is at least one Signature home in each of the destinations.

Is it just me or is Reunion just cursed? PE had a problem with the seasonal lease in Premiere and I'm guessing the proposed Platinum (now Signature) home from last year was never built.

I guess it's shocking because UE -- well, UR at least -- is based out of Orlando. One would think that they would have at least one showcase property in the area. And the way that the Central Florida housing market has been hit, a million or two can buy something pretty breathtaking in the area.

DestiFan

Luckily, booked Orlando for this year today. That was the one placce my wife mandated we had to get for Disney trip...makes ZERO sense that UE does not lock down 2 homes in area.

Quick question, I also reserved an Esperanza trip, but have no idea about the resort. I know Auberge does 1st class work, but have not been there although I have been to Cabo many times. Can a UR member, or others, tell me their thoughts on Esperanza?

Kagehitokiri

IIRC its second best regarded for service in the lux hotels forum on flyertalk, after las ventanas. there was some cabo discussion in NeilGoBlue's recent trip report in the A&K forum. ER also has properties at esperanza.

what kind of property(s) does UE signature have?

LTTravel

Don't know about UE's homes but Esperanza is very nice. Probably one of the top three resorts in Cabo (Las Ventanas and One and Only the other two). The beach is still not swimmable but the rooms are nice and the service is excellent. THere are several very nice pools and nice grounds with great ocean front (but not swimmable) beaches. An ocean view "room" goes for over $900 per night in season. UE signature I believe has 2 bedroom units and UE Elite, 3 bedroom. ER has 4 bedroom units. The food, however, is terribly overpriced.
I think you can't go wrong with Esperanza. Occasional celebrity spotting and I am sure you will like it.

I don't know if I agree about buying homes in Orlando, where rentals are so cheap and I think it is much better to stay on Disney property. A 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom at DVC, though smaller and less ornate than these homes, is right where the action is, especially if you are going to the parks. The perks are now better than every with early openings to parks and they now have a policy that a park or two will be open two hours later, only for those staying in Disney. I would only be off Disney if I weren't planning on going to Disney often.

Desties

The Disney resort experience is cool, but certainly not exclusive. Even when I stay on-site, I avoid the early moring or late closing resort access park more often than not because it's just too crowded. Having Fantasyland to yourself? Awesome. Having Fantasyland to thousands of resort guests? Not so awesome.

The last straw was a day I went to Animal Kingdom. The wait for Expedition: Everest during one of those resort-only nights was an hour, half the time I waited to go on the ride during regular hours.

And don't get me started on Disney's transportation system, unless you're staying on the monorail line. Have you ever caught a Disney bus after the park closes? It's a cattle call.

Still, I get the point. Orlando is also a lot like Vegas, in that DC properties may seem out of place given the amazing deals to be had in great hotel properties due to overcapacity. However, if a destination club wants to address the family market, and wants to be a one-stop vacation solution, it's nuts to not have at least a home there.

And the way the non-Disney attractions have evolved over the years (Sea World's Aquatica that opened two months ago, the Harry Potter park within Islands of Adventure that opens next year, Discovery Cove, Cypress Gardens re-opening three years ago, the rebirth of Universal Studios Florida with The Simpons, Busch Gardens a stone's throw away), it's hard to justify spending all of the time within Disney.

LTTravel

I agree with everything you said about Disney, but I think it is ten times worse when you are not on Disney. What is it now? $10 to park. and then a tram to a monorail and then you have to switch monorails and unless you are going to Magic Kingdom or Epcot, another bus.
I also agree that there is much more to do in Orlando than just Disney now. But I also try to stay at Universal when I am at Universal. There is nothing like those all day Fast Passes and being able to walk or take the boat to the parks.
So I think, and am sure most would agree, the place to stay depends on what you want to do. If you have a bunch of five year olds that want to go to Magic Kingdom every day, there is no place like staying at Disney. If you have teenagers who want to spend days at Universal, Hard Rock is a great choice. If you are going to play a little golf, a little tennis, check out a water park, maybe go to Disney just one day, and maybe Universal and Sea World one day, then yes, these large homes in Reunion are great. But do you see what some of these homes rent for? You can get some 3 BR's for $250 per night. Larger homes are certainly more. I guess for a club like UE, which is based out of Orlando, a home or two would be OK.
But either way, I think you guys will like the Esperanza.

<I think Ritz is building in Disney and perhaps there are some plans for DC's to purchase some of the Villas>

NeilGoBlue

Esperanza, Palmilla - one and only, and Las Ventanas are the three best that I saw, experienced, etc..

Kagehitokiri

in addition to the four seasons development?

LTTravel

My bad, you're right, 4-Seasons. I should have asked my son before posting that.