For many, Christmas of 2008 will be like no other Christmas they have ever seen. Especially if you are one of those recently laid off by Wyndham, Marriott, or Blue Green. WFTV.com ran a story today announcing layoffs in the Orange County FL area. Wyndham laid off 300 more from their corporate office in Orange County and "168 people were laid off at the Marriott Vacation Club International ... and the Blue Green Time Share Corporation laid off 182 people in Orlando last month." (source)

A growing array of industries are feeling the impact of this economy. The vacation industry, travel and tourism, and entertainment seemed to trail manufacturing and retail in the timing of their slowdown. The timeshare industry has long been a very consistent part of many of the big hoteliers' portfolio. Sales of vacation ownerships have kept a strong interest because of the perceived (and real) value of their product. The ability to pay for years of vacations with today's dollars still makes sense - and probably always will.

This resilient industry will bounce back when optimism returns to the nation's economy. Until then, there are still some great deals to be found among the "top shelf" timeshare resorts when you buy them on the resale market.

Today, Holiday Inn Club Vacations goes online with their newest program. From their press release "Starting today, travelers who are seeking a richer vacation experience can rent vacation villas online at www.hiclubvacations.com, a dedicated website where consumers can book a spacious one-, two- or three-bedroom villa just like they would any Holiday Inn hotel room."

In addition, owners of Orange Lake Country Club will have benefits from the Holiday Inn franchise. Everyone will benefit: Orange Lake owners, Holiday Inn Club owners, and the general public. It will combine the availability of RCI resorts (4,000 resorts), Holiday Inn Club some 4,100 hotels, plus the direct availability of Orange Lake resorts.

Orange Lake Country Club has long been one of my favorites. Not only is it well located near all the Orlando attractions like Walt Disney World, Sea World, Epcot, and Universal Studios, but it has one of the most fabulous on site pool complexes in Florida. Orange Lake also happens to be one of our best selling timeshares on the resales market. So, you really can't go wrong with this improved owners' package of benefits - especially when you buy your timeshare at a discount.

Check out these deals on Orange Lake Country Club timeshares for sale by owners!

By the lake at Orange Lake Country Club, timeshare in Orlando Florida.

From the Orlando Sentinel comes this Disney (DVC) update: Sales have now begun for the newest Disney Vacation Club project: Bay Lake Tower. Entry level prices for the timeshares will begin at $18,000 making it the most expensive of any DVC timeshare resort. Disney's Bay Lake Tower will feature 300 timeshare units and be linked to the Contemporary Resort by a pedestrian bridge. Another appealing feature will be that it will be the first timeshare within walking distance to Disney Magic Kingdom.

Disney has begun their sales by targeting their 350,000 DVC members. They sent an email to their existing members announcing the sales with a link to a video on www.youtube.com. This video, Deevy See's Revealing Report, has had 59,000 views!  DVC got a lot of views - I wonder how many sales so far?

On the same day they launched their email campaign, our Disney Vacation Club video spiked with 380 views in one day.

So here comes yet another great addition to the DVC inventory - we will have to wait and see how this pans out with the current credit crunch going on.

Other stories related to Disney - Note to Self - Buy Disney Vacation Club Timeshares for Less! and Disney and Hawaii - Selling a Timeshare Dream

Here's how the Bay Lake Tower will look:

Just when you might think vacation travel is slowing down, Marriott announced it's plans to build Marriott's Lakeshore Reserve at Grand Lakes near Orlando Florida. According to www.finchannel.com "The 500-acre Grande Lakes campus is already home to a JW Marriott hotel and a Ritz-Carlton, the latter including a golf club and a spa. The resort is proposed to eventually include 340 villas and townhomes, with the first phase slated for occupancy by summer 2010." Terrific news for the Orlando area for sure!  Historically, the timeshare division has been the most steady performer for all of Marriott and, from the looks of it, they will continue to build more.

This news is also great for those who own a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare: more options!  But if you have come to the point where you feel the need to part ways with your Marriott Vacation Club timeshare, then check out the services of www.rpmls.com.  They have the size, systems, and experience to get your timeshare sold for you.

Check out these other Marriott timeshares for sale. Or, look at these Orlando area timeshares for sale. You will also find helpful guides for selling timeshare, buying timeshare, interactive maps, and more at www.rpmls.com.

More Details on Selling or Buying a Marriott Timeshare

One of the best known landmarks in the United States is Walt Disney World. Buying a timeshare in Orlando would be a wise thing to do if you plan on going to the Orlando/Kissimmee region often.  Why?  Over time, you would save thousands of dollars on lodging. In addition, your accommodations in a timeshare are much larger, nicer, and loaded with amenities that a hotel could never match.  Depending on the timeshare resort, you would have golf, swimming, entertainment, water sports, bus shuttles, and more. So it just makes sense. Plus, all the Disney attractions would be nearby.

"But what if I own a timeshare in Orlando Florida, and I want to sell it?"  Now is as good of a time as any to go ahead and get it in front of as many buyers as possible.  Enlist the help of timeshare professionals like those at www.rpmls.com to guide you through the process.  Selling your Orlando timeshare would make sense if you have come to a point where you no longer use it every year.  The timeshare maintenance fees will not just go away.

Some of the best selling timeshares in Orlando include those developed by Marriott, Westgate, and Sheraton. Also, Orange Lake Country Club has been one that has performed well on the timeshare resales market. Most of these will be close to Walt Disney World and offer far more than a hotel ever could.

Photo of Sheraton's Vistana Villages by the pool!

Recently Stroman Realty, Inc published a study on www.rpmls.com showing that Orange Lake Country Club timeshares in Orlando Florida was their 3rd best selling timeshare over the last five years.  Not too long ago, I stayed there on a family trip to Orlando.  One of the most popular features was the newly added water park and lazy river.  There were plenty of places to lounge by the massive pool, waterfalls, and children's play area.  This resort is spread over a large area, and offers a wide variety of accommodations and activities for all ages. Vacationers here enjoy 80 acre Orange Lake plus on shore amenities that include a 27-hole golf course, a huge tennis complex, an olympic size pool, miniature golf, whirlpool spa and a restaurant.  My favorite was jet skiing on Orange Lake!

A visit to the resort would be a good idea before making your decision to buy Orange Lake Country Club.  You will have many choices - villas, highrise, tennis units, golf villas, studio, one, two and three bedroom timeshare units!

If you want to sell Orange Lake Country Club timeshare, use www.rpmls.com.  Nuff said!

Check out these timeshare deals for Orange Lake Country Club timeshare in Orlando Florida!

Here's a video tour of Orange Lake Country Club timeshare in Orlando Florida:

The Hilton Grand Vacation Club Seaworld Orlando is in the top ten best sellers list published by Stroman Realty, Inc.  Over the years Hilton resorts, Orlando Florida, and the Seaworld Orlando attraction have developed significant followings.  All three of these are combined at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club Seaworld Orlando Florida timeshare.  So it is no surprise that it is wildly popular with those who want to buy a timeshare. Themed after a Bermuda seaside village, Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Sea World International Center offers comfort, privacy, and luxury right in the heart of Orlando's attractions.

If you want to sell your HGVClub Seaworld Orlando timeshare first make sure you understand your ownership rights. All too often someone will buy a timeshare and not understand what they actually own.  So before you advertise or convey to a buyer the details of your ownership, look over your purchase documents or deed.  If you have trouble understanding exactly what they describe, enlist the help of a Realtor who specializes in the timeshare resales market. Their knowledge will save you many headaches down the line. Also understand that the competition for timeshare sales in the Orlando area is fierce. There are hundred of thousands of unit weeks owned and for sale in the region.  And your home resort will not likely be much help if you want to sell.  Call on a professional for information and to get you started on the road to selling!

Seaworld Orlando's newest attraction: Aquatica Water Park, from www.attractionsmagazine.com:

First of all, you have made a terrific choice if you want quality, great location, and a good value.  Marriott timeshares are one of the top favorites among timeshare owners.  Orlando Florida is also one of the greatest destinations in the world because of Walt Disney World and the beautiful tropical surroundings.  There are so many things to do in Orlando: recreational opportunities like golf, swimming, Major League Baseball's spring training, Orlando Magic, and area attractions that your whole family will certainly enjoy.

The advantages of timeshare, compared to hotels, boil down to accommodation size and amenities.  You will get far more for your vacation dollars with a timeshare.  BUT, make certain you buy a Marriott Cypress Harbour timeshare on the resale market - saving thousands on your purchase.

And if you want to sell Marriott Cypress Harbor timeshare, take the time to see what www.rpmls.com has to offer you.  It just makes sense to use a professional service for a transaction of this size.  As an owner of a Marriott timeshare, you will be glad to know that Marriott timeshares are among the most sought after timeshares on the resale market!

Here's a beautiful poolside photo of Marriott's Cypress Harbour Resort timeshare in Orlando Florida:

Will my resort help me sell my Orlando timeshare?  Many owners have asked that question.  Eventually, timeshare owners come to the point of deciding to sell. Changes in family circumstances or just lack of usage lead many people to that selling decision. If you ask your timeshare resort to help you sell, you may not get much help.  For example the president of Westgate Resorts in Orlando said "Westgate doesn't offer a formal resale program. It's a conflict for developers, because they have their own inventory to sell. We tell people we won't sell it for you and we won't rent it for you. But if they have to sell, we say go to friends or neighbors or advertise it in the paper." (source) That certainly does not sound like much help.  The Orlando timeshare market has an aggressive sales and development climate.  That's a lot of competition. If you want to sell your Orlando timeshare, you will need a timeshare resales broker's help.  They can appeal to a wide buyers market and compete better with the developers with targeted advertising.

Rather than choosing a timeshare broker in Orlando, choose one that has national and international exposure and experience. The buyer for your Orlando timeshare will not be coming from Orlando. Take a look at the services this timeshare resales broker has to offer.  Don't wait for the resort to come and bail you out of a bad situation.

Sheraton Vistana Orlando is the best selling timeshare on the resale market according to a recent study.  This study encompassed thousands of timeshare resales transactions in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean over a five year period.  The age of the resort, the cycle of construction and sales, location, diverse price ranges, and high quality all contribute to this success. Not just any resort could compete as well among Orlando Florida timeshares.  There are a large number of fine resorts a timeshare buyer could choose from.  Most are located close to the Orlando attractions and offer quality amenities.

The properties available to purchase at Sheraton Vistana Orlando have a wide variety: age of the unit, size, sections within the resort, number of bedrooms, and price.  As a result, this resort has an appeal to the widest timeshare buyers market.  Thus, the success.  Newer resorts may be priced higher, have higher maintenance fees - although offering newer upgrades and facilities.

If you are asking yourself the question, "Should I sell my timeshare at Sheraton Vistana Orlando?" now may be the best time to do it. And if you are ready to buy timeshare in Orlando Florida, this resort would be one of the best values in the area.