ThemeParkTourist.com has published an article that discusses the beginnings of the Disney Vacation Club.
This, of course, caught my interest, since I have spent some time of my own investigating this subject matter, as evidenced by my own history of the Disney Vacation Club article here on DVCInfo.com
Generally, the ThemeParkTourist piece is a very good article and deserves a read if, like me, you find the topic interesting.
The only issue I had (which is very minor) is that the article seems to imply that it was Disney who invented the points-based system.
This is not strictly true.
The points-based timeshare system Disney used was not invented by them, but actually dates back to “the Father of Timeshare”, Dr. Guido Renggli. In 1963, Dr. Renggli and German developer Alexander Nette co-founded Hapimag, which started selling timeshares in Europe. Hapimag was the first timeshare operator in the world and is by far the largest in Europe. It was Dr. Renggli who first pioneered the points system.
Vacation Internationale introduced the points system in the US in the mid-1970’s, beginning in Hawaii. Trendiest Resorts, based in the state of Washington, was the first timeshare company to only sell a points-based timeshare.
Disney patterned its system on these models. So, Disney’s version was more of an evolution of an existing model than a revolutionary new model.
Thanks to DVCInfo discussion forum member Spavins for pointing out the article in our forums.