Shocking Report About Disney Experience Comes to Light: “Ultra Expensive DVC Timeshare on Steroids”

Recently, one more exclusive part of Walt Disney World that only select residents are allowed in, was exposed to be reminiscent of “DVC timeshares on steroids.”

The Walt Disney Company is known for being the mastermind behind some of the most incredible entertainment offerings in the world, be that through theme parks, films, cruises, and more. However, there are some experiences that Disney offers that are incredibly exclusive, namely, the Golden Oak Estates.

But while these estates are meant to come off as an aspirational Disney experience, one fan reported some interesting realities about buying a property with Golden Oak.

Related: Have a Few Million Dollars Lying Around? You Could Live on Disney World Property!

Fan Calls Out Golden Oak for Being “DVC Timeshare on Steroids”

Golden Oak, as many Disney fans know, is a “private gated community with multi-million dollar mansions with incredible amenities and high purchase prices.”  It has well established its presence with them, particularly for its infamous prices, and in how it allows guests to live just a stone’s through from Magic Kingdom Park, Disney World.

However, one thing that has become abundantly clear over the years is that Golden Oak comes with strings (thick purse strings).

One fan shared, “You don’t actually OWN [Disney’s Golden Oak mansions] forever, even after that massive mutli-million dollar price, monthly HOA of $2400, and heavy annual tax bill. You are deeded the property for 99 years, then after those years the property is delivered back to Disney.”

The fan drew the comparison to DVC timeshares that expire: “Much like DVC timeshares have a deed that expires after a set duration, these massive properties at Golden Oak perform the same exact way with a 99-year expiration.”

What are the Golden Oak Estates?

Disney’s Golden Oak is a residential community in Walt Disney World Resort that is home to some of the nation’s wealthiest. The homes were designed by the incredible Disney Imagineers from the one and only Walt Disney Imagineering.

To become a resident of Golden Oak, buyers must go through an application process. Membership for the Golden Oak community is exclusive and limited, to say the least. So much so that a pastor once tried stealing money to live there!

Read More: Pastor Attempted to Use Stolen Covid Relief Money to Buy Golden Oak Mansion

While Disney Imagineers certainly endeavor to make this Disney property as magical as possible, one cannot deny that the Golden Oak homes are simply not for everyone.

As many fans also noted in comments on the original post, “Almost $29k for an HOA per year is an insane price tag.”

Golden Oak Homeowner Speaks Out

This said, one Golden Oak homeowner contradicted the OP, and shared their experience buying a home on the property. They explained,

This information is wildly inaccurate. I own at Golden Oak, and I purchased the land outright.

Before selling property at Golden Oak, Disney had the foresight to deannex the land so that homeowners would not be able to take control of the two municipalities that encompass Walt Disney World: Bay Lake & Lake Buena Vista (Reedy Creek Improvement District/Central Florida Tourism Oversight District). Golden Oak is instead a part of Un-incorporated Orlando.

You can look at Orange County property records to verify.

All this said and done, Golden Oak certainly makes the other price issues guests have been noting about the Walt Disney World Resort—think theme park ticket prices, dining or otherwise—seem mild. Of course, with a Disney Park like Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the Disney resort isn’t exactly suffering—well, not too much anyway.