Gf fixed week?

[icouldlivethere]

It's because of the fact that the dates that might fall outside the premier dates are Magic season for weeks 15 & 16 where for Xmas and NY's they are Dream or Adventure season plus the 10% increase.

I do understand that. What I don't understand is Easter could fall anytime from late March to mid April, yet weeks 7-14 take far fewer points than weeks 15 & 16 even though they are all dates within Magic Season. For example, a SV Studio takes 186 points during weeks 7-14 and 250 points during weeks 15 and 16. I believe Easter is just as likely to fall in weeks 13 & 14 as in weeks 15 & 16.

 

[Dean]

I do understand that. What I don't understand is Easter could fall anytime from late March to mid April, yet weeks 7-14 take far fewer points than weeks 15 & 16 even though they are all dates within Magic Season. For example, a SV Studio takes 186 points during weeks 7-14 and 250 points during weeks 15 and 16. I believe Easter is just as likely to fall in weeks 13 & 14 as in weeks 15 & 16.

First, there's no requirement that they take the points chart and make it exactly the same plus 10%, it's their BBQ, they can price it how they want. However, the difference you quote is related to the fact that the difference between Magic and Premier is quite large. I think you're having issues with the fact that Easter moves more than any other of the top holidays and that the points will vary more. Why not average the extra points for Easter over a broader number of weeks, I can only assume that their history on demand suggests that those weeks are the most demanded weeks in spite of the Easter dates. To me that makes some of the surrounding weeks a relative bargain for those where their travel is more related to Easter than the calendar itself. Just remember that the calendar dates for the weeks will also vary. Week 15 will start anywhere between the 9th and 15th of April. Given the complicated nature of how the Easter dates are determined, I do not know how well the timeshare calendar changes will track when Easter is but I'd guess is will somewhat.

 

[edith76]

I don't think it is Easter so much as this is Spring Break time. I don't mean in wild college break way... Our schools always had a week off during this time frame whether Easter fell in between or not.

 

[frank808]

After seeing the points charts I see that much of the basis of my question was incorrect as it was coming from the poster that seemed to say they had purchased a week 52 for 139 points and that the fixed weeks were discounted. I must have misunderstood what week they purchased.

So it seemed obvious in my head from that info to at least purchase a week 52 or some other discounted week if it was ever possible you might use it since you can cancel the week without any penalty at all. But I'm still surprised at the pricing and lack of "penalty" - ie you get points one for one if you cancel the week - so it still might make the most sense for a particular buyer who often visits in a popular week even if they thought they'd only go that specific week every 3-6 years and would cancel it for other times or resorts in other years. Or even more so for a new buyer with contract minimums although that brings up another question of what DVC will require from a new buyer if they want to purchase a week in a studio that would be 139 points but the minimum is 160? One of the lessons learned from the 2 years of point reallocations, and in a small part to the point change made at BLT prior to opening, a cushion can be a good thing and in the meantime they could work the fixed week nicely by using it in high cost years and cancelling and booking with points in other years when they want to go at other times. As I understand it Aulani's fixed week have what sounds like a true 10% upcharge and you don't have the 10% extra points to use when you cancel a week. The VGF only has a premium price if, as you mentioned, a person only ever used it for the week the purchased.

Overall it seems like DVC is missing an opportunity to maximize profits with this pricing model on the fixed weeks and by taking up to 35% of the rooms out of the pool at the most popular times (as I assume those are the ones that will sell the fixed weeks) the remainder of the VGF purchasers are losing as well with less availability.

I did see one post of a person that split a contract and still received the fixed week so that may not be given up - or may have happened by mistake.



Yes, it probably would be minimal but the savvy buyer could make it work out very well. And there were enough of those over the years who figured out how to maximize their purchase with Sun-Thur stays but it is a fixed number of weeks this would probably work with so probably not much if any impact. And I'd guess that some who buy are going to be just as apt to let the unit sit empty during years they can't make it.



This is along the line I was thinking although less so than when I thought week 52 (and perhaps others) were actually discounted at 139 points.

Your analysis is what put me over the edge to buy a fixed week at VGF. There is no penalty to turn the fixed week into regular points if we do not use the week. The 10% premium is only a premium when the week costs less in some years. Realized we could use the week in the years that cost more than the premium and turn in for points in the years that cost less to book. There was no penalty for buying a fixed week.

Also found out because I have a Dec UY and bought a fixed week 49 I would have until the first week of Dec to decide if I want to use my fixed week or not. Then I would have until the end of July to bank the points. So for 2013 Dec UY I can use my week 49 2013 Dec 8-15. If I cannot use it I have to call in by Nov 7 to cancel my guaranteed week and convert to unit to points. Then it is treated like any other Dec UY points as I know have until July 2014 to bank the points or to used the points by the end of Nov 2014. BTW my guide originally attached the guaranteed week to my June UY contract and that would have been a problem. I would have had to opt out of my fixed week 49 by the beginning of May about 7 months before check in. So get the UY closest to the fixed week that you are buying to get more flexibility.

The same person posted that a week 51 was 139 points also said they were able to split their fixed week contract. I was not able to do so. Maybe they did get fixed week 51 for 65 less points and was able to split the contract up. But I was not able to get either from my guide. YMMV

 

[tjkraz]

The 10% premium is only a premium when the week costs less in some years. Realized we could use the week in the years that cost more than the premium and turn in for points in the years that cost less to book.

If you average the cost over multiple years, you'll be paying a 10% premium over the long haul whenever the Guaranteed Week is kept.

Simplest example for Week 49 is a Standard View Studio. Even with the flexible calendar, the weekly cost in a SV Studio will always be the same because the point costs for Adventure and Choice seasons are identical.

Booking on points, Week 49 SV Studio will always be 125 points. The Guaranteed Week cost is 138. Those 13 extra points cost $1885 up front and $70+ annually in dues.

Other villas have a higher cost in Choice Season than Adventure, but Week 49 will never have more than 3 nights in Choice every 6-7 years. So the math doesn't change dramatically.

The question is whether the Guaranteed Week is necessary or not. Unless DVC has been completely negligent in not adjusting the point charts for early-December, I suspect those weeks are disproportionately popular amongst those of us who discuss such things on-line. On the forums, people make a big deal about visiting in early Dec, but I don't think the more casual owners are particularly drawn to those dates.

Reports of zero availability right at 11 months are rare (exceptions being small categories at larger resorts like AKV Concierge and BLT Theme Park View.) I'm not convinced that VGF will suddenly buck that trend, even with the impact of the Guaranteed Week offering.

Time will tell whether the Guaranteed Week ends up being a virtual necessity or an expensive way to save a phone call.