Guaranteed Week at GF

[MarthaMouse]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, so please excuse me if I have done something incorrectly. I have 2 questions:

--I have resale February UY DVC points that have to be used before February, but am looking into buying the minimum amount of direct GF points in order to reserve a guaranteed week every year in January (paying cash, wanting to stay there often, December UY, so would be able to stay January 2014). Would I be able to use my other home resort's points that are about to expire to "pay" for that stay and save my VGF points for later in the year?

--OR should I just buy the minimum 100 VGF points direct and make it the same use year as my resale contract for added convenience (would still have home resort advantage), and possibly add some resale VGF points later?

--Sorry-3rd question: If I decide to do the guaranteed week in January, is 1st week in Adventure season a good time to be at the VGF? So far in looking ahead, I like that in many years, we would be there when Marathon weekend would be at the end of the week. *not that I would be running the marathon, but maybe the 5k or 10k! But just wanted to know if crowds are too crazy, or not. (I think the races that weekend are always start/finish at Epcot.)

Ok, that is all I've got.

Thanks, Martha

P.S. I fear that I will never have time to go on vacation, this board is addicting, but so much good information I never knew I needed!

 

[Msmithmd]

You cannot use the other resort's points to contribute to a fixed week reservation, at any resort where DVC offers fixed week.

If you want to use the other points to book VGF in January, check availability now. Although I'd be surprised if any is left as that's only five months out.

There is no increased flexibility with a basic point purchase. You could opt out of your fixed week and use those points any other week; at VGF or elsewhere, in any year you choose. The essence of the fixed week is guaranteed availability at a certain time every year. You pay extra for that advantage. But you don't lose flexibility if you go that way.

Buy VGF if that's for sure where you want to stay. Buy fixed week if you want to stay a specific week every year, and you're concerned it might be booked at the 11 month window. (First two weeks December and Christmas.). Otherwise fixed week is overpaying for a vacation you could book anyway.

Otherwise, I'd add on in same UY and resort where you already have points, by resale, and save a lot of money. Then see if you can book into other resorts at 7 month window.

You would save $5000-$10000 doing this on a 150 point purchase. But you might stay rarely if ever at VGF.

Is that worth $5-10k to you? Only you can decide.

 

[Missyrose]

You have to purchase a fixed week at VGF in order to have a fixed week at VGF. You can't use any of your current points toward that end. It's an entirely new purchase you have to make.

 

[MarthaMouse]

Thank you so much for the information. We decided to get the guaranteed week at VGF but moved it to a different week to make the UY the same. Have a great week!

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you so much for the information. We decided to get the guaranteed week at VGF but moved it to a different week to make the UY the same. Have a great week!

The week has nothing to do with the UY.

Bill

 

[tjkraz]

The week has nothing to do with the UY.

Bill

Not directly but buying a January Fixed Week and having the points assigned to a February Use Year isn't the most flexible combination.