Who is buying a fixed week at VGF

[DVC Dude]

I am curious who is buying fixed weeks at VGF and what week and room type are they buying.

It is very tempting to consider these as it appears that certain rooms like Studio lake room are difficult to get and a fixed week eliminates all uncertainty.

However, 50 years is a long time to commit to one week and one room type. Yes I know you can convert into points, but you pay a premium to buy and in yearly annual dues.

 

[DVC Dude]

The Number 1 benefit is a guaranteed week and room for next 50 years without worrying about not getting your week

I see the problems as:
10% increase in initial cost
10% increase in annual dues
locked into same week for 50 years
locked into the same room type for 50 years
Not good for rest of VGF owners as there will be less availability

I also wonder how these will sell on the resale market

I see that there are only 2 Grand Villas for Christmas and New year. Someone with deep pockets will enjoy that bad boy for a long time.

 

[DVC Dude]

Least expensive weeks to fix: Weeks 1-3, 36-38, 49

Studio lake is 163 points = $24,450

Grand Villa is 906 points = $135,900

*********************************

Most expensive weeks to fix: Weeks 15-16

Studio lake is 298 points = $44,700

Grand Villa is 1561 points = $234,150

 

[disneynutz]

The Number 1 benefit is a guaranteed week and room for next 50 years without worrying about not getting your week

I see the problems as:
10% increase in initial cost
10% increase in annual dues
locked into same week for 50 years
locked into the same room type for 50 years
Not good for rest of VGF owners as there will be less availability

I also wonder how these will sell on the resale market

I see that there are only 2 Grand Villas for Christmas and New year. Someone with deep pockets will enjoy that bad boy for a long time.

There isn't a cost increase in cost, you get 10% more points.

You can cancel the fixed week each year and use the points at VGF for any room at 11 months or somewhere else at 7.

IMO fixed weeks in December will sell at a premium on the resale market.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

IMO fixed weeks in December will sell at a premium on the resale market.

question: what happens to a fixed Dec week if they reallocate point charts to make Dec more expensive?

 

[dmunsil]

question: what happens to a fixed Dec week if they reallocate point charts to make Dec more expensive?

The fixed weeks are guaranteed, so it wouldn't change that aspect of your deed. You wouldn't get any more points, though.

A fixed week deed is just a normal deed for a certain number of points, with an additional right to stay for a specific week each year; you're guaranteed that week until the expiration date, or you can use your points each year for some other reservation.

 

[EEGRAM]

I bought a standard studio for week 48. This is my favorite time of the year to visit so now I am ensured a week at this time without the stress/hassle of booking windows, walking reservations etc. Realistically, I probably will not use this week every year and may not use it every other year, but I know it is there and the points will not go to waste.
I actually think it will be more valuable on the resale market because of the time of year and lower points cost studio accomodations which are a premium at the VGF.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

If this were some other timeshare I would say buying a fixed week is not so good as your travel habits can change dramatically over the years. With VGF, if you can exchange it for regular points at any time then I think it could be a good idea. I am not sure the extra cost is worth it though. We did buy at VGF but didn't even look at a fixed week because our son is getting to college now and who knows what our schedule will be even next year. If you know for sure what you want you have to weigh the extra cost.

 

[lovin'fl]

I still want week 43 in a studio...which is this week. But I don't really want VGF. I wonder if Poly will sell fixed weeks?

 

[DVC Dude]

I still want week 43 in a studio...which is this week. But I don't really want VGF. I wonder if Poly will sell fixed weeks?

I would bet DVC Poly WILL offer fixed weeks.

 

[wdrl]

I see the problems as:

Not good for rest of VGF owners as there will be less availability

This is somewhat of a misperception. Actually, the more that Fixed Weeks are used, the more availability there will be for other DVC members. When Fixed Week owners use their Fixed Weeks, they only use 90% of their points. That leaves 10% of their points unused each Use Year. Since the Fixed Week owners can't use those points to book accommodations, those accommodations will become available to other VGF owners and DVC members.

So far, VGF Fixed Week sales are accounting for just over 9% of sales. If Fixed Week sales continue at that pace, then there could be over 22,000 points' worth of accommodations each Use Year that are unused by Fixed Week owners.

 

[drusba]

The advantage of a fixed week is that you get the comfort of automatically having your reservation for about the same time annually without having to do anything. Beyond that I see no necessity since you can reserve 11 months out otherwise, and see only downsides such as: the higher percentage of dues because of the unused point premium; the fact that you really cannot get the exact desired holiday week annually that you may want because the date when the fixed week begins changes annually and holidays like Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving change dates annually; and you cannot play annual pass tag, where you use one annual pass for a trip that begins at the beginning of the pass and a second trip that ends on the end date of the pass.

Now, if it also came with all your restaurant reservations guaranteed annually...

 

[disneynutz]

The advantage of a fixed week is that you get the comfort of automatically having your reservation for about the same time annually without having to do anything. Beyond that I see no necessity since you can reserve 11 months out otherwise, and see only downsides such as: the higher percentage of dues because of the unused point premium; the fact that you really cannot get the exact desired holiday week annually that you may want because the date when the fixed week begins changes annually and holidays like Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving change dates annually; and you cannot play annual pass tag, where you use one annual pass for a trip that begins at the beginning of the pass and a second trip that ends on the end date of the pass.

Now, if it also came with all your restaurant reservations guaranteed annually...

I see it as insurance. A guaranteed room size and view without having to make sure that you are on your computer or phone at 11 months. If you are, check availability, cancel the fixed week and use the points to book manually. There are only around 18 studio and 18 one bedroom lake view rooms and there will be 10,000 plus owners.

Bill

 

[Dean]

IMO, if one is going to buy VGF and around the number of points that would fit, I see NO downside to buying a fixed week and a lot of upside. Put another way, it makes no sense not to get the option if you've buying around that many points anyway. The only downside I can think of is that it may not be possible to break it down into smaller groups of points for those that want this option.

 

[DVC Sue]

I would have definitely bought a fixed week, but my guide didn't tell me about it. Instead, I bought 150 points. I think it would have been great to have a guaranteed week that I could trade in if I wanted.