1BR Villas?

[Mirabell Rose]

I like this! How do we get DVC to action on this?

Looking at the point chart.

Summer need to go down
Jan need to go up
Dec need to go up
Thanksgiving week need to go up
early feb need to go up
oct1-nov30 need to go up
Sep need to go up


What else need to come down?

AKV value and concierge villas need to increase. They did increase them some and lowered Savanah views to offset, but not enough so that they aren’t booked out and nearly impossible to get.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

AKV value and concierge villas need to increase. They did increase them some and lowered Savanah views to offset, but not enough so that they aren’t booked out and nearly impossible to get.

At least they are adjusting it

 

[Add-On-Itis]

We never go in the summer after our first miserable Sept trip but went in June 2 years ago for a dance school trip for my daughter and we were pleasantly surprised. We repeated it last year and it wasn't bad and we are going again this June. June is also our daughter's birthday month.
What helps is to set expectations and carry hats/umbrellas and cooling fans. Keeping yourself and kids hydrated and cool is key. We take breaks in the afternoon too.

We went in Sept too and find it fine. It was hot but we knew that going in. We had a good time. And booked again to go back in summer

 

[muppets3d]

AKV value and concierge villas need to increase. They did increase them some and lowered Savanah views to offset, but not enough so that they aren’t booked out and nearly impossible to get.

With only 5 concierge and 18 value rooms, it would not be possible to adjust them such to such an extent that they will be as easy to book as the other room types. Every owner at Jambo and Kidani can try to book those rooms, and there are not many of them.

When I did my DVC investigation trip I was trying to make an advance plan on where to go and when. They just made it really hard. But I was mainly trying to go to open tour times to not waste a guides time since I already have a guide.

They want the opportunity to at least offer you a sale, so yeah they don't really do open house type of showings very often. The only one I know of that is routinely available is the model cabin near Pioneer Hall, but they will probably still expect you to sign up for a tour to go in. Unless your guide is based in CA, you can book a time with your guide when you're visiting to look at the model rooms. We used to do that when we were visiting, and still do as new resorts come online. But he knows we don't plan to add on more points any time soon - but of course if we ever do, we'll call him.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

AKV value and concierge villas need to increase. They did increase them some and lowered Savanah views to offset, but not enough so that they aren’t booked out and nearly impossible to get.

I'm not sure they could adjust the points enough to impact availability! The real issue is there are so few of the rooms.

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

AKV value and concierge villas need to increase. They did increase them some and lowered Savanah views to offset, but not enough so that they aren’t booked out and nearly impossible to get.

Hoping that continues for 2028

 

[DonMacGregor]

Don’t have the lounge perk.

It's also a sales office (primarily), so ask them for a tour and they'll give you one.

 

[DonMacGregor]

why?

Because if they dump down the points charts too far during the times when the fewest members travel, just to match cash rates, they'll have to bump UP the months when people DO want to travel, in order to maintain the balanced chart. I'm fine with people spending too many points in July if it means I don't get hit with higher points January to early May.

 

[muppets3d]

Hoping that continues for 2028

If they increase the value rooms much more they might as well close that wing because they'd be too close to standard view points charts in my opinion.

 

[VGCgroupie]

With only 5 concierge and 18 value rooms, it would not be possible to adjust them such to such an extent that they will be as easy to book as the other room types. Every owner at Jambo and Kidani can try to book those rooms, and there are not many of them.



They want the opportunity to at least offer you a sale, so yeah they don't really do open house type of showings very often. The only one I know of that is routinely available is the model cabin near Pioneer Hall, but they will probably still expect you to sign up for a tour to go in. Unless your guide is based in CA, you can book a time with your guide when you're visiting to look at the model rooms. We used to do that when we were visiting, and still do as new resorts come online. But he knows we don't plan to add on more points any time soon - but of course if we ever do, we'll call him.

We did the tours at RIV, Poly, and the Cabins. It was just work to figure out the times/days. The times are limited and vary what day of the week they are done. My guide is not FL based.

 

[PolyRob]

With kids in school. Summer time is when we can go

so part of me hoping they make it cheaper

I think this is honestly part of why it may be have been balanced this way. Disney knows summer is a big time for families to visit. It doesn't need to add festivals or parties to encourage people to come to WDW. If bookings are slower outside of holidays it just discounts it more.

I think people used to feel much more confined by school schedules, but I don't think most parents think anything anymore about taking their kids out of school for a week.

This is very true. WDW is packed with kids daily and they aren't all on school breaks

 

[PolyRob]

Because if they dump down the points charts too far during the times when the fewest members travel, just to match cash rates, they'll have to bump UP the months when people DO want to travel, in order to maintain the balanced chart. I'm fine with people spending too many points in July if it means I don't get hit with higher points January to early May.

I'm not denying that I joked about being quiet for personal reasons. I don't travel in Jan or May. Mostly fall frenzy, December, and springtime. Not because of the points charts, because I like those seasons in WDW.

I do think making DVC resorts expensive in Jan would be problematic when you can't even use pools half the time based on weather and most undergo refurbishments. It's still an off time (outside of holidays) for WDW resort overall.

 

[WinterSolider]

I think this is honestly part of why it may be have been balanced this way. Disney knows summer is a big time for families to visit. It doesn't need to add festivals or parties to encourage people to come to WDW. If bookings are slower outside of holidays it just discounts it more.

That's why it started that way, but they're supposed to tinker and adjust as demand patterns evolve over time.

 

[PolyRob]

That's why it started that way, but they're supposed to tinker and adjust as demand patterns evolve over time.

Disney did do this in 2021/2022 so it is going based on demand, but it takes time because of the max reallocation. We also got the super cheap early May season out of this change which now fills instantly so I guess we're just moving the cheap season

 

[Mirabell Rose]

With only 5 concierge and 18 value rooms, it would not be possible to adjust them such to such an extent that they will be as easy to book as the other room types. Every owner at Jambo and Kidani can try to book those rooms, and there are not many of them.

They can get them to the point that they aren’t as popular and thus the AKV membership doesn’t care that they can’t get them. If value were only a few points less per day, there would be a few who still tried to grab them, but not near what there is today. Concierge would get to the point that few would value the benefits enough to pay the extra.

 

[muppets3d]

They can get them to the point that they aren’t as popular and thus the AKV membership doesn’t care that they can’t get them. If value were only a few points less per day, there would be a few who still tried to grab them, but not near what there is today. Concierge would get to the point that few would value the benefits enough to pay the extra.

If they aren't worth booking then what's the point?

 

[Genie+]

I once did every single room night at every single resort in every single room category for a year but that was almost 10 years ago so I'd love to see the data if you decide to do something. It's harder than it used to be because rack rates aren't published a year in advance like they used to be. You used to be able to pull a whole year of data right from Mouse Savers.

Aside from Studio > 2BR > 1BR, the only two things I remember standing out very vividly in terms of rack-rate-saved-per-point was that OKW and Boardwalk Standard View were way too cheap in points terms.

There’s another side to this though. What you can book at what cost at what time.

I couldn’t even find a cash 1BR villa at VGC for 4 or 5 nights, never mind discounted inventory. Even if, I doubt it would’ve neared the $500/nt it is costing me with VGF points. It’s 31pts/nt. 865sf! Three All Star rooms can fit inside lol. The only open GC 1BR inventory is hotel suites for $2k/nt. (Candy Cane Inn is $400/nt for one 265sf room, or $500 for 350sf)

Next week we checkin at VGF 1BR. Rack rate is $1600, or $35pp. It’s about $700/nt using my points. The best discounts might get it down to $1k/nt, and more likely discounted inventory will be Lake or TPV which tacks on another +$150/nt.

First night (Sat 4/18) we actually booked via a bounceback last Nov, BW view 1BR $770. Works out to almost $18pp. Very hard to come by though, especially if you need multiple nights. Oddly Std is only 1% cheaper

That’s the thing - too far out and no discounts yet, or dates too close and the best stuff is long gone. Depends on the room, dates you look, and for what date range.

I just looked up BLT 1BR late Oct, they want almost $1500/nt resort view. No discounts available, only free dining. Holy guacamole that is $45pp. Maybe the best discount gets that closer to $30pp. If/when it’s found.

Right now late summer is ~25% off Kidani = $750 Std or $850 Sav last week of Sept. Using points would save big money.

Cash is excellent for flexibility and no long term commitment.

The sweet part of DVC 1BR is very strong trading availability. It’s the better blend of exciting rooms and economicality.