All About Fixed Weeks (RIV/CCV/AUL/VGF/POLY/TOWER/VHD/FWC Charts)

[KAT4DISNEY]

We usually prefer travelling later in October or into November, but that Week 39 seems like a phenomenal deal.

I suppose there’s no real way to make it work with an October use year though since the week invariably straddles Sept 30 / Oct 1?

Since you mention phenomenal deal there's an fyi that when a fixed week crosses seasons like that week 39 DVC uses the average to calculate for the sale. That means that in a year or two of the cycle it will be less points to use the fixed week vs booking straight out but in other years it will be more to use the fixed week vs booking normally.

 

[emchen]

We usually prefer travelling later in October or into November, but that Week 39 seems like a phenomenal deal.

I suppose there’s no real way to make it work with an October use year though since the week invariably straddles Sept 30 / Oct 1?

You are referring to being able to bank points optimally if you had to cancel the following year ? Then true.

For FW39 in 2025, they use your Oct’25 points. For 2026 they use Oct’26 points.

It would be just a one month difference on the off chance you had to cancel before 4 months FW39. Instead of May, April to make your banking deadline.

I’m not the best at the Rule of 4s and UY details but that is my understanding.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Random, dumb question: is it possible to own multiple contracts of the same FW?

I own a W52 that I mostly use for SAP, am I prevented from buying other W52?

I asked our guide this when purchasing and he said there was nothing preventing purchasing 2 contracts for the same FW.

Makes sense to me, esp if typically traveling with multiple parties/larger family etc.

 

[Mikey15]

For FW39 in 2025, they use your Oct’25 points. For 2026 they use Oct’26 points.

Thank you both for the responses!

This part though, so even though the FW check-in is Sep 28, 2025 it’d use Oct2025 UY points instead of Oct2024? That’s interesting. I’m still confused as to all the implications!

 

[emchen]

phenomenal deal there's an fyi that when a fixed week crosses seasons like that week 39 DVC uses the average to calculate for the sale.

To add to your point, what makes PIT FW39 deal phenomenal is that the average they used to calculate for the sale was based on 2023 points chart where FW39 was completely within September.

As othes have posted about above, PIT is the most phenomenal but RIV (and VGF?) are also calculated with 2023 points charts and is still quite favorable.

 

[emchen]

I

Thank you both for the responses!

This part though, so even though the FW check-in is Sep 28, 2025 it’d use Oct2025 UY points instead of Oct2024? That’s interesting. I’m still confused as to all the implications!

Yes. I just purchased two days ago. Studio with TPV. My contract says 196 points and auto booking starts 2026.

I asked and received a welcome home booking for 2025 that costs 206 points. DVC pixie dusted me 10 points! Thats a delta of 28 points from the 2023 cost for FW39 minus 10% FW premium!!

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Since you mention phenomenal deal there's an fyi that when a fixed week crosses seasons like that week 39 DVC uses the average to calculate for the sale. That means that in a year or two of the cycle it will be less points to use the fixed week vs booking straight out but in other years it will be more to use the fixed week vs booking normally.

I forget which thread but for week 39 specifically someone did the calcs for the duration of the contract and there were only a handful of years when the FW owner wouldn’t come out ahead. (I guess this is also assuming they keep the season cutoffs the way the are now).

 

[JackosinDIS]

Since you mention phenomenal deal there's an fyi that when a fixed week crosses seasons like that week 39 DVC uses the average to calculate for the sale. That means that in a year or two of the cycle it will be less points to use the fixed week vs booking straight out but in other years it will be more to use the fixed week vs booking normally.

The great thing about the PIT FW is that it’s a net plus of 534 points for week 39 standard view studio!!

ETA - see posts 978 and 979 of this thread.

 

[Mikey15]

To add to your point, what makes PIT FW39 deal phenomenal is that the average they used to calculate for the sale was based on 2023 points chart where FW39 was completely within September.

As othes have posted about above, PIT is the most phenomenal but RIV (and VGF?) are also calculated with 2023 points charts and is still quite favorable.

Ahh. That 2023 connection makes a lot of sense. I also noticed that FW 47 at PIT, which usually includes Thanksgiving, is the same points as FW 40-46. The slight premium for Thanksgiving and the days either side is visible for FW 48 instead.

The only time Thanksgiving falls in FW48 in the next 10 years? 2029.
The last time Thanksgiving fell in FW48 instead of FW47? 2023.

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you both for the responses!

This part though, so even though the FW check-in is Sep 28, 2025 it’d use Oct2025 UY points instead of Oct2024? That’s interesting. I’m still confused as to all the implications!

I am not sure they’d let you buy with an Oct UY because it would need points from two UYs…2024 and 2025 for an overlapping week.

AFAIK, the rules for points are not different because it’s a FW.

 

[emchen]

I am not sure they’d let you buy with an Oct UY because it would need points from two UYs…2024 and 2025 for an overlapping week.

AFAIK, the rules for points are not different because it’s a FW.

Oh interesting. You are right. Didn’t think of that.

 

[emchen]

Here is a breakdown of yearly net points for a standard poly studio through 2065 using current point charts:
View attachment 895996

Can u breakdown for TPV deluxe studio?

 

[supercarrie]

Coming back to this thread just to thank all of you (especially @sethschroeder ) for the thorough info on fixed weeks. I'm in a couple DVC related Facebook groups, and the misinformation on fixed weeks is maddening. I saw a thread this afternoon where multiple people commented "don't buy a fixed week, you will be locked into that week forever" without understanding at all how they work.

On that note, I know there have been previous debates on whether a FW helps or hurts the likelihood of a resale contract sale. Based on this afternoon, it makes me wonder about the general knowledge level of the average DVC buyer around FWs. So many people confidently answering a question they are completely wrong on. I guess that's life now.

If you choose to sell, I think it would be prudent to make sure you list with a broker who understands how to communicate the flexibility of FWs in their listings.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

Can u breakdown for TPV deluxe studio?

PVB TP FW39 breakdown:

 

[WeIcomeHome]

Looks like the 10% premium on the higher points is a bigger deal than I previously thought for PIT TPV ST. It makes the FW Points neutral or better much less than the PIT SV and Riviera studios. But you can save up to 24 points on a week stay on good years. It may be worthwhile booking on points negative years based on how hard the rooms are to book but that is yet to be determined. The high points may make it easier to swap it out after it's booked if the FW is points negative.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

Coming back to this thread just to thank all of you (especially @sethschroeder ) for the thorough info on fixed weeks. I'm in a couple DVC related Facebook groups, and the misinformation on fixed weeks is maddening. I saw a thread this afternoon where multiple people commented "don't buy a fixed week, you will be locked into that week forever" without understanding at all how they work.

On that note, I know there have been previous debates on whether a FW helps or hurts the likelihood of a resale contract sale. Based on this afternoon, it makes me wonder about the general knowledge level of the average DVC buyer around FWs. So many people confidently answering a question they are completely wrong on. I guess that's life now.

If you go to resell, I think it would be prudent to make sure you list with a broker who understands how to communicate the flexibility of FWs in their listings.

This matches others' antidotes when purchasing resale FWs. Uninformed buyers may be scared off leaving a smaller pool of buyers interested in the contract.

 

[emchen]

PVB TP FW39 breakdown:
View attachment 923247

Awesome, bookmarked!

Looks like the 10% premium on the higher points is a bigger deal than I previously thought for PIT TPV ST. It makes the FW Points neutral or better much less than the PIT SV and Riviera studios. But you can save up to 24 points on a week stay on good years. It may be worthwhile booking on points negative years based on how hard the rooms are to book but that is yet to be determined. The high points may make it easier to swap it out after it's booked if the FW is points negative.
View attachment 923246

You are amazing, also bookmarked!

 

[emchen]

Looks like the 10% premium on the higher points is a bigger deal than I previously thought for PIT TPV ST. It makes the FW Points neutral or better much less than the PIT SV and Riviera studios. But you can save up to 24 points on a week stay on good years. It may be worthwhile booking on points negative years based on how hard the rooms are to book but that is yet to be determined. The high points may make it easier to swap it out after it's booked if the FW is points negative.
View attachment 923246

PVB TP FW39 breakdown:
View attachment 923247

Ya know...beats being points-negative 100% of the years! Further, your good work makes it possible for owners to easily anticipate years where the contract is points-negative.

Also, I'm gonna stalk new declarations to pick up a SV soon!

We unfortunately missed the 12/10 declaration by a day (early). My guide didn't bird-dog it either (it coincided with his weekend) and when he checked inventory on the 12th at my request, the only studio FW39 available was TPV.

 

[sethschroeder]

Coming back to this thread just to thank all of you (especially @sethschroeder ) for the thorough info on fixed weeks. I'm in a couple DVC related Facebook groups, and the misinformation on fixed weeks is maddening. I saw a thread this afternoon where multiple people commented "don't buy a fixed week, you will be locked into that week forever" without understanding at all how they work.

On that note, I know there have been previous debates on whether a FW helps or hurts the likelihood of a resale contract sale. Based on this afternoon, it makes me wonder about the general knowledge level of the average DVC buyer around FWs. So many people confidently answering a question they are completely wrong on. I guess that's life now.

If you choose to sell, I think it would be prudent to make sure you list with a broker who understands how to communicate the flexibility of FWs in their listings.

The benefit of AI is that it will remove some of the general questions from locations like that.

Additionally I would say a couple extra things:
1) You only need a single buyer who sees value in your week
2) FW is a hedge in case of availability issues for people who have resale restrictions
3) It could always possibly be listed as a normal contract and then clarified after the offer

As you said the broker might be important in the sales process. Honestly I think it might be helpful if a broker wouldn't call it a fixed week and instead an optional week.

 

[Sandisw]

The benefit of AI is that it will remove some of the general questions from locations like that.

Additionally I would say a couple extra things:
1) You only need a single buyer who sees value in your week
2) FW is a hedge in case of availability issues for people who have resale restrictions
3) It could always possibly be listed as a normal contract and then clarified after the offer

As you said the broker might be important in the sales process. Honestly I think it might be helpful if a broker wouldn't call it a fixed week and instead an optional week.

Could be why DVC now calls them Favorite Week? It does give a different impression