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

[ark101]

If you were already an owner, your minimum was 50. That really doesn’t make sense.

It was just new buyers that were dropped from 150 to 100.

Agreed. I did end up buying multiple contracts 50 points each. Maybe I am misremembering. I was relatively new to DVC and just accepted what the guide told me then. Didn't pursue a FW after that.

 

[PolyRob]

IIRC, the minimum buy-in for new buyers used to be 150, but has been dropped to 100. Would that explain it?

This is what I was told by my guide even though I was already a member.

I remember VGF/Big Pine Key did not show FWs or sell them under 150 points when the Feb 2022 chart was released and it initially went on sale, but DVC refreshed the charts in spring 2023 around when VDH went on sale dropping the new member threshold to 100 points. I even posted about it this thread. These were the screenshots:





Spring 2023 is when RIV Tower Studio FWs opened up and showed on the chart. IIRC @intamin almost bought a FW in a tower studio summer/fall 2023?

 

[intamin]

This is what I was told by my guide even though I was already a member.

I remember VGF/Big Pine Key did not show FWs or sell them under 150 points when the Feb 2022 chart was released and it initially went on sale, but DVC refreshed the charts in spring 2023 around when VDH went on sale dropping the new member threshold to 100 points. I even posted about it this thread. These were the screenshots:

View attachment 986628

View attachment 986629

Spring 2023 is when RIV Tower Studio FWs opened up and showed on the chart. IIRC @intamin almost bought a FW in a tower studio summer/fall 2023?

I did almost buy one around that time but opted for a standard studio instead because I figured my family would be more likely to use that insteadm

 

[Mouseforward]

I did almost buy one around that time but opted for a standard studio instead because I figured my family would be more likely to use that insteadm

I made the same call as a frequent solo traveler- duo studios are IMO a 1-2 night thing not a week

 

[E2ME2]

Is there a list of Riviera fixed weeks sold? I would consider a 1 or second week in May SV studio fixed week for my add on so when BWV is done I still have my May week. I wonder if one is available.

Yeah, I could call a guide but I want to wait for my poly sale to close before I start with a new guide.

My old guide abandoned me and had not reached out in 4 years since the initial purchase even when I paid off my loans.... not the best salesman. Looking to find a new one.

My original Guide retired, and the replacement Guide was "OK" - but we met a new Guide at the Disney Springs Member Lounge last year, and we are very happy with her. PM me, and I will give you her info..............

 

[CanadianDVC2024]

This is what I was told by my guide even though I was already a member.

I remember VGF/Big Pine Key did not show FWs or sell them under 150 points when the Feb 2022 chart was released and it initially went on sale, but DVC refreshed the charts in spring 2023 around when VDH went on sale dropping the new member threshold to 100 points. I even posted about it this thread. These were the screenshots:

View attachment 986628

View attachment 986629

Spring 2023 is when RIV Tower Studio FWs opened up and showed on the chart. IIRC @intamin almost bought a FW in a tower studio summer/fall 2023?

I own a resale fixed week 47 at VGF and it’s only 158 points. It looks like the original owner purchased their fixed week in 2014. Did the point charts change since then?

 

[Mouseforward]

My original Guide retired, and the replacement Guide was "OK" - but we met a new Guide at the Disney Springs Member Lounge last year, and we are very happy with her. PM me, and I will give you her info..............

Thanks, I used a guide recommended by @VGCgroupie and got a week 49 SV studio at RiV, plus he sold me the first 25 point contract for RIV he has ever written. I was happy with him, he gave me availability on 4 weeks in a few min and got an approval to bundle the 25 point into the 135 point without making me pay cash for the 25 point which is not always allowed.

 

[PolyRob]

I own a resale fixed week 47 at VGF and it’s only 158 points. It looks like the original owner purchased their fixed week in 2014. Did the point charts change since then?

Yes, that's the beauty of the Favorite Week. You're shielded to changes in points charts.

The seasons have adjusted over the years, but week 47 in particular was a steal for awhile because the points needed were calculated based on Thanksgiving falling in week 46 which actually happens much less frequently. DVC eventually realized and updated it across the charts.

 

[byurick]

I attempted to search for this answer but failed. Let's say I have a FW (Sun-Sun) but really only want to stay Sun-Fri. Do I need to cancel the automatically booked week and rebook my new dates (potentially losing out on my reservation) or are you able to modify the FW booking to remove the extra days?

The Field Guide seems to suggest you can change your reservation and receive back the leftover points but it doesn't really go into detail about it.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I attempted to search for this answer but failed. Let's say I have a FW (Sun-Sun) but really only want to stay Sun-Fri. Do I need to cancel the automatically booked week and rebook my new dates (potentially losing out on my reservation) or are you able to modify the FW booking to remove the extra days?

The Field Guide seems to suggest you can change your reservation and receive back the leftover points but it doesn't really go into detail about it.

Sadly, you have to cancel - so there’s no guarantee you will get the part of your reservation you want - at least this is what I have been told by MS.

 

[byurick]

Thanks @Sprinkles&Sprints

This is the relevant passage just for reference:

Members have the option to stay for a whole week, and those with vacation reservations of less than seven days will receive some points back. Points are calculated by finding the difference between the vacation points allocated to the guaranteed contract and the points required from the current point schedule for the accommodation for those days. For instance, if a guaranteed contract has 175 points for a week's stay, and a member stays only five days, and the five-day calculation is 125 points, then thevdifference of 50 points will be refunded to the member's account

 

[Brian Noble]

You cannot modify the dates, unit size, or view category of an automatically-booked fixed week in any way. If you only want five of the seven days you either cancel and rebook, or check out early and use the extra points. Here is the relevant passage from the Home Resort Rules:

4. Once the Guaranteed Reservation is booked for a Club Member, no changes may be made to the Guaranteed Reservation except for changes as to party mix and guest names. However, Guaranteed Reservations for a special event reserved with a Special Event Right allow for some modifications.

The exception about Special Event Rights, as far as I know, only apply to the runDisney weeks that are no longer being sold. Because those races typically include a Sunday, you would (a) automatically be booked the Sunday-to-Sunday ending on race weekend, and (b) can drop beginning days to book days after the end once the 11-month window opens, similar to how walking happens.

I suspect that the potential for shifted race weeks to partially overlap with non-race weeks is one reason why they don't sell the race weeks anymore.

 

[Brian Noble]

The Home Resort Rules and Regulations have all of the details.
https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...Resort-Rules-and-Regulations-(120224)_cl_.pdf

 

[byurick]

OK yep you're right, I think the Field Guide is really talking about the Special Event Rights but fails to mention that in the passage about modifying.

 

[Brian Noble]

It is worth remembering that the Field Guide is not a Disney publication. It is very helpful, but it does not govern.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

You cannot modify the dates, unit size, or view category of an automatically-booked fixed week in any way. If you only want five of the seven days you either cancel and rebook, or check out early and use the extra points. Here is the relevant passage from the Home Resort Rules:



The exception about Special Event Rights, as far as I know, only apply to the runDisney weeks that are no longer being sold. Because those races typically include a Sunday, you would (a) automatically be booked the Sunday-to-Sunday ending on race weekend, and (b) can drop beginning days to book days after the end once the 11-month window opens, similar to how walking happens.

I suspect that the potential for shifted race weeks to partially overlap with non-race weeks is one reason why they don't sell the race weeks anymore.

Yes, the Sunday-Sunday checkin/checkout doesn't necessarily work so well for runDisney events. The longest race is usually on a Sunday morning, and I wouldn't count on finishing the race, getting back to your room, getting cleaned up, and leaving before normal check-out time. And even if you did, you'd miss the post-race party that is typically at night on the same day as the last race.

Also, they don't always announce the race dates 11+ months in advance, so they may run into booking conflicts with owners who booked at 11 months. I can understand the headaches involved, and I'm not surprised that they don't offer them anymore.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

If you check out early, say two days, do those points go into holding status?

 

[jennypenny]

They are under no obligation to give you the points at all. In my three experiences leaving a day or two early, they have (1) done nothing, points were gone (2) put the points I didn't use into holding, and (3) put the points I didn't use back into my account without restrictions (this was during the covid era though so they were being extra nice about things then).

This year we took the chance and cancelled the fixed week to book the full weekend and did not get the room we wanted. We did get a room, but it was more points so we are staying fewer nights.

At this point, I'd rather view the fixed week as a sunk cost and stay as long as we can, regardless of whether we lose a night or two. It's still fewer points out of my account than upgrading my room, and previous point reallocations for November have made my fixed week an even better deal anyway (booking my same room for the week would cost more now).