Before I Take the Plunge and Buy VGF...

[Orangeman98]

Am I in for disappointment in thinking I can book a Studio 10 months out? My family and I would like to go in the late Feb/early March range for 6-7 days, do I have a realistic chance? We could probably start booking as early as this weekend.

Thanks in advance -- I've learned so much from this site.

 

[Noelle]

It's still too early to look for much of early March, but when I was looking yesterday for our possible March trip, it looked like I could get a lake view or standard view studio pretty easily for last week of February. Now that being said, when I booked our December trip, I was online exactly when the 11 month window opened and the standard view was instantly gone. I took the lake view and wait listed the standard. I was surprised that my wait list came through in less than a month.

 

[Orangeman98]

It's still too early to look for much of early March, but when I was looking yesterday for our possible March trip, it looked like I could get a lake view or standard view studio pretty easily for last week of February. Now that being said, when I booked our December trip, I was online exactly when the 11 month window opened and the standard view was instantly gone. I took the lake view and wait listed the standard. I was surprised that my wait list came through in less than a month.

That's comforting.
I know December is much busier for the DVC community, so I'm not too surprised there. I'm just really nervous about spending A LOT of money -- for me -- and not being able to afford my home resort. I, too, am one of those people that is up exactly at my 180 day mark to book reservations, and I usually can get whatever place I want (although the time might be a little off). I'm just worried that VGF's small size would make it very difficult to book a week --even at the earliest booking time (11 months out). With only around 170 points, we would need a studio.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Noelle]

I completely understand...We love VGF and bought 200 points direct because we want to stay there at Xmas every other year and we need the 11 month window. We're early planners, so we hardly ever have problems getting what we need. We actually booked 2 rooms for our upcoming December stay (a studio for my parents and a 2 bedroom for my family).
But that being said, I also own at OKW, BWV, & BCV. (Just sold SSR). Our BCV points were bought direct in 2003. OKW and BWV were resale. With today's direct prices, 170 points is a lot of money. I would caution you to really know what you're buying and make sure you absolutely LOVE VGF . Because you might find that you would be just as happy at one of the resorts that you could buy resale for less and get more points to make that leap to a 1 Bedroom or a 8 day stay.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[CarolMN]

If you are buying direct, ask your sales guide to help you with your first reservation. This is a courtesy Disney extends to direct buyers.

FWIW, late February / early March is one of the easier times to book DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

Am I in for disappointment in thinking I can book a Studio 10 months out? My family and I would like to go in the late Feb/early March range for 6-7 days, do I have a realistic chance? We could probably start booking as early as this weekend.

Thanks in advance -- I've learned so much from this site.

Have you considered buying a fixed week to guarantee your reservation automatically? We bought a fixed week for early December.

Bill

 

[Orangeman98]

If you are buying direct, ask your sales guide to help you with your first reservation. This is a courtesy Disney extends to direct buyers.

FWIW, late February / early March is one of the easier times to book DVC.

Thank you, Carol, for the tip. I had no idea my sales guide could do this: I was worried that my first impression as a DVC member would be an inauspicious one.

I'll have to do a little research on fixed weeks, but that would fit my vacation M.O..

Noelle, I would normally be open to a resale (I certainly know the large consensus is to buy resale over direct), but there are very few VGF resales, and I think this is the only resort meeting my wife's cleanliness standards

For those of you considering VGF direct, I have been told there are less than 60k points left - for what it's worth.

 

[Jelly563]

60k pts left.....Does that mean Mickey will be swiping any points that come along in ROFR ??

 

[disneynutz]

60k pts left.....Does that mean Mickey will be swiping any points that come along in ROFR ??

If Disney can make a buck from it, sure.

Bill

 

[drusba]

If by late February you are including the Princess half marathon weekend, which is the weekend after Presidents Day, then your probability of getting a VGF studio at 10 months is likley iffy. If you are talking about after that weekend and into first half of March, one of the lowest DVC demand times of the year, then you have a decent chance at 10 months out.

Nevertheless, if you are looking at VGF's overall future then be aware you will have times when it will be difficult to get studios even at 11 months out unless you buy a set week, particularly for some very high demand times between late Sep and marathon weekend in Jan and should consider that when purchasing. Also, if you are buying from Disney, then you should be in contact with your sales rep to tell him the first vacation time you want and that you would like to be assured of getting it if you purchase.

 

[Dean]

Have you considered buying a fixed week to guarantee your reservation automatically? We bought a fixed week for early December.

Bill

If I were set on VGF for this time most years I would combine both of these strategies. I'd buy a fixed week studio that falls when I generally wanted to to. And I would make sure I got the reservation I wanted upcoming. I'd likely go with a Feb UY and when you get the points this year, see if you can reserve your reservation with points using the points banked from 2015 to 2016. If you can free up your fixed week points and use them going forward.

 

[coolbluewater]

60k pts left.....Does that mean Mickey will be swiping any points that come along in ROFR ??

Ours was not - waiting for closing documents for 125 points, June UY

 

[Jelly563]

Ours was not - waiting for closing documents for 125 points, June UY

Maybe VGF wants to just exhale and let everything close so they can say it is 100% SOLD OUT. What has it been, a year and a half ??

 

[Minniesgal]

60k pts left.....Does that mean Mickey will be swiping any points that come along in ROFR ??

Highly unlikely given how close resale prices are to direct for this resort

 

[Minniesgal]

Thank you, Carol, for the tip. I had no idea my sales guide could do this: I was worried that my first impression as a DVC member would be an inauspicious one.

I'll have to do a little research on fixed weeks, but that would fit my vacation M.O..

Noelle, I would normally be open to a resale (I certainly know the large consensus is to buy resale over direct), but there are very few VGF resales, and I think this is the only resort meeting my wife's cleanliness standards

For those of you considering VGF direct, I have been told there are less than 60k points left - for what it's worth.

There are quite a few VGF resale contracts out there although they are selling for about 145 which isn't a huge saving but still worth considering resale especially for a first contract instead of a small add on

 

[Dean]

There are quite a few VGF resale contracts out there although they are selling for about 145 which isn't a huge saving but still worth considering resale especially for a first contract instead of a small add on

IMO the savings currently isn't enough to justify resale over retail. IMO, if VGF makes sense otherwise, I'd buy the fixed week directly rather than fool with resale. Now if it was a fixed week that I wanted, that could be a different ballgame since that fixed week might not be available retail.

 

[SarahInMN]

I would agree with getting a fixed week or getting enough points for a 1 br. We prefer 1 br so we bought enough for 1 week at the VGF during our preferred seasons. I've been watching the availability and 1 bedrooms seem fairly predictably available at 9 or so months.