Best use year

[Networth]

Run the numbers for a 1 bedroom Lake View and see if it makes sense for you. Maybe it will still look good against the hotel room you normally book.

Even if you book the second the window opens, you may be too late & need to use the waitlist. I just checked and see that members are "walking" the VGF studios, (which is a way to book what you want in advance of the window opening. It's a bit controversial here, but the system allows it as of now). The window doesn't open for stays beginning 11/28 until tomorrow, but already that night is unavailable for lake view studios. My best guess is that the members doing the walking really want the first or second week of December. Availability for the larger units still looks good.

Sorry to be a bit of a "Debbie Downer, but I think it is important that you go into this knowing what to expect. VGF is an expensive purchase & I don't want you to be disappointed with it - the resort is gorgeous, especially during the Holiday Season! Early December is our favorite time to visit as well.

No by all means thank you for telling me about the studio issue, I would rather know all the facts. If we had purchased enough points for a studio and than been unable to stay at that time period and our home resort, we would regret the purchase.

Being someone that knows the system well does having enough points for a 1 bedroom at the VGF making booking that much easier compared to a studio?

 

[frabjous]

Being someone that knows the system well does having enough points for a 1 bedroom at the VGF making booking that much easier compared to a studio?

Yes, significantly easier. The point cost at VGF from both a dollar perspective and also the count per room is high, and a % of DVC owners do not own enough points to be able to book them.

 

[Networth]

Sounds like you might want to consider saving up / investing till you can purchase enough points for a 1BR up front. The 1BR+ units, especially the ones in VGF are fantastic. If you go this route, just make sure you give yourself several months to acquire the points via resale (allow for 80 days per contract, and possibly double that if Disney takes it from you during ROFR).

Yes I had read about the long waiting period, and from what I understand the ROFR can be frustrating but it helps the points maintain their value as Disney will never let them be sold “cheap”.

Thank you for the advice, we may just bite the bullet an purchase one larger contract sooner. Does booking a 1 bedroom really make that much a difference as far as getting the first or second week in December at the Grand Floridian?

 

[frabjous]

\Does booking a 1 bedroom really make that much a difference as far as getting the first or second week in December at the Grand Floridian?

Just to add on to my earlier answer, that yes it does. Basically anything you do to make the cost more expensive reduces the contention. 1BR is significantly easier than studio, and lake views easier than standard views etc.

As an example, looking right now at the availability tool, what you can get in Dec (wth a Nov start date due to booking window), there is no availability for studios, but 1BRs are currently available in both standard and lake view. I'd target 1BR lake if you can swing the funds, but just having 1BR standard points makes a big difference.

 

[frabjous]

Just to add on to my earlier answer, that yes it does. Basically anything you do to make the cost more expensive reduces the contention. 1BR is significantly easier than studio, and lake views easier than standard views etc.

The exception to this rule is Grand Villas. There is a very small number of them at VGF.

 

[CarolMN]

.........
Thank you for the advice, we may just bite the bullet an purchase one larger contract sooner. Does booking a 1 bedroom really make that much a difference as far as getting the first or second week in December at the Grand Floridian?

It will make a HUGE difference. I would be very surprised if you got blocked out for a 1 bedroom if you book when the 11 month window opens.

You can always try for a studio and then book a 1 bedroom if the studios aren't available. But be warned! Once you stay in those gorgeous 1 bedroom villas, you won't want to go back to a studio (or a hotel room).

 

[Networth]

Just an update:

I ended up finding another contract that would provide us with enough points for the 1 bedroom at the VGF.

The contract is 320 points at $140 pp.

80 points available for 2018 with seller covering 2018 annual dues. UY is April which has given me a pause.

Any thoughts?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just an update:

I ended up finding another contract that would provide us with enough points for the 1 bedroom at the VGF.

The contract is 320 points at $140 pp.

80 points available for 2018 with seller covering 2018 annual dues. UY is April which has given me a pause.

Any thoughts?

An April UY banking deadline is Nov 30th so any December cancellation that was done in time for points to not go into holding would also mean they could be banked. It wouldn't give much time to use points if you had a cancellation that was 30 days or less from the reservation or to use any banked or borrowed points but the beginning of the year usually offers some opportunity to use them. So to me the April UY isn't as good as it could be but you'd still get some small free insurance. You never know what might get listed tomorrow or anytime soon though that might be better.

 

[Networth]

An April UY banking deadline is Nov 30th so any December cancellation that was done in time for points to not go into holding would also mean they could be banked. It wouldn't give much time to use points if you had a cancellation that was 30 days or less from the reservation or to use any banked or borrowed points but the beginning of the year usually offers some opportunity to use them. So to me the April UY isn't as good as it could be but you'd still get some small free insurance. You never know what might get listed tomorrow or anytime soon though that might be better.

Yeah we have usually always travel the exact same time every year and I can’t foresee that changing.

I thought about waiting for an ideal UY contract as you and others pointed out but with the direct purchase price going up I’m nervous to see the outcome on the resale market.

I would be kicking myself if I had to pay thousands more because I waited.

 

[frabjous]

Just an update:

I ended up finding another contract that would provide us with enough points for the 1 bedroom at the VGF.

The contract is 320 points at $140 pp.

80 points available for 2018 with seller covering 2018 annual dues. UY is April which has given me a pause.

Any thoughts?

There is also a guaranteed week Dec UY contract for 403 points listed:

http://dvc-resales.com/detail.cfm?ID=GF403-12-0809-1

The gauranteed week is not useful to you, but you just have to cancel the automatic May booking and you can use the points however.

It’s 7 more a point, but that amounts to $61 a year for the 46 years left. Or alternatively 1 year renting your points to make up the difference.

Of course this is not to say this is the contract for you. My point is really that if you wait you can likely find the “right” one. If I were you I wouldn’t worry too much about the Disney price increase for VGF. The reason is that buying direct for VGF is a bit of a hassle since they closed the wait list. You can only get on an unofficial one if your guide is willing to put in the legwork. The resale price pressure has more to do with supply and demand. It might cause sellers to try and raise their prices but at the end of the day it’s only about what they are willing to sell for during negotiation and what buyers are willing to pay for. The limit a seller accepts will be closer to what they originally paid than the rate disney sets. If you look at what contracts are selling for, it’s already well under the pre-raised rate. Even if there was a resale market price shift it’s not likely to be immediate, and you are likely to find a contract before it has an impact. The one thing I would be concerned with is if the price shift impacts Disney’s ROFR assessment. It might be harder to get an amazing deal through than pre-shift.

Of course,this is just educated speculation on my part. Please weight appropriately.