Booking grand villa at 7 months?

[Kim Gillihan]

Now that I am in search of AGAIN!! I am entertaining the idea of buying at 2 resorts vs. one... the reason I don't think this is a good idea for me is that I want to book either 2-2 bedrooms or 1 grand villa every few years to take family and friends and in order to be able to do that I think I need all points at one resort to use at 11 months vs. pooling at 7 months. Plus, we will want to book 1 bed for just us... so need make sure have enough for that...

So, any advice here? I was buying 300 points at akv.... like idea of bay lake too...

Thanks for all help and advice!! KIM

 

[Nie0214]

This was a super helpful read: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/#post-56843134

The link keeps bringing me to the last post but scroll up a little.

 

[icc2515]

When and where do you want to book this grand villa? Lets say you want to stay at Kidani Grand Villa Standard or Savanna. You can definately book at 7 months for certain times of the year. You can still get a week in April and May. You can get a week in July, and Virtually any week you want in Aug and Sept. Jambo house, not so much. BLT, You can get get a week in April, July is pretty good almost a full week and Aug and Sept would be no problem. Now I did not say you can get any week you want, but you can get a week. Oct-Dec, forget it. You might get a couple of days here and there, but not a week.

My recommendation is to split up your points purchase. Personally, unless you really really want to stay at AKL Jambo I would buy my points at SSR instead of AKL. About $1pp less in maint fees and will always be less. Those animals are not cheap to feed. Now if you really can afford it I would buy all my points at BLT, if you like to stay there. Cheaper maint fees, long expiration date, very in demand (Disney sells it for $190pp).

 

[Kim Gillihan]

This was a super helpful read: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/#post-56843134

The link keeps bringing me to the last post but scroll up a little.

thank you!

 

[Kim Gillihan]

When and where do you want to book this grand villa? Lets say you want to stay at Kidani Grand Villa Standard or Savanna. You can definately book at 7 months for certain times of the year. You can still get a week in April and May. You can get a week in July, and Virtually any week you want in Aug and Sept. Jambo house, not so much. BLT, You can get get a week in April, July is pretty good almost a full week and Aug and Sept would be no problem. Now I did not say you can get any week you want, but you can get a week. Oct-Dec, forget it. You might get a couple of days here and there, but not a week.

My recommendation is to split up your points purchase. Personally, unless you really really want to stay at AKL Jambo I would buy my points at SSR instead of AKL. About $1pp less in maint fees and will always be less. Those animals are not cheap to feed. Now if you really can afford it I would buy all my points at BLT, if you like to stay there. Cheaper maint fees, long expiration date, very in demand (Disney sells it for $190pp).

Well, good question! Kidani is fine, I have only seen on you tube, both look amazing to me! We have to follow school schedule... so summer or Thanksgiving... seems like TG may be a problem since you said oct thru dec forget it!! Tell me about BLT? I at first wanted to buy BLT for location..... but decided AKV for price, theme as I could get my 300 points for way less and it seemed more points was more important than where they were..... but as someone else and you mention splitting, I am looking into that option... but why bay lake? It is so expensive! but I do love the location, but how hard is it to get to other parks from there.... not just MK?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well, good question! Kidani is fine, I have only seen on you tube, both look amazing to me! We have to follow school schedule... so summer or Thanksgiving... seems like TG may be a problem since you said oct thru dec forget it!! Tell me about BLT? I at first wanted to buy BLT for location..... but decided AKV for price, theme as I could get my 300 points for way less and it seemed more points was more important than where they were..... but as someone else and you mention splitting, I am looking into that option... but why bay lake? It is so expensive! but I do love the location, but how hard is it to get to other parks from there.... not just MK?

Frankly, setting MK aside, the travel from BLT is one of my least favorite aspects of it. All other parks take time. Epcot it's only monorail so you have to wait for the resort monorail to take you to TTC then you get off and wait for the Epcot monorail. Coming back is worse because you must ride the resort monorail around the entire loop back to BLT. Buses to DHS and AKV are shared with at least one resort - and during slow times I've been on buses that stop at 2 others. One plus to transportation is that you can walk over to MK and get buses to any other resort. You could actually do that to get to DHS or AKV too but then you've added the walk time onto the overall travel time so it probably equalizes out with stops at other resorts if you just get on a bus at CR/BLT.

About GV's - for Thanksgiving you'd likely have to own where you wanted to book one. During the summer that will probably not be necessary.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

Frankly, setting MK aside, the travel from BLT is one of my least favorite aspects of it. All other parks take time. Epcot it's only monorail so you have to wait for the resort monorail to take you to TTC then you get off and wait for the Epcot monorail. Coming back is worse because you must ride the resort monorail around the entire loop back to BLT. Buses to DHS and AKV are shared with at least one resort - and during slow times I've been on buses that stop at 2 others. One plus to transportation is that you can walk over to MK and get buses to any other resort. You could actually do that to get to DHS or AKV too but then you've added the walk time onto the overall travel time so it probably equalizes out with stops at other resorts if you just get on a bus at CR/BLT.

About GV's - for Thanksgiving you'd likely have to own where you wanted to book one. During the summer that will probably not be necessary.

I can see that!! great point. I may just save my money, buy AKV like I was originally. Hope to stay at bay lake at 7 months some time!

 

[Dean]

Now that I am in search of AGAIN!! I am entertaining the idea of buying at 2 resorts vs. one... the reason I don't think this is a good idea for me is that I want to book either 2-2 bedrooms or 1 grand villa every few years to take family and friends and in order to be able to do that I think I need all points at one resort to use at 11 months vs. pooling at 7 months. Plus, we will want to book 1 bed for just us... so need make sure have enough for that...

So, any advice here? I was buying 300 points at akv.... like idea of bay lake too...

Thanks for all help and advice!! KIM

I wouldn't buy letting the occasional trip that's different drive the show. With your plan as posted, you will almost certainly lose money on DVC and it's possible those people you have in mind won't want to go or there will be drama. I would suggest you buy what you need for your family now and see how it goes then you can look at a private rental, points transfer or add on later to cover those other trips. Whether one or 2 then depends on what your personal trips will be. You can get 2 BR or even a GV at some resorts 7 months out but the choices will likely be OKW, SSR and AKV with possibly the new CBR option by then. IMO it's a bad plan to do this and always be in banking/borrowing mode as a routine as a means to get there. Any time you are using banked or borrowed points, there is more risk.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

I wouldn't buy letting the occasional trip that's different drive the show. With your plan as posted, you will almost certainly lose money on DVC and it's possible those people you have in mind won't want to go or there will be drama. I would suggest you buy what you need for your family now and see how it goes then you can look at a private rental, points transfer or add on later to cover those other trips. Whether one or 2 then depends on what your personal trips will be. You can get 2 BR or even a GV at some resorts 7 months out but the choices will likely be OKW, SSR and AKV with possibly the new CBR option by then. IMO it's a bad plan to do this and always be in banking/borrowing mode as a routine as a means to get there. Any time you are using banked or borrowed points, there is more risk.

I can see that....drama, us taking people less than we think too. but, how will I lose money? sounds like in general to avoid the banking borrowing, I need to stick with one resort... vs. splitting.. because even for my family to stay in 1 bed I need more than 150 points I would try to by if I were to split to get 2 home resorts.... thank you for your help!

 

[Dean]

I can see that....drama, us taking people less than we think too. but, how will I lose money? sounds like in general to avoid the banking borrowing, I need to stick with one resort... vs. splitting.. because even for my family to stay in 1 bed I need more than 150 points I would try to by if I were to split to get 2 home resorts.... thank you for your help!

You would lose money because you'll be buying more points and pay more upfront plus more dues yearly.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

You would lose money because you'll be buying more points and pay more upfront plus more dues yearly.

ok.... all of this is so hard to understand.. it will for sure cost me more money for bay lake... but dues would be less due to not buying all akv.... closing cost would be more.... ugh....

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

ok.... all of this is so hard to understand.. it will for sure cost me more money for bay lake... but dues would be less due to not buying all akv.... closing cost would be more.... ugh....

Dean will need to clarify for certain but I think what he is pointing out will likely cost more money in the long run is purchasing enough points for the occasional trip to book a GV and bring family along. The GV's are fun but they do "cost" a lot more vs getting studios or even 2BR's for a group. It can get tricky with family - some thing it's like you're getting a free room or something and can get flaky and back out leaving you stuck with a huge GV that you had to bank and borrow and spend a lot on points for. But some families do get it so it just depends. Buying for your own families needs and then getting transfers or even having family rent their own accommodations when they want to come along is generally financially better especially if you're stretching to make the larger purchase.

 

[Nie0214]

Dean will need to clarify for certain but I think what he is pointing out will likely cost more money in the long run is purchasing enough points for the occasional trip to book a GV and bring family along. The GV's are fun but they do "cost" a lot more vs getting studios or even 2BR's for a group. It can get tricky with family - some thing it's like you're getting a free room or something and can get flaky and back out leaving you stuck with a huge GV that you had to bank and borrow and spend a lot on points for. But some families do get it so it just depends. Buying for your own families needs and then getting transfers or even having family rent their own accommodations when they want to come along is generally financially better especially if you're stretching to make the larger purchase.

^

In general, is it hard to find a transfer prior to 11 month mark? I was looking for this info myself because we have a big extended family trip tentatively planned for early Dec 2018 and I'm planning to book a Studio + 2BR but considered a transfer to get the GV because it would be fun to all be together. Then again, booking a S+2BR does give some security if one of our siblings decides to back out, we can cancel the Studio.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

Dean will need to clarify for certain but I think what he is pointing out will likely cost more money in the long run is purchasing enough points for the occasional trip to book a GV and bring family along. The GV's are fun but they do "cost" a lot more vs getting studios or even 2BR's for a group. It can get tricky with family - some thing it's like you're getting a free room or something and can get flaky and back out leaving you stuck with a huge GV that you had to bank and borrow and spend a lot on points for. But some families do get it so it just depends. Buying for your own families needs and then getting transfers or even having family rent their own accommodations when they want to come along is generally financially better especially if you're stretching to make the larger purchase.

Great points for sure... one big issue is my husband wants to stay in 1-2 bed accomodations... he feels like if we do this.. we should be able to stay very comfy! So, for just us alone we will need close to 300... so I figure if we want to share with others I can bank or borrow to make that happen... I have a cousin that more like a sister and they could come with us some time. Love idea of aulani so I don't think my points will waste! Biggest decsion now is buy one big one or split.... like both ideas but there are pros and cons to both ideas.... right now I don't see a 300 AKV contract with my use year even available.. so I am still looking.....

 

[Dean]

ok.... all of this is so hard to understand.. it will for sure cost me more money for bay lake... but dues would be less due to not buying all akv.... closing cost would be more.... ugh....

As correctly projected, if you buy more points to take other people it will cost you more money. While we've been lucky on family trips, I've seen enough on family drama over the years to know that those who normally bring drama are drama on steroids where Disney/DVC is involved. Whether it's expecting you to pay more than you are, canceling last minute when you're stuck because "timeshares are free once you own them", bringing others without your knowledge or permission or any one of a number of others issues. I've seen those who were upset that the member wasn't paying for their food and tickets too, I've seen the renter who planned and orchestrated the trip be squeezed out completely, I've seen many expect and demand the master even when not paying, etc. Anyone that often brings drama likely will, anyone that's difficult to get to commit or often changes their mind will, etc. We have 43 people going to HHI this summer and have planned maybe 10 or 11 large trips and we've been lucky but I pay for the accommodations, I plan NOT to control others vacation and I make it clear drama = no future invitations. Our family trips have been our best by far, I'd give up any travel over the family trips if I had to make a choice. But life's too short and I've positioned myself to be able to do so for a controlled cost. If you have no debt ant his is a drop in the bucket and you see it as a blessing to them and to you, by all means consider it, but not in any other situation and not with likely drama.

 

[crisi]

And it isn't just the drama, its the expense. Would you pay for your cousins hotel room so she could go to Disney with you? Probably not. But you are planning on buying extra points so she can go via DVC with you.

Which is great, we've shared a lot of our travel experiences and had a good time doing it (well, except once - once we had the combination of clingy and hard to please - if they would have gone off on their own and had a lousy time that would have been fine - but instead, they hung with us and had a lousy time). We had a memorable trip with my mother in law and another with my family. One year I took Girl Scouts to Hilton Head. This past August we had good friends of ours along for a mostly grown up trip (Trader Sam's was a favorite) Just make sure subsidizing other people's vacations is in your long term overall budget - along with college, retirement, etc. And that you won't end up with hurt feelings when the drama does happen (one of the Girl Scouts is bullying my daughter now, and once in a while I think "after what I did for you" - but I have to let it go.)

Also, generally, we end up paying for more than just the room. We want certain things in our Disney vacations, and that can mean subsidizing less well off friends (park hopper tickets instead of single park tickets). We paid outright for our seventeen year old daughter to bring a friend last trip - her friend couldn't have afforded it and we wanted her to have company while we went on a monorail drinkathon.

 

[Littlelulu01]

I don't typically see large transfers available. You will see 100-400 point transfers. They sell for around $12-15 per point. There's also a big risk for both parties with transfers. Technically transfers can't be done for $ according to Disney so if the owner doesn't transfer the points you can get scammed out of the $. If the receiver of points gets the points but doesn't give the owner the $ then the owner is screwed because they just gave away their points and can't get them back. For this reason I'd only go with a trusted owner and if doing that you might be looking at $15/point non prime resort through a broker or something.

Transferred points can't be borrowed but can be banked. Only one transfer in or out per use year. They retain their original use year and home resort. It's an option for a one off trip but not necessarily the best deal if you plan on doing it regularly. May be better off purchasing what you need for your vacation habits up front. Let's say you need 300 points per year now then perhaps two 150 point contracts. They'll sell later on for a higher price than the one 300 point purchase should your vacation habits change and you don't need as many points down the line.

 

[Littlelulu01]

Want to add that let's say you want AKV. There's always contracts coming up on those. Often you will see one owner list two or three at the same time with same use year. You can probably cut closing costs if purchasing more than one contract from same owner. Ask the broker about this. And then purchasing a 25 point direct add on at AKV will give you the direct perk benefits. AKV small contracts go for a real premium even now without the perks because a 25 point AKV contract is the only contract which can give you a week in a studio every 3 years in two seasons or 5 nights every other year in three seasons. You don't see them come up often so if you ever decide to sell it will be your best return on investment.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

And it isn't just the drama, its the expense. Would you pay for your cousins hotel room so she could go to Disney with you? Probably not. But you are planning on buying extra points so she can go via DVC with you.

Which is great, we've shared a lot of our travel experiences and had a good time doing it (well, except once - once we had the combination of clingy and hard to please - if they would have gone off on their own and had a lousy time that would have been fine - but instead, they hung with us and had a lousy time). We had a memorable trip with my mother in law and another with my family. One year I took Girl Scouts to Hilton Head. This past August we had good friends of ours along for a mostly grown up trip (Trader Sam's was a favorite) Just make sure subsidizing other people's vacations is in your long term overall budget - along with college, retirement, etc. And that you won't end up with hurt feelings when the drama does happen (one of the Girl Scouts is bullying my daughter now, and once in a while I think "after what I did for you" - but I have to let it go.)

Also, generally, we end up paying for more than just the room. We want certain things in our Disney vacations, and that can mean subsidizing less well off friends (park hopper tickets instead of single park tickets). We paid outright for our seventeen year old daughter to bring a friend last trip - her friend couldn't have afforded it and we wanted her to have company while we went on a monorail drinkathon.

You guys have such good advice! So, I did take my cousins family to disney last June as a gift because her kids had never been, my dad had passed away in 2015, she is really my only family I have left and I was able to do it. we rented wyndham bonnet creek 4 bed suite and there was 10 of us.. really great trip, but I would rather be ON property for REAL. I don't plan to pay for an entire trip again but I can see me sharing my dvc on occassion and luckily she is not a flake!! But, I totally understand what everyone is saying, and some people have some nerve it sounds like.... man! I also understand we all have certain ways we like to do disney, I alwasys get hoppers too...

 

[Kim Gillihan]

Want to add that let's say you want AKV. There's always contracts coming up on those. Often you will see one owner list two or three at the same time with same use year. You can probably cut closing costs if purchasing more than one contract from same owner. Ask the broker about this. And then purchasing a 25 point direct add on at AKV will give you the direct perk benefits. AKV small contracts go for a real premium even now without the perks because a 25 point AKV contract is the only contract which can give you a week in a studio every 3 years in two seasons or 5 nights every other year in three seasons. You don't see them come up often so if you ever decide to sell it will be your best return on investment.

Funny you mention that. I found a 320 listing that is 160x2 same owner, waiting to find out use year...