Buying Direct Makes Sense For VGC?

[Sydnie]

I was totally convinced that we would buy resale, but now I am waffling again.

We need to buy at VGC for the 11 month window-and the price difference between buying direct and buying a resale is only about $20 per point. If we buy 100pts it's only a $2000 difference. I'm thinking it actually makes sense just to pay more, mostly because VGC is such a small resort and we'd like to be able to use our points at PP or DLH should VGC be sold out when we want to go.

Obviously buying anywhere at WDW resales make more sense, but am I right in thinking buying direct will be worth the small price difference?

 

[juncker]

Only you can determine the value to you. I'm a big proponent of resale, but in your case, buying direct could be the solution. VGC resales are fewer than other locations and if we're only talking $20/point, you can rationalize this with the additional privildges that come with it. You also don't have to wait/wonder if everything is going to work out with the contract too.

 

[Sandisw]

I think when you figure things over the length of the contract, that $2000 isn't really that much.

I agree that it might be easier and wiser to get VGC from Disney, if you can. There is a waitlist for points right now so I know others have been waiting.

For those that really need to use them, I do think that having that hotel option could be important. For those that are going to WDW more often, the loss of the Disney Collection is not as crucial but I agree with you that it might be for those that own at VGC.

Good luck!

 

[Breyean]

Here's how I'm rationalizing buying direct, as I posted this morning on my "I've Been ROFR'd!!" thread...

But we might go for the direct points.
First, we would buy direct about 1/2 of what the ROFR'd contract had, thus saving us MFs over the years.
Second, at DLR, even with points at VGC, if you don't book way ahead you have a pretty low chance of getting one of the 48 rooms. And with a resale, we wouldn't have the option of staying at DLH or Paradise Pier using those points.
Third, since we live with easy driving distance to DLR, we like to be able to go once in a while on the spur of the moment, so that hotel option is appealing. We are, in fact, doing that very thing in a couple of months, using some of our other direct Disney points from other resorts to get a room at DLH.

So that option, even being more expensive, might work out. We can use the VCG points to stay there when we plan the trips in advance, and still use them for a hotel if we go on shorter notice.

DLR is different from DW simply because there is no supply of DVC rooms there anywhere necessary to meet demand. So having the hotel option is pretty much a necessity if you want to make any trips on short notice.

 

[Mtnman44]

Personally, I'd take the $2,000. I don't want to waste my points on a cramped hotel room. The whole point of owning VGC is to get the 11 month window, so I'd use it.

I'd buy some cheap OKW points to use for reservation attempts after 7 months.

 

[nunzia]

Here's how I'm rationalizing buying direct, as I posted this morning on my "I've Been ROFR'd!!" thread...



DLR is different from DW simply because there is no supply of DVC rooms there anywhere necessary to meet demand. So having the hotel option is pretty much a necessity if you want to make any trips on short notice.

I agree...the other options are far from cramped hotel rooms..(well, I don't know about PP) but DLH is GREAT and I'm happy to stay there.

 

[ACDSNY]

I agree, $2K over the life of the contract isn't too much. We've used our VGC points to stay at DLH many times when nothing else was available. Many times even an AP rate is higher than what my cost for the points would be. I also have no desire to stay off site anymore either.

Good luck with your wait list!

 

[kikiq]

Personally, I'd take the $2,000. I don't want to waste my points on a cramped hotel room. The whole point of owning VGC is to get the 11 month window, so I'd use it.

I'd buy some cheap OKW points to use for reservation attempts after 7 months.

DLH and PP rooms are 364 sq ft minimum. And the VGC studios are 379 sq ft.

Each of the DLH towers have been renovated. I do own VGC to get the 11 month window, and tried to use my SSR points to book trips after 7 months. Sometimes it works and most times it doesn't, so it's been nice to be able to stay onsite at the DLH or PP.

 

[Riverrunner]

I agree! I too, am on the waitlist for VGC direct through Disney for exactly the same reason. I live in AZ and go to DLR much more often than WDW and would want to use the points at the hotels if VGC isn't available.

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree...the other options are far from cramped hotel rooms..(well, I don't know about PP) but DLH is GREAT and I'm happy to stay there.

PPH rooms tend to be bigger than DLH rooms.



*********
To those who don't know, using points at PPH and DLH is nothing like using them at WDW, IMO.

 

[Mtnman44]

Just to clarify from my previous input. I bought DVC to stay in the villas sized units, as oppossed to studios. If we could fit and enjoy hotel sized rooms, then there would be little need for DVC for us. If you use studios, I can see how trading out to DLH or PPH is a good backup, but the points per night costs are high, will likely rise, and will probably cost $95 to trade out to at some point in the future (same as all other Disney Collection locations).

 

[ACDSNY]

Bumbershoot hit the nail on the head...it's much different on the West Coast than WDW as far as using points.

The points are already high for VGC in comparison to WDW DVCs so it's not that different for the hotels. Even with the high points it's usually cheaper than even a good AP rate for the Disney hotels and then you aren't charged the nightly resort fees. Being on the West Coast most DVC stays at DLR are for 2-4 nights instead of the longer WDW stays.

We normally use DVC for 2 bedroom units, but there are times when it's just a few of us so the hotel rooms are just fine for a back up when the VGC are unavailable. There is no $95 and until they have enough DVC units to meet the demand I don't think there will be for DLH or PP.

 

[mike9950]

In my opinion, I would buy direct from DVC. It's only $2000 more, with no hassle, headache or waiting. Plus, you might even get a extra year of points which would wash away more of the potential resale savings. In addition, you get exactly what you want and if you need to get the hotel room, you are all set. Good luck on your decision!

 

[gokdog]

I am in a similar situation, I just got the presenation this past weekend out at DLR, but I told him I needed to think about it, to verify the cost and arrange my own finances, but the 7 month vs. 11 months scares me. We have taken 3 trips to DLR in the last 2 years and have driven twice, but have never flown or visited Florida, but in my case I am not even sure VGC ownership is feasible, the rep did not even mention the wait list until I did, so would buying something cheap in Florida resale or even 100 pts from DVC be wise just to get in the game?

 

[mike9950]

I am in a similar situation, I just got the presenation this past weekend out at DLR, but I told him I needed to think about it, to verify the cost and arrange my own finances, but the 7 month vs. 11 months scares me. We have taken 3 trips to DLR in the last 2 years and have driven twice, but have never flown or visited Florida, but in my case I am not even sure VGC ownership is feasible, the rep did not even mention the wait list until I did, so would buying something cheap in Florida resale or even 100 pts from DVC be wise just to get in the game?

Gokdog, I would recommend buying at VGC if you are going to mostly visit Disneyland. I've got points at both VGC and SSR resorts, and if you can book out 11 months you'll have a huge advantage over guests trading in. If you ever think you'll want to try a Grand Villa or travel during peak times, you will really want the VGC points. There was a rumor I read a while back that said they might build another Disneyland DVC, which would take some pressure off of VGC but in the meantime, the booking advantage really helps.

 

[Sandisw]

I am in a similar situation, I just got the presenation this past weekend out at DLR, but I told him I needed to think about it, to verify the cost and arrange my own finances, but the 7 month vs. 11 months scares me. We have taken 3 trips to DLR in the last 2 years and have driven twice, but have never flown or visited Florida, but in my case I am not even sure VGC ownership is feasible, the rep did not even mention the wait list until I did, so would buying something cheap in Florida resale or even 100 pts from DVC be wise just to get in the game?

If the bulk of your visits will be to Disneyland, then I don't think it will really benefit you to own at WDW. If you did, and tried to book at 7 months and could not get in to VGC, what you would you do with the points then? Points can be banked, but only for one year, so if the situation happened in year 2, you could potentially lose points.

And, if you go resale (which is where the savings is on those other resorts), you can't trade those to use at the hotels at there either so you could end up stuck.

If you want in to DVC, then I say hold out until you can buy that resort--whether it be via resale or Disney.

 

[gokdog]

Thanks for the replies we are going to think on it some more and see if DW is an option for our family or if the off peak times would actually work for us. We just got back from a trip today and honestly found it a tad too hot for our kids, so maybe early December and March is optimal, might just have to get on that wait list.