disney grand california sale start 1-25-09 for founding members

[bethy]

Kathy, I'm trying to cling to a tidbit of hope. Was your guide absolutely certain? There have been so many conflicting tidbits of info from guides lately that I'm wondering if he is based in CA and if he went to the "meeting" today? If he was certain of his info was he then willing/able to share the point chart with you?

 

[BeccaG]

Is it a 100 point minimum buy in with the incentives, or period, you can't buy so 25 or 50 points without the incentive? Is this just a GCV rule or a new DVC rule or is it just during this initial opening rule?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kathy, I'm trying to cling to a tidbit of hope. Was your guide absolutely certain? There have been so many conflicting tidbits of info from guides lately that I'm wondering if he is based in CA and if he went to the "meeting" today? If he was certain of his info was he then willing/able to share the point chart with you?

Well, never say never but it seemed definite and I shared that I probably wouldn't be adding on at the Grand if that was the case. Last week we were talking about a 50 pt add on. The charts are not online and they couldn't fax so I'm tempted to say that things may not be finalized. For the time frame that we would typically go the points were comparable to BLT with a little modification of 1 to 2 points less for week days and 1 to 2 points more for weekends. That was for late spring and fall and as I understood that was a lower season.

I'll hope that your hope works out!

Is it a 100 point minimum buy in with the incentives, or period, you can't buy so 25 or 50 points without the incentive? Is this just a GCV rule or a new DVC rule or is it just during this initial opening rule?

It was minimum contracts of 100 pts. There is an incentive of $5 off and matching incentive points since your points can't be used until the opening.

(((hugs)))

Awww - thanks, I needed that!

 

[stopher1]

Well that just stinks - and it prices us out.

 

[grizbuzz]

Yes I just did and the news was not good. Minimum is 100 pts. I am not 100% certain but I think that just killed our add on. I'm extremely disappointed bordering on disgusted since I made a special effort to be assured of having the founding member option. We just don't need 100 more points. Raising the amounts we could buy and raising the minimum expected (I know that wasn't spelled out in the founding member contract) is just wrong I believe. IMO bad show DVC!

Is this 100 point minimum just for the Founding Member only period? Perhaps it's a tactic to get people who they KNOW want VGC to buy more than they probably really want to buy during these uncertain economic times. And then if/when Disney still has VGC points they need to sell and sales open to general DVC and general public, they will allow smaller purchase, say 25 or 50 points.

What do you think? Am I just being hopeful?

 

[nuts]

Well, I received an unsolicited letter stating that DVC was still working through the details and to please not call until they publish everything. Me thinks they are still working through it (maybe there is hope).

 

[stopher1]

Is this 100 point minimum just for the Founding Member only period? Perhaps it's a tactic to get people who they KNOW want VGC to buy more than they probably really want to buy during these uncertain economic times. And then if/when Disney still has VGC points they need to sell and sales open to general DVC and general public, they will allow smaller purchase, say 25 or 50 points.

What do you think? Am I just being hopeful?

Well it could be either - that yes they might do that, or yes, you are just being hopeful... but I'm still hoping that the 100 point minimum quoted doesn't stand...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Is this 100 point minimum just for the Founding Member only period? Perhaps it's a tactic to get people who they KNOW want VGC to buy more than they probably really want to buy during these uncertain economic times. And then if/when Disney still has VGC points they need to sell and sales open to general DVC and general public, they will allow smaller purchase, say 25 or 50 points.

What do you think? Am I just being hopeful?

Considering that they had published a change to the minimum buy-in at BLT and then decided to keep it at 160 does give me a slight bit of hope if they find that many of the potential founding members express that the minimum is too high. At this point we'll just be waiting to see if it changes. Maybe they're testing the waters right now before sales start on the 25th.

 

[bethy]

Considering that they had published a change to the minimum buy-in at BLT and then decided to keep it at 160 does give me a slight bit of hope if they find that many of the potential founding members express that the minimum is too high. At this point we'll just be waiting to see if it changes. Maybe they're testing the waters right now before sales start on the 25th.

Oh I didn't know they reversed the minimum for BLT. That is good to know. I can't believe they'd be willing to turn away potential sales like that. I mean we were in for 50-75. While not a great amount that would add up over time. Maybe they are just trying to maintain VGC at a certain eschelon and trying to keep out the riff raff like me? Maybe they are trying to discourage 2 night stays in order to lesson housekeeping and other costs related to room turnover? I personally don't know many people outside the true Disney fans here who would want to go to DLR for more than 3-4 nights . . . Or would want to cook in a kitchen or do laundry while there. Maybe that's just my circle of aquaintences.

It really does feel like I might be engaging in a game of chicken soon.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

It really does feel like I might be engaging in a game of chicken soon.

I think everybodywho wants in at less than 100 points should make sure that their guide knows "I would've bought, but not now that the minimum is so high." I know many people think this resort will sell out overnight, but not me. If you are on the fence don't let DVC bully you into 100 points. You can always think about it and if they don't give in then buy your 100 points in a couple of months. I think DVC might lose this game of chicken and reduce the minimums. For those wanting less than 100 let's hope so.

 

[BeccaG]

Is this 100 point minimum just for the Founding Member only period? What do you think? Am I just being hopeful?

I was hoping too, of course if the point chart is like everyone is talking 100 may be what I "need" to do what I want, but that prices me out too. . .

 

[kerickson]

If what we've heard is true (100 pt min, high point charts) this doesn't bode well for Hawaii. I saw a post a week or so back that speculated the Hawaii points chart would be significantly higher than what we've seen and that it probably won't have a low season. That's looking more realistic every day.

It will be interesting to see how DVC membership evolves as they roll out 3 high end properties back to back (BLT, VGC & Hawaii)...I just hope the service and facilities at those resorts kept up to demand those kinds of points from the membership.

On a positive note, I am happy that the MF's are low for VGC, I won't feel as guilty if I have to use those points for a WDW stay (will actually be cheaper than using my SSR points, who would have thought!). That may work out well for non owners too trying to book VGC at 11mos...

 

[Raivyn]

My guide hasn't informed me that the minimum is 100 pts, but like others on here, if it is, then we're out. We only wanted to add enough points for a weekend stay here or there. We couldn't do DL in a whole week straight, but we could do 7 days stretched out throughout the year.

 

[christine*]

I feel like i'm missing a key piece of information or something. I get the whole add-on/buy where you want to stay thing but what are the booking windows for ownership at VGC vs ownership at another DVC resort? Is it still the 11 month vs. 7 month window? I live in Arizona and I cannot imagine myself booking to go to DL for a few days 11 months in advance unless i'm trying to stay there for Christmas or another major holiday. I love VGC and I was planning to add on there but after talking to my guide and how we travel to CA, I just ended up adding on to my home resort.

 

[kerickson]

I feel like i'm missing a key piece of information or something. I get the whole add-on/buy where you want to stay thing but what are the booking windows for ownership at VGC vs ownership at another DVC resort? Is it still the 11 month vs. 7 month window? I live in Arizona and I cannot imagine myself booking to go to DL for a few days 11 months in advance unless i'm trying to stay there for Christmas or another major holiday. I love VGC and I was planning to add on there but after talking to my guide and how we travel to CA, I just ended up adding on to my home resort.

Also, not having booking categories will be interesting. Members who buy VGC points and actually book 11mo in advance could get a 'woods view' room while a last minute cash ressie could snag a 'DCA view' because they arrived 30min earlier the day of... Not sure if it really matters as I don't know how good the DCA views are anyway. I've stayed at the GCH a few times and never had it as a priority to get a park view, but I'm sure there's going to be ruffled feathers...

 

[Laurabearz]

Ok here's an idea..

We get some founding members to buy 500 points in 10 contracts of 50 pts each, then put them all for sale and we all buy up one 50 pt contract from them.

 

[tjkraz]

Is this 100 point minimum just for the Founding Member only period? Perhaps it's a tactic to get people who they KNOW want VGC to buy more than they probably really want to buy during these uncertain economic times.

I wondered that, too. Hopefully that is the case.

I agree that larger contracts is a little shortsighted. Which group is going to spend more at DL on ancillary purchases (food, souvenirs, etc.)--the guest with 100+ points who visits at least 1x per year or two guests with 50-pt contracts who only visit once every 2-3 years? DVC is going to sell-out the points either way. It seems like the theme parks have more to gain by spreading out the purchases over as large a population as possible.

And even from DVC's perspective, those wanting to buy under 100 would already be sacrificing incentives. So DVC is definitely getting a better deal. In this case a 100-pt minimum would not compel me to buy more--I'll just consider other alternatives.

 

[Betty X]

I'd buy 50-100!

 

[stopher1]

I feel like i'm missing a key piece of information or something. I get the whole add-on/buy where you want to stay thing but what are the booking windows for ownership at VGC vs ownership at another DVC resort? Is it still the 11 month vs. 7 month window? I live in Arizona and I cannot imagine myself booking to go to DL for a few days 11 months in advance unless i'm trying to stay there for Christmas or another major holiday. I love VGC and I was planning to add on there but after talking to my guide and how we travel to CA, I just ended up adding on to my home resort.

I hear you Christine... even though you are a shorter hop away from DL than I am - I don't like the traditional booking window for DL either. I get out there 3-4x per year between personal and business trips, and the timinig is never the same each year, let alone planned out that far in advance like a longer vacation to WDW would/could be. I've enjoyed using points at the hotels if they're available, and staying with family when they aren't. This is one key thing that I'm still grappling with. Having points at VGC for our family trip west will be great, but not as great for the trips I make out there solo.

As much as my guide has heard me say I want VGC over the past year+, and as many times as she has listened to me go on and on about it - she will be quite shocked when I tell her no if the minimum truly is 100. I agree that it is short-sighted thinking on their part, but no doubt they are just thinking that they have a good product and it will sell regardless, especially since it's the first of it's kind at Disneyland... we'll just have to wait and see.

Ok here's an idea..

We get some founding members to buy 500 points in 10 contracts of 50 pts each, then put them all for sale and we all buy up one 50 pt contract from them.

What a fun idea! Cool thinking Laurabearz!

 

[BeccaG]

Ok here's an idea..

We get some founding members to buy 500 points in 10 contracts of 50 pts each, then put them all for sale and we all buy up one 50 pt contract from them.

I like the way you think! Are you volunteering to front us all?