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

[BeccaG]

Something I keep wondering is whether anyone really goes to DLR for a full week? Not that the point requirements still aren't high, but since we only do one 3-4 night DLR trip per year this isn't quite so painful. Our annual DLR trip is separate from our "real" vacations. It's simply a regular, proactive investment in my sanity (and in family bonding time).

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

I was only planning on a 2-3 day trip once a year. Or even a night here and there. And as Christine stated above the reality is I probably won't plan a trip at 11 months out but the rumors about "you'll only ever be able to book if your a member" I guess motivated me to buy more. Or course I am a teacher so I go during busier times. . However, I live in so cal, and we have passes and see our mini DL trips as separate from real vacations as well .. .Which is what makes the rumors on the point chart and 100 point min. more frustrating to me! Hmm, frustrating is probably the wrong word, disappointed. The discussion on point charts and minimums has made me disappointed. We would have only gotten GCV points if my husband got the new job he is going for, but now they seem to be a bit overpriced for what you get for me and my family and our vacation habits and plans, especially because 100 points is more than I wanted to get.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

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.

Do you think they will let break them into 50 pt contracts? It seems to me that if the min. buy in 100 that the min. contract would also be 100. I would love to get my 200 points in four 50 point contracts.

 

[toocherie]

Do you think they will let break them into 50 pt contracts? It seems to me that if the min. buy in 100 that the min. contract would also be 100. I would love to get my 200 points in four 50 point contracts.

I asked about something similar and got hesitation from my guide--who indicated they probably would not want to break into more than two contracts of 100 points each. Does anyone know whether more than two at a time is allowed? I would really like 50 point contracts for flexibility too--

 

[Laurabearz]

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

Sadly I am not a founding memeber (or what ever they are called)

And as far as breaking a larger point purchase into smaller contracts, they have allowed that in the past.

 

[kerickson]

Sadly I am not a founding memeber (or what ever they are called)

And as far as breaking a larger point purchase into smaller contracts, they have allowed that in the past.

yes, but I believe you can only break up into the current minimums. So, if the min is 100, then you probably won't be able to break into 2 50 or 4 25's. If you buy 200, you can probably break into 2 100s. I'm not an expert, but that was my previous understanding... Hard to know since the min has always been 25...

 

[bethy]

Another very reliable (IMO) news-centered website just verified the 100 point minimum. I'm still going to wait until I get the word officially from Disney to make a stink about it to DVC. I'm dragging out my contract now to get my ducks in a row in the meantime. When you state "up to 160" it is unreasonable to expect buyers to anticipate that it could translate to "between 100 and 160"!

 

[kikiq]

Is it possible that the guides are "stuck" on the 100 point minimum because that is point purchase that you will be able to get developer points? So they are not going say the minimum is less because we all know someone is going to say that they thought that they would get DPs with any point purchase. I'm hoping it's like you go in and they're selling AKV or SSR but you really can also buy other resorts and you just have to ask. So I'll wait and hope that the 100 point minimum is the minimum to qualify for developer points and ask to only buy 25/50 without the developer points. Just hoping.

 

[ACDSNY]

If I go ahead and purchase 100 or more points then I'll have to figure out what do with the developer points...our trip to WDW/DCL isn't until Nov 2009 and of course the developer points expire Oct 2009. Any one ever hear of an extension if we use them for DCL instead of the SSR? I really don't want to go through the hassle of renting them. Do the guides have any wiggle room as to what developer points you get, say like a different expiration date?

 

[tjkraz]

Is it possible that the guides are "stuck" on the 100 point minimum because that is point purchase that you will be able to get developer points? So they are not going say the minimum is less because we all know someone is going to say that they thought that they would get DPs with any point purchase.

Sadly no. The question has been asked many different ways by multiple people now and we're all getting the same answer.

DVC could always have a change of heart or lower the minimum after the Founding Member purchase window.

 

[squidmo]

I'll still be buying if the minimum is 100 points, but I'll be buying less. Since I think the waiting list will be long once the points sell out, I figured we would err on the high side when buying points, and I had planned to purchase multiple small contracts so that if we found in 3 or 4 years that we had too many I would sell the excess. But if the minimum contract size is 100, then I'll have to err on the low side instead, and stay offsite (or go elsewhere...) in the years we don't have enough points.

Bummer- let's hope they come to their senses...

 

[bethy]

My DARLING Disney Husband is such a loveable sucker and has no pride issues like I do. His response to the 100 point minimum? "Of course we're still going to buy!"

I don't know whether to or to It's more money than we wanted to spend and really more points than we absolutely need. Of course when pressed I'm sure I'll find some way to use them up.

I'm ticked though because I feel pressured into this and still snookered by DVC. They've got us by the you-know-whats it feels like. I almost feel like I shouldn't be posting this b/c I don't want another notch in their belts.

Have I mentioned how much I love my husband?

 

[kerickson]

If I go ahead and purchase 100 or more points then I'll have to figure out what do with the developer points...our trip to WDW/DCL isn't until Nov 2009 and of course the developer points expire Oct 2009. Any one ever hear of an extension if we use them for DCL instead of the SSR? I really don't want to go through the hassle of renting them. Do the guides have any wiggle room as to what developer points you get, say like a different expiration date?

I'm in the same boat. We'll be at the GCH in May, but don't really need more points for that trip unless we want to add a Fri night stay, but the points are so high. We'll be in WDW mid Oct before our cruise and could really use the points to bump from a studio to a 1 BR. I think they should extend the DP's until Jan unless they expect to open VGC in Sept with BLT.
...Otherwise it looks like we'll be making another trip to DLR in the Summer (which isn't too bad since we have AP's from our initial purchase.) Not looking forward to summer crowds, though.

Regarding the 100pt min, I'll be very upset if they enforce a 100pt min now, then lower it later on. I'd expect them to honor that retroactively too.

 

[dcfromva]

So I'll wait and hope that the 100 point minimum is the minimum to qualify for developer points and ask to only buy 25/50 without the developer points. Just hoping.

I asked my guide about purchasing 3-55 point add ons and was told no, each add-on would have to meet the 100 pt minimum. So, unless something changes it looks like it is a no-go.

 

[squidmo]

DVCNews has an unofficial, leaked version of the points chart on their site now!

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

If this is the real thing, it's not as bad as I feared. Weekend points are crazy high, but the weekdays are OK. I will just have to avoid weekend stays and then I should be fine. I am curious how difficult it will be to book at 7 months. It would be nice If I could use some of my SSR points as well. Is this month dragging by or what?!

 

[Lucille1963]

Ok. I was really hoping that October would be one of the cheapest times so we could visit for DS' birthday. It looks like we'll be going for mine in January!

 

[DebbieB]

Looks like the dates I want will be in choice season (late April, October, early December). 17 points for a weekday studio, so 85 for 5 nights. That's all I would need, I really don't want to buy 100 but it really would not be that much more.

 

[dcfromva]

I love the GC. It is my favorite hotel. I am trying to figure out if I should get 165 or 2-100 pt contracts.

We generally go to DL at least once a year, sometimes twice and stay at the GC on points. We'd like to stay in a 1BR 5 nights (probably just Mon-Thurs due to the high pt values at GCV). We have visited DL in the months of Jan, Feb, APR, JUN, JUL, AUG, OCT, NOV (early in the month and over Thanksgiving) Dec/JAN (NYE). So, we are all over the calendar. In the past the dates have been dictated by DS's school schedule, but he has graduated HS and will be done with college in a couple of years.

I am afraid if we get 165, we will be in a constant state of borrowing points (or reducing our stays to just 2 or 3 nights--it's a long way to go for just a couple of nights). But on the other hand, if it is just DH and I, the studio would probably work and we should have plenty of points (but I think this would be the exception rather than the rule).

I don't want to be just a few points shy and then be in a position where I would have buy another 100 (if that would even be an option).
I was thinking if we got 2 -100 point contracts and it turns out that is is just mostly DH and I traveling and staying in a studio, it would be easier for us to downsize later on...

 

[toddbushman]

I know the DVCNews points chart for Grand Californian is still unofficial, but I'm wondering if anyone knows when you can start staying at those point rates? They are less than the current points charts for GC, and although I won't be adding on right now, I would definitely consider using some points to stay in 2009 if they are going to allow you to use them sometime soon. Any ideas? The founder sale begins on the 25th, will they be able to use right away, or is there some identified starting date?

 

[bethy]

The villas won't be open for stays until sometime in Novermber 2009. It is likely - especially at first - that you will have to be an owner at VGC to get reservations there. Unless you get very lucky. Booking for VGC owners is rumored to be starting in the summer and after that initial period will likely follow the 11/7 home resort rule. Also it looks as if the GCH will not be able to be booked with points at all after 2009 (not 100% official though.) The VGC points chart at DVC news dot com is only for booking the villas and not for hotel rooms.