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

[Grumpygrandpa]

Other than a Mickey watch & jacket I typically don't wear Disney, but you may see my license plate around town as it's the same as my DIS name. As to how many points, I'm still on the fence, I started thinking 100, then went to 160 and then 200. If my grown kids go with us we need a two bedroom so my original thought was 4 nights in a 2 bedroom in the Fall. I guess I better decide soon.

My license plate is WELUVDL. We will see who spots who first. I guess I will settle for just 200 points since I don't have a magic wand that will just convert my 300 SSR points into GCV points.

 

[amyup]

I guess I will settle for just 200 points since I don't have a magic wand that will just convert my 300 SSR points into GCV points.

If you find the magic wand can you convert my AKV points to GCV points too??


We can get a 102 point contract right? I'm bouncing between 102, 115, and 120.

 

[ACDSNY]

My license plate is WELUVDL. We will see who spots who first. I guess I will settle for just 200 points since I don't have a magic wand that will just convert my 300 SSR points into GCV points.

With that license plate you have to buy GCV!

 

[lugnut33]

My license plate is WELUVDL. We will see who spots who first. I guess I will settle for just 200 points since I don't have a magic wand that will just convert my 300 SSR points into GCV points.

Can a person use points from another resort to get a room at GCV? (besides it being impossible to book at 7 months out, will they allow you to use points from another resort at GCV or do you have to stay in the hotel part?) How cool would it be to use my $80 SSR points for a stay at CGV?

 

[farscape]

Yes, you will be able to book VGC using other DVC resort points at 7 months based upon availability.

However, there will only be 48 2 BR lock-off units and 2 Grand Villas for VGC. Despite the high point chart, this being the only DVC resort on the West Coast located on-site at DL will make it competitive to book.

There is on-going speculation that after VGC opens (probably beginning in 2010) that the hotel portion of VGC will not be accepting DVC or Developer points for stays.

 

[lugnut33]

I don't expect to ever stay at GCV on my points, but nice to know they didn't lock it off to other members.

What will be the price per point? Same as BLT?

 

[wdw4life]

Yes, you will be able to book VGC using other DVC resort points at 7 months based upon availability.

However, there will only be 48 2 BR lock-off units and 2 Grand Villas for VGC. Despite the high point chart, this being the only DVC resort on the West Coast located on-site at DL will make it competitive to book.

There is on-going speculation that after VGC opens (probably beginning in 2010) that the hotel portion of VGC will not be accepting DVC or Developer points for stays.

I think it will be especially hard for anybody wanting to book a studio or one bedroom at the 7 month window. According to DVC News there are only 21 two bedroom lock off units that can be booked as a one bedroom or a studio. At 7 months you have to hope that 21 VGC owners haven't taken those units for the days you want.

 

[MAGICX2]

If the speculation is that they won't be offering DVC stays until 2010, why would they put out (speculative) 2009 point charts?

 

[bethy]

If the speculation is that they won't be offering DVC stays until 2010, why would they put out (speculative) 2009 point charts?

The speculation is that you can use DVC points (based out of any home resort) to book stays on points at the Grand Califorinian hotel rooms through December 2009. But then starting in 2010 if you want to stay at that resort using points you would have to book at the new DVC villas which are opening in Nov 2009. The GCH hotel rooms will no longer be able to be booked with points, only cash.

This speculation is based on DVC's history on doing that with other resorts (Beach Club, AKL, BW Inn, etc). And the fact that the 2009 DLR hotel resort point chart has an asterisk next to the Grand Californian Hotel that states it is avail for booking through December 2009. The other 2 hotels on the chart have no such asterisk. They of course won't have DVC villas anytime soon and thus their hotel rooms could be presumably continue to be booked on points into 2010 and beyond. But very likely with an added $95 fee which has been implemented at WDW for non DVC resorts.

 

[DebbieB]

If the speculation is that they won't be offering DVC stays until 2010, why would they put out (speculative) 2009 point charts?

It is supposed to open in November. You would want to see the purposed point charts for the whole year before you buy. DVC has not put out 2010 point charts for any resort yet.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

If you find the magic wand can you convert my AKV points to GCV points too??

Yep, when i find the magic wand all posters on this thead will get automatic conversion from whatever they have now into GCV!

With that license plate you have to buy GCV!

I agree!!!!!

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Is it out there somewhere. Someone posted at DVCNews that they picked one up at DL. I have read other posts about expected faxes the chart today from their guides. I just got off of the phone with my guide who moved to FL shortly after I bought in CA. She doesn't have anything yet. I Just wonder how many of you out there are getting the real thing and does it match the one posted over at DVCNews?

 

[bethy]

Is it out there somewhere. Someone posted at DVCNews that they picked one up at DL. I have read other posts about expected faxes the chart today from their guides. I just got off of the phone with my guide who moved to FL shortly after I bought in CA. She doesn't have anything yet. I Just wonder how many of you out there are getting the real thing and does it match the one posted over at DVCNews?

I talked to my guide yesterday and she said she couldn't fax me a chart till 2/25? She said they just went to the printers and will be mailed to us ASAP. I'm buying right away b/c I want the DP's ASAP for a trip in early February and so I wanted to see the official chart before she charges my card on Sunday. Yes, I am a DVC sucker!

Note: she did give me point quotes for the times of year and size of units I wanted and they matched the DVCnews chart exactly. So I plan to plan my purchase around that and then do a quick double check of the official chart before signing on the dotted line.

 

[wdw4life]

I talked to my guide yesterday and she said she couldn't fax me a chart till 2/25? She said they just went to the printers and will be mailed to us ASAP. I'm buying right away b/c I want the DP's ASAP for a trip in early February and so I wanted to see the official chart before she charges my card on Sunday. Yes, I am a DVC sucker!

Note: she did give me point quotes for the times of year and size of units I wanted and they matched the DVCnews chart exactly. So I plan to plan my purchase around that and then do a quick double check of the official chart before signing on the dotted line.

Do you mean 1/25?

 

[bethy]

Do you mean 1/25?

Oops, yes - January 25, 2009.

 

[Brian Shepherd]

Great thread, I love the internet and message boards!


I am absolutely considering buying a DVC membership at the DLR.

I wonder what the initial buy-in will be in March!

 

[kerickson]

Great thread, I love the internet and message boards!


I am absolutely considering buying a DVC membership at the DLR.

I wonder what the initial buy-in will be in March!

My guess is that it will be the same as BLT: 160 min ($17,920) for new members and 100 min ($11,200)for add ons, although the new member buy in could go up to 200 since they were initially trying to do that with BLT. They will also probably give a $5 discount p/pt and matching Developer Points.

 

[MAGICX2]

The speculation is that you can use DVC points (based out of any home resort) to book stays on points at the Grand Califorinian hotel rooms through December 2009. But then starting in 2010 if you want to stay at that resort using points you would have to book at the new DVC villas which are opening in Nov 2009. The GCH hotel rooms will no longer be able to be booked with points, only cash.

The points charts I have seen for 2009 are for the VGC as a DVC unit, not using points at the GCH through the "Disney Collection."

I wanted to know why they would produce a DVC villa based points chart for 2009 if you can not make a VGC reservation as a DVC property until 2010. Why not just put out a "proposed" 2010 point chart?

 

[kerickson]

The points charts I have seen for 2009 are for the VGC as a DVC unit, not using points at the GCH through the "Disney Collection."

I wanted to know why they would produce a DVC villa based points chart for 2009 if you can not make a VGC reservation as a DVC property until 2010. Why not just put out a "proposed" 2010 point chart?

The villas are slated to open Nov/Dec 2009.

 

[Califgirl]

This speculation is based on DVC's history on doing that with other resorts (Beach Club, AKL, BW Inn, etc). And the fact that the 2009 DLR hotel resort point chart has an asterisk next to the Grand Californian Hotel that states it is avail for booking through December 2009. The other 2 hotels on the chart have no such asterisk. They of course won't have DVC villas anytime soon and thus their hotel rooms could be presumably continue to be booked on points into 2010 and beyond. But very likely with an added $95 fee which has been implemented at WDW for non DVC resorts.

I think DVC is just shooting themselves in the foot with the 100pt min. to buy in and the rumored (with good reason) $95 fee to use points at the Calif. hotels. Why? Because most of their target market are Calif. or West Coast residents, who probably make multiple trips to DLR per year. Most stay less than a week, and book less than 6 months out. I for one, can find excellent accomodations in walking distance of the parks for less than the $95 'exchange fee' they want to charge, plus the privilege of using an exhorbinant number of points per night. Especially if I am only staying 2 nights. It just seems they are pricing themselves out of the market to some degree if they implement that $95 charge. As much as I love staying at the DLR hotels, there are lots of options in the area and some are very nice and much less expensive.

As far as using the DVC points in CA., I'm not sure how many truly 'long distance travelers' are chomping at the bit to buy VGC (GCV?) but it is unlikely there is a large contingent who will plan their trips 11 - 7 months ahead and stay for a week, and do that every year like people do for the DVC properties in FLA or even HH. I'm sure some times of the year will be impossible to get, but I won't be surprised if there is some availability during the year for the casual DVCer. Of course, I could be wrong (it's certainly happened before!)

I am now kicking myself for buying more points than I needed in order to become a Founding Member, only to discover that the minimum buy in is 100 points. That is way more than I was ever intending to purchase.

Yep, when i find the magic wand all posters on this thead will get automatic conversion from whatever they have now into GCV!

Thank you! I have some HH points that I would love to convert to GCV.