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

[CaliMouseVacationeer]

hmmm throw in the mickey penthouse!!! i'm still on the fence and that may send me over the edge..

Hey can't blame me for trying last time i said throw in some ap's then all the sudden someone said ap's are being offered. lol

M.I.C.K.E.Y P.E.N.T.H.O.U.S.E

Oh, oh, oh, I got one! Throw in unlimited fast passes!!!!

 

[tidefan]

Major, MAJOR hugs to those who are shut out by the 100 point minimum. I was almost shut out too and I so feel your pain.

That would be me, so thanks for the hugs. However, after seeing the point charts and with the reallocations that has altered my strategy a bit and I am just going to probably add-on eventually to my home resort of SSR and hope that I can get in for 4 or 5 days somewhere in the future.

However, I fully expect a second DL DVC in the next 5 years, so maybe we'll just wait for that. In the meantime, we were just going to go every 3 years anyway so we'll be happy at the DLH if need be for now...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a done deal!!!!!!!!!

.........

Major, MAJOR hugs to those who are shut out by the 100 point minimum. I was almost shut out too and I so feel your pain.

Fifty years of trips to Disney for my family, friends, future grandkids, etc!

And me too.

I'm still ticked about the minimum. I've been gone but am back home and plan on contacting DVC. Gotta re-read the contract we had but I still feel that they are not honoring what was agreed to.

But congratulations to you Bethy and all other buyers.

 

[dcfromva]

My evolving point requirements creep...
At first I was planning to buy 3-55 add-ons (165 points), but the founding member paperwork said there would be a maximum of 160pts.

Then, it was leaked that we could buy more than 160 points, but the contracts had to be in at least 100point increments. With the per night point requirements, I settled on 2-100pt contracts.... A little bit of a stretch, but it will give us more flexibility if we ever decide to downsize.

Now, they have an incentive that is juuuust 20 pts away....oh boouy. With the point reallocation annoucement, I'm thinking maybe I need a little more of a cushion. 2-110 point contracts would give me that extra recommended 10%. .... (I know my extended family will be cheering me on! )

 

[nunzia]

May I ask for just one further clarification? The minimum of 100 that your guide mentioned, was that a true buy-in minimum or a minimum for receiving the incentive of the developer points and the $5 per point incentive? The reason I'm asking is I, too, spoke with my guide yesterday and he thought they might offer a 50-point bottom but you would need buy a minimum of 100 for the incentives that have been discussed here. (I'm only stating what our guide said and he stated that he "thought" that might be the case.)

We're going to be getting our 100 point add-on (and a few additional if we feel the need) contract on Wednesday as we're running around this weekend and our guide is off on Monday and Tuesday. We're both looking forward to more wonderful stays at the DLR!!

My guide also mentioned things were still being tweaked..he thought he could split my contract into 2 smaller (60 and 50) but would not know for sure until later..I'm not a founder. He also seemed to think the maximum was still at 160 for founders, but I guess we'll see tomorrow as the buying really begins. It looks like the guides are having plenty of drama on their end not knowing stuff for sure. I hope tomorrow we'll get lots of posts full of details.
I see the revised (same as pulled) charts are back, but are the VGC charts on the member site?

 

[kerickson]

My guide also mentioned things were still being tweaked..he thought he could split my contract into 2 smaller (60 and 50) but would not know for sure until later..I'm not a founder. He also seemed to think the maximum was still at 160 for founders, but I guess we'll see tomorrow as the buying really begins. It looks like the guides are having plenty of drama on their end not knowing stuff for sure. I hope tomorrow we'll get lots of posts full of details.
I see the revised (same as pulled) charts are back, but are the VGC charts on the member site?

I'm hoping contracts can be broken up as that would really help if you want to add on later. WDW members have the historical purchases to be able to add on smaller contracts via resale, but VGC would only be able to add on 100pts, that seems really harsh. In reality, though, most resales will probably get snatched up quickly and won't ever make it past ROFR...

I too was worried when I didn't see the VGC charts posted, maybe they are just waiting until the official opening sales day (tomorrow) I'm hoping they aren't making additional tweeks like increasing point requirements for an early Dec stay, that was the ONLY thing I was happy about with the previous chart

 

[bethy]

Tidefan, I actually prefer the DLH to GCH with the possible exception of location. So one little downside to me is that we'll be unlikely to ever get to stay there much. I think there will be another DVC onsite too someday but wonder if they'll have to get Hawaii built and sold first . . . Let's hope VGC points fly off the shelves so that they feel encouraged to build again!

I hope that someday we can do small add ons too but doubt there will ever be many points available for sale - either through DVC or the resale market. I hope I'm wrong b/c I'd love to buy more points someday.

dcfromva, I can totally relate to your points creep! I wish I had that problem! Enjoy!

With regards to the points chart my guide basically said that they aren't allowed to officially release it till tomorrow. She didn't think it would change. I wish that it would do the same thing as the WDW charts - have the weekends get cheaper and the weekdays more expensive since we are weekend travellers! I suspect that the vast majority of DLR visitors like to be there over a weekend though - esp during the off season for better hours and entertainment and to not have to miss much work or school.

 

[toocherie]

Thanks so much for the clarification! WOW, you have to drive up there to get 2 APs?? UGH. I think I will have to go on Sunday then and just do it. What a silly thing to require. I will be talking with my guide Sunday too (she is off today and tomorrow). Great to hear about the cruise line. If you have to finish travel by Oct, that would be really really silly. But if you can book by Oct, it would be a fantastic way to use those points!

Appreciate your post! Keep the info coming.

We are on the fence about 300 or 400 points. I need to find that darn point chart.

Rod

I am so sorry--let me revise this again--DCL is NOT an option for use of the DPs (I think all the discussion here I was assuming it was--wrong!)

So, to CLARIFY

Buying 220 or more VGC points AT DISNEYLAND will give you, in addition to matching developer points which have to be used by October 3, 2009, TWO ANNUAL PASSES. The additional fact there is that you have to go to Disneyland to get the passes and sign your paperwork there in the Disneyland DVC office. So I'm going to have to physically go into the office (not a huge deal for me since I live so close). (THIS IS STILL CORRECT)

My understanding is that the Developer points can be used for THREE purposes:

prior to October 3, 2009 stay at SSR;

at the three Disneyland hotels;OR

deposit in RCI for an exchange up to the next two years (not sure what date has to be deposited by, but presumably have to deposit by Oct. 3); or

It cannot be used for a DCL cruise.

 

[toocherie]

Cheryl,
I'd like to know about the RCI deposit and DCL use of DP.
Thanks, Angela

Angela: see my clarification--the DPs cannot be used for DCL.

I will be talking further with my guide today and getting clarification on the RCI deposit timeframe.

Cheryl

 

[kikiq]

Now, they have an incentive that is juuuust 20 pts away....oh boouy. With the point reallocation annoucement, I'm thinking maybe I need a little more of a cushion. 2-110 point contracts would give me that extra recommended 10%. .... (I know my extended family will be cheering me on! )

Adopt me!!!!!!!
I'm one of those still on the fence. Was ready to buy 50/75 points. 100 points and the high points for weekends are doing me in right now. Thinking I might have to save our money for now.

 

[blizzard]

I've been interested in California points since they have been announced. I have been a DVC member since 1997, so never had the opportunity to join DVC in CA, so no shot at being a founding member. I was pretty unhappy when I first heard about the founding member program, because I thought it was unfair to those of us who have always been interested in a DL DVC, but bought before there were even sales in CA.

Anyway, this morning I had a bit of an epiphany. I realized that I am probably better off to NOT be a founding member. Obviously Disney has no concerns that founding members will scoop up all the points, or they wouldn't have raised the point maximum from 160 to 500. (there would be an outcry if they raised the contractual maximum and then ran out of points before regular members got a shot at them) Because I can't buy until late March, I have my money to hang onto longer, and more time to save for a larger down payment. I doubt that Disney will start reservations before the date I can buy, and I doubt that incentives will change all that much between now and then, so there really is no downside to not being a founding member.

In the end, anyone who bought the FL properties with the sole purpose of becoming a founding member may regret that decision, as I really don't think it makes much if any difference in the end.

 

[rodserry]

It's good to see another perspective. We bought at AKV through DL because we wanted the absolute guarantee of points at GCV. I am even more thrilled that they raised the minimum from a measly 160 points (3-4 nights only) to 500. FYI, I spoke to my guide today and she told me to come in ASAP to buy the points because she really thought they would sell out within about a month. Only time will tell if that comes true (in this crazy economy) but I am happy to know I will have my points for sure tomorrow. This is something we too have been wanting forever.

Rod

 

[bethy]

blizzard I am a Founding member and I think I agree with you. For me I knew we wanted to travel periodically to WDW anyway and so it wasn't a huge deal to buy the 100 pt contract at AKV to get that absolute guarantee for VGC points. Also at the time the economy still looked pretty decent. If it had stayed decent then I think there would have been a big rush for VGC points but that existing DVC members would have still gotten a shot at points. But maybe not all exisitng members - at some point they would have run out of points I think. I didn't want to worry about getting first in line esp since I didn't plan on buying a huge contract.

At this point I think sales will even make it to the general public but that maybe not all the general public will get to buy all of the points they want. So I'm still glad I bought in earlier. I will heartily enjoy my trips to AKV and maybe also other resorts there. And I will REALLY cherish my guaranteed annual trips to DLR because I am a DLR girl at heart.

BUT if I had been an existing member already like you are I believe I would have taken my chances unless I happened to want points at SSR, BLT or AKV anyway.

 

[kerickson]

It will be interesting to see what happens. I'm buying more than I planned due to the 100 pt min (originally planned 63, then 90 once the BLT points chart came out, now 100) Some members will not buy at all due to the 100 pt min, and some founding members will buy quite a bit now that the max has been raised to 500. We'll know the reality by April/May....

 

[maberlyne]

I have another question. So is there still matching DP for a 100 pt purchase? Or do only get matching DP if you buy a minimum of 160?

Also.. this is a random question. Is the minimum amount you can buy (when you first become a DVC member) 160 across the board? Or is that dependent on the specific resort? We just bought in at BLT for 160, which I believe was the minimum. But was AKV 100 points minimum? Doesn't really matter now, but it would be good to know. I'm still happy with my decision regardless.

Oh, one more question. I don't think my guide (that we bought from) actually ever gave me a card or anything. He knows I am very interested in the GCV and told me he'd let me know to get me going on that. But I'm thinking I should call... so do I just call the main DVC and ask for him? Or is there a better way? (Like a directory on the website or something)

 

[bethy]

I have another question. So is there still matching DP for a 100 pt purchase? Or do only get matching DP if you buy a minimum of 160?

Also.. this is a random question. Is the minimum amount you can buy (when you first become a DVC member) 160 across the board? Or is that dependent on the specific resort? We just bought in at BLT for 160, which I believe was the minimum. But was AKV 100 points minimum? Doesn't really matter now, but it would be good to know. I'm still happy with my decision regardless.

Oh, one more question. I don't think my guide (that we bought from) actually ever gave me a card or anything. He knows I am very interested in the GCV and told me he'd let me know to get me going on that. But I'm thinking I should call... so do I just call the main DVC and ask for him? Or is there a better way? (Like a directory on the website or something)

The minimum seems to change now and then. For a long while it was 160 for all resorts. Then they had a promotion last summer for AKV where it was 100. Then just now (jan 15) at BLT only it raised to 200? Or maybe not - I've heard conflicting reports on that one. Years ago when DVC first started the buy in was around 230, then 150, then 160, etc. I think it just depends on the market and demand.

Well I get a ton of DVC communications that each have my guides name and number on it. Did you buy recently? I'd maybe check your paperwork. If nothing else I'd go to the DVC website and call the main sales number and ask for him. Did you buy at DLR? If so then you are probably able to do the VGC Founding members program which means you could buy starting tomorrow if your BLT contract has cleared escrow. If not then you need to wait till 3/26. If you were part of the Founding Members deal then you should have already received some mailings about it. But maybe not if you just joined recently. I'd just call your guide. I think there will be plenty of VGC points for all but I wouldn't wait too long either.

Welcome to DVC!

 

[JW9DVC]

Just talked to my California Guide. She has the official point charts. Can't send them out yet. Confirming even further what was said.

Matching developer points. Didn't say must be used before certain date.
240 points get the APs. 10% down of 1488 after $5 incentive p/p,
monthly would be $329. MF $3.82

Going to sell my 200 at SSR probably. JW

 

[toocherie]

Hmm--my guide said 220 get the APs IF you go to DL to buy.

 

[rodserry]

Hmm--my guide said 220 get the APs IF you go to DL to buy.

My guide did too. I think it's 220. Going up tomorrow to sign paperwork so we can get the 2 APs. Wife is going to be able to sign from home after the fact, thank goodness. Rod.

 

[amyup]

Does anyone know if it is $5 off or a gift card ($500 gc for 100point purchase) as the incentive??