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

[ACDSNY]

Bethy - I've been having a lot of the same thoughts in addition to our kids are now married adults so our unit size can vary from a studio for DH & I to a 2 bdrm if our kids come. If the min stays at 100 I'm not sure what we're going to do. I'll probably buy less points just because I don't want a large contract, all our contracts are 100 points or less and evenly split so our 2 kids won't have fight over them.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Bethy - I've been having a lot of the same thoughts in addition to our kids are now married adults so our unit size can vary from a studio for DH & I to a 2 bdrm if our kids come. If the min stays at 100 I'm not sure what we're going to do. I'll probably buy less points just because I don't want a large contract, all our contracts are 100 points or less and evenly split so our 2 kids won't have fight over them.

Sounds to me like you need two 100 point contracts. I know you have posted before that you can't afford that much but isn't some other points you could sell to help offset the cost?

 

[nunzia]

Bethy - I've been having a lot of the same thoughts in addition to our kids are now married adults so our unit size can vary from a studio for DH & I to a 2 bdrm if our kids come. If the min stays at 100 I'm not sure what we're going to do. I'll probably buy less points just because I don't want a large contract, all our contracts are 100 points or less and evenly split so our 2 kids won't have fight over them.

We have the same issue.
As of now we have: Studio stays of 2 or 3 nights for DH and myself (we sometimes take the train and it gives you 2 extra full days in the park. You get to the park at 7:00am on day of arrival and leave at 7:00 pm day of departure)..but I also love the fireworks and Fantasmic (and soon, I am sure, World of Color) so I'll need a weekend night sometimes.
THEN..We have a DD who is single with 2 kids, a DS who is married with almost 3 kids and another DS who is married with 3. SO if we all went that is 15 people and no configuation really works for that! Plus with that many people things slow down so 3-4 nights are ideal. Sooo..it is really hard to figure what will work the best..110 is about the max of what I'm willing to invest, so we'll work it from there.

 

[ACDSNY]

Sounds to me like you need two 100 point contracts. I know you have posted before that you can't afford that much but isn't some other points you could sell to help offset the cost?

All out of small contracts to sell, I would have to 100 SSR or 100 AKV and both are stripped out for our Nov trip.

 

[lisah0711]

Talked to my Guide this morning and bought my VGC points. They won't process the paperwork until this week-end. They are still waiting for finalizing the points charts but I felt comfortable that the number of points I am purchasing are sufficient so told him to just go ahead.

I am so happy! I have been waiting for this for more than two years!

 

[bethy]

Talked to my Guide this morning and bought my VGC points. They won't process the paperwork until this week-end. They are still waiting for finalizing the points charts but I felt comfortable that the number of points I am purchasing are sufficient so told him to just go ahead.

I am so happy! I have been waiting for this for more than two years!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks!

 

[kerickson]

Talked to my Guide this morning and bought my VGC points. They won't process the paperwork until this week-end. They are still waiting for finalizing the points charts but I felt comfortable that the number of points I am purchasing are sufficient so told him to just go ahead.

I am so happy! I have been waiting for this for more than two years!

Congrats lisah0711!!

My method is to buy what I can afford, then find a way to make the points work. Right now we can afford 100 pts (was planning on 90 or 95, but 100 is ok with the incentives) I've put together a spreadsheet based on the latest point chart that show multiple ways we can take 2 vacations every 3 years with 100pts (300 total). I've allowed for low season stays, high season stays, week night and weekend stays. I think I've built in alot of flexibilty, so 100 points will be fine.

The only thing that would screw me up is if they ever implemented a min stay at VGC... but I think there would be anarchy if they ever tried that

Now I need to start budgeting for tickets for the next 50 years! We have 2 Premium APs from our initial SSR purchase, so that will take away the sting for the next year. I'm hoping we don't get too comfortable with AP's though...

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

all our contracts are 100 points or less and evenly split so our 2 kids won't have fight over them.

So what if you get 100 now and get 100 resale in a couple of years. Do you think you get by with 100 for a couple of years? Maybe the 7 month booking window won't be the nightmare we all think it is going to be.

Or could you break your 100 point rule and get say 150 or 160 and when you pass it on to your kids, give that one to them to own jointly. It couldn't be too hard for them to just share those points.

 

[wdw4life]

Maybe the 7 month booking window won't be the nightmare we all think it is going to be.

That may well be the case. The points chart will probably discourage a lot of non owners from trying it out. Especially in the higher seasons. But I still think the studios and one bedrooms will be hard to get 7 months out. Since there are only 21 two bedroom lock off units you have to hope that 21 GCV owners haven't already booked the consecutive dates you want before you even try. And that those members haven't booked them as a two bedroom. Plus, once the 7 month windows opens you have to hope that the other thousands of members haven't been able to squeeze in ahead of you. My personal belief is those units will be very hard to come by for non owners. Not impossible but I think people are going to be disappointed more often than not. The two bedrooms, however, should be easier to get. Since there are 29 dedicated units there is a much better chance that those will still be available.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

My personal belief is those units will be very hard to come by for non owners. Not impossible but I think people are going to be disappointed more often than not.

Yep. I think you right. That's why we are all buying even with those steep point charts.

 

[bethy]

Wow! I somehow missed that all 48 units weren't lock off units. Only 21 studios and one bedrooms??? YIKES! Why on earth would they limit flexibility that way? I guess there is a business reason for wanting fewer DVC parties there at any given time? It is a darn good thing that booking 11 months happens to be doable for our family.

I've got a call in to my guide to set up the paperwork. 105 points!

 

[wdw4life]

Yep. I think you right. That's why we are all buying even with those steep point charts.

Yes, same here.

Wow! I somehow missed that all 48 units weren't lock off units. Only 21 studios and one bedrooms??? YIKES! Why on earth would they limit flexibility that way? I guess there is a business reason for wanting fewer DVC parties there at any given time? It is a darn good thing that booking 11 months happens to be doable for our family.

I've got a call in to my guide to set up the paperwork. 105 points!

It doesn't make sense to me either. I can only assume it is cheaper to build the dedicated units or is saving them money somehow.

The breakdown of units was reported on DVCNews. It's the only place I've seen it.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

I've got a call in to my guide to set up the paperwork. 105 points!

Congrats!

 

[tjkraz]

It doesn't make sense to me either. I can only assume it is cheaper to build the dedicated units or is saving them money somehow.

The breakdown of units was reported on DVCNews. It's the only place I've seen it.

I don't know about the financial aspect but I think you'll find those who book Two Bedroom villas prefer dedicated over lockoffs. With a dedicated you get two queen beds in the second bedroom. There is extra closet space. You don't have that extra entry door.

Even if you make them all lockoffs, there will still be people booking Two Bedroom villas. Ideally they want to have enough dedicated rooms to meet the demand for 2B villas.

Those breakout numbers were provided to me by someone in Imagineering but it would certainly be wise to confirm. While that SHOULD be accurate, I didn't have multiple sources available for confirmation.

 

[squidmo]

Wow! I somehow missed that all 48 units weren't lock off units. Only 21 studios and one bedrooms??? YIKES! Why on earth would they limit flexibility that way? I guess there is a business reason for wanting fewer DVC parties there at any given time? It is a darn good thing that booking 11 months happens to be doable for our family.

I've got a call in to my guide to set up the paperwork. 105 points!

I can think of a couple of reasons:

1) Logistics- having all lock-offs would greatly increase the difficulty of the Room Scheduler's job, and increase the likelyhood of "orphaned" rooms- single rooms that couldn't be matched up with others of it's type. I suspect that the 21 lockoffs will effectively act as dedicated studios & one bedrooms, which should make keeping the rooms full easier.

2) 2 BR Points/night: If they were all lockoffs, the nigntly points for a two bedroom would have to be exactly equal to the points for a studio + 1 BR, however, DVC usually has the 2 BR points price be slightly less than that (and on the VGC point charts we've seen this is the case). So not having all lockoffs allows DVC to keep the relationships between the point requirements for a Studio/1Br/2BR more in line with the existing resorts.

 

[maberlyne]

Hello! I'm a very new owner and hopefully owner of GCV when they go on sale! I was curious if anyone had heard anything about the event they're going to have in March for the GCV. Our guide mentioned it to us this week (that's when we bought). He made it sound like it's going to be a really neat event. But I have no further information besides March

 

[wdw4life]

I don't know about the financial aspect but I think you'll find those who book Two Bedroom villas prefer dedicated over lockoffs. With a dedicated you get two queen beds in the second bedroom. There is extra closet space. You don't have that extra entry door.

Even if you make them all lockoffs, there will still be people booking Two Bedroom villas. Ideally they want to have enough dedicated rooms to meet the demand for 2B villas.

Those breakout numbers were provided to me by someone in Imagineering but it would certainly be wise to confirm. While that SHOULD be accurate, I didn't have multiple sources available for confirmation.

That's true. Unless you have annoying family members you are traveling with and want to get away from.

I may need to confirm with my guide then to see if that breakdown is accurate. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[maberlyne]

Ooh I just thought of another question! I hope you all will bear with me and my stupidity!

Are there any known incentives yet for buying GCV? I thought I saw somewhere that there was a $5 discount if you bought over 100 pts. I was kinda hoping there'd be something like the founders tile at BLT... that would be awesome! But of course, I'd be okay with a free vacation or something else of the like!

 

[wdw4life]

Ooh I just thought of another question! I hope you all will bear with me and my stupidity!

Are there any known incentives yet for buying GCV? I thought I saw somewhere that there was a $5 discount if you bought over 100 pts. I was kinda hoping there'd be something like the founders tile at BLT... that would be awesome! But of course, I'd be okay with a free vacation or something else of the like!

I think I heard it is $112.00 with a $5.00 discount, minimum 100 point add on on. Also matching developer points. If I'm wrong someone please correct me.