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

[bethy]

Disney Gift Card

 

[bethy]

Here's my current question that's bothering me a bit given all the recent point chart adjustments . . . What else will be in the contract that I need to look out for. For example, can DVC instate a minimum stay? If it's five nights then what does that mean to me, a person who owns a small contract of 105 points? AND is there also a possibility of banking and/or borrowing to ever be at risk over the next 50 years? If so then would my ownership share be worth much if anything to me at all?

I'll be going over the contract with a fine tooth comb.

 

[rodserry]

Disney Gift Card

Are you sure? My guide today told me the $5 discount "comes right off the top" of the price. I definitely don't want 400x$5 in gift card value! .

Rod

 

[bethy]

Are you sure? My guide today told me the $5 discount "comes right off the top" of the price. I definitely don't want 400x$5 in gift card value! .

Rod

The gift card can be applied toward your purchase. So it's all good! 400 points - that's awesome! Congrats!!!

 

[toocherie]

I'm so excited! My guide called to get my credit card info for my purchase--it's happening! Rod--I'm excited that you are signing tomorrow--glad that worked out for you.

 

[DebbieB]

Here's my current question that's bothering me a bit given all the recent point chart adjustments . . . What else will be in the contract that I need to look out for. For example, can DVC instate a minimum stay? If it's five nights then what does that mean to me, a person who owns a small contract of 105 points? AND is there also a possibility of banking and/or borrowing to ever be at risk over the next 50 years? If so then would my ownership share be worth much if anything to me at all?

I'll be going over the contract with a fine tooth comb.

I believe there is a clause in the current contracts saying that banking and borrowing can be suspended.

 

[Michaeljsz]

Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering a few things, first off are people really giving credit card info for contracts before there's an actuall official points chart posted on the member site? I know there's been "leaked" information out there but until I see it on the member site and see it for myself I'm really on the fence. Secondly, correct me of I'm wrong but last time I checked the economy sucks so one would think our DL guides would be calling founding members to give out information and see if, when and how many points each of us are wanting to buy considering it's a commison based position. I've had to make all the initial calls and the last time I made on was 2 weeks ago and have'nt heard a thing since. Thirdly, why would you offer something for sale, because today is the first official sale day for GCV and not have the official points chart posted on the website? To me it almost comes across like DVC is playing games and I'm very disappointed in DVC right now. Please someone set me straight if I'm way off base with this, one minute I wanna buy and the next I figure Ill just keeping using my points at DLH and probably be just as happy and not worry about having an 11 month booking window.

 

[JW9DVC]

Michaeljsz

You may have a fee imposed for stays at DLH after VGC opens. Just a thought for you to consider also. Guides have the point charts, just ask. JW

 

[kerickson]

Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering a few things, first off are people really giving credit card info for contracts before there's an actuall official points chart posted on the member site? I know there's been "leaked" information out there but until I see it on the member site and see it for myself I'm really on the fence. Secondly, correct me of I'm wrong but last time I checked the economy sucks so one would think our DL guides would be calling founding members to give out information and see if, when and how many points each of us are wanting to buy considering it's a commison based position. I've had to make all the initial calls and the last time I made on was 2 weeks ago and have'nt heard a thing since. Thirdly, why would you offer something for sale, because today is the first official sale day for GCV and not have the official points chart posted on the website? To me it almost comes across like DVC is playing games and I'm very disappointed in DVC right now. Please someone set me straight if I'm way off base with this, one minute I wanna buy and the next I figure Ill just keeping using my points at DLH and probably be just as happy and not worry about having an 11 month booking window.

I am definitely scrutinizing this purchase alot more closely given the current economy. Even though I have had some reservations about such a large purchase, my reasons for wanting to purchase VGC in this economy are:
1. Emotional - we've been waiting for the VGC and are already invested by purchasing pts at WDW to have this opportunity. Not a great reason, but many Disney experiences are emotional, or who would pay what they charge for tickets and food!? Disney vacations are the only destination we all love, so it's also an investment in our family. We lead busy lives and like the idea of a preset/prepaid vacation that we have to take every year.
2. VGC points will actually be cheaper in the long run than my SSR points due to the lower MFs. Now the MFs could go up, but since the villas are such a small % of the resort and the overall resort has a pretty small footprint, I don't think they'll go up above SSR which is much larger and just added the Treehouses which will be high maintanence.
3. It's also cheaper for our family to travel to DL than WDW. Now we could use our SSR points to stay at the DLH or PPH, but personally I'd rather stay at the Grand or offsite. DLH does have some magic so we still might stay there occasionally, but those points will keep going up and will be eventually be higher than VGC points, especially when you look at spreading the $95 fee over a short visit. So, 10 years from now I think VGC will look like a good deal.

Regarding the guides, from what I hear they've been inundated with calls from prospective buyers, and since they were told they can't proactively give out info until today, I don't don't think they saw the point of making outbound sales calls yet. That said, I do think Disney hasn't handled this launch well, just like they botched the communication of the point chart and waitlist changes. I think they need to take a good look at their Communications/Marketing team and make some changes...

Regarding the 7mo mark, I'm not sure how that is going to work out, but I think it will be very difficult to get 7mo reservations. I'm not sure what the slow DVC time will be yet, and I don't want to take my chances that it's during the times I can't go. I think even members will have to waitlist much of the time (48 units don't go very far during a peak season). I think non members getting reservations at 7mo will be based more on luck than anything else, probably only when members have to cancel at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. There won't be the scenario of reservations opening up because a member waitlisted somewhere else as there's nowhere else to waitlist.

All this said, it is still important to think through this purchase because of the economy. I personally wouldn't finance a purchase like this in times like this (unless you have a very low debt to asset ratio), so we are only buying points we can pay with cash. One advantage Disney has is that you can't really ponder too long about this purchase. I think once it's sold out it will be very difficult to buy resale or do add ons from Disney. I think they will buy most contracts back and will have a long running list of interested buyers... Rather than risk not being able to purchase or not being able to reserve at 7mo with VGC, I'm going to take that risk with Hawaii. I'd love to own DVC Hawaii (specifically because you won't have other yearly expenses like park tickets with a Hawaii vacation), but plan to wait to see how it sells and try to book at 7mo. If I can't book there at 7mo, then we may look at buying some points in the future, but that would be many years down the road. Given Hawaii really doesn't have an offseason and will have quite a few rooms, I think it will be easier to book at 7mo than VGC.

Whether you buy or not, the beauty of DLR is that you will still be able to stay at DLH or PPH, and those will probably turn into DVC resorts in the coming years, so there will probably be other DVC opportunities. Offsite stays are also great alternatives. We'll probably stay offsite 1 or 2 times a year regardless to take advantage of APs.

Best of luck with your decision!

 

[toocherie]

Like kerickson, I bought at SSR for the sole purpose of getting first crack at VGC. I did see (and printed) a points chart the other day; the "final" one may vary some. I'm prepared for that. Many of kerickson's points are the same for me; DLR is my resort of choice, and I think it will be extremely difficult to make reservations at the 7 month mark--at least for the first few years and maybe even only when a second DVC opens at DLR.

So yes, I have handed over my cc info and am prepared to go ahead. Doesn't mean I like how this process (and the other recent events) have been handled. Although I will say that my guide has been very communicative and responsive. He was calling me at 9 p.m. last night to get the info he needed to prepare my contract for today.

 

[rodserry]

Like kerickson, I bought at SSR for the sole purpose of getting first crack at VGC. I did see (and printed) a points chart the other day; the "final" one may vary some. I'm prepared for that. Many of kerickson's points are the same for me; DLR is my resort of choice, and I think it will be extremely difficult to make reservations at the 7 month mark--at least for the first few years and maybe even only when a second DVC opens at DLR.

So yes, I have handed over my cc info and am prepared to go ahead. Doesn't mean I like how this process (and the other recent events) have been handled. Although I will say that my guide has been very communicative and responsive. He was calling me at 9 p.m. last night to get the info he needed to prepare my contract for today.

What she said! Word for word. We are signing today. FYI the 2 APs you get for signing on site can either be used at DL or WDW. You need to specify when you go in to sign. I will pick up a point chart. Also no MFs to pay until the Grand opens (likely Nov or Dec). SSR developer points have to be used by Oct 3rd.

You have 2 months to buy under the founding member program. So if you don't want to get the point chart today, wait and buy next week, or the week after.... I am not sure why you are "disappointed with Disney." They guarantee 160 points for purchase to founding members for 59 more days. Nothing says you buy today or the game is over.

 

[bethy]

I agree that the guides' hands were somewhat tied until today. And today, they have a bunch of contracts to process and enter. There are still 2 whole months left of the Founder presale period and I have no doubt they will contact every single eligibile potential buyer during that time. And also have the official chart out very soon. That chart is a big deal b/c once it is out the total number of points is set and even the specific allocations can only be changed so much per year. DLR is a new animal for them and so a lot of thought is going into anticipating demand for different seasons and room sizes and days of the week. The resort doesn't open till Nov 2009 and so it's not that big of a rush. For me I'm only rushing b/c I want the DP's for a trip I already had scheduled in early Feb. I might as well use them for that and it will actually be my only opportunity.

Supply and demand, that's the heart of it. And while initial demand might be down overall for VGC there are quite a few folks like me for whom the emotional investment is so strong that it's worth it. Even when the rollout has not been perfectly ideal. The product is to valuable for small issues to be a roadblock. I am not hesitating to buy - but I'm doing it with my eyes wide open. 50 years is a loooooong time. This economic crisis will be ancient history by then. God willing I will still be alive at 85 to have enjoyed many magical visits to DLR in the meantime.

 

[toocherie]

50 years is a loooooong time. This economic crisis will be ancient history by then. God willing I will still be alive at 85 to have enjoyed many magical visits to DLR in the meantime.

I'm with you bethy. I'm bummed that the economy is doing what it is doing too. But I do feel like opportunities to buy at VGC will be limited in the future--so it's now or never. If you've made that decision might as well just go for it.

BTW, I had the same issue--wanting to use DPs for a trip already planned at the end of February and my guide indicated I should be able to book with them soon.

And -- I'm not planning on making 101 (50 years for me!) GCV will be my heirs' issue then!

 

[SanDeeKath]

Soooo, has anyone bought today?

We are proud owners of 480 points!!! YIPEEE. Went up and signed papers today. Originally we were going to go for 400 but we really want to stay in the 3bedroom with family and MAAAN are those a lot of points.

I will get more details including a point chart up in the next couple hours. Have to go throw a birthday party for my 9 year old right now.

Katherine

 

[bethy]

Welcome home, neighbor! And a Happy Magical Birthday to your son! What a present! We bought today too, though the paperwork is being Fed Ex'd to us on Monday since we're up in Washington state.

 

[toocherie]

Well, I haven't bought officially yet--but my Guide took my credit card info last night and indicated my developer points would be available early next week. I'm supposed to go in soon and sign. (500 points!)

 

[SanDeeKath]

Thanks! We are so excited. Our guide said our bonus points will hit our account tonight or tomorrow!

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what they are doing with people who own use years in the Spring? We have Sept UY with AKV so we just got Sept UY with GCV too. That works out perfect since booking is supposed to start around March for a planned opening of November 2009. But what if you have a UY of March or APril? DO you have ot wait till 2010 to get points??

Katherine

 

[ToodlesRN]

Soooo, has anyone bought today?

We are proud owners of 480 points!!! YIPEEE. Went up and signed papers today. Originally we were going to go for 400 but we really want to stay in the 3bedroom with family and MAAAN are those a lot of points.

I will get more details including a point chart up in the next couple hours. Have to go throw a birthday party for my 9 year old right now.

Katherine

Congrats Katherine!!!

Talked to Heidi today and we bought 200 points today!

Can't wait to stay there!!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks! We are so excited. Our guide said our bonus points will hit our account tonight or tomorrow!

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what they are doing with people who own use years in the Spring? We have Sept UY with AKV so we just got Sept UY with GCV too. That works out perfect since booking is supposed to start around March for a planned opening of November 2009. But what if you have a UY of March or APril? DO you have ot wait till 2010 to get points??

Katherine

I have an April use year, so I would like to know the answer (I'm not a founding member). If I could get 2009 points, that would clinch the deal for me. I would bank them and go twice next year.

 

[SanDeeKath]

OK, here is the point chart for GCV 2010!!! I did a quick scan in but will try a higher resolution image later tonight!