DVC at DL

[dbanzai]

Any details you can share?

Thanks

Nothing worth reporting... I walked passed the SSR models and they were still under wraps, so if that's where the models are, they are not ready.

They confirmed 50 units, from studio to 3 br. They mentioned something about a new observation deck.

I'm meeting with my guide tomorrow to find out more about Founding Member stuff and will ask about the models and such then.

Otherwise, it was just a physical version of the DVD and book, with Casey there in person.

one of the Disney Files guys was there, and spoke a bit about the DCA rehab, and had a few videos. He confirmed the return of the Flying Saucers, and spoke a bit about Cars Land... Sounds like it will be amazing, 'cause it will be almost totally immersive: Berm philosophy, with what sounds like great rocky landscaping.

 

[dbanzai]

Oh, and one other thing... I may have misunderstood what he was talking about, as I easedropping (forgive me! ), but this was odd.

As I was waiting on line to get into the meeting, two CMs were talking behind me at the end of the cue. The guy was talking about new projects, and said how they (presumably DVC) was busy. He said that they had the GCV in the works and then started to say something about a new thing, over there (at this point I was looking at him, he was pointing to the far corner of PPH, kinda catcorner "between" PPH and the parking garage (the side opposite DLH).

Now could that be the talk of the evenutal new park, or of Cars Land? I was getting the impression he was talking about another DVC venture.

Speculation and overeager ears. It may be nothing, but I'm certainly curious. I may ask about that too tomorrow.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Please let us know what happens tomorrow. Isn't the big revealing of the GCV villas tomorrow? I wish I kept my invitation to see what it said....


Katherine

 

[DebbieB]

3 bedroom? I thought they were all 2 bedroom lockoffs.

 

[dbanzai]

I'm next to positive I heard the guy say three bedroom villas...

Oh, another things they mentioned: Apparently, they will start offering "Short Stays," three-to-six night stays at places in the World Passport Collection. It looks like set prices wherever you go. I wasn't fast enough to get everything in my notes. All I have written is 14 pts/nights in a studio Sunday-Thursday,

The incentives are only for the duration of the Getaway Days, and if you are here I think... The $8 discout plus 130 one-time points for 100 add-ons, ranging to the discount, plus 2 APs at DL or WDW, a night's stay at the Mickey Penthouse (limited, I think they had 15 nights total and they said they had already given away five of those), plus a free trip for two spots on any Adventures by Disney trip.

 

[Longhairbear]

3 bedroom? I thought they were all 2 bedroom lockoffs.

I was there tonight, he definitely said three bedroom. My ears perked up, because I thought they were all 2 bedroom lock offs as well.

 

[dbanzai]

Okay, saw my guide today, and got to see the model.

However, don't expect to see the models in the immediate future. They were allowing DVC members to see just during Getaway Days.

What I saw was nice: Tiffany lamps, brighter design than AKV I felt. The 1br had some nice features: The kitchen had an island counter, so more room to walk around. The person who showed me the model pointed out the table was longer... Never stayed in a 1/2 br so I couldn't say.

Under the entertainment unit in the living room of the 1/2br is a convenient fold-away murphy bed. Easy to pull down. On the other side of the room the couch was still a pull-out couch too. However, it looked like it may get crowded with the two beds.

The guide was also impressed with the ottoman for the sofa having a storage in it, hidden under the hinged top cushion. The master bathroom looked incredible, with the usual hottub and a nice large shower with a bench inside.

No new information about the selling of units though: No listed date, price of points or points charts. My guide said they have no idea how much more it would be, just that the days of $100/pt were definitely gone (at least with this venture). He/she wouldn't even cap it at double the price of up to $200 when pressed... But he/she wouldn't set a minimun either.

I hadn't known I was already on the Founding Member list for having bought out there, so that was a nice thing to learn. No word yet on the minimum (he/she said 50 or 100), and until the public sale, Founders and then "regular" DVC members would only be able to buy up to 160 points. After that, you can buy as many as you want.

As for the Paradise Pier thing, he/she and one of the highers-ups seemed to chuckle at the idea. At lunch before my meeting, I met some Disboarders though, who suggested that since extensive work is needed on the towers, maybe in that process the idea was for more DVC... Still nothing that DVC knew about, and they don't seem to think it's happening... As opposed to the usual shrug about CR DVC.

 

[stopher1]

Thanks for the info - good stuff.

I saw the following article on DVCNews.com today - which at least inidicates that the models will be closed again for a while. It says possibly til August - and then as you keep reading - it also says that sales could BEGIN in August...

http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=438&Itemid=1

I wish photos had been allowed - but of course I understand why they weren't. I wish I could have been there myself to see it...

 

[Laurabearz]

Sure sounds like there will be 5 allowed in a 1 bedroom

 

[dbanzai]

I keep remembering tidbits, sorry I don't have everything in one place.

My guide made it pretty clear incentives for GCV are very unlikely.

I guess, considering there are already 5,000+ Founding Members, and a large demand for what they will offer, there's no real reason for them.

 

[Laurabearz]

I guess, considering there are already 5,000+ Founding Members, and a large demand for what they will offer, there's no real reason for them.

There may be 5000 "founding members" but that's just the total number of people who have bought IN California since the program started... it's not like you have to OPT into the Grand California Villa presale deal. I highly doubt all 5000 will buy GCV points.

Although I am nervous about gettnig points there, if I can't Via DVC, for sure I will be able too in resale.

 

[dbanzai]

There are I think 5,200 Founders right now, and from what I heard they will allow about 6,000 at max, including DVC members who express interest.

I tend to agee, that eveyone won't buy and won't max-out. I'm planning to only buy the minimum.

If the 6k number is right though, that's 960,000 points they'd buy, if everyone bought as much as they could. That surpasses my estimate of available points by about 220,000. However my estimate was purposely lowballed, always using the minimums when questions came up.

 

[cseca]

OK, a little OT there.

With such a (rumored) difference in per point cost (and presumable the MF) how would this affect rental?
If I were one of the lucky ones to be able to purchase the 50 units in GCV, I don’t know if it makes sense to me to rent the points for $11/pt…
Or am I talking crazy?

 

[IknowDoYou?]

OK, a little OT there.

With such a (rumored) difference in per point cost (and presumable the MF) how would this affect rental?
If I were one of the lucky ones to be able to purchase the 50 units in GCV, I don’t know if it makes sense to me to rent the points for $11/pt…
Or am I talking crazy?

Actually, I have a small tangent, as well. I know some people are talking about that the points per night will be similar to the other resorts, but that the buy-in per point will be ~$20-$25 higher than AKV. Unless they structure it to where only "home" members can stay there, do you folks think that people will pay 25% more per point just to get an extra 4 months of booking time?

 

[Laurabearz]

OK, a little OT there.

With such a (rumored) difference in per point cost (and presumable the MF) how would this affect rental?
If I were one of the lucky ones to be able to purchase the 50 units in GCV, I don’t know if it makes sense to me to rent the points for $11/pt…
Or am I talking crazy?

Rent them for what ever you think you can get for them.

Actually, I have a small tangent, as well. I know some people are talking about that the points per night will be similar to the other resorts, but that the buy-in per point will be ~$20-$25 higher than AKV. Unless they structure it to where only "home" members can stay there, do you folks think that people will pay 25% more per point just to get an extra 4 months of booking time?

I think anyone would be hard pressed to get anything at the 7 month window.

My biggest concern is the all the locals wanting to book just the weekends, calling for those nights, even day by day at the 11 month window will be tricky... So my guess is the point structure would be something like HHI, where pionts for Friday night are doubled, and points for Saturday night are Tripled...

 

[dbanzai]

I second what Laura says about locals. Just this weekend, I was there with DVC members who were staying, even though they lived in San Diego. Also don't forget, that's who the Founders are mainly. Cali DVC members, or people from the Left Coast.

A few nights here and there is how I intend to use it... Maybe take off a Monday-Tuesday, but others I'm sure will stay for the weekends.

Also, it's not like WDW, where you have so many DVC options. This looks like it will be it, at least for a while. Sounds like you'll still be able to stay at the other hotels, but point-wise it will likely remain double, if not go up (I think it was my guide who suggested that as a probability), so from a value stance, this will be far and away the best option for DVC members.

 

[cseca]

Rent them for what ever you think you can get for them.



I think anyone would be hard pressed to get anything at the 7 month window.

My biggest concern is the all the locals wanting to book just the weekends, calling for those nights, even day by day at the 11 month window will be tricky... So my guess is the point structure would be something like HHI, where pionts for Friday night are doubled, and points for Saturday night are Tripled...

I guess that’s what I’m wondering.
How much would they go for?
Right now it seems like a point is a point is a point.
When you have points to sell regardless of which resort you have (BCV or VB)you’re renting them for $10-12(or maybe 13)/point.
With this GCV price point renting them at those price OR even using them at WDW seems to not be an efficient way of owning them.

I’d love to purchase them for stays at GCV but I know I won’t be able to go there every year.
So other than managing a small amt of points yearly (buying 50 points, bank and borrow to get a week’s worth every 3 years); I am wondering as to what is the most cost efficient way to own at this resort.

 

["Got Disney"]

WE are from San Diego and use most of our 400 points there every year...we get to WDW like every other year. Matter of fact DH and I are going to DL this weekend with no kids(using points)(GCH). Again for 7 days in July(using points) right before our Disney cruise. Than I will be back again to DL(GCH) using points for 3 days with my girl friends.

I hope they dont take away the use of the points the way they have them at this time just because they have the DVC area. There are not enough DVC rooms/villas to go around and we bought our points to be able to use them at DL. We are not interested in buying DVC for the GCH....if they had more availability we would but seems to me with only that amount of units you will be lucky to get one when you want to go.

We will wait for Hawaii and than get more for there.

 

[Laurabearz]

Right now it seems like a point is a point is a point. <snip>
So other than managing a small amt of points yearly (buying 50 points, bank and borrow to get a week’s worth every 3 years); I am wondering as to what is the most cost efficient way to own at this resort.

I disagree that a point is a point... Many many people use the 11 month booking window.

And the most Cost efficient way to own is to bank and borrow.

And on a personal note, since there are so few units at GCV, it pains me to think of someone planning on renting out points for profit.

 

[ACDSNY]

I'm not so sure the 11 month booking window will be as critical as some think. Most DLR trips are not planned that far in advance by locals (CA). Most of us on the west coast make fairly short notice types of trips booking 2-6 months out. I also don't see them taking away the option to book at the other DLR hotels until enough DVC units are available.