Fixed Week Option - Will it appeal to VGF Buyers?

[drusba]

This is a bit off topic, but I haven't seen how big/small VGF actually IS..It has 8 Grand Villas?? VGC has only 2..so is this a bigger DVC resort than VGC?

As I noted above, based on the papers filed by DVD with the controller, it will have 6 GVs (all 4BR), 47 dedicated 2BRs, and 47 2BR lock offs. Larger than VGC but smaller than any already existing WDW DVC resort.

As to question above as to what "RB" meant in my post: sorry for the confusion because I assumed most had heard of that abbreviation. R means rich and B is a word I cannot use on these boards unless actually referring to a child born out of wedlock.

 

[mjc2003]

As to the bloom wearing off, well that actually will be up to DVC and how this property is managed and maintained. These buyers will be accustomed to staying at the Grand Floridian and will expect the same level of service they have gotten before. If that happens, no, I don't see them selling.

People might have to sell regardless of DVC's ability to manage and maintain the property, because life happens. They will have to keep the property maintained because there is obviously a standard to uphold, but that won't stop people from getting divorced, losing jobs, moving, kids getting older, etc... We are talking about 300 points costing somewhere around $50,000. These won't all be millionaires and movie stars, there will be plenty of people who leverage themselves to buy in and plenty more who have the money now to afford it but might not be able to afford it in 2-3 years.

The total number of units will keep the volume of resales low, but in a few years there will be resales at GFV to be had just like all the other DVC properties.

 

[Dean]

People might have to sell regardless of DVC's ability to manage and maintain the property, because life happens. They will have to keep the property maintained because there is obviously a standard to uphold, but that won't stop people from getting divorced, losing jobs, moving, kids getting older, etc... We are talking about 300 points costing somewhere around $50,000. These won't all be millionaires and movie stars, there will be plenty of people who leverage themselves to buy in and plenty more who have the money now to afford it but might not be able to afford it in 2-3 years.

The total number of units will keep the volume of resales low, but in a few years there will be resales at GFV to be had just like all the other DVC properties.

GC is likely the best comparison for the expected resale experience.

 

[Happy99]

wonder if the fixed week option has to do with the Four season residences that are slated to open in 2014. Not that the GF even remotely compares to the 4S. The four seasons is what I consider a luxury hotel not the GF even though Disney would like to think that

http://press.fourseasons.com/2011-n...walt-disney-world-resort-set-to-open-in-2014/

 

[sfbntpc]

I see what type of rooms, they have, but no descriptions of studios. Will there be any DVC studios available?

 

[hakepb]

Yes there are studios, the 2BR lockoff units consist of a 1 BR with an adjoining studio.

 

[Sammie]

People might have to sell regardless of DVC's ability to manage and maintain the property, because life happens. They will have to keep the property maintained because there is obviously a standard to uphold, but that won't stop people from getting divorced, losing jobs, moving, kids getting older, etc... We are talking about 300 points costing somewhere around $50,000. These won't all be millionaires and movie stars, there will be plenty of people who leverage themselves to buy in and plenty more who have the money now to afford it but might not be able to afford it in 2-3 years.

The total number of units will keep the volume of resales low, but in a few years there will be resales at GFV to be had just like all the other DVC properties.

Sure there will always be those that over extend, but there will also be many with this type of cash flow that will pay cash.

I mean they have already been paying in thousands per trip. Getting two rooms at the grand for 2 or 3 weeks every year is a huge amount of money.

I have a friend that went to a wedding at Disney. The parents of the bride have been going to Disney World and staying every year at the Grand Floridian for several weeks a year since it opened. They have never been interested in DVC until now.

The wedding cost $500,000 and yes they will be buying DVC there.

 

[mjc2003]

Sure there will always be those that over extend, but there will also be many with this type of cash flow that will pay cash.

I mean they have already been paying in thousands per trip. Getting two rooms at the grand for 2 or 3 weeks every year is a huge amount of money.

I have a friend that went to a wedding at Disney. The parents of the bride have been going to Disney World and staying every year at the Grand Floridian for several weeks a year since it opened. They have never been interested in DVC until now.

The wedding cost $500,000 and yes they will be buying DVC there.

And people who pay cash might not have the resources to support their purchase in a few years. The pendulum swings both ways. We have friends who bought a beach house sight unseen 3 years ago for 2.5 million dollars. They immediately tore it down and built an even bigger house. Suddenly he lost his job, their expenses were astronomical, and they are now selling the house because even they admit they cannot afford it.

Same goes for the people who stay at the GF every year, some of them will stop in a few years because circumstances change. People of wealth are not insulated to economic turbulence.

I'm not disputing that there will be plenty of people who love GF who will buy GFV. I'm simply saying that, just like all DVC properties, there will be turnover and there will be contracts up for resale before we know it because
for every guy throwing a 500,000 wedding, there will be blue collar folks taking a sizable loan from DVC to buy in.

 

[bobbiwoz]

All of this talk about rich people may be convincing me that we really should buy some points there. If the 11 month window will be absolutely necessary for December, then I want that. I'm waiting on BLT resale news, which I had hoped would satisfy me, but apparently I am still on the fence for the Grand Floridian.

 

[Dean]

And people who pay cash might not have the resources to support their purchase in a few years. The pendulum swings both ways. We have friends who bought a beach house sight unseen 3 years ago for 2.5 million dollars. They immediately tore it down and built an even bigger house. Suddenly he lost his job, their expenses were astronomical, and they are now selling the house because even they admit they cannot afford it.

Same goes for the people who stay at the GF every year, some of them will stop in a few years because circumstances change. People of wealth are not insulated to economic turbulence.

I'm not disputing that there will be plenty of people who love GF who will buy GFV. I'm simply saying that, just like all DVC properties, there will be turnover and there will be contracts up for resale before we know it because
for every guy throwing a 500,000 wedding, there will be blue collar folks taking a sizable loan from DVC to buy in.

Those are some of the reasons that I believe debt is about managing risk and psychology more than anything else. However, I would suggest that one who pays cash and doesn't have other consumer debt is in a far better situation IF life happens to them than the other group. I also believe that wealth has far less to do with what you make and far more to do with how well you plan, purposeful choices, delaying gratification and hard work.

 

[wdrl]

All of this talk about rich people may be convincing me that we really should buy some points there. If the 11 month window will be absolutely necessary for December, then I want that. I'm waiting on BLT resale news, which I had hoped would satisfy me, but apparently I am still on the fence for the Grand Floridian.

I understand what you are saying. Like every other DVC resort, there will probably be many dates where VGF villas will be available at the 7-month mark. However, I suspect there will be dates on the calendar, especially July 4th week and October through Marathon Week in January, when VGF will be very hard to get.

Although it hasn't been confirmed, I suspect VGF will have a Standard View category as well as a Lake View category. If so, I also suspect that VGF's Standard Views will be snapped up during the Home Resort booking period, leaving nothing available for non-VGF owners at the 7-month mark. Just look at the booking history of BLT's and BWV Standard Views if you don't believe me.

VGF is larger than VGC but smaller than VWL, and both of those resorts can be difficult to get at the 7-month mark during December. But VGF will probably be harder to waitlist than VGC or VWL because VGF will probably have at least two view categories while VGC and VWL don't have any. Two waitlists can cover all the two-bedrooms at VGC or VWL. If VGF has two View categories, then you need four waitlists to cover all possible two-bedrooms (Dedicated, Lock-off, Lake View, Standard View). And current DVC rules permit Members to have only two waitlists at a time.

Just some thoughts for you to dwell upon as you sit on the fence.

Good luck!

 

[lilpooh108]

If the floor plans have been filed, and we now know the average points per day for the room type...how long do you guys think it will be before points go on sale (still hoping for June to coincide w/my cruise).

 

[drusba]

If the floor plans have been filed, and we now know the average points per day for the room type...how long do you guys think it will be before points go on sale (still hoping for June to coincide w/my cruise).

If past history repeats itself, it will likely be no later than May. The same documents were filed for AKV on Jan 7, 2007, and sales began Feb 1 to existing members, March 1 to others. For BLT they were filed Sep 8, 2008, and sales began to members Sep 16 and to others Oct 5.

 

[DebbieB]

I understand what you are saying. Like every other DVC resort, there will probably be many dates where VGF villas will be available at the 7-month mark. However, I suspect there will be dates on the calendar, especially July 4th week and October through Marathon Week in January, when VGF will be very hard to get.

Although it hasn't been confirmed, I suspect VGF will have a Standard View category as well as a Lake View category. If so, I also suspect that VGF's Standard Views will be snapped up during the Home Resort booking period, leaving nothing available for non-VGF owners at the 7-month mark. Just look at the booking history of BLT's and BWV Standard Views if you don't believe me.

VGF is larger than VGC but smaller than VWL, and both of those resorts can be difficult to get at the 7-month mark during December. But VGF will probably be harder to waitlist than VGC or VWL because VGF will probably have at least two view categories while VGC and VWL don't have any. Two waitlists can cover all the two-bedrooms at VGC or VWL. If VGF has two View categories, then you need four waitlists to cover all possible two-bedrooms (Dedicated, Lock-off, Lake View, Standard View). And current DVC rules permit Members to have only two waitlists at a time.

Just some thoughts for you to dwell upon as you sit on the fence.

Good luck!

I was wondering about the views. I noticed when I was there last month that some rooms were very close to the monorail track.

 

[drusba]

I was wondering about the views. I noticed when I was there last month that some rooms were very close to the monorail track.

Views have not been announced yet. DVD did away with one possible view category by making all the rooms right on the lake front GVs. My guess is there will probably be two view categories, lake and standard, and at least all the rooms on the front of the building that overlook that monorail and parking lot will be standard views (10 out of the 47 total dedicated and 10 out of 47 lock-off 2BRs).

Currently BLT standard view has about 21 2BR dedicated and 32 2BR lock-offs and those are gone by 7 months out about 90% of the year and even when open you can usually only get two to three days in a row. Thus, you should suspect VGF standard view will be gone by 7 months out most of the year. Moreover, even BLT lake view which has more than double the number of possible lake view rooms than at VGF can be difficult to get at 7 months out from end of Sep to just after marathon weekend in Jan (DVC's highest demand quarter) unless you are looking for only two to three nights in a row. Thus, I suspect the 37 dedicated 2BRs and 37 lock-off 2BRs that might become lake view at VGF are going to be very difficult during that quarter at 7 months out. Though there are likely to be lake view openings at VGF a number of times during the rest of the year at 7 months out, that may not be true for studios for which there will be at most 37, at least some of which will be reserved as part of 2BRs.

 

[CarolMN]

If they were smart and if there will really be more than one booking category, they should call them something that doesn't have "view" in the description. For example, lake side & monorail side. Then they wouldn't get into arguments over the view that isn't as advertised, LOL.

 

[lilpooh108]

If past history repeats itself, it will likely be no later than May. The same documents were filed for AKV on Jan 7, 2007, and sales began Feb 1 to existing members, March 1 to others. For BLT they were filed Sep 8, 2008, and sales began to members Sep 16 and to others Oct 5.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If they were smart and if there will really be more than one booking category, they should call them something that doesn't have "view" in the description. For example, lake side & monorail side. Then they wouldn't get into arguments over the view that isn't as advertised, LOL.

I doubt they will be that smart about it. Those "views" are what got them in trouble at BLT.

 

[Dean]

Given the size and demand of the resort, I'm inclined to think there may be no view categories and that the costs will be somewhere between lake view and MK view for BLT, al a BCV compared to BWV.

 

[drusba]

If they were smart and if there will really be more than one booking category, they should call them something that doesn't have "view" in the description. For example, lake side & monorail side. Then they wouldn't get into arguments over the view that isn't as advertised, LOL.

Good idea but possibily the same result. Someone with "monorail" view will claim he didn't really get a good view of the monorail. I feel the mistake DVD has made in the past is less what view it called it and more that it just should have realized that a number of rooms they were putting into a category should not be there, e.g., the low floor MK view rooms at BLT which looked at essentially nothing but a parking lot. Charging premier points for those was just dumb.