Fixed Week v. Traditional Points-New Option

[WilsonFlyer]

I'm trying to figure out the down sides to a fixed week v. traditional points. Resale v. direct aside, what are the downsides to buying a fixed week v. traditional points?

From what a guide explained to me, you can surrender your week and convert them to traditional points at full value anytime between 11 months and 31 days out. Aside from having to purchase a few more points in order to get a fixed week (which you get to use regardless), I can't see a downside.

 

[DenLo]

Is there a higher price for points for a fix week at VGF? There is at Aulani--it costs an additional 10 percent, that adds up for a full week of points.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Is there a higher price for points for a fix week at VGF? There is at Aulani--it costs an additional 10 percent, that adds up for a full week of points.

The way it was explained to me was that fixed weeks were a few more POINTS. Cost/point was never mentioned by the guide other than the current $145/point for members.

 

[lilpooh108]

Which weeks are for sale for fixed weeks?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Which weeks are for sale for fixed weeks?

I was told all weeks were available. Just pick the week number. My guide is suppose to be getting back to me with details on how that works exactly since Christmas week could theoretically be week 51 this year and week 50 next. I can't get my arms around how you always get a week that's Christmas if that's the case. He's suppose to get back to me to explain.

 

[Desnik]

I was told all weeks were available. Just pick the week number. My guide is suppose to be getting back to me with details on how that works exactly since Christmas week could theoretically be week 51 this year and week 50 next. I can't get my arms around how you always get a week that's Christmas if that's the case. He's suppose to get back to me to explain.

I would really love to find out this info too. I would want to add on to go during Xmas week. A fixed week option might be better for us if we can always be gaurenteed that week. Please post back when you get any details.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I would really love to find out this info too. I would want to add on to go during Xmas week. A fixed week option might be better for us if we can always be gaurenteed that week. Please post back when you get any details.

Actually, I'm hoping someone like Dean will see this and respond and explain. There are several experts on here that already know how this works and can explain it 10x better than a guide can.

Hopefully, the thread will catch their eyes and the experts will come to our aid.

 

[lilpooh108]

Actually, I'm hoping someone like Dean will see this and respond and explain. There are several experts on here that already know how this works and can explain it 10x better than a guide can.

Hopefully, the thread will catch their eyes and the experts will come to our aid.

I'm sure he'll respond if you PM him.

 

[hakepb]

I was told all weeks were available. Just pick the week number. My guide is suppose to be getting back to me with details on how that works exactly since Christmas week could theoretically be week 51 this year and week 50 next. I can't get my arms around how you always get a week that's Christmas if that's the case. He's suppose to get back to me to explain.

That's how it works with old school timeshares, you get week of the year, not the holiday.

It's more interesting near Easter. You could potentially buy a cheap week for 2014 that is occasionally Easter week...and I don't think DVC can charge you more points for that.

Additionally, with a fixed week, Disney can never reallocate your week into higher points.

 

[Breyean]

You'd think the guides would know how this works since it's been offered at Aulani now for a few years. Might not be super popular, but this option has been around.

Unless they decided to reinvent the wheel with VGF and have a new system - which, knowing DVC - isn't that far fetched.

 

[OhioDVC]

My guide knew nothing but the price. Useless!

 

[Dean]

The way it was explained to me was that fixed weeks were a few more POINTS. Cost/point was never mentioned by the guide other than the current $145/point for members.

I haven't looked much t the documentation but the way I understood it for HI was you buy a fixed week based on the standard timeshare calendar with the week starting on Sunday. You buy the points for that week plus pay a 10% extra fee. Christmas will fall into week 51 2/3 of the time and week 52 the other third. Buying the 2 weeks would seem to be the best option if Xmas is the goal. 4th of July is even more sporadic being almost 50/50 weeks 26 & 27. Think cash rentals.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I haven't looked much t the documentation but the way I understood it for HI was you buy a fixed week based on the standard timeshare calendar with the week starting on Sunday. You buy the points for that week plus pay a 10% extra fee. Christmas will fall into week 51 2/3 of the time and week 52 the other third. Buying the 2 weeks would seem to be the best option if Xmas is the goal. 4th of July is even more sporadic being almost 50/50 weeks 26 & 27. Think cash rentals.

Thanks Dean. Got it. Knew you'd know.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm trying to figure out the down sides to a fixed week v. traditional points. Resale v. direct aside, what are the downsides to buying a fixed week v. traditional points?

From what a guide explained to me, you can surrender your week and convert them to traditional points at full value anytime between 11 months and 31 days out. Aside from having to purchase a few more points in order to get a fixed week (which you get to use regardless), I can't see a downside.

I would say the biggest downside is that in any year when you decide to keep the fixed week, you're paying 10% more than you would have otherwise. And all you've really saved is a single phone call / online booking.

I was told all weeks were available. Just pick the week number.

Correct. Each week, DVC can sell up to 35% of VGF as fixed weeks.

My guide is suppose to be getting back to me with details on how that works exactly since Christmas week could theoretically be week 51 this year and week 50 next. I can't get my arms around how you always get a week that's Christmas if that's the case. He's suppose to get back to me to explain.

You are exactly right. Pretty much every holiday will shift from one week to the next in different years. You cannot buy a fixed week and have it always include NYE, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday.

It's more interesting near Easter. You could potentially buy a cheap week for 2014 that is occasionally Easter week...and I don't think DVC can charge you more points for that.

My understanding is that DVC uses a multi-year average to set the cost for each fixed week. But that's definitely a question worth asking.

Additionally, with a fixed week, Disney can never reallocate your week into higher points.

You also would not benefit if they happen to reallocate the week to a lower season. Choose your poison.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Without thinking this totally through...I wonder what if any negatives you would encounter if you ended up converting your fixed week to points.

My point is that 50 years is a long time to assume that you want to go to Disney at Christmas.

Also, how does the fixed week affect resale value?

 

[wdrl]

Without thinking this totally through...I wonder what if any negatives you would encounter if you ended up converting your fixed week to points.

My point is that 50 years is a long time to assume that you want to go to Disney at Christmas.

Also, how does the fixed week affect resale value?

At Aulani, Guaranteed Week Owners can opt out of their fixed week each Use Year, if they wish. If they opt out, their week is converted to traditional DVC points equivalent to the number of points they purchased less the 10% premium. For example, if they purchased fixed week #52 for 655 points, they can opt out of the fixed week and receive 595 points.

Those 595 points can then be treated just like traditional DVC points. They are considered Aulani points, so they can be used to book stays at Aulani during the Aulani Home Resort period. They can be used to book stays at other resorts beginning with the 7-month window, or exchanged into DCL, ABD, RCI, etc. Or they can be banked into the next UY. BTW, a Guaranteed Owner could even opt out of their fixed year for the next UY and then borrow those points into the current year if they wish.

With this flexibility, a Guaranteed Week Owner would not necessarily have to spend the next 50 years going to Disney at Christmastime. Also, this flexibility would permit a GWO to look at a calendar and adjust their stays in those years that a holiday doesn't fall in their fixed week. For example, Christmas falls in Week #51 in most years, but in 2016 in falls in Week #52. For that year the GWO could opt out of their fixed Week #51 and use their points to book another week at Aulani or another resort.

In terms of how a Guaranteed Week affects resale value, I don't know. I've never noticed an Aulani Guaranteed Week on the resale market, so I don't know if it will demand a premium over a comparable traditional deed.

I'm curious how popular fixed weeks will be at VGF. There seems to be a good number of Disboard members who go to WDW at the same time each year, like in October for the Food & Wine Festival, in March for Flower & Garden, or in January for Marathon Week. The Guaranteed Week Ownership would be one way that Members could lock in their reservation each year.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

At Aulani, Guaranteed Week Owners can opt out of their fixed week each Use Year, if they wish. If they opt out, their week is converted to traditional DVC points equivalent to the number of points they purchased less the 10% premium. For example, if they purchased fixed week #52 for 655 points, they can opt out of the fixed week and receive 595 points.

Those 595 points can then be treated just like traditional DVC points. They are considered Aulani points, so they can be used to book stays at Aulani during the Aulani Home Resort period. They can be used to book stays at other resorts beginning with the 7-month window, or exchanged into DCL, ABD, RCI, etc. Or they can be banked into the next UY. BTW, a Guaranteed Owner could even opt out of their fixed year for the next UY and then borrow those points into the current year if they wish.

With this flexibility, a Guaranteed Week Owner would not necessarily have to spend the next 50 years going to Disney at Christmastime. Also, this flexibility would permit a GWO to look at a calendar and adjust their stays in those years that a holiday doesn't fall in their fixed week. For example, Christmas falls in Week #51 in most years, but in 2016 in falls in Week #52. For that year the GWO could opt out of their fixed Week #51 and use their points to book another week at Aulani or another resort.

In terms of how a Guaranteed Week affects resale value, I don't know. I've never noticed an Aulani Guaranteed Week on the resale market, so I don't know if it will demand a premium over a comparable traditional deed.
I'm curious how popular fixed weeks will be at VGF. There seems to be a good number of Disboard members who go to WDW at the same time each year, like in October for the Food & Wine Festival, in March for Flower & Garden, or in January for Marathon Week. The Guaranteed Week Ownership would be one way that Members could lock in their reservation each year.

I guess since its convertible it would go for the same or for more. I've always been so turned off at the prospect of a fixed week...that I would want a discount.

I came into the timeshare world with a bit of a bias. Years ago, someone I considered not that smart came home from Gatlinburg bragging that he bought a timeshare that he had to use on the same week every year. I know another guy that fell for the timeshare spiel that admits that he never uses it because of the FIXED week.

 

[tjkraz]

At Aulani, Guaranteed Week Owners can opt out of their fixed week each Use Year, if they wish. If they opt out, their week is converted to traditional DVC points equivalent to the number of points they purchased less the 10% premium. For example, if they purchased fixed week #52 for 655 points, they can opt out of the fixed week and receive 595 points.

I don't think that's quite right.

The cost in points for a fixed week tends to run about 10% higher, but it is inexact given how the dates (and seasons) of each week change per year.

For instance, in 2013 Week 50 begins on 12/15. All 7 nights are in Choice Season. In 2017 Week 50 begins on 12/10 meaning there are 5 nights Adventure Season and 2 nights Choice.

My understanding is that DVC salespeople have a chart which lists the point cost for each fixed week. It is based upon an average over several years rather than just a single year. In the example above, if you buy Week 50 in 2013, you don't pay for 7 nights of Choice Season points--it's something less than that because many years have Adventure Season points in that Week.

An additional 10% is added to the calculated cost for each week.

The contract (deed) is written for the weekly cost PLUS the 10%. Annual dues are paid for the full contracted number of points and if you opt-out, you get all of the points represented by the deed.

Owners don't lose the extra 10% by opting out.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I wonder how this fixed week option will affect people trying to book using traditional points.

I presume you will have to purchase your fixed week according to the view and accomodations you will always want. As an example, you would have to buy enough points for a 1 bedroom lakeview during week 51 (Christmas week) year after year. DVD only sells 35% of those which then leaves 65% of those rooms available for traditional booking. Is that correct? If so, it may be quite difficult for non fixed week owners to get highly sought after days at the 11 month window.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I don't think that's quite right.

<snip>An additional 10% is added to the calculated cost for each week.

The contract (deed) is written for the weekly cost PLUS the 10%. Annual dues are paid for the full contracted number of points and if you opt-out, you get all of the points represented by the deed.

Owners don't lose the extra 10% by opting out.<snip>

Thanks for clarifying that. That's the way my guide explained it to me as well. No loss on points opted out.