Fixed weeks released with each declaration?

[erionm]

All of the studios at the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are dedicated, but CCV is the first to have a mix of dedicated studios and lock-off studios.

But no 2-bedroom units at all, so no affect on those when fixed week studios are booked.

And connecting studios are not a booking category, just a request.

 

[HookdonWDW]

That's good to know so they honour any orginal points agreed for that week?

Yes. It was one of the reasons we went fixed. I know we'll travel that week, Gold passes can be used (for now) and no worries if they have to adjust in the future.

 

[wdrl]

Thanks for the data. I know that we tried for a FW 49 for VGF and were told no availabilty for either view. I hope they do release more this time as there seems to be a market.

I suspect -- but don't know for a fact -- that once a resort has sold a majority of its points, its difficult for Disney to offer Fixed Week deeds. Today, someone could walk into the DVC Preview Center wanting to buy a Fixed Week deed for, say Week #49, at VGF. The problem is that right now, there may be no availability for a studio for the 7 nights that make up that week. If Disney can't fulfill the contractual obligation of giving the buyer the 7 nights to which they are entitled, then I wonder if it will sell the Fixed Week?

Of course, the buyer could offer to opt out of their Fixed Week for 2017, making that a provision of the sale. But I don't know whether buyers make that stipulation when they try to buy, or whether Disney would accept it.

 

[wdrl]

But no 2-bedroom units at all, so no affect on those when fixed week studios are booked.

And connecting studios are not a booking category, just a request.

FYI - when setting the maximum number of Fixed Week deeds sold for two-bedrooms, Disney counts only the dedicated two-bedroom vacation homes. It does not count the lock-off two-bedroom villas.

 

[HookdonWDW]

When counting the maximum number of accommodation types that can be sold as Fixed Week deeds for each week, Disney counts both dedicated and lock-off villas. CCV will have 42 dedicated studios and 36 lock-off studios. Thus, the 35% cap on Fixed Week deeds will be based on 78 studios.

For argument's sake (I don't think that they will sell to 35%), I agree they can count to the full 78 for the cap. But does this mean that they only count the lock-offs towards the studio and 1BR counts? If they also included them in 2 BR sales they could potentially go over.

 

[wdrl]

For argument's sake (I don't think that they will sell to 35%), I agree they can count to the full 78 for the cap. But does this mean that they only count the lock-offs towards the studio and 1BR counts? If they also included them in 2 BR sales they could potentially go over.

See Post #24 above.

The 35% cap is based on the following:
Studios: Dedicated and lock-off studios
One-Bedrooms: Dedicated and lock-off one-bedrooms
Two-Bedrooms: Dedicated two-bedrooms only

 

[HookdonWDW]

FYI - when setting the maximum number of Fixed Week deeds sold for two-bedrooms, Disney counts only the dedicated two-bedroom vacation homes. It does not count the lock-off two-bedroom villas.

Answered while I was asking!

 

[HookdonWDW]

I suspect -- but don't know for a fact -- that once a resort has sold a majority of its points, its difficult for Disney to offer Fixed Week deeds. Today, someone could walk into the DVC Preview Center wanting to buy a Fixed Week deed for, say Week #49, at VGF. The problem is that right now, there may be no availability for a studio for the 7 nights that make up that week. If Disney can't fulfill the contractual obligation of giving the buyer the 7 nights to which they are entitled, then I wonder if it will sell the Fixed Week?

Of course, the buyer could offer to opt out of their Fixed Week for 2017, making that a provision of the sale. But I don't know whether buyers make that stipulation when they try to buy, or whether Disney would accept it.

Valid point. I know we inquired way before sellout, but maybe they had already had to go into the fixed contracts to cover points sold, maybe there were no more declared, or something else was up. DVD tends to be a mystery sometimes.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Yes. It was one of the reasons we went fixed. I know we'll travel that week, Gold passes can be used (for now) and no worries if they have to adjust in the future.

That is great thank you so much fixed week is a lovely idea. I love I don't need the stress of phoning or going online and booking. Just know it's done. We get gold passes too.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

VGF was the first run at fixed weeks, and I don't think anyone buying had a notion how rough weeks 48/49/50 would be to book a studio there. That VGF was small was probably known, but the implications of the number of lower-point contracts vs. studio count was not on a lot of radars.

Poly, I think fixed weeks have not really been a big thing just because owners do see that Poly is a big resort for studios, and generally if you book at 11 months even for those weeks you ought to be okay. Time will tell how that plays out.

CCV, you have a resort that people swoon about for Christmas, it's not especially large for the smaller unit sizes (bigger than VGF, but lots smaller than Poly), and existing owners are now much more aware of the early December booking angst. So I would not be shocked to see a full 35% for that week sell.

 

[Brian Noble]

But @wdrl's answer reassures me that more week 49 studio fixed weeks will become available when DVD declares more units into the condominium (thus making them available to be sold).

If I were in the market for a fixed 49 at CCV, I'd be letting my Guide know that so that s/he has a chance to call me when (if) more come available.

 

[STA]

I suspect -- but don't know for a fact -- that once a resort has sold a majority of its points, its difficult for Disney to offer Fixed Week deeds. Today, someone could walk into the DVC Preview Center wanting to buy a Fixed Week deed for, say Week #49, at VGF. The problem is that right now, there may be no availability for a studio for the 7 nights that make up that week. If Disney can't fulfill the contractual obligation of giving the buyer the 7 nights to which they are entitled, then I wonder if it will sell the Fixed Week?

Of course, the buyer could offer to opt out of their Fixed Week for 2017, making that a provision of the sale. But I don't know whether buyers make that stipulation when they try to buy, or whether Disney would accept it.

I do know for a fact that the contract is written such that they specify the first UY in which they will guarantee the fixed week. Depending on timing the purchaser may have to wait until the following use year. I know since I've signed a few of these contracts

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

VGF was the first run at fixed weeks, and I don't think anyone buying had a notion how rough weeks 48/49/50 would be to book a studio there. That VGF was small was probably known, but the implications of the number of lower-point contracts vs. studio count was not on a lot of radars.

Just had to do this.

From Sept 2013

I think it's a valid concern. If the fixed weeks for studios are all sold for Dec and no one decides to release their week that leaves a total of 32 studios on a single day available for others to book. And that's split between 2 views - 20 in the standard view and 12 in the lake view and having 2 categories can complicate booking leaving stranded days although the wish for only 2-3 days would be helpful in your case.

I also think that the difference in the studio layout and the high point cost at VGF will make a popular room category even more popular.

And if DVC takes some of those to send over to CRO then there will be even fewer available. However, there are studios that are there to book and someone will be able to get them - and that could be you.

From Feb 2014

....

Availability at VGF is also a valid point. It's small and with the studios sleeping 5 it's going to be very difficult at certain times of the year IMO. I swear it seemed that virtually everyone who added on a few points there plan to go for a few days in December.
.....

Fixed weeks at VGF are a beef for me. I think it's a very bad disservice to the majority of owners to sell fixed weeks that are so heavily concentrated to 3 or 4 weeks - all in December and almost 'nil bought at other times of the year and I'm a bit shocked they continue to do it when it's so heavily skewed. But I also think DVC left money on the table with the way they set it up to give all the points back if you cancel that week. It really is a win/win for people who consistently stay there that time and lose/lose for DVC and other owners. If one really gave it consideration you could guess it was going to have an impact on availability to owners who went the standard point purchase to book VGF in December. That said - I've gotten studios at VGF during early December 3 times, never a walk and never wishing for more days.

Studios at VWL have had issues during that time in that you should book right at 11 months and I'd expect it to be the similar for CCV - ie, don't miss your 11 month date, but I think it will be easier than VGF. So that's my prediction to look back at 4 years from now!

 

[wdrl]

I think it's a very bad disservice to the majority of owners to sell fixed weeks that are so heavily concentrated to 3 or 4 weeks - all in December and almost 'nil bought at other times of the year

Just to clarify: The most popular weeks for Fixed Week deeds are indeed the last six weeks of the year, which in 2017 are the weeks starting on Sundays beginning November 19th to December 24th. For those weeks, VFG has sold a total of 108 Fixed Week deeds for the seven different accommodation types.

VGF has also sold another 167 Fixed Week deeds for the other 46 weeks of the year.

Fixed Week sales are definitely skewed toward the last six weeks of the year, but I would not characterize sales for the rest of the year as being almost nil.

 

[ziravan]

I do know for a fact that the contract is written such that they specify the first UY in which they will guarantee the fixed week. Depending on timing the purchaser may have to wait until the following use year. I know since I've signed a few of these contracts

My contract:

"THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FIXED USE RIGHT: Beginning January 1st, 2015 (the 'First Fixed Use Date'), the right (the Fixed Use Right) to have a STUDIO LAKE View Vacation Home Type automatically reserved for use during week #44 (the Owner's Fixed Use Period) using all of the Home Resort Vacation Points allotted for the applicable Use Year."

"The Use Year for this Unit begins on the first day of June, 2014."

So. The first UY, 2014, I received points because the contract stipulated that 2015 would be the first contracted fixed use. Obviously, DVC couldn't let me use Fixed Week #44, 2014 for a contract I signed in Mar, 2015. Besides, Poly wasn't open in Nov, 2014.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just to clarify: The most popular weeks for Fixed Week deeds are indeed the last six weeks of the year, which in 2017 are the weeks starting on Sundays beginning November 19th to December 24th. For those weeks, VFG has sold a total of 108 Fixed Week deeds for the seven different accommodation types.

VGF has also sold another 167 Fixed Week deeds for the other 46 weeks of the year.

Fixed Week sales are definitely skewed toward the last six weeks of the year, but I would not characterize sales for the rest of the year as being almost nil.

An average of 18/week for the the last 6 weeks vs an average of 3.5 for the rest of the year? No, not nil but pretty close. Have you ever posted what the breakdown was between villa sizes somewhere wdrl?

 

[wdrl]

An average of 18/week for the the last 6 weeks vs an average of 3.5 for the rest of the year? No, not nil but pretty close. Have you ever posted what the breakdown was between villa sizes somewhere wdrl?

The last time I did an summary of VGF sales was in January 2015: A look at Guaranteed Week sales for the Grand Floridian. About 28 additional deeds have been sold since then, but the general mix has stayed about the same.

When we do the monthly sales article I'll mention if there are any Guaranteed Week sales. Lately, though, there have been very few Guaranteed week deed sold so I haven't mentioned them.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Just had to do this.

You're maybe not the typical purchaser of a small VGF contract, though. I have seen quite a lot of hand-wringing over the challenges of studio booking from some. I think people on first contracts often didn't really understand what they were getting into.

 

[ziravan]

Lately, though, there have been very few Guaranteed week deed sold so I haven't mentioned them.

That's because VGF is sold out and since Poly started offering incentives a year ago, fixed weeks have been excluded from the incentives. So, they've dried up until now with CCV.

 

[HookdonWDW]

I do know for a fact that the contract is written such that they specify the first UY in which they will guarantee the fixed week. Depending on timing the purchaser may have to wait until the following use year. I know since I've signed a few of these contracts

I'm not sure what my contract states because I haven't received it yet, but I did get the confirmation for my '17 reservation this afternoon. Points used were December 2017, so I still have my bonus 2016 points.