GCV - Buy Points? - Advise Please

[DaveO]

OK - Here is my situation ...

Moved to the mid-west from the east coast about 3 years ago and now we split our time between WDW and DL. Never thought I would do that but really love DL for certain times of the year over WDW!!) We have been members since 1999 and have quite a few points.

I am considering 'trading' (sell) 150 BWV pts (will still have a bunch left) and buy 100ish GCV points. My concern is that I want to be sure I get a reservation there when I want to.

After reading some posts there does not seem to be a lot of issues getting reses at the 7 month mark. I do get an extra 18 years but I will be over 100 yo by then !! I would go mostly in either June or December.

I was certain I was going to do it but now not so sure .... what would you do ... any other similar expereinces ??

Thanks !!

Dave

 

[CarolMN]

Give it some time. See how you do booking at the 7 month mark. If you get what you want, then no need to sell. If you don't, you can sell and buy VGC.

Rooms at VGC cost more points than those at BWV and I wouldn't want to "trade" 150 for 100 unless it was absolutely necessary to get my preferred dates and villa at VGC.

Good luck!

 

[Quilter007]

It's really hard to predict how the demand for VGC reservations will be at the 7 month mark -- it might depend on when you want to go & whether or not you can really plan @ 7 months. So, your best course might be to give it a shot and see if you can get the reservation you need for a year or two and then make a decision. I love my VGC points, but that is where I want to stay MOST of the time. We only want to go to WDW occassionally....maybe only 1 or 2 more times in the next 10 years. So VGC was definitely the way to go for us. If VGC hadn't been available, we probably wouldn't have purchased DVC at all. I really think that in order to buy VGC, you need to plan on going to Disneyland for at least 45 trips in the next 50 years. If not, you should rethink and either look at something else in DVC, another timeshare company or something different altogether.

 

[franandaj]

I would go mostly in either June or December.

Dave

If you want to get in at these times you are best off owning points at the GCV. From what I have been reading these are the times that are most difficult, December due to Christmas and June because kids are getting out of school.

I had no intentions of buying at the GCV until I was there at the hotel (on SSR points) during F&W and realized that as this event gained in popularity, reservations at 7 mos. would be nearly impossible, coupled with the fact there are between 48 - 72 units total (depending on how they are rented out), things will fill up quick!

If you want choices on when to stay there, I'd get some points there!

 

[DenLo]

Well it sounds like you already go to DL so buying into the VGC makes sense. However, after looking at the point charts will 100 points be enough? I realize you probably would spend less days at DL than at WDW but the points per night a pretty high at VGC especially on the weekends.

I still believe in the adage: buy where you really want to stay.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Do you feel you have to stay at GCV when you visit DL? Or accommodations larger than a studio? Is it popular times you want to go? If not then I'd wait and see how it goes in getting reservations with your BWV points at 7 months at GCV. If you ever have trouble then you could book DLH or PP. At this time the other two DL hotels don't have a $95 fee and although the points are going to be a little more since you'd still have 150 pts instead of 100.

Of course the other side is that there have been some very good deals on GCV recently so the loss wouldn't be as great as if you were looking at other properties. And, the MF's are lower at GCV so that savings would accumulate over the years.

I just saw the time frames you want to go. December may be a problem. If you go early June that may not be so bad. Late June - perhaps.

 

[nunzia]

I think that rooms at VGC will be very hard to come by at the 7 month mark in the not to distant future. Considering the incredibly small number of rooms and the focus on re- doing DCA along with the continuing loyalty to DLR, I think it would be wise to own there if you want to stay there.

 

[lark]

I cannot explain the seeming availability of VGC in the last few months. I've posted about my theory several times.

I think even though VGC is only half sold, or even a bit less, DVC is making all or most of the VGC rooms available to members to book on points. I was able to get a reservation 3 months out, and there was lots of availability. Others seem to be doing pretty well too.

Others have posted that, based on the documents and agreements, DVC is not allowed to take CRO inventory. I continue to be skeptical. Not only does VGC seem wide open right now, but you simply cannot find a room for cash at VGC. You can't book one. Not through the disney web site. Not on the phone. Yet the villas are apparently always full. I think somehow DVC is getting to use those extra villas to rent to members, perhaps as a loss leader to sell more VGC by compensating CRO. What better customers than members who own at other resorts?

The upshot, if I'm correct, is that VGC's seeming open availability this year is a bit of a mirage. If the resort were really only half declared, and it was still this easy to get a reservation, I'd think it was a good sign for the future. But I just don't believe that's what really going on. I think as it sells more, it's going to get tighter and tighter since something is going on right now to artificially stimulate supply.

 

[DaveO]

Talked to my guide Carol Ann today (I can not believe she is still there - bought from her in 1998!!) and GCV is a straight $15/per point discount for >100 points.

Lets see if my logic makes sense. If I sell my 150 BWV pts @ about $77/pt it gives me $11550. That will allow me to buy about 120 GCV points. And I get the June 2009 use year points now that can be banked. That is a loss of 30 BWV points or $2300. In years past I do not remmember this big of a discount for a small add-on.

So is it worth $2300 for 18 more years and 11 month GCV priority? I would use the GCV about every other year and my other BWV points the other years for WDW. With DCA being redone and the much better DL holiday cellebrations I think demand will start to surpass supply.

I am leaning toward doing it as I will use the points toward GCV either way ... but guess I need to be pushed !!

Thanks for the great feedback so far !

Dave

 

[ACDSNY]

I'm waiting to see what the discount is on the webcast tomorrow before we add on any more VGC points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Are you signed up for the webcast?

This was reported on another thread and someone else said they were offered the same over the phone. I'd call and see what your guide has to say.

http://dvcnews.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4384