Grand Floridian Update

[BestDadEver]

Interesting VGF haven't gone on sale yet . I haven't been abound in a while and figured it would have by now .

 

[corpcomp]

My guess is it's a little of both. There has been at least one instance, if not 2, where I'm convinced they delayed by a few weeks for the purpose of clearing some inventory. While I've never been able to pin down the exact formula, there are requirements related to completion and availability that determine when you can actually sell. DVC has also had instances where they pre sold and delayed closings related to the opening as well and presumably related to this requirement.

And we just got another special offer for both Aulani and Animal Kingdom so maybe you are right

 

[tjkraz]

You are likely correct. My point above was that their sale date probably has more to do with construction of VGF than it does point sales at AKV.

Like Dean said there could be elements of both influencing the decision. But with regard to construction, there would have to be signifiant delays in order for that to be playing a big role.

Resorts like Bay Lake Tower, Kidani Village and even Aulani began selling 12-15 months before opening. DVC has consistently reported that Grand Floridian would open by the end of 2013, so it's less than 9 months away from opening with no points for sale yet.

Even at a higher price, VGF is likely to be an easier sell than Animal Kingdom Villas which has now been on the market for over 6 years. There's something to be said for focusing efforts on AKV first--a resort which has been fully funded and operating for 5 years now. There is a cost associated with carrying the unsold AKV inventory. Better to get those obligations off the books now rather than pre-sell a resort which won't be open for 8-9 months.

Buyers will still be ready and willing to pay for Grand Floridian whether it goes on sale in April, May, June or even beyond that.

 

[DenLo]

It looks like the Villas at the Grand Flordian will be announced soon. The DVCNews has an article regarding the floor plan and building layout of the resort.

Here is the link, DVC News Grand Floridian Floor Plans and building Layout Revealed.

One interesting item was that the grand villas are four bedrooms, and each BR has it's own bathroom. The floor plan indicates there are six grand villas.

I found it surprising that the 147 villas figure DVC has been touting is counting each portion of a lockoff. Whereas in the past DVC always referred to the number of 2BR villas and GVs in a resort. That means VGF is smaller than expected.

 

[Dean]

It looks like the Villas at the Grand Flordian will be announced soon. The DVCNews has an article regarding the floor plan and building layout of the resort.

Here is the link, DVC News Grand Floridian Floor Plans and building Layout Revealed.

One interesting item was that the grand villas are four bedrooms, and each BR has it's own bathroom. The floor plan indicates there are six grand villas.

I found it surprising that the 147 villas figure DVC has been touting is counting each portion of a lockoff. Whereas in the past DVC always referred to the number of 2BR villas and GVs in a resort. That means VGF is smaller than expected.

The press release said 200 keyed entries, 147 villas. That should be separate villas ignoring the lockoff options unless they are double lockoff's that can be combined.

 

[DenLo]

The press release said 200 keyed entries, 147 villas. That should be separate villas ignoring the lockoff options unless they are double lockoff's that can be combined.

The document does not have the floor plans for the fifth and sixth floors. The only way there could be 200 keyed entries is if there are rooms in the roof. And those rooms couldn't have much of a balcony, if any. The GVs each have two entrances, so those will count as twelve keys. Until the floor plan for the 5th and 6th floors are released I can only speculate on the key numbers.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have March UY. If the points go on sale $ I don't get any points for this year, do I still pay MF because I can borrow?

 

[wdrl]

I have March UY. If the points go on sale $ I don't get any points for this year, do I still pay MF because I can borrow?

You would pay maintenance fees beginning with the later of 1. the date you buy; 2. the date you receive your first allotment of points; or 3. the date the resort opens.

Let's say that you buy VGF on April 30, 2013, but the resort does not open until December 1, 2013. In that case, you will pay MFs for 2013 that are prorated from December 1, 2013.

Here is a bit of a twist. If VGF doesn't open until December 2013, DVD might let buyers with August, September, October or December Use Years to get points beginning with the 2013 UY. However, it may not permit buyers to get February, March, April, or June UY points until their 2014 UY. I'm not saying that is what DVD will do, or even should do, but I can see DVD not wanting some UYs to be able to "double dip" during the initial opening phase of a new resort.

When I saw that VGF's Grand Villas will have four bedrooms, I thought of you Bobbi. Are you having second thoughts about buying BLT instead of waiting for VGF???

 

[bobbiwoz]

You would pay maintenance fees beginning with the later of 1. the date you buy; 2. the date you receive your first allotment of points; or 3. the date the resort opens.

Let's say that you buy VGF on April 30, 2013, but the resort does not open until December 1, 2013. In that case, you will pay MFs for 2013 that are prorated from December 1, 2013.

Here is a bit of a twist. If VGF doesn't open until December 2013, DVD might let buyers with August, September, October or December Use Years to get points beginning with the 2013 UY. However, it may not permit buyers to get February, March, April, or June UY points until their 2014 UY. I'm not saying that is what DVD will do, or even should do, but I can see DVD not wanting some UYs to be able to "double dip" during the initial opening phase of a new resort.

When I saw that VGF's Grand Villas will have four bedrooms, I thought of you Bobbi. Are you having second thoughts about buying BLT instead of waiting for VGF???

Yes.

 

[kenny]

Looking at the floor plan and reading the article I see the 2br has 2 baths like the older resorts. But it looks like the 1br only has 1 bath and I don't see a tub. Just shower. Is that correct for the 1br?

 

[shwn]

Seems like the wait may finally be over. It will be very interesting to see the point charts and the cost per point.

 

[shwn]

Looking at the floor plan and reading the article I see the 2br has 2 baths like the older resorts. But it looks like the 1br only has 1 bath and I don't see a tub. Just shower. Is that correct for the 1br?

Looks like the 2-bed lock-off on DVCnews (1 bed and studio) is a handicapped accessible 2-bedroom. It has a different layout in the both bathrooms than the dedicated 2-bed. I checked the filing on the Orange County's Comptrollers website for the VGF and it looks like most of the other 2-bed lock-offs DO have a tub in the 1-bedroom potion, just not the handicapped accessible ones.

 

[wdrl]

Looking at the floor plan and reading the article I see the 2br has 2 baths like the older resorts. But it looks like the 1br only has 1 bath and I don't see a tub. Just shower. Is that correct for the 1br?

Rest assured, the VGF one-bedroom non-HA villas have tubs. When I cut and pasted the floor plans for the DVCNews article, I didn't realize that I was posting a handicapped accessible two-bedroom lock-off, which doesn't have a tub in the one-bedroom portion. There are at least two handicapped accessible two-bedroom lock-offs (villa #1102 and vila #1112) that do not have a tub.

I'll post a fix to the article later today. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[TSMIII]

The VGF Declaration on the Orange County Comptroller's site shows that the Grand Floridian Villas will expire in 2064.

Also, similar to Aulani, there is a provision for offering a Fixed Week Option when selling points. It does not state whether or not they will do so, just that the option exists.

Additionally, the points per villa in the event of maximum reallocation are as follows (points per use day):

Studio - 22 pts.
1 BR - 45 pts.
2 BR - 61 pts.
GV - 147 pts.


I did not see any mention of booking windows that would differ from the current 11 & 7 month windows. It looked to be the standard language related to being part of the "Club".

 

[tjkraz]

Additionally, the points per villa in the event of maximum reallocation are as follows (points per use day):

Studio - 22 pts.
1 BR - 45 pts.
2 BR - 61 pts.
GV - 147 pts.

Bay Lake Tower figures are:

Studio - 16 pts.
1 BR - 39 pts.
2 BR - 54 pts.
GV - 96 pts.

So yeah, Grand Floridian rooms are going to cost more per night. BLT does have the 3 views and its figures above represent an average. But it sure looks like the cheapest VGF room will be at least 10-20% higher than BLT...or 50% higher in the case of the Grand Villas.

 

[corpcomp]

The VGF Declaration on the Orange County Comptroller's site shows that the Grand Floridian Villas will expire in 2064.

Also, similar to Aulani, there is a provision for offering a Fixed Week Option when selling points. It does not state whether or not they will do so, just that the option exists.

Additionally, the points per villa in the event of maximum reallocation are as follows (points per use day):

Studio - 22 pts.
1 BR - 45 pts.
2 BR - 61 pts.
GV - 147 pts.


I did not see any mention of booking windows that would differ from the current 11 & 7 month windows. It looked to be the standard language related to being part of the "Club".

Would not want a fixed week option. School schedules are just too crazy.

 

[jade1]

Bay Lake Tower figures are:

Studio - 16 pts.
1 BR - 39 pts.
2 BR - 54 pts.
GV - 96 pts.

So yeah, Grand Floridian rooms are going to cost more per night. BLT does have the 3 views and its figures above represent an average. But it sure looks like the cheapest VGF room will be at least 10-20% higher than BLT...or 50% higher in the case of the Grand Villas.

We only do MK view at BLT so it looks like we may be doing an occasional VGF stay, will have to see the final numbers. At least to try it out and if available at 7 months.

 

[LisaS]

Rest assured, the VGF one-bedroom non-HA villas have tubs. When I cut and pasted the floor plans for the DVCNews article, I didn't realize that I was posting a handicapped accessible two-bedroom lock-off, which doesn't have a tub in the one-bedroom portion. There are at least two handicapped accessible two-bedroom lock-offs (villa #1102 and vila #1112) that do not have a tub.

I'll post a fix to the article later today. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Having studied the AKV floor plans extensively, I discovered the quickest way to spot the HA villas is by looking at the balcony doors. The HA villas have hinged doors rather than sliding doors out to the balcony.

When you say you will "post a fix" I hope you will leave the HA villa floor plan up and post an additional floor plan showing a non-HA villa. It's interesting to see the differences.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Yikes!!

 

[LisaS]

You would pay maintenance fees beginning with the later of 1. the date you buy; 2. the date you receive your first allotment of points; or 3. the date the resort opens.

For #3, it's the occupancy date of the Unit purchased which can be later than the date the resort opens.

I have March UY. If the points go on sale $ I don't get any points for this year, do I still pay MF because I can borrow?

Just as you can with the points you already own, you should be able to borrow points from your next UY without pre-paying dues on them. However, you won't be able to use Grand Floridian points for a stay that occurs before the occupancy date of the Unit you purchase there. That's because when you book a DVC stay, you are essentially trading the Unit you own for some other Unit either at the same resort or a different resort. Until the Unit you purchase is ready for occupancy, you have nothing to trade.