Grand Floridian Waitlist stat and general questions

[jerseyduke]

I will be buying into the Grand Floridian on June 19th (not a DVC member yet, so i have to wait til the 19th).

I was planning on doing a studio from 12/1 thru 12/11 (my back up dates were 12/8-12/18)

I was unaware that current DVC members who bought into GF can already book, so now on another thread, I read that the first week of december is already wait listed.

On the 19th, I will call member services and try to get my dates, if not, get added to the waitlist.

Assuming that is what happens, is there a strategy I should take here or anything to be aware of?

Secondly, I really do not want to use my GF points somewhere else. I only have enough to go every other year, and if I do not use them this year, I will use them next december, and probably pay out of pocket this year. However, if something else is available and I do book that, I have no more points left....what happens to my waitlist? what if i see it(GF) become available? Can I waitlist something if I have already allocated (but not used) my points?

 

[CarolMN]

I will be buying into the Grand Floridian on June 19th (not a DVC member yet, so i have to wait til the 19th).

I was planning on doing a studio from 12/1 thru 12/11 (my back up dates were 12/8-12/18)

I was unaware that current DVC members who bought into GF can already book, so now on another thread, I read that the first week of december is already wait listed.

I thought the issue was for fixed weeks, not points, but maybe not. Tell your guide about the reservation you want when you buy and see if there is something he/she can do to help you get your fist reservation.

On the 19th, I will call member services and try to get my dates, if not, get added to the waitlist.

Assuming that is what happens, is there a strategy I should take here or anything to be aware of?

Not really. But you will be ahead of non-owners for that week and if sales go well, Disney may declare more points into the DVC inventory and so you may get your waitlist as a result of that.

Secondly, I really do not want to use my GF points somewhere else. I only have enough to go every other year, and if I do not use them this year, I will use them next December, and probably pay out of pocket this year. However, if something else is available and I do book that, I have no more points left....what happens to my waitlist? what if i see it(GF) become available? Can I waitlist something if I have already allocated (but not used) my points?

You can set up a waitlist to cancel an existing reservation if the waitlist works.

That said, if you waitlist first and then book something else, you will have to cancel the waitlist you have and make a new one that will cancel the reservation you made elsewhere if the waitlist works. When you do that, you go to the bottom of the list.

Also, when you set up a waitlist, if you need to borrow points to make it work, you must give permission to borrow. I mention this because you said you only plan to buy enough to go every other year.

HTH.

 

[jerseyduke]

Thanks.

I admittedly do not understand the Fixed week thing. What is a fixed week? Sorry for the ignorance. When you say you thought the issue was for fixed week, is that to say you are thinking it is still open for points?

I am buying 120 points (as of now) the dates I want are coming out as (about) 175 point for standard view studio and 202 for lagoon view.

Plan is to use my 120 from 2013 use year, and borrow the rest from 2014 use year (which is April 1st).

Really looking forward to spending my fav. time of year down there in the new building....

 

[hakepb]

About the only thing you can "negotiate" with DVC is your first reservation. Just tell your guide you will buy if he/she can work a little "magic" and get you a VGF studio from xxx-yyy this year.

A fixed week would not work for your EOY plans.
Here's a basic primer:
http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort.../2295-grand-floridian-guaranteed-week-details

Basically you buy 10% more points than needed, but you get a guaranteed Sun-Sun reservation each year. Up to 31 days before your stay, you can cancel and use all of your points (including the extra 10%) like any DVC points member.

 

[jerseyduke]

Excellent idea, thank you.

Actually if I do not get those dates, I do not need to be in a hurry to buy anyway.

By "guide" do you mean the person I am dealing with in the sales department?

 

[rlovew]

Excellent idea, thank you.

Actually if I do not get those dates, I do not need to be in a hurry to buy anyway.

By "guide" do you mean the person I am dealing with in the sales department?

Yes- your guide is the salesperson you are dealing with at DVD.

 

[hakepb]

Yes, the "guide" is what DVC calls your sales person.

 

[lah3hh]

I am sure someone will know this so thank you ahead of time to anyone who can help me!


From reading the various threads having to do with VGF it seems once you buy you can book your first reservation. When will everyone be able to book a reservation? I am hoping to go right when they first open on 10/23 since I am jumping to a DCL cruise on 10/26. Since it is already within the 7 month timeframe I am not sure and mostly confused??

I am hoping to get DH to agree to buying a few points at VGF but if not need to have my Plan B in place!!!

 

[rlovew]

I am sure someone will know this so thank you ahead of time to anyone who can help me!


From reading the various threads having to do with VGF it seems once you buy you can book your first reservation. When will everyone be able to book a reservation? I am hoping to go right when they first open on 10/23 since I am jumping to a DCL cruise on 10/26. Since it is already within the 7 month timeframe I am not sure and mostly confused??

I am hoping to get DH to agree to buying a few points at VGF but if not need to have my Plan B in place!!!

If you are a current DVC member you have your points available to use within a few hours of paying your deposit. If you are not currently a DVC member then you can set up your buy and it should be processed and you should have points available to use on June 19th. If you are a DVC member not buying points at GFV then you can begin making reservations on June 23rd. At that time the rest of the year allows a 4 month booking for those who don't own at GFV and then a regualr 7 month out starting Jan 23rd (since it will be less than 7 months from Jan 1-23 when booking begins.

When I looked a week ago the standard view studios for opening day were all already booked but since I have my reservation I haven't looked again to see if that has changed.

 

[lah3hh]

If you are a current DVC member you have your points available to use within a few hours of paying your deposit. If you are not currently a DVC member then you can set up your buy and it should be processed and you should have points available to use on June 19th. If you are a DVC member not buying points at GFV then you can begin making reservations on June 23rd. At that time the rest of the year allows a 4 month booking for those who don't own at GFV and then a regualr 7 month out starting Jan 23rd (since it will be less than 7 months from Jan 1-23 when booking begins.

When I looked a week ago the standard view studios for opening day were all already booked but since I have my reservation I haven't looked again to see if that has changed.

Thank you SO much this was perfect. I now wonder if the first 3 days are completely unavailable.

 

[stefanospops]

We bought at VGF yesterday while Member Services was closed, but the points were in my account this morning and we booked a standard view 1 bedroom for October 25-29. The studios are sold out for the first two nights, but there seems to be lakeview studios available for the first Friday (October 25). There are 1 bedrooms available though, both standard and lakeview. We already had a trip planned a year ago and would have tried to be there for opening night except we will be at sea on the Disney Magic when they open to guests so we'll have to wait until the Friday.

 

[lah3hh]

I am thrilled to share we just purchased a 100 point add on contract yesterday. Called MS this morning right at opening hour and successfully booked a 2 bedroom standard view for 10/23 - 10/26!!!! Thank you DIS folks for looking at this prior to my add on. I am SO excited to be there on opening day...how fun!!