Grand Villas

[Mrsjnt083]

I’m not sure if this should be here or in the DVC thread...
I’m wanting to book a grand villa for spring break next year, using cash. Has anyone had luck doing this? When rescheduling my trip from this year to next year, the only Grand Villa that shows up is Riviera. It’s gorgeous, just not $30K for the week gorgeous. The agent I’m working with said it would be 7 months out before they open, and that makes sense. I’m specifically looking for AKL, OKW, and SS. Do y’all think this is doable or am I looking at a lost cause?
thank you!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It's doable. I would ask your TA to start checking at the 11 month mark, however. I've checked on grand villas numerous times and SSR and AKL have both popped up with availability.

 

[Marionnette]

I’m not sure if this should be here or in the DVC thread...
I’m wanting to book a grand villa for spring break next year, using cash. Has anyone had luck doing this? When rescheduling my trip from this year to next year, the only Grand Villa that shows up is Riviera. It’s gorgeous, just not $30K for the week gorgeous. The agent I’m working with said it would be 7 months out before they open, and that makes sense. I’m specifically looking for AKL, OKW, and SS. Do y’all think this is doable or am I looking at a lost cause?
thank you!

Grand villas do not tend to show up on the cash side for booking. Riviera shows up because the resort has not sold out yet and the developer (DVD) “sells” its unsold interests (points which have not been sold to members) to CRO in the form of villas.

I would be very surprised if any GVs are available next spring because DVC members have been banking their points into 2021 due to the current closure. Many of those members will be planning bigger trips next year to use up those points before they expire.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I doubt you'll find an OKW GV at seven months out for Spring Break for cash reservations.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Grand villas do not tend to show up on the cash side for booking. Riviera shows up because the resort has not sold out yet and the developer (DVD) “sells” its unsold interests (points which have not been sold to members) to CRO in the form of villas.

I would be very surprised if any GVs are available next spring because DVC members have been banking their points into 2021 due to the current closure. Many of those members will be planning bigger trips next year to use up those points before they expire.

You bring up an excellent point regarding the current situation with DVC closures and members banking points. I still think it's worth calling WDW around the 11 month mark (and to keep calling week-by-week after that) As mentioned above, I've gotten quotes for GVs at SSR and AKL as cash reservations numerous times, so in a normal year, it is possible.

 

[Mrsjnt083]

I’m going to hold out hope, but have back up plans of course. This next year is going to be interesting to see how it unfolds.
I was wondering why only Riviera was showing as available when booking cash, that explanation makes perfect sense.
Thank y’all for all of the feedback. We usually book something like Art of Animation, but we have a bigger group that consists of teenagers this time. We need the space for sure.

 

[Mrsjnt083]

I meant to add that I think my TA said that they told her that because of the closures and everything, they aren’t releasing any villas this far out yet, even if they have been available this far out in the past.

 

[TL-CP96]

Why don't you try renting points. You can rent the points to book a grand villa 11 months out. It will also be a lot cheaper than paying cash, and you get the earlier availability.

 

[Marionnette]

You bring up an excellent point regarding the current situation with DVC closures and members banking points. I still think it's worth calling WDW around the 11 month mark (and to keep calling week-by-week after that) As mentioned above, I've gotten quotes for GVs at SSR and AKL as cash reservations numerous times, so in a normal year, it is possible.

Calling every week starting at 11 months out when your TA told you that villas won’t be released until 7 months out at the earliest makes you that client. DVC does not release villas to the cash side for breakage at 11 months unless a member has traded points out to DCL, ABD or the Disney Collection. In those cases, the villas released tend to be 1BR villas. A GV would be a rarity. Getting a GV at 11 months out would require going thru an owner, either directly or using an intermediary.

At 60-days out, any villas that have not been reserved by members can be released to CRO for breakage. Grand Villas can be part of that inventory. An OKW GV would be a rare find on the cash side because they require so few points and members book them up. AKV and SSR have the most GVs and tend to have availability longer. Those are the GVs most likely to be released for cash reservations at 60 days out.

 

[Mrsjnt083]

Why don't you try renting points. You can rent the points to book a grand villa 11 months out. It will also be a lot cheaper than paying cash, and you get the earlier availability.

The biggest reason I don’t want to rent is simply budgeting. Renting requires you pay over 50% up front when using one of the companies. I spread the cost over a few months when paying with cash. It is what works for my family.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I meant to add that I think my TA said that they told her that because of the closures and everything, they aren’t releasing any villas this far out yet, even if they have been available this far out in the past.

The 11 months out and then 7 months out is normal - those are the opening times for DVC members to book their villas. The openings for cash reservations usually follow that pattern as inventory starts to open once DVC members get their bookings in.

Calling every week starting at 11 months out when your TA told you that villas won’t be released until 7 months out at the earliest makes you that client. DVC does not release villas to the cash side for breakage at 11 months unless a member has traded points out to DCL, ABD or the Disney Collection. In those cases, the villas released tend to be 1BR villas. A GV would be a rarity. Getting a GV at 11 months out would require going thru an owner, either directly or using an intermediary.

At 60-days out, any villas that have not been reserved by members can be released to CRO for breakage. Grand Villas can be part of that inventory. An OKW GV would be a rare find on the cash side because they require so few points and members book them up. AKV and SSR have the most GVs and tend to have availability longer. Those are the GVs most likely to be released for cash reservations at 60 days out.

Ummm . . . I'm a TA. That's what I do for clients. If you want to book a villa for a client, you start calling 11 months out and then call every week thereafter (or even every day if you are on the phone with WDW frequently). Any TA doing high-volume sales for WDW (or is Earmarked) is on the phone with WDW almost on a daily basis anyway. It takes no time at all to check on availability for a villa for a client.

 

[CastAStone]

Grand villas do not tend to show up on the cash side for booking. Riviera shows up because the resort has not sold out yet and the developer (DVD) “sells” its unsold interests (points which have not been sold to members) to CRO in the form of villas.

Bingo. You're almost certainly going to have to rent points to do this at all. AFAIK they don't even publish cash rates for Grand Villas for SSR, OKW, or AKV.

You probably know this already, but just in case: A cash price at those resorts is still going to be in the neighborhood of $20K-$25K for the week. Less than $30K sure, but they are not cheap with cash. A cash reservation in March for a 2BR Savannah View room this year was over $14K. Grand Villa cash rates tend to be about 60%-100% more than a 2BR.

 

[Marionnette]

The 11 months out and then 7 months out is normal - those are the opening times for DVC members to book their villas. The openings for cash reservations usually follow that pattern as inventory starts to open once DVC members get their bookings in.



Ummm . . . I'm a TA. That's what I do for clients. If you want to book a villa for a client, you start calling 11 months out and then call every week thereafter (or even every day if you are on the phone with WDW frequently). Any TA doing high-volume sales for WDW (or is Earmarked) is on the phone with WDW almost on a daily basis anyway. It takes no time at all to check on availability for a villa for a client.

TAs yes. Call every week. Clients should not pester their TA on a weekly basis. Let them do their job.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With all the problems arising with renting points after the shutdown, you may want to NOT rent points from a broker, but consider renting from an owner. However, the problem is finding an owner with enough points to book that GV for a week. I don't think I would rent from a broker with the poor treatment both renters and owners have gotten from them. Plus the brokers might have a hard time finding an owner with points to rent with all the stuff that has happened in the last few weeks.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

TAs yes. Call every week. Clients should not pester their TA on a weekly basis. Let them do their job.

I never suggested the OP call the TA every week. If the TA is doing her job and calling, the client wouldn't have to. "I still think it's worth calling WDW around the 11 month mark (and to keep calling week-by-week after that)". We agree then - the TA should be calling WDW every week.

Edited to add: OP, I would seriously consider coming up with a 2nd and 3rd choices on the resort side should a GV not materialize. If you are looking for a large space to gather, take a look at, perhaps, the Hospitality Suite in the garden wing of CR. Instead of a GV, we once booked this for a large group along with two other standard rooms in the garden wing to accommodate the group. The living room area of the hospitality suite is HUGE. The suite holds 7 people. I don't know how many you have in your group, but it might be worth pricing out the suite plus one or two standard rooms in CR garden wing if it's of any interest to you.

 

[JasonMak2000]

If you are going to spend $15K for a week in a GV for cash you can BUY a DVC contract. Prices are dropping, Disney isn't exercising their ROFR much these days and you could finance it out for several years if you want. You could sell the contract in a couple years and get most/all of your money back. Heck at these prices you might even make some money. Just a thought.

 

[Marionnette]

I don’t think $15K is going to get you enough points to reserve a GV.

 

[FreeTime]

Having stayed in a GV at BWV with 2 adults and 5 of age teenagers I would say I would not do it again. I would have gotten a two bedroom for them and a one bedroom for us and saved the points. Space is nice but sometimes space gives you a bit of too much togetherness when it is all one unit.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don’t think $15K is going to get you enough points to reserve a GV.

Especially with the limit on borrowing points (only 50% permitted).

 

[michelleiada]

I’m not sure if this should be here or in the DVC thread...
I’m wanting to book a grand villa for spring break next year, using cash. Has anyone had luck doing this? When rescheduling my trip from this year to next year, the only Grand Villa that shows up is Riviera. It’s gorgeous, just not $30K for the week gorgeous. The agent I’m working with said it would be 7 months out before they open, and that makes sense. I’m specifically looking for AKL, OKW, and SS. Do y’all think this is doable or am I looking at a lost cause?
thank you!

You should consider renting points or a reservation, from a DVC Member. Either on these boards, or through The Timeshare store.