How long is waitlist for direct purchase through DVC at GCV?

[Riverrunner]

My wife and I are considering a first-time purchase with DVC. We live in Arizona but missed the GCV opportunity since we hadn't been to DL for a couple of years (unusual!). We're at WDW right now and took the tour.

While we would prefer GCV over BLT due to the fact that we go to DL more than WDW, the salesman said there's a waitlist for GCV with about 20 people already on it. He says it may take a year or more to get through the list.

We're thinking that direct purchase makes more sense for us since we understand that GCV fills up quickly. If needed, that gives us the ability to use the DL Hotel as a backup. This is an issue that most WDW buyers don't fall into due to the abundance of other DCV properties.

Anyway, we're considering going through with a BLT purchase. Our daughter and grandkids live on the east coast and could use it with (or without) us - they're here with us now. But, most of the time I would expect to use it at DL.

I've thought about GCV resale but I'm not sure I can always plan 7 months in advance and the ability to use the DL Hotel as a backup seems worthwhile.

We're looking to go to DL in October, so it seems to make sense to get BLT now rather than wait on a waitlist that might be a year or more and have to pay for October's stay (at the GC Hotel). The salesman checked that there is availability at the GCV if we were to buy now at BLT and reserve the GCV in October.

So, does the long waitlist for direct purchase of GCV sound right, or is the salesman just trying to get us to buy something now?

 

[jelwallace]

I can't answer your original question about how long the waitlist is to buy at the Grand Californian but I would advise that you get on the waitlist and not buy at Bay lake just to get points in time for an October trip. Remember you should buy where you are most likely to stay and DVC is a very long term committment. If you truely spend more time at DL then buy at DL even if it means a wait. You could always rent points from a current member for the October trip. It would give you a nice sense of the villas out there without a long term commitment.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

My wife and I are considering a first-time purchase with DVC. We live in Arizona but missed the GCV opportunity since we hadn't been to DL for a couple of years (unusual!). We're at WDW right now and took the tour.

While we would prefer GCV over BLT due to the fact that we go to DL more than WDW, the salesman said there's a waitlist for GCV with about 20 people already on it. He says it may take a year or more to get through the list.

We're thinking that direct purchase makes more sense for us since we understand that GCV fills up quickly. If needed, that gives us the ability to use the DL Hotel as a backup. This is an issue that most WDW buyers don't fall into due to the abundance of other DCV properties.

Anyway, we're considering going through with a BLT purchase. Our daughter and grandkids live on the east coast and could use it with (or without) us - they're here with us now. But, most of the time I would expect to use it at DL.

I've thought about GCV resale but I'm not sure I can always plan 7 months in advance and the ability to use the DL Hotel as a backup seems worthwhile.

We're looking to go to DL in October, so it seems to make sense to get BLT now rather than wait on a waitlist that might be a year or more and have to pay for October's stay (at the GC Hotel). The salesman checked that there is availability at the GCV if we were to buy now at BLT and reserve the GCV in October.

So, does the long waitlist for direct purchase of GCV sound right, or is the salesman just trying to get us to buy something now?

Last December, we were told that there were points available in our UY (we want to add on ), so we would not have to waitlist. We declined and 4 months is a long time for things to change. If you are not picky about UY, you can also buy GCV resale, but that will take a couple of months to close.

Only you can tell whether buying at BLT makes sense for you. We live in CA and own at BWV becuase we travel for longer vacations to WDW that we book 11 months in advance. Our vacations to DL are likely to be last minute, which means that DVC points are not a good way to book. We are thinking it might make sense to get a small number of GCV points to book 1 long weekend a year more than 7 months in advance.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[nunzia]

I would stick with buying at VGC (there is a rumor about a 4th tower at Disneyland Hotel being DVC but wouldn't hold my breath.) Yes, there's a waiting list, but your guide may be exaggerating so that you'll buy now. I bet points won't take that long to be available..I don't think Disney has been actively ROFR VGC sales, so maybe they anticipate points coming to them without having to ROFR to get them.

 

[JaneSparrow]

I would recommend telling your guide that you decided to wait until there are VGC points available and that they can get you a room there in Oct.

I really think that they are using the Oct trip as a way to convince you to buy now at BLT. The question is would you really be happy doing so? What if grandkids can't/won't go to BLT/WDW in the future, would you go instead?

I kept reading here that the only thing guaranteed is to be able to stay at your home resort and everything else is a perk. When that time comes will you be happy with BLT choice or would you be sorry that you should have bought VGC resale instead?


P.S. We bought direct at BLT because we will be happy staying here all the time.

 

[maminnie]

As so many people reiterate over and over again, buy where you want to stay and where you will be happy staying. With all the talk about possible changes down the road, this may at some point be very important to you.

 

[mdsd8700]

As so many people reiterate over and over again, buy where you want to stay and where you will be happy staying. With all the talk about possible changes down the road, this may at some point be very important to you.

Maminnie may is right. Even if it took a whole year on the wait list (unlikely I would think) the contract is going to last to 2057. Worth the time on the waitlist if this is what you really want for the next 46 years.

Good Luck!

 

[disneydenisel]

I spoke with our guide not so long ago...maybe January? I was looking to add on VGC points. My guide happens to be at VGC, so it is really convenient . Anyhow, she said that the waitlist for my UY was only four people long and they wanted little add-ons, so that I would only have to wait two weeks.

If you want to speak with her at VGC, let me know. She might be able to do some "magic" and find the points that you need!

Definitely buy where you want to stay and take advantage of the 11-month window. If you don't think that you will be able to plan even 7 months out, then you will lose the home advantage and may not be able to book VGC. I think since you would like to own there, you will just get used to planning a little farther ahead so you can enjoy booking as an owner.

It's worth the wait for exactly what home resort you want!

 

[dbs1228]

We just sold 160 point VGC closed Friday and DVC waived ROFR. There are several contracts that are not too bad on the resales market, 1 on Fidelity 125 points that is June UY with 180 - 2010 points (probably would lose the 55 -2009 since the process will take too long) for 95.00 there are others on TSS. Take a look, tell your guide you are eager to buy THERE and noticed several on the resale market - you never know. They are pushing BLT at all cost now.

 

[the donut]

I also think you should wait for VGC. Someone posted that Disney wasn't doing any ROFR'ing before the 3/20 deadline. Now that date has passed, so if that were true, Disney could start reclaiming VGC points and moving people off the waitlist. And it's such a small resort, I think it's worth having the 11 month advantage.

You could put yourself on the waitlist to buy direct AND buy a small contract now through resale for your October trip. That way you'd have both multi-purpose direct purchase points as well as VGC points now for your October trip. Or maybe your own resale purchase will be ROFR'ed, and you'll get yourself off the waitlist!

 

[wbl2745]

Remember that the guides get their commission only when things sell, consequently, they have a bias toward selling BLT over VGC. There was another thread where someone was asking about VGC vs. BLT with the same argument from the guide. Look at the long picture. If you take any use year then the wait my be shorter, or even no wait at all. We added on last October and there was no wait. You should consider just paying cash to stay this October and get the resort you want. Buy where you want to stay is the way to go.

 

[ToddyLu]

I agree with the others, go with your instinct here. There are plenty of rooms so to speak in WDW, not as many in DL. So it will be "harder" to get a room at DL if you are not an owner there. With the grandchildren in school, your kids maybe only able to plan vacations 7 months or less. At WDW you would (as it stands currently) usually be able to stay at OKW, AKV or SSR due to their size--when booking 7 months or less. If I lived in AZ, I would definitely purchase at VGC. I also think it should be a purchase that you enjoy and not rely on others to "use" it per se.

 

[Riverrunner]

I spoke with our guide not so long ago...maybe January? I was looking to add on VGC points. My guide happens to be at VGC, so it is really convenient . Anyhow, she said that the waitlist for my UY was only four people long and they wanted little add-ons, so that I would only have to wait two weeks.

If you want to speak with her at VGC, let me know. She might be able to do some "magic" and find the points that you need!

Definitely buy where you want to stay and take advantage of the 11-month window. If you don't think that you will be able to plan even 7 months out, then you will lose the home advantage and may not be able to book VGC. I think since you would like to own there, you will just get used to planning a little farther ahead so you can enjoy booking as an owner.

It's worth the wait for exactly what home resort you want!

Disneydenisel, that would be great if I could get the name and phone number of your VGC guide! I actually thought about calling VGC direct, but I figured they'd see my name in the computer and route me back to my guide at WDW.

 

[Longhairbear]

I also think you should waitlist for VGC points. We are thinking of doing the same for an add on.
It also sends a message to DVC management that DLR needs more DVC villas.

 

[disneydenisel]

Disneydenisel, that would be great if I could get the name and phone number of your VGC guide! I actually thought about calling VGC direct, but I figured they'd see my name in the computer and route me back to my guide at WDW.

Sure, I sent you an email and a PM, hopefully you will get them. My guide is great and I hope that she will be able to answer your VGC waitlist questions. It may not be as long as you think before you have your points !

 

[disneydenisel]

In case anyone is interested, I did speak with my guide today to find out the scoop about VGC point availability.

She did say that there is currently a longer waitlist than there was in January, and she was not sure how long it would take to clear. Some people are requesting certain UYs to add on, while others may be first time buyers. She said that they are acquiring resale points when they can.

Still, my advice is that since there is no obligation to get on a waitlist, it makes sense to put yourself on it if you want to buy direct and own at that resort. The waitlist may clear sooner than later if Disney is really buying back contracts at VGC.

If in the meantime anyone finds a resale contract that suits their needs (and doesn't need the hotel booking option), they can always get off the waitlist at that time.

 

[TLPL]

I would stick with waitlist at VGC. It's not like WDW where if you can't get a room in one DVC resort you can easily find one somewhere else. DLR has only one DVC resort so if GCV is full then you are out of luck. Also, there is no guarantee the perk of booking at DLH and PPH will last forever. What if one day DVC decide we can only stay at our own resort? I would for sure buy where I want to stay if I were you.

 

[SanDeeKath]

I would stick with waitlist at VGC. It's not like WDW where if you can't get a room in one DVC resort you can easily find one somewhere else. DLR has only one DVC resort so if GCV is full then you are out of luck. Also, there is no guarantee the perk of booking at DLH and PPH will last forever. What if one day DVC decide we can only stay at our own resort? I would for sure buy where I want to stay if I were you.

That will never happen (mandating that you stay at only the resort you own) but it's good advice to buy at GCV because there are only 48 rooms and even as an owner, I am having a really hard time with availability under 11 months. It used to not be this way but now that it's sold out AND people are trading in, it's really hard to get weekend stays. Only random studios open up here and there and usually only for 1 night instead of consecutive nights...

Katherine

 

[bethy]

I agree with everyone who has posted here - they know what they are talking about. Wait and buy at VGC when available. Do NOT buy at WDW. I also agree that it is nice to have the option of using the points to book at the hotels as a back up. Let's pray it stays that way.

 

[Riverrunner]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I talked to my guide today and had him change the BLT purchase to a VGC waitlist. I'm supposedly number 25 on the list, which is a lower number than I had heard before. Hopefully, the wait isn't too long!