Invite for Grand Disney Firsts: VGC, March 27-29

[Starr W.]

I just got the invite to this today - not many slots are still open, but we're thinking about going.

Can anyone guess what sorts of "other surprises" there will be? Maybe I'm crazy to drive an hour down there just to hear stuff I've already learned about GCV on the DIS and eat some Pepperidge Farm cookies and lemonade!

Hey Lurky! If it's anything like the previous "show"(preview of the GCV)they had out in CA, there will be some killer incentives for buying. Way better than you would get on site at WDW or DL. They were so good IMHO, it would have made me consider adding on!

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for the tip!

Now, do you remember how long the presentation lasted? We're hoping to get in and out within a few hours...

 

[squidmo]

Maybe I'm crazy to drive an hour down there just to hear stuff I've already learned about GCV on the DIS and eat some Pepperidge Farm cookies and lemonade!

If you are seriously considering buying 100 points or more, I'd suggest seriously thinking about going to the event. They often have way better incentives than are available at any other time. Plus, from what I've read they usually give away some sort of swag, and have drawings for larger prizes- since you only have an hours drive I'd say it's a no-brainer. Heck, I'm actually flying down from SFO Sat. afternoon & flying back Sun. morning to go to the event.

 

[squidmo]

Thanks for the tip!

Now, do you remember how long the presentation lasted? We're hoping to get in and out within a few hours...

It looks like they are scheduling sessions every three hours, so they can't last any longer than that. Of course, if you decide to buy and fill out paperwork, it probably will take a bit longer...

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for the tips, squidmo! I went ahead and reserved our spot. I'm excited!

 

[stopher1]

Thanks for the tip!

Now, do you remember how long the presentation lasted? We're hoping to get in and out within a few hours...

Yes, ours began at 7 pm, and it ended around 9:15ish, when the characters then came out and they began a dance party. It was then that the refreshments were served - lots of cookies (not Pepperidge Farms, but nothing too fancy either), lots of fruit kebobs and strawberries with chocolate sauces to dip in. There was a bar, but I have no idea if it was just soft drinks or more than that - we only wanted water, so I didn't pay much attention to that. There were guides out in force, and anyone that wanted to speak with them could of course do so for as long as necessary. We arrived at 6:30ish for our session and the "guide room" was still quite full. We spoke with a guide but did not add-on at that event since we wanted to add-on VGC - but of course at that time it was not on the agenda. We finally walked out to then view the BLT model at about 10 after my DD had had her fill of dancing with the characters and getting pics and autographs - especially Tinker Bell, and there were still 3-5 people speaking with guides.

 

[SoCalKDG]

just received our packet in the mail today. The points seem rather high per night...
a studio in the summer is 23 points, a one bedroom is 46 and a two bedroom is 62! YIKES!!!

For this amount I will stay on Harbor Blvd and I have toured the rooms in CA and they are beautiful but I don't think paying that amount is worth it for our family......

23 X $7 (what I value my points at) = $161 for the Grand Californian in the summer, sounds great to me. I'm scheduled for March 28th. If I add 100 points I'll be there every summer from now on. Easily beats the Harbor Hotels, which I've stayed at many times.

 

[WDWfantasy]

I called my guide at WDW to purchase a 200 point add-on (4 x 50pts) at VGC. He wrote it up under the current incentives (I'm not a founding member so can't actually purchase until Thursday). I will be attending the Saturday, 7 pm, presentation. I'm hoping for better incentives. He said that if I want to re-write the contract after the presentation, that a guide there can access the contract and re-write it with the new incentives. I would just wait and do the whole thing there on Saturday night, but I got a bit nervous about there being points for my use year still available. Anyone else doing this too??

 

[squidmo]

Anyone else doing this too??

I am! My guide took all my info last week, and I'll be there Saturday as well. My guide did say he thought points would be available for a couple of months, but I want my points NOW, and I like being able to choose between either the current incentives or whatever incentives are available at the Grand Firsts event (I'm hoping for something good...).

 

[SuzanneSLO]

23 X $7 (what I value my points at) = $161 for the Grand Californian in the summer, sounds great to me. I'm scheduled for March 28th. If I add 100 points I'll be there every summer from now on. Easily beats the Harbor Hotels, which I've stayed at many times.

We are booked for the Sat night event, but I am pretty sure we will cancel it. I have been running numbers and my breakeven point is at 2029 (assuming no value left in the contract). For DL, I think that we are just not good candidates to buy VGC becuase we are happy staying at PP and offsite at a Sheraton if we can't find a reasonable rate at PP.

As a resut, I used a base rate of $160/night as my current base cost of an alternate room in doing my calculations. It would need to be about $240 to get my breakeven to 2019. I don't have the figures in front of me, but I think my breakeven for BWV purchased from DVC in 2005 was about 6 years! -- Suzanne

 

[WDWfantasy]

but I want my points NOW, and I like being able to choose between either the current incentives or whatever incentives are available at the Grand Firsts event (I'm hoping for something good...).

My feelings exactly!!

 

[maburke]

I'm bumping this because I am *desperate* for a report from anyone who attends! (It was hilarious to watch the thread about the Chicago event grow on the night with impatient people who wanted to hear about the incentives!)

I'm sending my DBIL on Saturday morning if the incentives are worth the effort of figuring out how I can buy with him there in person.

So is anyone going Thursday? Friday morning?

Thanks!

 

[stopher1]

(It was hilarious to watch the thread about the Chicago event grow on the night with impatient people who wanted to hear about the incentives!)

Glad you were amused! It was rather amusing being part of it.

FWIW I can't wait to hear what they offer at the Anaheim event too.

 

[maburke]

Glad you were amused! It was rather amusing being part of it.

FWIW I can't wait to hear what they offer at the Anaheim event too.

I think it was so funny because I logged on that night to see what people were reporting, and was really pleased to see that the thread had grown by about 2 pages, but all of that was people like me who were begging for a report!

 

[lurkyloo]

I just got four emails confirming our attendance at this event Sunday - I guess they're REALLY excited that we're coming!

 

[squidmo]

I just got four emails confirming our attendance at this event Sunday - I guess they're REALLY excited that we're coming!

Me too! I thought maybe it was because I had partially cancelled my original request (DH wasn't able to come), and that perhaps they had done something weird with my reservation. Glad to know they just hit the "send" button a bit too enthusiastically.

I spoke to my guide earlier today, and he says that the rumors are that the event incentives are going to be good (last weeks rumor was that they weren't going to be that good), so I've got to say I'm pretty excited!

 

[pycees312]

Me too! I thought maybe it was because I had partially cancelled my original request (DH wasn't able to come), and that perhaps they had done something weird with my reservation. Glad to know they just hit the "send" button a bit too enthusiastically.

I spoke to my guide earlier today, and he says that the rumors are that the event incentives are going to be good (last weeks rumor was that they weren't going to be that good), so I've got to say I'm pretty excited!

goodness i feel like im going to be kicking myself in the behind for adding on 100 pts 2 weeks ago and should have waited until now to add double aww shucks!!! if the incentive for 200 is killer im going to be so sad!

 

[Snoopygirl]

I just got four emails confirming our attendance at this event Sunday - I guess they're REALLY excited that we're coming!

I got 4 emails too!!! And we are going on Sunday also.....see you there!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I never did get an invite. Guess they knew ahead of time that I wouldn't be able to make it anyway, but still......

Anybody going to go for the Mickey Penthouse suite if it's offered again?

 

[ACDSNY]

goodness i feel like im going to be kicking myself in the behind for adding on 100 pts 2 weeks ago and should have waited until now to add double aww shucks!!! if the incentive for 200 is killer im going to be so sad!

Me too! Although the cruise incentive is working well for me.