Just purchased our first GFV points!

[rsimon]

So, I guess owning at AKV, BLT, and Aulani wasn't enough even though I kept telling my DW it was.

We just picked up our first GFV contract for a guaranteed week during our normal October Food & Wine trip (we have an October use year). Not sure if the guaranteed week was the right way to go, but points are points and with the added bonus of not having to book it every year it seemed to make sense.

Anyone else here go for the guaranteed week option? What was the reason either way? Just curious more than anything. I couldn't find the catch other than you needed to buy that number of points and it had to be a single contract.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We just purchased GVF and I hadn't heard a thing about the guaranteed week thing... is that purchased direct? and how much per point if you don't mind me asking?

 

[disneynutz]

We purchased week 49, 1 bedroom, lake view because there are only 17 available, that's if no one books a 2 bedroom lock-off and no one else buys a fixed week for the same week, room size, and view.

Bill

 

[wildforgoofy]

So can you only go the week you own or can you change it? If you can change it then when do you have to notify VGF that you're not using your reserved week? This is so interesting!

 

[rsimon]

So can you only go the week you own or can you change it? If you can change it then when do you have to notify VGF that you're not using your reserved week? This is so interesting!

When you purchase direct, they have a limited number of guaranteed fixed weeks. Think of it as an automatic reservation very year as they will send you the confirmation number for it 11 months out. If you don't want that reservation, you call member services and opt out of it which will release the points. If you opt out of the week prior to the 11 month window for borrowing points, of corse the automatic reservation will not be made.

So this is why I say, points are points and I couldn't see a reason not to do it other than the single contract and specific number of points you had to get for that week. I will say the other not so obvious downside is you pay more points for that week if you use the guaranteed booking. However, at the 11 month window, you could opt out and cancel that reservation while remaking the same reservation for fewer points.

BTW, if they reallocate points, your week is still guaranteed at your points value.

We did it because F&W is getting busier and we always come that time of year.

 

[wildforgoofy]

When you purchase direct, they have a limited number of guaranteed fixed weeks. Think of it as an automatic reservation very year as they will send you the confirmation number for it 11 months out. If you don't want that reservation, you call member services and opt out of it which will release the points. If you opt out of the week prior to the 11 month window for borrowing points, of corse the automatic reservation will not be made. So this is why I say, points are points and I couldn't see a reason not to do it other than the single contract and specific number of points you had to get for that week. I will say the other not so obvious downside is you pay more points for that week if you use the guaranteed booking. However, at the 11 month window, you could opt out and cancel that reservation while remaking the same reservation for fewer points. BTW, if they reallocate points, your week is still guaranteed at your points value. We did it because F&W is getting busier and we always come that time of year.

Why would it be more for your guaranteed room? Is it because it's bigger than a studio or a better view? I saw a VGF guaranteed week of Christmas on the resale board, it was 500 points. WOW!
I'm wondering why anyone buying direct wouldn't want to pick a week if you're not 100% locked into it. Sounds like the best of both worlds especially if you pick a week around Oct-Dec.

 

[nalajms]

OP just curious, were you able to get your fixed week room for 2014? Or did they say it starts 2015 and for 2014 you'd get points?

 

[Breyean]

Why would it be more for your guaranteed room? Is it because it's bigger than a studio or a better view? I saw a VGF guaranteed week of Christmas on the resale board, it was 500 points. WOW!
I'm wondering why anyone buying direct wouldn't want to pick a week if you're not 100% locked into it. Sounds like the best of both worlds especially if you pick a week around Oct-Dec.

DVC charges you a premium for the fixed week option in the form of making you buy more points than your week would go for per the normal points charts.

So say the week you're looking at buying says it's 300 points for that week per the charts. DVC, in order to allow you the privilege of guaranteeing that week each year, would make you buy, say 330 points. I believe around 10% is the premium, more or less.

Then as others have said, should you opt out from taking your week any given year, you get the full 330 points back into your account and they can be used as any other DVC points.

One slight downside is the weeks are fixed - and that means the arrival dates are also fixed. I don't recall exactly, but for discussion sake let's say arrival is always on Sunday. So you lose some flexibility in your booking options if you use the fixed week.

Another is, of course, if you use the fixed week, you are paying about 10% more in points for that week than other who might book it the conventional way. Again, as has been pointed out by others, since VGF is so small, booking are probably going to be very tough, esp for certain weeks, so if you know you like to go at a certain time, the premium is probably worth it.

 

[wildforgoofy]

Ok, so in the end points are points but your week will cost a premium. I agree with you that having a week at a high peek time & small resort is definitely worth thinking about.

 

[disneynutz]

Ok, so in the end points are points but your week will cost a premium. I agree with you that having a week at a high peek time & small resort is definitely worth thinking about.

And if the resort has availability, you can cancel your fixed week and use the points to book the same week if you want with 10% points left over.

For us it a guarantee for a high demand resort with few rooms in the size and view that we want.

Bill

 

[rsimon]

OP just curious, were you able to get your fixed week room for 2014? Or did they say it starts 2015 and for 2014 you'd get points?

Exactly, we got the 2014 points and 2015 week will start as it is 100% booked for our week this year. It isn't magic unfortunately, so they has to be availability for them to give it to you the first year. Of course we got the 2013 points too that we will have to probably bank this month since we already have this year's reservations.

 

[rsimon]

One slight downside is the weeks are fixed - and that means the arrival dates are also fixed. I don't recall exactly, but for discussion sake let's say arrival is always on Sunday. So you lose some flexibility in your booking options if you use the fixed week.

Another is, of course, if you use the fixed week, you are paying about 10% more in points for that week than other who might book it the conventional way. Again, as has been pointed out by others, since VGF is so small, booking are probably going to be very tough, esp for certain weeks, so if you know you like to go at a certain time, the premium is probably worth it.

Yes, it is Sunday arrival. You could always walk that week a bit if you needed to. Honestly, I think this is a play for the future potential once the resort is sold out and the competition gets tougher during the Oct-Dec time frame. Better to have it guaranteed with the option to easily go to a regular reservation with your points.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations! We have a few VGF points to stay during December. We think it's a resort worth owning!

 

[jonida3]

I really like the fixed week option and wonder why it wasn't presented to us. But once we add on, this will be something we look at, especially in this case for the F&W festival! Great information and definitely worth the small premium!

 

[disneynutz]

I really like the fixed week option and wonder why it wasn't presented to us. But once we add on, this will be something we look at, especially in this case for the F&W festival! Great information and definitely worth the small premium!

Contact your Guide and see if they will re-write the contract.

Bill

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I really like the fixed week option and wonder why it wasn't presented to us. But once we add on, this will be something we look at, especially in this case for the F&W festival! Great information and definitely worth the small premium!

Ditto- also wondering why this wasn't presented to us as an option.... learned a lot on this thread!

 

[kfoch]

Just researching the guaranteed week feature, is there a chart you can share that shows what weeks are when? (meaning week 35 is .....)....curious how this works. Second, I understand that if you choose not to use the resort during your guaranteed week, you get your points back, but what if, your needs change in the future, you want to keep a guaranteed week, but CHANGE the week. Is that possible?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just researching the guaranteed week feature, is there a chart you can share that shows what weeks are when? (meaning week 35 is .....)....curious how this works. Second, I understand that if you choose not to use the resort during your guaranteed week, you get your points back, but what if, your needs change in the future, you want to keep a guaranteed week, but CHANGE the week. Is that possible?

For VGF you cannot buy direct any more unless you already had a contract established that you were waiting to sign. A couple of guaranteed weeks have come up for sale resale but that is the only way to get one now and you would just have to wait.

The way the guaranteed week works is you pick a week that you would like to have a reservation year after year. You will have to purchase an additional 10% points for that week vs what you would use in normal booking. That week will automatically be reserved for you every year. You are able to cancel that guaranteed reservation and then rebook with the points - you receive all 110% of the points to book with. At that points the points act like normal and can be banked and borrowed.

 

[disneynutz]

And the week is Sunday to Saturday!

Bill