My hesitation about buying VGF

[bobbiwoz]

DH & I love the GF around Christmas. In fact, we've stayed in VWL, taken boat to Cont. then the monorail to GF, to have dinner in The Cafe there, just for the experience. I don't have the resources to buy more than 50 VGF points, and truly December would be the only time we would want to stay, and 2-3 nights would be fine. But...those fixed week people....is the 30% fixed week time spread throughout the year? Or is the set up such that the total of 30% could be primarily in December? I would be extremely disappointed if we could not get 2-3 days at 11 months out in a studio.

What do you think? Should I be happy we have BLT points, book there for our GF December fix? Booking nights there is not a problem.

Bobbi

 

[jerseyduke]

The fixed week is throughout the year, however, December ones are going the fastest.

What I do not know, and I think is VERY important...

Can they sell 30% of the two bedroom lockoffs for fixed week, and then 30% of the studios as well...because that would kill 60% of the studios.

I own at VGF, and am a first 2 weeks of Dec. type, and I am a little worried about booking at the 11 month mark, but we will see as time goes on....

If you are on top of it at the 11 month mark, I think you will be ok

 

[DVC Mike]

65 percent of the rooms will be available to book at the 11-month window.

I'd say buy.

 

[tjkraz]

Can they sell 30% of the two bedroom lockoffs for fixed week, and then 30% of the studios as well...because that would kill 60% of the studios.

No, they cannot do that.

IMO, the larger issue at VGF is the expanded appeal of Studio villas. Given the higher sleeping capacity, extra bath facilities and the overall high point cost compared to other destinations, I think that is going to push a lot of groups from One Bedrooms down to Studios. That increase in demand will make popular times even more difficult to book.

 

[jerseyduke]

No, they cannot do that.

IMO, the larger issue at VGF is the expanded appeal of Studio villas. Given the higher sleeping capacity, extra bath facilities and the overall high point cost compared to other destinations, I think that is going to push a lot of groups from One Bedrooms down to Studios. That increase in demand will make popular times even more difficult to book.

I didn't think they could, but was not sure.

As for your second point, I could not agree more! I actually wonder if they will change the point costs. I think 1 Bedrooms will be by far the easiest to get at VGF

 

[DenLo]

You might want to read wdrl's article on fixed weeks. http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort.../2295-grand-floridian-guaranteed-week-details

Only 2BRs, 1BRs and studios in each view are selected for a fixed week. So if someone wanted a 2BR lockoff it's not offered. Only dedicated 2BRs are the option because the 1BR and studios come from the lockoff portion.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think it's a valid concern. If the fixed weeks for studios are all sold for Dec and no one decides to release their week that leaves a total of 32 studios on a single day available for others to book. And that's split between 2 views - 20 in the standard view and 12 in the lake view and having 2 categories can complicate booking leaving stranded days although the wish for only 2-3 days would be helpful in your case.

I also think that the difference in the studio layout and the high point cost at VGF will make a popular room category even more popular.

And if DVC takes some of those to send over to CRO then there will be even fewer available. However, there are studios that are there to book and someone will be able to get them - and that could be you.

 

[Soul Brother]

Bobbiewoz, I shared your exact same apprehension. This is the exact reason why I bought the fixed week option in a Standard View Studio (week 50).

My wife and I were only going to buy 75 - 100 points when VGF was announced but when I explored the fixed week option and then saw the pictures, I knew the studios would be in extremely high demand and spent the extra money for the required 138 points.

I was also nervous of people "walking" their reservations and putting availability at even further reduced levels as I would never "walk" a reservation. Not flaming anyone who does but I wouldn't choose to do it.

I toured the model rooms last week and all I can say is pictures do not do those rooms justice. Even though I was really impressed by them, actually seeing the entire room and layout was astonishing.

IMO, it is far and away the most luxurious and highly appointed offering from DVC that I've ever seen.
The 1 bedroom is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure I'll be banking my fixed week to reserve the 1 bedroom many times.

If you are unable to get a studio with your points one year, you could always go once every other year in a 1 bedroom. I think they'll be easier to get due to the high point requirement.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bobbiewoz, I shared your exact same apprehension. This is the exact reason why I bought the fixed week option in a Standard View Studio (week 50).

My wife and I were only going to buy 75 - 100 points when VGF was announced but when I explored the fixed week option and then saw the pictures, I knew the studios would be in extremely high demand and spent the extra money for the required 138 points.

I was also nervous of people "walking" their reservations and putting availability at even further reduced levels as I would never "walk" a reservation. Not flaming anyone who does but I wouldn't choose to do it.

I toured the model rooms last week and all I can say is pictures do not do those rooms justice. Even though I was really impressed by them, actually seeing the entire room and layout was astonishing.

IMO, it is far and away the most luxurious and highly appointed offering from DVC that I've ever seen.
The 1 bedroom is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure I'll be banking my fixed week to reserve the 1 bedroom many times.

If you are unable to get a studio with your points one year, you could always go once every other year in a 1 bedroom. I think they'll be easier to get due to the high point requirement.

We did tour the samples, and DH agrees we should buy some. If we didn't already own the points we do, we would go with the fixed week. We agree that every other year would be OK in a 1 bedroom, because we have the other options to visit the GF. I suppose that's what we will do. Buy what we can, try for a studio, but borrow for a one bedroom the first year if we must.

 

[Minniesgal]

Hmm glad we bought enough points to do a few nights in a 1 bedroom.

 

[Dean]

No, they cannot do that.

IMO, the larger issue at VGF is the expanded appeal of Studio villas. Given the higher sleeping capacity, extra bath facilities and the overall high point cost compared to other destinations, I think that is going to push a lot of groups from One Bedrooms down to Studios. That increase in demand will make popular times even more difficult to book.

Actually they could have sold 100% of certain weeks if they chose but have decided not to. For anything undeclared, they could change it as they wanted. The other issue is that for a given week you'll have the fixed week owners from that week plus the fixed week owners from other times that may be using points that week. For more popular weeks it WILL be additive just like when you exchange into a resort that has a mixture of views, the lessor views are far more likely the one's being exchanged.

 

[DVC Mike]

Actually they could have sold 100% of certain weeks if they chose but have decided not to. For anything undeclared, they could change it as they wanted.

The Public Offering Statement for VGF states:

DVD will not sell Fixed Ownership Interests that include more than 35% of any specific Use Day for any specific Vacation Home Type in the Plan.

So, it's unlikely that this will change.

 

[jerseyduke]

The Public Offering Statement for VGF states:



So, it's unlikely that this will change.

Doesn't that mean that it CAN NOT change?

 

[Dean]

The Public Offering Statement for VGF states:



So, it's unlikely that this will change.

That's true now but wasn't up front and doesn't apply to any undeclared inventory until/unless it's declared. Marriott does this all the time for very seasonal resorts.