New to DVC - Purchase VGC versus DLT or both

[MagicalMommaOf2]

One drawback to VGC might be that the grand lobby will become a whole lot more crowded when all those DLT folks want to go there to hangout since DLT will probably have a similar lobby to Riviera. Same applies for Grand Cal restaurants since there is zero mention of additional dining at DLT.

Who am i to say this, but the no dining at the new DLT seems like a huge swing and miss. DT Disney dining is awful and Trader Sam's has such limited capacity with a very particular pallet for food. I don't understand what they were thinking!

 

[MagicalMommaOf2]

Hello! I'm pretty sure you made an offer on my contract! Just wanted to let you know we enjoyed it for many years and I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we have!! Also, it's a very small world

REALLY? I hope that is the case, if so THANK YOU!

 

[Drewski77]

I am currently closing on my VGC Contract so this made me a little nervous....I hope other posters are right in that it won't affect price much. Disney doesn't even have a waitlist anymore but they tell those that are interested that the minimum price buy in for a contract at VGC is $310 a point.

While I do like the concept art for the new DLT, I do feel like it might lack a little "vavoom" that other and newer DVC resorts offer. I'm a disneyland local so ill buy it regardless but from what I gather most VGC owners are a bit "snobbish" about their contracts at the grand and vow to not even visit the new DLT which made me feel confident to buy. fingers crossed i guess!

Don’t be nervous at all on your VGC resale:

DLT won’t change the fact that VGC is the far superior location, has rooms with a balcony, better amenities with a stunning lobby, onsite restaurants, and will always have far less points to purchase.

In real estate it’s location, location, location, and as a VGC owner who also just stayed on rack rates…I think VGC will be stable to up in pricing for many, many years.

 

[MagicalMommaOf2]

Don’t be nervous at all on your VGC resale:

DLT won’t change the fact that VGC is the far superior location, has rooms with a balcony, better amenities with a stunning lobby, onsite restaurants, and will always have far less points to purchase.

In real estate it’s location, location, location, and as a VGC owner who also just stayed on rack rates…I think VGC will be stable to up in pricing for many, many years.

Thank you! I was on the fence forever but a contract came across one night that just seemed perfect! we made an offer and they accepted and everything has just felt meant to be since. I appreciate the kind words and well thought advice.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Who am i to say this, but the no dining at the new DLT seems like a huge swing and miss. DT Disney dining is awful and Trader Sam's has such limited capacity with a very particular pallet for food. I don't understand what they were thinking!

HUGE miss. I’m sure they’ll eventually replace steakhouse 55 with something new but even still. One new restaurant for 350 new DVC rooms is terribly insufficient. My hope is that many more new restaurants are in the works for the upcoming DT Disney renovation.

 

[MagicalMommaOf2]

HUGE miss. I’m sure they’ll eventually replace steakhouse 55 with something new but even still. One new restaurant for 350 new DVC rooms is terribly insufficient. My hope is that many more new restaurants are in the works for the upcoming DT Disney renovation.

you are so spot on! one evening our kids fell asleep in the stroller on the way back to the hotel and like two teenagers we decided to grab a pizza from downtown. We popped into the little Naples quick service and for two personal pizza's the wait was over an hour! I mean that is no fault of Napes but more so shows how much need there is for dining. Especially right now with no room service available at the hotel. fingers crossed that comes back soon too! I was sad to hear Earl of Sandwich is leaving with the new DT update so hopefully it will be MORE food and not less!

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I am currently closing on my VGC Contract so this made me a little nervous....I hope other posters are right in that it won't affect price much. Disney doesn't even have a waitlist anymore but they tell those that are interested that the minimum price buy in for a contract at VGC is $310 a point.

While I do like the concept art for the new DLT, I do feel like it might lack a little "vavoom" that other and newer DVC resorts offer. I'm a disneyland local so ill buy it regardless but from what I gather most VGC owners are a bit "snobbish" about their contracts at the grand and vow to not even visit the new DLT which made me feel confident to buy. fingers crossed i guess!

We own VGC and we totally want to buy into DLT. I suppose we can be a bit snobbish about owning VGC but how can we not? It’s the Grand! J/K. Btw, congratulations on your VGC contract. Wishing you a speedy closing. And just wait till you get your points loaded and make your first reservation at 11 months. Fewer things will make you happier in life!

 

[HIRyeDVC]

REALLY? I hope that is the case, if so THANK YOU!

This is just about the coolest interaction I’ve seen on these boards. I mean, how awesome is this?! It’s like magic is being passed on!

 

[DonMacGregor]

you are so spot on! one evening our kids fell asleep in the stroller on the way back to the hotel and like two teenagers we decided to grab a pizza from downtown. We popped into the little Naples quick service and for two personal pizza's the wait was over an hour! I mean that is no fault of Napes but more so shows how much need there is for dining. Especially right now with no room service available at the hotel. fingers crossed that comes back soon too! I was sad to hear Earl of Sandwich is leaving with the new DT update so hopefully it will be MORE food and not less!

If the new area has added dining, that may improve the situation. D'Amaro also said the current dining area will also be revitalized. That west end of DTD may become, in essence, the DLH food service.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Don’t be nervous at all on your VGC resale:

DLT won’t change the fact that VGC is the far superior location, has rooms with a balcony, better amenities with a stunning lobby, onsite restaurants, and will always have far less points to purchase.

In real estate it’s location, location, location, and as a VGC owner who also just stayed on rack rates…I think VGC will be stable to up in pricing for many, many years.

I quite disagree. Right now VGC is the only DVC product available at DL, but when DLT opens MILLIONS of less expensive points will be available at a newer, shinier resort. Agreed that the theming and location of VGC are superior, but in my opinion not enough to remain competitive. (The extra three minute walk to DLT is hardly a deal breaker, and the VGC theming, in my opinion, is a weaker iteration of Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge.)
It‘s hard for me to imagine a scenario where VGC resale prices would be completely unaffected by the Disneyland Tower, and to think otherwise might be akin to buying your head in the sand. Competition affects pricing.

 

[Drewski77]

I quite disagree. Right now VGC is the only DVC product available at DL, but when DLT opens MILLIONS of less expensive points will be available at a newer, shinier resort. Agreed that the theming and location of VGC are superior, but in my opinion not enough to remain competitive. (The extra three minute walk to DLT is hardly a deal breaker, and the VGC theming, in my opinion, is a weaker iteration of Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge.)
It‘s hard for me to imagine a scenario where VGC resale prices would be completely unaffected by the Disneyland Tower, and to think otherwise might be akin to buying your head in the sand. Competition affects pricing.

Here is one thing I am absolutely sure of:

Your complete certainty of what will happen with VGC pricing is not in fact set in stone, and your negative tone does nothing to advance your argument.

There are many reasons the Grand Californian easily commands the pricing it does today.

And DLT is simply not the same product as what VGC is, far more than just a few minute extra walk…if that wasn’t the case it wouldn’t command such higher rack rates.

One thing is true: competition does affect pricing. But DLT and VGC are not in fact the same product, and thus VGC can continue to hold up even with millions of points for a far different product/experience available.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Here is one thing I am absolutely sure of:

Your complete certainty of what will happen with VGC pricing is not in fact set in stone, and your negative tone does nothing to advance your argument.

There are many reasons the Grand Californian easily commands the pricing it does today.

And DLT is simply not the same product as what VGC is, far more than just a few minute extra walk…if that wasn’t the case it wouldn’t command such higher rack rates.

One thing is true: competition does affect pricing. But DLT and VGC are not in fact the same product, and thus VGC can continue to hold up even with millions of points for a far different product/experience available.

Absolutely true! My guess is in fact just a guess, and I actually love staying at VGC, so my apologies if you perceived the tone as too negative. But I’ll argue with you on two points. Though I haven’t timed it, DLT is not a long walk from VGC. Nothing is a particularly long walk at Disneyland.
And, since both DLT and VGC are DVC timeshares, they are the exact same product, though one has better theming, a more immersive environment, and a more resort feel. DVC buyers will now have two choices instead of one. Of course this is just a relatively uninformed opinion, but I think more buyers who were contemplating purchasing VGC could switch to DLT than vice versa, which might affect the VGC resale price.
Buyers at DLT will be able to get the exact number of points they want, as well as use year, instead of waiting for the perfect but hard to find and pricey VGC resale contract.
That said, neither of us know for sure.

 

[Drewski77]

Absolutely true! My guess is in fact just a guess, and I actually love staying at VGC, so my apologies if you perceived the tone as too negative. But I’ll argue with you on two points. Though I haven’t timed it, DLT is not a long walk from VGC. Nothing is a particularly long walk at Disneyland.
And, since both DLT and VGC are DVC timeshares, they are the exact same product, though one has better theming, a more immersive environment, and a more resort feel. DVC buyers will now have two choices instead of one. Of course this is just a relatively uninformed opinion, but I think more buyers who were contemplating purchasing VGC could switch to DLT than vice versa, which might affect the VGC resale price.
Buyers at DLT will be able to get the exact number of points they want, as well as use year, instead of waiting for the perfect but hard to find and pricey VGC resale contract.
That said, neither of us know for sure.

I disagree with your analysis as I truly don’t think VGC and DLT are in the same ballpark.

And besides, there are so few VGC points and who exactly will be selling theirs to buy DLT…I’m certainly not as again, not the same product to me.

VGC is a sold out resort, so for it to drop materially in price supply will have to come from somewhere…but where???

All that to say, I disagree respectfully and I think it was your line about “head in the sand” that was unnecessarily negative.

 

[Paul Stupin]

I disagree with your analysis as I truly don’t think VGC and DLT are in the same ballpark.

And besides, there are so few VGC points and who exactly will be selling theirs to buy DLT…I’m certainly not as again, not the same product to me.

VGC is a sold out resort, so for it to drop materially in price supply will have to come from somewhere…but where???

All that to say, I disagree respectfully and I think it was your line about “head in the sand” that was unnecessarily negative.

I’m not suggesting that anyone will be selling their VGC points to buy DLT. I’m suggesting that the pool of buyers for VGC resale might diminish because some will opt to buy DLT instead. And less buyers might mean lower prices. I also disagree respectfully about your perception of my tone being negative, so why don’t we just agree to disagree and move on?

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I quite disagree. Right now VGC is the only DVC product available at DL, but when DLT opens MILLIONS of less expensive points will be available at a newer, shinier resort. Agreed that the theming and location of VGC are superior, but in my opinion not enough to remain competitive. (The extra three minute walk to DLT is hardly a deal breaker, and the VGC theming, in my opinion, is a weaker iteration of Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge.)
It‘s hard for me to imagine a scenario where VGC resale prices would be completely unaffected by the Disneyland Tower, and to think otherwise might be akin to buying your head in the sand. Competition affects pricing.

I’ll only argue on 2 points. GCH is not a weaker iteration of WL. Yes they were designed by the same architect. But VGC is themed Californian craftsman and WL is themed after the great national parks. I own both, love both, but are COMPLETELY different and wonderful in their own right.

2nd point is something I mentioned before. VGC has only 1 million points while DLT will probably have 7-8 million points. While I have no doubt that DLT will be beautiful, at the end of the day, it will be a tower, kinda like BLT or Riviera. It will never rival the unique theme and design of resorts like GCH, WL, Aulani, AKL, and the likes. DLT owners will still yearn to swap points at the Grand, which will still be nearly impossible at 7 months. GCH is a truly unique hotel while DLT will just be a really fancy apartment building. And that direct entrance to DCA will never be rivaled either. But having said all that, I can’t wait to add some points at DLT!

 

[DebbieB]

I own BWV direct and VGC resale. DLT looks nice but VGC is closer to the parks and I’ve been pretty lucky getting a park view studio or 1 bedroom by request. Not looking to add points, I thought VGC at $180 might be too much when I bought it in early 2020.

Since I can’t use my VGC points at DLT, may try to get it at 7 months with my BWV points, just to try it. But I think I’ll be mainly at VGC.

 

[Paul Stupin]

I’ll only argue on 2 points. GCH is not a weaker iteration of WL. Yes they were designed by the same architect. But VGC is themed Californian craftsman and WL is themed after the great national parks. I own both, love both, but are COMPLETELY different and wonderful in their own right.

2nd point is something I mentioned before. VGC has only 1 million points while DLT will probably have 7-8 million points. While I have no doubt that DLT will be beautiful, at the end of the day, it will be a tower, kinda like BLT or Riviera. It will never rival the unique theme and design of resorts like GCH, WL, Aulani, AKL, and the likes. DLT owners will still yearn to swap points at the Grand, which will still be nearly impossible at 7 months. GCH is a truly unique hotel while DLT will just be a really fancy apartment building. And that direct entrance to DCA will never be rivaled either. But having said all that, I can’t wait to add some points at DLT!

Full disclosure: Sooner or later I plan on buying one or two VGC contracts! But I’ve been very stubborn about sticking to one UY, March, and those are always hard to find.

 

[Drewski77]

I’m not suggesting that anyone will be selling their VGC points to buy DLT. I’m suggesting that the pool of buyers for VGC resale might diminish because some will opt to buy DLT instead. And less buyers might mean lower prices. I also disagree respectfully about your perception of my tone being negative, so why don’t we just agree to disagree and move on?

I’ve already moved on, it’s a message board so disagreement is normal.

Although terms like “head in the sand” certainly aren’t needed, but I’ve said that already enough.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Full disclosure: Sooner or later I plan on buying one or two VGC contracts! But I’ve been very stubborn about sticking to one UY, March, and those are always hard to find.

Ha! Now I see why you want VGC price to go down! But really though, you just gotta jump on it no matter the UY. I also have March but I jumped on 2 June UY contracts at the beginning of the year and I’m so glad I did. Now I kinda want June UY for DLT so that I could have March UY for Orlando and June UY for Anaheim.

 

[MagicalMommaOf2]

I’m not suggesting that anyone will be selling their VGC points to buy DLT. I’m suggesting that the pool of buyers for VGC resale might diminish because some will opt to buy DLT instead. And less buyers might mean lower prices. I also disagree respectfully about your perception of my tone being negative, so why don’t we just agree to disagree and move on?

While I do see what you are saying about the pool getting smaller, one thing I want to point out is that the one of the only reasons we bought at VGC even though we still intend to buy at DLT was booking availability. We knew that trying to use DVC points at the 7 month mark at VGC was not going to work. I don't see that changing and if that's the case then people will STILL be forced to buy resale if they want to stay at the Grand. Neither of us know for sure! I just wanted to share why we bought a resale contract versus just waiting and buying one large one at DLT.