New to DVC-seriously considering GCV-Need some help!

[justkeepswimmin]

Hello everyone,

My family of 5 just returned from a week at the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and had a great time. However, since we are from AZ, DL is like our home away from home and we go there at least once a year and prefer to stay onsite (Disneyland hotel is actually our favorite). The chance to own a small part of it through the villas is a huge emotional desire of mine. So much so, I don't think I am being my normal level headed self about it and even have my frugal dh thinking about it now. We took a tour of DVC while at WDW and already have a guide in California but we still have questions and I am not sure we could get the real story from our guides.

1. Our Florida guide really talked up RCI exchange. Specifically, the 160 pt per week peak time exchange rate as being a great deal. I had heard otherwise. What is everyone else's experience with this? Where have you stayed using this? This is a huge draw for my dh, who does not always want to do Disney.


2. Use year-will it have to be March since we are buying in March? We usually vacation in Sept/Oct so would that make a better UY? I am worried if we wait to purchase in Sept, the villas will be gone.

3. GCV is the smallest DVC ever-do you think this will make booking a problem, even at the 11 month mark? We will be using the 1 bdr Villa mostly but might be looking to get a 2 Bdr in the 1st or 2nd week of December for 3 nights and bring my parents to check it out and enjoy the holidays. I am worried all the GCV owners will be thinking about doing this too

4. Are there any solid rumors about another DVC in California? I feel like this decision is too hasty and emotional for us and I would like more time to figure this all out but I am worried that GCV will be gone if we wait too long.

5. At the 7 month mark, what are the easiest WDW vacation club resorts to get into? We plan to use our poiints there every 3-4 years and once again, our general vacation time is Sept/ October.

Sorry for the lengthy post, if you are still with me, thanks for any guidance you can provide us. This is the closest we have ever been to taking the plunge but I am worried I am caught up in emotion and not being practical.

 

[Tara]

Hello everyone,


1. Our Florida guide really talked up RCI exchange. Specifically, the 160 pt per week peak time exchange rate as being a great deal. I had heard otherwise. What is everyone else's experience with this? Where have you stayed using this? This is a huge draw for my dh, who does not always want to do Disney.

I have not used RCI for exchange, and probably never will. IMO, it isn't a good use of DVC points given what those points cost me and the quality of the RCI resorts. I would much rather bank my points ahead when I'm going to travel somewhere else (so I have more to use the next year), give them to friends or family, or even rent them to recoup some of my money spent.

2. Use year-will it have to be March since we are buying in March? We usually vacation in Sept/Oct so would that make a better UY? I am worried if we wait to purchase in Sept, the villas will be gone.

No, you won't necessarily have a March UY. In fact, you should be able to choose the UY that works best for you. In your case, you'd probably want something like March or April though - you want it to be more than 4 months prior to when you normally travel. IF you care, that is - many people are unaffected by UY.

3. GCV is the smallest DVC ever-do you think this will make booking a problem, even at the 11 month mark? We will be using the 1 bdr Villa mostly but might be looking to get a 2 Bdr in the 1st or 2nd week of December for 3 nights and bring my parents to check it out and enjoy the holidays. I am worried all the GCV owners will be thinking about doing this too

Yes, I think booking will be tough at times and you'll definitely need to plan as early as possible.

(I might as well add that given the small size of the resort, it is possible it will sell out before it can be made available to the general public. Perhaps not likely - I don't know how sales are going. Right now it's available to Founding Members who have first pick. Then all DVC members will be able to buy, then the public.)

4. Are there any solid rumors about another DVC in California? I feel like this decision is too hasty and emotional for us and I would like more time to figure this all out but I am worried that GCV will be gone if we wait too long.

No, there are no solid rumors about any DVCs in addition to those in development now. Rumors...yes, but nothing solid or even approaching solid IMO.

5. At the 7 month mark, what are the easiest WDW vacation club resorts to get into? We plan to use our poiints there every 3-4 years and once again, our general vacation time is Sept/ October.

Saratoga Springs and Old Key West.

Sorry for the lengthy post, if you are still with me, thanks for any guidance you can provide us. This is the closest we have ever been to taking the plunge but I am worried I am caught up in emotion and not being practical.

I would shoot for VGC if you can get it - if you intend to vacation there more, it will give you the home booking priority you'll need. Good luck!

 

[lisah0711]

Hello everyone,

My family of 5 just returned from a week at the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and had a great time. However, since we are from AZ, DL is like our home away from home and we go there at least once a year and prefer to stay onsite (Disneyland hotel is actually our favorite). The chance to own a small part of it through the villas is a huge emotional desire of mine. So much so, I don't think I am being my normal level headed self about it and even have my frugal dh thinking about it now. We took a tour of DVC while at WDW and already have a guide in California but we still have questions and I am not sure we could get the real story from our guides.

1. Our Florida guide really talked up RCI exchange. Specifically, the 160 pt per week peak time exchange rate as being a great deal. I had heard otherwise. What is everyone else's experience with this? Where have you stayed using this? This is a huge draw for my dh, who does not always want to do Disney.

I have never exchanged my points through RCI or II (the old exchange company). RCI is new to DVC this year so not too many people can tell you haow it worked. That said, being able to vacation different places was very appealing to my DH. So far, I just use all our points for Disney and he is still happy just to be going on a vacation!


2. Use year-will it have to be March since we are buying in March? We usually vacation in Sept/Oct so would that make a better UY? I am worried if we wait to purchase in Sept, the villas will be gone.

You could buy now and get a Sept use year. GVC points may or may not be gone in Sept. Just ask your Guide what use years are available. Get a use year where you have a year to bank and/or reschedule and not lose points in case you have a cancellation.

3. GCV is the smallest DVC ever-do you think this will make booking a problem, even at the 11 month mark? We will be using the 1 bdr Villa mostly but might be looking to get a 2 Bdr in the 1st or 2nd week of December for 3 nights and bring my parents to check it out and enjoy the holidays. I am worried all the GCV owners will be thinking about doing this too

It might. Smaller DVCs like BCV and VWL fill up at certain times of the year. If you couldn't get into GVC you could stay at DL hotel which you like.

4. Are there any solid rumors about another DVC in California? I feel like this decision is too hasty and emotional for us and I would like more time to figure this all out but I am worried that GCV will be gone if we wait too long.

The only announced new DVC is Hawaii. Who knows what will happen? There will always be resales for GVC some time. Heck, even BLT has a couple of resalse now!

5. At the 7 month mark, what are the easiest WDW vacation club resorts to get into? We plan to use our poiints there every 3-4 years and once again, our general vacation time is Sept/ October.

Depends on the time of year.

Sorry for the lengthy post, if you are still with me, thanks for any guidance you can provide us. This is the closest we have ever been to taking the plunge but I am worried I am caught up in emotion and not being practical.

Considering your vacation habits you might be just as happy with points at a WDW resort. When I first bought DVC I bought at VWL (we love the Lodge) with enough points to bank and use points every other year. You can use your points at Fort Wilderness, too. Plus I got a stay at the GC too. I bought at VGC because I love VGC and wouldn't stay any where else. But if you love DL hotel, your WDW points will still be good there, so maybe the whole VGC isn't the best deal for you. People say that WDW at DL isn't the best value for your buck but for someone like you who lives in the West, it is much easier to use my points at DL and it stills feels like a good value to me.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[drusba]

Use year has nothing to do with when you can go (any time of year) or when you can call to reserve (always 11 months in advance at home resort and 7 at others). If you have a usual time to go, many recommend a use year that starts any where from 0 to 6 months before you usually go, e.g., if you usually go in Sep or Oct , then Sep, Aug, June, or April use year are OK (there is no July or May use year). This recommendation has to do with being able to bank points into the next use year if you need to cancel a trip and is otherwise irrelevant. Regardless of use year being offered you can request a different one when you buy.

As to VGC, which will have only 50 2BRs (which can be used as a 2BR, or studio and 1BR), as an owner you would have the 11 month booking window and likely at least the first two years it is going to be wise to make reservations at 11 months out rather than waiting beyond that point particularly for any times considered "popular" at Disneyland (such as holidays or other prime seasons). Eventually you will see patterns develop where you will know which times of year the 11 month out ressie is imperative and times when it may not be.

As to WDW at 7 months out, you can face the potential of being blanked out everywhere some times of year (such as Christmas week), a number of times when only SSR, OKW, and possibly AKV will be open, others where those will be open plus BWV preferred garden or pool view. BCV and VWL, because they are the smaller resorts, are often just hit or miss at 7 months almost any time of year. BLT is an unknown yet but likely Magic Kingdom and standard view will be very difficult any time of year at 7 months and Lake View, even if available at 7 months will probably fill very quickly at exactly 7 months out for any dates. October is a high demand DVC month as is December and most of November. September is often one of the easiest to get at 7 months out.

There was actually long ago a plan to create a another DVC in Cal, I believe in the Newport beach area. I believe Disney actually bought the land. That went by the wayside and I would consider it currently unlikely that another one will be created in Cal unless they can find a way to put another one on Disneyland property.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Thanks!

Okay, for some reason I was thinking use year was a bigger deal. I am thinking April would probably work for us as a use year with our general sept/oct vacation habits.

The RCI thing is a big deal to my dh as he gets a little worn out by the Disney thing and would want to branch out every once in a while but sounds as if we sacrifice a lot of the value. I need to be straight with him about the lack of value doing this.

I love the Disneyland Hotel but if we bought in at GCV, I think I could learn to love the Grand Californian property too We stayed there once but the rooms were too small for our family aof 5 and the villas would solve that problem nicely. Being at the cabins last week made us really apppreciate the separate living spaces and the only way you can do that on property at DL right now is by reserving a suite and they are ridiculously expensive IMHO, not to mention the killer 14% room tax you get in Anaheim-this can really add up. The villas, in the long run, seem like they would be a better value. Am I missing something?

Sales start on 3/26 so I need to decide soon I think.

 

[arthur06]

how much are the MF's at GCV?

 

[nunzia]

Thanks!

Okay, for some reason I was thinking use year was a bigger deal. I am thinking April would probably work for us as a use year with our general sept/oct vacation habits.

The RCI thing is a big deal to my dh as he gets a little worn out by the Disney thing and would want to branch out every once in a while but sounds as if we sacrifice a lot of the value. I need to be straight with him about the lack of value doing this.

I love the Disneyland Hotel but if we bought in at GCV, I think I could learn to love the Grand Californian property too We stayed there once but the rooms were too small for our family aof 5 and the villas would solve that problem nicely. Being at the cabins last week made us really apppreciate the separate living spaces and the only way you can do that on property at DL right now is by reserving a suite and they are ridiculously expensive IMHO, not to mention the killer 14% room tax you get in Anaheim-this can really add up. The villas, in the long run, seem like they would be a better value. Am I missing something?

Sales start on 3/26 so I need to decide soon I think.

I love the GC and just can't bring myself to stay anywhere else since we first stayed there. I think there will be points available on the 26th but believe they will sell out quickly. It does not appear that DVC members get any lead time over the general public..even my guide said this..so you can buy just as quickly as any of us. That said..my guide already has my points in the pipeline to be purchased as soon as they are able so if you want VGC I'd jump now. I have heard rumors that there may be another DVC either at the Paradise Pier area or Gardenwalk..but..these are just floating out there rumors and may have no basis at all, especially considering the economy and it sounds like the timeshare rules in CA are pretty sticky also. I just couldn't let this pass me by, and do think this property will be the premium one at DLR no matter what and that bookings at 7 months may be impossible to get (and difficult even at 11 months for certain time periods).
I have no intention of ever trading into RCI btw.

 

[hopare]

Thanks!

Okay, for some reason I was thinking use year was a bigger deal. I am thinking April would probably work for us as a use year with our general sept/oct vacation habits.

I am in the process of purchasing BLT. For us useyear does play a factor. My husband's job requires him to pick his vactions by the first week i n April for the upcoming 12 months and there is little to NO flexibility once picked. So I picked a Sept use year so we would habe until May 1st to bank points.

Keep in mind points need to be banked by the 8th month of the use year.
As I said above I am just now in the process of buying so this is all new to me, someone please correct me if I am misunderstanding this. Of course for MOST this does not matter becuase they have more flexibility!

 

[stopher1]

Hello everyone,
My family of 5 just returned from a week at the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and had a great time. However, since we are from AZ, DL is like our home away from home and we go there at least once a year and prefer to stay onsite (Disneyland hotel is actually our favorite). The chance to own a small part of it through the villas is a huge emotional desire of mine. So much so, I don't think I am being my normal level headed self about it and even have my frugal dh thinking about it now. We took a tour of DVC while at WDW and already have a guide in California but we still have questions and I am not sure we could get the real story from our guides.

Like you, Disneyland is an emotional desire of mine... we are native Californian midwestern transplants. I am a former DL CM, have had a DL AP for 18+ years, and essentially grew up in the park since we lived less than 30 mins away as a kid. It was a big time family favorite day trip, not to mention school trips, youth group trips, then later date nights, etc, etc. Owning VGC points was important to me. I say if its something you want and can afford, go for it. Don't buy into DVC for the RCI trades though...you can find RCI or other timeshares much cheaper than DVC. Buy DVC for DVC and what it represents to you. If we trade out, it will be for Disney collection resorts like Paris, Hong Kong or Tokyo, even though those aren't necessarily the best value for the points either - but seriously, if you want RCI, buy RCI.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

how much are the MF's at GCV?

They are $3.82 pp

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Like you, Disneyland is an emotional desire of mine... we are native Californian midwestern transplants. I am a former DL CM, have had a DL AP for 18+ years, and essentially grew up in the park since we lived less than 30 mins away as a kid. It was a big time family favorite day trip, not to mention school trips, youth group trips, then later date nights, etc, etc. Owning VGC points was important to me. I say if its something you want and can afford, go for it. Don't buy into DVC for the RCI trades though...you can find RCI or other timeshares much cheaper than DVC. Buy DVC for DVC and what it represents to you. If we trade out, it will be for Disney collection resorts like Paris, Hong Kong or Tokyo, even though those aren't necessarily the best value for the points either - but seriously, if you want RCI, buy RCI.

That is just it. Because we would have to finance a portion of this, the value is not as great but honestly, I just don't care because the emotional value of what this represents is so high for me. And to me this opportunity is so unique and the GCV seem really special, I mean they are basically IN DCA and with all the money being poured into this park over the next few years, this will be a huge draw. I also think the small size will make these rooms virtually impossible to get into at the 7 month mark or any other time unless you are an owner. I want to have something to share with my girls and their own families for the next 50 years. My parents, who are wonderful, never had the ability to do something like that for us, it just would mean the world to me to have this for my girls and to even share right now with their grandparents.

 

[stopher1]

And to me this opportunity is so unique and the GCV seem really special, I mean they are basically IN DCA and with all the money being poured into this park over the next few years, this will be a huge draw. I also think the small size will make these rooms virtually impossible to get into at the 7 month mark or any other time unless you are an owner.

These are the exact things my DW and I talked about when the sales finally opened up to Founding Members (not us), and why our paperwork was completed by our guide last week and is ready to be officially submitted first thing Thursday morning when sales to everyone else opens up. Unique. Definitely. Special - to us yes. Hard to get in to - almost guaranteed.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

These are the exact things my DW and I talked about when the sales finally opened up to Founding Members (not us), and why our paperwork was completed by our guide last week and is ready to be officially submitted first thing Thursday morning when sales to everyone else opens up. Unique. Definitely. Special - to us yes. Hard to get in to - almost guaranteed.

I think I will call our guide today and find out what the next steps are. Did you qualify for incentives even though you are not a founding member?

 

[wideeyedwonder]

4. Are there any solid rumors about another DVC in California? I feel like this decision is too hasty and emotional for us and I would like more time to figure this all out but I am worried that GCV will be gone if we wait too long.

If you want a rumor (no rumor is *really* solid), the rumor from one of the guides at DL is that a second set of villas will be built (supposedly 'pretty quickly') at GC if the first set sell out "quickly".

Again, this, like all rumors, isn't worth the electrons it's posted on, but there you go. At least you know that one of the guides is telling people this.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

given the small size of the resort, it is possible it will sell out before it can be made available to the general public...Right now it's available to Founding Members who have first pick. Then all DVC members will be able to buy, then the public.)

AFAIK, that is not true. My understanding is that the units will be released (March 26?) to both non-founding DVC members AND the public at the same time. I'm not currently a DVC member, and my guide has my GCV order ready to submit right when the founding member exclusivity period ends.

 

[Tara]

AFAIK, that is not true. My understanding is that the units will be released (March 26?) to both non-founding DVC members AND the public at the same time. I'm not currently a DVC member, and my guide has my GCV order ready to submit right when the founding member exclusivity period ends.

That was my understanding, but apparently it's not the case. Sorry!

 

[stopher1]

I think I will call our guide today and find out what the next steps are. Did you qualify for incentives even though you are not a founding member?

Actually yes, but it was because of combining 2 different add-ons at once in order to to get the incentives. We're getting enough VCG points for a 1 br for a couple of nights per year, or a 2 br to bring along the grandparents or invite my DW's sister's family every couple of years. The rest of the points were getting in the combo deal are at our other home resort in FL to beef up the nights there. As a stand-along VGC add-on I would not have gotten any incentives. Creative thinking and questions to my guide made it happen (plus the fact that DVC didn't want to turn down my money! LOL)

 

[nunzia]

My incentives were $5.00 per point and I chose the DP instead of the cruise. I split my purchase into 2 contracts of 60 and 65, so since I went over 100 I qualified for incentives with that size add on. If you are not an existing DVC owner you'd need to first start with a master contract of 160 through Disney (it was 100 at one time at, I think, AKV). I got around this by buying a small OKW resale as my master, so my add on is larger than my master and I still don't have 160

 

[justkeepswimmin]

My incentives were $5.00 per point and I chose the DP instead of the cruise. I split my purchase into 2 contracts of 60 and 65, so since I went over 100 I qualified for incentives with that size add on. If you are not an existing DVC owner you'd need to first start with a master contract of 160 through Disney (it was 100 at one time at, I think, AKV). I got around this by buying a small OKW resale as my master, so my add on is larger than my master and I still don't have 160

Wow! You were really smart to do this. I wish I had thought about doing it this way. We really don't need 160 per year as DLR stays for us are 3-4 nights and we can often arrange our trips for Sun-Thurs stays to maximize points. I figured that 130-140 point contract would have suited us about right based on our travel needs for DLR each year and the dates we usually travel. I think I will like having the extra points though for our trips to WDW every 3-4 years as there we would want a full week and would likely need to bank or borrow to get a 1 bdrm at AKV for our family of 5.

 

[KLR-wlv]

As for RCI - I was disappointed since interval has better properties in general - but out west -particularly california - there are some very nice properties. So trading every now and then might work well for you. As well as the concierge collection. We're blowing a bunch of points for the hotel del coronado this summer. It would have cost us over $1400 total if we'd done cash - well over our mf's for those points - so it seemed worth it. IT's true the points don't go as far outside dvc resorts - but the flexibility to go elsewhere and splurge every now and then is worth something imo. I don't think you'll regret buying VGC - and if you did, it will probably be a snap to sell on the resale market.