NEW VGF Building

[Sandisw]

Am i crazy for wanting a small contract (50-75 pts) for a few nights in a studio every other year? We own direct at Riviera for our main family vacations, but I love the holidays at Disney and would love to just have a long weekend in December at GF every once in a while...that's the dream right

I am currently crunching numbers to figure out what I will be doing in the next 6 months, Last week, just keep what I own, and add on 75 to 100 points at RIV soon.

Now this and really want points here so have to decide what to do but it’s be like 50 t0 75 points for a Dec trip every other year.

 

[Bjaiken77]

The most frustrating thing about this all may be “i had everything planned out until this announcement!”

 

[supersnoop]

I think Guaranteed Weeks will also be more popular this time around.

If I was going to buy at VGF, it would be a fixed week. But with this many studios added, I just can't see the value of that anymore.

In fact, when I think about it some more, it is highly likely this is the direction they're heading.

Under the new, more cost-efficient, DVC expansion model, 'original 14 resale' owners (after Jan 2019) won't be able to book at new resort expansions (unless your resale is at the expanded resort of course), even if they're part of the original 14 resorts. Why? To incentivize direct sales, of course. Allowing current o14 resale owners to continue to book these expansions would essentially keep resale just as valuable as direct purchase.

If Disney is not going to do NEW resorts for the foreseeable future, they have to create separation between direct purchase and resale purchase.

If existing resale owners can't trade out, then new direct owners can't trade in. You can't put up a firewall between existing owners. That changes the deal they signed when they purchased.

I don't buy how that is any different from what they've already done with Riv and resale.

Owners who purchased Riv knew the restrictions going in; it was part of their original contract that selling would eliminate the ability to trade out to other resorts. That's not the bargain O14 owners made.

 

[CSLucas]

If I was going to buy at VGF, it would be a fixed week. But with this many studios added, I just can't see the value of that anymore.


If existing resale owners can't trade out, then new direct owners can't trade in. You can't put up a firewall between existing owners. That changes the deal they signed when they purchased.

Owners who purchased Riv knew the restrictions going in; it was part of their original contract that selling would eliminate the ability to trade out to other resorts. That's not the bargain O14 owners made.

But I think the whole point is that these aren't O14 owners we are talking about - these real estate interests don't exist yet

 

[supersnoop]

But I think the whole point is that these aren't O14 owners we are talking about - these real estate interests don't exist yet

People who already own VGF are O14 owners.

 

[CSLucas]

People who already own VGF are O14 owners.

Right, but I don't think anyone is saying DVC is restricting existing contracts. People who buy the new points in the new part of VGF that has yet to be declared into the condo association are not O14 owners as it pertains to those contracts (even if they have existing contracts that are O14)

Edited to say: I see now on the post you originally quoted that the poster posited that O14 might not be able to trade into the expansion - that I don't think is something Disney can legally do if it is part of the condo association. I think O14 will always be able to trade into all parts of VGF. But I absolutely see no reason DVC can't add restrictions to any new interests they are creating as long as they don't try to reach around and make new restrictions on existing interests

 

[emmymac17]

I am currently crunching numbers to figure out what I will be doing in the next 6 months, Last week, just keep what I own, and add on 75 to 100 points at RIV soon.

Now this and really want points here so have to decide what to do but it’s be like 50 t0 75 points for a Dec trip every other year.

right?! It’s purely emotional but how nice to know you’d have 4,5 nights in December at GF- gingerbread houses, strolls to MK for shopping and Christmas decorations and treats. Ahhh

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Thinking more and more about this, the only way I'd buy in is if they extended the contract. Restrictions or not. It would be something that I can pass down to my daughter at that point. I have no interest in paying in the low $200s for a contract that is already 8 years in and availability is no longer an issue. When availability was the issue it was somewhat justified but now I just don't see the value without them adding years to it. Don't know the legalities if they can or not but I doubt they will extend it. A lot of questions and no answers...yet.

 

[Sandisw]

But I think the whole point is that these aren't O14 owners we are talking about - these real estate interests don't exist yet

The trading though is based on how a resort entered into BVTC. VGF entered as a resort that had trading rights to all other resorts, RIV entered under different rules and thus why the restrictions state who can trade into it.

The new units at VGF are being added to VGF...they are just expanding it. I think the reason the notice specifically addressed it being the same association was to put it out there from the start that this is not a new resort, just a new building of DVC villas.

As I mentioned, I think it’s going to be like Jambo and Kidani..you book the building. but all one chart with one operating budget, etc.

 

[Nabas]

Well I could also level the buildings at Epcot in a week but Disney has now taken how many months? lol

I don't think how long it takes to be indicative of quality of changes.

Putting aside any exterior or hallway work they will do, what are the things Disney could do with the rooms themselves?

1. Plop down a microwave and call it done.
2. Replace furniture.
3. Replace flooring. (For example, get rid of carpeting.)
4. Create a kitchenette, similar to most DVC resorts.
5. Gut the bathrooms.
6. A combination of the above.
7. Something else?

With Disney calling these "Resort Studios" rather than "Deluxe Studios, I'm guessing these are not getting the full DVC treatment.

Any other guesses?

 

[CastAStone]

Putting aside any exterior or hallway work they will do, what are the things Disney could do with the rooms themselves?

1. Plop down a microwave and call it done.
2. Replace furniture.
3. Replace flooring. (For example, get rid of carpeting.)
4. Create a kitchenette, similar to most DVC resorts.
5. Gut the bathrooms.
6. A combination of the above.
7. Something else?

With Disney calling these "Resort Studios" rather than "Deluxe Studios, I'm guessing these are not getting the full DVC treatment.

Any other guesses?

They’re going to do 2, 3, 5, likely 4, and put in a table of some sort, likely at the expense of the desk. GF hotel is due for a gut job and this is a portion of that which Disney can offload to future DVC members

 

[Bjaiken77]

Putting aside any exterior or hallway work they will do, what are the things Disney could do with the rooms themselves?

1. Plop down a microwave and call it done.
2. Replace furniture.
3. Replace flooring. (For example, get rid of carpeting.)
4. Create a kitchenette, similar to most DVC resorts.
5. Gut the bathrooms.
6. A combination of the above.
7. Something else?

With Disney calling these "Resort Studios" rather than "Deluxe Studios, I'm guessing these are not getting the full DVC treatment.

Any other guesses?

Honestly, if they left two queen beds like OKW in the studio, I’d be far more interested. I feel like I’m in the minority on that position.

 

[JETSDAD]

Honestly, if they left two queen beds like OKW in the studio, I’d be far more interested. I feel like I’m in the minority on that position.

I also would prefer 2 queens.

 

[Paul Stupin]

On the 2021 points chart, each standard studio costs a total of 7873 points to book every night all year, and each lake studio is 9224 points to book for a year. The building they will redo is currently approximately 40% standard, 45% lagoon, and 15% Theme Park view (plus 2 mega suites) so if you assume 40% standard and 60% lake view it’s 1.74M points

SSR has a separate schedule for the treehouses. So I imagine so.

They also have a 150 pointer for $186. Someone is just being greedy.

I imagine we will find out very soon! It needs to go on the 2022 charts and in theory booking should open later this summer!

In fact, when I think about it some more, it is highly likely this is the direction they're heading.

Under the new, more cost-efficient, DVC expansion model, 'original 14 resale' owners (after Jan 2019) won't be able to book at new resort expansions (unless your resale is at the expanded resort of course), even if they're part of the original 14 resorts. Why? To incentivize direct sales, of course. Allowing current o14 resale owners to continue to book these expansions would essentially keep resale just as valuable as direct purchase.

If Disney is not going to do NEW resorts for the foreseeable future, they have to create separation between direct purchase and resale purchase.

I agree. I doubt resale owners will be able to book whatever new booking categories the new rooms represent. Doing the resale owners a favor at 7 months is not high on Disney’s agenda. Also, I think there’s a good chance the new sales will involve a resale restriction as well. If anything, a popular new resort will give Disney a chance to make even more inroads with the policy. Hard to imagine that with potential brisk sales anyway that they would walk this back.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yes! I love the standard proximity to the monorail. If they turn the new building into the same "standard" then you will lose what I see as the perk of that standard room. I wonder if they can mark the new rooms as pool view or garden view but keep the standard point chart just so people can distinguish.

Somehow I think they will find a way to charge more points for these rooms. It will be interesting to watch!!

 

[CaliAdventurer]

Just like all the speculating about what covid will do to resale or how riviera resale will be $50pp due to restrictions- we can assume that whatever we posit is likely wrong. DVC is going to do whatever makes it the most money and that’s all we can rely on. That means high point price, high point chart, and restrictions if they feel it bolsters direct sales. This is their flagship resort, they will leverage that.

don’t forget Chapek said he hates GF as it stands and that it’s “getting killed by Four Seasons”. He said he wants “modern luxury”. I’m dying to see what tack they take with the rooms and if they will give clues to the figure vibe of the resort.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Question, even though the new VGF rooms will stay part of the overall resort, could they still differentiate between the original VGF contracts nd the new going forward? By this I mean restrictions that would follow into resale? Would this be legally possible?

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I'm really hoping that this becomes a positive and not a negative for existing VGF owners. The one and two bedrooms are definitely going to be more difficult to book now but it's impossible to figure out much else until they release more information. Could they possibly squeeze in a full size fridge and cooktop in these units?

 

[davidl81]

Great data point. So there is at least some precedent for doing that. Although it looks like (based on that article) they reduced the headline price but did not offer any further incentives? So maybe keeping the direct price the same and offering some incentives would get buyers to the same place?

I think a headline reduction would still be a real thumb-to-the-eye for people who bought VGF direct contracts at $255/point last week. But, as you point out, there is precedent.

Which is likely the reason Disney has pulled VGF sales off of their site as of yesterday. If sales do not go live till Dec/Jan 22 it would have been over 7 months since someone had paid the $255.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

Question, even though the new VGF rooms will stay part of the overall resort, could they still differentiate between the original VGF contracts nd the new going forward? By this I mean restrictions that would follow into resale? Would this be legally possible?

I can't speak to the legality but if they do put restrictions I would hope they could somehow restrict it to only the new building. Otherwise they're making it more difficult on existing VGF owners if those people can only book VGF in the future. RIV buyers signed up knowing this was going to happen, existing VGF owners didn't.