NEW VGF Building

[Marionnette]

The ability to sleep 5 in a studio may appeal to some current VGF owners.

Current VGF studios already sleep 5.

 

[Jmazzuca243]

I think the biggest benefit for existing owners is that it will be easier to book a studio in the peak periods like December or Food and Wine.

I doubt that it will be easier to book studios in the fall. People buying VGF2 will want to use the points at VGF (otherwise they could buy points at other resorts and which are cheaper), and the fall is peak time. It should make booking at non-peak times easier, but will bring increased competition during peak times.

I think this is a net negative value to VGF1 owners. The resale value will drop with more available contracts. Their will be more competition for 1 and 2 BDRs. Booking during the fall will have more competition. We are still waiting on a lot of details for point charts and resale restrictions, and those can heavily impact if it has any value to VGF1 owners.

 

[DVCsloth]

It's fun to speculate and plan for a purchase. I did it for Riviera and decided no when I saw the points charts, dues and resale restriction. I'm now wanting to purchase VGF, LOL. But I know I have to wait to see the point charts - if for no other reason than to determine the size of the contract I'll need. I'm not too worried about dues or resale restriction for VGF, but I do expect to see a separate booking category & point chart for the new Big Pine studios. Hoping they won't be too much more expensive than the current studios. I am so spoiled by the BWV standard view point charts and find it difficult to spend a lot more to stay elsewhere, but I'm willing to splurge a bit to stay at the VGF.

Hoping that if they do a seperate booking categoy they don't charge more points for the new building causing the Villas to book even faster and the result causes it to be more expensive to stay at our home resort.

 

[Marionnette]

True, but couldn’t you also argue that it’ll make it easier, and therefore more likely, for resort guests to get out to DS and spend money?

But again, DS merchants would be the ones to foot that bill. Disney collects their rent money whether 10 guests or 10,000 guest visit DS. They're not going to sink megabucks into a system that draws guests away from their own stores and restaurants without some kind of return on their investment.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

It's fun to speculate and plan for a purchase. I did it for Riviera and decided no when I saw the points charts, dues and resale restriction. I'm now wanting to purchase VGF, LOL. But I know I have to wait to see the point charts - if for no other reason than to determine the size of the contract I'll need. I'm not too worried about dues or resale restriction for VGF, but I do expect to see a separate booking category & point chart for the new Big Pine studios. Hoping they won't be too much more expensive than the current studios. I am so spoiled by the BWV standard view point charts and find it difficult to spend a lot more to stay elsewhere, but I'm willing to splurge a bit to stay at the VGF.

I'm looking to swap out 2 nights from BWV standard (18 points) to a MK resort @ 7 mo and will need 34-36 points. If lucky enough to snag BLT standard or CCV/BRV it'd still be 30 points. Honestly, doesn't seem that bad, because it's only 2 nights, but I wouldn't be able to swallow a whole week at those point differences! It's up to double the points.

 

[Lorana]

My outline was that any real estate deed needs to have a very clear description of where you own and that's all it really is. The home resort display an IT choice and an incorrect one. It should show both Kidani and Jambo as home resorts if you own at either of them because they are part of the same association and you may book either of them. They must show both because they have guaranteed you will know which building you are in and it's more than a request. What they could have done since they can't seem to select both options to properly display under home resort is to do it like SSR for example where you get standard view, preferred view etc but instead it would list Kidani standard, Jambo standard etc all in one section instead of being separated. They probably fear people will select the wrong building or maybe they didn't think much about it at all.

I own at both Jambo and Kidani. They are separate Home Resorts, but part of the same condo association. The title deed reflects the home resort. Your points belong to one or the other, but they are interchangeable and can be used at the other. It’s not an IT mistake. It’s not just a case of separate buildings within the same ownership (like, say, my unit at SSR being in one of the many SSR buildings). We even made a point of buying our small direct add-on at Jambo because my husband really wanted to own there over Kidani, even though it technically makes no difference when using the points. They are treated as one and the same due to the condo association rules, but legally they are separate ownerships.

Last year there was a big to-do over a temporary change DVC made to its ROFR and estoppel letters, because it was counting AKV-Jambo and AKV-Kidani as two separate resorts. It was a mistake on their part, likely due to someone new, and added confusion, but the reason the mistake was made because they are two separate home resorts but are treated as one due to their condo association.

Whereas, say, BRV and CCV (which I also own at both) are both separate Home Resorts with separate Condo Associations.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter from a usage perspective, but it does matter from a deed/title perspective (and I don’t know if that also means DVC could break up the condo association later?). I brought it up only because if DVC were looking for a way of separating out the new VGF building to impose separate resale restrictions, I was only speculating that maybe they could make it a separate ownership in the same association like they did with Jambo & Kidani, and that maybe that would allow it. But I honestly don’t know as I’m not a lawyer.

 

[Lorana]

With all that said, I really wanted to see them build reflections. Maybe one day....

Yes! Me too!

 

[CastAStone]

Wow, I guess I got in under the wire. What then does this exactly mean?

Well for one thing I think we can safely assume Disney won’t be ROFRing any VGF contracts anytime soon

 

[DaveNan]

*whispers*
The Skyliner is way better than the monorail.
*runs and hides*

I understand it is very dependent on you mobility, but for my family right now nothing even compares to walking.

Any resort I can walk from beats all others. At rope drop the monorail is questionable and at RIV, you need to walk over to the CBR station to make the Skyliner an option.

I watch a VLOG recently that compared walking, the Friendship boats, and the skyliner at two different times of day with 3 individuals taking the different modes from BCV. (I realize Riv is a little better) Breaking news.. walking was 17-22 min the boat was 25-30 and the skyliner was 35-50 minutes. LOTS of waiting at the start and the transfer....

I stayed at RIV in Jan, and having no walking option, frustrated me. I waited in a long line in the morning and at the end of the day headed both to/from DHS and to/from Epcot.

We enjoy split park days with rope dropping one and usually going to another in the evening. Being able to walk to either one is awesome!

BTW - the next best mode of transport for me is driving (except to MK because of the TTC). The second half of our trip in Jan, my wife and I were staying AKV, we would drive to DHS 60 minutes before close. We were able to park in emptied spots as close to the entrance as the skyliner. No worry of waiting and I could predict arrival time within 1 minute. We then rode MMRR, RRC, and got on SSD twice with entering the line right at closing. Getting off the ride we walked to the car and were exiting the the parking lot 15 minutes after closing. I gazed over at the Skyliner line as we were leaving, and having been in that line days earlier when we stayed in RIV, it was nice knowing I was not going to have to wait another 30 minutes on a gondola.

If I had the uncertainty of how long I was waiting on a bus, or the certainty of waiting 30 plus minutes on the skyliner, I would not just drop into a park minutes before close. When we stayed at BLT 2 years ago, every afternoon while headed out of a park, we would grab a late night FP at MK and every night we ended our day with a relaxing walk to and from MK.

Of course, I am incredibly impatient (waiting on rides is OK, waiting on other things not do much) and we are still fortunate enough to be very mobile. I realize everyone has different preferences, but I so much prefer staying at BCV, BWV, BLT, PVB, and VGF than the RIV. As far as park access, I view RIV barely above (if not the same as) OKW, SSR, WL, BRV, AKV. I we didn't have a car for driving, that would move RIV up a little.

 

[RoseGold]

Well for one thing I think we can safely assume Disney won’t be ROFRing any VGF contracts anytime soon

That’s the weird thing. They were ROFRing recently, in the 160s. This is why I expect to see 255+ at launch. I can’t see leaving money on the table.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We have 300 points at BWV and 80 at BR all bought resale in 6 contracts. We have blue cards. DH and I spent 4 days in a resort only stay at VGF a few years ago and loved it. I had been looking at VGF resale contracts for a while but have not pulled the trigger. With the walkway to MK it is highly likely we will buy 125 direct points for DH and I to get away by ourselves In Jan thru March timeframe.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Not us.

We want one bedrooms too. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue. Smaller point contracts will represent the bulk of the sales to buyers who mostly want studios. The one bedroom point charts are crazy high and it’s not like demand for the priciest accommodations at WDW is suddenly going to skyrocket. They’re creating a huge new building of studios because people want studios.

 

[Brett Wyman]

We want one bedrooms too. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue. Smaller point contracts will represent the bulk of the sales to buyers who mostly want studios. The one bedroom point charts are crazy high and it’s not like demand for the priciest accommodations at WDW is suddenly going to skyrocket. They’re creating a huge new building of studios because people want studios.

Sure it just stinks we will never have access to the updated rooms, more central location, and better views.

 

[Nabas]

That’s the weird thing. They were ROFRing recently, in the 160s. This is why I expect to see 255+ at launch. I can’t see leaving money on the table.

For the sake of discussion, let's assume Disney spends an average of $20,000 per room getting Building 9 ready. With 200 rooms, that's $4 million in costs.

Let's assume an average of 25 points per room. Times 200 rooms. Times 365 days per year. Times even the current RIV $201 per night. That's $366 million!

Even with DVC sales costs, wow, Disney is going pocket a nice stack of change!

One of the reasons Disney probably will stop ROFR'ing VGF is that the margin on these converted rooms is huge!

Presumably, before the announcement, Disney was ROFR'ing based on demand. In April, Disney sold over 5000 points at VGF1. With VGF2 opening soon, I expect demand for VGF1 direct to plummet. (At this point, anyone who was planning to add points directly at VGF1 might as well wait for VGF2 to see what Disney offers.) Consequently, ROFR'ing at VGF1 should plummet.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, I guess I got in under the wire. What then does this exactly mean?

We picked up 25 more in December...I am pleased. We have booked two smallish stays there tagged on to other resorts. Didn’t have to “hope “ LV studios were available at 7 months.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Sure it just stinks we will never have access to the updated rooms, more central location, and better views.

I’d rather have a building designed from the ground up as DVC than a converted hotel room. And our lobby is way cooler!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I’d rather have a building designed from the ground up as DVC than a converted hotel room. And our lobby is way cooler!

I do really love the lobby!

 

[DVCsloth]

Pretty certain I'm out at $255. We'll see when they provide more details, sold one of my VGF contracts a few years ago so I wouldnt rule out a small add on

 

[Nabas]

I’d rather have a building designed from the ground up as DVC than a converted hotel room. And our lobby is way cooler!

One of the early criticisms of VGF was that the exterior lacked the detailing of the original Grand Floridian.

I recall seeing side-by-side pictures that made this really obvious.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I’ve been debating adding on VGF for awhile now. Our last add-on was btw VGF & RIV, and we ultimately decided to buy at RIV (my whole family absolutely loves it). However, this addition (I love the original bldg, but more availability would be nice!) is a bit of a game-changer. I am anxiously awaiting their announcement of when & how much ($$ & points)! If the price is closer to $200pp I may actually consider buying direct (I think all resale has gone up way too quickly recently- esp VGF!). On the other hand, if this addition makes 7-month studio bookings a possibility, then maybe I should look elsewhere for a(nother) contract ??? Decisions, decisions.