Newbie trying to figure it all out - VGC??

[Sandisw]

Thanks! This really helps a lot.
And I've seen that thread but I think I need to bookmark it and just re-read it a lot. Ha!

So if we like Feb/June/December.....June would be a good use year as only February would be the risky month. Do you guys think June is probably the best for those? Or would December UY be best? (Though it seems like there aren't as many December UY contracts out there.)

I know UY Feb/Mar/April would be the worst so I wouldn't consider those at all.

June UY is risky for February but good for June, December, January.
August/Sept/October would be risky for the June trips but okay for Jan/Feb/Dec.

February is actually not a risk either since you have to cancel at least 31 days in advance of any trip to avoid the holding penalty.

That means you’d be canceling before the banking deadline.

Even if you cancel a trip in your banking window less than 31 days out those points can’t be banked and must be used by end of UY, as well as only for trips 60 days or less from check in.

So, June UY would be ideal for you.

 

[intamin]

February is actually not a risk either since you have to cancel at least 31 days in advance of any trip to avoid the holding penalty.

That means you’d be canceling before the banking deadline.

Even if you cancel a trip in your banking window less than 31 days out those points can’t be banked and must be used by end of UY, as well as only for trips 60 days or less from check in.

So, June UY would be ideal for you.

Whew some mental gymnastics going on here. But yes June works as well here.

 

[Dobermanns]

Agreed that Jun UY works, but if you cancel an early Feb trip last minute and within 30 days, it gives you 4 months at most to use the holding points. Dec UY is better because if you cancel a Jun trip last minute it gives you 5-6 months to use the holding points.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Depending on how early you go in December, December would actually be the best UY. There's a good amount of December UY out there but the distribution varies by resort. December would essentially be good from December through August 1st with your danger period being 8/1-12/1.

Alternatively you could also do October but it would put your June trips in danger then so I would do December personally.

I don't know if a lot of December UY for GCV just aren't selling their contracts or maybe it's to do with the current time of year? I've only been looking into this for a few weeks so I'm not really sure. (I see 13 available contracts for June and only 2 for December right now.)

We typically got at the beginning of December.

February is actually not a risk either since you have to cancel at least 31 days in advance of any trip to avoid the holding penalty.

That means you’d be canceling before the banking deadline.

Even if you cancel a trip in your banking window less than 31 days out those points can’t be banked and must be used by end of UY, as well as only for trips 60 days or less from check in.

So, June UY would be ideal for you.

Ah. I hadn't even thought of that! Thanks!

So it seems like we'd probably be good for June or December. I think I'll just keep watching those 2 UYs and ignore all of the others that get listed.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Agreed that Jun UY works, but if you cancel an early Feb trip last minute and within 30 days, it gives you 4 months at most to use the holding points. Dec UY is better because if you cancel a Jun trip last minute it gives you 5-6 months to use the holding points.

I think the biggest issue with points in holding would be that no matter when it is...I don't think we'd be able to use it for VGC since they book up so fast and you can only book 60 days before. I'm guessing if people with VGC end up with points in holding...they have to book WDW resorts and either travel there or hope someone wants to rent them?

 

[Dobermanns]

I think the biggest issue with points in holding would be that no matter when it is...I don't think we'd be able to use it for VGC since they book up so fast and you can only book 60 days before. I'm guessing if people with VGC end up with points in holding...they have to book WDW resorts and either travel there or hope someone wants to rent them?

Yeah it would be hard to use at VGC. I don’t know about others, I would totally use them at WDW since I go there multiple times a year already. Or AUL. So far I haven’t had any VGC points go in holding.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah it would be hard to use at VGC. I don’t know about others, I would totally use them at WDW since I go there multiple times a year already. Or AUL. So far I haven’t had any VGC points go in holding.

I feel like it would be pretty rare for us to cancel within that 30 day window. Just illness or death in the family. Or a pandemic situation again. I don't see us switching to WDW or anything though (even if we do plan to go there every few years, maybe.) So I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if we had to try to rent it out or even if we lost a chunk of points one year.

 

[intamin]

I think the biggest issue with points in holding would be that no matter when it is...I don't think we'd be able to use it for VGC since they book up so fast and you can only book 60 days before. I'm guessing if people with VGC end up with points in holding...they have to book WDW resorts and either travel there or hope someone wants to rent them?

WDW, Aulani, etc. Best bet is likely going to be WDW at Saratoga/OKW or trying to snag a bungalow/cabin if you have enough points to swing that.

 

[CarolynFH]

I feel like it would be pretty rare for us to cancel within that 30 day window. Just illness or death in the family. Or a pandemic situation again. I don't see us switching to WDW or anything though (even if we do plan to go there every few years, maybe.) So I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if we had to try to rent it out or even if we lost a chunk of points one year.

A confirmed reservation at VGC might not be very difficult to rent “as-is” even at less than 30 days out.

 

[ClaraOswald]

A confirmed reservation at VGC might not be very difficult to rent “as-is” even at less than 30 days out.

Yeah, I've considered that. Though we will typically do 6-nights which could be a harder sell. I feel like a lot of DLR people do less days/nights than that. But since we're coming from Nebraska, sometimes driving, we like to stay closer to a week.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Yeah, I've considered that. Though we will typically do 6-nights which could be a harder sell. I feel like a lot of DLR people do less days/nights than that. But since we're coming from Nebraska, sometimes driving, we like to stay closer to a week.

It’s VGC. Somebody will want to rent it. Of course if it’s within 30 days, you’ll probably haveto rent it out for cheap. But at $10pp, people will jump on it like flies on poo.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I am horrible at making big decisions. It takes me forever and I have to research every single thing. For example, before buying a camper...I looked at them for literally years ahead of time.

So I'm now trying to cram as much info in about DVC as I can because I really think we need to decide if we want to try to become owners for our June 2024 trip...or if we want to rent a studio villa or stay off site for that trip.

It looks like things have been going a bit quicker for people putting in offers lately but obviously that's not guarantee. But I'm trying to decide when the absolutely latest I could put an offer in would be. I think someone earlier said...March? Like...early March or late?

Part of me thinks we should wait since we do plan to spend a hefty chunk of money to re-carpet our house this year. But then I think that by trying to rent points...we're just throwing money away, in a sense. I'd be fine saving money and staying off site next summer but my husband really wants to be onsite now. He's been too spoiled, I guess. Ha!

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I am horrible at making big decisions. It takes me forever and I have to research every single thing. For example, before buying a camper...I looked at them for literally years ahead of time.

So I'm now trying to cram as much info in about DVC as I can because I really think we need to decide if we want to try to become owners for our June 2024 trip...or if we want to rent a studio villa or stay off site for that trip.

It looks like things have been going a bit quicker for people putting in offers lately but obviously that's not guarantee. But I'm trying to decide when the absolutely latest I could put an offer in would be. I think someone earlier said...March? Like...early March or late?

Part of me thinks we should wait since we do plan to spend a hefty chunk of money to re-carpet our house this year. But then I think that by trying to rent points...we're just throwing money away, in a sense. I'd be fine saving money and staying off site next summer but my husband really wants to be onsite now. He's been too spoiled, I guess. Ha!

just take the plunge and buy VGC. The market is favorable more than it's been the last two years. You won't regret owning points at VGC.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Looks like for 6 nights during the times we like to go we'd need at least 128 points for a studio. It's kind of a bummer the contracts all seem to be 125 or under...or 160 and up. And so few December contracts. I think a June one would be okay but December would probably still be a smidge better, if a good one came up.

I need to sit down and run some numbers with the trips we're likely to take because I worry that 160 will leave us with more points than we can use in studios but not quite enough for a 1-bedroom each year either. So we'd probably need to alternate. Of course I don't know for sure when we'll go each time so it's all just a guessing game. (I just hope our son doesn't start hating Disneyland trips!)

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Looks like for 6 nights during the times we like to go we'd need at least 128 points for a studio. It's kind of a bummer the contracts all seem to be 125 or under...or 160 and up. And so few December contracts. I think a June one would be okay but December would probably still be a smidge better, if a good one came up.

I need to sit down and run some numbers with the trips we're likely to take because I worry that 160 will leave us with more points than we can use in studios but not quite enough for a 1-bedroom each year either. So we'd probably need to alternate. Of course I don't know for sure when we'll go each time so it's all just a guessing game. (I just hope our son doesn't start hating Disneyland trips!)

The going DVC adage is to always buy 20% more points than what you think you need. For me, I first bid on a 150 point contract and decided to add another 170 points a week later because both contracts were from the same seller. Even with 320, I want more. But in your case, I think 160 points is actually perfect. It leaves you room to move up to a 1BR if you bank or borrow.

 

[ClaraOswald]

The going DVC adage is to always buy 20% more points than what you think you need. For me, I first bid on a 150 point contract and decided to add another 170 points a week later because both contracts were from the same seller. Even with 320, I want more. But in your case, I think 160 points is actually perfect. It leaves you room to move up to a 1BR if you bank or borrow.

Yeah, that's a good point. Ideally we would like our trips to be a year apart, at least. So I think 160 is likely the best amount too. And I guess if we have ones that we can't use, we can rent them out or something. But the idea of that is stressful to me so I would just figure that out when the time comes, I guess.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yeah, that's a good point. Ideally we would like our trips to be a year apart, at least. So I think 160 is likely the best amount too. And I guess if we have ones that we can't use, we can rent them out or something. But the idea of that is stressful to me so I would just figure that out when the time comes, I guess.

There are a lot of people on this board who would be happy to take VGC points in a transfer and then you don’t have the risk of a renter.

I purchased 60 points in SEPT 23 UY from someone earlier late last year for $23pp.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Yeah, that's a good point. Ideally we would like our trips to be a year apart, at least. So I think 160 is likely the best amount too. And I guess if we have ones that we can't use, we can rent them out or something. But the idea of that is stressful to me so I would just figure that out when the time comes, I guess.

The board's sponsors site (dvcrentalstore) is super easy to rent out your points. I've used them several times. of course with VGC points, your points would likely garner much more value in the private market but there are risks to those so going through a broker is your easiest bet. And the rental sites can't get enough VGC points to satisfy demand. You're good.

 

[ClaraOswald]

There are a lot of people on this board who would be happy to take VGC points in a transfer and then you don’t have the risk of a renter.

I purchased 60 points in SEPT 23 UY from someone earlier late last year for $23pp.

I didn't even know that was a thing you could do. Good to know! I though the only option was renting. Where can I read more about how transferring works exactly?

The board's sponsors site (dvcrentalstore) is super easy to rent out your points. I've used them several times. of course with VGC points, your points would likely garner much more value in the private market but there are risks to those so going through a broker is your easiest bet. And the rental sites can't get enough VGC points to satisfy demand. You're good.

Yeah, I don't think I'd do private since I'm just a worrier. Good to know you've had decent experiences using the sponsor site.

 

[ClaraOswald]

When do you pay your annual dues? The month of your UY or the beginning of the calendar year or what?

And are there any other hidden costs I need to be aware of?