Not sure where to buy...questions...

[Disney-Kim]

ok I am an oldie and agree ...buy where you want to stay....but have to ask...

We will usually visit in April or May always. I am not sure how easy it is to get DVC at the 7 month window now...(we are previous owners but sold in 2009) as we never had issue getting different resort in the past..but I know member ship is higher etc.

I fell in LOVE with Grand Floridian Villas when I looked at pics...this is a dream place to stay for us....

do we HAVE to buy there to stay there in April/May.........in YOUR great opinions????? or would a studio be bookable at 7 mons out???

 

[bwvBound]

That might be tough to answer until a few years have passed? Right now the Grand Floridian Villas are new and in high demand. Many owners want to "try it out." For the short term, booking just 1 or 2 nights is not impossible at 7 months but booking a longer stay w/out changing rooms is quite a gamble.

I'd suggest waiting it out a few more years and see what time brings?

 

[disneynutz]

ok I am an oldie and agree ...buy where you want to stay....but have to ask...

We will usually visit in April or May always. I am not sure how easy it is to get DVC at the 7 month window now...(we are previous owners but sold in 2009) as we never had issue getting different resort in the past..but I know member ship is higher etc.

I fell in LOVE with Grand Floridian Villas when I looked at pics...this is a dream place to stay for us....

do we HAVE to buy there to stay there in April/May.........in YOUR great opinions????? or would a studio be bookable at 7 mons out???

It's up to you.

If you really want VGF, will you be unhappy if you can't book it when you want?

Are you willing to take chances not knowing what Disney will do in the future that may make booking even more challenging?

After years of ownership we decided to buy where we love to stay and we are very happy now.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

Except for the times Easter falls in April, April & May are relatively easy months to get into the near park resorts at 7 months. I think this will also apply to VGF, especially if you are willing to take a 1 bedroom. The studios are very popular and will remain so, but again, timing can make a difference.

The VGF are expensive. I would not buy there unless I planned to stay on a regular basis. If you would be happy with an occasional stay, my advice is to wait another year or so to see how it plays out. In the meantime, rent a reservation or transfer in VGF points top be sure that it is a place you will want to stay on a regular basis.

 

[Disney-Kim]

thanks everyone. GF is my first choice and we would love staying there often but not sure we want to pay the premium for it.

still thinking on what to do...its a work in progress

 

[skier_pete]

I am new to DVC, so I can't answer about April/May, but I've been watching all the resorts for the last two months to get a feel for the 7-month window. Right now, in lat-January, VGF is the only resort you CAN'T get a studio or 1-bedroom as it's booked up.

Ask me again in 4 months and I'll be able to tell you about May.

I suspect for the next few years it will be very very hard to get into that resort. Once the Poly comes online and that becomes the next hot resort, it may become easier. I think long-term it will become easier only because it costs so many more points than many of the alternatives, the "budget" DVCer will be less likely to stay there.

So, my answer is if that's where you want to stay, you should probably buy there, but you will pay a premium for it.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I am new to DVC, so I can't answer about April/May, but I've been watching all the resorts for the last two months to get a feel for the 7-month window. Right now, in lat-January, VGF is the only resort you CAN'T get a studio or 1-bedroom as it's booked up.

Ask me again in 4 months and I'll be able to tell you about May.

I suspect for the next few years it will be very very hard to get into that resort. Once the Poly comes online and that becomes the next hot resort, it may become easier. I think long-term it will become easier only because it costs so many more points than many of the alternatives, the "budget" DVCer will be less likely to stay there.

So, my answer is if that's where you want to stay, you should probably buy there, but you will pay a premium for it.

when does Poly start selling ?? have they even officially announced it yet?

 

[supersnoop]

when does Poly start selling ?? have they even officially announced it yet?

Probably in 6-9 more months based on previous history and legal filings.

 

[ELMC]

One thing that has changed since you sold in 2009 is that SSR is fully "sold out" now. That means that there is a massive supply of SSR points that very often is looking to book other resorts at the 7 month window. If you absolutely have to stay in certain locations (and many people do feel that way) then owning at those locations should be a stronger consideration for you. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

thanks everyone. GF is my first choice and we would love staying there often but not sure we want to pay the premium for it.

still thinking on what to do...its a work in progress

If you want VGF most of the time you should likely own there. You must decide whether the premium is worth it. One option is to buy at somewhere like SSR and try to get into VGF and other higher end options when you can. Much cheaper but with some risk of not getting your preferred choice.

 

[Disney-Kim]

One thing that has changed since you sold in 2009 is that SSR is fully "sold out" now. That means that there is a massive supply of SSR points that very often is looking to book other resorts at the 7 month window. If you absolutely have to stay in certain locations (and many people do feel that way) then owning at those locations should be a stronger consideration for you. Good luck!

yes I have been thinking of all the new members since then and this is helping me decide

If you want VGF most of the time you should likely own there. You must decide whether the premium is worth it. One option is to buy at somewhere like SSR and try to get into VGF and other higher end options when you can. Much cheaper but with some risk of not getting your preferred choice.

We we would love to stay at GF on all trips but will be happy with so many other resorts. I don't think double the price is worth it so we will wait and try to book at 7 mons some years

We are considering BWV, BLT, and VWL right now the most

 

[DebbieB]

We are considering BWV, BLT, and VWL right now the most

Keep in mind expiration date - BWV and VWL expire in 2042, BLT expires 2060.

 

[sndral]

yes I have been thinking of all the new members since then and this is helping me decide


We we would love to stay at GF on all trips but will be happy with so many other resorts. I don't think double the price is worth it so we will wait and try to book at 7 mons some years

We are considering BWV, BLT, and VWL right now the most

Actually, VGF is an example of point inflation as well - if it costs 150 points to stay at your preferred villa @ BWV, for example, it'll cost 170 or 200 points to stay at an equivalent villa @ VGF for the same amount of time - so more cost per point plus you'll need to buy more points @ VGF v. older resorts.
The big unknown in my mind is the impact of the fixed week sales which reduced VGF inventory even more - especially the last 6 weeks of the year when most fixed weeks were sold - I'm really unsure how that will impact availability @ both 11 and 7 months.

 

[LSchrow]

i checked VGF for our april 25-may 5 (2014) vacation (using BCV/SSR points).
studio availability was open for most of the beginning and end of our trip, missing most of the middle nights.
DD didn't want to do a split-stay (will likely try it next april/may, if available), so i didn't book it.

just to note: at 7 months, BWV BW view studios showed no availability for the first few days of our vaca. thankfully, our WLs did come thru eventually as those VGF studios were gone

i agree with PPs - VGF 7 month availability will likely be spotty for some time (personally, if i paid as much as VGF owners did, i would be staying there every single time)

 

[skier_pete]

i agree with PPs - VGF 7 month availability will likely be spotty for some time (personally, if i paid as much as VGF owners did, i would be staying there every single time)

Agree with this last statement. Your paying a huge premium for those points now, if you buy there, staying just about anywhere else is wasting your money.

 

[Dean]

i agree with PPs - VGF 7 month availability will likely be spotty for some time (personally, if i paid as much as VGF owners did, i would be staying there every single time)

And this is the only way to get a return on premium paid from a cost standpoint.

 

[mpusateri]

If you want a studio and plan to go in early April when it may be spring break time, you have no hope if you do not make the reservation around 11 months out. If you want to go in May and want a 1 bedroom, you should have no problems at the 7 month mark. If you are planning to buy again and that is where you want to be, then buy there.

 

[Disney-Kim]

we will travel in May in order to get that season point chart, and I won't pay 26k just to stay at GfV for a week in A studio so we will have to wait till we ever get the chance