purchasing at VGF

[dkhillerud]

We've been toying with the idea of purchasing vacation club for a few years now. Have rented a couple of times. Most recently rented at the VGF December 6-12th and I fell in LOVE!

I know in order to book here at this time of year I need to own here. My question is how many points would be best? My plan is to do a Christmas trip every 2-3 years as we like to travel other times of year as well. (I would ideally like to purchase smaller at VGF and then also at BCV or BWV).

So thinking if I tried to buy 100 points that would allow me either 200 or 300 points to play with. Allowing me to book a 2 bedroom if needed, due to studios/1 bedrooms being booked. (We typically stay 6 nights). We have 4 kids, but they are older so won't be traveling with us for too many more years.

I would rather try to purchase 50 points since a studio would be my preferred unit but don't want to risk being shut out of a reservation completely. Advice?

 

[keaster]

During peak times, studios are really hard to get even for owners at VGF, so I would definitely go for more points to get at least 1-bedroom!

 

[TexasChick123]

We own at VGF, and the 2-bedrooms deplete your points rapidly even in the lower point seasons. Look at all the point totals for stays at different times of the year before you decide on a number of points. We started with 200, and now we’re up to 360 at VGF. I like the kitchen and washer/dryer that the 1-bedrooms and larger offer. Studios don’t have a kitchen or a W/D. That may not matter to you. A friend of mine said it best when he said, “I’m not paying to go on vacation and be less comfortable than I am at home.” We get the 2-bedroom units because we have 2 kids and can get some separation. We also eat breakfast in the villa and then go to the parks at rope drop and take a midday break/nap every day before heading back in the evening. Everyone travels differently though, so think about your travel preferences and what will work for you and your family. Also, if you plan on doing split stays a lot of the time with the other resorts you mentioned, take that into account as well when determining the ideal number of points. Just some food for thought. Good luck with your decision!

 

[sndral]

I just bought VGF resale points last spring and was able to get a 4 night 1 br. lake view for 12/15-12/19 2017 at 8 months.
But, when I was booking our 12/2018 vacation two days ago (11 months from our 12/1/2018 arrival) at our other resort I looked at what was available at VGF since 2019 will be a VGF visit (2018 is our other resort - AKV.) All studios were gone, and surprisingly to me, all standard view 1 br.s were gone as well, I'm ok pointwise if I need to go to a lake view 1 br in 2019 (and I prefer the 1 br.s) but I was surprised to see the standard 1 br.s already gone about 15 minutes into online booking opening up.
A 6 night stay for 12/1-7 in a studio costs 105(standard)/124(lake) 1 br. 206(standard)/248(lake)
Those same units for 12/15-21 in a studio 105/129 1 br. 224/268
If you are going every other year you can get by with your 100 point contract for several years by using current years points plus banking previous years points and then if you have to borrow a few points to book a 1 br. and more expensive view you can knowing that several years down the road you'll need to skip a trip to 'reload' (or buy more points )
Two things to consider - first, how 'loaded' is the contract you are buying? If it has current years points and even some banked or bankable previous years point you'll have more visits before you have to skip one because you've borrowed yourself out of points.
Second - VGF contracts aren't as plentiful as many of the DVC resorts, so they are harder to find, it took me a year or more of actively looking to find my VGF contract in the use year I wanted, and I ended up buying a few more points that I'd originally planned (which was fine as I'd saved up more $ while I waited anyway) so if you see one that suits you - act fast.
Good luck.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So, useful info to know:

There are 47 lock-off studios, total. This also means there are 47 lock-off 2BRs, so every one of those studios booked takes a 2BR out of circulation. There are also 47 dedicated 2BR units. Even booking at 11 months for the first two weeks of December, there is a chance of missing the studio booking. The 2BR has somewhat better chance, due to the dedicated units. But generally speaking, a 1BR is what you should probably plan to in those weeks, and be happy when you can get the studio.

Supply is depleted somewhat more by there being some dedicated weeks sold for VGF in those weeks.

 

[dkhillerud]

Should I be looking for a specific use year if I'm hoping for December travel or doesn't that really matter?

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Should I be looking for a specific use year if I'm hoping for December travel or doesn't that really matter?

December use year would be best. October, September, August and June use years would work as well for a December traveler.

 

[kboo]

December UY would be best if you are really looking for December travel and not earlier in the fall. However, also see how frequently VGF contracts come up as it may be more practical to be flexible on UY rather than on # of points, so if you see anything Jun UY - Dec UY with the right # of points, that would probably be doable.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And if by "december travel" you mean that it could overlap into the end of November, I would recommend a UY that is NOT December, as such a trip would bridge years and is a bit of a nuisance to manage regularly.

 

[Jelly563]

50 points will get you 1 night in a 2br every year

 

[dkhillerud]

50 points will get you 1 night in a 2br every year

I know that. I only looking to travel every 2-3 years as I stated, banking and borrowing. I'm trying to determine if I need to figure in 100 points a year, thus being able to book 6 nights in a standard view 2 bedroom villa during the first 2 weeks of December. Or if I can get by with 50 a year and book a studio.

 

[Matty B13]

I would not expect to grab a studio lake view or standard in December regularly, I would aim for 1 bedroom unit for your point total.

Also, I’m sure just like the rest of us Addonitis will hit and you will want to go every year.

 

[TCRAIG]

I would not expect to grab a studio lake view or standard in December regularly, I would aim for 1 bedroom unit for your point total.

Also, I’m sure just like the rest of us Addonitis will hit and you will want to go every year.

I was not able to book a 1BR STD at VGF yesterday at @10 AM Eastern for the first week of December 2018 as Dec 2 was already gone - I did grab 12/3 - 12/9 first thing this morning and WL 12/2 - but in truth -first and second week of Dec is tough to book - all sizes - all views - at The Grand

 

[dkhillerud]

I would not expect to grab a studio lake view or standard in December regularly, I would aim for 1 bedroom unit for your point total.

Also, I’m sure just like the rest of us Addonitis will hit and you will want to go every year.

Oh I do want to go every year! Just not every year at the Grand. Need beach club or boardwalk to be close to epcot for the spring or fall!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So far the first week of December is probably the most difficult time to book - especially at VGF. The second week can be a bit easier at many resorts but VGF is quite small and by far it seemed to have the most people buying small contracts to book the first week or two of December and that won't be a given either. Plus DVC sold guaranteed weeks for that time so the inventory is already reduced for regular point bookings compared to other times of the year that had fewer or no guaranteed weeks sold. To be happiest I'd budget for the 1BR and be thinking that the 2BR may be in play at times. But I'd consider that it could be a frustrating ownership that takes up a fair amount of time to get the booking for those 2 weeks if buying for a studio. 1BR's are the fall back for some owners when they can't get the studio so it may not be much better and might get worse as popular times seem to tighten up more and more each year.

 

[sndral]

Oh I do want to go every year! Just not every year at the Grand. Need beach club or boardwalk to be close to epcot for the spring or fall!

You may want to buy your VGF contract and use those points and wait to see if Riveira w/ it’s later end date might work for you when they offer it in the next 1-2 yrs..

 

[dkhillerud]

You may want to buy your VGF contract and use those points and wait to see if Riveira w/ it’s later end date might work for you when they offer it in the next 1-2 yrs..

That's a really good point!! Thanks!

 

[frabjous]

That's a really good point!! Thanks!

In the meantime you can also do DVC cash reservations (20% off rack if available) OR book at swan/dolphin (no magical express but typically lower rates) on those alternate years.

The other option to consider, if you love VGF, and don’t mind having to fall back to it occasionally, is just keeping your points there and booking the other resorts at the 7 mo window. Others are more knowledgeable and may want to comment on Epcot resort availability at 7 mos (I think BC might be a challenge with F&W?)

 

[Cyberc1978]

In the meantime you can also do DVC cash reservations (20% off rack if available) OR book at swan/dolphin (no magical express but typically lower rates) on those alternate years.

The other option to consider, if you love VGF, and don’t mind having to fall back to it occasionally, is just keeping your points there and booking the other resorts at the 7 mo window. Others are more knowledgeable and may want to comment on Epcot resort availability at 7 mos (I think BC might be a challenge with F&W?)

Given that the upfront cost is much higher compared to other resorts I dont think buying VGF to sleep around is a good choice. If you want to sleep around I would suggest to buy SSR. if you buy VGF you should for the most part use the points at VGF.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

BCV and BWV studios are difficult all of fall frenzy, and increasingly challenging at 7 months year round. The December dates are unlikely, as are most of fall, without home resort.