Question about buying a fixed week

[BK2014]

That is correct.

For us, we don't want to go at a fixed time so the option of the fixed week is not very useful. And if we did use it I'd rather not be paying the extra 10% in points if I didn't have to. A big plus for me for DVC was that it's a point system, not a traditional fixed week. Now yes, you can release it but then what's the point of the fixed week if you weren't going to use it the majority of the time or even 1/2 of the time? Some will say that it will garner a greater price on the resale market but so far there's been no evidence albeit only a few have shown up. In the case of people who bought fixed weeks for the larger villas I think it's been a detriment to sell - they would have had easier resale if they had split up their initial purchase. I've seen several that sat on the brokers websites for a very long time. VGF studios in early December are so far the only rooms that I could see having it as that resort is small and there were a lot of existing owners that bought a small amount of points and expressed they wanted to use them for stays in December so it's been a difficult time to book. But, there's other resorts that I'd be happy to stay at too so again, no need to own an early Dec fixed week there.

In a different situation, if you did always go the same week I can see it making more sense, but for the most part you can make a smaller initial purchase and still get the same room without the 10% premium. There's a few other situations where the justification could be there but that's individual situations and I don't see it as an option that always makes sense - or even one makes sense the majority of the time. The benefit just depends on the situation.

Thanks for the response, it helped me understand this a lot better.

 

[Dean]

So, if I am reading this correctly, in any given year you can just opt to use your fixed week, release the fixed week to Disney and instead use the 186 points as if you had them on a non-fixed week contract? Under a fixed-week contract you not only have a guaranteed room-type in a guaranteed week every year, but also the option of operating as a non-fixed week contract? I guess if that is correct, I don't understand why more people don't buy fixed week contracts. Am I missing something?

IMO I think any retail buyer should buy a fixed week if the # points are in the ballpark, even if it's not a perfect week for them to use. The one thing one loses is the ability to break into smaller contracts and I think that is far less important and a far lower value. Personally I suspect having multiple smaller contracts will be a negative for many down the road even though I own a 4*25 contract. If one can find a good week that works for them part of the time it can be a real advantage. The best way to use it for many is to get ahead on points so they can reserve the week they want and take points for that year. That way you get the time you want AND you get the extra points. If you can't get it now, you can wait list. If you can get it in time, you can cancel the fixed week.

 

[supersnoop]

I agree with Dean. The downsides are that you might spend 10% more points than you need to on your week, and you have to remember to cancel your fixed seek if you don't want it. The upside is that you always have one of the highest demand weeks booked each year.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

So, if I am reading this correctly, in any given year you can just opt to use your fixed week, release the fixed week to Disney and instead use the 186 points as if you had them on a non-fixed week contract? Under a fixed-week contract you not only have a guaranteed room-type in a guaranteed week every year, but also the option of operating as a non-fixed week contract? I guess if that is correct, I don't understand why more people don't buy fixed week contracts. Am I missing something?

Yes this is correct. Most people don't take the time to understand the FW, and guides just want to make a sale so are wary of showing an option with extra cost. there is no downside, except that they are not well understood in the resale market.

 

[BK2014]

How often do fixed weeks come up for re-sale? Are they any more or less likely to be bought up by Disney through ROFR?

 

[ziravan]

Poly is a 50 yr product.

VGF started having problems booking studios immediately after sell out for Fall Frenzy.

"Buy where you want to stay" currently means "Buy where you want to stay during Fall Frenzy".

Over time, buyers at BWV and BCV are buying to book the first 2 weeks of Dec specifically and Fall Frenzy generally. It's changing the composition of ownership at those resorts to focus on that time.

How will the composition of ownership change at Poly, over 50 yrs?

When DVC ownership doubles and doubles again during that time?

The lifespan of Poly will be twice as long as the current age of DVC.

Changes we can't imagine will happen - will happen.

If a guarantee isn't necessary and never is, then owning a fixed week just means you have an extra 10% pad each year.

But. If it becomes necessary there's no going back. Once sold out, those guarantees are gone.

DVC can sell up to 35% of points as guaranteed. I think I read that for Poly, actual guaranteed week sales are 2%.

The first 2 weeks of Dec is less than 1% of sales. A guaranteed week 49/50 owner is going to be a 1 percenter.

If that doesn't pan out as important, no big deal.

If it does? Jingle BAM!

 

[lovin'fl]

I wonder if they even have that week still available. I suppose they do or they would have told OP otherwise, no? Do we know if the new VWL (can't remember the new name) will sell fixed weeks?

 

[ziravan]

I wonder if they even have that week still available. I suppose they do or they would have told OP otherwise, no? Do we know if the new VWL (can't remember the new name) will sell fixed weeks?

I don't think any of the weeks are near sell out.

Since the Poly started offering incentives, they've excluded fixed weeks. This has driven sales of fixed weeks into the ground. It seems to me that DVC has lost interest in the concept. Not that they ever gave it much attention.

It wouldn't surprise me if they don't offer it going forward.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I don't think any of the weeks are near sell out.

Since the Poly started offering incentives, they've excluded fixed weeks. This has driven sales of fixed weeks into the ground. It seems to me that DVC has lost interest in the concept. Not that they ever gave it much attention.

It wouldn't surprise me if they don't offer it going forward.

The way they did it offered virtually no benefit to them. Their greater benefit would have been to charge an upfront premium for the week for the same points required. Instead they just made the buyer buy more but the premium only happens if they use the points for that week.

I also think that at VGF it cause more headaches than benefits.

 

[robotsneedlove2]

Question 1 – was my guide right? If I buy the fixed week, do I lose out on 2016 points?

As many people suspected, this wasn't true. I will receive the 2016 points if I purchase the fixed week.

Question 2 – If I can’t have my fixed week, should I just buy resale? I love the Poly, and think it will be hard to book once it is sold out. (We are a family of 3, and the studios are the perfect size for our small family.)

Oh boy, I'm sure that I'm not the first to do this. I rethought everything, and created many spreadsheets comparing what I would spend purchasing PVB versus BLT or SSR resale. In the end I came back to wanting to buy PVB, because this is where I want to stay. In the next 5 years I know we'll use Lilo's Playhouse at least once every trip. Being able to hop on the monorail to either MK or EPCOT is huge. I love the configuration of the studios with 1.5 bathrooms. I love the theme and the resorts atmosphere.

Thanks for all the comments about fixed weeks! They really helped me to realize that I do indeed want to buy a fixed week.

Thanks for all the help!!