SAP+ ?

[VGCgroupie]

Yup, that’s why the “I’ll buy VGC if it drops below $200 crowd” could have a limit order that never fills

So happy I bought VGC.

 

[CWTC]

So happy I bought VGC.

I love our VGC points too - I was absolutely giddy the first time I made a reservation at 11 months. I love our other contracts and home resorts but booking VGC at 7 months was so stressful.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There are 3 resales Im eyeing, 2 I know will be gone by next week. But I think I have to show major restraint and wait for the fall incentive release since I still have the ability to cancel/modify my direct purchase. A smart person with more will power than I would actually wait til early November when they release the new dues for 2025 to decide what and where to buy.

1 of the 2 is sold...

must remain strong, must remain strong

 

[tx911]

.

1 of the 2 is sold...

must remain strong, must remain strong

 

[VGCgroupie]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

If you are ever thinking of using Grand Cal points anywhere at 7m, please read the above statement.

@HyperspaceMountainPilot
Whew!! Crisis averted. Learned about the lounge at BLT and downgraded our view freeing up enough points to cancel the previous reservation using VGC points and booked using my CCV. Since we are doing a no theme park trip I really wanted the fireworks view and I’m so happy I can use the lounge for that! I now have exactly enough left to book at the end of the month with CCV for next August/Sept. Don’t get me wrong though, I still firmly believe I need a few more points SAP points.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

@HyperspaceMountainPilot
Whew!! Crisis averted. Learned about the lounge at BLT and downgraded our view freeing up enough points to cancel the previous reservation using VGC points and booked using my CCV. Since we are doing a no theme park trip I really wanted the fireworks view and I’m so happy I can use the lounge for that! I now have exactly enough left to book at the end of the month with CCV for next August/Sept. Don’t get me wrong though, I still firmly believe I need a few more points SAP points.

Are you talking about Top of The World lounge? Is it that easy to get in?

 

[PrincessGidget]

Are you talking about Top of The World lounge? Is it that easy to get in?

Most of the time, yes. Yes it is. Sort of. You are not actually allowed IN the lounge, that is for upcharge paying members. You are allowed onto the outside viewing patio and there is a makeshift bar with drinks “to go”.
It is still my favorite place to watch HEA, plastic cup and all

 

[VGCgroupie]

Are you talking about Top of The World lounge? Is it that easy to get in?

Yes and I have no idea . Somewhat winging this whole thing. I’ll start researching. I normally plan trips 6 weeks out, not used to this plan in advance DVC thing. Right now I’m still researching OBB and another non DVC trip in December.

 

[darkconz]

Most of the time, yes. Yes it is. Sort of. You are not actually allowed IN the lounge, that is for upcharge paying members. You are allowed onto the outside viewing patio and there is a makeshift bar with drinks “to go”.
It is still my favorite place to watch HEA, plastic cup and all

Does that require being a member via direct?

 

[VGCgroupie]

1 of the 2 is sold...

must remain strong, must remain strong

The 2nd is also gone. Cant decide if I regret it or not. It was SSR and Ive always said SSR is not for me. Although it is for SAP not even SAP+

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does that require being a member via direct?

Yes, this is all I learned about it so far.

 

[VGCgroupie]

So happy I bought VGC.

@AstroBlasters @CWTC I admit I have not studied point charts much. Last night I was looking at my dates in a typically very high point season pretty much everywhere ever (mid April) For 2 nights in a studio weeknights VGC was the lowest points of any resort except an AK Value room and Hilton Head. 2 nights weekend again only HHI and AK Value are lower, Boardwalk is tied. Just when I thought couldn't love my VGC contract any more than I already do.

Used this site and it so easy to use. https://dvctripplanner.com/

 

[AstroBlasters]

@AstroBlasters @CWTC I admit I have not studied point charts much. Last night I was looking at my dates in a typically very high point season pretty much everywhere ever (mid April) For 2 nights in a studio weeknights VGC was the lowest points of any resort except an AK Value room and Hilton Head. 2 nights weekend again only HHI and AK Value are lower, Boardwalk is tied. Just when I thought couldn't love my VGC contract any more than I already do.

Used this site and it so easy to use. https://dvctripplanner.com/

I will be very interested to see if they change up the point chart at all for 2026….

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Most of the time, yes. Yes it is. Sort of. You are not actually allowed IN the lounge, that is for upcharge paying members. You are allowed onto the outside viewing patio and there is a makeshift bar with drinks “to go”.
It is still my favorite place to watch HEA, plastic cup and all

This is a great tip. I have a Y card but don’t spend much time at BLT— I would prefer to be on the patio in any event!

 

[kboo]

I was thinking BLT due to the low dues and it also being a good home resort. Actually a very cheap non sub AUL came on the market and I was crunching the numbers on it, I i think a BLT at at $115 would make more financial sense, but it wont give me more 11 month point power at Aulani.

We have always been fine in studios, but this trip being in a studio 3 nights then moving to a 1 bedroom for 2 nights really made the size and amenities difference stand out, so we will probably now want 1 and 2 beds moving forward for stays longer than 2 nights.

BLT has been great for us for SAP+. Be careful about using BLT for studios, though. They are among the smallest on property, though the 1br and 2br have an extra full bath. We've stayed in a BLT studio just as a couple, but with the 2 kids, we've gotten spoiled by the bigger studios (VGF, Riviera).

My 9 year old is in love... he even said let's come back to Aulani instead of Disney World for his birthday! He may just be on an Aulani high, I will ask him again next month

My then 7 yo wanted to go back to Aulani "in 6 weeks" at the end of our stay in 2023! We haven't talked about a particular time to go back just yet.

So I have agreed I have to find a smokin deal to get anymore points.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Side note: BLT theme park view is crazy points. Makes me wonder if I really do want BLT. Since we tend to travel high point seasons.

Lake view is a more than acceptable compromise - it's not that much more points than standard view, and if you make your room request just right, it's quite close to theme park view. (We've stayed in all 3 views)

“Buy where you want to stay” But then I don’t want to use those points anywhere else.

Yeah, that's a problem. LOL. We are like that too.

Yup, that’s why the “I’ll buy VGC if it drops below $200 crowd” could have a limit order that never fills

When we were first buying into DVC, VGC resale was not much more than VGF resale. Big regrets there.

That said, we have managed to get rooms when we wanted at pretty much everywhere when we've modified at 7 mo (or waitlisted). And for some resorts I'm ok having to book a more-points view in order to get a room there. Aulani ocean view is glorious, once I accepted the # of points required.

Last night I was looking at my dates in a typically very high point season pretty much everywhere ever (mid April) For 2 nights in a studio weeknights VGC was the lowest points of any resort except an AK Value room and Hilton Head.

VGC's season breakdown is different from WDW. Easter/Passover week is *even higher* than "spring break" season - it's the same ## of points as Christmas week (aka highest points all year). WDW's low point seasons are September, December and January (excluding the holidays)

re: SSR: when we bought BLT resale, SSR resale was competitive - a little less per point but appropriately so because of location (buses everywhere) and style/theming. We got BLT at a competitive price and the few hundred $ "extra" I treated as the ability to walk to/from MK if I wanted to. If you're into Disney Springs and now with the drone show - I don't think you can go wrong with either if you get a "good" price.

We stayed at BLT back in August. Yes it needed refurbishment and we got a crummyish view for standard view. But we had lots of space for the 8 of us (2 families of 4) and it was amazing to be able to walk to/from MK.* The kids are now older but one time when they were still in stollers, we watched the fireworks show from the base of Main Street and had the kids IN BED 30 minutes later. That was awesome.

*we were at the back of MK at the time of the active **** scare in late August. We dithered for a while back there until walking out via Main St. The monorail was still closed and there were throngs of people and sheriff's vehicles in the emergency lanes... I have never been more thankful for the ability to just walk home.

 

[VGCgroupie]

BLT has been great for us for SAP+. Be careful about using BLT for studios, though. They are among the smallest on property, though the 1br and 2br have an extra full bath. We've stayed in a BLT studio just as a couple, but with the 2 kids, we've gotten spoiled by the bigger studios (VGF, Riviera).

My then 7 yo wanted to go back to Aulani "in 6 weeks" at the end of our stay in 2023! We haven't talked about a particular time to go back just yet.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Lake view is a more than acceptable compromise - it's not that much more points than standard view, and if you make your room request just right, it's quite close to theme park view. (We've stayed in all 3 views)

Yeah, that's a problem. LOL. We are like that too.

When we were first buying into DVC, VGC resale was not much more than VGF resale. Big regrets there.

That said, we have managed to get rooms when we wanted at pretty much everywhere when we've modified at 7 mo (or waitlisted). And for some resorts I'm ok having to book a more-points view in order to get a room there. Aulani ocean view is glorious, once I accepted the # of points required.


VGC's season breakdown is different from WDW. Easter/Passover week is *even higher* than "spring break" season - it's the same ## of points as Christmas week (aka highest points all year). WDW's low point seasons are September, December and January (excluding the holidays)

re: SSR: when we bought BLT resale, SSR resale was competitive - a little less per point but appropriately so because of location (buses everywhere) and style/theming. We got BLT at a competitive price and the few hundred $ "extra" I treated as the ability to walk to/from MK if I wanted to. If you're into Disney Springs and now with the drone show - I don't think you can go wrong with either if you get a "good" price.

We stayed at BLT back in August. Yes it needed refurbishment and we got a crummyish view for standard view. But we had lots of space for the 8 of us (2 families of 4) and it was amazing to be able to walk to/from MK.* The kids are now older but one time when they were still in stollers, we watched the fireworks show from the base of Main Street and had the kids IN BED 30 minutes later. That was awesome.

*we were at the back of MK at the time of the active **** scare in late August. We dithered for a while back there until walking out via Main St. The monorail was still closed and there were throngs of people and sheriff's vehicles in the emergency lanes... I have never been more thankful for the ability to just walk home.

Love all your responses

I actually had 4 spare points that were banked and it gave me just enough for the Lake View. You are right I think it was a great compromise and not much more points than the theme park view. For MK days I can see BLT being right up our alley since we are so used to the close proximity of DL resorts to the parks.

I can see us loving SSR in the future when we would love to just hang at Disneys Springs.

 

[PrincessGidget]

Does that require being a member via direct?

It does, however the last two times I went they didn’t even check.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Love all your responses

I actually had 4 spare points that were banked and it gave me just enough for the Lake View. You are right I think it was a great compromise and not much more points than the theme park view. For MK days I can see BLT being right up our alley since we are so used to the close proximity of DL resorts to the parks.

I can see us loving SSR in the future when we would love to just hang at Disneys Springs.

Lucy…. you have some splaining to do…

 

[VGCgroupie]

Lucy…. you have some splaining to do…

 

[kboo]

I actually had 4 spare points that were banked and it gave me just enough for the Lake View. You are right I think it was a great compromise and not much more points than the theme park view. For MK days I can see BLT being right up our alley since we are so used to the close proximity of DL resorts to the parks.

There is a good thread here with room locations and views and requests. It was very helpful when we were in a Lakeview 2br on rented points (which sold us on BLT for ourselves), and since then we've booked standard view always except for a long weekend with DH where we booked a TPV studio that we slept in because we were out late every night. I need to learn to not be so stingy with my points.