*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group*

[AstroBlasters]

FYI that DVC is offering some Grand Floridian points direct again.

Now… that also comes with a base price increase of $35pp to $265pp….

 

[WishesQueen]

GM everyone...HELP!

Troy at the GFVillas just emailed us about the offering of points at the GF. We were so disappointed that we missed this opportunity when taking the tour last summer, but now the tour is blurry at best. Honestly I would hate to stay anywhere else so this has to be my home resort.

I don't think I have ever not gotten a discount or bounce back for my trip, I love housekeeping and having my bed made and I am not sure about adding tickets or dining to DVC. Its usually just my DH every year and once in a while the kids come but nowadays its hard for everyone to get the same time off.

I need help in pulling the trigger (I really want to). Please include any help information or anything I should know or ask about. I appreciate any help, I have watched and read so much, that head is going to explode...lol

Thanks is advance

 

[MyDogTink]

GM everyone...HELP!

Troy at the GFVillas just emailed us about the offering of points at the GF. We were so disappointed that we missed this opportunity when taking the tour last summer, but now the tour is blurry at best. Honestly I would hate to stay anywhere else so this has to be my home resort.

I don't think I have ever not gotten a discount or bounce back for my trip, I love housekeeping and having my bed made and I am not sure about adding tickets or dining to DVC. Its usually just my DH every year and once in a while the kids come but nowadays its hard for everyone to get the same time off.

I need help in pulling the trigger (I really want to). Please include any help information or anything I should know or ask about. I appreciate any help, I have watched and read so much, that head is going to explode...lol

Thanks is advance

Hi. Others can provide more guidance than me but my two initial responses:

If you only want to stay at VGF, perhaps consider resale vs buying direct from DVC. It’s going to be a significant price difference. What UY is DVC offering? Does it accommodate your travel plans?

I always preferred daily housekeeping; however I’m now accepting of no housekeeping with DVC. Housekeeping willl gladly give you fresh towels when requested and they remove trash daily.

 

[mamaofsix]

GM everyone...HELP!

Troy at the GFVillas just emailed us about the offering of points at the GF. We were so disappointed that we missed this opportunity when taking the tour last summer, but now the tour is blurry at best. Honestly I would hate to stay anywhere else so this has to be my home resort.

I don't think I have ever not gotten a discount or bounce back for my trip, I love housekeeping and having my bed made and I am not sure about adding tickets or dining to DVC. Its usually just my DH every year and once in a while the kids come but nowadays its hard for everyone to get the same time off.

I need help in pulling the trigger (I really want to). Please include any help information or anything I should know or ask about. I appreciate any help, I have watched and read so much, that head is going to explode...lol

Thanks is advance

I don't think you'll regret buying DVC if you stay every year. It will save quite a bit of money in the end. VGF has some of the cheapest annual dues, which makes it even more appealing as a home resort. What time of year do you visit? December will be the hardest to get a room, otherwise it is fairly easy the rest of the calendar year.

As for tickets and dining - simply buy tickets separately, or purchase the meal plan. With DVC direct purchase, you will get a discount on Annual Passes. You could do a trip every 11 months with an annual pass and save a lot of money on tickets.

You will also get a 10-20% discount on most table service restaurants and merchandise if you buy direct vs. resale. I find that, with this discount, it is cheaper to pay out of pocket for meals than getting the dining plan.

 

[WishesQueen]

Hi. Others can provide more guidance than me but my two initial responses:

If you only want to stay at VGF, perhaps consider resale vs buying direct from DVC. It’s going to be a significant price difference. What UY is DVC offering? Does it accommodate your travel plans?

I always preferred daily housekeeping; however I’m now accepting of no housekeeping with DVC. Housekeeping willl gladly give you fresh towels when requested and they remove trash daily.

Thanks so much for replying.

I have a list of questions to ask today and UY is one of them. We usually travel in the summer June/august and occasionally get to visit early fall if my DH can get off

What UY do you think would be best for me?

 

[WishesQueen]

I don't think you'll regret buying DVC if you stay every year. It will save quite a bit of money in the end. VGF has some of the cheapest annual dues, which makes it even more appealing as a home resort. What time of year do you visit? December will be the hardest to get a room, otherwise it is fairly easy the rest of the calendar year.

As for tickets and dining - simply buy tickets separately, or purchase the meal plan. With DVC direct purchase, you will get a discount on Annual Passes. You could do a trip every 11 months with an annual pass and save a lot of money on tickets.

You will also get a 10-20% discount on most table service restaurants and merchandise if you buy direct vs. resale. I find that, with this discount, it is cheaper to pay out of pocket for meals than getting the dining plan.

Thanks so much for replying

My DH and I were thinking the same thing. We usually travel in summer and occasionally in the early fall.

I forgot about the discount of TS and merchandise. What about the lounge or lounges? I thought there were two are they nice or helpful?

 

[MyDogTink]

Thanks so much for replying.

I have a list of questions to ask today and UY is one of them. We usually travel in the summer June/august and occasionally get to visit early fall if my DH can get off

What UY do you think would be best for me?

April could be good. June may work but not if you push your trip up from June to May.

With April, you can bank by Nov 30th.

 

[BlueGreen5]

GM everyone...HELP!

Troy at the GFVillas just emailed us about the offering of points at the GF. We were so disappointed that we missed this opportunity when taking the tour last summer, but now the tour is blurry at best. Honestly I would hate to stay anywhere else so this has to be my home resort.

I don't think I have ever not gotten a discount or bounce back for my trip, I love housekeeping and having my bed made and I am not sure about adding tickets or dining to DVC. Its usually just my DH every year and once in a while the kids come but nowadays its hard for everyone to get the same time off.

I need help in pulling the trigger (I really want to). Please include any help information or anything I should know or ask about. I appreciate any help, I have watched and read so much, that head is going to explode...lol

Thanks is advance

Just to the savings point: figure your cost for each of your 2026 VGF points (when you amortize the upfront cost over lifetime and factor in dues and dues CAGR) will be somewhere around $19/pp if you bought resale. Reasonable minds can debate about whether $15-20/pp is the right figure, but that's not terrible relevant to my point. Let's just use [somewhere around] $19/pp.

To stay in a studio on June 15, 2026 is 18 points. Which, at $19/pp, equates to $342. Without a bounce back offer, to reserve that same studio through Disney is $900 after tax. You are paying $500+ per night for...housekeeping? Dining and tickets are the same with DVC versus cash.

You can easily recover your DVC cost in about 5 years if you are comparing it against cash rates.

For those who visit at least once every few years, DVC is a slam dunk as long as you can afford the upfront cost.

 

[mamaofsix]

Thanks so much for replying

My DH and I were thinking the same thing. We usually travel in summer and occasionally in the early fall.

I forgot about the discount of TS and merchandise. What about the lounge or lounges? I thought there were two are they nice or helpful?

We love the lounges! Top of the World lounge at the Contemporary and above the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot. Love the Epcot one on a hot day - free munchies, pop, tea, coffee. Comfy seats to cool off and charge devices.

Plus, don't forget a new one will be built by this summer in Magic Kingdom: https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/dvc-member-lounge-opening-in-magic-kingdom-in-summer-2025/

ETA: Plus there is a new DVC lounge / center in Disney Springs.

 

[WishesQueen]

April could be good. June may work but not if you push your trip up from June to May.

With April, you can bank by Nov 30th.

I was thinking the same thing, I just wasn't sure I was understanding it correctly but I guess I am. I am going to email him now and see what the UY is.

Just to the savings point: figure your cost for each of your 2026 VGF points (when you amortize the upfront cost over lifetime and factor in dues and dues CAGR) will be somewhere around $19/pp if you bought resale. Reasonable minds can debate about whether $15-20/pp is the right figure, but that's not terrible relevant to my point. Let's just use [somewhere around] $19/pp.

To stay in a studio on June 15, 2026 is 18 points. Which, at $19/pp, equates to $342. Without a bounce back offer, to reserve that same studio through Disney is $900 after tax. You are paying $500+ per night for...housekeeping? Dining and tickets are the same with DVC versus cash.

You can easily recover your DVC cost in about 5 years if you are comparing it against cash rates.

For those who visit at least once every few years, DVC is a slam dunk as long as you can afford the upfront cost.

OMG thanks so much, this is the clearest easiest explanation after hours of videos!

We love the lounges! Top of the World lounge at the Contemporary and above the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot. Love the Epcot one on a hot day - free munchies, pop, tea, coffee. Comfy seats to cool off and charge devices.

Plus, don't forget a new one will be built by this summer in Magic Kingdom: https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/dvc-member-lounge-opening-in-magic-kingdom-in-summer-2025/

ETA: Plus there is a new DVC lounge / center in Disney Springs.

How exciting I absolutely love this, since its usually just DH and I were more about the relaxing that getting things done.

Thanks so much everyone, I have a feeling I am going to be entering a new Disney Chapter and might say with some great people. I truly appreciate all the help.

 

[WishesQueen]

BTW I should have asked if anyone ever has problems getting the dates they want for travel? Obviously now asking for Christmas season, I am assuming thats rough.

Also, did everyone buy direct like I am looking at? Or at least some of their points direct for the blue card (did I get that right)?

 

[WishesQueen]

can you bring guests in the lounges?

 

[BlueGreen5]

Also, did everyone buy direct like I am looking at? Or at least some of their points direct for the blue card (did I get that right)?

We did not buy direct. There are benefits to a blue card, but we did not think the cost justified the benefits. Others will have a different opinion on this because, for instance, they value lounge access and are able to utilize an annual pass more than we are. Buying direct is going to cost you about $17,000 more at VGF -- you just need to do the math, given your own personal circumstances, as to whether you would want to pay that much for a blue card.

Also worth noting that buying direct allows you to use your points at Riviera, Fort Wilderness, and Disneyland Hotel. Resale points can't be used there. It's unclear whether any new properties will follow similar suit (they are having trouble selling these properties in part because of these restrictions, whether they will admit it or not).

BTW I should have asked if anyone ever has problems getting the dates they want for travel? Obviously now asking for Christmas season, I am assuming thats rough.

Oh yes, at VGF it's hard to get resort-view studios (the preferred choice, in most DVC members' opinions) during several times of the year. The first weekend in December, 2025 booked up like instantly last month, and the first half of December is booked up now. Whenever I want to stay at VGF, I find someone to rent VGF points from -- it's that in demand.

 

[tidefan]

Oh yes, at VGF it's hard to get resort-view studios (the preferred choice, in most DVC members' opinions) during several times of the year. The first weekend in December, 2025 booked up like instantly last month, and the first half of December is booked up now. Whenever I want to stay at VGF, I find someone to rent VGF points from -- it's that in demand.

Good luck on a Deluxe Studio in the original building... Those go super quick now...

 

[BlueGreen5]

Good luck on a Deluxe Studio in the original building... Those go super quick now...

Found out the hard way recently...

 

[WishesQueen]

How hard is it to get a Studio in Big Pine Key usually?

 

[kgou]

Now… that also comes with a base price increase of $35pp to $265pp….

If you only want to stay at VGF, perhaps consider resale vs buying direct from DVC. It’s going to be a significant price difference. What UY is DVC offering? Does it accommodate your travel plans?

We did not buy direct. There are benefits to a blue card, but we did not think the cost justified the benefits. Others will have a different opinion on this because, for instance, they value lounge access and are able to utilize an annual pass more than we are. Buying direct is going to cost you about $17,000 more at VGF -- you just need to do the math, given your own personal circumstances, as to whether you would want to pay that much for a blue card.

Considering the base price increase, I would never recommend direct at $265/point when resale can be had for about $100 less/point. As said above, it will be a significant price difference. I would rather buy resale and get more points than direct and get fewer points.

No amount of money saved with the blue card merchandise discounts / food and bev discounts will make up the difference between direct and resale.

Is buying direct from Disney an easier and quicker transaction than hunting down a resale contract that meets your needs? Absolutely. Is it worth the price difference? For me, no, but your mileage may vary.

Since you are buying specifically because you are interested in VGF and want to use your points there, I think that's another argument for going resale as it doesn't seem like access to restricted resorts is important to you.

All that to say, if money is no object than a lot of the advice above is moot. Best of luck as you navigate your purchase and keep us posted as to what you decide!

 

[AstroBlasters]

How hard is it to get a Studio in Big Pine Key usually?

https://www.dvchelp.com/page/the-villas-at-grand-floridian-availability-charts

 

[walt34]

How hard is it to get a Studio in Big Pine Key usually?

At 7 months or 11 months? For most times of the year event the SV resort studio availability is quite good during the home resort window. I'd say better than the studio availability at many other DVC resorts because there are about 100 SV studios in BPK. They still go fast during the peak seasons (December, early May,...).

 

[walt34]

https://www.dvchelp.com/page/the-villas-at-grand-floridian-availability-charts

Great reference! Are these tables stable for BPK now? Last time I observed them more closely there was still a lot of change happening - I guess because the data collection for BPK started only a few years ago?