The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Spoke to my guide day before yesterday and we were able to take advantage of the new incentives with our 100 point add-on! Instead of $5 off per point and the cruise, we've got the $8 off per point deal and the cruise. Still waiting on the paperwork though.

I'm wondering if there are any other New Yorkers who have added on at Grand Californian Villas? My Guide said that there is some extra paperwork for NY that is holding up things.

 

[Tozzie]

Spoke to my guide day before yesterday and we were able to take advantage of the new incentives with our 100 point add-on! Instead of $5 off per point and the cruise, we've got the $8 off per point deal and the cruise. Still waiting on the paperwork though.

I'm wondering if there are any other New Yorkers who have added on at Grand Californian Villas? My Guide said that there is some extra paperwork for NY that is holding up things.

I added on but did it in Florida with New York State being well NYS they are slow to process things, makes no sense since DVC is registered to sell all the other resorts in NY

 

[wdwendyd]

We just bought 115 points at VGC. We have been DVC members since 2001 and bought BWV and OKW resales. At that time it was said that there could never be a DVC in California because timeshares there are not allowed to have end-dates. I don't know if that was just a rumor but I am sooo happy that DVC was able to make it work!
I have always loved Disneyland. My older brother was (and still is) a huge Disney fan. He helped name me and if I had been a boy, I would have been named Peter. I grew up about an hour away from Disneyland and we got to go several times a year (my early trips, I was in a baby buggy) and my first job was at Disneyland.
So as you can see, I was destined to become a VGC owner. We are waiting for our revised paperwork as we decided to take advantage of the new incentives and had not signedour paperwork yet. We were able to change from $5 off per point to $8 off. A big THANK YOU to the DIS boards for making us aware of this additional $$$ off!

 

[stopher1]

We just bought 115 points at VGC. We have been DVC members since 2001 and bought BWV and OKW resales. At that time it was said that there could never be a DVC in California because timeshares there are not allowed to have end-dates. I don't know if that was just a rumor but I am sooo happy that DVC was able to make it work!
I have always loved Disneyland. My older brother was (and still is) a huge Disney fan. He helped name me and if I had been a boy, I would have been named Peter. I grew up about an hour away from Disneyland and we got to go several times a year (my early trips, I was in a baby buggy) and my first job was at Disneyland.
So as you can see, I was destined to become a VGC owner. We are waiting for our revised paperwork as we decided to take advantage of the new incentives and had not signedour paperwork yet. We were able to change from $5 off per point to $8 off. A big THANK YOU to the DIS boards for making us aware of this additional $$$ off!

Congrats and a fresh Welcome Home neighbor!

 

[wideeyedwonder]

A big THANK YOU to the DIS boards for making us aware of this additional $$$ off!

Let me second that. We were able to re-contract using the new incentives, which were a better "fit" for what we wanted (a straight discount on points). Thanks everyone for getting the news out quickly...we even ended up buying a few more points than we had originally decided on (226 instead of 209).

and my first job was at Disneyland.

Same here, grew up near DL (we used to watch the summer fireworks from a tree in our backyard), and I was a CM in the summer of 1983.

 

[karrit2000]

I just did my add-on on Friday. I'm still waiting for the paperwork to arrive. My guide told me on the 26th when she called me that they had just gotten the approval to sell in NY otherwise she wouldn't have been able to talk to me about it. I really hope they get their act together soon since they will be opening the DTD in Roosevelt Field this summer. It would be pretty lame if they were unable to sell new properties at the DTD. It's not like they haven't known for well over a year that they were going to start selling GCV this year. They went through the same thing with BWV when they first opened it. If I had bought there instead of OKW originally in 1996 I would have had to fly back down to FL to sign all the paperwork.

 

[Cherta]

Let me jump on the "Thank you DISboards for getting the incentive info out quickly" bandwagon!

I just finished having my Florida guide rewrite my contract for a third (yes, third) time to take advantage of the cash discounts...

I'm now the proud owner of 125 points (versus 110 points at the old incentive rate)!

 

[tjkraz]

I just did my add-on on Friday. I'm still waiting for the paperwork to arrive. My guide told me on the 26th when she called me that they had just gotten the approval to sell in NY otherwise she wouldn't have been able to talk to me about it. I really hope they get their act together soon since they will be opening the DTD in Roosevelt Field this summer. It would be pretty lame if they were unable to sell new properties at the DTD. It's not like they haven't known for well over a year that they were going to start selling GCV this year. They went through the same thing with BWV when they first opened it. If I had bought there instead of OKW originally in 1996 I would have had to fly back down to FL to sign all the paperwork.

Each state has its own laws regarding timeshare sales. I doubt that any delay in being licensed within New York was driven by any apathy on DVC's part. There are substantial reporting requirements mandated by each state. DVC knew for over a year that they would be selling VGC, but things like the Public Offering Statement and points chart were not finalized until much more recently.

States also vary their guidelines as to how far along construction must be before sales can commence and even how quick the state is to approve the permits. It's a little more complicated than getting a marriage certificate or a dog license.

Still, general sales of VGC just began on the 26th and according to your post they were approved to sell by then. So it sounds like they were right on target.

 

[Tozzie]

I just did my add-on on Friday. I'm still waiting for the paperwork to arrive. My guide told me on the 26th when she called me that they had just gotten the approval to sell in NY otherwise she wouldn't have been able to talk to me about it. I really hope they get their act together soon since they will be opening the DTD in Roosevelt Field this summer. It would be pretty lame if they were unable to sell new properties at the DTD. It's not like they haven't known for well over a year that they were going to start selling GCV this year. They went through the same thing with BWV when they first opened it. If I had bought there instead of OKW originally in 1996 I would have had to fly back down to FL to sign all the paperwork.

DVD wasn't the issue here it ws NYS amnd processing the paperwork. If it was DVD NYS wouldn't have been the only state not registered in.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

DVD wasn't the issue here it ws NYS amnd processing the paperwork. If it was DVD NYS wouldn't have been the only state not registered in.

I'll just add something that my guide told me about NYS. And it was around the 26th or sometime around the end of March.

I spoke to my guide and told him we wanted to buy at GCV. He says great but calls me back a few days later and says there is a small delay-a "hiccup" was his word- because for some reason DVC is not yet registered to sell a California timeshare in NYS or to NYS residents. A few days later, he said that its been all squared away and we can proceed with the sale but there is still a NYS paperwork issue of some sort that is holding up our getting the documents to sign and return.

Normally, I wouldn't feel like it was a big deal but because we want to do the cruise, I want to get the paperwork signed and finished so I can get the cruise voucher and book the cruise before there aren't any dates left to book that will work for us.

 

[Tozzie]

I'll just add something that my guide told me about NYS. And it was around the 26th or sometime around the end of March.

I spoke to my guide and told him we wanted to buy at GCV. He says great but calls me back a few days later and says there is a small delay-a "hiccup" was his word- because for some reason DVC is not yet registered to sell a California timeshare in NYS or to NYS residents. A few days later, he said that its been all squared away and we can proceed with the sale but there is still a NYS paperwork issue of some sort that is holding up our getting the documents to sign and return.

Normally, I wouldn't feel like it was a big deal but because we want to do the cruise, I want to get the paperwork signed and finished so I can get the cruise voucher and book the cruise before there aren't any dates left to book that will work for us.

They can't sell to you in NY but if you go to Florida they can sell you anything you want in person and that is what I did, I went to Florida and signed my papers and got my points.

 

[Longhairbear]

.

Regarding the documents, I found the references to it being POSSIBLE for a minimum stay of 5 nights to be imposed, .

That's interesting. Would that be a way of controlling one night stays by we CA residents, and saving money on the housekeeping end?

 

[trampslady]

That's interesting. Would that be a way of controlling one night stays by we CA residents, and saving money on the housekeeping end?

My guide told me that this fine print is actually on all DVC paperwork, including the WDW resorts.

 

[DVCGeek]

My guide told me that this fine print is actually on all DVC paperwork, including the WDW resorts.

I plan to recheck my BLT papers but I think the 5 night clause IS there. I also plan to ask QA about the:

1) theoretical minimum stay @ VGC & BLT to make sure I understand it
2) maximum point reallocation @ both
3) what kind of range could studio points change to; is an average really ~24 points / night @ VGC? i.e., assuming the average is more than the lowest guaranteed under #2, what would a second season cost if they went to just two?
4) is there a guarantee I can use VGC points at any other DVC resort or could that ever change?
5) Could the different view categories go away?

after I get my 50 point contract but before I sign. I can't imagine it would change my purchase decision, but that's the time to ask! I think I've seen all these questions batted around the boards before, but I'd love to get DVC's 'official' answer and references to exact spots in the paperwork if I can.


Anyone else have any other suggested questions for me to try w/ QA rather than / in addition to my guide?

 

[MenashaCorp]

OK, so we just got back from our DLR vacation over the weekend. I had planned this trip to be a "first look" before buying VGC WHENEVER that happened. Little did I know that sales would begin January to CA DVC purchasers only, no window for existing FL DVC members before going public...

That being said, I was able to buy 200 points with great incentive... So Welcome Home to the Grand!!!

...not to mention the Disney Dollars I should accrue...Thanks Disney VISA!!

 

[toocherie]

I got my box of docs for my second GCV add-on last night. I'm trying to make arrangements to go over to the DL DVC office tonight to sign . . . .

 

[wdw4life]

I got my box of docs for my second GCV add-on last night. I'm trying to make arrangements to go over to the DL DVC office tonight to sign . . . .

That's what I will be doing. I set up an appointment to sign my paperwork on Saturday over at the sales center. Then on Monday I will be making my ABD reservation.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

not to mention the Disney Dollars I should accrue...Thanks Disney VISA!!

Bingo! We are doing the same, great $/point incentive + Disney dollars (by putting it on the Disney VISA).

 

[DVCGeek]

My paperwork for the revised add on arrived yesterday; it is showing 50 points and the $400 incentive! Now I just need to break out a pen...

 

[toocherie]

When I signed Wed. night the signing agent indicated that closings can't occur until the "final" public report is approved. So may be as late as May.