The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 3.0

[ClaraOswald]

So… then you will not look at aggregators or the ROFR thread for another 2.5 years?

That's rich!

I have alerts set up and everything.

I just went through all my contracts and spreadsheets. I have have 2 contracts at VGC purchased separately. One I haven’t used so I will put that aside.

My 153 point VGC purchased resale vs my 300 point VDH purchased direct. Both just under a year old.

VDH I did factor in things I received for free or discounted due to being direct.

My VGC is paid for 16.5%
My VDH is paid for 47%

Yes I included when I paid TOT.
There are days when I get a little down on buying VDH since it’s restricted, but this has me feeling much better! While VGC is highly sought after and some would say the most valuable resort.. it has yielded me way way less than any of my other contracts. Mainly due to only wanting to use it at VGC and rarely being able to get rooms there, and I have had the ability to get rooms at VDH. 2nd if there’s under 7 month availability at VGC I just use my cheaper SAP points.

Just thought I’d share. I’m still team VGC all the way but VDH isn’t terrible. If I sold today yes VGC would sell for more than VDH. But since I split my VDH 300 into 3 contracts if I sold I wouldn’t get terribly less (as of now since the market has hardly any)

Just food for thought for @ClaraOswald

Edit to add: DH says the only reason we have paid for contracts so much so quickly is because we are vacationing too much.. so there’s that.

Dumb question - what do you mean they are 16.5% and 47% "paid for?"

 

[cruisehopeful]

Edit to add: DH says the only reason we have paid for contracts so much so quickly is because we are vacationing too much.. so there’s that.

I was looking at cost of fights to Oahu and to Orlando today because I'm going to end up with "too many points" when my resale contract loads and I'll need to schedule another vacation or book something point heavy like The Cabins at Copper Creek.

Part of me is also thinking about just going to VGC for a few weekends. I wasn't going to renew my Inspire Key, but I don't want the banked points to get wasted. So, I might renew since it's likely less expensive than flights and transfers to Aulani or WDW. Gotta love Mickey Math.

 

[VGCgroupie]

That's rich!

I have alerts set up and everything.



Dumb question - what do you mean they are 16.5% and 47% "paid for?"

I track my stays and then subtract from the total contract cost, I use the best available rack rate. I do factor in any discounts I would’ve gotten if I paid cash via Disney. So I’m working my way towards a break even. Break even would be 100% paid for (excluding dues) if I factor in dues my VDH is 41.3% paid for.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I was looking at cost of fights to Oahu and to Orlando today because I'm going to end up with "too many points" when my resale contract loads and I'll need to schedule another vacation or book something point heavy like The Cabins at Copper Creek.

Part of me is also thinking about just going to VGC for a few weekends. I wasn't going to renew my Inspire Key, but I don't want the banked points to get wasted. So, I might renew since it's likely less expensive than flights and transfers to Aulani or WDW. Gotta love Mickey Math.

Mickey Math is my favorite. Never let banked points go to waste! I so wish there was an AP for DLR like there is for WDW, we would go so much more since it’s much closer.

Not gonna lie I looked at Cabins cost today when checking Feb availability at WDW and a new contract I’m currently negotiating on.

Since it’s the 70th and soon to be oogie boogie season for you I’d vote renew your pass at DLR and grab the stays you can.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I track my stays and then subtract from the total contract cost, I use the best available rack rate. I do factor in any discounts I would’ve gotten if I paid cash via Disney. So I’m working my way towards a break even. Break even would be 100% paid for (excluding dues) if I factor in dues my VDH is 41.3% paid for.

With us only going once a year, at most....I'm not sure if ours will ever be 'paid for' but that's okay.

I do write down the price of what a comparable room would have been for each trip. (But I also write down the amount we would have truly paid...which would be staying off-site.)

 

[VGCgroupie]

With us only going once a year, at most....I'm not sure if ours will ever be 'paid for' but that's okay.

I do write down the price of what a comparable room would have been for each trip. (But I also write down the amount we would have truly paid...which would be staying off-site.)

You will have a break even paid for at some point especially if you aren’t buying more than you need for your stays. Your BRV possibly has a big chunk paid for.

It is a bit different for me since I would not have stayed off site but that is a good way for you to see what the true value is for you when owning.

DH says I shouldn’t include stays we normally wouldn’t have done like our GV at Aulani in August. Wellll I don’t buy into that … we stay it gets subtracted.

Edit to add our GV at Aulani was with Aulani points so it didn’t impact our VDH %. My Aulani contracts are by far my best value thus far.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Mickey Math is my favorite. Never let banked points go to waste! I so wish there was an AP for DLR like there is for WDW, we would go so much more since it’s much closer.

Not gonna lie I looked at Cabins cost today when checking Feb availability at WDW and a new contract I’m currently negotiating on.

Since it’s the 70th and soon to be oogie boogie season for you I’d vote renew your pass at DLR and grab the stays you can.

I hope you get the contract that you're negotiating.

I do think I will go with extra VGC visits and possibly upgrade my rooms before /after stays that coincide with my upcoming cruises. My husband asked if I have too many points because we're going on 3 cruises in a 13 month period. Yep, that's the problem. But I don't want to reschedule any of those. So, I will probably go with bigger rooms in Florida when we cruise and more short stays at VGC.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I hope you get the contract that you're negotiating.

I do think I will go with extra VGC visits and possibly upgrade my rooms before /after stays that coincide with my upcoming cruises. My husband asked if I have too many points because we're going on 3 cruises in a 13 month period. Yep, that's the problem. But I don't want to reschedule any of those. So, I will probably go with bigger rooms in Florida when we cruise and more short stays at VGC.

Can’t wait to take my first cruise… I’m afraid I will love it so much and then be stuck with all these points when I really just want to cruise. . But like you said you gotta stay before and after the cruise.

 

[ClaraOswald]

You will have a break even paid for at some point especially if you aren’t buying more than you need for your stays. Your BRV possibly has a big chunk paid for.

It is a bit different for me since I would not have stayed off site but that is a good way for you to see what the true value is for you when owning.

DH says I shouldn’t include stays we normally wouldn’t have done like our GV at Aulani in August. Wellll I don’t buy into that … we stay it gets subtracted.

Edit to add our GV at Aulani was with Aulani points so it didn’t impact our VDH %. My Aulani contracts are by far my best value thus far.

Yeah, I think our BRV will easily pay for itself since we will likely stay in a 2-bedroom sometimes. At WDW, we would have stayed onsite without DVC, but in a moderate like POFQ.

At Disneyland, we would be at Park Vue or somewhere close and affordable. (Though, I'm sure those rooms will cost a LOT more in 10+ years than they do now.) I think the 'upcharge' to stay at VGC is well worth the $$$.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I track my stays and then subtract from the total contract cost, I use the best available rack rate. I do factor in any discounts I would’ve gotten if I paid cash via Disney. So I’m working my way towards a break even. Break even would be 100% paid for (excluding dues) if I factor in dues my VDH is 41.3% paid for.

That cash rate Aulani GV vs resale points delta has got to be huge….

 

[VGCgroupie]

That cash rate Aulani GV vs resale points delta has got to be huge….

Yeah it’s large. The contracts used to book it are at 69% paid. That Redweek Aulani purchase was a stressful mess but oh so worth it in the end.

 

[Girlstar30]

Can’t wait to take my first cruise… I’m afraid I will love it so much and then be stuck with all these points when I really just want to cruise. . But like you said you gotta stay before and after the cruise.

I didnt even think about being able to use these points before and after a cruise, dvc for the win!

 

[Royal Consort]

Can’t wait to take my first cruise… I’m afraid I will love it so much and then be stuck with all these points when I really just want to cruise. . But like you said you gotta stay before and after the cruise.

Our dilemma is that we want to cruise always but oh my God, the pesky surplus of points. We are not taking the Treasure this year because the points are forcing us to visit Aulani after WDW, again. The sacrifice! The sacrifice!! (I was ever so slightly annoyed)

DCL makes you want to use DVC less. Until you realise how much the cruise cost and walk off the ship with the sunk cost blues. I suppose at least it's the cost that sunk, not the ship.