VDH Opening

[DonMacGregor]

I'll only have a resale contract (hopefully!) so I'll just wave at you guys from down below with all the other poors....ha!

We'll throw down Cheez-Its to you, like beads at Mardi Gras...

 

[ClaraOswald]

Steakhouse 55 is intact and is actually going to be re-opened with a new name and theme. Everything is still there, including the bar between it and Goofy's Kitchen (complete with all the bar glassware, tables, chairs, stools, etc.).

Yeah, recently I saw photos that they had some curtains up over the entrance and an "Imagineering in Progress" sign in front. I'll be curious to see what happens.

We'll throw down Cheez-Its to you, like beads at Mardi Gras...

Thanks!

 

[NVDISFamily]

I'll only have a resale contract (hopefully!) so I'll just wave at you guys from down below with all the other poors....ha!

You never know what will happen. You may get the DVC add-on bug and dvc could do a fire sale on something you want.

 

[Chili327]

You never know what will happen. You may get the DVC add-on bug and dvc could do a fire sale on something you want.

Define "Fire Sale" direct contracts.? lol

 

[BrianLo]

Maybe I'm still looking at it wrong, but I consider the DtD dining expansion going on still beneficial and practically a part of VDH. Although yes, it would have been nice for a top floor signature restaurant.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Maybe I'm still looking at it wrong, but I consider the DtD dining expansion going on still beneficial and practically a part of VDH. Although yes, it would have been nice for a top floor signature restaurant.

It's long been my opinion that the west end DTD renovation was done specifically to serve as additional food service locations for the new tower (and DLH in general). If you look at the architecture of the expansion, you'll see a strong mid century modern feel that would tie in closer with the hotel in general. I'm pretty certain the ESPN Zone building will be going next, and a new restaurant going in there as well. Portos, Din Tai Fung, and the new restaurant taking over the Catal space will be first (although Portos will be going in a new building at the esplanade end), then the highly likely closure and replacement of Tortilla Joe's (don't need two Mexican restaurants across from each other), then whatever goes in to replace ESPN.

 

[DVCsloth]

Beat me to it. Yes many local hotels and Grand Cal are closer but if people are going to talk up how awesome the walk is from BLT or even Grand Flo they shouldn’t be dogging the walk from DLH. Plus there’s so much awesome in downtown Disney along the way as opposed to… nothing for offsite DLR hotels / BLT.

For us the walk is for coming back to VGF after park close when the lines are really long at the monorail and boat. We use the monorail to go to MK, although we did walk one time to MK after the monorail was shut down as we boarded.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Define "Fire Sale" direct contracts.? lol

VGC and BLT for $88/pt in 2010 (or right around there). And I'm not talking for 1000 points. Plus you probably got a cruise or a couple of AP's or matching DP's. Base price was in the $120-$130/pt range.
That was a DVC fire sale.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Define "Fire Sale" direct contracts.? lol

If the delta between direct and resale drops to mid low twenties or lower I’d have to consider it for sure. For example when I added on Riviera in the low 160s resale was in the 140s and I got banked prior year points for “free” past the banking deadline. It wasn’t a bad deal IMO. I did buy over 500 points to get the max discount so that is a factor.

In the current market I’m doubtful we’ll break into that anytime soon. If they did a promo for CCV in the 170s I’d be tempted.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Define "Fire Sale" direct contracts.? lol

In late 2021 there were some fire sales for BWV where 200 pts were $173 pp. There was also a great deal on AUL that year that brought it down to the $130s (I think, it was $68 off whatever the direct price was then but I don't remember the direct price). Then they did $45ish off BLT in Feb 2022, which wasn't as good a deal as the others but still reasonable, it brought it on par with VGF2 which was coming out at the time.

No more sales like that since but maybe the current sluggish sales will prompt another soon

 

[Chili327]

If VGC dropped below $200 (resale), i’m all in for that, & id call that a fire sale.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

If VGC dropped below $200 (resale), i’m all in for that, & id call that a fire sale.

Agreed! I mean, I'd buy it for higher, even $225 if it was a small contract. Otherwise I would get VDH. I just don't need that many points as we'd only be going for a long weekend once a year.

 

[nlenguyen]

So on Wednesday if we call at 8am EST and then we book a room. Would you say that it is going to be refundable if I can then book with points later on?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Had my Aulani based DVC Guide call me today (on a Saturday!) to say “no news, just checking in”.

IMO, something is happening soon…

 

[Spivey378]

I’ve always been a Park Vue guy.

 

[CarolynFH]

So on Wednesday if we call at 8am EST and then we book a room. Would you say that it is going to be refundable if I can then book with points later on?

If it follows normal Disney resort room-only booking rules, you should be able to get your deposit (one night’s room cost) back if you cancel at least 5 days before checkin.

Obviously, if they don’t tell you that upfront, you’ll ask about cancellation before confirming the booking.

 

[ClaraOswald]

You never know what will happen. You may get the DVC add-on bug and dvc could do a fire sale on something you want.

The more I think about it, the less likely I think I would buy direct. It would have to be REALLY affordable because I don't think the added benefits are ones we'd really use so the upcharge from resale wouldn't make sense for us. (But stranger things have happened, so I'd never say never, of course.)

Oh...and why the heck hasn't Disney released the prices of these VDH rooms?! People can book in THREE days, right??

 

[nlenguyen]

The more I think about it, the less likely I think I would buy direct. It would have to be REALLY affordable because I don't think the added benefits are ones we'd really use so the upcharge from resale wouldn't make sense for us. (But stranger things have happened, so I'd never say never, of course.)

Oh...and why the heck hasn't Disney released the prices of these VDH rooms?! People can book in THREE days, right??

They won't tell you the prices until the time you call. That is what I am doing

 

[Chili327]

The more I think about it, the less likely I think I would buy direct. It would have to be REALLY affordable because I don't think the added benefits are ones we'd really use so the upcharge from resale wouldn't make sense for us. (But stranger things have happened, so I'd never say never, of course.)

Agree, there isnt much upside to direct, unless you are buying 150 and plan on using some of the points at 7 months as well.
Otherwise resale seems to make a lot more sense, since most will probably only use VDH points at VDH.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Agree, there isnt much upside to direct, unless you are buying 150 and olan on using sole of the points at 7 months as well.
Otherwise resale seems to make a lot more sense, since most will probably only use VDH points at VDH.

In the current market I agree that It's very hard to tell anyone to consider direct as the delta between the direct and resale is so huge. But if the delta drops to a reasonable margin I'd recommend you consider it. For us, we'll be not quite retired when the 2042 resorts convert to ??? and if DVC stays on the current path then the system will change quite a bit at that time (in addition to the other potential new resorts they build over the next 10 to 20 years). I do believe they will at some point allow us to wash our "dirty" resale points to make them clean for use at the other resorts (perhaps booking fees, or something), but that is a whole other discussion and some fun speculation.