VGC New Owner / Use Year Issue

[forevercruising]

Are any of you new VGC owners who have use years January, February, March, April, or May frustrated that we do not get 2009 VGC points, when all other use years, June - December are given 2009 VGC points to use, even though the property does not open until November?

I wouldn't be so frustrated if I just understood the reasoning, but my guide can only say "that's just the way it is." It was indicated that there might be some legal, real estate issue, but I have no idea what that might be and neither did my guide.

I would completely understand it if all use years received no VGC points until November, when the property opens, but, I do not understand why a contract that is just three months past mine gets a whole extra year of points to use. I think I might understand it if the property opened in June, but it will not open until November, so that seems strange to me.

So, here's the bottom line, which is frustrating:

The VGC DVC contract expires January 31, 2060; so, those of us with January, February, March, April, and May use years will get 50 years of use out of our VGC DVC contract; all other use years will get 51 years of use out of the VGC DVC contract. What is frustrating is that all of us, with all use years, are paying the same cost per point, for what we thought was the same contract; however, it does not seem like the same contract now that we (Jan. - May) are getting one less year of points.

I understand that we (Jan. - May) will not pay dues until we get our points in early 2010, but, I would rather get the points and pay the dues in November like the June - December use years than get shortchanged an entire year's use of the VGC DVC. It seems that all use years should receive the 2009 points to bank or use, just like the June - December use years.

So, here are my questions:

1. Any other new VGC owners have any similar feelings?

2. And, most importantly, do any of you have a more concrete explanation for this situation?

I just want to understand the justification behind the reasoning.

I'm looking forward to your feedback!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Why should you have access to the rest of DVC when you don't have access to your own unit until later in 2009? If your unit is unavialable until November, there would be no points for earlier use years until the following year. It's really no different than when some of us purchased AKV before it opened and had early use years. We have a March use year, but our points couldn't be used until after May when we added on at AKV. It makes perfect sense to me that the points can't be available if the unit isn't.

Think of it this way.... You don't have to pay maintenance fees for the extra 10 months of the year either.

 

[forevercruising]

Why should you have access to the rest of DVC when you don't have access to your own unit until later in 2009? If your unit is unavialable until November, there would be no points for earlier use years until the following year.

I completely agree! That is why I am confused as to why the June, July, August, September, and October use years get their 2009 points, but the Jan. - May do not. We are purchasing right now, just like the June - December use years, but the June - Oct. use years get the 2009 points before the units are available; we do not. That is where my frustration lies.

I agree with you, Diane!

 

[M4travels]

Well, I was a bit perturbed but only because my guide - whom we really like - was sure that the March Use Year would be 2009 points. (Surprised him too!)Yup, I was hoping for a windfall! Didn't happen. Now, I do understand that the April Use Year did get 2009 points so perturbed went to miffed....and then I got over it. That's how it is. I really don't try to figure out the whys and wherefores. I'm happy with it. I've got developer points that we're using over Valentines Day weekend and we'll have a couple more days of developer points to use before all of it fits together.

I could be more miffed that I didn't get the cruise stuff instead of the developer points....but I'm not. Sometimes it works out for you and sometimes you need to adjust your thinking of what you were expecting.

What would really get me miffed is if someone was getting the GCV points for what the OKW points went for back in 1992....but I'm still going to be at the Grand using developer points over Valentine's Day weekend. We'll be raising a glass of champers at 33 to all who are able to get a piece of the Grand. I know we're loving it.

 

[forevercruising]

Well, I was a bit perturbed but only because my guide - whom we really like - was sure that the March Use Year would be 2009 points. (Surprised him too!)Yup, I was hoping for a windfall! Didn't happen.

Now, I do understand that the April Use Year did get 2009 points so perturbed went to miffed....and then I got over it.

Wow...April, eh??? Hmmm..that makes it even worse! To think I was just ONE month away!

That's how it is. I really don't try to figure out the whys and wherefores. I'm happy with it.

Yes, as am I! I am excited to own at VGC; it was frustrating, though, to know that we'll have to "borrow" our first set of points to go "home" for the first time!

Sometimes it works out for you and sometimes you need to adjust your thinking of what you were expecting.

Good point.

Thanks!

 

[SanDeeKath]

So I am confused?! If you have an April UY, you can get points in 3 months and NOT pay MFs until Nov 2009? HUH?

I have Sept and I got my points already in my account starting Sept 2009...

Katherine

 

[JW9DVC]

Well, since this is a 50 year resort. You get 50 years worth of points.
Logical thinking below.

If you receive points in April 2009.
That starts the 50, so they would receive the last points April 2058.

If you receive points March 2010.
You would receive your last set on March 2059.

No worries then. JW

 

[forevercruising]

First, thank you for encouraging me to double check my math, which was off by one year! (I hate that! ) (I changed my math in my original post.)

Well, since this is a 50 year resort. You get 50 years worth of points.
Logical thinking below.

If you receive points in April 2009.
That starts the 50, so they would receive the last points April 2058.

If you receive points March 2010.
You would receive your last set on March 2059.

Actually, there is nowhere in my documents that state this is a a "50 year contract." The documents state:

"Ownership interests at The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel expire on January 31, 2060."

So, my understanding is that the people who are getting 2009 points are, in fact, getting 51 years at VGC, for they will still get points in 2059, just like the rest of us; whereas, those [apparently] three months of us who do not get points until 2010 only get 50 years of membership at VGC.

I cannot find anywhere in my documents that state that the people receiving 2009 points will only receive their points until 2058. If that were the case, this would all make sense to me.

Perhaps someone who is, in fact, receiving 2009 points for VGC has additional insight from his/her documents?? I could just be so confused that it doesn't make any sense anymore, but, I am trying to figure it all out!

 

[DebbieB]

So I am confused?! If you have an April UY, you can get points in 3 months and NOT pay MFs until Nov 2009? HUH?

I have Sept and I got my points already in my account starting Sept 2009...

Katherine

No, if you buy GCV now, you do not get April 2009 points, your first points will be April 2010. But if you have a June use year, your first points will be June 2009.

 

[nunzia]

I am more miffed that the contract that said founders could get up to 160 points has now been changed to allow them to get many many more and so now I'm worried I won't get points at all, and with my March use year would be just fine with not getting 2009 points so long as I get them for the next 50 years (If I can handle a trip to DLR at 102 that is)

 

[M4travels]

No, if you buy GCV now, you do not get April 2009 points, your first points will be April 2010. But if you have a June use year, your first points will be June 2009.

I must have misunderstood someone in an earlier thread then as I thought I read that they were getting their points in 2009 with an April UY. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[M4travels]

I am more miffed that the contract that said founders could get up to 160 points has now been changed to allow them to get many many more and so now I'm worried I won't get points at all, and with my March use year would be just fine with not getting 2009 points so long as I get them for the next 50 years (If I can handle a trip to DLR at 102 that is)

This, too, is interesting to me as there is nowhere in our contract that talks about being a founding member and who qualifies to be one. We did buy our contract at DLR back in August 2005 and at that time we mentioned to our guide that we would definitely be interested if they did build a DVC out here but we were more interested in learning about WDW and all there was to do in FL. Being able to purchase at GCV has been an added plus that we never planned on.

 

[tjkraz]

Just thought I'd add that this phenomenon is nothing new.

The first buyers at SSR got a December Use Year with their initial points coming in 12/03. That's also 51 years. Resort did not open until 5/04.

I think it has something to do with the timing of the resort opening. If you have a June Use Year, the resort will be open for at least 6 months of the 2009 Use Year--December '09 to May '10.

By comparison, for something like a February Use Year, it will only be open for 2 months of the '09 Use Year--Dec '09 and Jan '10.

Perhaps 6+ months of occupancy is the minimum for being able to offer points in a given Use Year.

 

[forevercruising]

Perhaps 6+ months of occupancy is the minimum for being able to offer points in a given Use Year.

Hmmm...that sort of makes sense!

Thanks for the insight!

 

[dvcaddict!]

I must have misunderstood someone in an earlier thread then as I thought I read that they were getting their points in 2009 with an April UY. Sorry for the confusion.

The UY for my two current contracts is April. I will be purchasing at VGC in the next two weeks and was wondering if I would get my points for 2009? I'm a little confused right now.

 

[forevercruising]

The UY for my two current contracts is April. I will be purchasing at VGC in the next two weeks and was wondering if I would get my points for 2009? I'm a little confused right now.

No, you will not get 2009 points at VGC for an April UY.

Only June - December UY will get 2009 points.

 

[roberte114]

My question is whether we have to pay MFs for the time that we don't have points. Our use year is February so we wont get our points til February 2010. Am I going to have to pay MFs for the 2 months prior to my February 2010 use year? If so thats kind of a bad deal since you're paying MFs for something that you aren't allowed to use.

 

[forevercruising]

My question is whether we have to pay MFs for the time that we don't have points. Our use year is February so we wont get our points til February 2010. Am I going to have to pay MFs for the 2 months prior to my February 2010 use year? If so thats kind of a bad deal since you're paying MFs for something that you aren't allowed to use.

Jan. - May UY will not pay MF until our 2010 Use Years begin, which is good; however, I'd rather get 2009 pts and pay MF for 2009 than not have 2009 pts and have to borrow pts to go home for the first time.

So, Feb VGC UY will not pay any MF until Feb. 2010.

 

[JimC]

Dues begin when the resort opens. So we will pay one or two months of 2009 dues, based on the projected opening. Dues are independent of use year.

 

[forevercruising]

Dues begin when the resort opens. So we will pay one or two months of 2009 dues, based on the projected opening. Dues are independent of use year.

Although I also thought this to be true last week, this is incorrect.

I spent much time discussing this and the use year issue with both my guide and Quality Assurance, so I'm confident that the verbiage in the contract (Purchase Agreement) is correct, as it states:

"In the year of closing, [purchaser] shall be responsible for [purchaser]'s portion of the Annual Dues, calculated by prorating the Annual Dues from either the date of this Agreement. . ., the first day of the [purchaser]'s Use Year or the date on which [purchaser]s Unit at the Condominium is available for occupancy by Club Members, whichever is later, to the end of the calendar year."

So, I have been assured by Quality Assurance (and the contract) that those of us not receiving points until 2010 will not pay any dues until our Use Years begin, in 2010.

Hope this helps!