VGC owners cheated of booking advantage

[lisah0711]

While I think that this is a terrible idea on Disney's part, if true, it seems to me that those of us who waited and waited for VGC have a tendency to overestimate VGC's popularity with the average DVC member -- remember how the points were going to sell out before it even made it to the public for sale?

 

[Sammie]

Didn't the same thing happen when BCV's opened. Not saying it is the right thing to do but I was thinking it has happened before.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Just signed docs and have not sent them off yet but this could throw a serious wrench in our december plans and I think it stinks.

The more I read on these boards and the general crappy experience I have had with the CA DVC office and I am thinking my love affair w/ DVC is wearing off a little. They are certainly within their right to do this I suppose but I still think it leads to poor customer satisfaction and makes me feel that Disney is not putting as high a value on this as they used to.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This is actually the first VGC action that could benefit me since I won't be getting 2009 VGC points but do have some other 08 points I'll be banking that I could use instead. Overall DVC just has not shown the love to the early purchasers of VGC - most esp. the founding members IMO, but that seems to be a trend they've followed for many of the new resorts.

 

[Inkmahm]

I don't own at VCG, but this stinks. I wonder what their rationale is???

Why would they NOT give owners preference? Frankly, it sounds like a bone-headed decision.

Agreed. It makes no sense at all!

 

[fishermouse]

Agreed. It makes no sense at all!

If I had to guess, and this is 100%speculation. The number of points sold compared to rooms available probably does not warrant an early reservation time. It will be interesting to hear if any new owners have trouble booking over the next couple weeks. The availability of low cost resale has to be affecting new sales. We considered GCV but for what I can buy SSR or even BWV I'll take my chances at 7 months if I want GCV.

 

[Disney_Villain]

The number of points sold compared to rooms available probably does not warrant an early reservation time.

Actually, having a small percentage of units declared to inventory is a good reason to allow home resort owners a small advance booking window. This is what we VGC owners now face without it:

• Assuming (as a guess only) that 50% of VGC units have been declared, that makes only 25 2BR units available.
• On June 7th, VGC owners try to book for December 2009 - but they are now competing with any other DVC owners for the handful of available 25 2BRs (declared at this point).

As all of us here know, December is the highest demand month for DVC resorts. This is a very good reason to allow VGC owners the same 2 week advance intitial booking window that was afforded to BLT owners (and SSR owners for THV).

 

[Disney_Villain]

. . . that seems to be a trend they've followed for many of the new resorts.

I don't see that trend. DVC did it for BLT and THV. Those are the new resorts immediately preceeding VGC.

 

[Disney_Villain]

Just signed docs and have not sent them off yet but this could throw a serious wrench in our december plans and I think it stinks.

I am sorry to hear that you have December plans for VGC. If I were in your situation, I'd be making backup plans.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

. . . As all of us here know, December is the highest demand month for DVC resorts. This is a very good reason to allow VGC owners the same 2 week advance intitial booking window that was afforded to BLT owners (and SSR owners for THV).

As this is the first DVC resort in CA, that trend for WDW may not hold true, if for no other reason that Dec is not during the cheapest season for points at GVC as it is for the WDW resorts. Still, I woudl suspect that NYE will be as popular at GCV as it is at WDW, so that may be reason enough to give a home resort advantage for opening bookings. -- Suzanne

 

[pycees312]

hmmm hoping i get get my annual Dec and March trips......

 

[Brancaneve]

Is anyone planning on going to VGC on the first night it opens(Nov. 30th)? It seems like a poor date to open because it is a Monday after Thanksgiving weekend when traditionally students go back to school and parents go back to work. Is anyone planning on taking their kids out of school to do this? We are!!!!

 

[Quilter007]

I asked today after getting every single last DP used & was told that they don't know when VGC reservations can be made. Sigh! We are planning 1st week of Jan -- hopefully that's after most peope have to be back in school. Keeping fingers crossed!

 

[M4travels]

A bit disappointed if this occurs as we are hoping for the first or second weekend of December (whichever they announce for Candlelight Processional weekend) and we'd rather have some chance but it won't be the end all if we do get bumped. We're going to be there (DLR) anyway so we will have someplace to put our heads....just would rather it be in our new home.

 

[disney4metoo]

Dean--just curious as to your rationale for this. Assuming the post above is correct, how do you juxtapose the language that an owner will get a one-month priority with the booking opening less than 7 months prior to resort opening? If anything, I would interpret that to mean that BLT/Kidani owners got cheated out of two weeks of booking priority by only have two weeks priority.

Could you please tell me what page and number of your contract you found this information. I want to find it myself and pass it onto my guide!

 

[disney4metoo]

The rules say that within 7 months all members are able to book. That owners can book at 11 months up to 7 months without other competition. The way I interpret the POS, they'd have to start taking reservations prior to 7 months out to satisfy the letter of the rules.
I do understand the competing issue of getting a home resort priority vs this issue but as I said, see no way to justify an arbitrary home resort priority within the 7 months window.

But how could BLT/Kidani owners have a few weeks prior booking period than regular members, and this not be extended to VGC?

 

[disney4metoo]

If I understand OP's post, they are not quoting DVC -- they are quoting an article on DVC News by Tim. Tim -- not DVC -- was saying it's "...unfortunate" and I agree with him.

My guide verified the news! No difference between owners/non owners making reservations on June 7th.

 

[bwvBound]

A bit disappointed if this occurs as we are hoping for the first or second weekend of December (whichever they announce for Candlelight Processional weekend) ...

I thought that was always first weekend?

 

[Dean]

But how could BLT/Kidani owners have a few weeks prior booking period than regular members, and this not be extended to VGC?

That's what I said initially. The fact it happened the way it did with BLT, SSR & AKV was the surprise to me, not this. And those weren't a full month either, not sure about SST though as I remember it being negative to otehr owners for other resorts as well.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I thought that was always first weekend?

I agree that historically the CP has been held the first full weekend of December, however, Disney almost never officially announces it until a month or 2 in advance. Rumors of the exact dates start to float on the internet in the late summer or early Fall as those involved in the choir begin their preparations. In 2007, we tried unsuccessfully to get a CP dining package in DL when they went on sale less than 2 weeks before the event!

As this is fairly typical of many things at DL, I find it hard to plan trips to DL too far in advance and this is one of the reasons that I felt owning a DVC at DL made no sense for me. Last year, we gave up on DL and went to CP at WDW, with the dining package booked in July. -- Suzanne