VGF 2 points usage question

[Her Dotness]

For everyone?

Okay, in the sense that everyone fantasizes they, too, can live in a castle, find their very own happily ever after, enjoy endless wealth, etc. Sure, I agree. The GF, like Disney itself, encourages such fantasies.

The reality is that most of us buying into VGF are trying to get a smattering of GF goodies cheaper over years of returns.

If we weren't, I bet we'd be booking suites instead of multi-bedroom villas.

VGF is a nice stay, but it ain't no Royal Palm Club by a long shot--in more ways than one. And the people regularly booking the GF's full-service rooms and suites, I'm betting, aren't envying us at VGF.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yeah I get that and I 100% agree it’s for everyone. But at the same time let’s be honest it’s an intimidating resort. Walking into that lobby if someone isn’t used to that kind of hotel will feel pretty out of place.

the people who stay at gfv paying cash have money is the very real perception.

wish this wasn’t the case, wish the world was less about money and perception but well, you know

The Grand Floridian is not Victoria & Albert's.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

VGF is a nice stay, but it ain't no Royal Palm Club by a long shot--in more ways than one. And the people regularly booking the GF's full-service rooms and suites, I'm betting, aren't envying us at VGF.

It's not even Aulani. Heck, I'd say it's not even Grand Cal.

 

[nuhusky123]

The Grand Floridian is not Victoria & Albert's.

It’s not the four seasons, heck the jw down the road is nicer. But it is the grandest hotel Disney owns on property

can we agree on that?

 

[Her Dotness]

Why, this is how Disney positions gfv. Princess Diana stayed at gfv because it’s the best wdw has.

I think you misspoke here.

Diana, her sons and their entourage stayed in the Royal Palm Club's Grand Suite in 1993.

The VGF wasn't even built then, nor would she have stayed there, I'm certain.

 

[DonMacGregor]

It’s not the four seasons, heck the jw down the road is nicer. But it is the grandest hotel Disney owns on property

can we agree on that?

100%. If it wasn't sitting on 7 Seas Lagoon, I wouldn't even put it in the Top-5 hotels in Orlando (MAYBE squeak in at the bottom), and I certainly wouldn't stay there.

Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes
JW Marriott Grande Lakes
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Four Seasons Orlando
Grand Floridian

 

[Sandisw]

It’s not the four seasons, heck the jw down the road is nicer. But it is the grandest hotel Disney owns on property

can we agree on that?

I think it’s got an impressive lobby and its location can’t be beat..it’s why I stay there as my second choice resort!

The walking path to MK elevated it up a notch!!!!

 

[nuhusky123]

I think you misspoke here.

Diana, her sons and their entourage stayed in the Royal Palm Club's Grand Suite in 1993.

The VGF wasn't even built then, nor would she have stayed there, I'm certain.

They stayed at the grand Floridian. Yes I used vgf as an abbreviation to represent the ENTIRE resort

to me they are one and the same. It’s the same resort. Just like akv are all part of the akl resort. One cannot separate the villas from the resort no matter how one tries

 

[DonMacGregor]

The GF is all about luxury--lolling about doing as much nothing as you can, eating in fabulous restaurants you needn't go far to reach--or more lazily still, getting room service.

This I think is where you really lose me. The biggest news last year was the completion of the walkway from GF to MK. Why? Because there is so much traffic from GF to MK. Every morning that walkway is filled with people, as is the GF Monorail station and even the launches heading across the Lagoon. To me, Poly actually has far more people enjoying resort days than GF.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They stayed at the grand Floridian. Yes I used vgf as an abbreviation to represent the ENTIRE resort

to me they are one and the same. It’s the same resort. Just like akv are all part of the akl resort. One cannot separate the villas from the resort no matter how one tries

I have a sneaking feeling she knew that...

 

[Her Dotness]

They stayed at the grand Floridian. Yes I used vgf as an abbreviation to represent the ENTIRE resort

to me they are one and the same. It’s the same resort. Just like akv are all part of the akl resort.

Okay, in a general sense, they are one resort.

One cannot separate the villas from the resort no matter how one tries

With this, I disagree. Because I just distinguished each from the other rather precisely.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

100%. If it wasn't sitting on 7 Seas Lagoon, I wouldn't even put it in the Top-5 hotels in Orlando (MAYBE squeak in at the bottom), and I certainly wouldn't stay there.

Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes
JW Marriott Grande Lakes
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Four Seasons Orlando
Grand Floridian

I think it barely cracks the top 5 of US Disney hotels either.

Aulani
Grand Cal
Disneyland Hotel
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Grand Floridian

 

[Her Dotness]

Quoting self:
"The addition of 200 new studios MAY bring in a lot of new owners who'll compete in some way for the current rooms--or may not at all."

The GF is all about luxury--lolling about doing as much nothing as you can, eating in fabulous restaurants you needn't go far to reach--or more lazily still, getting room service.

This I think is where you really lose me. The biggest news last year was the completion of the walkway from GF to MK. Why? Because there is so much traffic from GF to MK. Every morning that walkway is filled with people, as is the GF Monorail station and even the launches heading across the Lagoon. To me, Poly actually has far more people enjoying resort days than GF.

I suspect we're discussing jet planes vs. rutabagas, because I'm not at all sure I understand how what you're saying relates to my context. (Ahhh! the joy of message boards.)

The second sentence above alludes to those who prefer a VGF stay more akin to a GF one--no kitchen, no washer-dryer, none of the drudgery of home. In short, the not-at-alls who don't want a stay with features of home but would rather have a carefree hotel-like atmosphere.

All I'm trying to get across is that I think newbie DVCers may be a whole lot more drawn to VGF2's "enhanced hotel rooms" than we current owners think. We're projecting too much, I believe, because we already feel there's too much competition for our respective villa preferences and really don't want more.

 

[sndral]

…
On a plus for VGF2, at least no one over there will get stuck with Room 1221 (the dreaded Porte Cochere view!)

However some will be stuck in studios without balconies at VGF2.

 

[DonMacGregor]

The GF is all about luxury--lolling about doing as much nothing as you can, eating in fabulous restaurants you needn't go far to reach--or more lazily still, getting room service.

I suspect we're discussing jet planes vs. rutabagas, because I'm not at all sure I understand how what you're saying relates to my context. (Ahhh! the joy of message boards.)

It's really not that difficult to understand. You said GF is about "lolling about doing as much nothing as possible" (that's a direct quote of your direct quote right there, so we're not confused). I'm saying you're wrong.

I said:

"The biggest news last year was the completion of the walkway from GF to MK. Why? Because there is so much traffic from GF to MK. Every morning that walkway is filled with people, as is the GF Monorail station and even the launches heading across the Lagoon. To me, Poly actually has far more people enjoying resort days than GF."

Again, that's a quote so we're not confused.

To be patently clear and unambiguous, the creation of a brand new walkway and its eager reception and heavy use are indicative of a significant level of traffic from GF to a theme park. An active and transient guest population, not a sedentary one. A real demand existed that was filled by the creation of more direct access to Magic Kingdom. That, and a significantly lower number of guests visibly lingering during the day at the resort relative to the numbers found during the day at the adjacent Polynesian, is antithetic to your proposition that the resort is "all about... lolling about doing as much nothing as possible". If anything, the observable conditions at both resorts suggests that more Polynesian guests enjoy resort days than Grand Floridian guests.

 

[Sandisw]

Quoting self:
"The addition of 200 new studios MAY bring in a lot of new owners who'll compete in some way for the current rooms--or may not at all."

The GF is all about luxury--lolling about doing as much nothing as you can, eating in fabulous restaurants you needn't go far to reach--or more lazily still, getting room service.



I suspect we're discussing jet planes vs. rutabagas, because I'm not at all sure I understand how what you're saying relates to my context. (Ahhh! the joy of message boards.)

The second sentence above alludes to those who prefer a VGF stay more akin to a GF one--no kitchen, no washer-dryer, none of the drudgery of home. In short, the not-at-alls who don't want a stay with features of home but would rather have a carefree hotel-like atmosphere.

All I'm trying to get across is that I think newbie DVCers may be a whole lot more drawn to VGF2's "enhanced hotel rooms" than we current owners think. We're projecting too much, I believe, because we already feel there's too much competition for our respective villa preferences and really don't want more.

No question It is a possibility but we really have no idea because there has never been this product.

I am just not convinced that being added to VGF is all of a sudden going to change the typical DVC buyer to the extent that they only want these glorified hotel rooms.

Now DVD went this route so must feel that they have some market for them. But, look at Poly..lots of studios and no issues getting in much of the year at 7 months as a non owner. Are owners heading elsewhere for other studios? Or for the larger villas?

Could this turn out the same? Only time will tell!

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Do we expect the studios at BPK to have two queen beds? If so, that I will happily take over a kitchenette any day.

 

[Sandisw]

Do we expect the studios at BPK to have two queen beds? If so, that I will happily take over a kitchenette any day.

Yes. Concept art picture a page or two back in this thread!

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Yes. Concept art picture a page or two back in this thread!

Excellent! OKW will no longer be the only studio with two proper queen beds. (I love the Murphy bed as much as anyone else does but still, two queen beds!!)
The concept art is lovely. I hope they deliver. Will be at Grand Floridian (1) for March break, will try to see if they have any rooms open for a DVC tour at BPK.

 

[RoseGold]

This “crown jewel” or snootiness or whatever is just matching what has to be the new DVC sales strategy. This is EXPENSIVE.

The sales pitch, even for RIV, is all pure luxury and deluxe and blah blah blah. You don’t sell an extra mortgage payment trying to sell the idea of bringing a sandwich, like the old DVC was about. I mean, there’s not even the AP math we used to do every day here, justifying five figures in commitment for a few hundred bucks thrown in on APs that don’t even exist anymore. Did I mention deluxe? Heart of the action? Luxury?