VGF and Home Resort advantage isn't enough!

[SpaceMountain77]

Lake and standard view studios, for the nights of Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th, were booked by 8:04am this morning.

VGF December booking is worse than buying concert tickets from Ticketmaster.

 

[chalee94]

I recently talked a friend out of buying VGF points because I do not think it is realistic to assume that VGF points can easily be used every year for week-long studio stays during the beginning of December. Although possible, I believe it will be challenging.

are all the fixed weeks gone for early dec?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

That is a question for wdrl.

The overwhelming majority of fixed-week sales have been for the last 6 weeks of the year. However, I do not know if there are any particular weeks/categories that are sold out.

 

[CarolMN]

are all the fixed weeks gone for early dec?

Don't think we know for sure. Maybe someone will call and ask.

Shortly after VFG went on sale, there were reports that they sold all of the studio fixed weeks they intended to sell for the month of December. IIRC, at least one person reported being turned down. I don't know if that changed when they declared more inventory into the condominium. I know there is a cap of 35%, but don't know if that applies to individual weeks or just the overall total points allocated to fixed weeks,

That said, more fixed December week sales for studios would (obviously) further restrict the number available for the points only members. If demand continues at the current rate, I think a reallocation will occur to make the 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom villas less expensive and the studios more expensive for December stays.

Wonder what happens to a fixed week owner if a reallocation occurs that affects his/her week? I suspect nothing - their purchase just looks like a better deal.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Wonder what happens to a fixed week owner if a reallocation occurs that affects his/her week? I suspect nothing - their purchase just looks like a better deal.

Reallocation would not affect fixed-week owners. This is something that I had asked about before purchasing and is covered in a subsection of the contract. We purchased our weeks with a 10% premium. Calendar adjustments and reallocations are covered with the additional point purchase.

The purchase would certainly seem like a better deal if the fixed-week point total was closer to the actual point total.

 

[Brian Noble]

VGF is the mistake DVD is correcting in spades with the Poly -- 360 studios and only a little else.

This is smart on DVD's part, of course, but disappointing personally. I did not get into timesharing to stay in a glorified hotel room, so the Poly studios have zero appeal for me. It is clear that most of DVC's market disagrees with me, though.

 

[djohn06]

What some of us predicted early is now happening. VGF has only 47 studios all part of 2BR lock-offs. It had a very high opening price per point (cleverly presented as a bargain after raising mostly sold out BLT's price by 40% over about a year) and has very high points per night requirements with the result that most who have bought there have bought just enough points to get a studio whenever they go. As the resort approaches sell-out, the demand for studios has become intense particularly when seeking a room during the last quarter of the year and even more so for early December time, the highest DVC demand time of the year. I have been watching VGF studio reservations for a while and during slow times it is becoming very difficult to get them at 7 months out and during high demand times, they are diappearing quickly once the 7 month window opens. In fact, "walking" a reservation when you want time in the last quarter of the year is fast becoming advisable. Of course if you want a dedicated 2BR or a GV, with their extremely high points per night, you can get one even at 7 months out during many high demand times. VGF owners for the most part do not have the points for those. VGF is the mistake DVD is correcting in spades with the Poly -- 360 studios and only a little else.

Agreed this is a huge problem for VGF owners. Everyone bought studios. Sounds like the DVC studio concept is in full swing with the Poly on sale soon.

It's really a shame that you cannot even book a studio at 11 months there during peak seasons. Further, the studio concept goes against what time sharing is anyways. It's a shame VGF was flubbed up due to greed.

When timeshares first came out you bought a week and a bedroom size as that was your guaranteed week so things like this wouldn't happen. I can see tons of 1 bedrooms on RCI from VGF in the future.

 

[djohn06]

How about the 1BR units -- are they available? (One can't always plan on Studio units!)

Have u seen the 1 bedroom point cost for VGF? If you truly only need a studio , you can get 4 days at BWV or AKV studio studio for the price of 1 day at VGF in a 1 bedroom. I stayed in a VGF 2 bedroom last year. I had some free points from a resale contract I purchased. It was very nice, but at 412 points for the week, I'll gladly stay at AK for half as many, or BLT for 317. Plus the Epcot resorts and BLT are better in terms of convenience.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We do not have a lot of VGF points, and we bought only for a studio in December. Last year when the day came for me to book, I was blocked out. Immediately went on a waitlist for the 3 nights which came through as the days went by. Apparently some were walking.

Just saying that some of the unavailability is artificial. I am not going to try to book next year, will stay at VWL instead. We have 3 "wanna stays" in December, VWL, BWV and VGF.

Bobbi

 

[Tigger1]

I would suspect that once Poly starts to take reservations that someone will cancel VGF to reserve at Poly. Get on the waitlist and watch online for an opening.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

This morning, I booked a studio lake from 12/3-12/6, which added a few days to the beginning of my fixed week. Although I would have preferred to add on to the end of the trip, I booked what I could and am grateful for the time I have secured.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

There are several problems at VGF IMO:

1) Price/pt and point requirements are very high so more people lean towards studios.
2) The studios sleep 5 and have a bathroom with 2 showers. The 1BR's sleep 5 and only have 1 shower. Requiring double the already high points the kitchen and w/d don't seem to be as important when you can have the same occupancy and more bathroom facilities for lower points in a studio.
3) DVC added a fixed week component which automatically takes room inventory out of the equation for the weeks they sold them. I believe WDRL posted that the majority of fixed weeks were sold in December which was already the busiest DVC time so that means even less studios for all other owners. It needed to have more interest evenly spread across the year IMO to not have such a dramatic effect.
4) Practically everyone who added on small amounts of points posted they looked forward to staying in a studio at VGF for a few nights in Dec.

..... If demand continues at the current rate, I think a reallocation will occur to make the 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom villas less expensive and the studios more expensive for December stays.....

Or don't forget that DVC has an option to deal with high demand times that wouldn't mean any adjustments to points if it's just certain times that are really problematic. Lottery.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

There are several problems at VGF IMO:

1) Price/pt and point requirements are very high so more people lean towards studios.
2) The studios sleep 5 and have a bathroom with 2 showers. The 1BR's sleep 5 and only have 1 shower. Requiring double the already high points the kitchen and w/d don't seem to be as important when you can have the same occupancy and more bathroom facilities for lower points in a studio.
3) DVC added a fixed week component which automatically takes room inventory out of the equation for the weeks they sold them. I believe WDRL posted that the majority of fixed weeks were sold in December which was already the busiest DVC time so that means even less studios for all other owners. It needed to have more interest evenly spread across the year IMO to not have such a dramatic effect.
4) Practically everyone who added on small amounts of points posted they looked forward to staying in a studio at VGF for a few nights in Dec.

This is a nice outline of the challenge with VGF booking.

I would be interested in hearing from a VGF owner that purchased with the intent of staying in a studio, for a full 8-days, during the first or second week of December. Instead of having an advantage, I wonder how many people are scrambling to secure a booking elsewhere at the 7-month mark.

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)........Or don't forget that DVC has an option to deal with high demand times that wouldn't mean any adjustments to points if it's just certain times that are really problematic. Lottery.

Possible, but not probable, IMO. They discontinued the lottery for Christmas/New Year's week after only a few years. I'm sure it was a huge pain to administer.

It would be a nightmare just to inform everyone and then administer the selection and reservations and cancellations and then answer all the complaints afterwards. Just don't think they'd choose to go that route.

 

[JasonDVC]

My guess is that the demand for studios will lead to 1-2 GF buildings being converted to VGF studios.

Thoughts on this?

 

[bobbiwoz]

My guess is that the demand for studios will lead to 1-2 GF buildings being converted to VGF studios.

Thoughts on this?

Works for me!

 

[CarolMN]

My guess is that the demand for studios will lead to 1-2 GF buildings being converted to VGF studios.

Thoughts on this?

I think it would depend on the current occupancy rate for the GF - do they regularly run with a lot of room empty? If not, I doubt Disney Resorts will want to give up the rooms. I suspect the cash rooms are more profitable for Disney than are the DVC rooms. AFAIK, they've only converted at resorts that have relatively low occupancy rates(AKL & WL), or needed a LOT of renovation like the POLY.

 

[DizBub]

My guess is that the demand for studios will lead to 1-2 GF buildings being converted to VGF studios.

Thoughts on this?

This makes a whole lot of sense. We will see how the Poly does with mostly studios and if all goes well this could be the solution to the "VGF dilemma".

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Honestly, I am always amazed at the number of people on this board who focus solely on the DVC division of The Walt Disney Company.

When conventions are held at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, from which resort inventory do you think convention rooms are blocked? Do you have any idea of the cost of a Fairy Tale Wedding at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?

Unless Disney Meetings and Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons take a significant financial plunge, existing lodges will not be converted simply to ease a strong studio demand at VGF.

Yes, DVC wants your business at VGF. However, there are many other individuals writing much bigger checks for other divisions of TWDC.

Ever wonder why Disney's Yacht Club does not have a DVC presence? Contact an executive in Disney Meetings. I can assure you that the gross margins for conventions justify it.

 

[DizBub]

Honestly, I am always amazed at the number of people on this board who focus solely on the DVC division of The Walt Disney Company.

The last time I checked this was the Disney Vacation Club board.