VGF and Home Resort advantage isn't enough!

[SpaceMountain77]

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

True, however, informed DVC members and potential buyers should know that not all decisions at TWDC are driven by DVC.

I would certainly hope that no potential buyer reads this thread and purchases points at VGF on the prospect of the conversion of a lodge or two in the future.

Lodge conversion at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is certainly possible, but it would require the financial justification of several arms of TWDC.

 

[disneynutz]

True, however, informed DVC members and potential buyers should know that not all decisions at TWDC are driven by DVC.

I would certainly hope that no potential buyer reads this thread and purchases points at VGF on the prospect of the conversion of a lodge or two in the future.

Lodge conversion at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is certainly possible, but it would require the financial justification of several arms of TWDC.

True, GF is Disney's Flagship resort that I expect doesn't need DVC to convert rooms. The reason that the VGF is the size that it is and the design of the rooms what they are is because Disney would only allow a DVC there if it met GF standards.

Bill

 

[DougEMG]

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

Thoughts on this?

I'd certainly like it if they did this.

 

[DizBub]

True, however, informed DVC members and potential buyers should know that not all decisions at TWDC are driven by DVC.

I would certainly hope that no potential buyer reads this thread and purchases points at VGF on the prospect of the conversion of a lodge or two in the future.

Lodge conversion at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is certainly possible, but it would require the financial justification of several arms of TWDC.

It seems to me that TWDC is driven by the all-mighty dollar. Period.

The conversion of longhouses at the Poly seems like a thinly veiled cash grab. It is not a rumor that they are converting hotel rooms at WL to DVC. From what I understand a lot of the deluxe hotel inventory sits empty most of the year. DVC fills their rooms year round.

DVC keeps raising their prices and they need something to sell beyond the Poly.

It is happening. I didn't say it was a great long-term business plan.

 

[Minniesgal]

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.

What about the 1 bedrooms any visibility on availability for those?

 

[DebbieB]

It seems to me that TWDC is driven by the all-mighty dollar. Period.

The conversion of longhouses at the Poly seems like a thinly veiled cash grab. It is not a rumor that they are converting hotel rooms at WL to DVC. From what I understand a lot of the deluxe hotel inventory sits empty most of the year. DVC fills their rooms year round.

DVC keeps raising their prices and they need something to sell beyond the Poly.

It is happening. I didn't say it was a great long-term business plan.

I don't get the term "money/cash grab". They are in business to make money. If they make a change to make more money, what's wrong with that? If the Poly rooms were filling up at $483 a night (the value season rack rate for a standard room), they wouldn't convert them. Most likely there were not filling up at discounted prices, let alone full price. It's not like they are converting the entire resort to DVC.

To me, a "money grab" would be charging $10 for a bottle of water on a 90 degree day.

 

[DizBub]

I don't get the term "money/cash grab". They are in business to make money. If they make a change to make more money, what's wrong with that? If the Poly rooms were filling up at $483 a night (the value season rack rate for a standard room), they wouldn't convert them. Most likely there were not filling up at discounted prices, let alone full price. It's not like they are converting the entire resort to DVC.

To me, a "money grab" would be charging $10 for a bottle of water on a 90 degree day.

You made my point exactly. They are making money. Nothing wrong with that.

I guess what I have issue with is this is a departure for DVC, no new build (except for the bungalows) and all studios. We will see how this new formula works. It just seems like they took the cheap way out. If you saw the original plans you might think so too.

Oh, they will make boat-loads of money and Poly will be a huge success with their built-in clientele securing their pre-paid hotel rooms well into the future. It's a brilliant marketing strategy.

 

[DebbieB]

Back to the original topic of the 11 month advantage - I booked a BWV boardwalk view studio at 8:00am this morning for 12/4-12/11. 12/4 is now soldout, standard view studios also. 1 bedrooms are available in all views. 2 bedrooms are soldout for boardwalk and standard view (BWV is all lockoffs, so makes sense).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

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.

The lottery had been nixed long before we bought but my impression was that it was discontinued mostly because it wasn't needed. That DVC had thought it was required - or maybe it was when it was only 1 or 2 resorts - but that the demand wasn't as great as they had believed it would be. And since then there really hasn't been a period that owners haven't been able to get something right at 11 months. VGF may be that one that may warrant bringing it back for certain times.

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.

I think that the additional longhouses they added to the DVC conversion when they increased the scope of the project had just been renovated so DVC must provide enough income in Disneys eyes to warrant ripping out brand new renovations.

I don't get the term "money/cash grab". They are in business to make money. If they make a change to make more money, what's wrong with that? If the Poly rooms were filling up at $483 a night (the value season rack rate for a standard room), they wouldn't convert them. Most likely there were not filling up at discounted prices, let alone full price. It's not like they are converting the entire resort to DVC.

To me, a "money grab" would be charging $10 for a bottle of water on a 90 degree day.

I've never heard that the Poly wasn't popular nor was running at low occupancy. I thought it was the highest occupancy on the monorail followed by GF and then CR (prior to BLT). Fairly often I look at CRO because of conventions etc. and Poly consistently had little or nothing open yet they are taking what - 1/4 to 1/3 of the rooms and making them timeshare? Disney wants DVC owners to be paying for more of their hotel resort costs IMO. Since they started basing the resort maintenance allocations on occupancy and DVC rooms have greater occupancy than most deluxe hotel rooms they get to allocate more costs to DVC, still rent out DVC rooms when trades are done and bump up the price of hotel rooms by lowering their inventory. This will give them a greater margin on their hotel rooms while still keeping the same or increasing occupancy at WDW. I'm just very skeptical that the new conversions are due to low occupancy and if that is correct then GF would be on the table just like anything else.

 

[DizBub]

I've never heard that the Poly wasn't popular nor was running at low occupancy. I thought it was the highest occupancy on the monorail followed by GF and then CR (prior to BLT). Fairly often I look at CRO because of conventions etc. and Poly consistently had little or nothing open yet they are taking what - 1/4 to 1/3 of the rooms and making them timeshare? Disney wants DVC owners to be paying for more of their hotel resort costs IMO. Since they started basing the resort maintenance allocations on occupancy and DVC rooms have greater occupancy than most deluxe hotel rooms they get to allocate more costs to DVC, still rent out DVC rooms when trades are done and bump up the price of hotel rooms by lowering their inventory. This will give them a greater margin on their hotel rooms while still keeping the same or increasing occupancy at WDW. I'm just very skeptical that the new conversions are due to low occupancy and if that is correct then GF would be on the table just like anything else.

I have heard of many Poly devotees waiting anxiously to buy into DVC because the prices have gone up so high that they can't justify the costs into the future. They want to pre pay for their hotel room. But the reported $180 pp cost is giving them pause. How many points will it cost them for their stay? We will know soon.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have heard of many Poly devotees waiting anxiously to buy into DVC because the prices have gone up so high that they can't justify the costs into the future. They want to pre pay for their hotel room. But the reported $180 pp cost is giving them pause. How many points will it cost them for their stay? We will know soon.

It is a fairly stunning amount especially with the point creep that has been happening with the newest resorts.

 

[easyd]

I successfully finished "walking" my reservation this morning. Called Memeber Services right at 9, and moved to the actual dates I wanted. Hold time was less then 5 minutes. The rep knew exactly what I was doing. Clearly, this isn't an uncommon practice.

Going forward, I will be looking at other pieces of the Adventure Season for stays at VGF. And, when funds allow, I'll add on another 150 points so I can score a 1BR.

Once the Poly studios are online, if I can get a week there in early December, at 7 months, I will consider that an excellent use of my VGF points.

D

 

[disneynutz]

I have heard of many Poly devotees waiting anxiously to buy into DVC because the prices have gone up so high that they can't justify the costs into the future. They want to pre pay for their hotel room. But the reported $180 pp cost is giving them pause. How many points will it cost them for their stay? We will know soon.

And they will probably only be able to book a studio.

Anyone else see the Disney plan here. Raise the prices and point requirements that will cause people to stay in studios. Build only studios because that is the only place people can afford to stay. If they want adjoining rooms charge them for 2 studios which costs them twice as much.

My guess is that we may see additional resale restrictions based on member feed back.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

And they will probably only be able to book a studio.

Anyone else see the Disney plan here. Raise the prices and point requirements that will cause people to stay in studios. Build only studios because that is the only place people can afford to stay. If they want adjoining rooms charge them for 2 studios which costs them twice as much.

My guess is that we may see additional resale restrictions based on member feed back.

Bill

Bingo!

Poly fans (who aren't already DVC) won't care, they are used to their regular hotel rooms. They don't really know what DVC is all about.

What I'm waiting for is when the new Poly DVC Members realize what they can get for their points at the other locations, longer stays, larger rooms with kitchens and in-room laundry. Of course it won't be the Poly so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[the who #3]

i did not opt for the fixed week.... now i wonder if i made a mistake.

i have my first stay there coming up oct. 2015 and expect to love it just as i love my other home resorts. actually love all the dvc resorts that i have stayed in.

 

[granmanh603]

I have posted the same sentiment on 2 different threads. Unable to get my studio for October at 8:00 am 11 months out. Seems like your only bet is to walk if you can manage to get a day prior to the trip.

That is exactly what happened to me this year booking BWV in OCT This has NEVER happened to me before. EVER in 15yrs. so after calling and doing wait list for the week I still had to call every day to add on since I was booking 18 days...finally on about the 4th call a nice CM informed me about all the people WALKING there reservation for Thanksgiving... I was booking a MONTH before Thanksgiving for the stay I wanted I think my start day is Oct25 or so. I am not going to walk any reservation... This might be my last visit ,

 

[automaticsoap]

That is exactly what happened to me this year booking BWV in OCT This has NEVER happened to me before. EVER in 15yrs. so after calling and doing wait list for the week I still had to call every day to add on since I was booking 18 days...finally on about the 4th call a nice CM informed me about all the people WALKING there reservation for Thanksgiving... I was booking a MONTH before Thanksgiving for the stay I wanted I think my start day is Oct25 or so. I am not going to walk any reservation... This might be my last visit ,

I find it hard to believe that many people are walking their Thanksgiving reservations a month beforehand. I booked a standard studio at VGF for the week before Thanksgiving right at 8am and had no problems. Afterwards I kept looking at availability for that week out of curiosity and it wasn't booked up immediately.

 

[granmanh603]

I find it hard to believe that many people are walking their Thanksgiving reservations a month beforehand. I booked a standard studio at VGF for the week before Thanksgiving right at 8am and had no problems. Afterwards I kept looking at availability for that week out of curiosity and it wasn't booked up immediately.

All I am telling you is that I went to book like I do every year at 11 month day of window at 8 AM online and the first days were not available so I had to wait list the whole week. Then I have to call everyday to add on days, and after a few days I was talking with the CM and told her about the issue because I had to waitlist the Standard room and book the Garden/Pool view and was discussing how if it did come in I would have to be moving and that is when she told me about the walking...she was doing it for people, they told her what they were doing. All I know is that is what she told me. And the room did become available as soon as someone released the day . It was the first day of stay I think.

 

[easyd]

I had to walk my reservation for December... I didn't like that I had to. I would prefer there was a system in place to make it not necessary to walk reservations... Well, I guess there is, at VGF anyways... Buy a lot of points and book a less popular/larger room!

 

[granmanh603]

I had to walk my reservation for December... I didn't like that I had to. I would prefer there was a system in place to make it not necessary to walk reservations... Well, I guess there is, at VGF anyways... Buy a lot of points and book a less popular/larger room!

Look I am not calling you to task about walking, I am just telling you my experience and how I felt after 15yrs of no problem, calling on the 1st day of the 11month window and not being able to book my first week. I do not know how to solve this, but maybe the people who want Thanksgiving are over reacting and screwing up my window. BWV in the fall is tough so therefore I know I have to book. Will I walk mine no but you do what you want. It worked out in the end and I think if everyone just stuck to the original booking it would be fine too but there seems to always be someone who figures out a way to get one step ahead , it's human nature I guess. The Me syndrome we have today.
There is no criticism intended just stating my experience so others who run up against this same issue know what happened when they could not book their vacation too and with luck theres will turn out too.