VGF vs SSR for family of 5

[disney_mood]

Hi everyone! We are a soon to be family of 5 (I’m expecting our third this December) and we have a 7 and 4 year old. Last year was our first year at WDW and we are going again in September. Needless to say, I’m likely purchasing a DVC contract since I imagine we will be vacationing yearly here. I’m thinking in the near future when the kids are all getting older, that studios and even some 1 bedrooms will be out of the question. I’ve considered Direct VGF due to the incentives currently but the points for a 2 bedroom are high. SSR’s 2 bedroom are much more affordable on the point scale. I’ve been to neither and don’t want to waste paying for cash vacations when I could invest now in DVC. Any insight would be helpful, also I imagine we will sleep around especially while they are young and we can get away with smaller rooms.

 

[nlenguyen]

You can always use your VGF points at SSR at 7 months, 2 bedrooms are easier to get then. If you borrow or bank then can get the VGF 2 bedroom

 

[Hubalorian]

If you want to buy direct, I’d go with VGF due to the incentives. I am almost positive booking any variation of SSR rooms would be relatively easy to book at 7 months. Plus you’d have access to all resorts at 7 months if you fall in love with a new one in the future. VGF will almost maintain their low dues compared to other resorts. However SSR also has lower dues. I think this will likely come down to if you want to buy direct or resale. Either way is completely justifiable

 

[aceshigh73]

There’s something to be said for a young family to buy into blue card status, unrestricted resort, VGF, without worrying about 2054 end game.
Our situation was 100% the opposite as we are in our 50’s and soon to be empty nesters so we decided on resale BWV.
If the finances work for you. VGF probably the way.

 

[intamin]

Hi everyone! We are a soon to be family of 5 (I’m expecting our third this December) and we have a 7 and 4 year old. Last year was our first year at WDW and we are going again in September. Needless to say, I’m likely purchasing a DVC contract since I imagine we will be vacationing yearly here. I’m thinking in the near future when the kids are all getting older, that studios and even some 1 bedrooms will be out of the question. I’ve considered Direct VGF due to the incentives currently but the points for a 2 bedroom are high. SSR’s 2 bedroom are much more affordable on the point scale. I’ve been to neither and don’t want to waste paying for cash vacations when I could invest now in DVC. Any insight would be helpful, also I imagine we will sleep around especially while they are young and we can get away with smaller rooms.

As the other person said it is very easy to get pretty much any room you want at SSR year round. I would buy either direct VGF to use at SSR or you could consider resale SSR if you don't care about the newer resorts such as RIV or VDH and you don't care about perks.

Pros for direct VGF:
1. unrestricted points - can book anywhere in the future
2. desirable home resort/booking window
3. Monorail resort = better resale value, better value for renting out points
4. perks (probably of least importance) - annual passes, discounts, moonlight magic, lounges

Cons for direct VGF:
1. price, 70 dollars per point more than resale SSR is an additional 10,000 dollars on a 150 point contract
2. point chart = everybody knows VGF has the most expensive point chart of all WDW resorts

Pros for resale SSR
1. Price as above
2. Price?
3. PRICE!

Cons for resale SSR
1. unable to use at any new resorts post 2019
2. Home resort booking is nearly worthless because there is so much availability at SSR you can book there with any points at 7 months unless it's resale RIV/VDH
3. 7 month availability depending on season fluctuates, it can be difficult at times to book the entirety of your trip at another resort if you have a preference. Don't expect to book small resorts like BCV and BWV regularly for an entire week at a time unless it's in a 1BR

All that being said I would still recommend at least touring these resorts before you decide what you want to be your home resort.

 

[Sandisw]

Honestly, I’d probably go with VGF and when you need those two bedrooms, you will always have the ability to stay at SSR.

The other piece is that you may end up being able to add more points later on to swing those VGF 2 bedrooms if the resort becomes a favorite.

It’s hard to beat, with little ones, the closeness to MK. Studios are nice size and do sleep 5 which you can’t get in a studio at SSR once the youngest is 3.

The price right now really can’t be beat!

 

[disney_mood]

As the other person said it is very easy to get pretty much any room you want at SSR year round. I would buy either direct VGF to use at SSR or you could consider resale SSR if you don't care about the newer resorts such as RIV or VDH and you don't care about perks.

Pros for direct VGF:
1. unrestricted points - can book anywhere in the future
2. desirable home resort/booking window
3. Monorail resort = better resale value, better value for renting out points
4. perks (probably of least importance) - annual passes, discounts, moonlight magic, lounges

Cons for direct VGF:
1. price, 70 dollars per point more than resale SSR is an additional 10,000 dollars on a 150 point contract
2. point chart = everybody knows VGF has the most expensive point chart of all WDW resorts

Pros for resale SSR
1. Price as above
2. Price?
3. PRICE!

Cons for resale SSR
1. unable to use at any new resorts post 2019
2. Home resort booking is nearly worthless because there is so much availability at SSR you can book there with any points at 7 months unless it's resale RIV/VDH
3. 7 month availability depending on season fluctuates, it can be difficult at times to book the entirety of your trip at another resort if you have a preference. Don't expect to book small resorts like BCV and BWV regularly for an entire week at a time unless it's in a 1BR

All that being said I would still recommend at least touring these resorts before you decide what you want to be your home resort.

This is definitely the predicament! I would either do direct VGF or resale SSR. It is a huge difference in price and I can always buy into direct in the future to get the blue card. We aren’t exactly close to Fl (in Ohio) so chances are we will not be able to go to the extra moonlight events anyways. However, it’s the restrictions I think about. But…I’m not sure I would be missing out so far based on the new resorts since Cali is an expensive flight and Riviera just doesn’t seem like my cup of tea. That could change with Poly 2 potentially although I have a feeling the points will be so high that I wouldn’t even consider it unless I added on direct anyways.

 

[disney_mood]

Honestly, I’d probably go with VGF and when you need those two bedrooms, you will always have the ability to stay at SSR.

The other piece is that you may end up being able to add more points later on to swing those VGF 2 bedrooms if the resort becomes a favorite.

It’s hard to beat, with little ones, the closeness to MK. Studios are nice size and do sleep 5 which you can’t get in a studio at SSR once the youngest is 3.

The price right now really can’t be beat!

I know!! And the pressure is on because we travel to WDW in Sept so we will get that discount as well and the current promo ends the day after we get back. We are touring VGF while we are there but it’s really down to the wire which isn’t helping

 

[Sandisw]

I know!! And the pressure is on because we travel to WDW in Sept so we will get that discount as well and the current promo ends the day after we get back. We are touring VGF while we are there but it’s really down to the wire which isn’t helping

What you can do is agree to buy when you are there, and give yourself the 10 days to change your mind…as well as see what the new incentives are!

Don’t forget to go to the referral thread here so you can use one of the many wonderful owners to help you get that extra $500!

 

[disney_mood]

What you can do is agree to buy when you are there, and give yourself the 10 days to change your mind…as well as see what the new incentives are!

Don’t forget to go to the referral thread here so you can use one of the many wonderful owners to help you get that extra $500!

Yes, I definitely wanted to do that. I saw I needed 10 posts to be able to DM. Is replying on this thread considered a post? Sorry I’m clueless with the technicalities. So if we decide to back out completely we have 10 days to do so? We also just got an offer from Wells Fargo for a credit card that’s 0% interest for 15 months which makes it even more appealing…

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

The price right now really can’t be beat!

Yeah this may be the best time in a long long time to buy direct, at the flagship no less. It’s a gorgeous and fun resort!

 

[disney_mood]

Yeah this may be the best time in a long long time to buy direct, at the flagship no less. It’s a gorgeous and fun resort!

True! The walking distance to MK is very appealing especially with a soon to be infant/toddler who will require frequent naps.

 

[intamin]

This is definitely the predicament! I would either do direct VGF or resale SSR. It is a huge difference in price and I can always buy into direct in the future to get the blue card. We aren’t exactly close to Fl (in Ohio) so chances are we will not be able to go to the extra moonlight events anyways. However, it’s the restrictions I think about. But…I’m not sure I would be missing out so far based on the new resorts since Cali is an expensive flight and Riviera just doesn’t seem like my cup of tea. That could change with Poly 2 potentially although I have a feeling the points will be so high that I wouldn’t even consider it unless I added on direct anyways.

I'm currently in Ohio for work but you never know it may work out for you one of these trips regarding moonlight magic. I had actually booked the date for September before they announced them and will be there next month!

Based on what you're telling me, IMO I'd start with a resale SSR contract and save some money and then down the line add at Poly 2 or another resort you absolutely love and don't mind spending the points to stay at and get the most benefit from your booking window since it doesn't seem like you're particularly attached to VGF. Poly 2's point chart will likely be just as bad or worse than VGFs so keep that in mind. I own a combination of both resale and direct. We love Riviera so I try to save the RIV points for strictly RIV and I use my resale points for just about everywhere else.

Really though you can't go wrong with either direct VGF or resale SSR.

 

[disney_mood]

I'm currently in Ohio for work but you never know it may work out for you one of these trips regarding moonlight magic. I had actually booked the date for September before they announced the dates and it all worked out so you never know!

Based on what you're telling me, IMO I'd start with a resale SSR contract and save some money and then down the line add at Poly 2 or another resort you absolutely love and don't mind spending the points to stay at and get the most benefit from your booking window since it doesn't seem like you're particularly attached to VGF. Poly 2's point chart will likely be just as bad or worse than VGFs so keep that in mind. I own a combination of both resale and direct. We love Riviera so I try to save the RIV points for strictly RIV and I use my resale points for just about everywhere else.

Really though you can't go wrong with either direct VGF or resale SSR.

Did you buy resale prior to the restrictions?

 

[aceshigh73]

Yes, I definitely wanted to do that. I saw I needed 10 posts to be able to DM. Is replying on this thread considered a post? Sorry I’m clueless with the technicalities. So if we decide to back out completely we have 10 days to do so? We also just got an offer from Wells Fargo for a credit card that’s 0% interest for 15 months which makes it even more appealing…

Yes, law is 10-day recind. DO be honest with your guide. They understand. There are plenty of good onsite guides. One I'd like to beat with a bat, but most are really nice and they know about the 10-day recind. Take your time.
Also consider, you travel in Sept now, if your kids are in public school, will you still be able to do that? We went thru that when our kids were very young where they could miss school but after a while, for 16 years or so you are travelling when they are off which means expensive flights and hotels (pts). Or dealing with the surface of the sun in July/Aug in Orlando.

 

[Sandisw]

Another thing to consider…if you can make your yearly Sept trip happen 50 to 51 weeks apart, you can then buy the Sorcerer AP every other year, and save on tickets.

If you bought this trip, you’d be able to convert tickets for the four of you and then go next year a week or so earlier!

While perks are not guaranteed, while they do exist, especially with the AP and a family of 5, it could pay off in the long run!

 

[intamin]

Did you buy resale prior to the restrictions?

No, I wish I had otherwise I wouldn't have to keep them separated and would be okay with using the RIV points anywhere. As things stand now, I'm on track to pick up another 150 RIV and then hopefully 300 at Poly 2 and that batch of 600 will be my direct unrestricted points and the resale points will likely be used primarily at Aulani and maybe booking AKL club levels/values

 

[disney_mood]

Yes, law is 10-day recind. DO be honest with your guide. They understand. There are plenty of good onsite guides. One I'd like to beat with a bat, but most are really nice and they know about the 10-day recind. Take your time.
Also consider, you travel in Sept now, if your kids are in public school, will you still be able to do that? We went thru that when our kids were very young where we they couldnt miss school after a while, then for 16 years or so you are travelling when they are off which means expensive flights and hotels (pts). Or dealing with the surface of the sun in July/Aug in Orlando.

Well my daughter is in 2 grade so is going to miss some days (not Labor Day of course). But, originally the trip was planned for June but I was vomiting around the clock so had to push it out. Not exactly thrilled about being 6 months pregnant in Fl during September as a side note Luckily we have frontier and spirit so I don’t think flights will be too expensive. But the December points is a heavy hitter. Although, I think that’s probably when I would want to travel anyhow. So add on points would be likely in the very near future.

 

[disney_mood]

Another thing to consider…if you can make your yearly Sept trip happen 50 to 51 weeks apart, you can then buy the Sorcerer AP every other year, and save on tickets.

If you bought this trip, you’d be able to convert tickets for the four of you and then go next year a week or so earlier!

While perks are not guaranteed, while they do exist, especially with the AP and a family of 5, it could pay off in the long run!

I thought about that! I saw that on another thread

 

[aceshigh73]

Well my daughter is in 2 grade so is going to miss some days (not Labor Day of course). But, originally the trip was planned for June but I was vomiting around the clock so had to push it out. Not exactly thrilled about being 6 months pregnant in Fl during September as a side note Luckily we have frontier and spirit so I don’t think flights will be too expensive. But the December points is a heavy hitter. Although, I think that’s probably when I would want to travel anyhow. So add on points would be likely in the very near future.

First time I've ever heard someone say they were lucky to have Frontier and Spirit and their choices. We just flew Frontier last week to MCO, it might be our last.