VGF worth the Money ? Why I think YES!!!

[DizBub]

You can go back further than than - there was a little - not much of it - for VAKL, there was quite a bit of it for the opening of SSR (which, given how much disrespect it gets here now, is sort of funny - I don't like it, but it is - for many people - a fine resort. But it is not the DVC Flagship resort that some here were crowing about), before that there was a lot of it for BCV, and before that (when I first joined this board) VWL had the "best resort" - although it had started to lose its shine since BCV had been announced (but not yet built) I am sure before that BWV owners felt they had a better resort than OKW owners, and prior to that, of course, OKW were the original DVC members and were way cooler than us losers at the cash resorts.

As long as DVC keeps expanding, there will be a new resort with new bells and whistles that DVC needs to trumpet. The Yacht Club is still DVC-less - I wonder what they will do there to make it cooler than the Poly?

So true. Thanks for the insight.

Very interesting. :duck

Bub - Excellent and refreshing post!

Thank you Andrew.

 

[Micca]

Haven't read all the posts so far, it has probably already been mentioned that value is perceived: If you think it's worth it, then it is. Resale, price per point, etc. is irrelevant if you're pleased with your purchase.

 

[gray52]

I just wanted to drop in and let Ben know, as promised, that i have successfully booked the Grand Floridian at the 7-month window, as i predicted i would, for later this year. We'll be in a 1BR from October 28 - Nov. 3.
So... when you guys are sitting around having a drink, I'll be right next to you yakking it up with ya'll... just like old chums. I'll even buy the first round!

I just love when i call the car club and they upgrade me from a Nissan to the Mercedes.

 

[DizBub]

I just wanted to drop in and let Ben know, as promised, that i have successfully booked the Grand Floridian at the 7-month window, as i predicted i would, for later this year. We'll be in a 1BR from October 28 - Nov. 3.
So... when you guys are sitting around having a drink, I'll be right next to you yakking it up with ya'll... just like old chums. I'll even buy the first round!

I just love when i call the car club and they upgrade me from a Nissan to the Mercedes.

Congrats on the "upgrade".

 

[VGF Ben]

I just wanted to drop in and let Ben know, as promised, that i have successfully booked the Grand Floridian at the 7-month window, as i predicted i would, for later this year. We'll be in a 1BR from October 28 - Nov. 3.
So... when you guys are sitting around having a drink, I'll be right next to you yakking it up with ya'll... just like old chums. I'll even buy the first round!

I just love when i call the car club and they upgrade me from a Nissan to the Mercedes.

Of course, we were talking about a studio....so your booking has no bearing on the conversation....but congrats....heck of a lot of points for 1BR at VGF....doesn't seem worth it, but I guess if a 1BR is your thing, you're gonna be happy! Congrats!

 

[ELMC]

Of course, we were talking about a studio....so your booking has no bearing on the conversation....

Actually, that's not what you said.

What I think is funny is that you all have your lists of "facts" that aren't facts at all. The bottom line, as has been stated many times by people of both sides, is that if you want to stay at VGF...if you want to stay at the Grand, the Disney proclaimed flagship resort of WDW, you have to buy at VGF.

but congrats....heck of a lot of points for 1BR at VGF....doesn't seem worth it, but I guess if a 1BR is your thing, you're gonna be happy! Congrats!

The funny thing is, Gray's booking does have a bearing on this conversation. It's actually less expensive to buy resale at SSR and stay in 1BR LV units at VGF (assume the Standard View category is completely booked) than it is to buy at VGF and stay in VGF studios. I'm not going to bore you with the math because you seem like a pretty savvy guy and I'm sure you can figure it out on your own.

But when you run the numbers, I'm sure you'll find what I did, that for the first 6 years of a purchase, it costs less to buy 268 SSR resale points and stay in a Lake View 1 BR every year than it does to buy 125 VGF points and stay in a standard studio. And let's not ignore the fact that you're staying in a Lake View 1BR vs. a Standard View studio for less money.

The position that holds water is that by owning VGF you have a "guarantee" that you will be able to book the room you want with significantly less competition and a much higher probability of success than non owners. That in and of itself has value, value that does not show up in any equation, and it is one of the best reasons for people to buy VGF right now. If you want to consistently assure that you will stay there on a regular basis, ownership is the way to go. But for people who don't want to stay there every time, the benefits of ownership become more debatable. Owning there virtually guarantees the ability to stay there, if you take advantage of the booking window. But not owning there does not virtually guarantee that you won't be able to stay there, which is the point you're making that people have been disagreeing with.

FWIW I don't have any notions that I will change your mind on this, but I do think that my point has value for objective readers of this thread, which, thanks to the "subscribe and email notification" feature, has somehow managed to live on.

 

[VGF Ben]

Actually, that's not what you said.





The funny thing is, Gray's booking does have a bearing on this conversation. It's actually less expensive to buy resale at SSR and stay in 1BR LV units at VGF (assume the Standard View category is completely booked) than it is to buy at VGF and stay in VGF studios. I'm not going to bore you with the math because you seem like a pretty savvy guy and I'm sure you can figure it out on your own.

But when you run the numbers, I'm sure you'll find what I did, that for the first 6 years of a purchase, it costs less to buy 268 SSR resale points and stay in a Lake View 1 BR every year than it does to buy 125 VGF points and stay in a standard studio. And let's not ignore the fact that you're staying in a Lake View 1BR vs. a Standard View studio for less money.

The position that holds water is that by owning VGF you have a "guarantee" that you will be able to book the room you want with significantly less competition and a much higher probability of success than non owners. That in and of itself has value, value that does not show up in any equation, and it is one of the best reasons for people to buy VGF right now. If you want to consistently assure that you will stay there on a regular basis, ownership is the way to go. But for people who don't want to stay there every time, the benefits of ownership become more debatable. Owning there virtually guarantees the ability to stay there, if you take advantage of the booking window. But not owning there does not virtually guarantee that you won't be able to stay there, which is the point you're making that people have been disagreeing with.

FWIW I don't have any notions that I will change your mind on this, but I do think that my point has value for objective readers of this thread, which, thanks to the "subscribe and email notification" feature, has somehow managed to live on.

Actually, if you follow the conversation, rather than pulling one random quote, you'd KNOW that I was referring to a studio and not a 1BR because right now the 1BR's are fairly available because of the low comparative value. Yes, you get a door separating your bed from your pullout bed and a kitchen, but it sleeps the same number as the studio.

As for your contention that you could buy at SSR and get a 1br for the price of the studio, pretty sure that you're not taking into account that you're paying 2x the MF each year. And let's also clarify that we were talking about availability after VGF is 90% sold....we're clearly not there yet and most all of us have acknowledged more availability is there now because they have opened substantially more of the resort for points rentals than they have sold.

So...actually....no....no, it isn't relevant. Nobody at any point argued that 1Br's were not available....right now, at least....it's a poor value in my opinion, but different people have different priorities and for some, it would be essential. It's a ton of extra points for no extra sleeping spots.

 

[gray52]

Actually, if you follow the conversation, rather than pulling one random quote, you'd KNOW that I was referring to a studio and not a 1BR because right now the 1BR's are fairly available because of the low comparative value. Yes, you get a door separating your bed from your pullout bed and a kitchen, but it sleeps the same number as the studio. As for your contention that you could buy at SSR and get a 1br for the price of the studio, pretty sure that you're not taking into account that you're paying 2x the MF each year. And let's also clarify that we were talking about availability after VGF is 90% sold....we're clearly not there yet and most all of us have acknowledged more availability is there now because they have opened substantially more of the resort for points rentals than they have sold. So...actually....no....no, it isn't relevant. Nobody at any point argued that 1Br's were not available....right now, at least....it's a poor value in my opinion, but different people have different priorities and for some, it would be essential. It's a ton of extra points for no extra sleeping spots.

Thank you for the clarification. You did refer to a studio early on... But I assumed your "you're never getting in" wasn't exclusive to studios only.
So the new argument is basically that I got in now because it was a one-bedroom, but I won't in the future, so it makes the fact that I did get in irrelevant? Ok. I'll check in again in another five years or so.

And.. Since we're clarifying... Just want to make sure I have it right... paying direct prices of upwards of $23,000 to secure a studio at the VGF (in choice season) is a great value because it's Disney's "flagship resort"... But my $13,000 contract to stay in a VGF 1-bedroom is a "poor value" because it's "a ton of extra points for no extra sleeping spots?" It's all about perspective, I guess.
My maintenance fees are fixed (except for the increases each year)... It's not costing me one extra penny over what I pay each year out of my pocket to stay at your VGF... I'm not buying more points to get in so there's no monetary cost increase for me... For me, It's just adjusting a few future trips to make it work. The only thing it does is have me staying in a 1-BR instead of my preferred 2-BR for a couple years (but what the wife wants, the wife gets). But I still have my king bed that is separate from the main living area... And a full kitchen...and a full size washer and dryer. That's what I spend my extra points on... If I was looking for sleeping spots, I'd just get multiple studios (but not at the VGF, of course).

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[VGF Ben]

Thank you for the clarification. You did refer to a studio early on... But I assumed your "you're never getting in" wasn't exclusive to studios only.
So the new argument is basically that I got in now because it was a one-bedroom, but I won't in the future, so it makes the fact that I did get in irrelevant? Ok. I'll check in again in another five years or so.

And.. Since we're clarifying... Just want to make sure I have it right... paying direct prices of upwards of $23,000 to secure a studio at the VGF (in choice season) is a great value because it's Disney's "flagship resort"... But my $13,000 contract to stay in a VGF 1-bedroom is a "poor value" because it's "a ton of extra points for no extra sleeping spots?" It's all about perspective, I guess.
My maintenance fees are fixed (except for the increases each year)... It's not costing me one extra penny over what I pay each year out of my pocket to stay at your VGF... I'm not buying more points to get in so there's no monetary cost increase for me... For me, It's just adjusting a few future trips to make it work. The only thing it does is have me staying in a 1-BR instead of my preferred 2-BR for a couple years (but what the wife wants, the wife gets). But I still have my king bed that is separate from the main living area... And a full kitchen...and a full size washer and dryer. That's what I spend my extra points on... If I was looking for sleeping spots, I'd just get multiple studios (but not at the VGF, of course).

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

The majority of this thread was specifically talking about the availability of studios. The whole 1Br vs studio thing is fine as long as there is availability...but it isn't at the same price. You may have spent 13k vs 23k, and while you aren't purchasing extra points, etc. for your 1BR, your are expending more points than for a studio, and those points are incurring MF funds yearly that are in excess of what I'm paying for my studio points. 1BR costs can be more than 2x the point costs for a studio.

Let me give you an example: I'm staying at a studio at VGF in peak season just after Easter for 6 nights....at a point cost of 196. The same dates for a 1BR are 400....that's more than double the point cost to essentially get a kitchen and washer and dryer...neither of which I like to use on a vacation...but that's beside the point. Some people like that and it's a good thing...because for most that want to stay at VGF but have points elsewhere, that's going to be their only option. That's roughly $2000 in MF vs. $1000 for rooms that accommodate the same number of guests. That price advantage on purchase will start to disappear quickly at that rate...and that's if 1BR's continue to be available at 7months once it sells out, but of all the accommodations, I do expect 1BR's will be the most available at 7months.

I hope you enjoy it....if I see you there, I'll buy you a drink!

 

[disneynutz]

For some buying at your favorite resort and being able to book at 11 months is worth the premium cost.

Bill

 

[Dean]

The majority of this thread was specifically talking about the availability of studios. The whole 1Br vs studio thing is fine as long as there is availability...but it isn't at the same price. You may have spent 13k vs 23k, and while you aren't purchasing extra points, etc. for your 1BR, your are expending more points than for a studio, and those points are incurring MF funds yearly that are in excess of what I'm paying for my studio points. 1BR costs can be more than 2x the point costs for a studio.

Let me give you an example: I'm staying at a studio at VGF in peak season just after Easter for 6 nights....at a point cost of 196. The same dates for a 1BR are 400....that's more than double the point cost to essentially get a kitchen and washer and dryer...neither of which I like to use on a vacation...but that's beside the point. Some people like that and it's a good thing...because for most that want to stay at VGF but have points elsewhere, that's going to be their only option. That's roughly $2000 in MF vs. $1000 for rooms that accommodate the same number of guests. That price advantage on purchase will start to disappear quickly at that rate...and that's if 1BR's continue to be available at 7months once it sells out, but of all the accommodations, I do expect 1BR's will be the most available at 7months.

I hope you enjoy it....if I see you there, I'll buy you a drink!

I think the general vibe initially was about availability in general, most members don't stay in a studio most trips. Obviously one who wants to be there most trips should buy there, then the questions is simply whether it makes sense to do so, it likely won't for some. I think a large % of people who go into DVC thinking studio, save money, cheaper than a dlx hotel room end up moving away from studios much or all of the time, not all but many. We've seen a number of posts over the years to that effect. The discussion of buying SSR vs AKV comes to mind where it's cheaper to buy SSR and use it for AKV standard than it is to buy AKV for the value rooms. So for one who wants to stay at GF occasionally, owning elsewhere and getting in at times may be the best option and much cheaper. In that scenario a 1 BR might be the most likely to be open but it'd still be a savings compared to owning there. The same will be true for the units that go to RCI, most will likely be 1 BR units.

 

[DVCanadian]

Pretty sure that we can now delete 60% of all other DVC threads. This one covers most questions.

 

[PacoDF]

Pretty sure that we can now delete 60% of all other DVC threads. This one covers most questions.

hahahaha

 

[DougEMG]

I wonder if the majority of people purchasing VGF are doing so with the plan to stay mostly in studios because of the high point cost of the rooms and if so will I have a decent chance of getting a 1 bedroom there at the 7 month mark. I hope so or I should say my daughter is hoping so as this next trip I went the cheap route and booked a studio for the week at VGF when she was really wanting a 1b. Told her next time I'd book the 1b.

 

[VGF Ben]

I think the general vibe initially was about availability in general, most members don't stay in a studio most trips. Obviously one who wants to be there most trips should buy there, then the questions is simply whether it makes sense to do so, it likely won't for some. I think a large % of people who go into DVC thinking studio, save money, cheaper than a dlx hotel room end up moving away from studios much or all of the time, not all but many. We've seen a number of posts over the years to that effect. The discussion of buying SSR vs AKV comes to mind where it's cheaper to buy SSR and use it for AKV standard than it is to buy AKV for the value rooms. So for one who wants to stay at GF occasionally, owning elsewhere and getting in at times may be the best option and much cheaper. In that scenario a 1 BR might be the most likely to be open but it'd still be a savings compared to owning there. The same will be true for the units that go to RCI, most will likely be 1 BR units.

Actually the point was made multiple times that we were talking about studios. And though I hear you talking about people not being satisfied with studios and moving up to 1br and 2br, I don't see it by booking trends. In most resorts, studios are the first to go...if you want availability, you look at the 1br and 2br units....

But again, regarding availability, we don't know anything now with 75% of the resort available and 35% sold....wait until we're at 90% sold and let's take another look. I do think it will always be 1BR available....but it'll still cost the SSR owner more to consistently book a 1BR and it will for the VGF owner to consistently book a studio. Accommodating the same number of people.

 

[crisi]

Actually the point was made multiple times that we were talking about studios. And though I hear you talking about people not being satisfied with studios and moving up to 1br and 2br, I don't see it by booking trends. In most resorts, studios are the first to go...if you want availability, you look at the 1br and 2br units....

But again, regarding availability, we don't know anything now with 75% of the resort available and 35% sold....wait until we're at 90% sold and let's take another look. I do think it will always be 1BR available....but it'll still cost the SSR owner more to consistently book a 1BR and it will for the VGF owner to consistently book a studio. Accommodating the same number of people.

There are fewer studios in most resorts - booking speed is a combination of demand and availability. I also suspect a lot of the studios go to renters - who are bargain shopping.

Personally, I wouldn't have bought DVC for studios. I much prefer two beds in a hotel room and I much prefer maid service (I know, I'm a strange DVC member). For me, the only reason to own DVC is to stay in a unit where my kids sleep in a different room and I have a washer and dryer in the room. So if I were looking to book VGF (and I wouldn't, the resort doesn't appeal to me and at this point in our Disney lives, the Magic Kingdom is a checkbox - in our week, not somewhere we want to spend much time - now, I have a desire to stay at the Hotel del Coronado - but none to stay at the Grand Floridian) - we'd be looking at a two bedroom anyway. Putting five in a single room sounds like the sixth circle of hell to me - putting four in a studio at this point would be purgatory - we tend to travel with our kids in suite hotels.

Maybe when we retire and aren't traveling with kids, we'll stretch points for a Winter break from Minnesota and use studios - but in that case we'll go with OKW in January where its really cheap and we aren't near the parks.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I wonder if the majority of people purchasing VGF are doing so with the plan to stay mostly in studios because of the high point cost of the rooms

This speculation captures our decision to purchase. Given that there are only 17 lake view studios, we wanted the assurance of knowing that we would have booking priority.

 

[DizBub]

And though I hear you talking about people not being satisfied with studios and moving up to 1br and 2br In most resorts, studios are the first to go...if you want availability, you look at the 1br and 2br units....

This is one of the reasons this whole thread is interesting to me. My daughter and her husband bought 60 points at VGF (Feb UY so they didn't even get 2013 points because they didn't "need" them) and they stay in 1 bedrooms pretty much exclusively. Their reasoning is that if they should ever need to sell a small contract at VGF will be desirable and they could most likely recoup their initial outlay.

They have already spent those points to stay at VGC for 2 nights with a last minute booking, 1 night in a studio and 1 night in a 1 bedroom. At this rate they won't be able to stay at VGF unless they use their BLT points at 7 months.

Anyway, they are routinely successful booking BWV standard 1 bedrooms in late Sept/early Oct for the beginning of F&W.

 

[Dean]

Actually the point was made multiple times that we were talking about studios. And though I hear you talking about people not being satisfied with studios and moving up to 1br and 2br, I don't see it by booking trends. In most resorts, studios are the first to go...if you want availability, you look at the 1br and 2br units....

But again, regarding availability, we don't know anything now with 75% of the resort available and 35% sold....wait until we're at 90% sold and let's take another look. I do think it will always be 1BR available....but it'll still cost the SSR owner more to consistently book a 1BR and it will for the VGF owner to consistently book a studio. Accommodating the same number of people.

It may be what's important to you but it's only a small part of a discussion of the resort in general which I think has been most people's look a this. To me, and I think to most, this is really a discussion of the resort not of studios specifically, I don't normally stay in studios. Remember not all of those studios will be reserved as such, many will be reserved as part of a 2 BR. IF a 1 BR is available routinely at the 7 month window, the non owners will still get a better deal than buying there many times, though they will be taking the risks involved.

The reason I believe that the resort is more difficult now than it will be in a few years is simply that I believe the desire of those buying to use it coming up overpowers the math of the declared vs sold, YMMV. Non owners there will get studios at times, that is factual. How often or how difficult remains to be seen. We can only see the true difficult or true demand of any resort 2-3 years after it's sold out.

 

[VGF Ben]

It may be what's important to you but it's only a small part of a discussion of the resort in general which I think has been most people's look a this. To me, and I think to most, this is really a discussion of the resort not of studios specifically, I don't normally stay in studios. Remember not all of those studios will be reserved as such, many will be reserved as part of a 2 BR. IF a 1 BR is available routinely at the 7 month window, the non owners will still get a better deal than buying there many times, though they will be taking the risks involved.

The reason I believe that the resort is more difficult now than it will be in a few years is simply that I believe the desire of those buying to use it coming up overpowers the math of the declared vs sold, YMMV. Non owners there will get studios at times, that is factual. How often or how difficult remains to be seen. We can only see the true difficult or true demand of any resort 2-3 years after it's sold out.

You like to go round and round with your logic, Dean....I get it...you always have an answer. However, this particular poster responded to ME....and I have been clear all along that my reasoning involved the booking of a studio. So....because they were addressing ME and not you....what I was saying is more relevant than what you thought other people might be saying...right?

Honestly....just let it rest....why do you constantly have the need to jump in with more negativity....I don't get it at all. Someone addressed me in a comment and I responded. What I was talking about prior to their comment is the ONLY thing that is relevant....your circuitous logic notwithstanding....

As to the others who enjoy piling on, I don't care if you want to stay in a 2 bedroom, a house, or the white house. I bought because I wanted to stay in a studio. The studio is bigger than a standard hotel room and suits me and my family just fine....I can't see myself EVER being interested in staying in a 1BR...maybe a 2br or grand villa at some point if I come with others. But that's not the point. I bought this for my family and we want to stay in a studio.

Given that, buying at VGF made complete sense for us....still does....emphatically so. And I believe will make even MORE sense in the future.