VGF2 ... to buy or not to buy?

[Hokies37]

DVC newbie here. We're currently leaning toward direct VGF2. What would you do?

• Family of four; 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter.
• We typically go for 4-7 days in February, and two additional long weekends in either June/July, October, or early December.
• I like the idea of having a home resort in February and trying different resorts for the long weekends. I'm willing to play the DVC "game" to find availability at 7 months (or less).
• We anticipate travelling to WDW for another 20 years or so and then selling. We usually fly and rent a car.
• Direct has appeal because of Moonlight Magic and dining discounts. We're unlikely to buy APs.
• Constrictions on RIV resales are concerning.
• If we buy direct, we'd purchase 150 points. No incentives at VGF2 for 150 points.

 

[varyth]

As someone who bought VGF2 direct last month, I'm extremely biased. It was our first DVC contract and we bought exactly 150 points to get the blue card perks, like what you are thinking. Since then, I've been looking at below market resale contracts for VGF to possibly add-on in the future.

 

[PalmettoPath]

Sounds like a good plan. We added on 200 points of VGF2 to our existing VGF contract (and sold off our AK Kidani points to help cover the costs -- doubled our money on that, which was nice). We kept our BLT points. So we're now a two-home-resort household in the MK area, down from three resorts (not fans of staying at AK and never ever stay there anymore so it was a good decision for us to dump those points and put the profits towards more VGF).

 

[Her Dotness]

Are you aware that 150 points will get you no more than a week in a VGF studio, deluxe or resort, most times of the year?

You won't have more than 20-30 points left after a weeklong stay there.

Your preference for additional long weekends suggests that 250 points would be more what you'll need.

Do look at the 2023 points chart if you haven't already. https://dvcfan.com/grand-floridian-villas-2023-point-chart/

 

[KTownRaider]

• We typically go for 4-7 days in February, and two additional long weekends in either June/July, October, or early December.
• I like the idea of having a home resort in February and trying different resorts for the long weekends. I'm willing to play the DVC "game" to find availability at 7 months (or less).

I think VGF direct makes a lot of sense for multiple reasons (monorail/MK location, lowest WDW dues, good rental market, access to future resorts, & resale restriction free for Original 14 DVC resorts if you ever need to sell). To echo others though, I'd caution to make sure you understand the point charts (VGF and elsewhere). The second half of February is one of the more expensive times of year DVC point wise (only beaten by Christmas/Easter). A full late February week in a Standard VGF studio is 172 points- which goes beyond your planned 150.

Granted, you've stated you plan to 'play the DVC/SAP game' at 7 months to find availability. My only advice is figure out a realistic point scenario for a full year using your '4-7 days in Feb + 2 long weekends' as a guide. I'd probably focus on SSR's point charts as it generally has the most 7 month availability. Then I'd add 15-25% to that point total to account for calendar point demand balancing that DVC inevitably performs each year. Early December (one of the times you cited for visiting) for example, get's more expensive point-wise in 2023 vs this year. Just get a handle what amount of points you realistically need, and then plan to leave yourself some breathing room (via either resale or direct) to account for future DVC calendar point adjustments.

Good luck with however you proceed!

 

[Nabas]

As @Her Dotness wrote, look at the point chart and be sure you fully understand it.

Having a Monorail Resort would be great for the age of your children, but 150 points won't cover your plans ("4-7 days in February, and two additional long weekends in either June/July, October, or early December").

Also be aware that October and early December are extremely popular among DVC members. Those dates can be difficult to get even at 11 months. You might want a "Standard View" room but be forced to go with a more expensive "Lake View" room due to limited availability. (The least expensive room categories nearly always are booked first.)

 

[Disneybuckeye]

VGF is a lovely resort, but I am not a fan of the new studios and how they are set up. The studios in the old DVC building are lovely and have two bathroom areas.

That being said, and we have 3 children not 2, we prefer 2 bedrooms so everyone has their own bed and DH and I have our own room. I do not like being 'squishy" on vacation.

I am sure you will enjoy whatever you decide.

 

[fumanchu2488]

A few other things to consider and lessons learned from me. I have two kids (4 and 2). We have owned for around 3 years at RIV.

• If you are planning that many vacations in a calendar year, APs will definitely be worth it. Especially when you split the travel up like that the first few days of tickets are very expensive vs. if you were getting 10 day tickets.
• Point charts for new resorts are high (VGF and RIV). I would look at the most expensive week worth of points and add 10-20%. I would even consider looking at the points for a 1BR.
• That being said, for your first purchase, I would recommend 175 or more points if you are planning 10+ nights per year. We are in the 6-7 nights per year range and 150 points is barely getting us by.
• If you are buying direct, I would look at RIV (especially if you are not too worried about resale). The biggest benefit for you will be that you will get 2021 points. Meaning that you will have essentially 175 extra points that you can immediately bank. If you need 25 or 30 extra points a year, you could be in a banking mode for 5 or 6 years which could delay your add-on itis a bit.

 

[DVC Doctor]

Also look at the bedding configuration of the rooms as most studios and 1 bedrooms have one bed and pull out couch to see what works best for your current and future family plans.

 

[Her Dotness]

Also look at the bedding configuration of the rooms as most studios and 1 bedrooms have one bed and pull out couch to see what works best for your current and future family plans.

While this may apply elsewhere than VGF, the VGF deluxe studios recently added a queen murphy bed to replace the queen pullout sofa bed. They still have the pulldown twin bed below the tv.

The resort studio conversion has two queens and a convertible twin sofa bed.

Which bed types may be most satisfactory can be a significant decision, particularly when the resort studios have only one full bath, not the split bath of the deluxes.

I speak from sad experience that it's all too easy to buy too few points initially. We bought more within a year of our first stay.

 

[perchy]

DVC newbie here. We're currently leaning toward direct VGF2. What would you do?

• Family of four; 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter.
• We typically go for 4-7 days in February, and two additional long weekends in either June/July, October, or early December.
• I like the idea of having a home resort in February and trying different resorts for the long weekends. I'm willing to play the DVC "game" to find availability at 7 months (or less).
• We anticipate travelling to WDW for another 20 years or so and then selling. We usually fly and rent a car.
• Direct has appeal because of Moonlight Magic and dining discounts. We're unlikely to buy APs.
• Constrictions on RIV resales are concerning.
• If we buy direct, we'd purchase 150 points. No incentives at VGF2 for 150 points.

I'm a newbie too. I really think this is a good plan, but expect to have addonitis and add on RESALE after. 150 direct is a great way to start. I started resale and only have 50 direct right now. I want to get to 150, and hopefully I can afford to do that before they raise it to 200! It went up from 125 right before I bought. So get your blue card while you can.

 

[Minniedoc]

My hesitation about VGF2 is the lack of microwave. I make my breakfast and heat up leftovers a lot. But the rooms are gorgeous!

 

[Her Dotness]

• Point charts for new resorts are high (VGF and RIV). I would look at the most expensive week worth of points and add 10-20%. I would even consider looking at the points for a 1BR.
• That being said, for your first purchase, I would recommend 175 or more points if you are planning 10+ nights per year. We are in the 6-7 nights per year range and 150 points is barely getting us by.
• If you are buying direct, I would look at RIV (especially if you are not too worried about resale). The biggest benefit for you will be that you will get 2021 points. Meaning that you will have essentially 175 extra points that you can immediately bank.

While I certainly understand if you've set your hearts on VGF (our first love), fumanchu makes excellent points about how many direct points to buy initially and why.

I'll add that 175 pts. is likely to prove a bare minimum all too soon if you will want your 4-7 day stay at VGF with any additional short stay at all.

Bare minimums can speedily become far too few points when Disney juggles points costs as they did within two years after we bought the VGF direct minimum. We bought only enough for a week in a VGF studio annually and were playing the bank-borrow game to go every other year after only two years. And that was going only in the next-to-cheapest season.

It's much more important than you may be aware as yet to scour the points charts for time of year point costs for when you'll most likely go. That'll particularly be the case if you prefer to go during school vacations rather than pull kids out of school as point costs will be higher for the seasons when most US schools schedule breaks.

 

[Sandisw]

My hesitation about VGF2 is the lack of microwave. I make my breakfast and heat up leftovers a lot. But the rooms are gorgeous!

Its one of the drawbacks for us but we did buy anyway because we will not be booking those. We will book deluxe studios, or the larger units instead. We knew we needed home resort advantage now for those larger rooms with all the new resort studio points in the system, and relying on 7 month bookings, even for 1 bedrooms like we have for years, may not still work. Now, we can book things at 11 months for any and all potential trips!

 

[RKS03]

How hard are the 2 bedrooms currently to book? I know it may get somewhat more Difficult in the future.

I’m hoping that because the incentives were pretty nice for existing DVC many of the new purchasures will use as SAP somewhat. I know I will from time to time. Resale buyers are able to book other locations so that may provide some relief. For now I’m good with the studios but that could change when my kids get older (we booked two for an upcoming trip).

 

[wnielsen1]

My hesitation about VGF2 is the lack of microwave. I make my breakfast and heat up leftovers a lot. But the rooms are gorgeous!

You can always request one from the room. In fact, I would encourage members to do so.

 

[thank_the_phoenicians88]

You can always request one from the room. In fact, I would encourage members to do so.

Agree! Our guide said you can request a microwave and a toaster from the front desk. I wish they just made it a standard offering, but it's nice to know you can get it if you need it.

 

[Sandisw]

Agree! Our guide said you can request a microwave and a toaster from the front desk. I wish they just made it a standard offering, but it's nice to know you can get it if you need it.

Except they still need to have enough of them to give to people. But, if a lot of DVC request then maybe they will just decide to add them!

 

[RKS03]

I wish you could request a mini fridge that would cool milk and leftovers

 

[CarolynFH]

I wish you could request a mini fridge that would cool milk and leftovers

There are no prohibitions against requesting - the worst they could do would be to say No. Some guests need to request fridges to keep medications at proper temperatures.