Why does Grand Floridian usually have decent availability?

[Patmcpsu]

I just finished a 1BR villa stay at VGF, and really enjoyed it. As I was leaving, I had three consecutive thoughts go through my head:

1. I should buy points here.
2. No, I can usually book it with sleep around points.
3. Why is that possible?

VGF has among the most expensive resale points in WDW, but seemingly its owners either choose to use them elsewhere, or don't use them at all. What's going on here?

 

[DarthDadMan]

Depends on when you travel, I imagine. Assuming your stay was this month? Aug/Sept is low season for DVC, combined with 1 bedrooms typically being in least demand.

 

[airjay75]

I think it depends a lot on what room category you want. The little research I've done suggests that studios and 2 BRs do not have widespread availability at the 7 month mark at VGF, but 1 BRs (like much of WDW DVC properties) tend to have pretty decent amount of availability at 7 months.

A quick look at www.dvcfieldguide.com availability charts seems to support that.

 

[muppets3d]

It depends on the room you want. Some room types absolutely require owning points there to be able to get them consistently. But it's true that you can pretty much always find something available at Grand at the 7 month mark - but then again, that's true for pretty much every DVC resort. So maybe we should all just buy Saratoga points?

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Anecdotally, I feel like there has been more availability at VGF since PIT opened.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

it's true that you can pretty much always find something available at Grand at the 7 month mark - but then again, that's true for pretty much every DVC resort. So maybe we should all just buy Saratoga points?

Or OKWe for SAP exclusively... also a good idea - especially if you can buy them right/cheap.

I'm at VGF two weeks from now for labor day in a 2 bdrm. Looking forward to it, and will book a grand villa next year, hopefully at 7 months - that one is very popular! Very fancy and very popular.

 

[Brian Noble]

Why is that possible?

I think it has more to do with this...

a 1BR villa

....than this.

at VGF

As noted, "It's hotter than the surface of the sun at WDW in August" is also a potential reason.

I just looked at my week in late winter/early spring. The only things available for the full week are 1BRs and up. But there are plenty of choices among them---Interestingly, almost every resort except GFV.

 

[byurick]

Many of us are point misers so the cost to go from studio to 1br is too much.

 

[muppets3d]

Many of us are point misers so the cost to go from studio to 1br is too much.

Which is understandable but really a shame at Grand Floridian, the 1 bedroom and larger villas are amazing.

 

[DanCali]

Looking at early-March (6.5-7 months away, high demand season) there's still decent availability. Yes, it's for a "preferred view" which I consider to be a small tax for booking with outside points (and forced luxury). And yes, you have to act quickly to snag a room right at the 7 month mark.

You can make a very similar argument for Riviera, and yet you have many owners who want to own there just to reliably book the cheaper parking lot views. I also have no problem with paying "a few" extra points per night to get into a place where I don't own, and get a better view in the process.

I guess if you go there every year, those extra "few" points per night (and it can be a 20% difference for the better views) do add up, but resorts with expensive points charts like VGF and Riviera are also probably not the first choice for many actual owners who switch out at 7 months. Case in point - I just switched out VGF booking for Spring break to CFW, which is where we actually wanted to stay during that time - it's not cheaper but I do get a 1BR for about the same cost, and I prefer the location since our annual passes will be expired then, so no parks.

 

[Patmcpsu]

Which is understandable but really a shame at Grand Floridian, the 1 bedroom and larger villas are amazing.

I was blown away by the 1BR and would make that my default room there. But as the consensus seems to be that room can be booked with SAP, which will be my strategy going forward.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

VGF has some of the most expensive points charts, so that may make it less popular for people to book there for both owners and non-owners. But it also has one of the lowest annual dues, which makes it a great place to own for SAP. Buying VGF is a little more expensive, but it tends to hold its value on the resale market better. So how many people own VGF to use as SAP?

 

[muppets3d]

I was blown away by the 1BR and would make that my default room there. But as the consensus seems to be that room can be booked with SAP, which will be my strategy going forward.

Yes 1 bedroom availability is robust at all resorts, by and large, at 7 months.

 

[airjay75]

I think VGF would be great SAP if Disney stopped ROFR'ing it and the average price per point came down just a little bit. I feel like the ROFR activity keeps the price just a little bit too inflated. But, that is offset, in part by the lower dues, at least for now.

 

[mkatsy]

VGF has some of the most expensive points charts, so that may make it less popular for people to book there for both owners and non-owners. But it also has one of the lowest annual dues, which makes it a great place to own for SAP. Buying VGF is a little more expensive, but it tends to hold its value on the resale market better. So how many people own VGF to use as SAP?

I book 1 bedrooms and use some of my direct VGF (firesale) points at Riviera, and then use one of my other resale points at VGF. … BUT … two weeks ago we were at BLT and got pixie dusted to a two bedroom now we are ruined. It’s was glorious, and now I’m on the hunt for SAP.

 

[Mouseforward]

You can make a very similar argument for Riviera, and yet you have many owners who want to own there just to reliably book the cheaper parking lot views. I also have no problem with paying "a few" extra points per night to get into a place where I don't own, and get a better view in the process.

I do not consider the PV to be a "better view " it is at best a crapshoot possibly better on higher floors and possibly worse on lower floors. Parking lots are a lot quieter than pools , I feel the same about BW

The 13 to 25% difference in points is significant for the dubious view "upgrade"