Will Disney Rethink the Fixed Week Option?

[ELMC]

It's 31 days before the week starts.

The week resets generally every 6 years. For Xmas that means you'd lose one year with the week ending on 23 or 24 Dec and another with Xmas day being checkout about every 6. I don't think they can actually sell more points total for the year. While it's possible one could cancel and rebook at the lower points, there is risk in doing so. I'm sure some will try it and some will be successful picking up the extra points in the process. IMO IF VGF make sense in the points totals close to those of the fixed weeks and one has a specific time they'd like to hit part of the time, there's really no reason not to do so. DVC is actually being somewhat generous in some situations compared to other timeshares who price them based on the market and not a points chart.

So these extra points that one has to purchase for a fixed week, is that based on a six year average for the week or are they consistently paying extra points to stay there. If that's the case, how are these points accounted for during the sales period and what happens to them if they are not technically used because the owner decides to elect the use of the fixed week?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You got me, I was trying to decrease the competition.

What won us over was a couple of things, one being guaranteed the lake view with a fixed week. It's not a great view but it has more water than VWL. We spend a lot of time in our room and at the resort and the standard views we just wouldn't be happy with. We got a peak at the model earlier this month, and we spent time at the resort checking out the sight lines. As soon as we found out that there could only be a maximum of 6 fixed week contracts for our size room and week, and how the program actually worked, that change the urgency. I also think the fixed weeks will catch on for some room sizes and views. December has turned out the be the popular fixed week period.

I told DW, if we hate it, we sell.

Bill

I hope it does work out and you don't feel the need to sell.
You don't know how many times I read your post though to see if I was misunderstanding!

 

[disneynutz]

I hope it does work out and you don't feel the need to sell.
You don't know how many times I read your post though to see if I was misunderstanding!

It's DW's fault.

I guess the power of Disney can convert anyone.

The fixed week option and using it to guarantee a category/view really changes things.

Just think if you could get a fixed week BWV Boardwalk View, BLT Theme Park View, SSR Downtown Disney View guaranteed. I can see why someone would want a fixed week guaranteed Ocean View at Aulani.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

So these extra points that one has to purchase for a fixed week, is that based on a six year average for the week or are they consistently paying extra points to stay there. If that's the case, how are these points accounted for during the sales period and what happens to them if they are not technically used because the owner decides to elect the use of the fixed week?

That's the most interesting question, IMO.

I assume they become part of breakage & thus the the rental proceeds would go towards reducing dues for VGF owners.

But I haven't read anything official that would support that assumption & all know what happens when one assumes.........

 

[tjkraz]

I can certainly see the appeal of the Fixed Week but it wouldn't interest me. The list of dates / views where things fill-up immediately at 11 months is extremely short. Overall DVC's seasonal calendar does a pretty good job of balancing demand.

The only accommodation for which I would personally consider the Guaranteed Week option at VGF would be a Studio for early December.

Other than that, I don't foresee owners being turned-away by 8:05am, 11 months out. I wouldn't pay for 10% more points--plus thousands of dollars in extra dues over the next 50 years--just to avoid the one online booking per year.

The 35% Fixed Week ratio sounds high but I suspect a good portion will end up opting-out each year.

But that's just me....

 

[jennypenny]

In general, I like the idea. I just don't like the Sunday - Sunday part. We always return home Friday or Saturday to catch our breath before returning to work. I wonder if you can cancel one night of the fixed week option? I'd do it if I could cancel the last night and add it on the front end each year.

I would love a fixed week option at BCV for the F & W.

 

[tjkraz]

In general, I like the idea. I just don't like the Sunday - Sunday part. We always return home Friday or Saturday to catch our breath before returning to work. I wonder if you can cancel one night of the fixed week option? I'd do it if I could cancel the last night and add it on the front end each year.

If owners opt-out, the entire week is released.

That said, administratively I have no idea how DVC handles it. You would think that owners on the waitlist would be entitled to first dibs, but Member Services may be willing & able to immediately book some of the released nights for the Guaranteed Week owner.

I would love a fixed week option at BCV for the F & W.

Have you ever had trouble booking your desired BCV room at 11 months?

 

[jennypenny]

Have you ever had trouble booking your desired BCV room at 11 months?

Yes, if I can't book in the first couple of days. (we prefer the 2BD/2Q room) Admittedly that's because I can't book as soon as it opens sometimes because the 11-month window might open while we're traveling.

It's not a big deal (kind of a first-world problem ) but I would have been willing to buy it when we purchased in '03. I guess I'm lucky it wasn't available--saved me some money.

 

[ELMC]

I would love a fixed week option at BCV for the F & W.

Have you ever had trouble booking your desired BCV room at 11 months?

I'll chime in here as well. I actually did have a problem getting the room I wanted at BWV this year. It was on Columbus Day weekend during F&W Festival and they had no BW view studios available. Now, there's one variable that changes things, and that is I didn't go on to book until around noon. So maybe if I had gone on at 8 AM there would have been availability.

That being said, even if it guaranteed me the view I wanted, I still would not buy the fixed week option. I have yet to travel the same days two years in a row, despite going to F&W for the past five years. We do not stay exactly 7 days and we do not like traveling on Sundays. I am sure that there are families that the fixed week option works for, and so I think it's great that they are offering it. But it's not for everybody.

 

[tjkraz]

Yes, if I can't book in the first couple of days. (we prefer the 2BD/2Q room) Admittedly that's because I can't book as soon as it opens sometimes because the 11-month window might open while we're traveling.

I'll chime in here as well. I actually did have a problem getting the room I wanted at BWV this year. It was on Columbus Day weekend during F&W Festival and they had no BW view studios available. Now, there's one variable that changes things, and that is I didn't go on to book until around noon. So maybe if I had gone on at 8 AM there would have been availability.

And that's basically what it boils down to, IMO. You're paying 10% more in the purchase AND 50 years of dues to simply avoid the booking process.

 

[lovin'fl]

oops

 

[Dean]

So these extra points that one has to purchase for a fixed week, is that based on a six year average for the week or are they consistently paying extra points to stay there. If that's the case, how are these points accounted for during the sales period and what happens to them if they are not technically used because the owner decides to elect the use of the fixed week?

I can't answer for DVC but I can give you some opinions/guesses based on my knowledge of certain issues. They can't sell more points than it'd cost to reserve the resort for the week, put another way, if all weeks were fixed weeks, they would be over sold by 10% and that's simply in violation of FL timeshare law as I understand it. Now they could fudge somewhat against the retained inventory of 2-4% I suppose or at least part of it. Normally they sell based on a BASE WEEK, they've never released the actual based week or even if they use the same one for each resort. Legally they'd also have to turn the inventory over for points if the owner takes points. I think you'll see some owners trying to covert then rebook one years when it's much cheaper to do so.

If owners opt-out, the entire week is released.

That said, administratively I have no idea how DVC handles it. You would think that owners on the waitlist would be entitled to first dibs, but Member Services may be willing & able to immediately book some of the released nights for the Guaranteed Week owner.

Given their current WL procedure they'd have to give it to the first person who asked for any of those days even if it was only one day rather than matching up a whole week. They could change the procedure but that'd mean changing it from first come for all resorts to best match. Plus you have the inefficiency of the WL where units aren't held to see if they match the WL.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It's DW's fault.

I guess the power of Disney can convert anyone.

The fixed week option and using it to guarantee a category/view really changes things.

Just think if you could get a fixed week BWV Boardwalk View, BLT Theme Park View, SSR Downtown Disney View guaranteed. I can see why someone would want a fixed week guaranteed Ocean View at Aulani.

Bill

I understand. I finally mentioned that VGF had gone on sale and DH announced that is something he would be very interested in.

Just curious but what does the paperwork state regarding resale of the fixed week? Are you able to sell the week or would it revert to being a sale of points only? And would DVC add a transfer fee like they did for Aulani?

 

[wdrl]

Given the reported popularity of the Fixed Week at VGF, I think all future DVC resorts will offer the Fixed Week option. It will be interesting to see if DVD tweaks the Fixed Week option at future resorts, such as offering floating fixed weeks or the ability for the owner to break their two-bedroom vacation home (retaining the one-bedroom portion but opting out of the studio portion).

For non-VGF owners who hope to book VGF, they should hope that every Fixed Week Owner actually uses their Fixed Week. Since a Fixed Week costs about 10% more than the actual cost of the underlying week and a maximum of 35% of VGF may be sold as Fixed Weeks, this means that Fixed Week Owners will own 38.5% of VGF's total points even though they use only 35% if they keep their Fixed Week. This overage of 3.5% of VGF's total points means that a few more villas will be available for booking by the rest of the DVC. However, that 3.5% overage can drop down to zero as more and more Fixed Week Owners decide to opt out and convert their Week to points.

There is one drawback to the Fixed Week program that may adversely affect VGF owners who have traditional VGF points which, for lack of a better name, I call the Squeeze. DVD says it will sell no more than 35% of VGF as Fixed Weeks. In reality, I think the Fixed Weeks will max out for December and maybe October, but I doubt the rest of the weeks will sell anywhere near 35%. In a worse case scenario, let's say that 35% of weeks in December are sold, but 0% are sold the rest of the year. This means that from January to November the traditional points owners at VGF have equal competition for up to 100 vacation homes. However, in December, those traditional points owners now are competing for only 65 vacation homes. Thus, VGF may have more traditional points owners trying to Squeeze into a significantly smaller inventory in December than at any other time of the year. The affect of the Squeeze will be reduced if there is a decent distribution of Fixed Weeks throughout the year, or if DVD actually sells almost 35% of all Weeks (which is highly unlikely).

 

[Dean]

Given the reported popularity of the Fixed Week at VGF, I think all future DVC resorts will offer the Fixed Week option. It will be interesting to see if DVD tweaks the Fixed Week option at future resorts, such as offering floating fixed weeks or the ability for the owner to break their two-bedroom vacation home (retaining the one-bedroom portion but opting out of the studio portion).

I'd think unlikely but one can potentially do this on their own by canceling and immediately rebooking though there is some risk of losing out. One strategy would be to have both fixed week and sufficient other VGF points to work the 2 together. It's give one a lot of options albeit it at a price.

For non-VGF owners who hope to book VGF, they should hope that every Fixed Week Owner actually uses their Fixed Week. Since a Fixed Week costs about 10% more than the actual cost of the underlying week and a maximum of 35% of VGF may be sold as Fixed Weeks, this means that Fixed Week Owners will own 38.5% of VGF's total points even though they use only 35% if they keep their Fixed Week. This overage of 3.5% of VGF's total points means that a few more villas will be available for booking by the rest of the DVC. However, that 3.5% overage can drop down to zero as more and more Fixed Week Owners decide to opt out and convert their Week to points.

My guess is that DVC has to account for those extra points in the sales process, legally they'd have to, but the point is valid regardless in that there will be more competition if the fixed week owners take points than not. The 7 month crowd is really the one's who will be affected if fixed week owners opt out routinely.

There is one drawback to the Fixed Week program that may adversely affect VGF owners who have traditional VGF points which, for lack of a better name, I call the Squeeze. DVD says it will sell no more than 35% of VGF as Fixed Weeks. In reality, I think the Fixed Weeks will max out for December and maybe October, but I doubt the rest of the weeks will sell anywhere near 35%. In a worse case scenario, let's say that 35% of weeks in December are sold, but 0% are sold the rest of the year. This means that from January to November the traditional points owners at VGF have equal competition for up to 100 vacation homes. However, in December, those traditional points owners now are competing for only 65 vacation homes. Thus, VGF may have more traditional points owners trying to Squeeze into a significantly smaller inventory in December than at any other time of the year. The affect of the Squeeze will be reduced if there is a decent distribution of Fixed Weeks throughout the year, or if DVD actually sells almost 35% of all Weeks (which is highly unlikely).

I don't think this will be a big deal. I think a large % of people with fixed weeks will use or rent rather than taking points plus if they take points they do free up a unit. I'm assuming the 2 BR fixed weeks are all dedicated but if not, this could have a compensatory affect on the points used if the lockoff were split.

 

[BestDadEver]

Given the reported popularity of the Fixed Week at VGF, I think all future DVC resorts will offer the Fixed Week option. It will be interesting to see if DVD tweaks the Fixed Week option at future resorts, such as offering floating fixed weeks or the ability for the owner to break their two-bedroom vacation home (retaining the one-bedroom portion but opting out of the studio portion).

For non-VGF owners who hope to book VGF, they should hope that every Fixed Week Owner actually uses their Fixed Week. Since a Fixed Week costs about 10% more than the actual cost of the underlying week and a maximum of 35% of VGF may be sold as Fixed Weeks, this means that Fixed Week Owners will own 38.5% of VGF's total points even though they use only 35% if they keep their Fixed Week. This overage of 3.5% of VGF's total points means that a few more villas will be available for booking by the rest of the DVC. However, that 3.5% overage can drop down to zero as more and more Fixed Week Owners decide to opt out and convert their Week to points.

There is one drawback to the Fixed Week program that may adversely affect VGF owners who have traditional VGF points which, for lack of a better name, I call the Squeeze. DVD says it will sell no more than 35% of VGF as Fixed Weeks. In reality, I think the Fixed Weeks will max out for December and maybe October, but I doubt the rest of the weeks will sell anywhere near 35%. In a worse case scenario, let's say that 35% of weeks in December are sold, but 0% are sold the rest of the year. This means that from January to November the traditional points owners at VGF have equal competition for up to 100 vacation homes. However, in December, those traditional points owners now are competing for only 65 vacation homes. Thus, VGF may have more traditional points owners trying to Squeeze into a significantly smaller inventory in December than at any other time of the year. The affect of the Squeeze will be reduced if there is a decent distribution of Fixed Weeks throughout the year, or if DVD actually sells almost 35% of all Weeks (which is highly unlikely).

Seems to me the fixed week is really versitile as it is . I don't think they need to add floating weeks , or anything else to make it better for the buyer. IMO seems like a great deal for someone that wants the guarantee a time of year and is in the market for around those amount of points.

I doubt I'll do it cause one I don't see myself needing that many points and I like to bop around on different times each year . I could definitely see he value on it . I'd prefer to see some sort of restriction on fixed week user opting out of there weeks multiple times . I don't like the fact they could potentially do it every year . If lots opt out frequently I can see that being problematic for traditional point users . Something like only being able to opt out once every third year . To be honest I am surprised they don't have some sort of negative for opting out in place already .

 

[disneynutz]

I understand. I finally mentioned that VGF had gone on sale and DH announced that is something he would be very interested in.

Just curious but what does the paperwork state regarding resale of the fixed week? Are you able to sell the week or would it revert to being a sale of points only? And would DVC add a transfer fee like they did for Aulani?

I was told that the contract stays as a fixed week when it is sold. I haven't seen any paperwork and was told that it might be a few weeks because they are really backed up processing the contracts.

Points were loaded and of course they charged my CC the next day.

Bill

 

[BestDadEver]

of course they charged my CC the next day.

Bill

LMAO they never make you wait for that

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I was told that the contract stays as a fixed week when it is sold. I haven't seen any paperwork and was told that it might be a few weeks because they are really backed up processing the contracts.

Points were loaded and of course they charged my CC the next day.

Bill

Thanks.

Funny how they can find the CC paperwork so quick!

 

[wdrl]

I'd prefer to see some sort of restriction on fixed week user opting out of there weeks multiple times . I don't like the fact they could potentially do it every year . If lots opt out frequently I can see that being problematic for traditional point users . Something like only being able to opt out once every third year .

Opting out each year, by itself, is not a problem for members with traditional points. Keep in mind that a VGF Fixed Week Owner is just like any other DVC member that has DVC points. Its just that his points are going to be used at VGF at the same time every year. Its no different than a BWV owner who spends a week at her resort every October or a VWL owner who spends a week at her resort every December. By letting Fixed Week Owners opt out every year, it increases the chances that traditional points members could book the week that the Fixed Week Owner is giving up for the year. This is a good thing for traditional points owners because it gives them more choices.

Restricting the opt out option to only once every third year would be problematic. It would conflict with the ability to bank and borrow. Plus, I can see some Fixed Week Members losing track of which years they could opt out and which years they could not.