Fixed weeks to be offered at GFV

[GoofGoof]

Per this article the new DVC wing at GFV will be offering a portion of the rooms for a fixed week like some traditional timeshare programs. Apparently they offered this at Aulani too, but it will be the first time offered at WDW. They also charged a 10% premium over the equivalent DVC points. I guess this appeals to someone who always goes the same week and always wants to stay there. No need to book a room. For me personally I like the flexibility to change room sizes and resorts as well as length of stay. Is this a one time thing or a trend for the future? What does everyone think?

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/compon...-week-option-to-be-offered-at-grand-floridian

 

[disneysince71]

I have to tell you @GoofGoof I am not a fan...

 

[Master Yoda]

I think it is a nice option to have. No booking or wondering if you will get your favorite resort. Since it will be at a premium, I only see a select few getting this.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think it is a nice option to have. No booking or wondering if you will get your favorite resort. Since it will be at a premium, I only see a select few getting this.

The article did say they would limit it to at most 35% of available rooms but it could end up less depending on demand. People looking to buy traditional DVC points here or trade in for a room will still have a shot at booking at least 65% of the rooms.

 

[BCVTalsJam]

Yea that doesn't sound good at all for us...we go in January and October and own at Beach Club. Even though we always go around the same week it changes with passes expiring/holidays etc. not a fan!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I don't think my family would ever do this. For one, I don't think we'd EVER want to buy at Grand Floridian. We may check it out once, but as far as actually buying there, it's too stuffy for our tastes, plus we already own at BLT, Aulani, BCV, and BWV. But I also don't think we'd do the set week as 1.) we vacation for more than one week and 2.) we have a school schedule to work around. It's a nice idea if you know there's a week you like to visit but it's usually hard to get (ie Christmas) but other than that, part of the benefit of DVC is flexibility as to when you visit.

 

[Disneykidder]

Interesting. This now puts DVC into the stale category with all of the other timeshares out there. Everyone I know who owns a timeshare comments on how they like how I can go any week or time I want, and not have to be locked into one specific week and a specific room. Maybe even that one week you want a closer room to the pool or a further room to be quiet...that's what sold my husband on DVC...flexibility.

Maybe they sold their limit of Aulani because when I bought last summer, we weren't even given that option. Our choices were Aulani, BLT and AKL.

Disney is also charging more for this service, too? Hmmm. If I wanted to buy in for Christmas week or Thanksgiving week or even Easter week I can see but for other weeks? It doesn't seem worth it. I also could never even consider doing something like this. I have three children and sports schedules change so being locked would not be ideal for us.

 

[cabscontrads]

Now I am confused! I was always under the impression that DVC investments in new properties increased our holdings value as points per property were adjusted due to a Set Total ( adjusting one property point up ment adjusting another property point down ). Am I wrong here? Also, our attraction from day 1 was the flexability the Point Program gives us. I thought that was what set us apart from the rest, making this program so successful while the other Timeshare companies are shifting to our type of program. It seems to me that if GoofGoof's reference is true, they are catering a portion of this property to a specific clientel, too lazy to folow the rules and do their homework as we all have for years. Just saying...

 

[GoofGoof]

Now I am confused! I was always under the impression that DVC investments in new properties increased our holdings value as points per property were adjusted due to a Set Total ( adjusting one property point up ment adjusting another property point down ). Am I wrong here? Also, our attraction from day 1 was the flexability the Point Program gives us. I thought that was what set us apart from the rest, making this program so successful while the other Timeshare companies are shifting to our type of program. It seems to me that if GoofGoof's reference is true, they are catering a portion of this property to a specific clientel, too lazy to folow the rules and do their homework as we all have for years. Just saying...

Interesting. This now puts DVC into the stale category with all of the other timeshares out there. Everyone I know who owns a timeshare comments on how they like how I can go any week or time I want, and not have to be locked into one specific week and a specific room. Maybe even that one week you want a closer room to the pool or a further room to be quiet...that's what sold my husband on DVC...flexibility.

Maybe they sold their limit of Aulani because when I bought last summer, we weren't even given that option. Our choices were Aulani, BLT and AKL.

Disney is also charging more for this service, too? Hmmm. If I wanted to buy in for Christmas week or Thanksgiving week or even Easter week I can see but for other weeks? It doesn't seem worth it. I also could never even consider doing something like this. I have three children and sports schedules change so being locked would not be ideal for us.

I totally agree that this would completely fly in the face of one of the keys that sets DVC apart from other timeshare programs. I can't see many people even wanting to do it, but if the more popular weeks are 35% locked in by people with fixed week contracts it hurts everyone else who owns there. A huge drawback to wanting to own there IMHO. Plus the article referenced a Sunday to Sunday rental period. Even Christmas week is hard to predict. If Christmas and New Years Day both fall on a Sunday one year you are going to be checking in on Christmas Day and checking out on New Years Day. That would not be ideal. Same problem with July 4th. Easter and Thanksgiving move around too so there is no way to pick a fixed week that guarantees you can hit either holiday.

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't think my family would ever do this. For one, I don't think we'd EVER want to buy at Grand Floridian. We may check it out once, but as far as actually buying there, it's too stuffy for our tastes, plus we already own at BLT, Aulani, BCV, and BWV. But I also don't think we'd do the set week as 1.) we vacation for more than one week and 2.) we have a school schedule to work around. It's a nice idea if you know there's a week you like to visit but it's usually hard to get (ie Christmas) but other than that, part of the benefit of DVC is flexibility as to when you visit.

I am not likely to buy in here either, but this makes me even less likely to do it if this is true. I love the flexibility of DVC and I enjoy visiting other resorts besides my home resort.

 

[Disneykidder]

I am not likely to buy in here either, but this makes me even less likely to do it if this is true. I love the flexibility of DVC and I enjoy visiting other resorts besides my home resort.

According the the article, if you didn't want to stay at your resort that week, you could exchange for another on property. Now would that would take away a week from me. My home resort is BLT and say this person wanted to stay at BLT. Now they had preference over me even though it is my home and I am 11 months out. Am I reading into that correctly? Or would they have to wait 7 months? The article didn't say.

 

[WWWD]

I don't like this but can understand the appeal for certain weeks of the year. Now will Christmas week cost the same as say a week in August? What scares me is the potential for Disney to add levels of membership to DVC. For example, I would hate to see the ability to pay a premium for the right to book at 12 and 8 months instead of 11 and 7 months. I guess I need to read my DVC contract to see how much exactly Disney can change things on me.

 

[cabscontrads]

I totally agree that this would completely fly in the face of one of the keys that sets DVC apart from other timeshare programs. I can't see many people even wanting to do it, but if the more popular weeks are 35% locked in by people with fixed week contracts it hurts everyone else who owns there. A huge drawback to wanting to own there IMHO. Plus the article referenced a Sunday to Sunday rental period. Even Christmas week is hard to predict. If Christmas and New Years Day both fall on a Sunday one year you are going to be checking in on Christmas Day and checking out on New Years Day. That would not be ideal. Same problem with July 4th. Easter and Thanksgiving move around too so there is no way to pick a fixed week that guarantees you can hit either holiday.

Yor are exactly right. I didn't even think of the date conflicts. Just proves our point about flexability. Also, your point on 'Fixed Week Contracts' is exactly what I was referring to! Your taking our Property away from all Of the DVC Members, making non-Home oppertunities for reservations even tougher. Sorry to say that I am not liking this issue the more I think about it. Thanks for the feedback GoofGoof. We're on the same page.

 

[Disneykidder]

I don't like this but can understand the appeal for certain weeks of the year. Now will Christmas week cost the same as say a week in August? What scares me is the potential for Disney to add levels of membership to DVC. For example, I would hate to see the ability to pay a premium for the right to book at 12 and 8 months instead of 11 and 7 months. I guess I need to read my DVC contract to see how much exactly Disney can change things on me.

Different levels of membership? Oh boy...that just spells trouble to me. Trouble for us existing members.

 

[DVCOwner]

Now I am confused! I was always under the impression that DVC investments in new properties increased our holdings value as points per property were adjusted due to a Set Total ( adjusting one property point up ment adjusting another property point down ). Am I wrong here? Also, our attraction from day 1 was the flexability the Point Program gives us. I thought that was what set us apart from the rest, making this program so successful while the other Timeshare companies are shifting to our type of program. It seems to me that if GoofGoof's reference is true, they are catering a portion of this property to a specific clientel, too lazy to folow the rules and do their homework as we all have for years. Just saying...

I do not think that this will really effect other members. It will just take a portion of the rooms out of the pool that all member can book. It would be no different than building the resort that much smaller. I would not like this option and will be interested in how many go this way.

The other issue your bring up about adjusting points at one property can effect another property is not right. Points can only be adjusted within a single property and the total for that property can not change. So DVC could and has adjusted the cost of staying on the weekend down and increase the point cost on Sunday - Thursday. But again; the total for each property stayed the same.

 

[tjkraz]

I do not think that this will really effect other members. It will just take a portion of the rooms out of the pool that all member can book. It would be no different than building the resort that much smaller. I would not like this option and will be interested in how many go this way.

Agree. It an intriguing option but is likely to have almost no impact on other members.

For all of the reasons stated here, I suspect the number of buyers who take advantage of this option will be few and far between. First, you have to buy 10% additional points. If the buyer wants a fixed week which is 500 pts according to the chart, he would have to actually purchase 550.

Given all of the comments here about school schedules, different size travel parties, visiting at different times of year, etc., how many buyers are really going to want to pay 10% extra for less flexibility? The only clear benefit is elimination of a phone call or web reservation request.

Owners of fixed weeks can opt out of their week and have their points converted to traditional VGF points. If this option is elected, traditional booking rules would apply: 11 mos at home, 7 mos elsewhere.

This isn't something DVC is forcing upon buyers...it's simply an option. If I were considering a VGF purchase, this would have no impact on my decision whatsoever.

 

[GoofGoof]

According the the article, if you didn't want to stay at your resort that week, you could exchange for another on property. Now would that would take away a week from me. My home resort is BLT and say this person wanted to stay at BLT. Now they had preference over me even though it is my home and I am 11 months out. Am I reading into that correctly? Or would they have to wait 7 months? The article didn't say.

I assume your week would be converted to DVC points and you would have to follow the same 7 and 11 month windows as everyone else. I don't think they would be allowed to transfer the week to another resort before the 7 month window.

 

[toolsnspools]

I presume there's a large number of annual guests at GF for the prime weeks already. The 10% would open an option for those who already stay at GF every Christmas/Easter/etc. and will only buy into DVC if it allows them to keep that tradition. For most of us flexibility is a must but for some people the costs is not an issue, the ability to maintain an annual trip is.

If I were buying normal points there, I'd be curious to know which weeks were being sold as fixed. It would be a lot harder to get a Christmas week, if a large chunk of those rooms were sold as fixed.

 

[tjkraz]

I presume there's a large number of annual guests at GF for the prime weeks already. The 10% would open an option for those who already stay at GF every Christmas/Easter/etc. and will only buy into DVC if it allows them to keep that tradition. For most of us flexibility is a must but for some people the costs is not an issue, the ability to maintain an annual trip is.

Thing is, pretty much every holiday shifts from year to year. If you buy into Week 51 and we assume a Saturday - Saturday calendar, your 2013 trip will be Dec 21 - 28. In 2016 that week is Dec 17 - 24...doesn't even include Christmas Day and you're checking out on Christmas Eve.

And the only thing the Fixed Week really does is save you a single phone call or web booking. With a calendar reminder to book right at 11 mos, there is very little chance of not getting what you seek...particularly for a peak travel period like Christmas or Easter when the point cost is already very high.

Certainly the money isn't an issue for some but when you combine the added cost with inconsistency of the calendar, I really don't see many people pursuing this option.

If I were buying normal points there, I'd be curious to know which weeks were being sold as fixed. It would be a lot harder to get a Christmas week, if a large chunk of those rooms were sold as fixed.

All weeks are available as fixed, although the POS states that they will sell no more than 35% of accommodations as Fixed for any given week.

 

[Phonedave]

It sounds like they are paying extra for a little bit of convienence. In reality all of us can already have a special "reserved week" if we want it.

If you want the week of June 15 for example, then get on the computer at 2 AM 11 months before that week opens and book it. Then, if you want you can cancel it later, try to change it to another resort at the 7 month window, or keep it an go on your trip.

It really is no different than these "pre-reserved" weeks except that you don't have to be on-line at 2 AM on a specific date and yes, for uber-popular weeks there is a slim chance that even being on line exactly 11 months out will not get you that week.

-dave