What to do?

[MrsB919]

Hi everyone. My hubby and I have been looking into buying DVC for about 2 years. We went through the presentation and have continued to think about it afterwards. My husband and I were married at the Grand Floridian. When we heard they were making a DVC there we decided to hold out to purchase there. Here is my dilemma. Looking at the prices of the BLT I can only assume that the Grand Floridian will be more. Everything I read and when I have looked into buying resale seems the better deal. If we were to purchase through resale at another one such as BWV or so what would the likelihood of staying at the Grand in the future be? Should we bite the bullet and purchase where we truly love or elsewhere. (We also love the Boardwalk, but obviously the Grand Floridian has a special place in our hearts.) I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you in advance.

[Deb & Bill]

Originally Posted by MrsB919

Hi everyone. My hubby and I have been looking into buying DVC for about 2 years. We went through the presentation and have continued to think about it afterwards. My husband and I were married at the Grand Floridian. When we heard they were making a DVC there we decided to hold out to purchase there. Here is my dilemma. Looking at the prices of the BLT I can only assume that the Grand Floridian will be more. Everything I read and when I have looked into buying resale seems the better deal. If we were to purchase through resale at another one such as BWV or so what would the likelihood of staying at the Grand in the future be? Should we bite the bullet and purchase where we truly love or elsewhere. (We also love the Boardwalk, but obviously the Grand Floridian has a special place in our hearts.) I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you in advance.

DVC has not posted any information regarding sales at GFVillas. They could set up a totally separate DVC with GFVillas as the first of the new program. They could make it part of the existing program. They could set up entirely new booking rules for GFVillas. So if that is where you really want to own, you might want to bite the bullet and pay the exorbitant fees they are going to charge. Or go ahead and buy at an existing resort and hope for the best.

There just is no information at this time and it is embargoed.

[MrsB919]

Well we were going to wait and see once they announce more about it. I was just curious as to people's experience with booking at others that weren't their home resorts.

[disneynutz]

I would wait, save your money, and buy GFV resale if available. Prices will only go down as time goes on.

Bill

[Kidanifan08]

If you want to stay at the DVC GF from the first day of MNSSHP and about January 10, then I think it is safe to assume that you will need to own there. The rest of the year it will be a crap shoot.

As noted, DVC may change the rules with GF, particularly given the popularity of BLT, and there may not be the opportunity to book GF as owners of older resorts. It may be worth waiting a few months to see what GFV (or VGF or whatever we are calling it) will be all about when it is finally announced to know the details of how it mingles with the existing resorts.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by MrsB919

Hi everyone. My hubby and I have been looking into buying DVC for about 2 years. We went through the presentation and have continued to think about it afterwards. My husband and I were married at the Grand Floridian. When we heard they were making a DVC there we decided to hold out to purchase there. Here is my dilemma. Looking at the prices of the BLT I can only assume that the Grand Floridian will be more. Everything I read and when I have looked into buying resale seems the better deal. If we were to purchase through resale at another one such as BWV or so what would the likelihood of staying at the Grand in the future be? Should we bite the bullet and purchase where we truly love or elsewhere. (We also love the Boardwalk, but obviously the Grand Floridian has a special place in our hearts.) I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you in advance.

If you want to stay there a portion of the time and you use the wait list, you should be able to get in at times unless you're set on the higher demand times. I think it depends on how badly you want to own there. I would disagree a little with Bill, IF you have the money now and the GF is clearly the best choice, it's unlikely you'll save much or anything compared to buying day 1 it's available to you vs doing resale in the next few years. Esp if you consider the price of vacations in the interim. Of course you could buy now for less points and then do an add on at GF and potentially have the best of both worlds depending on how many points you think you need anyway.

[MrsB919]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I appreciate it. I'm trying to get as much information as possible so that I can make the best decision for us.

[sweetdana]

Originally Posted by MrsB919

Hi everyone. My hubby and I have been looking into buying DVC for about 2 years. We went through the presentation and have continued to think about it afterwards. My husband and I were married at the Grand Floridian. When we heard they were making a DVC there we decided to hold out to purchase there. Here is my dilemma. Looking at the prices of the BLT I can only assume that the Grand Floridian will be more. Everything I read and when I have looked into buying resale seems the better deal. If we were to purchase through resale at another one such as BWV or so what would the likelihood of staying at the Grand in the future be? Should we bite the bullet and purchase where we truly love or elsewhere. (We also love the Boardwalk, but obviously the Grand Floridian has a special place in our hearts.) I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you in advance.

I would split the purchase, buy. 1/2 resale ssr or bvw. ( way. cheaper). And use those when you book trips under 7 months out . Planning about every other yr. Then buy gf for every other yr use. Then your garenteed some of your fab resort, and saving $$ on 1/2 of it. Having paid the prem ium for gf and ending at ak or ssr due to deciding last min you want a trip would be a heart breaker.

[MrsB919]

Originally Posted by sweetdana

I would split the purchase, buy. 1/2 resale ssr or bvw. ( way. cheaper). And use those when you book trips under 7 months out . Planning about every other yr. Then buy gf for every other yr use. Then your garenteed some of your fab resort, and saving $$ on 1/2 of it. Having paid the prem ium for gf and ending at ak or ssr due to deciding last min you want a trip would be a heart breaker.

That sounds like a really good idea. I hadn't thought about the last minute thing. We have been known to make last minute trips. If you do a split purchase can you only used the amount of points you purchased for the certain resort if you do it prior to 7 months? For example I have a certain amount at Bwv and another at GF. I book early at one of them but its more points then I have for the particular resort.

[Caren90]

Because of the size of the GFV I expect it will be difficult to get a room at 7 months (similar to the difficulty in getting BC during certain months). Add to it that something is "in the wind" regarding resale contracts, buying at GFV may be the best option.

Stephen

[BrerNashville]

Originally Posted by Caren90

Because of the size of the GFV I expect it will be difficult to get a room at 7 months (similar to the difficulty in getting BC during certain months). Add to it that something is "in the wind" regarding resale contracts, buying at GFV may be the best option.

Stephen

in which direction is that wind blowing?

[MrsB919]

Hmm curious about what that means as well. I wish more info about GFV was out there. They are supposed to open I believe in December. I would've thought there would be more info by now.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by MrsB919

Hmm curious about what that means as well. I wish more info about GFV was out there. They are supposed to open I believe in December. I would've thought there would be more info by now.

The press release just said late 2013 as projected opening. I took that to mean Nov/Dec of this year but you never know. Based on the lack of sales announcement I wonder if it's behind schedule or if plans have changed.

[disneynutz]

Originally Posted by Dean

The press release just said late 2013 as projected opening. I took that to mean Nov/Dec of this year but you never know. Based on the lack of sales announcement I wonder if it's behind schedule or if plans have changed.

Seems like something is going on with DVD/DVC. Bilby leaving after such a short run, no news about GFV, the web video featuring older resorts and nothing from the new DVD/DVC executives?

Bill

[crisi]

Here are the questions I'd ask:

1) What are your opportunity costs - i.e. what else would you do with the rather large amount of money you'd sink into a DVC direct purchase, a DVC resale purchase, and DVC at all. For some people, the money is really no big deal, and if that is your situation, buy where your heart is. For other people, they really shouldn't be thinking about DVC at all.

2) Again, what are your opportunity costs - this time thinking longer term. Are you young and about to embark of starting a family? Are you going to have to contribute to send a child to college? Are you seeing retirement on a horizon - maybe a little distant? Are you saving for a house? How ready are you to afford these things on top of the first question? Again, some people have all these questions answered comfortably - if that is your case, buy where your heart is.

Although the argument can be made that in the overall costs of DVC and Disney vacations, the financial question isn't "resale v. direct" - resale is definitely cheaper. But should you buy DVC at all. Because by the time you commit to regular Disney vacations, park tickets, dues, travel expenses - the buy in cost is really a drop in the bucket that if you are worried about, you might be better off holding onto the cash and renting points.