All About Fixed Weeks (RIV/CCV/AUL/VGF/POLY/TOWER/VHD/FWC Charts)

[thadhouse]

We just bought a W17 FW in Aulani!. It's our anniversary week, and its the cutoff week between tier 2 and tier 4 most years. So even with the 10% premium, the week still comes out ahead most years.

What weird is in 2026, the week after moved from being Tier 4 to Tier 3. Looks like that week got reallocated from late August. So in the future it might be less advantageous, but still generally a cutoff week.

 

[emchen]

We just bought a W17 FW in Aulani!. It's our anniversary week, and its the cutoff week between tier 2 and tier 4 most years. So even with the 10% premium, the week still comes out ahead most years.

What weird is in 2026, the week after moved from being Tier 4 to Tier 3. Looks like that week got reallocated from late August. So in the future it might be less advantageous, but still generally a cutoff week.

Cutoff weeks are great. Any FW that reduces or eliminates the 10% premium is fantastic!

 

[Mikey15]

Cutoff weeks are great. Any FW that reduces or eliminates the 10% premium is fantastic!

I’m loving the effects of the 2023 base year for Poly on this too. Jan 1, 2023 was a Sunday, so so many FWs fell earlier than usual.

Points per night increase May 15-31 over May 1-14, but because FW 19 fell entirely before the 15th in 2023, it’s another cutoff week reducing the 10% premium right now. At least at Poly.
TPV 1Bed FW 19 = 377 pts
May 11-18 2025 = 363 pts
May 13-20 2029 = 375 pts

Still too many points for me to justify though

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't think of the 10% as something I have to eliminate. Instead, I think of it as an availability hedge. If I don't need it, then I can cancel and rebook at the underlying price. If I do need it, I would be glad to have it.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

Yeh, I got in touch this year as mine hadn’t been booked (see above post re DVC mistakenly thinking I had opted out!).
The first time I called, I mentioned that the first day of the FW was showing unavailable on the booking calendars and they were adamant that this didn’t make a difference to FWs as it is already out of the inventory…. Not that I believe anything the say any more!

Any other FW49 owners not yet received their 2025 reservation? I may have to contact them, though maybe I'll give them until next week to settle in after the holidays. I haven't received my FW49 yet, and normal 11month+7day reservations can get to the first couple of days of it.

I did double & triple check that no 2025 points for my FW49 contract have ever been used.

But JackosinDIS, it does sound suspicious that your FW would be taken out of inventory if DVC mistakenly thought that you had opted out. When you opt out, they aren't going to leave that room empty & unavailable for the FW; that inventory will be made available for others.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Any other FW49 owners not yet received their 2025 reservation? I may have to contact them, though maybe I'll give them until next week to settle in after the holidays. I haven't received my FW49 yet, and normal 11month+7day reservations can get to the first couple of days of it.

I did double & triple check that no 2025 points for my FW49 contract have ever been used.

But JackosinDIS, it does sound suspicious that your FW would be taken out of inventory if DVC mistakenly thought that you had opted out. When you opt out, they aren't going to leave that room empty & unavailable for the FW; that inventory will be made available for others.

Agree - I think they were saved by the fact there is still loads of undeclared inventory at Poly tower, so they could just book that for me. What would have happened otherwise who knows!

 

[J-Dog]

Any other FW49 owners not yet received their 2025 reservation? I may have to contact them, though maybe I'll give them until next week to settle in after the holidays. I haven't received my FW49 yet, and normal 11month+7day reservations can get to the first couple of days of it.

I did double & triple check that no 2025 points for my FW49 contract have ever been used.

But JackosinDIS, it does sound suspicious that your FW would be taken out of inventory if DVC mistakenly thought that you had opted out. When you opt out, they aren't going to leave that room empty & unavailable for the FW; that inventory will be made available for others.

Yes, my Week 49 is still not been booked, and I haven't touched those points. I did chat with MS and the CM indicated that they are "delayed" in making those bookings, and it should happen soon. Whatever that means....

 

[Princess Michele]

Any other FW49 owners not yet received their 2025 reservation? I may have to contact them, though maybe I'll give them until next week to settle in after the holidays. I haven't received my FW49 yet, and normal 11month+7day reservations can get to the first couple of days of it.

I did double & triple check that no 2025 points for my FW49 contract have ever been used.

But JackosinDIS, it does sound suspicious that your FW would be taken out of inventory if DVC mistakenly thought that you had opted out. When you opt out, they aren't going to leave that room empty & unavailable for the FW; that inventory will be made available for others.

Yes, my Week 49 is still not been booked, and I haven't touched those points. I did chat with MS and the CM indicated that they are "delayed" in making those bookings, and it should happen soon. Whatever that means....

We also have a FW49 at the Grand Floridian and it has not been booked yet. I just called MS and they said there is an IT issue preventing them from booking the FW reservations. I spoke with a supervisor who said that I would not have an issue getting my reservation but I have little faith. They could not confirm that the FW inventory was separate from what non-FW VGF owners can book. Already 12/3 and 12/4 is unavailable in our resort category and soon VGF owners can book dates during our week. MS was not able to say when the issue would be resolved or when my booking would be made.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I just called MS and they said there is an IT issue preventing them from booking the FW reservations.

Disney? IT issues?

In all seriousness though, I do believe that the FWs are held as a separate inventory (having been told that many times by different CMs during my FW debacle earlier in the year)

 

[Brian Noble]

...and "separate inventory" might be a reason why they can't just book them.

I mean, it's not the only possible reason. But it's a reason.

 

[emchen]

Any other FW49 owners not yet received their 2025 reservation? I may have to contact them, though maybe I'll give them until next week to settle in after the holidays. I haven't received my FW49 yet, and normal 11month+7day reservations can get to the first couple of days of it.

I did double & triple check that no 2025 points for my FW49 contract have ever been used.

But JackosinDIS, it does sound suspicious that your FW would be taken out of inventory if DVC mistakenly thought that you had opted out. When you opt out, they aren't going to leave that room empty & unavailable for the FW; that inventory will be made available for others.

We also have a FW49 at the Grand Floridian and it has not been booked yet. I just called MS and they said there is an IT issue preventing them from booking the FW reservations. I spoke with a supervisor who said that I would not have an issue getting my reservation but I have little faith. They could not confirm that the FW inventory was separate from what non-FW VGF owners can book. Already 12/3 and 12/4 is unavailable in our resort category and soon VGF owners can book dates during our week. MS was not able to say when the issue would be resolved or when my booking would be made.

Team FW49 VGF and FW50 RIV. Both are not yet booked.

First year last year they were finally booked by MS in January…after three calls… always being reassured by leads in the back that “they are working on it”.

Sheesh! I thought it was supposed to reduce anxiety !

 

[J-Dog]

We also have a FW49 at the Grand Floridian and it has not been booked yet. I just called MS and they said there is an IT issue preventing them from booking the FW reservations. I spoke with a supervisor who said that I would not have an issue getting my reservation but I have little faith. They could not confirm that the FW inventory was separate from what non-FW VGF owners can book. Already 12/3 and 12/4 is unavailable in our resort category and soon VGF owners can book dates during our week. MS was not able to say when the issue would be resolved or when my booking would be made.

Disney? IT issues?

In all seriousness though, I do believe that the FWs are held as a separate inventory (having been told that many times by different CMs during my FW debacle earlier in the year)

I would think that FW would have to be separate inventory, right? If not, they would be in breach of contract if something like this happens and they aren't able to make the FW reservations in time before the inventory is booked by other DVC owners.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

I would think that FW would have to be separate inventory, right? If not, they would be in breach of contract if something like this happens and they aren't able to make the FW reservations in time before the inventory is booked by other DVC owners.

I'm not sure the FWs are separate inventory. After points rebalancing, my FWs cost more points than the contract, and I see manual adjustments in my contract points history as they top off my points so they can book a week. I'm puzzled why that would be necessary if it were separate inventory.

But I don't pretend to know the inner workings of Disney's IT systems. If I did, I'd probably have a lot of suggestions. I've given some thought to how I'd design DVC's booking system & waitlists, etc.

I haven't looked at the wording in my FW contracts in years. I'm not sure if it addresses what happens if they don't or can't book the FW. I guess the assumption is that they always can if the reservation is made in the 11-12 month window.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I'm not sure the FWs are separate inventory. After points rebalancing, my FWs cost more points than the contract, and I see manual adjustments in my contract points history as they top off my points so they can book a week. I'm puzzled why that would be necessary if it were separate inventory.

But I don't pretend to know the inner workings of Disney's IT systems. If I did, I'd probably have a lot of suggestions. I've given some thought to how I'd design DVC's booking system & waitlists, etc.

I haven't looked at the wording in my FW contracts in years. I'm not sure if it addresses what happens if they don't or can't book the FW. I guess the assumption is that they always can if the reservation is made in the 11-12 month window.

I think it’s separate only in terms of being ring-fenced, so as not to allow bookings with points until an owner opts out. Otherwise still has the same point requirements.

I don’t think the FW contract actually deals with what happens if the FW is not booked. It would be a slam dunk breach of contract case though, and DVC would need to remedy the breach (probably in the form of providing an alternative room)

 

[Sandisw]

I think it’s separate only in terms of being ring-fenced, so as not to allow bookings with points until an owner opts out. Otherwise still has the same point requirements.

I don’t think the FW contract actually deals with what happens if the FW is not booked. It would be a slam dunk breach of contract case though, and DVC would need to remedy the breach (probably in the form of providing an alternative room)

I would have to guess that if the room ended up booked by someone else because it made it into the system by mistake, those owners would be the ones canceled and not the FW owner.

It’s easy to tell another owner it was in error and that the reservation is canceled. With you it’s a clear breach!

 

[Brian Noble]

my FWs cost more points than the contract, and I see manual adjustments in my contract points history as they top off my points so they can book a week. I'm puzzled why that would be necessary if it were separate inventory.

The “cost” for the week has to be the same because you can opt out.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

FW50 at the tower and no reservation booked yet.

 

[birchtree95]

Got a FW47 at CCV, and it was booked as expected. Sorry for all of you that are dealing with issues.

 

[Lorana]

Ahh. That 2023 connection makes a lot of sense. I also noticed that FW 47 at PIT, which usually includes Thanksgiving, is the same points as FW 40-46. The slight premium for Thanksgiving and the days either side is visible for FW 48 instead.

The only time Thanksgiving falls in FW48 in the next 10 years? 2029.
The last time Thanksgiving fell in FW48 instead of FW47? 2023.

Thanksgiving alternates between FW 47 and 46, not 48. I own all three weeks now (FW 47 & 48 at CCV, and FW 46 at RIV). From now until 2070, it will only fall in FW 46 7 times.

When I picked up FW 47 it was the same - CCV opened and its charts were based on a year that Thanksgiving fell on FW 46, so it felt like a steal.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

Thanksgiving alternates between FW 47 and 46, not 48. I own all three weeks now (FW 47 & 48 at CCV, and FW 46 at RIV). From now until 2070, it will only fall in FW 46 7 times.

When I picked up FW 47 it was the same - CCV opened and its charts were based on a year that Thanksgiving fell on FW 46, so it felt like a steal.

Nice score getting FW47 when Thanksgiving fell in FW46. Yes, Thanksgiving very frequently is FW47 and maybe once every 6 years or so it will be FW46.

Similarly, I own FW41 and it is frequently Columbus Day week, following the same pattern as Thanksgiving and FW47. Whenever Thanksgiving is FW46, Columbus Day week is FW40. Some schools have their fall break around Columbus Day.