No, still 2064.Is it true that the new VGF contracts have a 2070 expiration?
No it follows the old expiration as VGF1 have.Is it true that the new VGF contracts have a 2070 expiration?
That's not a plus to us original VGF1 owners!But on the plus side, you aren't stuck to just studios of BKP at the 11 month but have access to the VG1 units as a result of being part of the same association (and expiration). We all wait now to see what they will do with Poly2.
Tee hee - Yes I'm sure Poly1 owners feel the same way as you as a GF1 owner. For you, I hope Poly2 ends up being same association. It's so fascinating to ponder.Now, if they make Poly the same association, we may add there. If its a separate association, we'll sit it out. Will also wait and see on FW to see what the pricing and point structure are, though if it's restricted, we are out...
We are Poly1 owners as wellTee hee - Yes I'm sure Poly1 owners feel the same way as you as a GF1 owner. For you, I hope Poly2 ends up being same association. It's so fascinating to ponder.
We are Poly1 owners as well
I am a bit agnostic as to whether Poly2 is the same association or not. If it is, we may add some points, but if it's a different association, then there's not really a reason for us to add on. Either way, we are happy with the current Poly1, so it's fine.
VGF was a different situation in that they only added a large amount of hotel rooms to the current association, so IMHO, current members really got nothing out of it other than severely increased competition for the original VGF1 rooms.
Sandi, I agree with that perspective from a short-term view, but we were really put off by what they did there, and having talked with a number of other VGF1 owners who feel the same way, I can't help but wonder if DVD understands that they are alienating some of their formerly most loyal base. In fact, we have really given heavy consideration to just unloading our VGF points. I had always thought that our VGF points would be for exclusive use at VGF... now, to me, they just seem like the "we can use these points at Aulani" points...That is why I just don’t see the comparison between what they decided with BPK and Poly tower being remotely the same.
Poly tower is a brand new DVC resort and the only reason it might end up part of a current one is it’s location. Move that to the land where Reflections was to be and there would be or the land between the Grand and MK, and no question it’d be new.
Not saying that means it will be new but it was a no brainer for sales..not VGF current owners….to make those hotel room studios part of VGF.
Sandi, I agree with that perspective from a short-term view, but we were really put off by what they did there, and having talked with a number of other VGF1 owners who feel the same way, I can't help but wonder if DVD understands that they are alienating some of their formerly most loyal base. In fact, we have really given heavy consideration to just unloading our VGF points. I had always thought that our VGF points would be for exclusive use at VGF... now, to me, they just seem like the "we can use these points at Aulani" points...
Or, they may not care. As Brian said somewhere earlier, none of these folks will be around in 30 years, so they probably don't care...
I get that, but the problem with the VGF2 flip wasn't just that they flipped the BPK building, it was the lazy way in which they did it by only refreshing the hotel rooms and not changing much of anything else. I'm sure they had their research and I'm sure that in order to put things in like Kitchenettes and a split bath would have required much more extensive renovations, but they could have done some novel things, such as a studio category with King beds that they chose not to do.Unfortunately, I don’t think they care in that way. I think they had resorts division needing to get rid of a building, and potentially data to support more studios at VGF would be popular.
They also needed something else to sell until VDH started, with Reflections gone, and this fit all those goals perfectly.
I just started a poll about who would have still bought if it has been it’s own association, even without restrictions.
I know I think that restrictions for the tower is a big thing for DVD to abandon, but you wonder if they could surprise us all and make it new, but not put restrictions on it!
I think the same reasons they used for doing BPK is what is happening with the cabins….moving them to DVC in hopes they raise revenue in ways that cash stays can’t.
I thought about this when I saw the other outer buildings at Grand Floridian with king beds, but would owners be willing to use the same number of points at an expensive resort like VGF that only slept 3? IDKbut they could have done some novel things, such as a studio category with King beds that they chose not to do.
I think that there are a lot more couples that travel (or maybe even couples with perhaps 1 child) than you may think and don't need to sleep more than 3.I thought about this when I saw the other outer buildings at Grand Floridian with king beds, but would owners be willing to use the same number of points at an expensive resort like VGF that only slept 3? IDK
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Yes. The two real beds don’t work for us. So we book deluxe studios but we prefer everything else about the resort studios except the lack of a real mini fridge but that isn’t a dealbreaker.I thought about this when I saw the other outer buildings at Grand Floridian with king beds, but would owners be willing to use the same number of points at an expensive resort like VGF that only slept 3? IDK
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I think that there are a lot more couples that travel (or maybe even couples with perhaps 1 child) than you may think and don't need to sleep more than 3.
I'm not saying that they would have had to do tons of these, but maybe 10-15 rooms like this would have been nice.
Unfortunately, I don’t think they care in that way. I think they had resorts division needing to get rid of a building, and potentially data to support more studios at VGF would be popular.
VGF was a different situation in that they only added a large amount of hotel rooms to the current association, so IMHO, current members really got nothing out of it other than severely increased competition for the original VGF1 rooms.
I think that there are a lot more couples that travel (or maybe even couples with perhaps 1 child) than you may think and don't need to sleep more than 3.
It may be a "winning" strategy, perhaps, but if that is the direction of DVC, count me out...It's just a winning strategy from Disney's perspective. The evolution of DVC—from condo timeshare to prepaid hotel room.
1. They get to shift risk at aging resorts that are harder to book to DVC members that are guaranteed to come each year (keep up those quarterly travel numbers).
2. The cost of upkeep and maintenance becomes shared between the resort and DVC members (These resorts from the 80's and 90's are becoming increasingly more expensive to maintain).
3. Resorts have fewer rooms to book (can claim 98% occupancy, etc. with less rooms in inventory). (Takes pressure off management and resorts division, less promotional discounts needed.)
4. Upfront cash payments to use elsewhere. (Even if a DVC owner doesn't pay cash they can bundle their mortgage and sell it to Citibank or Chase for immediate cash.)
I don't believe there will ever be another cash deluxe resort built at Walt Disney World. There may be some combos—like if they decide to finally do the resort at the front of EPCOT, the Reflections site or the land set aside for the Mediterranean.
But a sole cash deluxe resort? No way.
They got a new room booking category, resort studios, with two actual queen size beds. I wouldn't discount that. Previously, only OKW had that option at World. That's a game changer for some families.
They're actually doing this at Disneyland Tower. The standard studios only sleep 4.
My understanding is also, that IF DVD is able to squeeze in 5 vs 4 or 3 guests, then more of the annual operating costs is to be paid by the owners of that resort, regardless of how many is actually occupying the room. This might only impact resorts which has a hotel side and not purely DVC.The problem is that the more categories they have, the harder it is for booking. Not saying they can’t do it, but having rooms that sleep fewer than 4 may not maximize things.
But, they have done the tower studios and duos, so they must know that some travelers are groups of two…
The thing we have found is that as the years have gone by (we've now owned for 16 years - still can't believe that...) DVC ownership has really changed the way we visit WDW. Gone are the days of spending 10+ hours each day in the parks and more time is spent just relaxing and enjoying the resorts. Sure we still go to the parks, but we go for 3-5 hours, sometimes more, sometimes less, per day and just go with the flow. If we don't get to something today, we'll get to it next time. And, with the APs back in play, there are Water Parks and Golf to be done as well. Another consideration is that, as you upsize in Villas, it gets harder to go back to the regular room type. You really start to appreciate the living space, and in some properties (namely, Aulani), I would never book less than a 1 Bedroom as it is very important to have the kitchen.
Now that's just us, but I think that perhaps others have seen their visit patterns evolve over time as well.