RUMORS: Re: Grand Californian Villas

[Leftcoaster]

Here's some rumors I have about Grand California.

1.) Inside speculation is that The Grand will never have general sales. With the two presales going on, DVC is expecting The Grand will sell out BEFORE the general public has an opportunity to purchase.

With nothing else on the horizon, the push will be to sell people Hawaii and then "trade in" to California. Kinda frightening to think of the ticked off people if that happens.

2.) Original plans were to start sales next year but the push will be to start sales this year.

3.) This is pure speculation and not rumor status yet. But, speculation is that they may reconfigure some things so that DVC has more of the rooms in the new wing instead of the original 52 that were announced.


Point charts have not even been discussed at this time.

[carolina_yankee]

Thanks for sharing the rumors. I can't imagine anyone being able to trade into Grand Californian if they expect it to sell out in pre-sales. By the way, won't that mean no new members will be added through Grand Californian? Just current DVC member add-ons? Wow.

Dirk

[Blue&Gold]

I might be a little behind the news, but what pre-sales? Are you referring to the previews being offered to owners who bought at the DL center? Has that started already?

[Leftcoaster]

I might be a little behind the news, but what pre-sales? Are you referring to the previews being offered to owners who bought at the DL center? Has that started already?

The way the "pre sales" will work is that if you purchased DVC through the DL center, you get first dibs. Then, they will do presales to any current DVC members. Then finally, it can be sold to the general public. DVC is not expecting it get that far.

This whole process is a little differently than how they've been doing it before. In the past, they've allowed any DVC member take part of the presale before opening to the general public. My assumption is that they are doing it this way to make good with the people that initially bought DVC in California as a bit of a leap of faith.

The next, interesting question is that after this process, how many new SSR contracts will we see on the resale market? I think we will definately see an increase.

And for Dirk, good catch on realizing that if The Grand sells out during the presales, they will not be adding any new members to DVC.

[tomandrobin]

I can't imagine anyone being able to trade into Grand Californian if they expect it to sell out in pre-sales.

Even though the resort will be very small, I do think that you will be able to get a room at 7 months or less. DL is not the same kind of destination as WDW. Most will stay 3 days or less, not a week or two like WDW.

[Blue&Gold]

Even though the resort will be very small, I do think that you will be able to get a room at 7 months or less. DL is not the same kind of destination as WDW. Most will stay 3 days or less, not a week or two like WDW.

I think Dirk may also be referring to the fact that if sales are that hot, there must be a lot of pent-up "demand" in the DVC membership for DL... That enthusiasm should translate to GCV owners actually using their points at GCV at first.

[Gaston]

The way the "pre sales" will work is that if you purchased DVC through the DL center, you get first dibs. Then, they will do presales to any current DVC members. Then finally, it can be sold to the general public. DVC is not expecting it get that far.

..
A CM I spoke with said that the pre sales to Founders will last only 2 weeks, and then move on to the membership.

[carolina_yankee]

Even though the resort will be very small, I do think that you will be able to get a room at 7 months or less. DL is not the same kind of destination as WDW. Most will stay 3 days or less, not a week or two like WDW.

I'm not convinced. For members from California or the surrounding states, maybe. But I would expect members from elsewhere (which would probably be a decent amount), I can see them using a DVC stay as a base for Southern California - at least for Orange County and the beaches. Personally, if you want to relax a little on a Disneyland trip, I think 4 nights minimum is a must. Once the DCA overhaul is done, then it might be a day and half park. I think Disneyland is at minimum a 2 day park itself - and even that is pretty much commando style.

However, you're probably right for weekend points - but who wants to fly across country for 2 high weekend nights?

If Disney could work out the location, I bet a full-on DVC resort in Anaheim would be a good seller.

Dirk

[tomandrobin]

I'm not convinced. For members from California or the surrounding states, maybe. But I would expect members from elsewhere (which would probably be a decent amount), I can see them using a DVC stay as a base for Southern California - at least for Orange County and the beaches. Personally, if you want to relax a little on a Disneyland trip, I think 4 nights minimum is a must. Once the DCA overhaul is done, then it might be a day and half park. I think Disneyland is at minimum a 2 day park itself - and even that is pretty much commando style.

However, you're probably right for weekend points - but who wants to fly across country for 2 high weekend nights?

If Disney could work out the location, I bet a full-on DVC resort in Anaheim would be a good seller.


My point was that I don't think it will be impossible to trade into at the 7 month mark. Mostly due to the fact it doesn't offer enough to keep a family busy WDW.

When I do finally visit DL, I probably will piggy back it with a trip to Hawaii or something else. So for me, a short 2 or 3 day stay will work, even on a weekend.

I do think that a full size, DVC location will be built in DL. But probably not for another 5 years or so. Completing DCA is a must do and hopefully adding another venue.

[NYDVC]

If Disney could work out the location, I bet a full-on DVC resort in Anaheim would be a good seller.

Dirk

ITA; Also if it had a direct monorail to the parks...WOW, what a great resort!!!:bouncingp

[scy3000]

I was at DLR in March. I agree that you need 2 days for Disneyland park and 1 for DCA. Grand Californian is a gorgeous resort, on par with AKL and WVL in style. We stayed at the Paradise Pier(we are not DVC members..yet) and used that as a base of operations to hit San Diego, Hollywood, LA, beaches, etc... and it worked very well. I certainly can stay there a week or more and still not do everything I wanted in that region. SD is not a terriblely long drive for a nice day, and the scenery is gorgeous. So if they have only 50 units or so, I can see high demand and reservations hard to get. With the prime weather there all the time, having a DVC resort there will increase the popularity of DLR and surrounding areas as a destination vacation.

[JimP]

I personally will probalby not spend full weeks at GC. However... I do plan to buy a few points there... probably two 50 point contracts. I do have other condo options in the area... but staying at GC would be my first choice every time!

For us it is a very short and cheap flight to LA or OC. We can even fly ourselves down... but we would have to stop to refuel... and it would not cost effective against flying commecial (but more fun).

/Jim

[tomandrobin]

I personally will probalby not spend full weeks at GC. However... I do plan to buy a few points there... probably two 50 point contracts. I do have other condo options in the area... but staying at GC would be my first choice every time!

For us it is a very short and cheap flight to LA or OC. We can even fly ourselves down... but we would have to stop to refuel... and it would not cost effective against flying commecial (but more fun).

/Jim

Of course you will have to wait and see what the minimum point purchase is going to be and the cost per point.

[JimP]

Of course you will have to wait and see what the minimum point purchase is going to be and the cost per point.
True... but do you think it will be vastly different than WDW?

/Jim