Disney Vacation Club introduced a Guaranteed Week purchase option nearly three years ago with Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, and that option is again available for the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. But how exactly does it work?
The Guaranteed Week option allows a buyer to secure annual stays during a specific timeshare week, in a specific villa size and view, throughout the duration of their resort ownership. The chart below illustrates the number of points a buyer must purchase in order to secure a Guaranteed Week for each timeframe and villa.
The listed values represent a 50-year average for each week / villa combination, with approximately 10% additional points added. In order to secure a Guaranteed Week accommodation, buyers must purchase the listed number of points at the prevailing price--currently $145 each.
Number of Vacation Points necessary to purchase Guaranteed Week:
|
Studio |
Studio Lake |
One Bedroom Standard |
One Bedroom Lake |
Two Bedroom Standard |
Two Bedroom Lake |
Grand Villa Lake |
|
| Weeks 1-3, 36-38, 49 | 138 | 163 | 272 | 326 | 374 | 448 | 906 |
| Week 48 | 138 | 164 | 275 | 329 | 377 | 452 | 913 |
| Week 39 | 138 | 165 | 285 | 343 | 385 | 463 | 933 |
| Week 50 | 138 | 167 | 292 | 350 | 392 | 472 | 946 |
| Weeks 40-46 | 138 | 168 | 295 | 353 | 395 | 476 | 953 |
| Week 4 | 142 | 168 | 285 | 337 | 386 | 461 | 936 |
| Week 35 | 142 | 168 | 282 | 337 | 385 | 460 | 932 |
| Week 47 | 158 | 190 | 329 | 394 | 447 | 532 | 1099 |
| Weeks 5-6, 18-2, 33-34 | 168 | 201 | 339 | 403 | 453 | 535 | 1092 |
| Week 17 | 177 | 210 | 356 | 425 | 488 | 574 | 1202 |
| Week 23 | 179 | 212 | 361 | 431 | 488 | 576 | 1209 |
| Week 32 | 183 | 216 | 367 | 439 | 506 | 595 | 1261 |
| Weeks 7-14, 24-31 | 186 | 219 | 374 | 448 | 515 | 606 | 1291 |
| Week 52 | 199 | 238 | 404 | 480 | 550 | 655 | 1263 |
| Week 51 | 204 | 245 | 420 | 501 | 573 | 685 | 1313 |
| Weeks 15-16 | 250 | 298 | 509 | 606 | 695 | 827 | 1561 |
Arrival and departure dates for each Week will vary from year-to-year. Disney Vacation Club uses a Sunday-to-Sunday calendar. In 2013, Week 51 begins on December 22. In 2014 the start of that Week moves to December 21, while in 2015, Week 51 begins on December 20.
The number of DVC points required for a specific calendar week's stay often changes due to seasonal adjustments to the points chart. However, the Guaranteed Week purchase secures the accommodation each year regardless of any seasonal adjustments or reallocations.
The reservation is confirmed annually without any phone calls or web requests on the part of the owner.
Annual dues are charged based upon the deeded Guaranteed Week value.
Guaranteed Week owners can opt-out of their week each year if they so desire. The opt-out must occur more than 31 days prior to the scheduled arrival. The Guaranteed Week reservation will be cancelled and the owner will receive the number of Vacation Points listed on their deed (see chart.) These Vacation Points are subject to all of the traditional program guidelines and timeframes for securing reservations, banking points, borrowing points, etc.
Once cancelled, the Guaranteed Week cannot be reinstated for the given calendar year. The villa will be released into the points inventory, and made available to all Disney Vacation Club point owners.
Up to 35% of each Vacation Home type may be sold as Guaranteed Weeks. With six Grand Villas available at the Grand Floridian, two of the villas may be sold to Guaranteed Week owners for each week of the year. The other four will remain available for reservations to points owners.
Some calendar years include a Week 53. Week 53 will not be available for sale.
