Lakeshore Lodge DVC Member Preview Event

[heathpack]

So they just announced today that Lakeshore Lodge will be open to DVC members 3 days ahead of regular bookings. For around 200 points you could get a 3 night stay in a studio for 2 people, park tickets, dinner at the Lodges sit down restaurant, dinner at Hoop de Doo, breakfast at Pioneer Hall, a $200 dining credit, and admission to some special event.

I would 100% be interested in this but I have a conflict with the dates!

Disney World Announces Multi-Night "First Wave" Pre-Opening Preview Event at Lakeshore Lodge in 2027

One day after announcing the official opening date, Walt Disney World has revealed an exclusive "First Wave" experience at Disney's Lakeshore Lodge. Here are dates & details about the multi-night DVC Member preview event, pricing,

www.disneytouristblog.com

 

[DanCali]

I got it too. Whether it's a "great deal" or "decent deal" or not really depends... do you value the point at the MF cost (~$9) or at the rental value of $20-$24? But it's certainly a unique opportunity, especially for those without annual passes because the 3-day tickets do have a tangible value that's significant.

That said, what I like most about DVC is the value they they offer for the points with some of the usage options. While you can pay for the room only with points, which makes the math fuzzy and requires comparison to potentially obscene cash rates that are not even public yet, adding a 3rd guest (or more) can be paid with cash, and the point value can be translated to ~$20/pt. That's actually better than the point rental rate after taxes. Marriott can learn a lot from that when it comes to the value they offer for their various non-timeshare point usage options that are often less than 50% of the cost of the maintenance fees...!

 

[heathpack]

Marriott can learn a lot from that when it comes to the value they offer for their various non-timeshare point usage options that are often less than 50% of the cost of the maintenance fees...!

I feel like DVC manages to rake it in without offering its member insultingly bad deals.

I guess we haven’t seen points charts yet but we have an upcoming 4 night stay at Poly that’s 91 points. So let’s say Lakeshore in 75 points for 3 nights. I ask myself: would I pay around 125 points for 3 day hoppers for 2 (I assume around $800), dinner for 2 at HDD (around $160), dinner at this new restaurant (who knows? Maybe $120), breakfast for 2 at FW ($40ish) and a $200 dining card. Total maybe $1300.

Yes I would totally do that! If I didn’t have the conflict.

 

[DeeVeeCee97]

Would love to do it also. We have annual passes tho, so that kind of takes the “value” away. To me it is a once in a lifetime opportunity (and my lifetime is maybe another 10 years). I can easily borrow points to make this happen. Our daughter is an owner also but would not want to share a studio with her. The one bedroom is super pointy. I will be spending a few days crunching numbers and points. I fully intended to take advantage of the October 6th date to make a “cash” reservation … really wish the real points charts were available. This resort is going to be the perfect place for mornings and evenings. Hard to believe this is the same place where River Country was.
I didn’t see anything about “no refunds”. But if I borrow points….can’t unborrow them. Have a couple months to think about it. It is very temping. From what I read, member services will be closed that day and will only be handling reservations for this event and for anyone that has a reservation 5 days out and needs assistance. Good idea, but I’m sure the wait will be very long.

 

[AnnaS]

The chart reminded me of the DCL cruise chart. (All inclusive deal).

Is this the first time an offer like this has been offered when getting ready to open a new DVC resort. I don't remember any before.

 

[kanerf]

I plan to do it. I guess it depends on how many slots they have and who is able to get in on the call before they are all gone. At least the call window starts at 10AM instead of the usual 0600.

 

[heathpack]

I plan to do it. I guess it depends on how many slots they have and who is able to get in on the call before they are all gone. At least the call window starts at 10AM instead of the usual 0600.

You have to post a trip report here if you get the reservation. Then I can live vicariously through you!

 

[TheHolleys87]

While you can pay for the room only with points,

Actually, you must pay for the first two guests with points, which then become Reservation Points because this is considered a Disney Collection exchange. Furthermore, being a Disney Collection exchange means that resale points purchased after March 21, 2011, cannot be used to book it.

I didn’t see anything about “no refunds”. But if I borrow points….can’t unborrow them.

Correct, but you could cancel and get your points back. However, since they would be Reservation Points, they couldn’t be used for a DVC resort reservation, only for a Disney cruise, Adventures by Disney, hotels in the Concierge Collection, etc.

The least expensive room is a Duo Studio, which sleeps only 2 and doesn’t have a kitchenette, at 184 points (for the full package, 2 guests). The least expensive Deluxe Studio is 196 points, and the least expensive 1BR is 248 points.

And despite all those restrictions and caveats, am I excited and hoping to book a Duo Studio for this? Yes, yes I am!

(I don’t usually book studios because I like to eat breakfast in my jammies and get dressed afterwards. But with one breakfast included and an additional $200 Disney Dining card per person, I’ll manage getting dressed before breakfast.)

Edited to add, I’ve realized this event is taking the place of a soft open. They’ll be testing everything, the CMs, the rooms, the dining, whatever, and will be trying to fix it before the official opening on July 1. I still wanna go!

 

[heathpack]

Actually, you must pay for the first two guests with points, which then become Reservation Points because this is considered a Disney Collection exchange. Furthermore, being a Disney Collection exchange means that resale points purchased after March 21, 2011, cannot be used to book it.

Correct, but you could cancel and get your points back. However, since they would be Reservation Points, they couldn’t be used for a DVC resort reservation, only for a Disney cruise, Adventures by Disney, hotels in the Concierge Collection, etc.

The least expensive room is a Duo Studio, which sleeps only 2 and doesn’t have a kitchenette, at 184 points (for the full package, 2 guests). The least expensive Deluxe Studio is 196 points, and the least expensive 1BR is 248 points.

And despite all those restrictions and caveats, am I excited and hoping to book a Duo Studio for this? Yes, yes I am!

(I don’t usually book studios because I like to eat breakfast in my jammies and get dressed afterwards. But with one breakfast included and an additional $200 Disney Dining card per person, I’ll manage getting dressed before breakfast.)

Edited to add, I’ve realized this event is taking the place of a soft open. They’ll be testing everything, the CMs, the rooms, the dining, whatever, and will be trying to fix it before the official opening on July 1. I still wanna go!

Good point, I could not book this anyway. I was thinking I could because we have a grandfathered resale contract but its only a 25 point contract so we would not have enough points. Which is overall ok because if I can go anywhere, I need to go to a scientific conference in Montreal that week and even for that I have a conflict.

Its funny- I am constitutionally opposed to purchasing direct (because I am cheap!). But for DVC, I actively consider it. This is testament to their tactics. I absolutely will never respond to the all-stick approach of Marriott: Buy more because we are continually devaluing what you own and the only solution is to buy more from us! Um, no.

Whereas Disney employs a carrot approach: Keep what you've got and enjoy it. But if you buy direct we will give you X, Y and Z extra things! Um, maybe.

When I was 16 years old with money from my first job, I bought 110 shares of a penny stock. I guess I was some kind of investing prodigy (not! I suspect either my Dad recommended it, its in what was his industry and he might have been familiar with this company, or my brother suggested it, as he actually was an investing prodigy) because this stock was trading at $107 per share last week. I regularly think about selling it and buying a direct DVC contract. This stock is forecast to be trading at $115-$130/share within 12 months, so I actually might do this with that money from my "first real job" 45 years ago.

Aw good job DVC- you have made me consider parting with a financial asset I have held for most of my life!

 

[heitmullerj02]

This is when I wish I had bought when it was first offered. Instead took the cheaper route with Vistana(resale) which my husband also thought a waste of $$. Now my sister offered her GF points but @70, not sure if I’m too old.

 

[DanCali]

Its funny- I am constitutionally opposed to purchasing direct (because I am cheap!). But for DVC, I actively consider it. This is testament to their tactics. I absolutely will never respond to the all-stick approach of Marriott: Buy more because we are continually devaluing what you own and the only solution is to buy more from us! Um, no.

Whereas Disney employs a carrot approach: Keep what you've got and enjoy it. But if you buy direct we will give you X, Y and Z extra things! Um, maybe.

When I was 16 years old with money from my first job, I bought 110 shares of a penny stock. I guess I was some kind of investing prodigy (not! I suspect either my Dad recommended it, its in what was his industry and he might have been familiar with this company, or my brother suggested it, as he actually was an investing prodigy) because this stock was trading at $107 per share last week. I regularly think about selling it and buying a direct DVC contract. This stock is forecast to be trading at $115-$130/share within 12 months, so I actually might do this with that money from my "first real job" 45 years ago.

Aw good job DVC- you have made me consider parting with a financial asset I have held for most of my life!

I would (99%) never buy a DVC resort with the newer resale restrictions because I know what it does to resale values over time and have no interest in taking that kind of immediate loss, even on paper. The one thing that may change my mind about buying direct at Riviera or the new LSL is if they offered some kind of "retro" program for resale contracts like Vistana/Marriott do. I don't think it'll happen anytime soon.

But yes, we have bought direct at several O14 resorts including selling Poly resale to buy Poly direct as recently as in the past 12 months. We still own more resale then direct, but no regrets on the direct purchases, especially since you do need those points to book the newer restricted resorts (we do like staying at CFW and Riviera) and you may need more after 2042 when some O14 resorts like BWV and BCV may become restricted too.

 

[heathpack]

I would (99%) never buy a DVC resort with the newer resale restrictions because I know what it does to resale values over time and have no interest in taking that kind of immediate loss, even on paper. The one thing that may change my mind about buying direct at Riviera or the new LSL is if they offered some kind of "retro" program for resale contracts like Vistana/Marriott do. I don't think it'll happen anytime soon.

But yes, we have bought direct at several O14 resorts including selling Poly resale to buy Poly direct as recently as in the past 12 months. We still own more resale then direct, but no regrets on the direct purchases, especially since you do need those points to book the newer restricted resorts (we do like staying at CFW and Riviera) and you may need more after 2042 when some O14 resorts like BWV and BCV may become restricted too.

I was morally opposed to Riveria because of the resale restriction but now I wonder if buying a small Riveria resale contract makes some sort of sense, just to use at Riveria. However we now have 490 points and we just need to use those and see what pattern develops. We realistically only have about 15 years of use left in our lifespans. So deciding that we’re ok with not staying at anything but O14 is probably actually our best move. And I don’t think would be too terrible. Basically our favorite resorts are WL, VGF, Poly, and AKL. We own at CCV and VGF and can probably make the rest work out just fine and really enjoy our ownership without buying more

 

[DanCali]

I was morally opposed to Riveria because of the resale restriction but now I wonder if buying a small Riveria resale contract makes some sort of sense, just to use at Riveria. However we now have 490 points and we just need to use those and see what pattern develops. We realistically only have about 15 years of use left in our lifespans. So deciding that we’re ok with not staying at anything but O14 is probably actually our best move. And I don’t think would be too terrible. Basically our favorite resorts are WL, VGF, Poly, and AKL. We own at CCV and VGF and can probably make the rest work out just fine and really enjoy our ownership without buying more

It's just a matter of price... You'll only be able to use those points at Riviera for the next 45 years. So how much value do you lose by not being able to trade? Do you think it should cost about as much as BLT which gives you access to 14 resorts?

I may also buy Riviera resale, but I think the price has a lot more room to go down. The longest any owner has owned it is about 7 years and the average is probably 3-4 years. In a few more years you'll have a lot more supply and Econ 101 suggests equilibrium prices are likely to fall as a result.

 

[TheHolleys87]

This is when I wish I had bought when it was first offered. Instead took the cheaper route with Vistana(resale) which my husband also thought a waste of $$. Now my sister offered her GF points but @70, not sure if I’m too old.

Well, we’re older than you and still visiting WDW, both as a couple and with our kids & grands. So to me it would depend on whether you’d use those points or not. BTW if your sister is offering her GF points for you to own at no cost, it would be a gratuitous transfer, no ROFR needed, and LT Transfers could handle it easily.

 

[heitmullerj02]

Well I wish it was free, would then take it. She is offering @original purchase price, which is still a deal. My problem is it’s only enough for a studio(me) that means any travel companion ( Widowed) has to pay the full price to stay @ GF, and it’s high per night.

 

[heathpack]

Well I wish it was free, would then take it. She is offering @original purchase price, which is still a deal. My problem is it’s only enough for a studio(me) that means any travel companion ( Widowed) has to pay the full price to stay @ GF, and it’s high per night.

Are you factoring in banking and borrowing? You could potentially get two studios or a 1BR every other year.

However, if you are talking about the original direct purchase price of $150/pt, you can buy resale contracts for around that right now. I purchased a 150 point contract for $150/pt last October. So you could get a larger resale contract if that suits you better.

As far as deciding whether 70 is too old to purchase, I would add up all the costs of buying (cost of contract + closing costs + any other fees) and all the costs of selling, how many points you would use and what the $/pt is and then determine whether that is cheaper than renting or not.

Example
If this is a 150 point contract and it costs you $23,500 all-in to buy it at $150/pt
You keep it for 5 years and use 150 x 5= 750 points
Then you sell it after 5 years for $155/pt less 10% commission=$20,500
MF on those points is currently $8.23/pt, which over 5 years assuming a 3% annual increase is $6620
So our total cost would be $3000 purchase price + $6620 for 750 points which is $12.80/pt, around 50% of the going rental rate

To anticipate the cry of "But the opportunity cost of that money!": If you otherwise would save rather than spend that $10,000 from your DVC kitty, lets say that you lost the opportunity for a 3.5% return on this money over 5 years (because this is presumably extra cash that you have in a high yield savings account): that's another $2000. Say you added that in to the overall "cost" of the DVC ownership: now we are at $3000 + $6620 + $2000 as the cost of owning 150 points for 5 years. That $15.50 per point, around $10/pt less than the going rental rate.

So to me, there's a good chance that the conclusion is "buy it" despite being 70, as long as you think you'd actually make use of it.

 

[DeeVeeCee97]

@heathpack….you are a numbers cruncher in addition to your day job? Very thorough and helpful analysis.

I’m using this formula that is out there somewhere that someone figured out to justify booking this once in a lifetime thing. If I use my 200 point BWV contract, according to this formula, it costs me $13.40 per point to use these points. If I am lucky enough to score a duo studio (doubtful but you never know) it’s “costing” me $2,466 to use 184 points. I estimate $1,100 in gifts (2 dinners, breakfast, dining gift card…not including the 3 day park hopper because we have a/p’s) so $1,366 “cost”…..but I don’t feel it because it’s points (hard to explain…but some will know what I mean). The studios are a bit more depending on views, but the one bedroom jumps almost 30 points more than the best studio view. 216 vs 248. I could still do it….and the one bedrooms sleep five!!!! Hallelujah! Could bring some family members on board.
@heitmullerj02….if you can acquire your sisters contract and retain her “grandfathered in” clause….you only live once….if it will make you happy..think really hard about it. GF studios in the original DVC building have a unique bathroom set up if I recall correctly. You can maybe make it work with your traveling companion or maybe stay in a less pointy resort and get a 1 bedroom.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Well, I’ve been thinking about the implications of booking this and then having to cancel and being left with Reservation Points. The RP would have to be used by the end of our September UY, meaning by August 31 of next year. We’re both of an age where “things happen,” so it might not be the wisest thing to commit that many points, even though I’d really love to go. We don’t have to decide until November….

 

[DeeVeeCee97]

Well, I’ve been thinking about the implications of booking this and then having to cancel and being left with Reservation Points. The RP would have to be used by the end of our September UY, meaning by August 31 of next year. We’re both of an age where “things happen,” so it might not be the wisest thing to commit that many points, even though I’d really love to go. We don’t have to decide until November….

I am wondering how many duo studios are available. Riviera has 24 Tower rooms and 300 (or400) rooms, hard to figure with 2 bedroom lockoffs. Lakeshore Lodge has well over 900 rooms. Duo studios will be snatched up first. Cheapest studios 2nd and third. Not sure if I’m willing to commit to a one bedroom unless other family members will be on board. Like you said, we have until November to figure it out….and who knows, DVC could make some changes and scrap the idea. We too are of “an age” and have had to change plans….and luckily DVC has been mostly gracious, and they don’t have to be. We also have September use year for most of our contracts.
I really want to do this,,,,just like I’m always tempted to do a members cruise (but too many points). But I take comfort in the fact that I’ll be able to book this the normal way if I don’t do this First Wave.

 

[heitmullerj02]

Thanks for the detailed analysis. My sister has a December use year. They were not so generous when she had a stroke and needed to cancel. Yes they would refund the points but not extend the use year past 2026, there is nothing to book at this point and she put in an insurance claim for the maintenance fee instead. It really the December use year that holds me back, use it or lose it.

 

[heathpack]

Thanks for the detailed analysis. My sister has a December use year. They were not so generous when she had a stroke and needed to cancel. Yes they would refund the points but not extend the use year past 2026, there is nothing to book at this point and she put in an insurance claim for the maintenance fee instead. It really the December use year that holds me back, use it or lose it.

That’s not how it works. Dec UY points are good for a full year just like all other points. Dec 2026 UY points are good until Nov 2027, Dec 2025 UY points are good until Nov 2026, and so on.

When was your sisters trip (what month and year)? When did she cancel? What years points were used to make the reservation?

Maybe we can help you understand what went down. However it’s important to realize that Dec 2026 UY points do NOT expire on Dec 31, 2026 which is what it sounds like you are thinking.

 

[bnoble]

It really the December use year that holds me back, use it or lose it.

With a December UY, I think you are probably okay. You'd be converting any points you use to Reservation Points in your 2026 UY---you would have until the end of November 2027 to use them. If you ended up canceling the June first wave thing, you could use them to book e.g. some other Disney hotel with them sometime later that summer or fall. That's not the very best use of points, but better than to let them go to waste.

 

[heathpack]

With a December UY, I think you are probably okay. You'd be converting any points you use to Reservation Points in your 2026 UY---you would have until the end of November 2027 to use them. If you ended up canceling the June first wave thing, you could use them to book e.g. some other Disney hotel with them sometime later that summer or fall. That's not the very best use of points, but better than to let them go to waste.

He/she is not referring to booking the Lakeshore Lodge member trip. This post refers to the possibility of a sale of a Dec UY contract by heitmullerj02's sister to @heitmullerj02 for the sister's original purchase price.

It seems @heitmullerj02 thinks that the sister's cancelled reservation resulted in the loss of the points because it was a Dec UY. I have the impression that @heitmullerj02 mistakenly believes that Dec UY points expire on Dec 31, the end of the calendar year, not the following Nov 31, the end of the UY.

 

[bnoble]

Ah, I should probably read more closely.

 

[AnnaS]

Well I wish it was free, would then take it. She is offering @original purchase price, which is still a deal. My problem is it’s only enough for a studio(me) that means any travel companion ( Widowed) has to pay the full price to stay @ GF, and it’s high per night.

Putting price per point/money aside. Do you enjoy going to Disney? Do you take any trips solo anywhere? Being recently a widow myself, I am happy to have DVC even more so now. It is probably (for now anyway) the only place I can feel comfortable going solo and I have already done so. Owned DVC 26 years. So many trips with my family, friends and just DH and me.

I have taken other trips solo but they are to family (Florida, etc.). Disney I managed solo. Not easy at first (so many great memories) but I did it. I don't want to sit home and wait for someone to go on vacation with (besides my kids). Just something to think about.