Ahh, why is it so expensive

[kailuagirl]

We have gone to our favorite place Disneyland for the last 4 years, since our daughter turned 2, she is now 6. We always stay at GCH. I just don't know how we are going to do it this year. It is so expensive, a package used to cost us about $1350 - $1600, this year it is coming in at $3000 and we still would need to add another night at $409+ tax, plus parking, food, goodies, airfare, car rental, etc., it's gonna end up costing us like $6000 to $7000 to go to Disneyland for 3 in a standard room. Such a bummer. It's been a really rough year medically and we so deserve it. I know, we don't have to stay at the GCH, but that is our special place and all we really know. We love it there. Sorry, I just had to shed my disappointment with someone and only you other Disney lovers would understand. Even DH who usually doesn't squak about the price is saying oh wow. wahhhh

We are going early October, looking at the 6th for 5 nights. I wish Gays Days rate was open to supporters this year

Thanks for listening to my rant, just trying to figure this all out.

 

[Geemo]

With your daughter now 6, she might enjoy the Disneyland Hotel.
I haven't been there since the new rooms and pool. But everyone talks about the rooms light-up headboards. The Monorail slides at the pool is fun for that age.

We've stayed at the GCH several times. It my first choice. I've been able to swing the GCH when there are only 2 or 3 in my group. But when the number exceeds 3, I have to price out other options. When I had six going last trip, we had to stay on Harbor, since DLR hotels have a max of 5 in a room. I could afford getting two rooms...

Kids seem to go with the flow. At 6yr old they don't understand the overall cost for a trip. They only now the joy of the trip.

If Disney make you happy..... I say go for it. See what the other DLR hotels rate are for you dates. If those are still out or your range, check a few over on Harbor.

Good luck finding your way back to Disneyland in October.

Geemo

 

[tdashgirl]

I'm sorry, I feel for you IMO the prices for the Disney hotels are just nuts. Obviously, not everyone thinks that, because they are still booking their rooms! It's been years since I've been able to splurge on them, it's just so much more compared to other nearby hotels.

 

[tinibee]

That is pricey! Have you considered maybe renting Disney Vacation Club points for a villa? I don't know if that would really reduce your costs, but with your dates for a studio villa that sleeps four and at $14 a point for the needed 100 points (they range from $12-$15 depending on who is renting to you) it would be about $1400. And you wouldn't have to pay for parking! Getting a villa at GCH can be challenging due to limited inventory, but you never know!

I'm a DVC owner and while I occasionally ask myself what was I thinking when we purchased it, I've never regretted it.

I know DVC owning/renting isn't for everyone, but thought I'd throw it out there in case it is a viable option for you. Good luck! I've never stayed at the GCH. Hoping to get there next summer!

 

[DarthMole]

How did a package only cost $1350 - $1600 in the past? For 5 nights at the GCH wih tickets? Prices haven't gone up that much, have they? Something doesn't make sense here.

 

[tdashgirl]

How did a package only cost $1350 - $1600 in the past? For 5 nights at the GCH wih tickets? Prices haven't gone up that much, have they? Something doesn't make sense here.

They really have I stayed at GCH for a similar price when they had a pay for 3 nights, get 2 free promotion (and the 3 nights were in the upper 200 range, not 400 something). In 2009 I stayed at the DLH for $139/night, AP rate in October. Those days are long gone.

 

[qckrun]

That is pricey! Have you considered maybe renting Disney Vacation Club points for a villa? I don't know if that would really reduce your costs, but with your dates for a studio villa that sleeps four and at $14 a point for the needed 100 points (they range from $12-$15 depending on who is renting to you) it would be about $1400. And you wouldn't have to pay for parking! Getting a villa at GCH can be challenging due to limited inventory, but you never know!

I'm a DVC owner and while I occasionally ask myself what was I thinking when we purchased it, I've never regretted it.

I know DVC owning/renting isn't for everyone, but thought I'd throw it out there in case it is a viable option for you. Good luck! I've never stayed at the GCH. Hoping to get there next summer!

Can anyone rent a DVC points? And where would one go about to rent a room through DVC at GCH?

Thanks.

Also you can have more than 5 at DLH however you must have a 2-bed suite...

 

[MinnieMom13]

The Grand is my favorite hotel as well, but we haven't stayed there in two years because the prices have exceeded what we're willing to pay. It's not a matter of shaving off one night to be able to afford it. We simply have a price point we're not willing to exceed. It's the principle of the thing--which also keeps us from paying extra to attend MNSSHP. I refuse to pay Disney twice for one park day. I like to think that if enough of us balk at price increases/add ons, the prices won't continue to increase.

The Disneyland Hotel is a wonderful consolation prize!

 

[SMD]

It's the principle of the thing--which also keeps us from paying extra to attend MNSSHP. I refuse to pay Disney twice for one park day.

I'm all for principles, but in this case aren't you just missing out on a really fun event? There are options, like buying 1 less day on a PH and using the party as that day's admission or going on a blockout day. I guess you'd be paying twice if you have premium or premier, but Disney charges for some events. Sometimes I can afford them and sometimes they're worth the expense. That's not really a matter of principle, it's whether or not the experience is worth the cost of admission to me.

 

[DarthMole]

They really have I stayed at GCH for a similar price when they had a pay for 3 nights, get 2 free promotion (and the 3 nights were in the upper 200 range, not 400 something). In 2009 I stayed at the DLH for $139/night, AP rate in October. Those days are long gone.

Prices have been increasing each year, no doubt, and with the expansion of EMH they bumped the prices even more. I guess I'm most curious how the OP was able to get a comparable package last year for $1600. There were virtually no deals at all last year with the opening of Carsland.

 

[DizMe]

Next time, maybe you could plan for Dapper Day times (early Sept and Feb). That way you could take advantage of their rates (there is no event or conference you have to attend) and the rates are really good--$210/night for GCH. We used to always go in October but with the crowds and the prices we have changed our pattern. Dapper Day is just about dressing up, and most people choose a retro look, so it's fun if you do decide to participate!

 

[rainyday77]

GC is probably nice but if you haven't stayed at the other 2 disney hotels that could be a fun experience as well. gC doesn't have that disney feel to me so my goal is to stay at DLH and PP once each (DLH will be August). We always stay on harbour which saves us money and allows us to spend it on character meals etc. It's how you think about it that makes a difference. The main focus is that you get to go to disneyland!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Prices have been increasing each year, no doubt, and with the expansion of EMH they bumped the prices even more. I guess I'm most curious how the OP was able to get a comparable package last year for $1600. There were virtually no deals at all last year with the opening of Carsland.

I'm guessing maybe OP used Gay Days rates? Even so I'm still wondering what a package is. I can't imagine GCH for 5 nights plus 2 adult and 1 child DL ticket all for $1300 even before Carsland. We've only ever stayed onsite twice though, not recently, and never at the GCH, so maybe I just don't have enough knowledge/experience on this topic.

 

[luulu1999]

Why not try a good neighbor hotel? I would LOVE to stay on site but I just can't make myself pay that kind of money when there are other perfectly fine options so close....I would rather use that money to spend on fun stuff

 

[Jaina]

Why not try a good neighbor hotel? I would LOVE to stay on site but I just can't make myself pay that kind of money when there are other perfectly fine options so close....I would rather use that money to spend on fun stuff

Someday we're going to stay onsite, but we never have before, and have had some absolutely magical stays anyway. I can never figure out how people can afford to stay in GCH at all, but I'm hoping to figure it out some day! ;-) That's crazy that the rates have gone up so much in the last few years!

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Can anyone rent a DVC points? And where would one go about to rent a room through DVC at GCH?

Thanks.

Also you can have more than 5 at DLH however you must have a 2-bed suite...

You need to understand that you are renting points from a DVC member, not Disney, so the reservation is in their hands right up to check in. There is a huge trust factor involved. Because GCV is so small, you will need to book your stay a minimum of 7 months ahead of time, and up to 11 months ahead of time during busy times(October-December). To book before 7 months, you need to rent from a DVC member who has GCV as their home resort. Because it is such a small resort, there are fewer members and that can be harder to do. Expect to pay between $13-15 per point for the advanced booking window. In the DVC section of dis, you will see a board for rental points(you need to be logged in to see it). You cannot post a points request, but you can respond to anyone selling points. Once the 7 month window opens, any DVC member can book it, but the rooms get snapped up at that point. It used to be a lot easier to book a villa, but in the past year and a half, demand has gone way up. HTH.

 

[jitterbug]

I feel your pain! I looked back at my spreadsheet for our Jan/Feb 2011 trip for 5 nights. Yup, just over $2000 for 5 nights at GCH, 4 day parkhoppers, airport transfers, 2 character dining breakfasts, and WOC picnic. This was for 2 adults and 1 child.

This year, there's no way we can get close to that. We have 1 more child to account for, but GCH (4 nights) and 4-day parkhoppers alone get us to that amount. We called and booked the AAA rate, as that was the best we could do. Did you see on mousesavers, she listed a 20% off DLR rooms through cheaptickets, if you don't have AAA?

Because we've never been for the holidays, we thought we'd try mid-November, so I guess that's the trade off. We are pulling DD out of kindergarten for a week, instead of going during fall break, though. At least we were able to book when Hawaiian Air dropped their fares below $400 r/t. I am keeping hope alive that as we get closer to the fall, there'll be either more hotel or ticket deals.

 

[chabelita545]

I agree with tdashgirl, luulu1999 and rainyday77. Regardless of where you stay, the point is that you get to go to Disneyland!

We stayed at the GC in 2005 and it cost a fortune even then. All our other trips have been offsite at various hotels and all those trips were equally as fun as the time we stayed at the GC. We like staying on Harbor, close enough to walk. It saves us enough money to pay for a whole other trip!

 

[Midnightred]

We were intriqued by the park entrance fro GCH to CA. Since my DH has so much fatique since his heart attack this year, I am entertaining thr idea of staying there in 2016. We will just have to see. I am also thinking of staying less days and utilizing early entry. The shuttle and walking from HOJO seemed like a burden this time around. My cousin and her kids will never pay that kind of money, and we go at the same time. It's alot of fun for us to all stay at the same place. Who knows how things will be by then?

Midnightred

 

[Nonsuch]

We have gone to our favorite place Disneyland for the last 4 years, since our daughter turned 2, she is now 6. We always stay at GCH.

Annual visits to GCH makes you a perfect candidate for DVC membership
"Membership" is just marketing for timeshare ownership. The high room rates at the GCH have made ownership at the VGC a good "investment" for frequent guests.

We are going early October, looking at the 6th for 5 nights. I wish Gays Days rate was open to supporters this year

The only limitation introduced this year:

...In order to qualify for the group rate, your stay must include one of the following nights: October 3, October 4, or October 5, 2013.