My suggestion....do some research outside of Disboards as well. There is a heavy anti VDH, pro GCV contingent here. It's Kanye West/taylor swift...""Yo, VDH I'm really happy for you, I'mma let you finish, but GCV is the best
DVC hotel of all time! "
We've got 900 points at VDH. We go multiple times a year, usually 20-22 days total. We've gone to DLR resort for years, and honestly didn't know about DVC until we stayed at Aulani, and bought in there (we've got 1000+ points there). Once we learned about GCV and the then under construction VDH tower we looked into buying in SoCal as we were spending a TON of money staying on site up to that point.
We ended up buying at VDH instead of GCV as getting 900 points in the same use year would have been astronomical in cost upfront, as well as taken more time to accumulate that many points than we wanted. Our kids are getting older (as are we), and we wanted to use them immediately. We were already paying TOT at the DLH for multiple trips a year, so that was a non issues for us (and the TOT rate at VDH is actually less than what you'd pay on cash at DLH). Would it be nice if VDH had no TOT, of course, not going to lie, but it is what it is, and we're ok with it.
We've had multiple trips in 1 and 2 BRs and the views in those rooms are great, was able to watch the Fireworks from all of them. Yes, there are some crappy views from the studios (we had one when we stayed in a studio), we haven't had that yet in the villas. Just like there are some crappy views at GCV. You can have a beautiful view of DCA, or you can be looking at trees, or the brown wall separating the hotel and the park. There's good and bad at both. Don't forget your ear plugs at DCA if you're early to bed!
Just at VDH in April and no wear and tear visible in the 1BR we had. We had a minor issue with the refrigerator that was fixed the first day by maintenance.
We stayed at GCH one trip prior to buying at VDH and the lobby, location, and food options are great (although the last trip we were disappointed with storytellers, and thought Goofy’s had improved quite a bit).The Lobby is amazing! I love craftsman style, but didn't like the rooms. Old and busted and dark. No disney feel. VDH screams disney, and the rooms are nice and bright, we love them as do our kids. The VDH lobby is nice as well. Great Disney mural on the wall, very modern design. We do online check in, but we always still enter through the DLH which we also love for its modern design.
We prefer the pools at DLH over GCV (as do our kids). We've never encountered a loud drunk at DLH, which we have at GCH pools (usually when eating at the craftsman grill)
We've had no issues booking villas at 11 months. we've got our next two trips on the books. The only time we've had issues is at 30-45 days out wanting to add another night.
We've also wait listed at GCV many times (with our Aulani points, prior to VDH opening) to see if we can squeeze in a weekend trip....nothing ever came thru. I know some here have had luck, and maybe when we retire we'll have better luck with more schedule flexibility, but trying to get a 1 or 2BR there at 7 months that works with our kids school schedule has been impossible, and looking at the 11 month window hasn't looked a whole lot better. They are at the age now where we can't pull them out for DLR trips anymore, so we are stuck traveling when the school schedule allows, maybe missing one day at the start or end of a trip.
All the talk about the long walk cracks me up, especially from the WDW contingent where you need to take a boat, bus, monorail or shuttle to get anywhere, all in the Florida Heat and Humidity! Even to get around at some of the hotels you need a shuttle! Of course nothing beats GCV for location, but it's not as bad as it's made out to be from DLH/VDH. We left Rise one night and from exiting the ride to our room in the VDH tower it was about 20 min walk back. From the tomorrowland monorail station to the hotel is was about 17 mins. I'm old, overweight, have a busted up knee....and I do fine.
So take everything posted here a grain of salt as we all have a bias (even me!) and do some homework outside of here as well before deciding.
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.. Im the anti VDH its a long walk person. I dont think it's fair to compare it to WDW because it's not WDW. I wouldn't say I am biased since I currently do not own any DVC officially. All my experiences have been staying on cash. As a non owner having stayed at both VDH and VGC I just give my personal opinion of VDH. It isnt something I would ever sink that much money into, thats why my original response said stay before buying. I thought I would love it and didn't, Id be sick if I had bought in then went and didn't love it and had major regret every time I walked past VGC on my visits.
The self parking at GCV can put you 1/4 mile away from the hotel if you're stuck at the furthest end of the lot, then you have to cross 
