Dilemma....Use DVC Points for Disney Collection (Cali) or stay off site

[Jim from Jersey]

We are currently on a wait list for Villas at Disneys Grand Californian. It doesn't look good. Does anyone have any experience using DVC Points to stay in a non DVC villa at any of the Disneyland hotels? This will be our first time to Disneyland after 20+ stays at WDW. I know that it is not point / cost effective to stay in a non DVC room, but we really wanted to stay on property and would rather not lay out that kind of cash for a regular room. So with that said, what would be your suggestions...... A Disneyland hotel (non DVC) using DVC points or staying off site at like the Marriot in a 2 bedroom Villa. Any help would be appreciated.

J from J

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Are you talking about staying at the Newport Coast Villas? Plan on a 30-45 minute drive every day to DL. If you have the points, use them to book at PPH or DLH. There is no fee if DL if using points for Disney Collection and if I remember right, parking is included.

 

[bumbershoot]

...but we really wanted to stay on property...

If you don't use your points to stay where you want to stay, what will you do with your points? Even though officially it's not a value, is there some value-filled way you would ultimately use those points? Or is it worth it, enough, to you to stay at DLH or PPH*?

We stayed at DLH on points and it was a great decision for us.



*I think that maybe they are allowing us to book GC Hotel on points again, but I'm not totally sure.

 

[DebbieB]

I've used my points at Paradise Pier and also at Grand California before it was DVC. One of the big advantages of Disneyland is everything is within walking distance. I have stayed a couple times at Homewood Suites, about a mile from the gate, which required a shuttle, I preferred onsite. No worry about what time the next shuttle is.

 

[LauraLea]

Can you rent out your points and then use the funds to get a cash (hopefully discounted) room on-site?

Laura

 

[ludari]

I know you said you are wait listed but have you searched for any vacancies for any of your dates at VGC? You might have to split your stay if you can't get all your dates, which I've done before and it wasn't a big deal.

 

[Breyean]

I also have stayed at PPH and the GCH (before DVC was there) and while they cost more points now than when I did it years ago, besides the convenience of walking to the parks and free parking at the hotel lots, the biggest (for us) benefit at staying at at DLR hotel was the extra hours you can get at the parks.

Our last trip was in September, and they were still doing it then. DLR guests can enter the parks 1 hour before others (they alternate which park day by day). We can do SO much in that hour before the crowds show up. This is a BIG benefit to staying on property at DLR, as long as they continue offering it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have stayed on property once and now don't bother.

Unlike Florida the location benefit is not there. As a matter of fact there are some off property locations that are closer then Paradise Pier

 

[DeDobber]

I don't know what your dates are, but I found a cancellation in September for this Christmas at VGC. I was checking more often than most, though, since I had automated the process. DVC waitlists suck. Try using my tool at ******.com. You can at least use it to see when was the last time your particular dates were available.

 

[dion1159]

We just stayed at the GCF late October - yes not the best value of points but you will most likely get your dates. It was a regular room and it was great. The convenience is worth it. We could walk to DL and CA and Downtown Disney. Loved it!

 

[rcchello]

I used my points to stay at the Disneyland hotel once and had a fantastic time. Ignoring the value of points debate, the only real problem with using points is they immediately turn into reservation points. Reservation points cannot be used for DVC rooms, so if you cancel you can only use them in the current use year for another trade, such as a cruise or a hotel (which may require the payment of a fee).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yep - I've done that. There are things of far worse value to use your points on IMO. I've used points at all three hotels and would again. I like to be onsite and do see a benefit. The fact that there isn't a $95 exchange fee makes it better right off the bat. The last time I stayed at the DLH the value was right around $9/pt. To not bother renting and being that it was still greater value than my point purchase cost + MF's meant it worked for me.

 

[redboxcar]

I've stayed at PPH and DLH multiple times using DVC points. It's definitely not the best value financially - but they're points that I paid for and would not otherwise be using that use year - so I can either use them for my shorter DLR stay or bank them for use for a potential WDW stay the following year. Due to the ease of booking, still being on property, and not having to come out of pocket for hotel on my DLR stay - I totally think it's worth it.

 

[chopstick]

How far out is your reservation? i have given up on the waitlist two different times for GCV and went ahead and used a ridiculous amount of points at the hotel portion only to continue checking and eventually see availability on the dates I wanted within a week or two of checking in and being stuck with the hotel reservation. I am debating the same thing for 2 nights I have wait listed there in January and think I'm going to risk waiting as long as possible before going the hotel route..

 

[luv2sleep]

We are currently on a wait list for Villas at Disneys Grand Californian. It doesn't look good. Does anyone have any experience using DVC Points to stay in a non DVC villa at any of the Disneyland hotels? This will be our first time to Disneyland after 20+ stays at WDW. I know that it is not point / cost effective to stay in a non DVC room, but we really wanted to stay on property and would rather not lay out that kind of cash for a regular room. So with that said, what would be your suggestions...... A Disneyland hotel (non DVC) using DVC points or staying off site at like the Marriot in a 2 bedroom Villa. Any help would be appreciated. J from J

I did and it was great! I'd definitely do it again. As a southern CA resident stayed off site many times and one stay at the PPH. CGH was hands down the best hotel experience I've ever had on a DL trip. Well worth the points.

 

[disneydenisel]

We used points to stay at the PPH after two nights at VGC. It turned out okay, but we do get very spoiled by the villas and the space. It was nice that parking was included.

It really does depend on what dates you are wait listing. I might hold out for the waitlist, but book a backup cash reservation at one of the onsite hotels. Then when it gets closer and you are sure that you won't clear the list, you can always book the hotel with points and cancel the cash reservation.

 

[Dean]

We are currently on a wait list for Villas at Disneys Grand Californian. It doesn't look good. Does anyone have any experience using DVC Points to stay in a non DVC villa at any of the Disneyland hotels? This will be our first time to Disneyland after 20+ stays at WDW. I know that it is not point / cost effective to stay in a non DVC room, but we really wanted to stay on property and would rather not lay out that kind of cash for a regular room. So with that said, what would be your suggestions...... A Disneyland hotel (non DVC) using DVC points or staying off site at like the Marriot in a 2 bedroom Villa. Any help would be appreciated.

J from J

There are other timeshares nearby that you might access by non DVC means. There are the Wyndham/Worldmark and Peacock Suites. There are also a number of hotels including some suite type hotels. Personally, I'd make a cash reservation somewhere you can cancel and hang out until last minute to see if you match with the DVC resort there.

 

[mphillips76]

How far out can you book the PPH using points? I can't seem to find that info online. I see that there is no fee and that you can book anytime in your use year, which is great. I am hoping to run the Disneyland Half next August and the VGC are ALREADY booked up before my window opens. Two rooms at PPH would be cheaper than a two bedroom villa anyway, if I can book it, points-wise.

 

[MrShiny]

How far out can you book the PPH using points? I can't seem to find that info online. I see that there is no fee and that you can book anytime in your use year, which is great. I am hoping to run the Disneyland Half next August and the VGC are ALREADY booked up before my window opens. Two rooms at PPH would be cheaper than a two bedroom villa anyway, if I can book it, points-wise.

The booking window is on the member site:
How to Book -> Disney Collection (tab at top)

11 months - 2 days before checkin for Disneyland