Disneyland every year

[Chowmainia]

Hello,
I am considering buying into DVC and am debating between buying into a Disneyland resort vs a Disneyworld resort. I am from Western Canada, currently with a family of 3 (wife and 2 year old son) and the flight to Disneyland is of course much more convenient. However, I am wondering if there is enough to do at Disneyland to keep us entertained if we were to go every year.

Thanks

 

[helenk]

If you plan to stay in Disneyland that often, I would recommend buying into VGC. It's a small resort, and booking at 11 months would certainly be to your benefit.
I think there is enough at Disneyland as well as the surrounding area to keep your family entertained every year.
What you might want to do is perhaps every other year go to WDW. Since there are far more DVC resorts there to chose from you'd have a better chance getting something at the 7 month timeframe.

 

[ABCanada]

We are also from Western Canada. While DL is our favorite park we find WDW much more of a vacation.

Unless you get a direct flight the flying time for us is not that different and the fares are often less for Orlando. (This does not make sense but it is fairly consistent.)

When you factor in the trip from the airport to the resort WDW wins. If you use ME there is no cost.

Look into WDW. If you are still certain you will be going to DL more often I would go with VGC as it is a smaller resort and will be more difficult to book at 7 months. The point cost for VCG is higher both in terms of initial cost and number of points required for the rooms compared to most of the WDW resorts. (The maintenance fees per point are on the lower end)

 

[nunzia]

We go to Disneyland twice a year on average and find plenty to do..so much so that we just haven't been able to drag ourselves back to WDW after our first and only visit 17 years ago...

 

[Chowmainia]

Thank you all for such quick responses, i really appreciate it.
I was rather skeptical when i read that orlando fares were cheaper than california from western canada, but sure enough, after a quick internet search, you were absolutely correct!!! that was very unexpected. with respect to travel time, it does seem that DL anaheim would take approx. 2 hrs less travel time vs DW orlando. however, i did not consider travel time from the airport. is there a significant difference in airport to resort travel time between the two theme parks (pardon my ignorance, what is an ME)?

Also, i understand that there are quite a few things to do in southern california that is within reasonable distance to DL anaheim (i.e. san diego zoo/seaworld, lego land, newport beach, las vegas, hollywood etc...). I am not as familiar with orlanda florida area and was wondering if there are other attractions close to DW that people often frequent when vacationing there.

ABCanada, I am very interested in your insight and experience since you are also from western canada. You've mentioned that your favorite park was DL but DW has a more vacation feel. I was wondering if you could expand on that for me and, if you don't mind, perhaps sharing with me how often you go to DL vs DW.

thanks again.

 

[bookswin]

SNA airport is quite close to DL.

I'd think you'd grow tired of DL per se quicker than WDW, as it's a lot smaller.

But VGC points will, IMO, will hold value better over time, as VGC is a small resort (just 48 2-BR equivalents) and it will be almost impossible to get units there as DVC gets bigger. You'll have to get them exactly at 7 months out to the minute. Even now it's hard to get a room there unless you are an owner.

And the $3.90 annual fee at VGC saves you A LOT of money over 50 years, compounded.

 

[arthur06]

We go to Disneyland twice a year on average and find plenty to do..so much so that we just haven't been able to drag ourselves back to WDW after our first and only visit 17 years ago...

 

[wbl2745]

I go to DLR at least once a year and haven't gotten tired of it yet. However, DW prefers WDW. I agree with the PPs that there's more to do at WDW. In any case buy where you want to stay. I wouldn't buy VGC just in case you wanted to stay there. If you think WDW will keep you attention longer, then I'd buy there.

 

[hjgaus]

SNA airport is quite close to DL.

I'd think you'd grow tired of DL per se quicker than WDW, as it's a lot smaller.

But VGC points will, IMO, will hold value better over time, as VGC is a small resort (just 48 2-BR equivalents) and it will be almost impossible to get units there as DVC gets bigger. You'll have to get them exactly at 7 months out to the minute. Even now it's hard to get a room there unless you are an owner.

And the $3.90 annual fee at VGC saves you A LOT of money over 50 years, compounded.

HERE NOW in 3 bed grad villa made this ressie @ 7 month out and made another for few days befor thanksgiving! Although we are locals(20 min away)
& have premium annual passes we love the long staycation! We have 160 pts with VGC (used up for last years stay in same room) but also have 450 pts split in 2 use year for BCV so when not going to florida we use here. thought it would be hard to get 7 month out around thanksgiving time but there were a few available and ressied for 2 bed!

 

[bumbershoot]

Chowmainia, we bought into DVC, with a WDW resort, without ever going to WDW! We knew we'd get there someday, and we know ourselves; we just don't like the Grand Californian enough to want to have points there, to stay there every visit. There are so many hotels...some really nice, some decent, some plain and simple, in the Disneyland area that there's just no need *for us* to stay onsite every time, let alone at our least favorite onsite hotel (though I must admit the villa model I saw was gorgeous).

So we bought into WDW, because I didn't want to "take" the points from someone who would be sad if they couldn't get into the villas there.


It sounds like you've been to DLR but not WDW. So you can compare your family's likes and dislikes to what is in the Disneyland area... We find it to be a great place to stay, and while we haven't had a trip there longer than 7 days yet, we plan to! We are just mad for Disneyland...when we got back from our first trip to WDW ,which was 17 days long (we had some days off and some days at Universal), I yearned for a trip to Disneyland so I could feel at HOME! Love Disneyland.

But like I said, our family doesn't need to stay onsite every time, whereas with WDW we knew we almost certainly would want to stay onsite every time, so we bought there.

 

[disneynutz]

If you like staying on property and being immersed Disney style, WDW is your best bet with better resort availability and 40 square miles of fun.

You really should plan a WDW vacation and plan on checking out all the DVC resorts before you buy.

Bill

 

[Donald_Quackers]

Chow,

In response to "pardon my ignorance, what is an ME", ME refers to Disney's Magical Express. It's a free service that will take you from Orlando International to your WDW resort. I don't *think* they'll pick up luggage and deliver them for International passengers (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), but as long as you don't need a car, it's a great way to start the vacation.

 

[La2kw]

Hello,
I am considering buying into DVC and am debating between buying into a Disneyland resort vs a Disneyworld resort. I am from Western Canada, currently with a family of 3 (wife and 2 year old son) and the flight to Disneyland is of course much more convenient. However, I am wondering if there is enough to do at Disneyland to keep us entertained if we were to go every year.

Thanks

Living in L.A., I go every month and never get tired of it. Been going there for 48 years now. Only you can make that call, but I can tell you it's very hard to book GCV in the 7 month window, so being an owner there has a big advantage. You can book WDW at 7 months and we have stayed at every DVC resort that exists (with the exception of BLT) by booking at 7 months with no problem, but of course it depends on what time of year you go. We usually save our points for WDW and priceline rooms at Disneyland (lots of choices within walking distance).

 

[ABCanada]

Chowmainia, the other posters have captured many of the points.

In the past four years we have gone to WDW 2 to 3 times a year and have only been to DL once, the end of October last year. Prior to that it had always been DL. I went as a child and into my teens (we are talking since just after DL opened) and then again once our daughter was born. Annual passes (AP) were very reasonable and we would go at least once a year timing it to get two trips on one AP. Depending on the year we might get one bonus trip in.

What I love about DL:
You can walk everywhere
All the good rides are in 'one place'; you could do in one day if you wanted
I prefer the DL version of many of the rides
I have been going for over 50 years so lots of good memories
Some of the good neighbour hotels are great for a reasonable price and you can walk to the park (this may be a reason not to get VGC, while we like the Disney resorts, and early entry, we probably stayed offsite more than on because of the $ difference)

What I do not like about DL
LAX - we fly into LGB if we can
Getting from the airport to DL (do not like the feel of the neighbourhoods)
Restaurant selection is limited
Outside the park & Disney resorts the 'magic' is gone

What I like about WDW (reverse of not like about DL)
Magic Express - free and relaxing transportation to Disney Resorts if you do not need a vehicle (they do deliver your luggage to your room)
Stress free driving (with a GPS) if you do need a vehicle
Resort & dining selections (we often stay in more than one resort in the same trip both for the theme and proximity to different parks)
Animal Kingdom - our daughter could spend all day watching the animals
Restaurant variety
Resort feel - we have never done a no park trip but we have done very little park time trips and found it very relaxing

I understand the previous posters comment on 'first visit'. On our first WDW trip I kept comparing it back to DL on DL factors and I much preferred DL. You do need to give WDW a chance. You cannot approach WDW the same way you do DL. We now go to WDW much more frequently for vacations but as theme parks go I will always prefer DL.

Many similar activities to those you mentioned near DL are in closer proximity to WDW in Florida.

 

[moredisneyplease]

another local DL person here (we have AP and are there at least once a month). i see that you have a very nostalgic approach to your choice for DL and thats great but dont feel like purchasing at any resort TIES you to that one resort/park!!!! If you LOVE DL and know you will be there more than WDW then go with VGC to take advantage of the 11 month window.

Personally i LOVE WDW and want to be there as often as possible but thats because i'm at DL all the freaking time! if you decide one year to go to WDW the you can book at the 7month window and still stay at amazing resorts.

theres a lot to do at both locations so mix it up!

Good luck and let us know when you're at DL so we can come play with you!