Disneyland in August - 7 month Chances at VGC?

[BWV Dreamin]

I am going to try to book VGC at 7 mos in for Aug. 2010. Is this a high demand time? Can I still use points at the CRO side of Grand Californian?

 

[DebbieB]

They have not officially announced it but it's unlikely you will be able to use points for GCH in 2010. All of the other DVC resorts attached to hotels do not allow it.

The 2009 chart for Disneyland has ** next to GCH. **Available for stays through December 31, 2009. The other 2 resorts do not show that.

 

[CarolMN]

I thinkyou should ask your "high demand" question on the Disneyland Board. There are probably more people there who have DL experience than there are here.

 

[malonefamily]

I am going to try to book VGC at 7 mos in for Aug. 2010. Is this a high demand time? Can I still use points at the CRO side of Grand Californian?

We've been to DL just as often as WDW, and August is generally a very busy time of year, with rooms in high demand. In my experience, this little chart of DL attendance is more or less accurate:

http://www.scottware.com.au/theme/feature/atend.htm

I'm definitely one of those people who assume that the DVC rooms in the Grand Californian Resort will normally be the new record-holder for most difficult to book at 7 month window. It has so few rooms, and is the only resort available to choose for every DVC member, and besides it's such a fantastic place! But the good news, that 2009 is probably an exception... the rooms aren't all sold yet, and owners there couldn't possibly have filled August up already... I think you would be able to go this year if you call early, but never again after this. I hope I'm wrong and you can make a 2010 reservation when the time comes.

It's very shocking for WDW fans to get used to DL crowds. Always remember that most of the visitors drove to the park from somewhere in California, therefore weekends are 2x as busy as weekdays at minimum. Three day weekends even more dramatic. The parks even seem to get an influx of people who stop by with annual passes after work hours, one of the reasons mornings during the week are the least busy time, even more so than at WDW.

I sure do love DL and CA. It's so nice to be at a pedestrian resort instead of a bus-oriented resort sometimes. Of course WDW has it's own magic... As we always say, you can't go wrong.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I guess I was hoping school would be starting early so that maybe the crowds would be less. That also explains why I still see a points chart for CRO...it's only good till end of Dec. Thanks for everyone's comments.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

In our expereince, the crowd levels in August are signficantly impacted by the lifting of the AP blackout dates in mid to late August. As a result, the parks are less busy just before those dates. On the other hand, we have been able to get great discounts on the resort hotels starting in mid-Aug.

Since the rooms at GCV are not discounted until early Sept, there may be a small window in which the GCV is relatively expensive compared to a cash reservation. For example, we stayed at the PP in mid-Aug for $139 per night AP rate last year. That hotel would be 25/42 points per night and even a studio at the GCV would be 23/40 points per night. That might mean that rooms will be available if you really want to book on points but you may have to WL as the best cash rates won't be released until summer. Hope you get what you want -- Suzanne

 

[Starr W.]

I am going to try to book VGC at 7 mos in for Aug. 2010. Is this a high demand time? Can I still use points at the CRO side of Grand Californian?

Hmm, did someone say !

 

[SoCalKDG]

Call during the first minute at the 7 month mark, be flexible on 1 bedroom and studio, and you might get a room. If you can only get 2-3 days, combine with 2-3 days cash at DLH, PP, or GC and just move.

Many kids start school after labor day here in So Cal, but some schools have moved the startup of school to middle of August. Shoot for the last two weeks in August.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hmm, did someone say !

Got it narrowed down to Spring 2010!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Call during the first minute at the 7 month mark, be flexible on 1 bedroom and studio, and you might get a room. If you can only get 2-3 days, combine with 2-3 days cash at DLH, PP, or GC and just move.

Many kids start school after labor day here in So Cal, but some schools have moved the startup of school to middle of August. Shoot for the last two weeks in August.

My plan was to go 2nd or 3rd week of August, sooooo....I'll try to get on that phone at 9:00a, and ask for a 1 bedroom (Tues, Wed, Thurs) and hope for the best! Otherwise, my back up plan is Tues, Wed, Thurs after Labor Day Monday! One can only dream.....

 

[BWV Dreamin]

In our expereince, the crowd levels in August are signficantly impacted by the lifting of the AP blackout dates in mid to late August. As a result, the parks are less busy just before those dates. On the other hand, we have been able to get great discounts on the resort hotels starting in mid-Aug.

Since the rooms at GCV are not discounted until early Sept, there may be a small window in which the GCV is relatively expensive compared to a cash reservation. For example, we stayed at the PP in mid-Aug for $139 per night AP rate last year. That hotel would be 25/42 points per night and even a studio at the GCV would be 23/40 points per night. That might mean that rooms will be available if you really want to book on points but you may have to WL as the best cash rates won't be released until summer. Hope you get what you want -- Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne.....7 months is January for August, Feb. for September. If I can't get anything on points at 7 mos then, do you think points ressie's for DLH or PP would still be available? (In Jan and Feb for that following Aug or Sept?)

 

[BWV Dreamin]

In our expereince, the crowd levels in August are signficantly impacted by the lifting of the AP blackout dates in mid to late August. As a result, the parks are less busy just before those dates. On the other hand, we have been able to get great discounts on the resort hotels starting in mid-Aug.

Suzanne

Do you know when the dates are typically lifted for AP blackouts? I would look at going right before those dates are lifted as well!

 

[VallCopen]

Malonefamily I was curious what you meant by very shocking for WDW fans to get used to DL crowds? I have never been to WDW and wasn't sure if you meant crowds were worse at Disneyland or just that the transportation thing is so different from WDW? If WDW is not as busy as Disneyland then I have been wasting my time in Cali....I always thought WDW was busier so I have never went.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Do you know when the dates are typically lifted for AP blackouts? I would look at going right before those dates are lifted as well!

August 15 is the big lifting of blackouts for AP's this year, so expect the 16 next year.

 

[VallCopen]

So we are planning on a trip August 21-25, I was under the impression that California kids would be back in school, was I wrong? Is Aug 21-25 going to be a mad house like the rest of the summer is?? I don't think we could do that, we are use to late April and early December crowds. Does anyone know for sure what that has been like in the past? Thanks

 

[kerickson]

So we are planning on a trip August 21-25, I was under the impression that California kids would be back in school, was I wrong? Is Aug 21-25 going to be a mad house like the rest of the summer is?? I don't think we could do that, we are use to late April and early December crowds. Does anyone know for sure what that has been like in the past? Thanks

I'd probably ask on the DL boards for the most accurate responses, but understanding is that most CA schools start back mid August this year, but some may not go back until after Labor Day-I'm not sure about AZ/NV. I'm guessing the last two weeks in Aug should be much better than most of Summer.

That said, we are going in Aug for the first time this year (Aug 2-7) and I'm so dreading the crowds! My husband won't go on a ride with a wait longer than 15min , we've become so spoiled with our Dec/Jan trips...
We have APs this year so we'll probably just pop in for a few hours in the early AM, spend much of the afternoon at the pool, and head to the beach one of the days...

I'd just have a back up plan in case the crowds are more than your family can handle (early mornings, other options during peak afternoon times..)

 

[SuzanneSLO]

So we are planning on a trip August 21-25, I was under the impression that California kids would be back in school, was I wrong? Is Aug 21-25 going to be a mad house like the rest of the summer is?? I don't think we could do that, we are use to late April and early December crowds. Does anyone know for sure what that has been like in the past? Thanks

I would expect crowds to be noticably smaller this year after Aug 23. DL is running lots of ads promoting Summer Nightastic thru August 23, 2009. There is also a special ticket offer for SoCal residents of 3 days for $99 for which the first day must be used on or before Aug 23.

Checking the current AP hotel rates, the rates for PP drop from $252 on 8/15 to $149 or less thereafter for the rest of August.

One thing to watch out for is Sundays vs. Saturdays in August. The SoCal AP holders are blacked out for all Saturdays in Aug, but are entiteld to admission on Sunday Aug 16, 23 and 30. As a result, those Sundays may be busier than the prior Saturday. Have a great trip -- Suzanne

 

[toocherie]

Traditionally, most SoCal schools don't re-start until after Labor Day although some districts have moved that up to the last two weeks of August. As an example, many mid-West and Eastern schools are out now but some schools here don't finish up until the end of this week or next week.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I'd probably ask on the DL boards for the most accurate responses, but understanding is that most CA schools start back mid August this year, but some may not go back until after Labor Day-I'm not sure about AZ/NV. I'm guessing the last two weeks in Aug should be much better than most of Summer.

That said, we are going in Aug for the first time this year (Aug 2-7) and I'm so dreading the crowds! My husband won't go on a ride with a wait longer than 15min , we've become so spoiled with our Dec/Jan trips...
We have APs this year so we'll probably just pop in for a few hours in the early AM, spend much of the afternoon at the pool, and head to the beach one of the days...

I'd just have a back up plan in case the crowds are more than your family can handle (early mornings, other options during peak afternoon times..)

No need to fear crowds. I posted this on another board about Fast Passes, which are much easier to get from the two parks due to the size of DLR compared to WDW.




You can get a FP to Roger Rabbit, another ride in DL(Space or Splash, etc), one at DCA(TOT, Soaring, etc), plus a 4th at Grizzley Rapids all at the same time (or in the 15 minutes it takes you to get to those different locations). Approx. 2 hours later you can get another Roger Rabbit and Grizzley Rapids a second time, as well as add two new rides at DCA and DL. You could then own 8 fast passes for the day, remembering that you can show up later then your scheduled time on your FP.

Rapids and Rabbit aren't linked, thus are available all the time. So if you want to park hop for the day, do the following:

1 - Hit DL in the morning, grabbing one FP to a top ride. Ride some things in Fantasy Land.

2 - Around 10:30 I'll grab Roger Roger Rabbit and another top DL ride and head over to DCA.

3 - I'll usually grab Soaring and then Rapids at the same time. Now I have 5 FP in hand.

4 - I'll spend a few hours at DCA, then grab another FP at a top attraction and finish with Soaring then the Rapids(do it this way so your not wet in Soaring.

5 - Then head back to DL drying off while walking. Pick up a new FP to a top attraction. You can then ride Roger Rabbit and use your first FP.

6 - Mix and match however you see fit.



When I don't park hop I'll always combine Soaring and Rapids in FP gathering at DCA first thing in the morning. Later ride Soaring then Rapids.

At DL I'll grab Space or Thunder Mountain FP, then go to Toon Town, grab Roger Rabbit, then spend time in Toon Town plus ride Small World. You can then use your Roger Rabbit FP. Then just grab another FP to a top attraction and use your first FP.

The ability to use 6-8 FP in a day sure makes it easier to wait in the Nemo Subs or Indiana Jones line for an hour.

 

[kerickson]

Rapids and Rabbit aren't linked, thus are available all the time. So if you want to park hop for the day, do the following:

Thanks for the tips? I thought I read on the DL boards that GRR is now linked in with the other FP rides (not sure about RR)?