Disneyland non-DVC hotels 2013 - point charts?

[aroundtheriverbend]

Anyone know why the 2013 charts aren't posted yet for DL non-DVC hotels? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place...

I know non-DVC isn't our best use of points, but I'm looking at contingency plans for a trip in June 2013 in case we can't get DVC rooms. Also, anyone know the time rules for trading out to the Disney collection (11 months, 7 months, etc.)? Thanks in advance.

 

[erionm]

I don't think anybody knows when the Disneyland Disney Collection Point Chart will be released. The one for WDW was just released in late May.

Disney Collection Booking guidelines from the member website:

The Disney Collection
Please note:

• Rule of Four applies (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California and Tokyo Disney Resort®).
• All reservations are subject to availability.
• A non-refundable $95 transaction fee applies per confirmed Disney Collection reservation (excluding Disneyland® Resort hotels in California, campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground in Florida, and Tokyo Disney Resort hotels).
• If payment is not received at the time of confirmation, Disney Vacation Club reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
• Some Reservation Points charts may not be available at the 11 or 24-month booking windows.

Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida
Book your vacation from 11 months to 2 days in advance.

Disneyland® Resort in California
Book your vacation from 11 months to 2 days in advance.

Disneyland® Paris
Book your vacation from 6 months to 14 days in advance.

Disney Cruise Line®
Book your vacation from 24 months to 14 days in advance

Hong Kong Disneyland® Resort
Book your vacation from 6 months to 14 days in advance.

Tokyo Disney Resort®
Book your vacation from 6 months to 14 days in advance.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Thanks! This is exactly what I needed.

 

[luckyman_apd]

As a DVC owner myself, I bought resale so this is not an option available to me. However, have you been to DLR? It is SOOO different from WDW. There are so many hotels in walking distance, some even with family suites. The need to be "immersed" in the Disney experience is not the same out there. We are heading out in a week and staying at the Howard Johnson.

I feel like DLR is a place to stay and visit the parks. WDW is a place you can stay and vacation without even entering a park. (of course we always do!) My point is, even if you were not DVC, the price of a Disney Room out there is FAR more expensive than a surrounding hotel.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

As a DVC owner myself, I bought resale so this is not an option available to me. However, have you been to DLR? It is SOOO different from WDW. There are so many hotels in walking distance, some even with family suites. The need to be "immersed" in the Disney experience is not the same out there. We are heading out in a week and staying at the Howard Johnson.

I feel like DLR is a place to stay and visit the parks. WDW is a place you can stay and vacation without even entering a park. (of course we always do!) My point is, even if you were not DVC, the price of a Disney Room out there is FAR more expensive than a surrounding hotel.

Thanks for this! We've never actually been there yet, but looking forward to it. To your point, we're focused on easy access, and if the VGC doesn't pan out (it'd be great to use points and not outlay more cash), we could happily stay at something like a Howard Johnson within walking distance. I didn't realize how it was set up. Thanks for the tip!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Thanks for this! We've never actually been there yet, but looking forward to it. To your point, we're focused on easy access, and if the VGC doesn't pan out (it'd be great to use points and not outlay more cash), we could happily stay at something like a Howard Johnson within walking distance. I didn't realize how it was set up. Thanks for the tip!

We bought our DVC contract in January after a rental, and a two trips with friends and decided it was for us. When my wife's work trip to San Diego next week became a possibility in Feb, I IMMEDIATELY checked online to see if VGC was available. It is very difficult to get reservations there if you aren't an owner. Also the points usage was incredibly high. So we started looking around. I started reading the Disneyland thread. I have found out a ton of info about it, and many of my misconceptions/ideas about it. Being a WDW vet, I always figured DL was "lesser" experience. Only time will tell, but heading there is VERY different that WDW.

I highly recommending reading some of these threads that taught me a lot for our upcoming trip. This first one is a guide about DLR for WDW vets like us

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

This is a thread with links to other threads with tips and info about Disneyland Resort. I suggest you set some time aside to read these. It will make your experience out there better I'm sure, and it can be friendly to your wallet as well.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

One last thing. We looked into staying "on property" in California, but after reading and researching and reading others posts, we are very comfortable staying at the Howard Johnson with the mousesavers.com discount. (a link on the mousesavers website). Many have compared the walk from the Hojo to the entrance gates to DL as the same as the walk from BLT to MK.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Much obliged! Plus (I hate to admit this), now I can look forward to my next vacation research project, it tends to get me very pumped up and takes my mind off of my endlessly overbusy job.

 

[DebbieB]

One thing to keep in mind is if you do book the non-DVC room with points, they become reservation points and cannot be used for a DVC resort if you cancel and they expire at the end of the use year.

 

[ValpoCory]

I know non-DVC isn't our best use of points ....

You can say that again. It's about twice and up to 3 times more expensive than getting a room with points at the VGC.

We rented VGC points for a 6-night January 2013 stay. 107 points, $10/point, so $178/night.

 

[luckyman_apd]

You can say that again. It's about twice and up to 3 times more expensive than getting a room with points at the VGC.

We rented VGC points for a 6-night January 2013 stay. 107 points, $10/point, so $178/night.

Yeah, and you went in January. OP is talking June 2013. June is a MUCH more expensive month. At WDW, I've NEVER stayed off property as an adult. After researching DLR, I don't think I ever would stay on property. I'm sure it's amazing in it's own right, but I don't see the added perks for the added price. There are too many hotels out there (most with shuttles or within walking distance) to pay the extra cost. I stay on property at WDW because of the proximity/transportation, and for the Magic Hours. Those perks aren't there or are not needed in DL.

 

[ValpoCory]

Yeah, and you went in January. OP is talking June 2013. June is a MUCH more expensive month.

Agreed. But my point was regardless of the month, I was agreeing with the OP that it's a bad use of DVC points. In Jan 6-31, 2013 ... Studio is 17 points weekday and 22 on the weekend for VGC vs. 35 and 44 for the Disneyland Hotel. In June 1-23, 2013 ... Studio is 20 and 24 at VGC vs. up to 44 or 55 for Disneyland Hotel.

At WDW, I've NEVER stayed off property as an adult. After researching DLR, I don't think I ever would stay on property. I'm sure it's amazing in it's own right, but I don't see the added perks for the added price. There are too many hotels out there (most with shuttles or within walking distance) to pay the extra cost. I stay on property at WDW because of the proximity/transportation, and for the Magic Hours. Those perks aren't there or are not needed in DL.

Well, the Extra Magic Hour perk is there for DLR Resort Guests (1 hour early entry to one park each day). They also have other perks, like entering the EMH from the Monorail, or the Get Up and Go Power Walk, or package/photo delivery back to your hotel. Plus, because it's much more inconvenient when staying offsite, the odds of you experiencing a Character meal at one of the resorts goes way down, so you'll likely miss out on those magical experiences.

If using DVC points or renting DVC isn't for you, then there are reports of good deals on expedia.com for the Paradise Pier Hotel (November for $120 per night). But still, for a VGC Studio for June 1-23, 2013 is 148 points per week ($211/night if renting at $10/point). Compare that with your off site rate and make the decision on what is best for you.