Disneyland resorts

[jns]

we are heading out West this Oct and are hoping to stay in Disneyland using our Pts but can't book untill the 7 month window

as it is Halloween and might be busy was wondering if anyone has used there Pts to stay in the other Disney Hotels and if so which one is best

we have enough Pts for either choices

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

No help with the other resorts but perhaps if you call right at 7 months out you will get lucky like we did... I called exactly 7 months to the day and managed to snag 2 studio's for March 7-13!!

Perhaps we got lucky but I'd prefer to think it was Disney magic!!

 

[joelnkelly]

we were able to book a dedicated 2 bedroom in June at the 7 month mark. of course now this is the week carsland officially opens and it will be a mad house. since we have annual passes to WDW we arent as concerned about the crowds but it would have been nice if the opening was a different week.

 

[kerickson]

I thought I heard they were going to start allowing members to book hotel rooms at the Grand, not sure if that will be available by your stay.

The Pros for the Grand - beautiful lobby, architecture, plush loungers by the pool, access to Disneyland and DCA will spoil you!

The Pros for Disneyland Hotel - hotel recently refurbished, heard the rooms are fantastic. Pool area/monorail slide looks super fun!
I've never stayed at Paradise Pier, but I've heard it's a definiate #3

 

[mdsd8700]

We have stayed at all three Disney hotels at DLR but only the VGC on points. In our opinion the VGC is the best DVC resort as well as the best hotel of the 3. The views of DCA are amazing and the location can't be beat. Although DLR is so much smaller getting from any of the hotels to the parks isn't that bad. DLH is very nice as well. It is the original hotel there so we love it for that reason. We had a Downtown Disney view and it was great. Very similar to a BW view. Lots to watch and see. The Paradise Pier was nice. We had no complaints, like the DLH it doesn't have much of a theme but it doesn't really seem like a Disney hotel in anyway. I hear the club level there is pretty nice though

I would stay at VGC in a heartbeat and DLH would be enjoyable if we couldn't get in VGC as far as PP, most likely wouldn't choose to stay there again.

I hope you enjoy your trip to DLR, we absolutely love it! So much so that after our first trip in 2003 we have been switching off our trips between WDW and DLR. It is much smaller but you can still get your Disney fix and then still have all of CA to fill the rest of your vacation.

 

[Breyean]

I agree with the pp. We stayed at the PP last Halloween just because we couldn't get into VGC and it wasn't bad. Avoid the 4th floor facing the pool if you can - very noisy.

One thing to keep in mind if you can't get into VGC are the # of points needed for the hotels (I think we can start using points for the GCH in Sep). They have really gone up a lot this year vs last year. PP is still the cheapest, point-wise, but it's almost as though the points charts just all got moved up one season, just about eliminating the cheapest season from last year making that season the cost of what the next season had been last year.

 

[DebbieB]

I used points at PP twice, I got a theme park view, it was nice.

One thing to keep in mind is if you book PP or DLH you can't move the points to VGC if it becomes available.

I'm hoping to book VGC for late September next week.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I just tried to get VGC for Labor day weekend with no luck at the 7 mo window. It is a holiday and the half marathon so I figured I wouldn't get it. I was going to use my points to stay at PP since that is the next cheapest option, but I am thinking now of paying cash and renting out some of my points to cover the cost. I can get PP for around $750 and the points would be 98 for the stay. Even at $10/point I could rent out a lot less points to cover it. Don't know if that interests you at all, but it is an option.

 

[nunzia]

I agree with what many have already said. If the option of using points for Grand hotel rooms happens as it was stated it would in Sept, that would be an option..high points, but an option. We were at DLR last October at the VGC on points and when second son decided to join us there were no DVC VGC rooms available, so we put his family up at DLH. I just love the place after the remodel. Points were high then and are even higher now, but if you have extra points that isn't an issue. I wouldn't stay at PP, but that's just my opinion.

 

[wbl2745]

I agree with the PP that I would not use points to stay at Paradise Pier. I think as far as the cash price is concerned it might be considered a "moderate" resort, but I don't think it has the themeing or the atmosphere of WDW's value resorts (which I like by the way). I'd definitely try to get a room on points at the VGC first. Then I'd look at either the DLH or GCH on points. As I recall the Grand Californian Hotel will be available on points starting in September.

Hope you have fun!

 

[taaren]

Step one: Try to book VGC at 7 month window. (We usually go in October, and its been booked solid every time we try to change or add rooms [2 bdr and studios, not sure about 1 bdr]).

Step two: Wait list for VGC until about 1 month out.

Step three: 30 days to your desired dates, if your wait list for VGC has not come through, then switch to DLH and cancel your wait list. You can usually get DLH points reservations at the last minute (I've gotten them the day before check-in). However, you cannot convert reservation points back to DVC points, so only do this as a last option.

Optional caveat to Step 3 - Pay cash for VGC or DLH and rent out points, as a PP stated, it'll probably be comparable. There is no $95 fee for making a DLH reservation, btw.


The DLH is beautiful, the pools are wonderful, and the walk will still feel very short to a WDW vet.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Pros for the Grand - beautiful lobby, architecture, plush loungers by the pool, access to Disneyland and DCA will spoil you!

The Pros for Disneyland Hotel - hotel recently refurbished, heard the rooms are fantastic. Pool area/monorail slide looks super fun!
I've never stayed at Paradise Pier, but I've heard it's a definiate #3

My list of fave DLR resorts goes the exactly OPPOSITE way.

PPH has the biggest, brightest rooms, the staff is wonderful, and it's just a FUN place to be.

DLH is neat, and I haven't stayed there since the remodel, but as cute as the pool LOOKS, it's still not all that usable IMO. The slides are really hard to keep track of your kids on (the stairs start in the opposite place of the slide you choose, it seems), and having three separate pool/slide areas is just annoying to me. (we got to use DLH pool because PPH's pool was being redone during our stay)

The Grand's biggest and bestest part is their lobby (as long as the xmas tree isn't there, making things dimmer). And you can use THAT for free! The rooms (hotel, not villa) are the tiniest things and very dark and cramped in feeling.

One thing to keep in mind is if you book PP or DLH you can't move the points to VGC if it becomes available.

Biggest thing to think about, that's for sure! Once you choose and book the *hotel*, you can't later use those same points for a villa; you'll have to use the points towards something else that uses that sort of points. (vacation vs reservation, can't remember which is which LOL)

 

[kendzee94]

If you can't get VGC, then I would definitely say go for the DLH. We stayed there one night (our room was referbed) and it was great!
Here is my small trip report with pix!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2722283

 

[nunzia]

Step one: Try to book VGC at 7 month window. (We usually go in October, and its been booked solid every time we try to change or add rooms [2 bdr and studios, not sure about 1 bdr]).

Step two: Wait list for VGC until about 1 month out.

Step three: 30 days to your desired dates, if your wait list for VGC has not come through, then switch to DLH and cancel your wait list. You can usually get DLH points reservations at the last minute (I've gotten them the day before check-in). However, you cannot convert reservation points back to DVC points, so only do this as a last option.

Optional caveat to Step 3 - Pay cash for VGC or DLH and rent out points, as a PP stated, it'll probably be comparable. There is no $95 fee for making a DLH reservation, btw.


The DLH is beautiful, the pools are wonderful, and the walk will still feel very short to a WDW vet.

Good advice. Be aware, though, that at DLH there may only be higher points options available. I was actually at Disneyland last August (D23 Expo..whoop!) when my second son decided to join us for an October trip. Naturally there were no DVC rooms at VGC and even at 2 months out all that I could get on points at DLH was Premium view

 

[jns]

thanks everyone for the great info
will be trying to book DVC at the 7 month window

 

[DebbieB]

Update: I did get a VGC studio at 7 months for 9/21-28.

It will be interesting to see what happens regarding the GCH on points (# of points). When they said September, I assume they meant date of stay, not booking in September.

 

[nunzia]

Update: I did get a VGC studio at 7 months for 9/21-28.

It will be interesting to see what happens regarding the GCH on points (# of points). When they said September, I assume they meant date of stay, not booking in September.

Congrats and enjoy!