Disneyland Tower - bad idea for a 1-bedroom-loving family?

[Disneygirlie93]

Hi all! I know there isn’t much to compare it to as there really aren’t any other resorts with such a heavy deluxe studio focus, but are there any predictions for how difficult it will be to book a 1 bedroom at DLT even at 11 months? My husband and I are between VGF and DLT, with a lean towards waiting for DLT, but we’re worried about the availability even for owners. I would hate to buy there at a (possibly higher than VGF) premium and end up having a really difficult time using the points for what we want. Is there anything to compare it to, currently?

 

[bwvBound]

At first glance, I would think there is a geography issue underlying your question -- but perhaps travel to either WDW or DLR is basically equivalent for you?

FWIW, I'd favor DLT over VGF as one can generally book something at WDW at 7 months whereas booking something/anything at DLR has been, thus far, much more difficult. That said, I have no idea how DLT will change that pattern ...

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Well ironically VGF now has become highly (resort) studio heavy with the addition of 200. We are passing on VGF and waiting for our next add on at DLT but we are west coasters and have some WDW-based points. I share your concerns about availability of 1 bedrooms though. At the same time stays at Disneyland tend to more often be 2-4 nights so I could be ok with a studio while at WDW we usually settle in for a week and enjoy 1 bedrooms.

 

[Disneygirlie93]

At first glance, I would think there is a geography issue underlying your question -- but perhaps travel to either WDW or DLR is basically equivalent for you?

FWIW, I'd favor DLT over VGF as one can generally book something at WDW at 7 months whereas booking something/anything at DLR has been, thus far, much more difficult. That said, I have no idea how DLT will change that pattern ...

We’re actually Orlando-adjacent so VGF points would be more for a sleep-around-points-in-WDW situation, while DLT would get us points in Disneyland. Our issue is that we don’t want to buy DLT points and never actually be able to use them there, whereas if we went with VGF we’d just forgo our Cali dreams and stay with WDW.

 

[RoseGold]

I think it will depend on the chart. There’s no reason the DLT chart can’t be even higher than VGC. Crazy pricing on the 1BR might make it stick around a little.

Just from a longer term perspective, I don’t see why you’d buy in California as Florida residents. You open yourself up to their laws and your estate would have to probate there if something happened.

 

[DVChris]

We’re actually Orlando-adjacent so VGF points would be more for a sleep-around-points-in-WDW situation, while DLT would get us points in Disneyland. Our issue is that we don’t want to buy DLT points and never actually be able to use them there, whereas if we went with VGF we’d just forgo our Cali dreams and stay with WDW.

I would buy GF2 and rent out your points for the years you want to visit DLR. Find a VGC or DLT owner to transfer or rent their points.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

We have (somehow) managed to snag VGC reservations the few times we have tried, though we are flexible with room size (studio-2BD) if necessary. Though I agree that it's usually easier to get something at 7 months in Florida than it is in California as long as you are flexible with location and accommodation type.

I would LOVE to have an excuse to stay at a 3BD at VGC, but so far I haven't been able to come up with a way to justify it.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

19 1-BRs out of 350 rooms.
Yeah, they’re gonna disappear at 11 months for sure. See:

Here is a breakdown of the room types:

Level	Pod	Studio	Studio LO	1BR	2BR Dedicated	GV	Total
1	4	11					15
2	4	17		1			22
3	3	29	3	3	2		40
4	3	29	3	3	2		40
5	3	29	3	3	2		40
6	2	24	3	3	2		34
7	2	24	3	3	2		34
8	2	20	3	3	2		30
9	4	20			2	1	27
10	4	18			2		24
11	4	17			2	1	24
12	3	15			2		20
Total	38	253	18	19	20	2	350

Last edited: 4 minutes ago

 

[Jperiod]

19 1-BRs out of 350 rooms.
Yeah, they’re gonna disappear at 11 months for sure. See:

VGC only has like 23 1 bedrooms and they're often still available at 7 months. I don't think it will be a problem at all.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

VGC only has like 23 1 bedrooms and they're often still available at 7 months. I don't think it will be a problem at all.

DLV will be roughly 5X as large. Meaning 5 times as many owners. 23 1BRs at VGC is 32% of all of the rooms. DLV will have 5% of the rooms for 1BRs.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

When is it expected to go on sale? We're waiting to buy there also

 

[larry47591]

When is it expected to go on sale? We're waiting to buy there also

2023

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I think it will depend on the chart. There’s no reason the DLT chart can’t be even higher than VGC.

When has DVC ever done that? I know they COULD, legally, but off the top of my head, all of the resorts that are considered "better" or more expensive from a cash perspective tend to be roughly proportionally more expensive from a points perspective.

The only outlier I can think of is Old Key West, which is probably too cheap (in points).

 

[RoseGold]

When has DVC ever done that? I know they COULD, legally, but off the top of my head, all of the resorts that are considered "better" or more expensive from a cash perspective tend to be roughly proportionally more expensive from a points perspective.

The only outlier I can think of is Old Key West, which is probably too cheap (in points).

Start at BLT and work forward. Charts go one way, and that’s up. Fast. It’s not like Poly or RIV are better location than BLT. The exception would be RIV, which scrapes against the VGF chart to be just below it.

VGC’s chart was set years ago.

I also would expect the next WDW DVC to exceed VGF charts. That’s why Jambo doesn’t make sense to me as a flip.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Start at BLT and work forward. Charts go one way, and that’s up. Fast. It’s not like Poly or RIV are better location than BLT. The exception would be RIV, which scrapes against the VGF chart to be just below it.

VGC’s chart was set years ago.

I also would expect the next WDW DVC to exceed VGF charts. That’s why Jambo doesn’t make sense to me as a flip.

BLT and PVB points charts mirror the cash pricing at the Contemporary Tower and Polynesian Village hotel sides. Poly costs more in points, but it also costs more in cash.

Copper Creek is priced below Bay Lake Tower standard, and slightly below AKV Savanna, which is exactly where it belongs.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

What about BWI/BWV vs BC/BCV?

 

[DVChris]

I would guess DLT’s theme park view will be the only room higher in points than VGC.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

What about BWI/BWV vs BC/BCV?

It doesn't line up as well because of the view categories. Cash guests book Standard/Garden/Water view categories at both resorts, while BWV points is only Standard versus Preferred and BCV points don't have view categories at all.

Roughly speaking, I'd say everything lines up pretty well except for Boardwalk Standard view, which is ostensibly "too cheap" from a points perspective.

 

[RoseGold]

BLT and PVB points charts mirror the cash pricing at the Contemporary Tower and Polynesian Village hotel sides. Poly costs more in points, but it also costs more in cash.

Copper Creek is priced below Bay Lake Tower standard, and slightly below AKV Savanna, which is exactly where it belongs.

Contemporary and Poly are in the same ballpark in cash, definitely not in points. CCV matched the old BR chart, also why I don’t see a WL flip.

At RIV, the chart did the heavy lifting for Disney, as I expect the DLT to also.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

At RIV, the chart did the heavy lifting for Disney, as I expect the DLT to also.

See I don't think RIV is an example of points inflation. I think RIV is ACTUALLY better than VGF, in large part because I think the Skyliner is far superior to the monorail. (And I hate Riviera.)