DVC and Disneyland

[psimon]

I have a couple of questions regarding using points at Disneyland.

1. Am I being foolish to consider using points to visit Disneyland? I am looking at a minimum of 25 points / night all the way up to 71 points / night depending on which hotel and what level of room / service. Would I just be better off paying cash on site or even off site and sublet my points to get the cash?

2. If I were to use points, am I better off at 39 points / night for Standard view at the Grand Californian or 39 points /night for Concierge City/Pool view at the Paradise Pier?

We are a family of 5, and by the time we go, the kids will be 16, 9, and 9.

Thanks....

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[JeffPort]

It used to be a fair value to use DVC points for the Grand Californian on the mid-week days, but this year they leveled out (and raised) the point requirements, making it very costly to exchange points for the Disneyland hotels.

I suggest that you book through Orbitz. Depending on the dates you want to travel, you can book into a GUARANTEED theme park view at the Grand Californian Hotel for $250 - $335 per night (including weekend nights). To me, that's a much better deal than the equivalent DVC point exchange.

ONE MORE THING ... Orbitz site doesn't allow you to include the 3rd child in your reservation. All you need to do is call the Disneyland reservations line a week after you make the reservation through Orbitz and have them pull up your reservation and add the 3rd child to your booking. (You need to wait a week for Orbitz to transfer the information to Disney.) Be sure to ask Disney to place a request for the "Bunk Bed/Trundle" setup as that is ideal for your size group. I would also strongly suggest that you add a request for a "Grizzly Peak" view and an upper floor. That will put your balcony right in the park and put you very close to the elevator and the private entrance into the California Adventure park.