DVC at Disneyland, CA....pipe dream?

[Mtnman44]

I've seen this mentioned from time to time only in the context of rumor or speculation. Today I got to thinking about it and I really wonder if it is in the cards at all.

First, I think the travel habits of the So. California park visitors are a little different with a lot more local quest and probably a lot more 3 to 5 day visitors which Disney is making good money on at the property hotels they have.

Second, I don't really see any room to put one. I don't see any space to add on to the CGH and there is no other area that looks very good for a DVC resort. They could build a parking structure for the PPH and then use the parking lot area, but that is "far from the action" with no park proximity or special entrance that I would think would be a draw for DVC members. The CGH is the only logical location and there is no way they are going to give that up or re-do it.

I guess maybe there could be something put in the parking lot just north of the DTD. This would have reasonable access to the monorail station but it would be a small DVC and would require some kind of parking structure to be built.

What do you think?

 

[dwelty]

I think it will happen.

First point:There is space set aside just south of the GCH lobby that was slated from the beginning for room expansion. I think the number was an additional 300 rooms or so. (This is a big grassy area with a wedding pavilion right now) In addition, there is 24 acres behind the Paradise Peir Hotel, as well as the 44 acre strawberry field. Neither of these areas are "far from the action" (for example My home resort SSR is a 20 min bus ride from the MK at WDW). These sites are much closer to DLR and Downtown Disney.

2nd point: forget the day visitors, there are 100,000 current DVC members, many of which would purchase add ons in a heartbeat!

3rd point: California DVC sales have greatly exceeded expectations. (Im from CA and I bought in Florida!) I think they are now number 4 after NY,NJ and Florida, the traditional DVC strongholds.

4th point, many people from the west coast visit Disneyland yearly (just like east coasters visit WDW) This is a prime market for a DLR DVC.

Just wait, it will happen!

 

[JimC]

DL is different from WDW. Florida was designed to be a multi-day destination. DL was not, but has evolved into one (though on a more modest scale). If DVC can sell to Floridians for WDW, then it ought to be able to sell to west coasters for DL. Heck I might be some points just to provide for a short trip to DL when we go to Marriott's Shadow Ridge timeshare in Palm Desert.

 

[dvc-NE]

Just wait, it will happen!

Dwelty, for your sake, I hope it does.

 

[Entropy]

Though Disneyland doesn't have the luxury of space that WDW has, there's still lots of places to build a DVC resort. There's the parking lot behind PPH, the old Grand Hotel site to the East, the strawberry fields to the SE. I think that they are saving the strawberry fields for the long-rumored third gate water park. There's even the various lots between the DLH and the humongo parking garage. And of course my favorite, flatten that tacky Paradise Pier area and build it right there in the park with Screaming running right through the lobby!

 

[burnsoc]

I hope they do build at DL. I would love to have another resort option outside of WDW. It's starting to feel a little incestuous only building at WDW. My dream would be for a DVC resort in Colorado. I'm sure they're a little hesitant because it took longer to sell out HH and Vero. However, they now have such a large existing membership that add ons alone would help sales tremendously. I see DL as being an obvious choice for a successful venture outside of WDW.

 

[salmoneous]

Look, it's simple. You rip out Tom Saywer Island and the river around it and build DLV *inside* the park. Talk about something that will sell out quick!

 

[Mtnman44]

'"Fantasmic Villas at DLR" ?

Look, it's simple. You rip out Tom Saywer Island and the river around it and build DLV *inside* the park. Talk about something that will sell out quick!

 

[byoung]

Keep on waiting.

 

[simzac]

'"Fantasmic Villas at DLR" ?

Now there's an addon I would consider.

 

[drakethib]

I would visit DL more if they had a DVC resort. May even buy a few more points just for that purpose.

I agree with the poster who stated DL is not a multi day park, but for a 3 day trip you can't beat it IMHO.

We stayed a PP on our trip and it we had a grand old time, but a DVC resort sure would be nice.

 

[jemiaule]

4th point, many people from the west coast visit Disneyland yearly (just like east coasters visit WDW) This is a prime market for a DLR DVC.

I don't mean to sound like I am bashing DLR - that is hardly the case I promise. You sounds very enthusiastic about this so I am hoping you can enlighten me and give me some perspective.

I am wondering why people would want a DVC at DLR? Call me weird but as much as they are trying to market DLR as a "resort" it is more of a day destination (maybe two days if you want to go to DCA) IMHO. I have been to DLR once in the past 15 years (and I live in California) as opposed to our 2 to 3 visits per year to WDW.

 

[Longhairbear]

I don't mean to sound like I am bashing DLR - that is hardly the case I promise. You sounds very enthusiastic about this so I am hoping you can enlighten me and give me some perspective.

I am wondering why people would want a DVC at DLR? Call me weird but as much as they are trying to market DLR as a "resort" it is more of a day destination (maybe two days if you want to go to DCA) IMHO. I have been to DLR once in the past 15 years (and I live in California) as opposed to our 2 to 3 visits per year to WDW.

We go to DLR once a month, and fight traffic for an hour or more on weekends. After a long day in the parks, I hate driving an hour plus drive home late at night. Once I stayed for an overnight, I was hooked on the idea, but can't afford a hotel all the time. For the amount of points I used one night at the Disney hotels, they would have gotten me a one bedroom for several nights in a DVC unit at WDW. The more I can afford to stay a weekend, the more money I spend at DLR on other things, makes sense to me. Having a few drinks at the hotel bar or in the room is a nice way to unwind, and not worry about driving. Not to mention being able to book a unit for holidays 11 months out, and having family or friends, visit,or even stay the night, and have a home cooked breakfast or meal.
As for rumors, I hear that the west coast cruises are a definite, so DLR would become part of the "resort" idea.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I don't mean to sound like I am bashing DLR - that is hardly the case I promise. You sounds very enthusiastic about this so I am hoping you can enlighten me and give me some perspective.

I am wondering why people would want a DVC at DLR? Call me weird but as much as they are trying to market DLR as a "resort" it is more of a day destination (maybe two days if you want to go to DCA) IMHO.

We go to DL/DCA every year, and one year we also went twice. A DVC there would be perfect for our family. Sure, we'd go to WDW too, but it is WAY easier for our family to get to southern California more often VS. getting to Orlando.

Also, there's NO WAY that DL is a day destination (or just a one day park). If a person spends just a day there, or at any Disney theme park, then that person has just skimmed the surface. They haven't "experienced" the park by any means.

If you've been to DL/DCA several times before, I'd say you could comfortably tour both DL and DCA in three days. If you've never been there, or have only been there once several years ago, then I would recommend four full days to get the full experience of DL and DCA.

Keep in mind that between the four parks at WDW, and the 2 parks at DLR, WDW only has a few more rides compared to DLR.

WDW has 73 rides between 4 parks (including the new Nemo ride).
DLR has 67 rides between 2 parks (including the new Nemo ride, which will be a very different ride compared to the one at WDW).

DVC at DL would be (will be ) a great success. Now, if only they could build it across the street ON TOP of "motel lane". Or, if only they could build one at the beach (Long Beach or Huntington Beach). Then we could have the best of both worlds - A beach/ocean resort on our Disneyland vacation! Afterall, it's only a 15 - 20 minute drive to the beach from Disneyland. Toss in some Disneyland Resort busses to shuttle guests back and forth between the DVC resort and the parks, and we've got a WINNER!

 

[mikayla73]

DH and I have gone to DL every year since we got married, for 7-10 days each time, and we hope to continue to do this. We live in MO and haven't made it to WDW yet as we can't seem to pass up a trip to DL. Now that we are DVCer's, we will now be adding trips to WDW also. (DH gets that 3rd week of vacation soon thank goodness )

I don't think that DL is a one or two day trip. I agree with disney-super-mom, I like to take in the full experience, but of course that is IMHO, YMMV. We do go see the Angles play, spend one day at the beach, and do a few other things while we are there. DH likes to walk down memory lane since that is where he was born and grew up, but we go to DL/CA at least 8 out of the 10 days.

I'll be sooo happy when they annouce they are building a DVC in DLR. However I can wait for a bit since we are not quite ready to purchase an add-on yet

 

[disneymom8589]

From another person who goes to DL on average of 1-2 times a year, count me in as one who would be doing backflips if they announced a DLR DVC!!

 

[Entropy]

I don't mean to sound like I am bashing DLR - that is hardly the case I promise. You sounds very enthusiastic about this so I am hoping you can enlighten me and give me some perspective.

I am wondering why people would want a DVC at DLR? Call me weird but as much as they are trying to market DLR as a "resort" it is more of a day destination (maybe two days if you want to go to DCA) IMHO. I have been to DLR once in the past 15 years (and I live in California) as opposed to our 2 to 3 visits per year to WDW.

That's like saying a day for MK, a day each for Epcot, Dis/MGM and AK. Then what?
I spend five days there for the 50th celebration and I spend another 4 days there for my 40th. I didn't run out of things to do. I could easily spend a week there every year.

 

[UConnJack]

I can see the points for a DLR DVC resort now......

Studio
Sunday-Thursday: 10 pts
Friday, Saturday: 50 pts

 

[dwelty]

Keep in mind that between the four parks at WDW, and the 2 parks at DLR, WDW only has a few more rides compared to DLR.

WDW has 73 rides between 4 parks (including the new Nemo ride).
DLR has 67 rides between 2 parks (including the new Nemo ride, which will be a very different ride compared to the one at WDW).

Great point Disney-Super-Mom! Also remember that it was not that long ago that WDW only had the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, people still spent a week there!