DVC Members Making 1st trip to Disneyland

[sjaz22]

My family will be visiting Disneyland for the first time in August 2016. We will be staying 2-3 nights and are hoping to use DVC points to stay at the Grand Californian. I have heard though it may be a challenge to get room at the 7 month window. If that is the case, we are thinking about using points for the Disney Collection and staying at either the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier Hotel. Any comments on which is nicer or a better fit for 3 days in both parks would be appreciated.

 

[Meemoo]

Hello - I booked our first DVC stay for this October at DL. We had a plan to go for the Grand Californian spot on the 7 month window. If I didn't succeed I was going to use the points for a few nights at DL Hotel as I have always wanted to stay there. Many people will say it is not worth it to use points for the Disney Collection hotels and booking cash is better, perhaps maybe if you reside in the US but for me, and the Australian exchange rate it would certainly have been more worth it than paying cash. Back to booking the VGC, we were successful and managed for grab 4 nights in a row, mid week Monday til Friday. We had to do it the second it was available, if we hesitated we would have missed out. So perhaps try that, if you don't get it then use your points for DL hotel if that suits you. The VGC has the best location and you will use far less points.

 

[Meriweather]

Good luck getting VGC.....love it That's why we bought DVC there.

I would go with DLH over PP, if you have to go that way

 

[Nonsuch]

...I have heard though it may be a challenge to get room at the 7 month window...

You heard correctly, it can be difficult to book at 7 months. Studios are the most difficult to book.
A 1-bedroom would be much easier to book, and also more comfortable.

Lots of great information in the VGC Superthread.

 

[fantasmicfantastic]

I own at VGC so I have never had to book at 7 months, but I have heard studios are very difficult to come by. However, I have used my points to book at DLH (last minute trip, had to use up points, no VGC available) and I must admit, DLH is wonderful. The rooms have a lot of Disney flair, and the light up, musical headboards are a magical touch. I really hope Disney can one day expand DVC to DLH because I would buy points there in a heartbeat.

 

[Just Peachy]

I own at VGC so I have never had to book at 7 months, but I have heard studios are very difficult to come by. However, I have used my points to book at DLH (last minute trip, had to use up points, no VGC available) and I must admit, DLH is wonderful. The rooms have a lot of Disney flair, and the light up, musical headboards are a magical touch. I really hope Disney can one day expand DVC to DLH because I would buy points there in a heartbeat.

I'm with you! I did finally buy at VGC last year because of the 7-month book problem. But, a suite at the DLH would be soooooo awesome. My kids really love the Headboards in the rooms and the Monorail-themed pool.

 

[Just Peachy]

My family will be visiting Disneyland for the first time in August 2016. We will be staying 2-3 nights and are hoping to use DVC points to stay at the Grand Californian. I have heard though it may be a challenge to get room at the 7 month window. If that is the case, we are thinking about using points for the Disney Collection and staying at either the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier Hotel. Any comments on which is nicer or a better fit for 3 days in both parks would be appreciated.

Before I purchased at VGC last year, I watched the booking pattern for about two years (by renting from other owners, following the posts on the Dis-board and other sites, and using the temporarily-available tool published by another Disney-fan site that allowed you to look at all the availability of rooms looking out 7+ months).

What I saw was that the studios were gone before the 7-month window for any high visitation dates to the DLR (Christmas/NYE, Thanksgiving, July 4, Memorial and Labor days, Marathon weekends, etc) and gone soon after entering the 7-month window for most any other times. The 2-br’s were available a little longer but only about a week or so longer and the 1-br’s just a little longer than that. In August of 2016, you should still be able to get something at 7-months.

Since my points were purchased via re-sale, I don’t have the option to use the Disney Collection. However, I have done several cash-stays at the DLH in the past few years and have found that there has been standard rooms available even at 45 days out from my summer travel dates (with the notable exception of this year around the 60 Anniversary week where nothing was available at 60 days out). I don’t know if the Disney Collection inventory of rooms at the DLH is different from the inventory of standard rooms, though.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Nonsuch]

...What I saw was that the studios were gone before the 7-month window for any high visitation dates to the DLR (Christmas/NYE, Thanksgiving, July 4, Memorial and Labor days, Marathon weekends, etc) and gone soon after entering the 7-month window for most any other times. The 2-br’s were available a little longer but only about a week or so longer and the 1-br’s just a little longer than that.

I did not track availability as carefully as you, but my personal experience matches your observations.

I love the 1-bedroom villas, with 2 full baths and a full kitchen. The high point cost and occupancy limit of 5 makes them less desirable to many owners.

 

[Just Peachy]

I love the 1-bedroom villas, with 2 full baths and a full kitchen.

Right you are. I stayed in the 2-br for the 60-Anniversary week and the 3 baths and three separate rooms with beds was wonderful for our extended family.