Feeling conflicted…GFV or VDH

[thelionqueen]

I just finalized my direct purchase of 150 at GFV this week! I got the summer incentives & the best deal out there..very excited I got it! That being said…

I went to DLR the day after the incentives ended. I wanted to see VDH with my own eyes to confirm I made the best decision. Very much to my surprise, I fell in love with VDH! Stopped into the DVC office to chat and caught the VP of sales visiting the office. We talked quite awhile (I was the only guest there).

Told him I was highly disappointed with the theming of the resort and wanted to love it, but didn’t. Thought the exact same about the exterior BEFORE I saw it in person..it blew me away! He told me that he tired the interior and the magical touches I wanted are there just not well represented in the renderings.

In short, I fell in love with VDH while I was there. Of course, the new incentives started that day, otherwise I’m sure I’d have switched from VGF to VDH.

Here’s my dilemma I’d love your insight on. Hands down, got an amazing deal @ GFV and super happy with it! The incentives at VDH are pretty minimal then & now. Do I cancel my GFV & get VDH with current (not great) incentives, or keep GFV & add on 50 points (no incentives @ all)? Or…wait until VDH gets on the resale market? I don’t care about restrictions anymore (surprised my thoughts changed on that) and would use 50 points annually and exclusively at VDH. Or, wait and see if other incentives come up?

I’m so conflicted!

 

[take36]

VDH will have incentives (and price increases) over time, it is at no risk of selling out and you have plenty of time to gauge the "deals" and see which is right or wrong for you. The VGF deal you have is most likely lowest it will get and with it selling out soon, it is not worth it to wait. Enjoy your VGF points and start saving for VDH!

 

[Disfamwa]

In my opinion, VDH and the Disneyland Hotel currently lack resort amenities. The new pool built for VDH looks small from renderings and I think the already crowded main pool is going to feel packed after adding in the guests from VDH. Additionally, restaurant offerings seem limited for the premium point chart and price (selling price, plus high dues, plus transient tax). They have Trader Sam’s, Tangaroa terrace, Goofy’s kitchen, and a tiny coffee shop. You are also right by Downtown Disney for dining, but you have to go through security to get there.

We are a west coast family and primarily visit Disneyland, but still bought direct VGF. We do hope to sometimes use our points at VDH, but I want to see how the resort feels with so many rooms added and no additional amenities beyond a small pool and splash pad before I commit to owning there.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I agree. Keep VGF -- that is an amazeballs deal that will never come around again unless we have another 9/11-type national incident or something, God forbid. Save for VDH, or grab it now and just go crazy doubling up on payments if you only need a small amount.

Out of curiosity, did you tour the rooms or just the lobby/outside? What room styles did you see? I can't wait for the YouTube videos.

 

[Sandisw]

I’d keep VGF and add on to VDH now or in the future…if you see yourself needing 50 points only, that add on, plus the cost of VGF, given how great those incentives were, could be close to getting the 150 at VDH?

 

[thelionqueen]

I agree. Keep VGF -- that is an amazeballs deal that will never come around again unless we have another 9/11-type national incident or something, God forbid. Save for VDH, or grab it now and just go crazy doubling up on payments if you only need a small amount.

Out of curiosity, did you tour the rooms or just the lobby/outside? What room styles did you see? I can't wait for the YouTube videos.

I agree, great advice from everyone, thank you!

I wanted to tour the rooms but they didn’t have a preview of it..huge disservice imo. That was my biggest disappointment. Seeing the renderings & photos doesn’t accurately show the buildings grandeur, which made me question if my perception of the rooms was also way off. I’m in stunned disbelief they didn’t have a room to tour. Huge misstep imo. I have zero doubt that if I could’ve seen the rooms & they surprised me as the exterior did, I’d have bought on the spot!

 

[thelionqueen]

I’d keep VGF and add on to VDH now or in the future…if you see yourself needing 50 points only, that add on, plus the cost of VGF, given how great those incentives were, could be close to getting the 150 at VDH?

Very true! Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[thelionqueen]

VDH will have incentives (and price increases) over time, it is at no risk of selling out and you have plenty of time to gauge the "deals" and see which is right or wrong for you. The VGF deal you have is most likely lowest it will get and with it selling out soon, it is not worth it to wait. Enjoy your VGF points and start saving for VDH!

Excellent reminders & so true! Thank you!

 

[thelionqueen]

In my opinion, VDH and the Disneyland Hotel currently lack resort amenities. The new pool built for VDH looks small from renderings and I think the already crowded main pool is going to feel packed after adding in the guests from VDH. Additionally, restaurant offerings seem limited for the premium point chart and price (selling price, plus high dues, plus transient tax). They have Trader Sam’s, Tangaroa terrace, Goofy’s kitchen, and a tiny coffee shop. You are also right by Downtown Disney for dining, but you have to go through security to get there.

We are a west coast family and primarily visit Disneyland, but still bought direct VGF. We do hope to sometimes use our points at VDH, but I want to see how the resort feels with so many rooms added and no additional amenities beyond a small pool and splash pad before I commit to owning there.

Very good points! I thought the pool was an afterthought and agree it’s pretty meh. I didn’t know VDH guests could also use the main pool which was a pleasant surprise, but agree, I think it’ll be packed to the brim! Possibly and likely have max capacity and turn guests away a lot.

I’m not concerned with the lack of dining options, but agree there should’ve been some added. I also like your “wait & see” plan and that’s what I’ll do as well. No need to rush into it just yet. MAYBE just maybe, sales will slow and they’ll have a fire sale like they did when I got GCV for $72 a point. Obviously not that price point, but maybe an incentive push? Doubtful but I can dream lol

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

They will be using actual rooms for tours (like Riviera does) very soon. Such a great sale on VGF and it was now or never with that. VDH you have time. If you’re studio users you can get in there at 7 months most likely. 1+ bedrooms you’ll want points eventually.

 

[Disfamwa]

Very good points! I thought the pool was an afterthought and agree it’s pretty meh. I didn’t know VDH guests could also use the main pool which was a pleasant surprise, but agree, I think it’ll be packed to the brim! Possibly and likely have max capacity and turn guests away a lot.

I’m not concerned with the lack of dining options, but agree there should’ve been some added. I also like your “wait & see” plan and that’s what I’ll do as well. No need to rush into it just yet. MAYBE just maybe, sales will slow and they’ll have a fire sale like they did when I got GCV for $72 a point. Obviously not that price point, but maybe an incentive push? Doubtful but I can dream lol

Very jealous of your VGC contract! I’ve never stayed on the Villa side, but we love staying in the hotel side of the Grand Californian!

 

[take36]

For VDH the "hard" deadline to buy will be 2024 so you get your full 50 year use of points. I too am foaming at the mouth to buy but sometimes we have to listen to our brains instead of our hearts! It hasn't even opened yet, there are still unknowns for such an expensive purchase and a de facto life time commitment. I was also foaming at the mouth to buy Riviera until I stayed at it not once but twice and realize it was not for me. Had I bought first day I would be very disappointed. Disneyland Hotel is my favorite Disney property, the nostalgia and "connection" to Walt is important to me and I am fighting every instinct to not send my credit card information to my guide.

Best of luck to us all!

 

[Genie+]

I also like your “wait & see” plan and that’s what I’ll do as well.

Yeah VDH works much better to wait and see than VGF would. Plenty of time for offers on VDH and maybe better ones. We may have seen the last of VGF at aggressive pricing.

 

[Sunnyore]

Definitely keep VGF especially since your initial feeling about VDH are pretty strong. I don’t love VGF and loved VDH which meant adding on VDH made more sense to me. You can always add on later after you seen the rooms and decide if you would want to stay there after all. I can’t wait to visit the grand villa on the tour event in 2 weeks. Anyway you got a great deal!

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Since you are still within the “cancellation” period at VGF, can you possibly negotiate to add 50 points at VDH with 200 (total purchase price) incentives? Not sure if anybody has ever succeeded splitting across properties but can’t hurt to ask.

 

[Sandisw]

Since you are still within the “cancellation” period at VGF, can you possibly negotiate to add 50 points at VDH with 200 (total purchase price) incentives? Not sure if anybody has ever succeeded splitting across properties but can’t hurt to ask.

They will not do that. The only time they did was when both resorts had the same exact incentives.

 

[PolyRob]

I just finalized my direct purchase of 150 at GFV this week! I got the summer incentives & the best deal out there..very excited I got it! That being said…

I went to DLR the day after the incentives ended. I wanted to see VDH with my own eyes to confirm I made the best decision. Very much to my surprise, I fell in love with VDH! Stopped into the DVC office to chat and caught the VP of sales visiting the office. We talked quite awhile (I was the only guest there).

Told him I was highly disappointed with the theming of the resort and wanted to love it, but didn’t. Thought the exact same about the exterior BEFORE I saw it in person..it blew me away! He told me that he tired the interior and the magical touches I wanted are there just not well represented in the renderings.

In short, I fell in love with VDH while I was there. Of course, the new incentives started that day, otherwise I’m sure I’d have switched from VGF to VDH.

Here’s my dilemma I’d love your insight on. Hands down, got an amazing deal @ GFV and super happy with it! The incentives at VDH are pretty minimal then & now. Do I cancel my GFV & get VDH with current (not great) incentives, or keep GFV & add on 50 points (no incentives @ all)? Or…wait until VDH gets on the resale market? I don’t care about restrictions anymore (surprised my thoughts changed on that) and would use 50 points annually and exclusively at VDH. Or, wait and see if other incentives come up?

I’m so conflicted!

Since you are still within the “cancellation” period at VGF, can you possibly negotiate to add 50 points at VDH with 200 (total purchase price) incentives? Not sure if anybody has ever succeeded splitting across properties but can’t hurt to ask.

You cannot combine the incentives because the developer credits are different.

However, I asked my guide if you could take Magical Beginnings if you purchased a combined 150+ across multiple eligible resorts and he confirmed with QA that you could. IDK how that works with the old VGF incentive and MBs at $22 per point where it's $20 per point now though.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Just as a side note - California has a much smaller parks footprint (allowing for shorter trips), and decent offsite hotel options that are even shorter walking distance to the entry gates - or could even look at Grand California resale. DVC can get you Any Resort - you just have to be patient - or even go with a different use year. Lots of options while you enjoy your VGF. Congrats!

 

[thelionqueen]

For VDH the "hard" deadline to buy will be 2024 so you get your full 50 year use of points. I too am foaming at the mouth to buy but sometimes we have to listen to our brains instead of our hearts! It hasn't even opened yet, there are still unknowns for such an expensive purchase and a de facto life time commitment. I was also foaming at the mouth to buy Riviera until I stayed at it not once but twice and realize it was not for me. Had I bought first day I would be very disappointed. Disneyland Hotel is my favorite Disney property, the nostalgia and "connection" to Walt is important to me and I am fighting every instinct to not send my credit card information to my guide.

Best of luck to us all!

I feel the exact same about Riv & the Disneyland Hotel! Most of my childhood memories (mine and my now grown kids) are there. I agree with everyone that there is plenty of time to buy VDH.. but I absolutely feel the same anxiousness to buy there! I think I have decided I will buy... just have to wait for the right time!

I plan to pay off all my current loans by Jan 15 2024, and can then save to buy an add on with cash. Hoping to make it to Summer 2024 without buying VDH, but.. I cannot guarantee lol. May the odds be ever in our favor!

 

[Genie+]

Hoping to make it to Summer 2024 without buying VDH

So funny! The more you buy the harder it gets to resist buying more