Grand Canyon area

[bfosbenner]

Can anyone recommend an place tha DVC points can be used for visiting the Grand Canyon?

 

[wintergreen]

Nothing that I know of near the Grand Canyon, but we have stayed at both the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson and the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix on DVC points (they are both in the Concierge Collection). There may be some Interval International resorts that are in Sedona, but I'm not sure that you could get any closer than that!

 

[Dean]

Can anyone recommend an place tha DVC points can be used for visiting the Grand Canyon?

Sedona is likely your best bet with II. There is one timeshare in Flagstaff and a few in southern Utah around St. George, of these there are 3 on the DVC II list near St. George it appears.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Yes sir, I can.

Concierge Collection has the Tanque Verde Ranche in Tucson. I think it is the best use of points outside of DVC. All inclusive and just a wonderful place to stay. One of our best vacations ever.

 

[JimMIA]

Sedona is likely your best bet with II. There is one timeshare in Flagstaff

Sedona is spectacular, and is a destination in its own right. Flagstaff is convenient and less expensive. We made Flagstaff sort of our base for a trip east to the Meteor Crater, then Petrified Forest NP and Painted Desert NP, then north to Canyon de Chelly, and further north to Mesa Verde NP in SW Colorado. Then, SW to Monument Valley and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lots of driving, but also lots of cool places.

...and a few in southern Utah around St. George, of these there are 3 on the DVC II list near St. George it appears.

St George is just outside Zion NP, and is convenient to Cedar Breaks NM, Bryce Canyon NP and the North Rim of Grand Canyon. The North Rim is arguably the best kept secret in the National Park Service -- think Grand Canyon without the hordes of people.

For info on any of the 391 units in our National Park system, go to www.nps.gov and then use the "Find a Park" feature. You can search either by state or park name.

 

[dis-happy]

If you're going to do the Grand Canyon I would to go the park service website and reserve a room right there. Then, rent out some DVC points to offset the cost. You can book there 1 year out. We stayed at the El Tovar lodge with a view of the canyon and it was FABULOUS!!!

 

[JimMIA]

If you're going to do the Grand Canyon I would to go the park service website and reserve a room right there. Then, rent out some DVC points to offset the cost. You can book there 1 year out. We stayed at the El Tovar lodge with a view of the canyon and it was FABULOUS!!!

dis-happy is absolutely right, and I can't believe I missed mentioning that!

Grand Canyon's website is www.nps.gov/grca . NPS sites are a bit clunky, so you need to click on the button on the left that says "Planning your visit." Then scroll down to the bottom of that page and you'll see a button for lodging. That should take you to the concessioner site where you can make ressies. It varies from park to park, but most of the time you can make ressies a year and a day from arrival.

Most larger parks, including Grand Canyon, have a variety of lodging choices provided by concessioners. Lodging choices range from primitive backcountry campsites, to developed campgrounds, to tent-cabins, to economy cabins/hotel rooms, to luxurious places like El Tovar. The prices vary accordingly, but there are a lot of budget choices. The budget and moderate choices are certainly not DVC, but they are usually spacious and clean.

The concessioners are tightly regulated by NPS, and we've never been disappointed with in-park lodging. With some parks, outside lodging may be several hours away from the park, so onsite really means something.

There are also usually good eating options and some grocery availability in the parks, also run by the concessioners.

 

[karla63]

I definitely agree on the concessioners. Xanterra takes care of the Grand Canyon Natl Park. The food was plentiful and the local grocery store had ample choices of things to buy. You could easily stay a week right at the south rim and never have to leave to find decent food. we are in the midst of planning a mule ride/whitewater rafting for next summer. can't wait

dis-happy is absolutely right, and I can't believe I missed mentioning that!

Grand Canyon's website is www.nps.gov/grca . NPS sites are a bit clunky, so you need to click on the button on the left that says "Planning your visit." Then scroll down to the bottom of that page and you'll see a button for lodging. That should take you to the concessioner site where you can make ressies. It varies from park to park, but most of the time you can make ressies a year and a day from arrival.

Most larger parks, including Grand Canyon, have a variety of lodging choices provided by concessioners. Lodging choices range from primitive backcountry campsites, to developed campgrounds, to tent-cabins, to economy cabins/hotel rooms, to luxurious places like El Tovar. The prices vary accordingly, but there are a lot of budget choices. The budget and moderate choices are certainly not DVC, but they are usually spacious and clean.

The concessioners are tightly regulated by NPS, and we've never been disappointed with in-park lodging. With some parks, outside lodging may be several hours away from the park, so onsite really means something.

There are also usually good eating options and some grocery availability in the parks, also run by the concessioners.

 

[Lora]

We had a great GC vacation last year! We stayed in the Xanterra resorts at the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion NP. I would definitely agree with those who recommend reserving at the in-park resorts and renting out your Disney points only if you need to off-set the cost.

 

[SEC]

We just got back on Monday from the Grand Canyon and we stayed two nights in a Bright Angel Cabin ($92 a night) and two nights at El Tovar ($142 a night). We would stay at either one again. We both actually liked the cabin better, it was a little bigger. No air conditioning in the cabin, but we left the windows open all night and there is a powerful ceiling fan and it was kinda cold the first night.

The gift shop at El Tovar had similar items for sale that they have at Wilderness Lodge (our home resort). It was funny! It makes me appreciate Wilderness Lodge even more!

 

[JimMIA]

We just got back on Monday from the Grand Canyon and we stayed two nights in a Bright Angel Cabin ($92 a night) and two nights at El Tovar ($142 a night). We would stay at either one again. We both actually liked the cabin better, it was a little bigger. No air conditioning in the cabin, but we left the windows open all night and there is a powerful ceiling fan and it was kinda cold the first night.

The gift shop at El Tovar had similar items for sale that they have at Wilderness Lodge (our home resort). It was funny! It makes me appreciate Wilderness Lodge even more!

I'm amazed that El Tovar was only $142. The last time we went to Yosemite, I booked two nights at the Ahwanee Hotel for over $300 per night (in October). I booked it partly as a back up, and partly because we'd never stayed there before, but when Yosemite Lodge came through for our entire stay, we cancelled Ahwanee and saved $200+ per night.

The concept for WL is based on the great railroad lodges of the west -- places like Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone, or the Glacier Park and Many Glacier Lodges in Glacier NP. So, it's no accident that things at El Tovar remind you of WL.

 

[JandD Mom]

If you're going to do the Grand Canyon I would to go the park service website and reserve a room right there. Then, rent out some DVC points to offset the cost. You can book there 1 year out. We stayed at the El Tovar lodge with a view of the canyon and it was FABULOUS!!!

That's exactly what WE are doing this August. Great minds think alike!

 

[mathed101]

Jim,

We just moved to Utah and are looking for more information on camping by the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and also the other National Parks in our surrounding states. I read your statements about staying onsite and have heard that before. Are there any places that it would be better to stay onsite than trying to find a campground nearby?

I found some information on the nps site about the North Rim Campground so I guess I'm just looking for the other parks.

Thanks for the information!

 

[kimberh]

If you're going to do the Grand Canyon I would to go the park service website and reserve a room right there. Then, rent out some DVC points to offset the cost. You can book there 1 year out. We stayed at the El Tovar lodge with a view of the canyon and it was FABULOUS!!!

I just went on the website and I did not see where I could get a Canyon view room, did you call to get the view? All the rooms I saw were on floors 1-3 with no canyon view. If I go I would really like a view, if one is available.

Thanks!

 

[shellbelle1971]

FWIW, DH and I absolutely love Phantom Ranch and ALWAYS stay there when we go to the Grand Canyon...but the commute can be tough

 

[JimMIA]

Jim,

We just moved to Utah and are looking for more information on camping by the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and also the other National Parks in our surrounding states. I read your statements about staying onsite and have heard that before. Are there any places that it would be better to stay onsite than trying to find a campground nearby?

I found some information on the nps site about the North Rim Campground so I guess I'm just looking for the other parks.

Thanks for the information!

At the South Rim, "offsite" is pretty close by, but that's not true at the North Rim.

The nearest town to the North Rim is Jacob Lake, AZ. From Jacob Lake, it's 30 miles to the park boundary and an additional 14 miles to the rim itself where all the camping, lodging, etc are -- so 44 miles.

Here's a link to camping info for the North Rim. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cg-nr.htm

There is a U.S. Forest Service campground just outside the park boundary (16 miles from the rim), but I'd stay at the park campground if you can get in. You'll be much closer, plus you'll have access to Ranger programs, groceries, etc, etc, that you won't have at the USFS campground.

The restaurant at the North Rim, incidentally, is directly on the rim, with great views and very good food.

 

[JimMIA]

Anyone planning more than one visit to any federal land (NPS sites, Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, etc) should consider the "America The Beautiful" passes.

Most National Park Service sites currently charge an entry fee between $10 and $25, and that fee is good for all fee areas in that park for seven days. However, those fees are going up soon. Here at Everglades, our fee is going from $10 to $20, and I believe many of the current $25 sites are going to $35 or $40.

There are three America The Beautiful passes (formerly called Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access, I think)

• a disability access pass which is free for life
• a senior (62+) pass which is $10 lifetime (or until you lose it)
• and the annual pass which is $80

In addition to park admission, the passes also give you discounts on some things provided by NPS. For example, campsite fees are 1/2 price in most NPS sites. There are no discounts for lodging or other concessioner-provided services, although some concessioners do offer discounts for seniors.

If you live near a specific park, and visit it often, most parks also offer an annual pass for that park only. They are generally $35-50, but they are only good at that park.

Here's a link to the pass info:http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Last summer we stayed at the South Rim at the Yavapai (spelling?) Lodge---I think it was the west portion?---anyway, it was the only place that would sleep the five of us. Lovely, just lovely.

We did a big National Parks trip: SLC to Dinosaur to Golden Spike to Yellowstone (couldn't get in the park ressies even 10 months in advance due to renovations--the old sleeping 5 issue) to Grand Teton (Jackson Lake Lodge cottage, non-view) to Manitou Springs CO (stayed at a b&b cottage) to Arches to Mesa Verde to Painted Desert to Grand Canyon to Phoenix.

I think next time we'll do the North Rim, Bryce Canyon, Zion etc w/ a rental rv

 

[mathed101]

Thanks for the info Jim!! I was looking at the North Rim Campground info last night too. I think we will try to go next spring or fall. Our friends have the $80 pass as they go to Moab and surrounding parks quite often.

LuckyMamainDE, your trip sounds like it was great - just what we are hoping to do! I like your next trip too, to do the North Rim, Bryce Canyon, Zion etc as we have a 30' Travel Trailer! We are looking forward to exploring our new state and all the surrounding ones too. Thanks for thge information.

 

[JimMIA]

If you are trying to get lodging at an NPS concession lodge, it helps to know the drill. That drill varies from concessioner to concessioner, and it also varies a bit from park to park, so do your research.

Generally there is a requirement for a one-night deposit at least. There is also a drop-dead date, after which any cancellation will result in the loss of the deposit. Sometimes that date is only 24-48 hours prior to arrival, but sometimes it may be two weeks prior. Whatever the rules are where you are going, know them.

Usually, you can reserve lodging a year and a day prior to your arrival. Many people make ressies that far out and then cancel as their plans change and the drop-dead date approaches. Just because you are not initially successful doesn't mean you won't ultimately get what you want.

So, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. If they only have one of the 3-4 days you are looking for, grab it. You can always cancel if the rest of the ressie doesn't work out the way you hope. I have never failed to get the lodging I wanted in a National Park, but I have sometimes made a dozen phone calls to get it.