Hard time deciding how many points we truly need.

[VGCgroupie]

I know you tracking prices very closely, but if you wont be buying for awhile I personally would not. It will make it harder to buy in the future when you know what the past cost was. It's only going to get more and more expensive. I would expect the base price to go up next year again. The reason I paid less than whats available now isnt just due to incentives, it's mainly due to the base price increase.

 

[PolyRob]

We are staying in a studio at VGC in early December this year. We plan to tour VDH. We also want to make the walk from the park all the way to the VDH building to see if we absolutely hate it. (Though, at the same time, I suspect if Disneyland Forward happens, they would add park entrances near the hotel. But maybe not?)

Gotcha! You could even use the points for a welcome home booking in FL and try out a new or restricted resort if you didn't want to rent them out.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I know you tracking prices very closely, but if you wont be buying for awhile I personally would not. It will make it harder to buy in the future when you know what the past cost was. It's only going to get more and more expensive. I would expect the base price to go up next year again. The reason I paid less than whats available now isnt just due to incentives, it's mainly due to the base price increase.

Oh, I know the prices will be more by the time we buy. But I still like paying attention to current prices. I just think it's fun.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Oh man, I'm like 99% sure if we decide to go with more points at VGC, we'd want 75 points. And wouldn't you know an almost "perfect" contract popped up. It's very, very tempting.

I'm sitting over here going...well...maybe we should just try to pick up these 75 points now. And then if we love VDH...just get points there too!

As if we're made of money and don't still have a huge house project we need to fund.

It's a sickness, I tell ya!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Oh man, I'm like 99% sure if we decide to go with more points at VGC, we'd want 75 points. And wouldn't you know an almost "perfect" contract popped up. It's very, very tempting.

I'm sitting over here going...well...maybe we should just try to pick up these 75 points now. And then if we love VDH...just get points there too!

As if we're made of money and don't still have a huge house project we need to fund.

It's a sickness, I tell ya!

I don't need any points, but I was tempted by a couple recent contracts. Those small ones are rare, but they do show up once in a while.

It's good to own both. I was about to book a night at VGC for 76 points. I decided to check VDH just to see if it was less points and it was only 50 points for the same night. I almost bought more VDH points after seeing that.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Totally can’t afford it right now, but I was so tempted by the 50 point one in my use year recently. 100 pointers aren’t that common but 50 pointers?!?

 

[ClaraOswald]

Well, everyone....we're back from our VGC stay and we were able to visit VDH.

And I'm possibly even more confused than before!

I was hoping I would either LOVE or HATE the Disneyland villas. But I'm firmly in the "like" category, somewhere in the middle.

We were able to go inside 2 studios and a 1-bedroom villa. I really liked the rooms a lot! And I liked that the VDH tower seemed quiet. Way less hectic than the Grand Californian lobby. We didn't tour the main grounds at all really because our son was having a bad day. So that was kind of a bummer.

Overall, I did like the tropical vibe of the grounds that we did experience. Lots of trees, which I love. Seemed very lush. A more summery feel than at the Grand Californian though.

VGC is still our preferred place, for sure. I asked my husband if we were to never stay at VDH, would he be sad and feel like he's missing out and he said no. So that makes me feel like we shouldn't purchase points there and should just get more VGC.

But then we start to look at the bigger picture of owning direct points and how that would come in handy, especially after 2042.

And then we think "well, that's a problem for future us" and we should just get more VGC.

So yeah...just as confused as before we visited.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Well, everyone....we're back from our VGC stay and we were able to visit VDH.

And I'm possibly even more confused than before!

I was hoping I would either LOVE or HATE the Disneyland villas. But I'm firmly in the "like" category, somewhere in the middle.

We were able to go inside 2 studios and a 1-bedroom villa. I really liked the rooms a lot! And I liked that the VDH tower seemed quiet. Way less hectic than the Grand Californian lobby. We didn't tour the main grounds at all really because our son was having a bad day. So that was kind of a bummer.

Overall, I did like the tropical vibe of the grounds that we did experience. Lots of trees, which I love. Seemed very lush. A more summery feel than at the Grand Californian though.

VGC is still our preferred place, for sure. I asked my husband if we were to never stay at VDH, would he be sad and feel like he's missing out and he said no. So that makes me feel like we shouldn't purchase points there and should just get more VGC.

But then we start to look at the bigger picture of owning direct points and how that would come in handy, especially after 2042.

And then we think "well, that's a problem for future us" and we should just get more VGC.

So yeah...just as confused as before we visited.

The thing is… the price isn’t the same and VGC doesn’t have a huge resale market.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Tough choice when you are firmly in the "it's fine!" camp! I think I was sold from the first time I saw the Steamboat Willie splash pad.

Have you compared the point charts for the two resorts? They are SO different and have different seasons, so it is worth looking at them very closely.

 

[Wedgeout]

This confusion means unfortunately not ready for more points at either. Give it a month or so.

 

[ClaraOswald]

The thing is… the price isn’t the same and VGC doesn’t have a huge resale market.

Yeah...not much out there for VGC currently. We aren't in any hurry though, thankfully. So it really will depend on what's available when we are ready to buy.

Sadly, VDH just gets more and more expensive. They need to have a fire sale if I decide to buy there in a year or two. Ha!

Tough choice when you are firmly in the "it's fine!" camp! I think I was sold from the first time I saw the Steamboat Willie splash pad.

Have you compared the point charts for the two resorts? They are SO different and have different seasons, so it is worth looking at them very closely.

I looked a while back but can't really remember the differences. I'll have to look again. I think VDH was actually more points for some of our favorite times to visit.

This confusion means unfortunately not ready for more points at either. Give it a month or so.

Oh, we'll be giving it way more than a month....unless a magical VGC resale were to pop up...then we might consider it.

Otherwise, we're waiting. We still have projects around the house we need to spend money on (a couple big ones.)

Thankfully, we have enough VGC points for a 1-bedroom for our 2026 and 2027 trips.

I will literally be talking through all of this for at least another year, or so. (Unless that unicorn contract pops up at the right time and at the right price!)

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yeah...not much out there for VGC currently. We aren't in any hurry though, thankfully. So it really will depend on what's available when we are ready to buy.

Sadly, VDH just gets more and more expensive. They need to have a fire sale if I decide to buy there in a year or two. Ha!



I looked a while back but can't really remember the differences. I'll have to look again. I think VDH was actually more points for some of our favorite times to visit.

Oh, we'll be giving it way more than a month....unless a magical VGC resale were to pop up...then we might consider it.

Otherwise, we're waiting. We still have projects around the house we need to spend money on (a couple big ones.)

Thankfully, we have enough VGC points for a 1-bedroom for our 2026 and 2027 trips.

I will literally be talking through all of this for at least another year, or so. (Unless that unicorn contract pops up at the right time and at the right price!)

I’m just going to throw this out there… You might be better off financing with the strong incentives they have now, using MB with the 2025 points, renting out the 2026 and 2027 points.

150 points is $32,000.
$20MBB is $3k. (Which reimburses your down payment)

If you use a Disney Visa then you get 0% interest for 6m.

Renting 2026 and 2027 points @ $20pp gets you $6k…. which covers all of your interest and principal payments.

Then in 2028 you pay off the loan of 150 points for $26.6k… which would be $177pp… which is the below the price everyone said was a VGF fire sale…..

And you get the membership extras of DVC-Y for 2 years!

Oh… the interest… that’s also potentially tax deductible if you itemize….

 

[atthebeachclub]

Having recently financed as an existing member of over one year (as a short term thing), it's super wild to just be handed financing with no credit check, and no reporting to agencies. I have no complaints, but it is pretty crazy. The lack of credit agency reporting makes me less hasty to pay it off, but I'll be quite happy when it's gone, too.

 

[PolyRob]

Then in 2028 you pay off the loan of 150 points for $26.6k… which would be $177pp… which is the below the price everyone said was a VGF fire sale…..

VGF "fire sale" was $161.10 per point at 150 points

 

[VGCgroupie]

Well, everyone....we're back from our VGC stay and we were able to visit VDH.

And I'm possibly even more confused than before!

I was hoping I would either LOVE or HATE the Disneyland villas. But I'm firmly in the "like" category, somewhere in the middle.

We were able to go inside 2 studios and a 1-bedroom villa. I really liked the rooms a lot! And I liked that the VDH tower seemed quiet. Way less hectic than the Grand Californian lobby. We didn't tour the main grounds at all really because our son was having a bad day. So that was kind of a bummer.

Overall, I did like the tropical vibe of the grounds that we did experience. Lots of trees, which I love. Seemed very lush. A more summery feel than at the Grand Californian though.

VGC is still our preferred place, for sure. I asked my husband if we were to never stay at VDH, would he be sad and feel like he's missing out and he said no. So that makes me feel like we shouldn't purchase points there and should just get more VGC.

But then we start to look at the bigger picture of owning direct points and how that would come in handy, especially after 2042.

And then we think "well, that's a problem for future us" and we should just get more VGC.

So yeah...just as confused as before we visited.

The cost difference is significant.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

The high TOT at VDH sure is a huge factor.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I think owning both is the sweet spot TBH. But if you know you will always visit the same times each year then compare point charts, look at TOT price and then look at buy in cost. If you don’t dislike VDH I think it boils down to total cost, unless money isn’t a factor for you.

 

[AstroBlasters]

VGF "fire sale" was $161.10 per point at 150 points

Now adjust for inflation and consider what direct prices will be in 2028….

 

[AstroBlasters]

I think owning both is the sweet spot TBH. But if you know you will always visit the same times each year then compare point charts, look at TOT price and then look at buy in cost. If you don’t dislike VDH I think it boils down to total cost, unless money isn’t a factor for you.

And it is a much more financially prudent move to “window shop” and push off purchasing an unnecessary luxury item until you are 100% sure what you and your spouse want…..

 

[MartyParty]

Yeah...not much out there for VGC currently. We aren't in any hurry though, thankfully. So it really will depend on what's available when we are ready to buy.

Sadly, VDH just gets more and more expensive. They need to have a fire sale if I decide to buy there in a year or two. Ha!



I looked a while back but can't really remember the differences. I'll have to look again. I think VDH was actually more points for some of our favorite times to visit.



Oh, we'll be giving it way more than a month....unless a magical VGC resale were to pop up...then we might consider it.

Otherwise, we're waiting. We still have projects around the house we need to spend money on (a couple big ones.)

Thankfully, we have enough VGC points for a 1-bedroom for our 2026 and 2027 trips.

I will literally be talking through all of this for at least another year, or so. (Unless that unicorn contract pops up at the right time and at the right price!)

Love riding your posts, Clara.

Throwing this out there in case it helps. We are typically not 11-month planners when it comes to Disneyland visits. We also, sadly, do not have VGC points but even if we did we'd have to kick into another planning gear to use those points. Having said that about us, it sounds like you all might be 11-month planners. If that's the case, VGC (and more points there) would serve you well.

As VDH will have more rooms, I feel like it will accommodate our er lack thereof timeliness! : )