How easy or hard is it to book at the Tokyo resorts using points?

[helenk]

I would love to go to Tokyo next May for 2 nights. My daughter will be teaching in Beijing and I planning on visiting her. I figured since I would not be far from Japan I'd go see Tokyo Disney.
I have enough points to stay at the Miracosta which would be amazing. Has anyone booked there or at the Disneyland Hotel? Any suggestions or assistance would be appreciated.

 

[Brandis]

I'd only do if you have absolutely no other use for the points and need to "burn" them. Have you checked the cash rates at MiraCosta? Also, I think you don't have the full choice of available rooms when booking with points.

For example, there are so called Partial View rooms that face DisneySea but have slightly obstructed views (nothing major, in my experience though) and they are the same lowest rate category as the Tuscany side rooms which face away from the parks (parking lot or city views). Partial View is not mentioned in the points list.

To compare prices: The cheapest room category, Tuscany Side, on a weekday in october would be 58 points, let's say with the going rate of $10 to rent out points, that would be $580 for a night. (Plus you would have to pay the non-refundable $95 transaction fee, bringing the rate up to $675).

If you booked directly with the Tokyo Disney Resort, the cash rate for a Tuscany Side room on a weekday in October would be Yen 41'000 (approx. $412)

So you could rent out the points and pay for the hotel with the rental money.

BTW, to you give you an idea of what they consider to be a partial park view:

 

[helenk]

Good idea of renting out points, I had not thought of that. Since the trip to Japan is an extension to my trip to China to visit my daughter I am trying to keep to a budget. I thought using points would save my cash.

 

[tfc3rid]

Was worth it for me when the exchange rate was 65 Yen to a dollar... Points were definitely a great use at TDL Hotels...

If you want MiraCosta, book exactly 6 months from your arrival date (the day it is available for the general public)... Japanese folks book that hotel and can hold the rooms without a deposit so they go on day 1...

A bit easier to get the TDL Hotel (which is nicer than MiraCosta IMO) and Ambassador is easiest.

 

[helenk]

Was worth it for me when the exchange rate was 65 Yen to a dollar... Points were definitely a great use at TDL Hotels...

If you want MiraCosta, book exactly 6 months from your arrival date (the day it is available for the general public)... Japanese folks book that hotel and can hold the rooms without a deposit so they go on day 1...

A bit easier to get the TDL Hotel (which is nicer than MiraCosta IMO) and Ambassador is easiest.

Thank you for your input. I did check on the DVC member's page that you can book at 6 months. It also states that the $95 booking fee does not apply to Disney Tokyo so that is something for me to keep in mind. I would like to stay at the Miracosta, The Disneyland Hotel would be my next choice, I'll just have to decide what avenue to take.

 

[tfc3rid]

Thank you for your input. I did check on the DVC member's page that you can book at 6 months. It also states that the $95 booking fee does not apply to Disney Tokyo so that is something for me to keep in mind. I would like to stay at the Miracosta, The Disneyland Hotel would be my next choice, I'll just have to decide what avenue to take.

My wife and I spent 6 nights at MiraCosta and 1 at the Disneyland Hotel... Both are terrific... We did 4 days in the parks and the rest of the time toured greater Tokyo...

When we do it next time, probably split the stay between MiraCosta and TDH.

Either way, if you are a real fan of Disney Parks, you can not miss Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea...

 

[helenk]

My wife and I spent 6 nights at MiraCosta and 1 at the Disneyland Hotel... Both are terrific... We did 4 days in the parks and the rest of the time toured greater Tokyo...

When we do it next time, probably split the stay between MiraCosta and TDH.

Either way, if you are a real fan of Disney Parks, you can not miss Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea...

My full plan for this trip is to fly to California and spend 4 nights in Disneyland, then fly to Beijing to spend time with my daughter, from there fly to Tokyo. I have dreamed of going to the parks in Tokyo and this will be a great opportunity.

 

[dvc_john]

While you are in the neighborhood (lol), you could check out Hong Kong Disneyland also, and check it off your bucket list.

Obviously, Tokyo is better. But it's still Disney, and it opened an expansion recently (since I was there). And Hong Kong is an interesting city.

And, if your daughter will be in Bejing for a few more years, you could go back when Shanghai Disneyland opens.

 

[rollermonkey]

The past few years, I was back in college, so was burning DVC points at the Tokyo Disney Resort for my wife's family to use. (They live about an hour north of Tokyo.)

I have never gotten a reservation at Miracosta. I have gotten one reservation at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, one at the Ambassador, and two at Celebration. (Celebration is off the monorail line, and is about a 20-minute shuttle ride to the parks.) These were at different times of year, not holidays, and not always weekends.

Because we have to call Florida to make reservations, you need to call the day BEFORE the 6-month booking window opens, as it will already be the next day in Japan. Some DVC agents are more understanding of this than others.

Rooms fill fast in the three properties on the monorail. I also suspect that they limit the number of DVC reservations, as the Japanese-language Disney websites are still showing available rooms when DVC is telling me on the phone there is no availability.

DisneySea is worth the hassles, though. Good luck!