If GCV is unavailable?

[arthur06]

I am looking into a trip to DL this year, we can't wait to see Cars Land.

I have two travel options. One is inside the 7 month window, one is outside.

I was thinking August 6th to August 8th for the DL portion, but GCV is not available (which I didn't expect it to be). Would you book one of the other DL hotels or would you stay offsite and WL for for GCV? Would you just use the points to book DLH or PP using points?

Or

November 4th to 8th, and try to get GCV right at 7 months.

If you were staying offsite where would you recommend with a decent pool and close to walking distance?

Lastly, If I booked DLH or PP I would have to borrow points. Is this where the rule of 4 comes into play. I have a Dec UY, so both trips would fall in the last 4 months. I would just have to book the August trip this month correct?

 

[raftislander]

The summer is going to be very crowded with the Carsland opening but then you are going at a time when the schedule is full bore - ie, fireworks every night, no scheduled refurbs, lots of characters out and about, and live music. You do not mention how many are in your party or if there are young kids. If I had young ones, I would opt for the November dates as sometimes the crowds make park touring difficult. By November the Socal annual passholders will have had time to get in to see Carsland and things should be less busy, especialy during your midweek dates. You cannot expect that there will be any fireworks scheduled except on the Sunday of your arrival
Weather is more likely to be hot in August, but you may also have warm weather in early November. A couple of years ago it was hitting over 100 degrees in late October. If swimming pool activiites are important then opt for August.

My favorite offsite hotel is the Candy Cane Inn. It has a pool but it is not large and no slide. It is set in a well landscaped patio area and there is a nice (hot) jacuzzi. It is just under a ten minute walk to the front gates of the parks. The Inn also has its own dedicated shuttle (free)that runs throughout the day. To the parks on the hour and at half past and from the parks on at a quarter past and a quarter to. It has a nice free continental breakfast included. The rooms are not spacious, however. If you go over to the Disneyland board you can find some threads on the CCI and on other nearby hotels. The reports on the refurbished Disneyland hotel are very positive. It will cost you considerable more than booking an offsite hotel.

I cannot help you on the last question as I am a fairly new DVC owner and do not have these rules down myself.

Have a great trip!!

 

[DebbieB]

I am looking into a trip to DL this year, we can't wait to see Cars Land.

I have two travel options. One is inside the 7 month window, one is outside.

I was thinking August 6th to August 8th for the DL portion, but GCV is not available (which I didn't expect it to be). Would you book one of the other DL hotels or would you stay offsite and WL for for GCV? Would you just use the points to book DLH or PP using points?

Or

November 4th to 8th, and try to get GCV right at 7 months.

If you were staying offsite where would you recommend with a decent pool and close to walking distance?

Lastly, If I booked DLH or PP I would have to borrow points. Is this where the rule of 4 comes into play. I have a Dec UY, so both trips would fall in the last 4 months. I would just have to book the August trip this month correct?

The rule of 4 does not apply to DL. Even if it did, a stay 8/1 to 11/30 would have to be booked by 7/31, not this month.

What is the Rule of Four?
You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California and Tokyo Disney Resort®), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

 

[arthur06]

I will be traveling with 3 children. They are boys ages 11, 5, 3 at the time of travel.

If we go in November, they will have to miss about 3 days of school. Which we don't mind as they are still pretty young.

If we go in August we would drive from Iowa for about 10 days. Stopping at GC, Las Vegas and touring more of the LA area.

If we go in August, it would be a Saturday to Wednesday type trip. And focus more exclusively on the DL area and not much else.

 

[arthur06]

The rule of 4 does not apply to DL. Even if it did, a stay 8/1 to 11/30 would have to be booked by 7/31, not this month.

Thanks. I was thinking that if I was traveling in the last 4 months of my UY, I had to book 4 months in advance. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Cinderpamela]

I would go in November if you can make it work. Christmas decorations will be up/or just getting put up, and you will most likely have better odds of getting into VGC if you call or book online right at the 7 month window.
Plus, like others said, Carsland will have been around for several months by that time, so SoCal AP holders will have gotten their fix, hopefully.

We are going the end of November and are excited to see all the new things that have happened since we were last there in Nov 2010.

 

[nunzia]

I would also try for the November dates as a priority, but if you really want to so the whole 10 day thing, then the August one is workable also. As pointed out the plusses for Aug. are the hours will be long, entertainment will be ramped up and ride refurbs will be low, while in Nov the opposite is true. I really can't stress enough how crowded I think this summer will be. We'll also be there in Aug, but mainly because Destination D is happening. We'll also be there in November,and that's with a son and family, so hopeful Carsland will be do-able without too much stress by then. I'd stay onsite if you can swing it. Points are horrid at DLH but I put a son up there last year and it was great. Alot on the board also like PP but it seems a bit far to me.

 

[raftislander]

Another option for your lodging is the Howard Johnson or "Hojo's." For your November dates you could get the entertainment rate. You just need an entertainment card from a book from any area to qualify for this rate. See the link for the dates the rate is available.

http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

You have to commit to this as no refund for a cancellation but the price is hard to beat. I have stayed at the $69 rate and the $79 rate (room had referigerator and microwave) which is handy when travelling with kids. Room decor is a little dated but rooms are clean and spacious. No free breakfast or shuttle. Walk is about 10-15 minutes to front gates. This has a great pirate themed water play area for kids and a separate pool for traditional swimming. If you call to make this reservation you must be sure that you are talking to the front desk staff at the Hojo's on Harbor Blvd. On weekends, during lunch hours, late at night, or when the front desk is busy their direct line switches over to the national reservation line- these people don't know anything about this entertainment rate. The people on the national line will somtimes mislead you and tell you that they are at the Anaheim front desk. So if they don't know what you are asking about- call back later.

Early November is a transition time for the parks. Halloween decorations will be coming down and Christmas will start to go up. You will have the NBC overlay on the Haunted Mansion, but IASW may be closed so it can get its Christmas overlay