If Villas of GC is not available, then what?

[bobbiwoz]

Do I wait list? If so, when do I give up wait list and book a DL hotel? Is there a "preferred" DL hotel to use points for? My UY is March, so no problems with using points, booking in the end of UY.

We will be on DCL's WBPC cruise, and will be looking for 3 nights, studio or 1 bedroom, mid week in May, so October will be 7 months. We will do a Cali NP, then DL. I will rent a scooter because walking is difficult, but I really want to see Cars Land!

Bobbi

 

[bwvBound]

I've had great luck with Grand Cal Waitlist -- but often right at the 30-day point!

Edited to add: I rarely start my Grand Cal boking process outside 4-months of travel. You have plenty of time! I wouldn't even think about DLR hotels at this point.

For reference/perspective, I've had 3 reservations for Grand Cal this calendar year:
1) Feb/Mar long weekend, 4 nights, studio
2) Memorial Day weekend, 3 nights, studio
3) mid-Dec long weekend, 3 nights, 1BR

 

[erionm]

If you have to book one of the DL Hotels that are part of the Disney Collection, you don't have to pay the $95 transaction fee and the rule of four does not apply.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've had great luck with Grand Cal Waitlist -- but often right at the 30-day point!

Edited to add: I rarely start my Grand Cal boking process outside 4-months of travel. You have plenty of time! I wouldn't even think about DLR hotels at this point.

For reference/perspective, I've had 3 reservations for Grand Cal this calendar year:
1) Feb/Mar long weekend, 4 nights, studio
2) Memorial Day weekend, 3 nights, studio
3) mid-Dec long weekend, 3 nights, 1BR

If you have to book one of the DL Hotels that are part of the Disney Collection, you don't have to pay the $95 transaction fee and the rule of four does not apply.

OK...I will wait and see..thank you for the info!

DH is an obsessive planner, outside of DVC, which is my domain!he has ideas going into Fall of 2015, when we hope to do a WBTA on DCL, and finally get to DL Paris! He has asked me repeatedly about this stay in DL California, and I don't have anything to tell him! We already have our motel near Joshua Tree NP!

Well, I think we can get a shuttle through Disney to LAX for a cost, does anyone know that?

Bobbi

 

[hakepb]

I'm guessing for non-DVC rooms, Disneyland Hotel may be better than GC cash rooms as they say DL rooms are larger and easier to maneuver an ECV in.

But, yes, that is a fun or scary game of "chicken" to play with a waitlist.

 

[brkgnews]

The official Disneyland Express is run through Grayline Anaheim. Here's a link with brochures and pricing... http://graylineanaheim.com/shuttles.shtml
LAX round trip is around $30-35; SNA round trip is a bit less.

As for the Disney Collection out there, Paradise Pier is closest in points to DVC accomodations. A standard view room at PP is about the same as a DVC 1BR. Premium view at PP is about the same as standard view at Disneyland Hotel. It goes up from there. The hotel rooms at Grand Cal are the highest. Usually you can get a room last minute at the Disney hotels there. The only time it gets sketchy is around holidays or special events like marathons, halloween parties, D23 Expo, etc.

 

[DisWitt]

We have done one 1BR VGC per year for the last three years as a WL each time. And each time our WL comes through. It is nail-biting, though! Just a couple weeks ago before our Nov WL came through, we were going to make a cash DLH ressie just as an insurance policy. Even at cash, though, it was going to be about $350/night tax incl. But with a 24-hr cancellation policy, it is easy insurance. VGC is notoriously tough. Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Just remember that if you book Disney Collection, you cannot switch to VGC with those points if a room becomes available.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just remember that if you book Disney Collection, you cannot switch to VGC with those points if a room becomes available.

Yes...that's why I posted, once I book out of DVC, it's a done deal.

So, I suppose the best question is, has there been a time when there were no DL regular room available for points? How long to keep a wait list..2-3 months out, then give up on VGC, and just book a hotel?

Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm not familiar with Disneyland busy periods. Are weeknights in mid-May included? (Perhaps a question over on the DL Forum would clear that up).

Anyway, if that isn't a very busy period for DLH or PP, then if it were me, I'd wait at least until the 30 day mark before I gave up on the VGC. My back up would be one of the non-Disney resorts in the area. That's not ideal, but OK if I'm desperate, LOL. I doubt mid-May weeknights ever sell out for the non-Disney DL hotels unless there is a large convention or other special event in the area.

I'd personally wait until 7 days for VGC if my back up could be easily cancelled. I have no idea what the cancellation polices might be on some of the more convenient non-Disney DL resorts. (Wouldn't wait past 30 days if staying on points at the DLH or PP were a strongly preferred option over the non-Disney resorts).

So if you would be OK with paying cash for one of the non-Disney hotels in the area, you could wait until the cancellation policy of the back up forces you to give up on the VGC.

Good luck!

 

[sechelt]

I'm not familiar with Disneyland busy periods. Are weeknights in mid-May included? (Perhaps a question over on the DL Forum would clear that up).

Anyway, if that isn't a very busy period for DLH or PP, then if it were me, I'd wait at least until the 30 day mark before I gave up on the VGC. My back up would be one of the non-Disney resorts in the area. That's not ideal, but OK if I'm desperate, LOL. I doubt mid-May weeknights ever sell out for the non-Disney DL hotels unless there is a large convention or other special event in the area.

Good luck!

As an FYI, Grad Nights start mid-May and include both week-end and mid-week nights. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/Events/grad-nights.html
I've never been at this time but I'd expect the possibility that all the hotels in the surrounding area could be booked up during those times.

 

[DebbieB]

Yes...that's why I posted, once I book out of DVC, it's a done deal.

So, I suppose the best question is, has there been a time when there were no DL regular room available for points? How long to keep a wait list..2-3 months out, then give up on VGC, and just book a hotel?

Thanks.

Before VGC, I once wanted to book an early December trip a couple of months out and even though they had GCH with cash, they did not have it for points. I ended up booking PPH. I like PPH, a park view room is a great value.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Just my opinion, but I'd think twice (or three times) before using my points for Paradise Pier. IMO it looks like what it is --- a low to mid grade hotel, formerly owned by a non-Disney company, outfitted with some Disney touches. The value resorts at WDW are much nicer.

The Disneyland hotel is worth the price (and nostalgic), but Paradise Pier is neither of those things.

When we don't stay on property, we like to stay at the Marriott Fairfield Inn across the street. Nothing all that fancy, but it's always clean, and it's almost as close as the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel, and probably as close as Paradise Pier. There is also a Mimi's restaurant right next door, as well as another coffee-shop type restaurant on their property and a McDonald's that you pass on the way to DL, also next door to the Marriott.

 

[dwelty]

Just my opinion, but I'd think twice (or three times) before using my points for Paradise Pier. IMO it looks like what it is --- a low to mid grade hotel, formerly owned by a non-Disney company, outfitted with some Disney touches. The value resorts at WDW are much nicer. The Disneyland hotel is worth the price (and nostalgic), but Paradise Pier is neither of those things. When we don't stay on property, we like to stay at the Marriott Fairfield Inn across the street. Nothing all that fancy, but it's always clean, and it's almost as close as the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel, and probably as close as Paradise Pier. There is also a Mimi's restaurant right next door, as well as another coffee-shop type restaurant on their property and a McDonald's that you pass on the way to DL, also next door to the Marriott.

I totally agree with this statement. We have stayed at almost every hotel in the Disneyland Resort area including Paradise Pier. We would rather stay at the Hilton or Sheraton near by, they are way cheaper, and far better. Of course our first choice is VGC where we own points, followed by the Disneyland Hotel, but if we cannot get into those, then we would stay off site. while the rooms at Paradise Pier are nicer and larger than the rooms at the WDW values, the resort itself is inferior (if that makes sense) There are alway great deals on off site hotels on sites like Hotwire and Hotels.com

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, I think we can get a shuttle through Disney to LAX for a cost, does anyone know that?

Bobbi

My fave is Karmel Shuttle, personally. They don't troll the airport for more people like SuperShuttle does and like is planned out with Disneyland Resort Express.

By the way, the Disneyland Resort Express isn't run by Disney at all. It's totally done by Greyline and the main difference between it and the shuttles is that it's a coach bus not a shuttle van.

Just my opinion, but I'd think twice (or three times) before using my points for Paradise Pier. IMO it looks like what it is --- a low to mid grade hotel, formerly owned by a non-Disney company, outfitted with some Disney touches. The value resorts at WDW are much nicer.

The Disneyland hotel is worth the price (and nostalgic), but Paradise Pier is neither of those things.

That's definitely something that some people feel; while others think that PPH is leaps and bounds above other places. It's actually just about even with DLH now that DLH made themselves over, but since PPH has the biggest normal rooms of the three hotels (not counting the villas here, but the *hotel rooms*) and can actually be closer to the parks than DLH (depending on how you go and what tower you're in), we are absolutely mad for PPH.

 

[Breyean]

That's definitely something that some people feel; while others think that PPH is leaps and bounds above other places. It's actually just about even with DLH now that DLH made themselves over, but since PPH has the biggest normal rooms of the three hotels (not counting the villas here, but the *hotel rooms*) and can actually be closer to the parks than DLH (depending on how you go and what tower you're in), we are absolutely mad for PPH.

I agree. We were pleasantly surprised when we stayed on points at PPH a couple of years ago for Halloween time. VCG was booked.

The rooms are really big and bright and cheery. Just don't get the 4th floor facing the pool (which is basically on that level) because it's really noisy and people can see right into the room.

And the elevators can get a little crowded in the mornings.

But the walk to the parks is great; not long at all, esp if you cut through GCH.

We would probably stay there again if we couldn't get into a villa again.

 

[DebbieB]

Just my opinion, but I'd think twice (or three times) before using my points for Paradise Pier. IMO it looks like what it is --- a low to mid grade hotel, formerly owned by a non-Disney company, outfitted with some Disney touches. The value resorts at WDW are much nicer.

The Disneyland hotel is worth the price (and nostalgic), but Paradise Pier is neither of those things.

When we don't stay on property, we like to stay at the Marriott Fairfield Inn across the street. Nothing all that fancy, but it's always clean, and it's almost as close as the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel, and probably as close as Paradise Pier. There is also a Mimi's restaurant right next door, as well as another coffee-shop type restaurant on their property and a McDonald's that you pass on the way to DL, also next door to the Marriott.

I've stayed at PPH 4 or 5 times and thought was great. Not Grand California but not low grade.

Definitely not a value resort, the rooms are a nice size, we had 2 queens and a daybed.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/paradise-pier-hotel/room-types/

Get a theme park view:

 

[ppony]

If I can piggyback for a minute...

We are planning our 2016 trip to DL. Using our points hopefully. We don't have a particular time of year in mind actually. I know it's busy all the time or will feel that way since it's smaller, but are there times or year that may be easier to come by GCV ressies than others?