Longwinded GCV, Cruise, Reservation Question

[Lucille1963]

Thank you all in advance. In any other situation I would be looking up my own questions one by one but I am leaving for a trip to the great Northwoods tomorrow where I don't even think my cell phone will be working.

I'll try to make my questions as easy to understand as possible.

We had been planning to try to make reservations at the Grand Californian on Sunday when they open for reservations. We LOVE Disneyland and we have only used our points to stay there. Due to this tough economic climate I have been a bit shakey about committing to the expense (tickets, flying to CA, food, misc.)

Our vacation planner came in the mail yesterday and while flipping through it I realized that we could swing the points for a 7 day cruise. If we could book the lowest category in slow season. This kinda seemed like a good idea because the food would be included, we wouldn't have to buy park tickets and since DS would only be 2, his point cost would be minimal.

I really want to spend more time researching it all but like I said, I need to have my family packed up in 24 hours and then no more internet!

I never even considered going on a Disney Cruise until yesterday. None of us have ever cruised before. I am a compulsive planner and now I feel like I am under the gun.

If I book at the VGC, can I cancel and use the points for a cruise later?

What are the chances of even getting the cheapest stateroom on the ship?

Any thoughts would be helpful!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Nicole

 

[Rob S.]

You should have no problem cancelling your VGC reservation and using those points for a cruise as long as you cancel more than 30 days out. You did not indicated what your use year is and that might come into play if you need to bank the points.

Some people will say that using points to cruise is not the best use (value) of your points and others will say that they do it all the time. My opinion is that they're your points and you can do whatever you want with them.

My wife and I took our first cruise last year (3-day) and we loved it. We ended up taking another cruise (7 day Western) this past February.

If you have the points, go for it. You should not have any difficulty getting a stateroom on the cruise. DCL is struggling to fill the ships these days due to the poor economy.

 

[brewcrew]

Oh, you will love the cruise! I haven't done the western but have done the 4 day and 7 day eastern. You won't be disappointed.

 

[5forDiz]

Just keep in mind the " Rule of Four ' - you cannot both book & travel during the last 4 months of your Use Year for DCL. But you may book before
the last 4 months of your Use Year for travel during the last 4 months of your Use Year. It's best to call MS to discuss availability for dates you'd be interested booking cruise for.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would strongly recommend you spend some time looking around the Disneyland Resort forum, to see more "budget" ways to eat, etc.

And also look at cruisecritic's disney cruise forum, as well as the disney cruise forum here, to make sure you know of any hidden costs (special dining, tips, etc etc).