Looking to book 4 nights at Grand Californian - How can I get the cheapest price?

[ethanwa]

I want to book 4 nights in Aug for a standard no-view room at the Grand Californian and the total is coming out to $2300 after tax. That is incredibly high (almost $600/night!). Beside an annual pass discount, are there any other tips/tricks to get a lower price on this?

Ethan

 

[JeannieNM]

Aaa is 10% off seniors are 30% off and I believe it is very young for the senior rate- age 50 but I would double check this

 

[ethanwa]

Aaa is 10% off seniors are 30% off and I believe it is very young for the senior rate- age 50 but I would double check this

Since I'm only 33 then the senior rate doesn't apply. I also don't have AAA. Thanks for the tips though!

Ethan

 

[nicolispicoli]

I know you already said it didn't apply, but Disney's senior discount is actually 60. I wish it was 50 since my mom always comes...she has a few more years before we can get the senior discount!

 

[nicolispicoli]

Also wanted to add that it might be smart to book it was wait for it to lower and change it then. But since it's August, we know there probably won't be any discounts. The only thing I can think of is watch Expedia and see if any promotions come up for the GCH. Good Luck!

 

[Flynn_Rider]

You could try to rent DVC points.

 

[lurkergirl]

You know, I'm not sure if they offered a hotel discount in the past. I tried searching, but I didn't hit much for 2011.

That said, the Disney properties in Anaheim very rarely offer discounts. The AP discount...if it's available...is usually the only option, with the AAA/Senior rates. We occasionally book a night or two as a quick getaway and the prices are very painful.

We booked the Paradise Pier after getting 2013 tickets for the D23 Expo and we could go to WDW for what it's going to cost for 3-nights.

 

[danabalana]

It's on lastminutetravel.com for 431 a night. They don't show the hotel name but it's the 4.5 star hotel. You can tell by the pics.

 

[mcm574]

You can get a AAA membership for $50 - so if it really would be 10% off, it would pay for itself and still save you a bit of money. (Also, AAA is awesome. But maybe that's just me, due to my propensity to drive old cars whose batteries die!)

 

[ChrisSD]

You could try to rent DVC points.

DVC, DVC, DVC.

4 nights in a Deluxe Villa in August, during the week, at GC is $975.

4 nights in a Deluxe Villa in August, through the weekend, at GC is $1125.

 

[Argento]

You could try to rent DVC points.

This is the most cost effective method but there is a certain amount of risk involved. If you pay a member for points to secure a reservation, there is nothing stopping that member from cancelling the reservation once your money's in his bank.

Granted, you could use a broker service like Dave's DVC rentals to minimize some of the risk but that won't eliminate it completely.

 

[ChrisSD]

This is the most cost effective method but there is a certain amount of risk involved. If you pay a member for points to secure a reservation, there is nothing stopping that member from cancelling the reservation once your money's in his bank.

Granted, you could use a broker service like Dave's DVC rentals to minimize some of the risk but that won't eliminate it completely.

Yep, there is risk. However, going through a broker - can you link to some people that this has happened to? I've never seen a single one. A person renting DVC is savvy enough to post a ripoff report on this site. You also enter into a contract with the member - you can sue and win easily in small claims if the member violates the rental agreement. Granted - collecting is a whole other story but still....

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Yep, there is risk. However, going through a broker - can you link to some people that this has happened to? I've never seen a single one. A person renting DVC is savvy enough to post a ripoff report on this site. You also enter into a contract with the member - you can sue and win easily in small claims if the member violates the rental agreement. Granted - collecting is a whole other story but still....

In the OPs case, the biggest risk is that it has been reported that the DVC rooms are already sold out during the D23 Expo. You can book through the hotel using DVC points, but 4 nights in a standard hotel room at GC is 226 points. At $13 per point, that would cost $2938.

OP: Have you tried to booking a Disney convention rate? I don't have Expo tickets so I can't check, but at Destination D, we could get good rates at the hotels through the links on the ticket confirmation. If we had not already booked at GCV using our points, we might have rebooked on the hotel side. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[ethanwa]

You could try to rent DVC points.

Studio Villas through DVC are already gone for the Expo dates. Already tried through Dave's DVC rental.

I don't know if there is a convention rate. At least it doesn't appear there is one yet... the tickets/email confirmation don't say anything.

Some people are saying I should just stay at the Hilton there, but that doesn't have any good Disney magic. I love staying on property, plus easy access to Downtown Disney.

 

[mellers]

Removing-redundant

 

[marcemc]

Also wanted to add that it might be smart to book it was wait for it to lower and change it then. But since it's August, we know there probably won't be any discounts. The only thing I can think of is watch Expedia and see if any promotions come up for the GCH. Good Luck!

We have been able to book through Expedia before at special rates (25% off early booking). It's just a chance you will have to take because those discounts start coming up in spring.

 

[nunzia]

In the OPs case, the biggest risk is that it has been reported that the DVC rooms are already sold out during the D23 Expo. You can book through the hotel using DVC points, but 4 nights in a standard hotel room at GC is 226 points. At $13 per point, that would cost $2938.

OP: Have you tried to booking a Disney convention rate? I don't have Expo tickets so I can't check, but at Destination D, we could get good rates at the hotels through the links on the ticket confirmation. If we had not already booked at GCV using our points, we might have rebooked on the hotel side. Best of luck -- Suzanne

Is this Sorcerer/Pixar Cruise Suzanne?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Is this Sorcerer/Pixar Cruise Suzanne?

Nope. My parents and nephew went on the 9/30 cruise, but it didn't work for my schedule. We have been to both Expos and all 3 Destination Ds, but just as lowly D23 members.

I am not surprised that park tickets and hotel rooms are not yet available for those with D23 tickets. For the Destination D event in August, the convention tickets stayed the same price, even after the price increase for other tickets in June. -- Suzanne

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

All three of the Disneyland hotels are listed on lastminutetravel.com at discounted prices. What are your travel dates?

 

[fitzaboo]

Aaa is 10% off seniors are 30% off and I believe it is very young for the senior rate- age 50 but I would double check this

Is this Senior rate a AAA rate or a Disneyland rate? Thanks!