October at the Grand Californian?

[rillsung]

What are our chances of booking 2 studios for the 2nd weekend of October at the 7mo mark? Seems like there aren't that many available.

 

[taaren]

There's only 23 studios there. Last year I booked one at 10 months, then tried to grab another at 6 months in addition to the 2 bedroom and studio I already had booked for Columbus day weekend and was waitlisted to no avail. But I didn't try right at the 7 month mark.
I think weekends are busier since a lot of locals seem to use their points there, on a weekday I added one more night to my 2 bedroom about 3 or 4 months out.

 

[papamouse1]

YOu may be able to since that time of year is slower, but as the PP said, this resort is so small, it can be tricky

 

[rillsung]

That is what I was afraid of. We have 240 points to use this year. We just bought the contract and they're 2009 points. When we go in October, it'll have been 4 years since our last trip out there!

 

[Inkmahm]

I was able to book T and W night of this past week in a studio at the end of last Nov only 2 months out. We stayed the last 3 nights on a very good cash discounted price that Disneyland had as a special. When I booked, I was told that those nights were the only open nights for a studio in January. of course we were very close to the travel date at that point.

If you can't book with points, book for the best cash price you can get and rent out your points to cover the cost. This is a great hotel and DVC here is also very high quality from what we've seen.

 

[papamouse1]

Keep in mind, you can also use your points to stay at DLH or PP if you can't get into the GCV. We actually plan on staying in the DLH on points, since we have never stayed there....

 

[rillsung]

The thing about this trip is that it is specifically to use the 240 points that were banked. We're planning on getting 2 studios and are trying not to borrow points from next year to do it. This year's points are already used Unfortunately Paradise Pier costs more points for a normal hotel room vs the studio at the Californian.

 

[taaren]

If you're flexible with your dates/room sizes, weekdays are easier, so you might be able to get something. It always seems like studios are the first to go though, then 2 bedrooms, and usually weekends before weekdays. Good luck using those 2009 points ... man I wish they'd been offering developer points when we bought so then we wouldn't have had to have borrowed so much ...

 

[papamouse1]

The thing about this trip is that it is specifically to use the 240 points that were banked. We're planning on getting 2 studios and are trying not to borrow points from next year to do it. This year's points are already used Unfortunately Paradise Pier costs more points for a normal hotel room vs the studio at the Californian.

I do understand the whole cash/point value thing... I guess my point would be you have the points and you're afraid of losing them so use them... or else try to trent them and get $$ for a room.
It would be better to pay too many points for a room than lose the points, right?

Of course, only do this if you absolutely can't get a room at the GCV... you never know until you try.

 

[rillsung]

If you're flexible with your dates/room sizes, weekdays are easier, so you might be able to get something. It always seems like studios are the first to go though, then 2 bedrooms, and usually weekends before weekdays. Good luck using those 2009 points ... man I wish they'd been offering developer points when we bought so then we wouldn't have had to have borrowed so much ...

We are flexible with dates, but not so much room sizes. We may try to get there on a Tuesday or something. It's a loaded resale contract so the 2009 points were banked

I do understand the whole cash/point value thing... I guess my point would be you have the points and you're afraid of losing them so use them... or else try to trent them and get $$ for a room.
It would be better to pay too many points for a room than lose the points, right?

Of course, only do this if you absolutely can't get a room at the GCV... you never know until you try.

Yeah it does seem like PP is easier to book anyway. I am surprised that since you can book regular hotel rooms at PP you can't at the GC. If we were paying cash we'd end up staying off property LOL. We pretty much have our hearts set on staying at the GC so we'll see how it goes when our 7mo booking window opens for the end of Sept. I'll just keep calling till I can get something LOL.

 

[papamouse1]

Yeppers, it was a real bummer when they took away the ability to book reg room at GC... especially since the resort is so small and the only DVC resort in Cali. I would have been willing to even pay a higher premium like with DLH or PP

Oh well

 

[bumbershoot]

October isn't a slow month anymore, sad to say. Columbus Day weekend is a madhouse; try to arrive on the Monday holiday, and the crowds will start to disperse b/c everyone else's long weekends are done.

Hotel vs villa...once they build a DVC property on a hotel, you can't book a hotel room there with points anymore. Should they ever create a Disneyland Hotel DVC, same thing would happen...

Best of luck! FWIW, PPH is our fave hotel, even over the hotel side of the Grand.