ROFR Thread January to March 2025 *PLEASE SEE FIRST POST FOR INSTRUCTIONS & FORMATTING TOOL*

[Chili327]

True, we did a one night stay at VGC last year and it was good but it’s just not as much of a vacation vibe for us. We did everything we wanted in a day and a half. Didn’t make sense for us to stay longer tbh. I know you don’t really care for WDW and as far as the Floridian thing goes, I get it. I wish I could pickup WDW and plant it somewhere else lol but we pretty much only stay on property and I love the WDW bubble. DLR just doesn’t come close to that as compact and pretty as it is.

Now that I have been to WDW a few times I can see that better. DLR is still my home park, but there is something much different about a vacation in a huge bubble.

 

[AstroBlasters]

True, we did a one night stay at VGC last year and it was good but it’s just not as much of a vacation vibe. We did everything we wanted in a day and a half. Didn’t make sense for us to stay longer tbh. I know you don’t really care for WDW and as far as the Floridian thing goes, I get it. I wish I could pickup WDW and plant it somewhere else lol but we pretty much only stay on property and I love the WDW bubble. DLR just doesn’t come close to that as compact and pretty as it is.

I promise you, someday if you book 4 nights at DLand it will totally settle into a vacation vibe.

Day 1 and 2 is getting the “need to ride” attractions out of your system…. then after that it slows waaaay down. Drinks at Trader Sam’s….. more drawn out dinner at Napa Rose or Carthay…. it just starts to hit differently…

 

[Tatebeck]

I’m just waiting for it to happen a couple years after RIV sells out and going back to read all of the talk about if you want to be able to stay at an “EPCOT” resort after 2042 then you have to buy at RIV….

Or if you buy Yacht Club DVC in the future….

I would love a yacht club DVC or a new beach club wing/tower or something with a full 50 year contract. I would definitely consider selling some of my points and buying in there.

Yeah they will probably open something else in the area in the next few years post RIV sellout, because they know it would sell. But nothing is concrete yet. And nobody knows how long it will be or how crazy expensive the points or the point chart will be when it does come.

I think I have said before that the only guaranteed way to stay at a crescent lake/Epcot/HS area resort post 2042 right now is RIV. But I bought some cheap BWV points anyway when I found some because I love being able to walk around that area.

 

[Chili327]

I promise you, someday if you book 4 nights at DLand it will totally settle into a vacation vibe.

Day 1 and 2 is getting the “need to ride” attractions out of your system…. then after that it slows waaaay down. Drinks at Trader Sam’s….. more drawn out dinner at Napa Rose or Carthay…. it just starts to hit differently…

This!!
I bought the right amount of VGC points to be able to spend 5 nights in a studio every year, or bigger every other year, so I can get to that "vacation vibe" point, I'm still trying to figure out how many nights it takes in WDW to get to that point, but I think its something like 3 to 5. My last trip to WDW was 3 nights, including a red-eye to start it off and I definitely never got to that "vibe" point. lol

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

I promise you, someday if you book 4 nights at DLand it will totally settle into a vacation vibe.

Day 1 and 2 is getting the “need to ride” attractions out of your system…. then after that it slows waaaay down. Drinks at Trader Sam’s….. more drawn out dinner at Napa Rose or Carthay…. it just starts to hit differently…

Oh undoubtedly I’d find things to do and have a blast, it’s Disney and I’m an addict after all lol but even walking to Downtown Disney feels out of the bubble and I know it’s not. Now being so close, not sure it would ever make sense to use all those points for a longer staycation. A day or two maybe but even then, none of my SoCal family like Disneyland and I can barely convince them to come on a day trip with me let alone a longer stay, so it would be solo which I’m not likely to do for more than a day trip anyway. Should’ve taken advantage when I lived further away. But who knows? With time and a lot of DLR days ahead of me, opinions might change

 

[Chili327]

Well… we could have booked all of the rooms we will be staying in @7m… so my wife is asking why we need to keep the points and pay the dues if our Aulani points will work just fine…. She is also a Southern Californian who finds most things about FL and WDW to be subpar compared to her beloved DisneyIand.

I forgot to reply to this one earlier, but the answer is because if you use Aulani points for WDW, then you have less Aulani points/trips.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Oh undoubtedly I’d find things to do and have a blast, it’s Disney and I’m an addict after all lol but even walking to Downtown Disney feels out of the bubble and I know it’s not. Now being so close, not sure it would ever make sense to use all those points for a longer staycation. A day or two maybe but even then, none of my SoCal family like Disneyland and I can barely convince them to come on a day trip with me let alone a longer stay, so it would be solo which I’m not likely to do for more than a day trip anyway. Should’ve taken advantage when I lived further away. But who knows? With time and a lot of DLR days ahead of me, opinions might change

The things that will hook native Californians when staying at VGC or VDH:

1) Not having to deal with the drive in and parking.
2) Mid-day breaks back at the resort to avoid the grime of crowds and give your feet a break.
3) Dining reservations instead of quick service to reduce the stress of trying to find a table to eat at.
4) Just walking downstairs and going into DCA in the morning when most locals don’t get to the park until 10.
5) Very low wait times on rides after fireworks.
6) A short walk back to the hotel at night.
7) Being able to enjoy an adult beverage or two because no one has to drive home.
8) Never having to worry about getting a park reservation because you can use the hotel bucket.
9) Early entry and just strolling by the rope droppers 30min early.
10) Not having to worry about traffic on the way home while you are in the park.

The stress levels are just a lot lower….

 

[JackosinDIS]

The things that will hook native Californians when staying at VGC or VDH:

1) Not having to deal with the drive in and parking.
2) Mid-day breaks back at the resort to avoid the grime of crowds and give your feet a break.
3) Dining reservations instead of quick service to reduce the stress of trying to find a table to eat at.
4) Just walking downstairs and going into DCA in the morning when most locals don’t get to the park until 10.
5) Very low wait times on rides after fireworks.
6) A short walk back to the hotel at night.
7) Being able to enjoy an adult beverage or two because no one has to drive home.
8) Never having to worry about getting a park reservation because you can use the hotel bucket.
9) Early entry and just strolling by the rope droppers 30min early.
10) Not having to worry about traffic on the way home while you are in the park.

The stress levels are just a lot lower….

For my benefit, can you explain point 8?

 

[AstroBlasters]

For my benefit, can you explain point 8?

Park reservations can be a pain to get if someone has a Magic Key.

The Disneyland hotels have their own “bucket” of park reservations.

So, if someone has a MK and a reservation at a Disneyland hotel then there is a close to 100% chance that they will be able to get a park reservation.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

SheSingsAlong---$169-$9466.50-50-PVB-Oct-75/24, 50/25, 50/26- sent 3/8/2025

 

[AstroBlasters]

Also…. have you ever heard the words “The food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland?”….. I have not…. People can go who aren’t theme park people and who are just foodies…..

I have often heard people say that “the quick service at Disneyland is better than the sit down at Walt Disney World”….

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Also…. have you ever heard the words “The food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland?”….. I have not…. People can go who aren’t theme park people and who are just foodies…..

I have often heard people say that “the quick service at Disneyland is better than the sit down at Walt Disney World”….

I’ll be making my 1st trip to DL this year so I’ll be sure to share my thoughts after.

But for now I will say that I’ve been spoiled by good food living in NYC and while there are certainly places to avoid in WDW (as there are everywhere) the are also some fabulous spots:

Saana, Jiko, California Grill, Narcoossee’s to name a few…and my personal favorite - albeit simple - meal: a baguette/cheese plate from Les Halles followed by a scoop of cinnamon with carmelized pecans at L'Artisan des Glaces.

Go in to this trip with an open mind - you might be surprised

Edited to add: I will stay on topic moving fwd!!

 

[Chili327]

I’ll be making my 1st trip to DL this year so I’ll be sure to share my thoughts after.

Amazing!!

But for now I will say that I’ve been spoiled by good food living in NYC and while there are certainly places to avoid in WDW (as there are everywhere) the are also some fabulous spots:

Saana, Jiko, California Grill, Narcoossee’s to name a few…and my personal favorite - albeit simple - meal: a baguette/cheese plate from Les Halles followed by a scoop of cinnamon with carmelized pecans at L'Artisan des Glaces.

Have you visited the link in my signature??

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Amazing!!


Have you visited the link in my signature??

Yep, my vote has been cast for each race - let me know if you need help getting to 100 votes and I will be happy to help

 

[Chili327]

Yep, my vote has been cast for each race - let me know if you need help getting to 100 votes and I will be happy to help

Ha, no I don't want it to get annoying, just worried a few wont get to 100 by the time they close.

 

[vicarrieous]

SheSingsAlong---$169-$9466.50-50-PVB-Oct-75/24, 50/25, 50/26- sent 3/8/2025

Not what I was expecting to see!

 

[ehh]

Also…. have you ever heard the words “The food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland?”….. I have not…. People can go who aren’t theme park people and who are just foodies…..

I have often heard people say that “the quick service at Disneyland is better than the sit down at Walt Disney World”….

Okay, I'll say it: the food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland.

I really like some of what DL has but frankly the great options are limited; there's 1-2 class leaders for each 'tier' and the rest in each tier need improvement. DL's best in each 'tier' is typically better than WDW's best in the same tiers, but WDW has more good/very good options, especially in the Signature Dining tier.

For repeat visiting, WDW's variety ultimately puts it ahead for us.

On top of that, WDW has at least two restaurants (V&A and Takumi-Tei) a cut above DL's best (Napa Rose, which we love).

 

[Paul Stupin]

I promise you, someday if you book 4 nights at DLand it will totally settle into a vacation vibe.

Day 1 and 2 is getting the “need to ride” attractions out of your system…. then after that it slows waaaay down. Drinks at Trader Sam’s….. more drawn out dinner at Napa Rose or Carthay…. it just starts to hit differently…

We’re SoCal as well, and love DLR, but enjoy WDW more, being an enormous fantasy world with multiple parks, lakes, kayaking, green space, and a much stronger sense of a natural environment, which is lacking in Anaheim. Having grown up with DLR, with so many positive memories, we still enjoy our visits, but there’s also a sense of over familiarity.

 

[Chili327]

We’re SoCal as well, and love DLR, but enjoy WDW more, being an enormous fantasy world with multiple parks, lakes, kayaking, green space, and a much stronger sense of a natural environment, which is lacking in Anaheim. Having grown up with DLR, with so many positive memories, we still enjoy our visits, but there’s also a sense of over familiarity.

In the lakes… in FLORIDA!!??
My west coast bias is showing, but I can’t even fathom standing near the edge of any body of water in Florida without keeping my eyes on the water!! lol

 

[AstroBlasters]

Okay, I'll say it: the food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland.

I really like some of what DL has but frankly the great options are limited; there's 1-2 class leaders for each 'tier' and the rest in each tier need improvement. DL's best in each 'tier' is typically better than WDW's best in the same tiers, but WDW has more good/very good options, especially in the Signature Dining tier.

For repeat visiting, WDW's variety ultimately puts it ahead for us.

On top of that, WDW has at least two restaurants (V&A and Takumi-Tei) a cut above DL's best (Napa Rose, which we love).

I’m watching the videos about the Flower and Garden festival at EPCOT…. it definitely seems to follow a pattern of most other things I see at WDW…. prioritizing quantity over quality and consistency.

Which I get…. they have to deal with a lot more volume…..

But if you are MOVING TO SO CAL… and you can’t get your family to visit the park with you…. going for the food angle at Disneyland is a completely viable way to get someone to visit the park with you.