The Official VILLAS at DISNEYLAND HOTEL (Discovery Tower) Owners and Fans Info Thread

[NorCalFanatic]

.

 

[kes601]

Curious, does the opening of the new security area near the Simba parking lot help alleviate the number of people going through the Downtown Disney security used by hotel guests? Never been so I don't know the layout.

https://dapsmagic.com/2024/05/new-entrance-opens-at-downtown-disney-district/

ETA: Apparently the “original” one is closing for a refurb starting 6/1. Hopefully it’ll be a short down time.

 

[ahintz]

Excited to see what, if any, difference there is entering Downtown Disney when we stay at VDH in July. Also happy the coffee shop will be open again by then!

 

[JoshF]

Are there balconies at VDH in the 1 & 2 BRs?

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Are there balconies at VDH in the 1 & 2 BRs?

Yes. All 1-3 bedrooms have balconies.
None of the deluxe studios (except the 4 garden ones) have one.
Duos.... some do some don't (except the 4 garden ones all do).

 

[noisycricket]

Curious, does the opening of the new security area near the Simba parking lot help alleviate the number of people going through the Downtown Disney security used by hotel guests? Never been so I don't know the layout.

https://dapsmagic.com/2024/05/new-entrance-opens-at-downtown-disney-district/

ETA: Apparently the “original” one is closing for a refurb starting 6/1. Hopefully it’ll be a short down time.

Hopefully there will be less traffic for the hotel guests. The gates look really nice. At the same time, it's sad that the need to beef up security checkpoints are a necessity now.

 

[kes601]

Hopefully there will be less traffic for the hotel guests. The gates look really nice. At the same time, it's sad that the need to beef up security checkpoints are a necessity now.

Somewhere it was mentioned that the “old” ones would become hotel guests only when newer ones opened. I was just wondering if these were those newer ones.

 

[MartyParty]

Morning Disneyland Villas friends. Just booked a stay for the second week in January. Hope I get there before they shutdown Haunted Mansion.

Couple of things I noticed that I wanted to test with others.

DVC early booking vs cash stays:
I don't why I never noticed this before, but having DVC allows me to book for dates farther in the future than cash stays. As an example, I was doing my usual check of what rooms would cost for a cash stay versus points. The Dinseyland site is only booking through the end of December 2024. DVC allows me to book farther in the future. Just never paid much attention till now.

VDH DVC Points Tax Rate vs Cash Tax Rate:
I think we may have discussed this but seems like the transient tax for VDH DVC points (at least on studio stays) works out to less than the transient tax you'd pay for a cash stays. Does that sound correct? Obviously VGC points stays are different with VGC cash stays and taxes being a greater delta.

 

[ehh]

VDH DVC Points Tax Rate vs Cash Tax Rate:
I think we may have discussed this but seems like the transient tax for VDH DVC points (at least on studio stays) works out to less than the transient tax you'd pay for a cash stays. Does that sound correct? Obviously VGC points stays are different with VGC cash stays and taxes being a greater delta.

Both the tax rate and the tax basis are lower for DVC points stays compared to cash.

If I remember some comparisons I did, DVC tax paid works out to 40-50% of cash tax paid for the same nights/rooms.

EDIT: found it:

May not make you feel much better, but cash guests pay roughly 2x as much in tax on the same nights, in addition to the rack rate. Some examples:

April 18th (weekday)
DVC Tax: $180.70
Cash Tax: $350.88

July 15th (weekday)
DVC Tax: $180.70
Cash Tax: $371.28

Sept 9rd (weekday)
DVC Tax: $136.22
Cash Tax: $283.39

Dec 23rd (weekday)
DVC Tax: $227.96
Cash Tax: $419.05

 

[MartyParty]

Both the tax rate and the tax basis are lower for DVC points stays compared to cash.

If I remember some comparisons I did, DVC tax paid works out to 40-50% of cash tax paid for the same nights/rooms.

EDIT: found it:

Perfect! Thanks for this ehh. I was watching a video comparing the long term price for staying at DLH on points vs cash. It was a 50% increase if on cash. Taxes must be a part of the difference.

 

[JoshF]

Morning Disneyland Villas friends. Just booked a stay for the second week in January. Hope I get there before they shutdown Haunted Mansion.

Couple of things I noticed that I wanted to test with others.

DVC early booking vs cash stays:
I don't why I never noticed this before, but having DVC allows me to book for dates farther in the future than cash stays. As an example, I was doing my usual check of what rooms would cost for a cash stay versus points. The Dinseyland site is only booking through the end of December 2024. DVC allows me to book farther in the future. Just never paid much attention till now.

VDH DVC Points Tax Rate vs Cash Tax Rate:
I think we may have discussed this but seems like the transient tax for VDH DVC points (at least on studio stays) works out to less than the transient tax you'd pay for a cash stays. Does that sound correct? Obviously VGC points stays are different with VGC cash stays and taxes being a greater delta.

What's going on with Haunted Mansion?

 

[DonMacGregor]

What's going on with Haunted Mansion?

They are installing a new elevator down to the load level to make the attraction more handicap accessible. In the course of this work they are also building a new CM break area and restrooms down in that lower level as well (requiring that a very large hole be dug in the area that used to be the FP kiosks, next to the New Orleans train station). This also required that they do some significant temporary shoring to the berm to keep the train tracks stable.

When they are completed and have back filled all of the excavation, they are building a whole new expanded queue area.

They are also taking advantage of the adjacent TBA re-theming construction to build a new shop at the exit of the attraction.

The construction is expected to continue into August or early September, so the belief is that the Mansion will re-open already converted to the Nightmare overlay.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

They are installing a new elevator down to the load level to make the attraction more handicap accessible. In the course of this work they are also building a new CM break area and restrooms down in that lower level as well (requiring that a very large hole be dug in the area that used to be the FP kiosks, next to the New Orleans train station). This also required that they do some significant temporary shoring to the berm to keep the train tracks stable.

When they are completed and have back filled all of the excavation, they are building a whole new expanded queue area.

They are also taking advantage of the adjacent TBA re-theming construction to build a new shop at the exit of the attraction.

The construction is expected to continue into August or early September, so the belief is that the Mansion will re-open already converted to the Nightmare overlay.

I didn't know about this and will be there in August. Oh well.

 

[JoshF]

They are installing a new elevator down to the load level to make the attraction more handicap accessible. In the course of this work they are also building a new CM break area and restrooms down in that lower level as well (requiring that a very large hole be dug in the area that used to be the FP kiosks, next to the New Orleans train station). This also required that they do some significant temporary shoring to the berm to keep the train tracks stable.

When they are completed and have back filled all of the excavation, they are building a whole new expanded queue area.

They are also taking advantage of the adjacent TBA re-theming construction to build a new shop at the exit of the attraction.

The construction is expected to continue into August or early September, so the belief is that the Mansion will re-open already converted to the Nightmare overlay.

Is it targeted to open August 2024 or 2025?

 

[kes601]

Is it targeted to open August 2024 or 2025?

2024.

 

[Bucketfoot]

Booked our first stay at VDH this morning. Still have to wait until tomorrow to add an 8th night, but ready to see how the 2-bedroom here compares to the AKV and VGF rooms we recently stayed in!

 

[Bucketfoot]

Booked our first stay at VDH this morning. Still have to wait until tomorrow to add an 8th night, but ready to see how the 2-bedroom here compares to the AKV and VGF rooms we recently stayed in!

Is there a location or anything specific I should request when it comes to a 2-bedroom unit?

As always, I know that no promises can be made!

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Is there a location or anything specific I should request when it comes to a 2-bedroom unit?

As always, I know that no promises can be made!

Just depends if you want to face the Palette pool side or the Monorail pool side. Personal preference but I'm 100% Monorail. Likely will be able to see fireworks and can see Trader Sam's, the monorail slides and if high enough Guardians, Grand Cal and in theory Goofy Sky School - at least I can see them when riding the ride - tee hee. We LOVE the 1 bedroom. Excited to try a 2bedroom someday. Have a great time!

 

[NVDISFamily]

Is there a location or anything specific I should request when it comes to a 2-bedroom unit?

As always, I know that no promises can be made!

Theme requests can also be important at VDH if you want a specific style. We did Fantasia, Monorail Viewing, High floor and got 1200 on our last trip.

More info here in our trip report - https://www.disboards.com/threads/april-2024-spring-break-and-dapper-day-vdh.3945523/

 

[JoshF]

Theme requests can also be important at VDH if you want a specific style. We did Fantasia, Monorail Viewing, High floor and got 1200 on our last trip.

More info here in our trip report - https://www.disboards.com/threads/april-2024-spring-break-and-dapper-day-vdh.3945523/

What are the different themes to choose from on a request?