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

[Canchaser143]

Sigh.. it has came to the point where I am going to have to use my VDH points to book at WDW I spent points like a drunken sailor and now all I have left to spend is my DLR points. Just thought you all would feel my pain of spending my VDH at 7 months at WDW and not even at RIV that place is $$$

But hey no TOT at WDW!

 

[VGCgroupie]

But hey no TOT at WDW!

True story

 

[RickNJane]

I'll use my points anywhere, anytime

I finally have enough points to do that

 

[KPeterso]

Sigh.. it has came to the point where I am going to have to use my VDH points to book at WDW I spent points like a drunken sailor and now all I have left to spend is my DLR points. Just thought you all would feel my pain of spending my VDH at 7 months at WDW and not even at RIV that place is $$$

I have used VDH points at WDW. No TOT if I do that! I have also used a few (like under 25) VGC at WDW too. Some was during Covid as I knew that I did not want to risk losing those points even though they kept extending them.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Is the path to the tower still walking through the lobby, and then loop around past all the towers? I keep hoping they will have a more direct route. I know there's sometimes a gate open between the monorail slide and Palm Breeze bar, but it's almost always closed when I am coming and going.

Is there a map somewhere in this thread, perhaps, that draws out the route that you need to walk from the DVC tower to get to the esplanade? I'm not super familiar with the Disneyland Hotel grounds at all.

Sigh.. it has came to the point where I am going to have to use my VDH points to book at WDW I spent points like a drunken sailor and now all I have left to spend is my DLR points. Just thought you all would feel my pain of spending my VDH at 7 months at WDW and not even at RIV that place is $$$

We used our VGC points at BRV before we ever even used them at VGC. Ha! So don't feel too bad about it.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Is there a map somewhere in this thread, perhaps, that draws out the route that you need to walk from the DVC tower to get to the esplanade? I'm not super familiar with the Disneyland Hotel grounds at all.



We used our VGC points at BRV before we ever even used them at VGC. Ha! So don't feel too bad about it.

Just throw it into Google maps. It’s a straight shot.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah, I did that. And I know that section of the walk. But it's the part on the hotel grounds I wasn't sure about.

Where exactly is the door to get into the DVC tower? Is it were I put this red scribble below?
Do the DVC tower connect to the others towers and you cut through the buildings? I'm sure it will make more sense once I actually visit but looking at the map, I just wasn't sure how to get from the actual DVC rooms to where that blue Google route starts.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yeah, I did that. And I know that section of the walk. But it's the part on the hotel grounds I wasn't sure about.

Where exactly is the door to get into the DVC tower? Is it were I put this red scribble below?
Do the DVC tower connect to the others towers and you cut through the buildings? I'm sure it will make more sense once I actually visit but looking at the map, I just wasn't sure how to get from the actual DVC rooms to where that blue Google route starts.

View attachment 979168

Yes, your scribble is the entrance.

 

[Wedgeout]

Yeah, I did that. And I know that section of the walk. But it's the part on the hotel grounds I wasn't sure about.

Where exactly is the door to get into the DVC tower? Is it were I put this red scribble below?
Do the DVC tower connect to the others towers and you cut through the buildings? I'm sure it will make more sense once I actually visit but looking at the map, I just wasn't sure how to get from the actual DVC rooms to where that blue Google route starts.

View attachment 979168

Unless get ability to walk on water, that’s the route. Cutting through buildings can be done to get places but won’t save time for that. If draw a line horizontal across from your red scribble, there is the newer entrance/exit there just outside that east side resort gate.

 

[ClaraOswald]

So from that scribble, I basically got straight north....then straight east? I guess I thought there was a way to go through the prettier grounds somehow. It's been so long since I've even walked over there!

I'm off to watch that video now....

 

[Wedgeout]

So from that scribble, I basically got straight north....then straight east? I guess I thought there was a way to go through the prettier grounds somehow. It's been so long since I've even walked over there!

I'm off to watch that video now....

Best route without pool gates, is straight out entrance & go to Trader Sam’s, from there either go north along Adventure Tower or eastward south side of Adventure tower.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Best route without pool gates, is straight out entrance & go to Trader Sam’s, from there either go north along Adventure Tower or eastward south side of Adventure tower.
View attachment 979177

Bingo, the northern route has an entrance that I believe is exclusive to Disney hotel guests.

It’s such a short walk though…. and it’s usually pretty quiet once you are on VDH property. Grand Cal always has more hustle and bustle unless you take the secret VGC entrance….

On the flip side, because DCA closes before DL… we are always having to walk through DTD making the walk to the VGC wing that is furthest away inside of The Grand Cal Hotel. VDH really doesn’t feel that much further if you went back for breaks during the day.

 

[Wedgeout]

Things change all the time but..yes.,if rope dropping, that northern security spot will check room keys about first 15 minutes of opening it. After it will become an entrance for anyone. The southern one will have a longer line up for rope drop. (Not sure if Pixar hotel guest can use the DLH entry one or even know about it).

 

[NVDISFamily]

Not sure if Pixar hotel guest can use the DLH entry one or even know about it

No idea about Pixar keys but GC keys open up the gates to enter DH grounds from all of the various paths and the same the other way to get into the GC. Not tried them on the pool decks but they do get you into the grounds no problem. I usually have to tour the gift shops of both on most trips....

We don't have any direct points or perks so we can't go up there.

I'd just look around here on both the VGC and VDH threads and ask if any fellow members who have perks are there during your visit and I'm sure someone would be happy to meet up and get you into the lounge if you wish. The coffee machine is fairly good


And about that TOT tax thing - I've found that by switching my brain to VDH = more frequent trips in a studio (garden please) it makes the TOT a bit less of a burden. Also, the free parking helps (yes I know we get that at VGC too) as it's $$$$ for regular guests who are also paying more than me to stay there and also paying way more taxes/fees. The TOT was the price Disney had to agree with to get the city to approve adding 300+ DVC rooms to the resort which ultimately gives us owners a lot more options as VGC is so few rooms.

Hahaha yes! The Duo is a strange animal. The bathroom space is too large (I would bet bigger than the standard studio) and the patio is huge, the room itself is tiny tiny. The pack n play for my granddaughter barely fit in the duo, I thought we were gonna have to put it on the patio!

You may want to do some research into the various assessable duos. Some of them have unique layouts and beds that are "real" (not murphys) and what seems like way more space. We had to ninja one for me and @MrsNVDISFamily for our quick trip to visit @UrsulaWantsYourSoul for his party/GV open house. We very much liked it for a short trip for just the two of us. Plenty of space for a few nights.

 

[AstroBlasters]

No idea about Pixar keys but GC keys open up the gates to enter DH grounds from all of the various paths and the same the other way to get into the GC. Not tried them on the pool decks but they do get you into the grounds no problem. I usually have to tour the gift shops of both on most trips....



I'd just look around here on both the VGC and VDH threads and ask if any fellow members who have perks are there during your visit and I'm sure someone would be happy to meet up and get you into the lounge if you wish. The coffee machine is fairly good


And about that TOT tax thing - I've found that by switching my brain to VDH = more frequent trips in a studio (garden please) it makes the TOT a bit less of a burden. Also, the free parking helps (yes I know we get that at VGC too) as it's $$$$ for regular guests who are also paying more than me to stay there and also paying way more taxes/fees. The TOT was the price Disney had to agree with to get the city to approve adding 300+ DVC rooms to the resort which ultimately gives us owners a lot more options as VGC is so few rooms.



You may want to do some research into the various assessable duos. Some of them have unique layouts and beds that are "real" (not murphys) and what seems like way more space. We had to ninja one for me and @MrsNVDISFamily for our quick trip to visit @UrsulaWantsYourSoul for his party/GV open house. We very much liked it for a short trip for just the two of us. Plenty of space for a few nights.

Duo would not work for a family of three.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Duo would not work for a family of three.

haha didn't read that whole thing. I just saw some posts about Duo's and their layout/space and wanted to share that some of them have a unique layout and more space. Most of those from my limited knowledge tend to be around the elevator area. The percentage of the allocated rooms that are assessable seem to be high.

 

[VGCgroupie]

You may want to do some research into the various assessable duos. Some of them have unique layouts and beds that are "real" (not murphys) and what seems like way more space. We had to ninja one for me and @MrsNVDISFamily for our quick trip to visit @UrsulaWantsYourSoul for his party/GV open house. We very much liked it for a short trip for just the two of us. Plenty of space for a few nights.

Thank you for this! I will look into it, I had no idea

Edit to add: For us we use a DUO when we go a get 2 studios rather than a 2 bed. The DUO would be for my daughter, her husband and baby.

 

[upritbass]

haha didn't read that whole thing. I just saw some posts about Duo's and their layout/space and wanted to share that some of them have a unique layout and more space. Most of those from my limited knowledge tend to be around the elevator area. The percentage of the allocated rooms that are assessable seem to be high.

The Duos without a balcony have a larger interior than the balcony Duos.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The Duos without a balcony have a larger interior than the balcony Duos.

Interesting! Learning so much!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I love the pens that somehow make their way into my suitcase when I’m checking out.

These ones never really worked. I found replacement ink for the inside on Amazon and they work perfectly and were very cheap.