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

[emchen]

I always have a much easier time booking VDH than VGC. Much more availability at VDH for studios and even 1 bedroom in my booking experience.

I was gonna say 1-BR seem more in demand compared to VGC. Certainly fewer 1-BR units as a percentage.

I wish DVC would declare more inventory so that it is easier to snag a reservation. We go for 1 br for 7 to 10 days. This years trip is a split stay between VGC and VDH. We are thinking about taking the Grandkids after that so that will need to be a 2 br because their parental units will want to tag along. You really gotta be on the ball at 11 months it seems.

Yeah, VGC 1-BR oftentimes last till 7-month window.

Surprised people do stay a week or longer at DLR! The conventional wisdom is DLR parks require max of 3 days. Unconventional wisdom is theres plenty NEARBY to do outside of DLR.

Yeah...this is something that has me on the fence about buying points here.

For standard (resort view) studios and 1-BR, I plan on a FW sometime in a future fire sale situation. Do current incentives constitute that? I read the late summer incentives brought it down to $185 pp? Is that true?

I am thinking of adding a thread "Things I wish I knew before buying VDH". Availability would be on the top.

This sure does qualify. I sold 150 points earlier this year so I could apply that lesson.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

It’s my understanding that VDH is overdeclared (not sure this is the right word; or even a real word?) like all active sale resorts, and it will get even harder to book once it’s sold out…is that incorrect?

I also find availability for VDH better than VGC in studios, but I suspect 1Bd and 2Bd will be much much harder post sell-out because there are so few of them.

 

[RickNJane]

It’s my understanding that VDH is overdeclared (not sure this is the right word; or even a real word?) like all active sale resorts, and it will get even harder to book once it’s sold out…is that incorrect?

I also find availability for VDH better than VGC in studios, but I suspect 1Bd and 2Bd will be much much harder post sell-out because there are so few of them.

From what I dig up, it is less than 50% declared. The process that DVC uses to declare inventory is not transparent. As more points are sold, more inventory is declared eligible for booking with points. For VDH there is no availability for a GV, UNLESS you look for accessible rooms. There are only 2 GV and I believe that only the accessible one is declared in the inventory. The other one you can rent for cash only. I would expect VGC to be harder to book since there are so few rooms. VDH, on the other hand has much more inventory, but only a fraction of the rooms are declared. I know that DVC declares rooms as points are sold. I get that. I just dont know how much is declared at VDS as compared to PIT for example. Is the ratio the same? Could Be. Just have not insight into the process or ratios.

 

[ClaraOswald]

My main worry if I decide to get VDH points is that even at the 11 month mark, I'd be unable to get a 1-bedroom. And the only reason we want to purchase more DVC points at all is to be able to stay in a 1-bedroom every single time. I'm not sure what my backup plan would be if that happened. Sell VDH back? Sell my BRV and use VDH points at WDW at the 7-month mark where a 1-bedroom seems a bit easier and then buy more VGC resale? As a type-A person....I hate that it's all very unknown. (And only have resale right now, I hate that I can't even search/watch VDH availability for fun.)

 

[emchen]

My main worry if I decide to get VDH points is that even at the 11 month mark, I'd be unable to get a 1-bedroom. And the only reason we want to purchase more DVC points at all is to be able to stay in a 1-bedroom every single time. I'm not sure what my backup plan would be if that happened. Sell VDH back? Sell my BRV and use VDH points at WDW at the 7-month mark where a 1-bedroom seems a bit easier and then buy more VGC resale? As a type-A person....I hate that it's all very unknown. (And only have resale right now, I hate that I can't even search/watch VDH availability for fun.)

do you tend to goto DLR less than a week at a time?

I also find availability for VDH better than VGC in studios, but I suspect 1Bd and 2Bd will be much much harder post sell-out because there are so few of them.

having attempted to book them within the 7-11 month window, I can validate that they are already difficult to book. noticeably more difficult than VGC for the 1BR. Comparable to VGC for the 2BR.

 

[AstroBlasters]

do you tend to goto DLR less than a week at a time?

having attempted to book them within the 7-11 month window, I can validate that they are already difficult to book. noticeably more difficult than VGC for the 1BR. Comparable to VGC for the 2BR.

One reason they are more difficult is because 1BRs are priced much better at VDH than VGC relative to 2BD. At VGC, it’s not “that much more” to just get the 2BD.

 

[Wedgeout]

Other than the floor 2 accessible dedicated, one bedroom will have the lock off option opening up more two bedroom opportunities, which adds to the two bedroom inventory. (Some may take those one bedrooms, booking a lock off for a theming change, preferring Tiana over Fantasia. Others for villa location-dedicated twos are on end, both sides while lock offs are front and center & 90 degrees facing northward at palette pool.)

I only see certain times of year for owners having any difficulty booking one & two bedrooms, as long as book as soon as possibly can. Many dates stay open until that 7 month point.

It’s the Garden rooms, due to very limited numbers, and great location, that will have year long booking competition and require your own booking strategy to secure.

Remember don’t get discouraged when see the Grand Villa always booked. It’s an accessible and needs to be searched that way.

 

[ClaraOswald]

do you tend to goto DLR less than a week at a time?

having attempted to book them within the 7-11 month window, I can validate that they are already difficult to book. noticeably more difficult than VGC for the 1BR. Comparable to VGC for the 2BR.

We typically stay 6 nights but often consider adding a 7th night.

 

[juliebee]

We typically stay 6 nights but often consider adding a 7th night.

There is your answer... fixed week 1 bedroom and no worries on being able to snag a 1 bedroom anymore

 

[ClaraOswald]

There is your answer... fixed week 1 bedroom and no worries on being able to snag a 1 bedroom anymore

Does fixed week mean it's the same week every year? Because if so, that doesn't work for me. We like to travel in various months, depending upon the year.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does fixed week mean it's the same week every year? Because if so, that doesn't work for me. We like to travel in various months, depending upon the year.

Same week every year but sometimes the dates of the month are a little different. This link below shows you the calendar for the weeks. You can always opt out of a FW if you want to go less days or a different time.
https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...d6247/1697569459204/FW-VillasAtDisneyland.pdf

 

[ClaraOswald]

Same week every year but sometimes the dates of the month are a little different. This link below shows you the calendar for the weeks. You can always opt out of a FW if you want to go less days or a different time.
https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...d6247/1697569459204/FW-VillasAtDisneyland.pdf

Yeah, that definitely wouldn't work for us since we plan to alternate between VGC and VDH (if we get points there) and while we currently go in June a lot....we plan to go in all different months as the years go on and especially once our son is out of school.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was going to suggest a fixed week, as well. I think VDH is still too new to know what booking is going to be like. DL is predominantly a locals park. We just need a few nights or less. If you need 6-7 nights regularly, it might be easier for you to book at 11 months or even book some and wait-list the rest. I feel like it'll take a couple years to figure it out.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Yeah, that definitely wouldn't work for us since we plan to alternate between VGC and VDH (if we get points there) and while we currently go in June a lot....we plan to go in all different months as the years go on and especially once our son is out of school.

You can always opt out and use the points instead with no loss though.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I was going to suggest a fixed week, as well. I think VDH is still too new to know what booking is going to be like. DL is predominantly a locals park. We just need a few nights or less. If you need 6-7 nights regularly, it might be easier for you to book at 11 months or even book some and wait-list the rest. I feel like it'll take a couple years to figure it out.

Thankfully, we don't really "need" more points for a couple more years (probably.) So I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye on things. Well, I'll have to rely on all of you to tell me how booking looks since I can't see any of it as a lowly resale-only person. Ha!

 

[Wedgeout]

We will hit two year opening anniversary tomorrow. (Sept 28th). It has settled in pretty well with seems to be less reported maintenance issues. Made a good decision to remove that pesky sliding wardrobe mirror. Fixed the murphy beds enough times to have them operate better. Probably still have some garden & pool area water issues, but something to focus on this next year.

Happy with our purchase so far. Multiple stays. (Purchased. May 22, 2023).