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

[VGCgroupie]

I’d get Membership Magic Plus to ensure a spot.

We have it and would never go without it but the DLR lounge hasn’t been real busy whenever we have visited.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’d get Membership Magic Plus to ensure a spot.

I just got what you were saying. Not fun if you check in with food in hand and had to wait.

 

[Wedgeout]

We have it and would never go without it but the DLR lounge hasn’t been real busy whenever we have visited.

Plus the outdoor area is not part of their assigned lounge seating. If just want that..should be a pretty quick check in access.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I just got what you were saying. Not fun if you check in with food in hand and had to wait.

We went before they had assigned seating and it was packed…. It’s been better since the assigned seating because a family of 4 can’t take over a seating space set up to hold 8 people….

Depending on when you go it can be chilly outside and that can really impact the temperature of the food while Mom/Dad go get drinks from the Coke machines.

It’s worth the $99 IMO.

Also, OTUP work at the restricted resorts…. so people could potentially try to add a day with the BOGO OTUP at 7m

 

[VGCgroupie]

Dues.
$10.5354 Previously $9.8207

For those brains that like clean rounded numbers.

$10.54 vs $9.82

 

[KPeterso]

Dues.
$10.5354 Previously $9.8207

For those brains that like clean rounded numbers.

$10.54 vs $9.82

That seems like a big jump for a fairly new resort. Going to look at the changes for the rest of my resorts.

 

[VGCgroupie]

That seems like a big jump for a fairly new resort. Going to look at the changes for the rest of my resorts.

Alot of them had big jumps. Too bad VDH had such a high one. VGC did as well.

 

[AstroBlasters]

It’s so great having more DVC inventory in Anaheim. My wife and I had this conversation tonight:

Me: They announced that Soarin Over America will start on July 2nd…. WAIT… we are supposed to fly home on July 1st and we are at the 7m mark….

Wife: Can we add another night to our 2BD VGC stay?

Me: No, but there is a VDH 2BD available!….

Wife: It’s not an accessible room is it? It feels wrong to take it from someone who may actually need it.

Me: Nope, a standard 2 bedroom villa…

Wife: Do we have points that will work there?

Me: Yup, I have some Aulani direct points we can make work if I adjust some things.

Wife: That sounds fun, let’s do it!

 

[MartyParty]

It’s so great having more DVC inventory in Anaheim. My wife and I had this conversation tonight:

Me: They announced that Soarin Over America will start on July 2nd…. WAIT… we are supposed to fly home on July 1st and we are at the 7m mark….

Wife: Can we add another night to our 2BD VGC stay?

Me: No, but there is a VDH 2BD available!….

Wife: It’s not an accessible room is it? It feels wrong to take it from someone who may actually need it.

Me: Nope, a standard 2 bedroom villa…

Wife: Do we have points that will work there?

Me: Yup, I have some Aulani direct points we can make work if I adjust some things.

Wife: That’s sound fun, let’s do it!

Nice Astro!

Great that we have more DVC inventory in Anaheim. Versus WDW, direct vs. resale is a bit trickier at Disneyland.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Nice Astro!

Great that we have more DVC inventory in Anaheim. Versus WDW, direct vs. resale is a bit trickier at Disneyland.

So much trickier!

 

[VGCgroupie]

It’s so great having more DVC inventory in Anaheim. My wife and I had this conversation tonight:

Me: They announced that Soarin Over America will start on July 2nd…. WAIT… we are supposed to fly home on July 1st and we are at the 7m mark….

Wife: Can we add another night to our 2BD VGC stay?

Me: No, but there is a VDH 2BD available!….

Wife: It’s not an accessible room is it? It feels wrong to take it from someone who may actually need it.

Me: Nope, a standard 2 bedroom villa…

Wife: Do we have points that will work there?

Me: Yup, I have some Aulani direct points we can make work if I adjust some things.

Wife: That sounds fun, let’s do it!

THIS! It is SO nice to be able book or add on short notice and not have to have to all laid in stone at 11 months every trip.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Stop or you guys will tip the scale back toward VDH for me.
Though I still think 1-BR availability is probably not great. And no way would we have enough points for a 2BR. Ha!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Stop or you guys will tip the scale back toward VDH for me.
Though I still think 1-BR availability is probably not great. And no way would we have enough points for a 2BR. Ha!

I would need to look at the room chart for exact room count, but from extreme stalking experience, I have not seen 2 bed availability be better than 1 bed availability.

 

[MartyParty]

Little more than 2 years out now and still feeling good about buying VDH direct. At least it gives us the option to book at both VDH or VGC (albeit 7 months is tough at VGC). Main goal for us was staying DVC at Disneyland.

As for the VDH tax, using all our combined points at Bay Lake Tower next year in a 3 BR grand villa. No taxes to be paid!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’m trying to pack to make my way to VDH anyone want to take on the task of comparing the new point charts and TOT?


https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.disney.com/vision-dam/digital/parks-platform/parks-standard-assets/disney-vacation-club/points/2027_VDH.pdf


https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di.../disney-vacation-club/points/VDH-TOT-2027.pdf

 

[AstroBlasters]

from Chat GPT

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BEST WEEKS TO BOOK VGC VS. VDH (TEXT-ONLY ANALYSIS)​

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Below is a straightforward comparison of which weeks in 2027 are best booked at the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian (VGC) versus the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel (VDH), using:

• 2027 point charts
• $20/point valuation
• VDH transient occupancy tax (TOT)

TOT significantly alters value, especially for larger rooms at VDH.

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WHEN VGC IS THE BETTER VALUE​

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VGC becomes a better deal during high-demand periods or when booking larger rooms, because VGC does not charge the Anaheim TOT and VDH does.

The best VGC weeks are:

1. Thanksgiving Week
   Dates: November 23–27
   Reason: VDH TOT is extremely high during this period, often $150–$450 per night depending on room type. VGC avoids that added cost.
2. Christmas and New Year Weeks
   Dates: December 17–31
   Reason: VDH TOT is at its highest of the year. Even when VDH point costs are similar or slightly lower, the effective dollar cost is higher than VGC.
3. Summer Peak Season for Larger Rooms
   Dates: June 28–September 4
   Reason: VDH TOT is consistently high during summer and removes most or all of the point-savings advantage. VGC 2BR and Grand Villas are often cheaper in dollars.
4. All Seasons for Grand Villas
   Reason: VDH Grand Villa TOT ranges from roughly $293 to over $600 per night. Even when VDH uses fewer points, the TOT makes it more expensive than VGC virtually every week of the year.

Summary for VGC:

• Best for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
• Best for peak summer if booking 2BR or Grand Villa
• Best for Grand Villas all year
• Best overall when TOT is high at VDH

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WHEN VDH IS THE BETTER VALUE​

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VDH is most cost-effective when you are booking smaller rooms (Studio or 1BR) and traveling during lower-TOT periods.

The best VDH weeks are:

1. January Value Season
   Dates: January 3–31
   Reason: Low points and low TOT. Studios and 1BRs at VDH are far cheaper than VGC in dollar terms.
2. Early February to Mid-March
   Dates: February 1–March 14
   Reason: Points remain relatively low at VDH and TOT is still modest. VDH Studios and 1BRs are less expensive than VGC by a wide margin.
3. Early May
   Dates: May 1–22
   Reason: One of the lowest-cost periods for VDH. TOT is mild and point differences are meaningful.
4. Late August to End of September
   Dates: August 16–September 30
   Reason: Consistently one of the cheapest times of the year to stay at VDH. Studios and 1BR usually save $80–$150 per night compared to VGC.
5. Early October (non-holiday weekends)
   Dates: October 1–15
   Reason: Moderate point season and TOT still reasonable. VDH typically wins for Studios and 1BRs.

Summary for VDH:

• Best for Studios and 1BR stays
• Best during January, February, May, and late August through September
• Best when TOT is lowest and point differences are highest

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OVERALL COMPARISON BY DATE RANGE​

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January 3–February 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: Lowest TOT and large point savings

February 28–March 18
Winner: VDH
Notes: Still low TOT and moderate points

March 19–April 3
Winner: VDH for Studios, VGC for larger rooms
Notes: TOT jumps for 2BR and GV at VDH

April 4–June 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: TOT modest enough that point savings dominate

June 28–September 4
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT is high enough at VDH to erase point savings for larger rooms

September 5–September 30
Winner: VDH
Notes: Some of the lowest point/TOT periods of the year

October 1–November 22
Winner: VDH for Studios and 1BR, mixed for larger rooms
Notes: TOT still moderate

Thanksgiving (November 23–27)
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike at VDH makes it much more expensive

November 28–December 16
Winner: Mixed
Notes: Depends heavily on room type; Studios may favor VDH, larger rooms favor VGC

December 17–December 31
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike makes VDH more expensive in all room sizes

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FINAL SUMMARY​

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VGC is best:

• Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods
• All peak periods for large rooms
• All year for Grand Villas
• Most summer dates for 2BR and GV

VDH is best:

• January through mid-March
• May 1–22
• August 16–September 30
• Early October (non-holiday weekends)
• Almost always better for Studios and 1BRs outside of holiday weeks

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[VGCgroupie]

Soooo what’s the TOT rate for 2027?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Soooo what’s the TOT rate for 2027?

It varies. I loaded the PDF into ChatGPT

 

[VGCgroupie]

It varies. I loaded the PDF into ChatGPT

Since when would we have a variable TOT rate? Its flat rate per point.