the resort hotels are pricey

[sonnyjane]

Is there a site that updates a rough estimate of how much rooms are each month with an AP discount? I do not have an AP, so I can not log in and check dates, but if the discount was good enough I would buy an AP to take advantage of it.

No, but if you have particular dates in mind just ask here on the DISboards and someone with an AP like myself would be more than happy to look for you They are only posted about 2 to 3 months out though, so we can't look too far in advance.

 

[Sherry E]

No, but if you have particular dates in mind just ask here on the DISboards and someone with an AP like myself would be more than happy to look for you They are only posted about 2 to 3 months out though, so we can't look too far in advance.

The AP rates (like AP10 or AP11 or whatever number they are on at this point) - not to be confused with the AP "discount," as they are 2 different things - often times don't even show up on the calendar 2 or 3 months in advance anymore. Maybe for some months they still do, but for other months they sometimes do not appear on the calendar until only a couple of weeks before the month you want begins. I've seen it happen. I was waiting for October AP rates once and they did not show up on the calendar until mid-September. I was waiting for December rates during the times when I had booked them before - within the first 2 weeks of December - and they never showed up at all.

I think that DLR is making the really good AP rate-rooms harder to come by now that even the off-peak seasons are becoming busier.

 

[dsny1mom]

Just curious Jack, I just booked the Grand for $266.00 a night. What would the senior rate be? I'm going May 8th & 9th.

I'm not Jack, but I've been using the senior rate since I turned 60 last year. Guests 60 and up are offered 30% off rack rate. You have to show proof of age at check in. If a lower rate comes along before your trip they will adjust your rate (after you call and ask them to do so) to it even though you are already booked at the senior rate. It's a great perk!

dsny1mom

 

[nunzia]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy especially considering you get about half the benefits of staying onsite as you do in WDW.

One perk so far is that DVC get discounts at almost all dining locations at DLR, which I understand isn't the case at WDW.

We used to stay off site happily until our first stay at the Grand Californian in 2001. Maybe it's a combo of loving the location and decor and being so old I want the location and decor and don't mind prioritizing the budget to pay for it. The cheapest we stayed there was $189, when I took 2 of my kids and their families the nightly rate was $382. As soon as I knew there would be DVC villas coming I plotted and saved so I could buy there in a way that works best for our family (got in the system with a 25 point resale at OKW to avoid the minimum purchase direct, then when the villas came on line bought direct from Disney 65, 60 and 2 50 point contracts) I have my MF and AP costs go automatically to a savings acct set up for that purpose and the whole thing is painless. If we have a year when we won't go twice I'll let the APs lapse. This has become the cheapest trip we can take since we take the train at currently $226 round trip for both of us, room and tickets prepaid, all we worry about is food. Yes, you can rent points and that works great for many, but I'm too much of a control freak to feel good with that. I'm also surprised at how relieved I am to not have to play that constant deal chasing game to try and get the best price then keep watching in case it gets better.
Having DVC really allows my vacation to be more relaxing
If you want a more risk free renting experience you can try David's ( a sponsor of this board) since he acts as a middle man. His rate is higher though, $13 a point the last I heard.

PS..I have also found deals at hotels.com that are much cheaper than any other special I found floating around.
Also, to the poster who notes that Disney jacks up prices so high, true..but every time I go anywhere where I am held captive (concerts, other parks, etc) I see the same thing and many times their rates for things like water are even higher than Disney. The beauty of Disney is you can bring in pretty much anything you want and not have to pay their prices for anything.

 

[franandaj]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy especially considering you get about half the benefits of staying onsite as you do in WDW.

I'm wondering what "perks" you get at WDW and not at DLR? The need to use bus service to get to parks? Other than that I can't think of anything. But if I'm missing something I'd sure like to know so I could take advantage of it next week.

To the OP, if you would like to rent a villa, I would start looking for someone to rent from about 15 months before you want to go. Once you agree to terms the member can use their 11 month advantage to book your room. It is possible to book on shorter notice, but less than 7 months out you will have a far more difficult time getting the dates you want.

 

[Master Mason]

I've been going to DL for almost 46 years now, never once stayed on property.... I just can't justify the cost, All I do in my room is sleep and shower, a I can do that accross the street for a fraction of the cost.

WDW is a whole other story, I would never stay off property there.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I've been going to DL for almost 46 years now, never once stayed on property.... I just can't justify the cost, All I do in my room is sleep and shower, a I can do that accross the street for a fraction of the cost.

WDW is a whole other story, I would never stay off property there.

I am not sure I understand the difference. If all you do is sleep and shower at WDW as well, then why stay on property? Also if you did stay on property (for example, the Grand Californian) at Disneyland, chances are you would branch out from your sleeping/showering schedule. You might go back to your room mid-day, and lounge around the Grand Californain pool. It really is a lovely place to spend some time recovering from the parks. You might spend some time sitting in the lobby at night with a hot chocolate by the fire. You might find you enjoy the who experience of staying on property to enhance the experience, as you do at WDW.

Anaheim itself is not a vacation destination, so when you leave the property area it is often not that nice.

I know people will never feel the need to spend the money to stay on property and I get that. I just don't get why some say they only stay at the resort at WDW, but Disneyland isn't worth it?

 

[franandaj]

I am not sure I understand the difference. If all you do is sleep and shower at WDW as well, then why stay on property? Also if you did stay on property (for example, the Grand Californian) at Disneyland, chances are you would branch out from your sleeping/showering schedule. You might go back to your room mid-day, and lounge around the Grand Californain pool. It really is a lovely place to spend some time recovering from the parks. You might spend some time sitting in the lobby at night with a hot chocolate by the fire. You might find you enjoy the who experience of staying on property to enhance the experience, as you do at WDW.

Anaheim itself is not a vacation destination, so when you leave the property area it is often not that nice.

I know people will never feel the need to spend the money to stay on property and I get that. I just don't get why some say they only stay at the resort at WDW, but Disneyland isn't worth it?

I'm guessing you have not been to WDW...staying off property there would be like having a hotel in Long Beach to go to Disneyland. I'm an on property kind of gal for both places.

 

[disneyfan67]

I am not sure I understand the difference. If all you do is sleep and shower at WDW as well, then why stay on property? Also if you did stay on property (for example, the Grand Californian) at Disneyland, chances are you would branch out from your sleeping/showering schedule. You might go back to your room mid-day, and lounge around the Grand Californain pool. It really is a lovely place to spend some time recovering from the parks. You might spend some time sitting in the lobby at night with a hot chocolate by the fire. You might find you enjoy the who experience of staying on property to enhance the experience, as you do at WDW.

Anaheim itself is not a vacation destination, so when you leave the property area it is often not that nice.

I know people will never feel the need to spend the money to stay on property and I get that. I just don't get why some say they only stay at the resort at WDW, but Disneyland isn't worth it?

Lisa, let me answer your questions here, if you don't mind. WDW is a far different animal than DL. The size and scope of the place is overwhelming. You're talking about 47 square miles compared to the 160 acres of the DLR. You stay off site at WDW and factor in the traffic and time, especially if you take an off site resort hotel's shuttle service, your wasting a lot of valuable vacation time. Disneyland, you can just walk across the street from the HOJO, etc, and you're there. MK at WDW has no such access and just trying to go to the parking lot for MK, to do a quick lunch break in your car to save money, takes a terrible amount of time. You can end up wasting a couple of hours if you add up all of your time.

If you want a total WDW experience. You really need to be on site and stay at a Disney resort close to a park, like the 3 resort hotels on the monorail loop that overlook MK and surround Bay lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. WDW is just too big and can really knock a newbie for a loop if they aren't prepared for the size and all the planning that is needed. My first family trip almost 10 years ago, I left kind of disappointed on how much I didn't see. It's took me at least 4 more trips to see and experience everything. Disneyland is far more relaxing and easier to enjoy all they have to offer. It's why I choose to visit there every year and now only go to WDW every two years or so.

Don't get me wrong, I like both the GC and the DLH and they are both beautiful properties and can be very relaxing. I'm staying at both this August and using my DVC points to do so. However next year if I decide to go back to DLR to see Car's land, I will probably save my points and stay across the street at the HOJO or whatever, due to price and the ease of being just across the street. If DLR was as big as WDW and it took me as long to get to the entry gate, I would only stay on site as well.

 

[Master Mason]

I am not sure I understand the difference. If all you do is sleep and shower at WDW as well, then why stay on property? Also if you did stay on property (for example, the Grand Californian) at Disneyland, chances are you would branch out from your sleeping/showering schedule. You might go back to your room mid-day, and lounge around the Grand Californain pool. It really is a lovely place to spend some time recovering from the parks. You might spend some time sitting in the lobby at night with a hot chocolate by the fire. You might find you enjoy the who experience of staying on property to enhance the experience, as you do at WDW.

Anaheim itself is not a vacation destination, so when you leave the property area it is often not that nice.

I know people will never feel the need to spend the money to stay on property and I get that. I just don't get why some say they only stay at the resort at WDW, but Disneyland isn't worth it?

They are very different places. At DL the walk from the closer hotels on Harbor is actually less than from the DLH, you don't have to stay on property to feel like your part of the park.

And the two parks and DTD are all close together.

At WDW you need to use their transportation to get around. And it just makes more sence. They also have Value resorts at WDW that are as economical as the offsite ones at DL so price becomes less of an issue.

There are many differences between WDW and DL and this is just one of those to me.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I understand that the location aspect is a very big issue. I have only been to Disney World once, and we stayed at the Contemporary.

But I think although you can easily walk to all of the close motels/hotels at Disneyland--I still think staying on property brings something to the experience that *I* personally love. When we can afford it, I think it is worth the extra money. I understand that not everyone thinks it is worth it, seeing as you can stay across the street in a motel. I just think those are two different "vacation experiences".

 

[smile4stamps]

For most people I think it is a choice between budget and experience. At WDW you don't have to make that choice. You CAN do a budget trip AND stay on-site with the Value resorts. The Value Resorts are cheaper than many of the off-site motels on Harbor. When I was planning my first DL trip I was so wishing they had a value option. Since they did not I booked and stayed off-site. My next trip I have been working my bum off at work to make extra money so I can splurge and stay on-site. However I am only staying onsite for half my trip.

 

[JeffGoldblum]

No, but if you have particular dates in mind just ask here on the DISboards and someone with an AP like myself would be more than happy to look for you They are only posted about 2 to 3 months out though, so we can't look too far in advance.

PMing you now, thank you!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

jack who do you rent from or a site to reccommend?

DVCrequest.com is very reputable. But remember it's paid up front and not refundable.

 

[23bw]

DLR charges $450/night at the GCH because there are enough affluent people around the world who is willing to pay for it. On any given day at the GCH, I'm sure a certain percentage of guests paid full rate while others are paying less. It's no different than what each passenger pays on an airline flight. I personally view staying at the GCH as flying first class or at least business class.

We've stayed at the GCH just 1 time out of the 5 trips to DLR in the past 3 years. Was it worth it? Yes, at $250/night we loved it. But at $450/night, I don't think so.

 

[nana50]

I'll have to remember that senior discount. I don't suppose they would give me that on top of the AP discount rate???

 

[dsny1mom]

I'll have to remember that senior discount. I don't suppose they would give me that on top of the AP discount rate???

No they won't. It's off rack rate. I asked last year when I turned 60 as PAP holder.

dsny1mom

 

[blackjackdelta]

For most people I think it is a choice between budget and experience. At WDW you don't have to make that choice. You CAN do a budget trip AND stay on-site with the Value resorts. The Value Resorts are cheaper than many of the off-site motels on Harbor. When I was planning my first DL trip I was so wishing they had a value option. Since they did not I booked and stayed off-site. My next trip I have been working my bum off at work to make extra money so I can splurge and stay on-site. However I am only staying onsite for half my trip.

We do specially that, we work up to 4 jobs to earn the money to stay where we want and do what we want. Some folks like to sit and watch TV, we work. I will never go anywhere and leave thinking could not do something just because I did not take the time to earn the money.

Some folks like to do Disneyland and keep the expenses down(I can understand that) or they rate places based on what things cost not how good things actually are(I don't understand that.)

I keep hoping to get to get to WDW one of these day, but out of the 6 of us, I am the only one who wants to go.

Jack