Thoughts on the Villas at Disneyland Hotel

[Girlstar30]

Good morning

Just wanted to know people's thoughts that have stayed at VDH. Thinking of surprising my wife for her birthday, but I just can't get past how expensive it is... rack rate of over $1000 for a deluxe studio plus transient tax? Even with DVC points it's really high. Is this because it's in California? Because it's new? I was surprised that the pricing is almost on par with the Grand Californian. Is there anything special i don't know about or do you think the price will lower in the future?

 

[Canchaser143]

Good morning

Just wanted to know people's thoughts that have stayed at VDH. Thinking of surprising my wife for her birthday, but I just can't get past how expensive it is... rack rate of over $1000 for a deluxe studio plus transient tax? Even with DVC points it's really high. Is this because it's in California? Because it's new? I was surprised that the pricing is almost on par with the Grand Californian. Is there anything special i don't know about or do you think the price will lower in the future?

Are you looking to pay cash, rent DVC points or use your own points to stay? If you are paying Cash through disney, the Tax is already included in that rate. If you are renting etc then yeah sadly there still is the TOT to pay. For most times of the year VDH is cheaper in points than VGC. Rack rates at the California Hotels are reallllly high compared to WDW, thats because there are only three of them. While I love VDH, I am not sure I would ever pay cash to stay there, this is why I have a contract lol I also do not see myself staying at the Grand Cal on cash either because... yikes lol What time of the year are you looking at?

 

[Girlstar30]

Are you looking to pay cash, rent DVC points or use your own points to stay? If you are paying Cash through disney, the Tax is already included in that rate. If you are renting etc then yeah sadly there still is the TOT to pay. For most times of the year VDH is cheaper in points than VGC. Rack rates at the California Hotels are reallllly high compared to WDW, thats because there are only three of them. While I love VDH, I am not sure I would ever pay cash to stay there, this is why I have a contract lol I also do not see myself staying at the Grand Cal on cash either because... yikes lol What time of the year are you looking at?

At this point it's going to have to be cash because her birthday is on a Saturday in April and I'm still waiting for my contract to close and even if it did today probably no way I would get it!

Then I went on Davids just to see if there was any confirmed reservations and what the price would be and it was $700 something a night for a studio and I was like damnnnn where's the savings but I guess there is some savings but not as much as Florida hotels. Makes sense cuz there is more them.. Didn't know the tax was included in Disney rate, thanks for the info!

I stayed at grand cal cash once for my engagement before I knew davids and other rental stores were a thing. I think it's the most I've ever paid for a one night stay, but that view was spectacular, it almost felt like we were in the theme park, waking up and seeing goofys sky school and the theme park being powered up. That hotel room is really what made me realize that views are worth the extra cost. Anyways I think it will probably have to wait until next year when I can book at 7 months

 

[Canchaser143]

At this point it's going to have to be cash because her birthday is on a Saturday in April and I'm still waiting for my contract to close and even if it did today probably no way I would get it!

Then I went on Davids just to see if there was any confirmed reservations and what the price would be and it was $700 something a night for a studio and I was like damnnnn where's the savings but I guess there is some savings but not as much as Florida hotels. Makes sense cuz there is more them.. Didn't know the tax was included in Disney rate, thanks for the info!

I stayed at grand cal cash once for my engagement before I knew davids and other rental stores were a thing. I think it's the most I've ever paid for a one night stay, but that view was spectacular, it almost felt like we were in the theme park, waking up and seeing goofys sky school and the theme park being powered up. That hotel room is really what made me realize that views are worth the extra cost. Anyways I think it will probably have to wait until next year when I can book at 7 months

Happy I helped a little lol Yeah April is a bit rough especially with Easter and Spring Breaks, extremely high point values lol Studios are plentiful at VDH, you shouldn't have a problem getting a room at 7 months. VGC is reallllly difficult to snag a studio at 7 months, but a 1 bedroom is a possibility!

 

[Mommb]

The 3 resorts at Disneyland are priced high because they can be, since they are the only hotels on Disneyland property.

My husband and I stayed at a Studio at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel last month. It was nice, sure, but if we didn't have DVC points that we wouldn't otherwise use this year, we would have paid the not-quite-as-high prices for another hotel that was a little farther but still walking distance from the parks. We wouldn't have spent cash to stay at the Grand Californian either.

Given the choice between the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian, I would prefer the Grand Californian, since it is closer to the parks and has the potential for a theme-park view. The DVC portion of the Disneyland Hotel is in a building on the other side of the swimming pool. However, when I looked at options 4 months in advance, there were no studios at VGC available, and none ever opened up, although we were able to add a studio for my son and his girlfriend at the VDH a few weeks before our trip.

The Disneyland Hotel does have far more Disney theming than the Grand Californian, and Trader Sam's was a unique place for a nightcap, compared to the more sedate bar at the GC.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Honestly, if I was only going to pay cash and not use points (or couldn't rent at a decent rate)....I'd just stay at a hotel on Harbor. The cash price for on-site is seriously nuts. (And that's why I'm hoping my large up front cost of buying VGC resale will actually help me save money in the long run....fingers crossed!)

 

[Girlstar30]

The 3 resorts at Disneyland are priced high because they can be, since they are the only hotels on Disneyland property.

My husband and I stayed at a Studio at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel last month. It was nice, sure, but if we didn't have DVC points that we wouldn't otherwise use this year, we would have paid the not-quite-as-high prices for another hotel that was a little farther but still walking distance from the parks. We wouldn't have spent cash to stay at the Grand Californian either.

Given the choice between the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian, I would prefer the Grand Californian, since it is closer to the parks and has the potential for a theme-park view. The DVC portion of the Disneyland Hotel is in a building on the other side of the swimming pool. However, when I looked at options 4 months in advance, there were no studios at VGC available, and none ever opened up, although we were able to add a studio for my son and his girlfriend at the VDH a few weeks before our trip.

The Disneyland Hotel does have far more Disney theming than the Grand Californian, and Trader Sam's was a unique place for a nightcap, compared to the more sedate bar at the GC.

I was wondering how good the theme park rooms were for DVC in comparison to the cash room I stayed at which was phenomenal (at a not so phenomenal price ) I used to wonder how people could afford to stay there (DVC isn't widely advertised in Cali like it is in FL) and now I know how some can! Was it hard to get into Trader Sams? Did you go as a walkup? I never even bother trying to get a reservation because it's near impossible

 

[Girlstar30]

Honestly, if I was only going to pay cash and not use points (or couldn't rent at a decent rate)....I'd just stay at a hotel on Harbor. The cash price for on-site is seriously nuts. (And that's why I'm hoping my large up front cost of buying VGC resale will actually help me save money in the long run....fingers crossed!)

I think you'll definitely save money the price cash is nuts, only did it for the once in a lifetime (i hope ) special occasion

 

[ClaraOswald]

I think you'll definitely save money the price cash is nuts, only did it for the once in a lifetime (i hope ) special occasion

Our first Grand Cal stay was cash but with a family/friends discount it was under $500 a night (which was still a lot compared to what we normally would pay on Harbor!) Sadly, we loved it so much that we had to research DVC right when we got home.

We were also in one of the rooms behind Goofy's Sky School on the non-DVC stay. Lower floor but still cool to be so close to the park and hear all the sounds while out on the balcony.

 

[Girlstar30]

Our first Grand Cal stay was cash but with a family/friends discount it was under $500 a night (which was still a lot compared to what we normally would pay on Harbor!) Sadly, we loved it so much that we had to research DVC right when we got home.

We were also in one of the rooms behind Goofy's Sky School on the non-DVC stay. Lower floor but still cool to be so close to the park and hear all the sounds while out on the balcony.

Do you know if any of the DVC rooms are near goofys sky school? it was so amazing. Haha they hooked you with that cheaper stay. I like that theyre offering tea service at grand cal for the holidays now we went to the Mrs claus tea during Christmas and loved it, I was really sad when they took it away at Disneyland hotel, Mrs claus told us that she thinks it will come back this year too

 

[AstroBlasters]

Are you looking to pay cash, rent DVC points or use your own points to stay? If you are paying Cash through disney, the Tax is already included in that rate. If you are renting etc then yeah sadly there still is the TOT to pay. For most times of the year VDH is cheaper in points than VGC. Rack rates at the California Hotels are reallllly high compared to WDW, thats because there are only three of them. While I love VDH, I am not sure I would ever pay cash to stay there, this is why I have a contract lol I also do not see myself staying at the Grand Cal on cash either because... yikes lol What time of the year are you looking at?

Tax is not included in the Disney rate.

 

[MartyParty]

It's been a while since I did the math but renting DVC points was cheaper than cash rate for VDH. There are a few sites you could check prior to your April stay that might come through. The other thing, if using points, the Transient tax is less vs cash rate. I think its 40% less.

Summary, renting points will be cheaper for cash and taxes. Staying off site (not Disney property) will be by far cheaper.

As for Trader Sam's, we book the very moment we're 60 days out. As this is April not sure the likelihood of availability.

 

[kgou]

At this point it's going to have to be cash because her birthday is on a Saturday in April and I'm still waiting for my contract to close and even if it did today probably no way I would get it!

Remember that resale points are not eligible to be used at VDH.

 

[Girlstar30]

Remember that resale points are not eligible to be used at VDH.

That's right, didn't think of that, totally ineligible even when It goes through, thank you I can throw that out the window for now

 

[Girlstar30]

It's been a while since I did the math but renting DVC points was cheaper than cash rate for VDH. There are a few sites you could check prior to your April stay that might come through. The other thing, if using points, the Transient tax is less vs cash rate. I think its 40% less.

Summary, renting points will be cheaper for cash and taxes. Staying off site (not Disney property) will be by far cheaper.

As for Trader Sam's, we book the very moment we're 60 days out. As this is April not sure the likelihood of availability.

Very good to know, didn't know transient tax was cheaper for dvc

 

[Canchaser143]

Tax is not included in the Disney rate.

If you continue on to the check out page, the tax is added at check out

 

[Girlstar30]

If you continue on to the check out page, the tax is added at check out

So for DVC you pay this tax when you check in?

 

[MartyParty]

So for DVC you pay this tax when you check in?

For DVC you pay the tax after you've checked out.

 

[AstroBlasters]

If you continue on to the check out page, the tax is added at check out

Right, but you have to go all the way through the checkout process…. which most people do not do if they are just comparing rates by searching through dates.

 

[Canchaser143]

Right, but you have to go all the way through the checkout process…. which most people do not do if they are just comparing rates by searching through dates.

This is true