Torn between Disneyland vs WDW DVC

[Jlo85]

This board has been very helpful and has a lot more varied Disney experience than I have, so hoping y'all have some thoughts. Family of 4 in New Jersey with little kids. We will be flying to DVC regardless of the resort.

We recently bought an AUL contract for visiting Aulani and SAPs. First trip will actually be Vero Beach. But I would like to get a dedicated theme park contract. But I'm kind of torn between:

1. Buying WDW DVC generally for 'Jersey week' (1st week of November). We will buy resale or may wait for Poly2 OR
2. Disneyland in late August. I'm reading this is a good time to visit because NJ schools usually start after Labor Day. I would wait for VDH direct. I did see VGC pop-up for late-August at 7 months, but it's quickly taken.

Any thoughts on this? I have never visited Disneyland and haven't been to WDW in like 2 decades, so I'm kind of ignorant on both. I generally prefer California to Florida, but it is a longer flight for us from Jersey.

 

[RoseGold]

These are completely different plans. DL is a completely different experience. It is nowhere near the scale of WDW. Most people stay a couple nights, I wouldn't buy a whole timeshare from across the country for it.

WDW Jersey week DVC is peak, peak, peak. You will absolutely need to buy where you want to stay. Now is a great time to buy resale if you are sure about this.

But I don't see how you jump from not going to WDW in decades to jumping all the way spending five figures on a hotel you've never seen. Just rent points or stay at Swolphin a couple times. There is no rush. DVC will be there next year and the year after. Use your SAP for what you can get and then decide.

 

[AC168]

My kids start school after Labor Day also and we go to VGC right before they start. Parks are ok people wide but it can get pretty hot at the end of August.

 

[AC168]

With little kids, VGC is more convenient. I would buy VGC … if u don’t like it, you can always rent out the points.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This board has been very helpful and has a lot more varied Disney experience than I have, so hoping y'all have some thoughts. Family of 4 in New Jersey with little kids. We will be flying to DVC regardless of the resort.

We recently bought an AUL contract for visiting Aulani and SAPs. First trip will actually be Vero Beach. But I would like to get a dedicated theme park contract. But I'm kind of torn between:

1. Buying WDW DVC generally for 'Jersey week' (1st week of November). We will buy resale or may wait for Poly2 OR
2. Disneyland in late August. I'm reading this is a good time to visit because NJ schools usually start after Labor Day. I would wait for VDH direct. I did see VGC pop-up for late-August at 7 months, but it's quickly taken.

Any thoughts on this? I have never visited Disneyland and haven't been to WDW in like 2 decades, so I'm kind of ignorant on both. I generally prefer California to Florida, but it is a longer flight for us from Jersey.

Do you plan to do many combo DL/AUL trips or is the AUL mostly SAP?

 

[ak517]

It also seems like you're okay waiting for new resorts, and since you are already a member you'll be able to buy-in with the member rates when those are released. I second having a couple visits to each coast and making a decision after that. These are very different decisions to be locked into, and it will be hard to make a choice without having ever visited DLR and not seeing the current WDW.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Personally, I wouldn't purchase DVC for a resort I've never been to. If I were you, I'd rent points to visit both when you're able to and then decide based on your experiences, what you like best, and what you're likely to use the most.

 

[limace]

Yeah, I’d also stop and test out the waters a bit before spending a ton more.

 

[Jlo85]

Do you plan to do many combo DL/AUL trips or is the AUL mostly SAP?

Wasn’t really planning to combo it since we can get direct flights from NJ to Hawaii.

With little kids, VGC is more convenient. I would buy VGC … if u don’t like it, you can always rent out the points.

This was exactly what I was curious about, thanks!

 

[Bucketfoot]

While I love WDW, I vastly prefer DL. That said, if I was on the east coast and looking to buy DVC it would absolutely be at WDW.

 

[pineapplepalms]

Agree with others that it’s best to go for a bit and visit some resorts and parks to make sure this is what you want since it’s been a while. You can use your points at 7 months to book at WDW and VGC (easier if you book 1 or 2 BRs) and see how you feel about adding more afterwards. Some people are really bothered by the way things work at the parks now, with the reservations, Genie+ etc.

Fwiw, we are in CA but our home resorts are currently all at WDW. We typically go for 2 weeks at WDW and 1 week stays at VGC, and there is plenty to do at both with our little ones.

 

[bumbershoot]

I do not like Grand Californian. I am a west coast person. I love Disneyland.
And I stay OFFsite at Disneyland. The walk from the sidewalk at the parking lot of Howard Johnson to the center of the esplanade was the same distance as our room on the ONE stay we had at GC to the same spot in the esplanade.

When we bought DVC, we bought at WDW because I knew I would want to stay ONsite there. I had never been there and bought in because I knew I'd like it. And I did.

I don't think I'll ever have the points to stay at the new DVC at Disneyland, but that's OK because there are plenty of offsite places.

I'm reading this is a good time to visit because NJ schools usually start after Labor Day.

If the timing works for you because your kids are off, that's fine, but California schools (and the rest of the country's schools) are all on wildly varying schedules. There might be kids in school, out of school, etc.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I do not like Grand Californian. I am a west coast person. I love Disneyland.
And I stay OFFsite at Disneyland. The walk from the sidewalk at the parking lot of Howard Johnson to the center of the esplanade was the same distance as our room on the ONE stay we had at GC to the same spot in the esplanade.

When we bought DVC, we bought at WDW because I knew I would want to stay ONsite there. I had never been there and bought in because I knew I'd like it. And I did.

I don't think I'll ever have the points to stay at the new DVC at Disneyland, but that's OK because there are plenty of offsite places.



If the timing works for you because your kids are off, that's fine, but California schools (and the rest of the country's schools) are all on wildly varying schedules. There might be kids in school, out of school, etc.

Can I ask why you don't like the Grand Californian, besides the fact that it isn't any closer to the esplanade than some Harbor hotels?

 

[Bucketfoot]

Can I ask why you don't like the Grand Californian, besides the fact that it isn't any closer to the esplanade than some Harbor hotels?

I'm not who you asked, but we've stayed there a couple of times and I will say that you pay through the nose for a room that frankly isn't any better than a Holiday Inn.

Yes the lobby is fantastic, the pool is nice and the location (specifically for California Adventure) is great, but the rooms themselves are basic motel level. Now this is specific to the hotel side as I have no experience with DVC there.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I'm not who you asked, but we've stayed there a couple of times and I will say that you pay through the nose for a room that frankly isn't any better than a Holiday Inn.

Yes the lobby is fantastic, the pool is nice and the location (specifically for California Adventure) is great, but the rooms themselves are basic motel level. Now this is specific to the hotel side as I have no experience with DVC there.

Yeah, but the rooms are a bit nicer than the ones we have stayed at on Harbor. More comfortable beds too. Though I would never pay rack rate for it because that's a crazy high price.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm not who you asked, but we've stayed there a couple of times and I will say that you pay through the nose for a room that frankly isn't any better than a Holiday Inn.

Yes the lobby is fantastic, the pool is nice and the location (specifically for California Adventure) is great, but the rooms themselves are basic motel level. Now this is specific to the hotel side as I have no experience with DVC there.

So many different experiences and opinions, which is how it should be. We're east coasters who own DVC at WDW, but absolutely love the few opportunities we've had to use our points at Grand Cali villas. The DVC rooms are amazing, in our opinion - wish we could afford the points to stay there more often. The rooms, resort, and the direct access to GC park and Downtown Disney are things we really enjoy. We have no experience with the hotel side!

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

I am an East Coaster who likes to visit DL every other year; therefore, I purchased a minor GC resale contract without staying there. I love DL, but being used to Disney Bubble and the highly themed resorts at WDW, I was disappointed to stay offsite on Harbor Blvd no matter how inexpensive or the short walking distance to the theme parks. I stayed at DLR and had such a wonderful stay there that I decided never to stay offsite at DL again. Shortly after, I gambled on purchasing a DVC GC contract without staying there. I assumed I would love GC because of its proximity to DL and DCA and its similar theme to one of my favorite WDW resorts, WL. I have stayed at GC multiple times, and I loved it everytime.

 

[swaggystackslv]

This board has been very helpful and has a lot more varied Disney experience than I have, so hoping y'all have some thoughts. Family of 4 in New Jersey with little kids. We will be flying to DVC regardless of the resort.

We recently bought an AUL contract for visiting Aulani and SAPs. First trip will actually be Vero Beach. But I would like to get a dedicated theme park contract. But I'm kind of torn between:

1. Buying WDW DVC generally for 'Jersey week' (1st week of November). We will buy resale or may wait for Poly2 OR
2. Disneyland in late August. I'm reading this is a good time to visit because NJ schools usually start after Labor Day. I would wait for VDH direct. I did see VGC pop-up for late-August at 7 months, but it's quickly taken.

Any thoughts on this? I have never visited Disneyland and haven't been to WDW in like 2 decades, so I'm kind of ignorant on both. I generally prefer California to Florida, but it is a longer flight for us from Jersey.

As a west coaster, I’m considering the new Cali DVC… but only because we are so close. There are so many economical hotels in the area, it makes DVC points not feel like the best use… that’s why we have a dedicated contract for FL.

 

[Jlo85]

So many different experiences and opinions, which is how it should be. We're east coasters who own DVC at WDW, but absolutely love the few opportunities we've had to use our points at Grand Cali villas.

I’m curious if it’s a similar situation to people comparing Swan/Dolphin to DVC. Never really heard complaints about VGC before now.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I’m curious if it’s a similar situation to people comparing Swan/Dolphin to DVC. Never really heard complaints about VGC before now.

I expect you could surf through many posts out here and find positives and negatives on just about any resort, any restaurant, and any attraction associated with Disney! People have different experiences, opinions, and expectations! You have to sift through them and then decide what you want to try and experience yourself!