Transient Tax in California??

[wendlle]

I am looking at renting some points for a duo studio at the Disneyland Hotel but have been told I need to pay a transient tax at checkout.
How much is this? Trip is for 3 nights next year in March.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

TOT per night in 2025:
https://cdn2.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...at-disneyland-hotel/2025-VDH-TOT-11282023.pdf

 

[Genie+]

For anyone wondering roughly what to expect without looking at the chart-

The duo studios that sleeps 2 are mostly between $40-$60 a night in March 2025.

Regular studios right now over summer are closer to $75/nt on average.

This tax adds up! but it hasn’t taken VDH out of the running for us. 7 month availability has looked good and trading in with lower dues resort helps offset that ~$3pp tax. Our VGF dues are $2pp cheaper than VDH - helps take the sting out of ToT.

Our first VDH stay will likely be season 2:

With buy-in, dues and ToT our total cost using VGF direct points: $225/nt for standard view weeknight to $325/nt preferred view weekend night. I wouldn’t mind splurging for preferred if that was garden with the rare balconies. We stayed in DH when the villas opened and oh boy were we impressed. If under $300/nt avg there is no other DL option for us

 

[wendlle]

Thanks forgive my ignorance but what do the S and P stand for?

I usually can’t afford Disneyland hotels and stay across the street but there is a convention on during our exact dates and across the street pricing isn’t a lot different so thought I may pay a few hundred extra to get the early entry perk

 

[Genie+]

Thanks forgive my ignorance but what do the S and P stand for?

I usually can’t afford Disneyland hotels and stay across the street but there is a convention on during our exact dates and across the street pricing isn’t a lot different so thought I may pay a few hundred extra to get the early entry perk

S and P are standard view and preferred view.

If you look at the far right column it lists the 3rd option for both the duo and studio room, Garden View (has balcony )

I was a little skeptical of DL Hotel prices when my husband surprised me with a trip. Once we arrived it was easy to justify. The theming can’t be beat. Trader Sams is unforgettable and super convenient while staying there. The pool, new pool bar, even steamboat willie splashpad made us 50 year olds happy lol, the coffee house, goofy’s, etc. The resort is incredible! Sure DL is fantastic on its own. Staying DLH is next level though. The new tower room decor is so cool. We loved everything. Early Entry was great. Staying so close to the parks made it a breeze popping back to our room midday. All these little things add up to an amazing experience.

 

[kes601]

We are here now. Yes, the transient tax adds up, but you are paying it at any hotel you are staying at near DLR (unless VGC on points). We are in a preferred studio for 11 nights. The total is $728.44, so about $66.22 per night.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

We are here now. Yes, the transient tax adds up, but you are paying it at any hotel you are staying at near DLR (unless VGC on points). We are in a preferred studio for 11 nights. The total is $728.44, so about $66.22 per night.

11 nights?!? I love this! Let us know what all fun you have planned for an extended stay at DLR.

 

[kes601]

11 nights?!? I love this! Let us know what all fun you have planned for an extended stay at DLR.

It’s our first visit so we figured go big or go home….or rather go big and then go home. We got here for Pride Night (after a 7a MCO flight). It was fun, but we didn’t make it through half of it since we had been up since midnight west coast time.

The next 4 mornings we did early entry at whichever park was offering it. Have hit up every ride a couple of times and will continue doing that the rest of the trip. We won’t be back for 2 years so want to take full advantage of everything.

We’ve also already caught the Pixar Fest parade, Magic Happens, and Fantasmic (far superior to the WDW version).

For food we’ve done Jolly Holiday and Trader Sam’s. Today we were sitting in the DVC lounge in Tomorrowland and noticed there was a noon reservation available for Din Tai Fung. This was at 11:45. We booked it out of there and were only about 5 minutes late. This was the first day of soft openings. Do not miss this restaurant. It was so good.

At any rate, still 6 more park days left.

Did I mention we started with 7 nights at Copper Creek before coming here?

 

[wendlle]

Thanks all, I am still booking the room, we are just going with a standard duo (no balcony) as we are planning to go for early entry and stay until close as the trip is such a short one - and with no kids with us this time we want to make the most of it!!

 

[Genie+]

It’s our first visit so we figured go big or go home….or rather go big and then go home. We got here for Pride Night (after a 7a MCO flight). It was fun, but we didn’t make it through half of it since we had been up since midnight west coast time.

The next 4 mornings we did early entry at whichever park was offering it. Have hit up every ride a couple of times and will continue doing that the rest of the trip. We won’t be back for 2 years so want to take full advantage of everything.

We’ve also already caught the Pixar Fest parade, Magic Happens, and Fantasmic (far superior to the WDW version).

For food we’ve done Jolly Holiday and Trader Sam’s. Today we were sitting in the DVC lounge in Tomorrowland and noticed there was a noon reservation available for Din Tai Fung. This was at 11:45. We booked it out of there and were only about 5 minutes late. This was the first day of soft openings. Do not miss this restaurant. It was so good.

At any rate, still 6 more park days left.

Did I mention we started with 7 nights at Copper Creek before coming here?

I’d LOVE to do 11 nights! Wow. Our first DL trip ever was 4 nights last year. It worked but we would’ve been thrilled to stay longer. To me DL Hotel was tops for feeling that connection to classic Disney and DL. In a league of its own.

The good news is we must go back - so the kids can have their first DL trip too Sounds funny. They’re young adults. They go off doing their things so why shouldn’t we go do our own thing too. The kids didn’t realize how jealous they’d be though lol.

 

[wendlle]

back when we could get the Australian 10 day DL tickets we often did two week stays in Anaheim. it was amazing just doing the parks at such a leisurely pace.
Admittedly I was never able to stay at the DL hotel, that would have been a dream.

 

[Genie+]

Thanks all, I am still booking the room, we are just going with a standard duo (no balcony) as we are planning to go for early entry and stay until close as the trip is such a short one - and with no kids with us this time we want to make the most of it!!

Sounds like an awesome trip! A few years ago we finally started doing no kids trips. Different vibe and they’ve been great too.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

It’s our first visit so we figured go big or go home….or rather go big and then go home. We got here for Pride Night (after a 7a MCO flight). It was fun, but we didn’t make it through half of it since we had been up since midnight west coast time.

The next 4 mornings we did early entry at whichever park was offering it. Have hit up every ride a couple of times and will continue doing that the rest of the trip. We won’t be back for 2 years so want to take full advantage of everything.

We’ve also already caught the Pixar Fest parade, Magic Happens, and Fantasmic (far superior to the WDW version).

For food we’ve done Jolly Holiday and Trader Sam’s. Today we were sitting in the DVC lounge in Tomorrowland and noticed there was a noon reservation available for Din Tai Fung. This was at 11:45. We booked it out of there and were only about 5 minutes late. This was the first day of soft openings. Do not miss this restaurant. It was so good.

At any rate, still 6 more park days left.

Did I mention we started with 7 nights at Copper Creek before coming here?

So 18 nights of Disney in a row - you're living the dream! So happy you are enjoying Disneyland resort!
You of course know to have a churro which most people much prefer to WDW churros.
Two treats that we love so much we have them every night for dessert: Churro Toffee and Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares (can get any of the candy shops). Raspberry macaroon at Jolly Holiday is also a favorite. I'm not an impossible meat fan at all but do love the Breakfast Shawarma at the cart next to the Guardians ride. Also love the breakfast chimichanga at the cart across from Big Thunder (but it runs out at like 9am or so!) - definitely have it with the green salsa which makes it amazing and I usually break off and throw away about half the fried part - even half is a gut bomb but so great. Corn Dog Castle ain't too shabby either.
If you like whiskey / Shipwreck on the rocks, I'd suggest "Temple of the Forbidden Rye" at Trader Sam's - it's an off menu drink.
Pin collector? There's a place like a mile from campus called MyDPins that has a nice selection of pins and other memorabilia.
And of course only like 15 mins away is Knott's Berry Farm if you want to spend a day trying out some other coasters nearby - their Fast Lane pass is expensive but necessary. Like their best rides can be like 15 mins instead of three HOURS for standby.
Also cool that we've never gone to but plan to on our next trip that everyone keeps talking about is the Anaheim Packing District (if you need more food options) - nice food court that vloggers enjoy talking up. So happy you got to try out Din Tai Fung (or DTF which we usually say and giggle) - we have several in the Seattle area and it's a favorite - mmm. We went to Tuesday Pride Nite - very fun. So surreal to see the castle / small world / main street lit up in rainbow projections and hear Diana Ross belting "I'm Comin' Out" across the speakers with people wearing rainbow everywhere. I'm not crying, you're crying.
Have a great rest of your trip!

 

[wendlle]

Sounds like an awesome trip! A few years ago we finally started doing no kids trips. Different vibe and they’ve been great too.

Thanks, It will remind us of the trips we used to take before the kids.
We are coming back in May 2025 with the kids, for a month long vacation to DL and WDW but I'm looking forward to this little 3 day visit to DL so much. We never get to go on rides much together anymore as the kids don't like any of the fast ones, so will be so good to go on some coasters together again.

 

[Wedgeout]

Thanks all, I am still booking the room, we are just going with a standard duo (no balcony) as we are planning to go for early entry and stay until close as the trip is such a short one - and with no kids with us this time we want to make the most of it!!

Nice thing with a Duo, still chance for a balcony with the standard duo. 9 of the 15. (Stacked floors 3-11. Room xx28.)

 

[Genie+]

Nice thing with a Duo, still chance for a balcony with the standard duo. 9 of the 15. (Stacked floors 3-11. Room xx28.)

That is awesome info! Thanks for pointing it out. We love DVC balconies. Having a chance is better than no chance at all