VDH (CA) and TOT Question

[bwvBound]

Question regarding TOT at the Villas Disneyland Hotel: The literature suggests the TOT is paid at Check-out rather than at the moment of booking the reservation. If this is true, may I assume it is only charged if the member actually checks-in?

I'm toying with the idea of using single-night DVH reservations as a tool to book Theme Park reservations. I might not actually check-in or stay at the unit. If I could pull this off, would it avoid the TOT?

 

[Sandisw]

Good question but you’d definitely be forfeiting the points if you did that…so not sure how’d it benefit you.

 

[Sunnyore]

I think OP is thinking cancelling the reservation 30 days ahead of stay but use the stay to book MK reservations? I noticed when I just stayed at VGC last week I was able to book pretty much any day I want even though my MK calendar shows no availability. At WDW I can only book days that I am actually staying but that wasn’t the case at DLR. I hope they don’t change it because it was super valuable to me.

 

[crvetter]

Would it be for with a magic key?

 

[bwvBound]

Oh, sorry -- yes, I am intending to forfeit the points. No, I was not planning to cancel the reservation. Yes, semi-local with Magic Key (close enough to drive in for day visits w/out staying overnight).

I've found, since re-opening, that booking/staying at the VGC is my "magic key" to booking Theme Park reservations using Disney's Magic Key (DLR AP). Works great ... provided I can snag a night at the VGC every month or so.

Looking at the VDH point charts ... I might consider booking a "throw away" night, if the unit is available, for the duo suites just to load up on park reservations on either side. Just noodling some ideas ... while also trying to talk myself out of adding on at the VDH. (I'm on the fence and trying to convince myself I don't need this ... LOL.)

 

[crvetter]

Weird I’ve never had reservations open when staying at VGC for the magic key calendar and it always still counts against my 6 days.

You are talking about getting days that we’re previously unavailable?

 

[Sunnyore]

Weird I’ve never had reservations open when staying at VGC for the magic key calendar and it always still counts against my 6 days.

You are talking about getting days that were previously unavailable?

It does use up my 6 allotment but every single day was wide open. Did you check going through your hotel reservation option? On the day of my stay last week I went ahead and grabbed 6 days to hold me over until I can book on 5/16 for VDH. That is, I’m hoping it wasn’t a glitch that I was just limited to the days of my stay.

 

[bwvBound]

Weird I’ve never had reservations open when staying at VGC for the magic key calendar and it always still counts against my 6 days.

You are talking about getting days that we’re previously unavailable?

Link your VGC reservation and use the Hotel bucket for Theme Park reservations. Even when the Magic Key calendar showed "no availability" - I've been able to book either park using the Hotel bucket. YES -- each theme park reservation counts against the 6-day limit ... but since I have a VGC reservation every month ... I rarely hit my 6-day limit. I tend to book the theme park reservations "on demand"? (I hope that makes sense.)

 

[bwvBound]

It does use up my 6 allotment but every single day was wide open. Did you check going through your hotel reservation option? On the day of my stay last week I went ahead and grabbed 6 days to hold me over until I can book on 5/16 for VDH. That is, I’m hoping it wasn’t a glitch that I was just limited to the days of my stay.

I've been running this particular play since the parks reopened. So far, so good.

 

[DennieC]

To the OP, you are correct. Member has to actually check in for the TOT to be charged. So booking the reservation and then cancelling results in no transient tax.

 

[crvetter]

Link your VGC reservation and use the Hotel bucket for Theme Park reservations. Even when the Magic Key calendar showed "no availability" - I've been able to book either park using the Hotel bucket. YES -- each theme park reservation counts against the 6-day limit ... but since I have a VGC reservation every month ... I rarely hit my 6-day limit. I tend to book the theme park reservations "on demand"? (I hope that makes sense.)

Got it, so unlike WDW it does still count towards your 6 day limit but opens up your availability to a different pool. Thanks for that info, incredibly helpful. I actually wish I knew that for this week as I was staying there and didn't adjust my hotel days because availability was gone for Magic Keys. But I will keep this knowledge.

 

[bwvBound]

To the OP, you are correct. Member has to actually check in for the TOT to be charged. So booking the reservation and then cancelling results in no transient tax.

Thank you for the confirming the section in bold. Again, it is not my intention to cancel the reservation ... but simply to "not check-in" thus forfeiting the points and giving that particular unit "a night off." I figure it saves the resort budget a housekeeping turn-around (favorable savings to the DVC budget).

 

[DVChris]

You are correct that park reservations for resort guests at the three DLR hotels are a separate bucket from the bucket for Magic Keys park reservations.

 

[LilyJC]

Thank you for the confirming the section in bold. Again, it is not my intention to cancel the reservation ... but simply to "not check-in" thus forfeiting the points and giving that particular unit "a night off." I figure it saves the resort budget a housekeeping turn-around (favorable savings to the DVC budget).

Hmm, I’m not sure this will work if you are not canceling the reservation. It seems they’ll still charge the tax since you have the room booked/tied up.

It honestly also seems like an unnecessary use of points as MK reservations always open up. My family frequently decides last minute to go the parks. For example, they wanted this Saturday, the 13th. When I initially checked, nothing was available at either park. A couple days later, DL was available to book. Even during busy holidays we’ve always been able to get what we want even if it’s waiting until the day before to grab it.

 

[bwvBound]

It honestly also seems like an unnecessary use of points as MK reservations always open up. My family frequently decides last minute to go the parks. For example, they wanted this Saturday, the 13th. When I initially checked, nothing was available at either park. A couple days later, DL was available to book. Even during busy holidays we’ve always been able to get what we want even if it’s waiting until the day before to grab it.

I seem to have an illogical, unreasonable aversion to stalking MK reservations. On one hand, I often enjoy the process of stalking VGC reservations (inside 7 month window); the "thrill of the hunt" kicks in. But for MK reservations? I balk. I don't care for it.

Sure, the two processes should be the same in my brain/emotions -- but the reality is: they are not. Strange. I don't understand it ... but I do not want to stress over MK reservations, I want a sure thing.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Hmm, I’m not sure this will work if you are not canceling the reservation. It seems they’ll still charge the tax since you have the room booked/tied up.

As I think about it, I'm leaning that way too. If you don't cancel, you are "charged" the full amount of your stay in points. In essence, you are not only "occupying" the room, but you are also paying for it. For the entire length of the reservation.

 

[Mle8308]

Question regarding TOT at the Villas Disneyland Hotel: The literature suggests the TOT is paid at Check-out rather than at the moment of booking the reservation. If this is true, may I assume it is only charged if the member actually checks-in?

I'm toying with the idea of using single-night DVH reservations as a tool to book Theme Park reservations. I might not actually check-in or stay at the unit. If I could pull this off, would it avoid the TOT?

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a one day ticket for DL and use that availability bucket? Then you don't lose points or have to pay the TOT.

 

[KPeterso]

Hmm, I’m not sure this will work if you are not canceling the reservation. It seems they’ll still charge the tax since you have the room booked/tied up.

It honestly also seems like an unnecessary use of points as MK reservations always open up. My family frequently decides last minute to go the parks. For example, they wanted this Saturday, the 13th. When I initially checked, nothing was available at either park. A couple days later, DL was available to book. Even during busy holidays we’ve always been able to get what we want even if it’s waiting until the day before to grab it.

As I think about it, I'm leaning that way too. If you don't cancel, you are "charged" the full amount of your stay in points. In essence, you are not only "occupying" the room, but you are also paying for it. For the entire length of the reservation.

This is how I lean too. And like Lily - I have never not been able to pick up a MK reservation when I want one. Sometimes I need to check a couple times, but I always find one. And if nothing else, look the night before you want to go about 9-10 PM, and it should be no problem at all since people have to cancel by midnight the night before. I often cancel Saturday reservations on Friday night if the plans for the day do not include Disneyland. I book just about every Saturday and then adjust closer as plans firm up.

 

[bwvBound]

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a one day ticket for DL and use that availability bucket? Then you don't lose points or have to pay the TOT.

No, because I'm booking multiple days against each room reservation. I think the window allows 30 days on either side of the room reservation?? In some cases, a room reservation on points would still be less than a day ticket.