VDH First look at Studios ; Wheres the Value ?

[tidefan]

But you pay the TAT at the Element also. I looked at rates and tax for the Element and it shows $386 plus $66 tax. If I use my points at VDH I pay $63 in tax and avoid the nightly rate.

We paid $189+tax (AAA rate) per night. I think the tax was around $30.

And I didn’t have to use any of my DVC points, so I could save then to use at Aulani or WDW…

 

[AstroBlasters]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/ma...eViZAJ5fuer7YX4pgEln2mGCwVGnU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Man fatally shot about a block away from the Hilton near Disneyland 2 days ago… I’ll stick to the bubble…

 

[thelionqueen]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-fatally-shot-by-police-in-anaheim/utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR1R-wthCEEvn7Lwh2ZfTbr91KTET2kPqAMxTpQNrhZ0ozaAqvcdBi9keww_aem_AVzlE6VkYf-slGBKOvnuhbTQgR8M3-LuvfsDWreViZAJ5fuer7YX4pgEln2mGCwVGnU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Man fatally shot about a block away from the Hilton near Disneyland 2 days ago… I’ll stick to the bubble…

Yep!! I think many aren't fully aware how dangerous that area is. For WDW regulars going there occasionally, some might wrongfully comparing staying off site @ WDW to staying off Harbor

 

[ocdb8r1]

There are plenty of incidents like this on I-Drive every year....the difference is, it is simply not possible to just "walk" to any of the parks at Disney World.

 

[DennieC]

We paid $189+tax (AAA rate) per night. I think the tax was around $30.

And I didn’t have to use any of my DVC points, so I could save then to use at Aulani or WDW…

Well if you are not going to use your points anyway, to save for Aulani or WDW, it makes sense. But even in your instance, you are paying $150 more per night out of pocket than if you used your points. And you did not get the benefit of staying in a Disney Resort on property. But as you pointed out, it depends on how one values the use of their points.

 

[DonMacGregor]

There are plenty of incidents like this on I-Drive every year....the difference is, it is simply not possible to just "walk" to any of the parks at Disney World.

Orlando actually has a higher crime rate than Anaheim, by a significant number. Having said that, and being an Anaheim native, the Disneyland Resort area is in definitely the middle of the population density, versus the geographic separation of WDW.

 

[tidefan]

Well if you are not going to use your points anyway, to save for Aulani or WDW, it makes sense. But even in your instance, you are paying $150 more per night out of pocket than if you used your points. And you did not get the benefit of staying in a Disney Resort on property. But as you pointed out, it depends on how one values the use of their points.

It's really just opportunity cost, right? I have a finite amount of points to spend per year and have to make value decisions as the best way to spend those points. I could stay at VDH, but by the time you have the high point charts added on to the TAT, when I compare to other options, it just doesn't work as well for us. I know that Aulani has a TAT as well, however, the TAT cost at Aulani for a 7-night stay in a two bedroom is about the same as a 4 night studio stay in Anaheim, and if I can get into VGC (a big if) or I use points at WDW, VB, or HHI, I don't pay the TAT at all.

For us, we'd rather spend $800 out of pocket for a 4-night stay, get free breakfast, and have a 12 minute walk (or 5 minute Uber) to the park. However, that is just what works for us. We don't find the same need to be onsite at DL as WDW, and find the delta between the DL Hotels and offsite options just way too different for hotels that are all walkable to the parks. I can't really get to a park in 12 minutes from say the Drury down from Disney Springs. It's a completely different experience.

Also, I think that our last few trips (we get to CA about once every 3 years), we've stayed at the Homewood Suites, and then this past trip at the Element Anaheim. Both were great and came with a nearly full kitchen. I could walk from both hotels to the parks pretty easily. In fact, at the Homewood, you could just walk into the Toy Story lot and use the shuttle from there.

DL and WDW are just 2 different animals, and I agree with @ocdb8r1 above. I'll take Harbor any day over 192 and I-drive...

However, we are all different, so it doesn't mean that anyone is wrong. For those that love VDH, etc. I am all with you. I think that it looks great (except for the bedside tables that don't look like they'd hold the CPAP machines, but I digress), and could we try it? Maybe, but it won't be the first use of my points. If I want to take a trip out west and say visit both DL and Aulani, I would personally value my points more at Aulani and pay cash somewhere around DL than vice-versa.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I see the word I-drive and keep wondering if there was an announcement for a new Apple product that I missed.

 

[DonMacGregor]

For me, it sure seems like there are a LOT more stories about fights between guests IN WDW versus DL, and more stories of people being trespassed. I think the real danger in Florida (if there really is any at either resort) only arises once you're INSIDE a WDW park...LOL.

 

[thelionqueen]

There are plenty of incidents like this on I-Drive every year....the difference is, it is simply not possible to just "walk" to any of the parks at Disney World.

Not comparable though. An equivalent would be waking out of Boardwalk and the boardwalk area was sketch.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Not comparable though. An equivalent would be waking out of Boardwalk and the boardwalk area was sketch.

I will say, again as an Anaheim native, the area immediately around the resort is far safer than it used to be. Pre-resort, (as in pre-DCA, pre-GCH, pre-DTD, etc.) the apartments along Nutwood occupied an area referred to as the Jeffery-Lynne Neighborhood. That was one of the toughest neighborhoods in Anaheim, known for drug dealing, gangs, and other various and sundry crimes. It was second only to another area in the north part of the city, colloquially referred to as "The Jungle".

But, that was 20+ years ago and a lot has changed since then. The apartments were cleaned up, crime was pretty much eliminated, and the community is now gated. Immediately south of the apartments is a residential neighborhood of small, single-family ranch style homes (seen opposite the Simba lot) that are very well maintained. Today I wouldn't have any problems walking anywhere in the resort area. You DEFINITELY will have the occasional semi-close encounter here and there with a homeless person, without a doubt, and I wouldn't go hanging out at a liquor store or gas station to pass the time, but I also wouldn't sweat just walking back to my hotel. Anaheim knows where their bread is buttered so there are ample police around, especially later in the evening. There's a reason that you don't read news reports about tourists being physically assaulted, or reports of hotel rooms being robbed, even in the older courtyard type motels with exterior walkways.

That's not to say there is zero crime, and the incident the other day can't simply be swept under the rug, but it's also not representative of the resort area or Anaheim as a whole. I agree though that's it's nothing like walking out of ANY Disney hotel on property in Florida.

 

[ocdb8r1]

Not comparable though. An equivalent would be waking out of Boardwalk and the boardwalk area was sketch.

No, this is precisely NOT the equivalent as the whole Boardwalk area is all Disney property in the Disney bubble. If you're "walking out of Boardwalk" from a stay, you're either a DVC member or have paid a cash rate, both of which include some measurable premium to stay "on-site". The point was that staying off-site in Orlando can carry the same risks and experiences as staying off-site in Anaheim. As I said, the difference is there is nowhere to stay "off-site" in FL where you can walk to any Disney park (with the potential exception of the Swolphin, which is still on Disney property but tends to charge a slightly lower premium than "Disney resorts").

 

[HairyChest]

I stay at the Hilton or Marriott by the anaheim convention center, walk across the street to the toy story parking lot & take free Disney transportation to Disneyland. Beautiful, safe, inexpensive.

Then I use my points at Disneyworld where it is a HUGE help and an ACTUAL bubble staying on property.

VGC is superior to DLH

If you stay at the new villas and get a standard view, you will be out of the Disney bubble as soon as you walk in your room & see the view of the Anaheim streets& city. Standard views in WDW are like the preferred views at DLH. Greenery, water, etc.

If you stay on property at DL anyway, DVC is totally worth it HOWEVER, I would book VDH and waitlist VGC, like others have said, to avoid the transient tax.

No DVC, no stay at the Disneyland resort, not worth rack rates.

 

[thelionqueen]

No, this is precisely NOT the equivalent as the whole Boardwalk area is all Disney property in the Disney bubble. If you're "walking out of Boardwalk" from a stay, you're either a DVC member or have paid a cash rate, both of which include some measurable premium to stay "on-site". The point was that staying off-site in Orlando can carry the same risks and experiences as staying off-site in Anaheim. As I said, the difference is there is nowhere to stay "off-site" in FL where you can walk to any Disney park (with the potential exception of the Swolphin, which is still on Disney property but tends to charge a slightly lower premium than "Disney resorts").

We can agree to disagree on perspective

 

[AstroBlasters]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/pe...t9WRys_i_5ep1mkZUUQWm1qjXGXFs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Pedestrian hospitalized after being struck outside Disneyland Resort (Last night)​

There is value is not having to cross traffic….

 

[Wedgeout]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/pe...t9WRys_i_5ep1mkZUUQWm1qjXGXFs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Pedestrian hospitalized after being struck outside Disneyland Resort (Last night)​

There is value is not having to cross traffic….

Scary! Just last month wife and were crossing at the Disneyland Way light, pre opening morning, south side of Pixar hotel as a cast member was coming at us the other way from that parking lot side. Car went through the red light southbound at 30-40 mph and just missed her. She was right between the two lanes. We were all in shock. Car just taps brakes, slows a bit then continues on. Caution needed for sure at all those crossings.