VDH First look at Studios ; Wheres the Value ?

[thelionqueen]

But Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. MK is the most magical place on earth. Does the happiness die on harbor too?

Pretty much! Anyone who’s ever been on it knows…

 

[Jwaire]

I get that many are OK with staying offsite..but you cannot compare the difference vs staying onsite. The Disney “bubble” is more important at DLR than at WDW.

Yeah, I completely disagree.

There's not much of a bubble at DLR period. There's one amazing park, one second-rate booze/food park with a few cool attractions and a shopping district that's 1/3 gone now and seems to be perpetually under construction.

Grand Cal is worth it, if you can afford it. The proximity is priceless, Napa Rose is an experience and the theming is on point with a WDW resort.

However, Disneyland Hotel, while nostalgic, is not worth upward of the $750+ per night they charge for it (cash rooms). It's a second-tier location, for now. If you're a Disney nerd, you're going to love it. However, the rest of your party is going to wonder why you paid 2x the price per night to stay there. They won't get it. It has the best pool area.

I will say for DVC members, the villas are probably worth it. I'd still waitlist GCV just as a Hail Mary to avoid the transient tax, but there's no way I'd pay for a cash room there at this point.

Paradise Pier? Disney would have tore that hotel down long ago if they could get the land owners and Anaheim to agree to it. You can keep putting lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

You can stay at much nicer hotels (like Westin) for less near the convention center with better views of DCA and it's a short walk to the parks. Some of them even include such outdated amenities like free coffee in the lobby (gasp) or a continental breakfast (heart be still).

As for WDW, it's a huge hassle to stay off site. You have to drive in, traffic is horrible, park, ride a tram (if you're lucky) and if you're going to MK you get to deal with the TTC and monorail/boat.

Total pain. I'd rather be able to walk from my resort, take a Skyliner, take a monorail, take a boat or even a Disney bus than deal with the traffic and parking around WDW.

Then you get into the other on-site perks like magic hours and booking Genie+ & LL's early, not having to pay for parking, etc.

But everyone is different. So you do you.

 

[longboard55]

Where is the value? So you are ok paying $800 a night for a Disney property room after parking and taxes.

 

[Jwaire]

It would be really tough competition against the studios next door who sleep 5 with two showers.

Yeah, but it would be a huge differentiator though wouldn't it? I don't think they are bold enough to do it at World, but you never know.

 

[AstroBlasters]

But Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. MK is the most magical place on earth. Does the happiness die on harbor too?

1) Magic Kingdom might as well be on Mars as far as I am concerned. I went once and appreciate WDW for what it is, but I’d rather go to Hawai’i for the cost of airfare/flight time and take a 2hr flight to DLand for my Disney fix.
2) There are 4 very different Disneyland Experiences:
a) Local or those visiting family and driving in.
b) Staying off-property.
c) Staying at DLH or PP.
d) Staying at GC.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Staying offsite is a total no go for most. It’s a completely different vacation vs staying at the 2 flagship resorts

I've done both Many times. A hotel within a block (off Harbor) can be a shorter walk and sooo much easier parking the car. You can see the Disneyland sign from other hotels on your walk to the front gate - little to no "loss of bubble" time. Grand Californian is nice for DCA access - but still a pain to park. Some nearby hotels include a decent breakfast - not a financial deal breaker, but makes rope drop Way easier for us.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I've done both Many times. A hotel within a block (off Harbor) can be a shorter walk and sooo much easier parking the car. You can see the Disneyland sign from other hotels on your walk to the front gate - little to no "loss of bubble" time. Grand Californian is nice for DCA access - but still a pain to park. Some nearby hotels include a decent breakfast - not a financial deal breaker, but makes rope drop Way easier for us.

It much more affordable, but dealing with homeless people, street racing, and people trying to hoc their wares is a completely different vacation that walking back to Grand Cal and other Disney properties.

Downtown Disney > Harbor Blvd

I would argue that WDW wouldn’t exist without Harbor Blvd. Walt knew it wasn’t a great experience and made sure it couldn’t happen again…

 

[Sunnyore]

I timed myself on Thursday night leaving OBB heading back to VDH through Downtown Disney and I clocked it at 17:33 and 0.6mi to reach the lobby. I did go at a leisure pace (lugging a ton of candy) and walked through the World Of Disney and Wonderground along the way. Definitely felt like a bubble to me even after stepping out of the security check areas. As an owner, I'm sure I'm biased but after my experience staying a night, I would choose to stay in a preferred view VDH room than a VGC room in its current state. I may change my mind again after VGC gets refurbished. I brought Porto's with me so I can really imagine what my stay might feel like in the next year or so.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Downtown Disney > Harbor Blvd

You're not wrong. I'm still fine staying nearby on Harbor even after the Creepy Bible and Bullhorn Guy yelled that people going to Disney were going to Hell - guess I have a thicker skin, than wallet

 

[AstroBlasters]

You're not wrong. I'm still fine staying nearby on Harbor even after the Creepy Bible and Bullhorn Guy yelled that people going to Disney were going to Hell - guess I have a thicker skin, than wallet

We all have a limited amount of resources and should utilize them in whatever way we feel maximizes our long term happiness.

For VDH, if we say it is $230 per point, divided by 50 years then you are paying $4.60 per point each year. $4.6 + $9.06 dues= $13.66pp. To stay at VDH in a preferred view studio last night was 24 points or $328 before tax.

I know one can find less expensive accommodations on Harbor… but given the stress we put ourselves through at work so that we can maintain a middle class lifestyle and have enough discretionary income to afford vacations like Disney…. I still think there is a lot of “value” in staying on property at an extra ~$100ish a night vs a Harbor hotel.

For my family, we are all about the villas and the extra space, multiple bathrooms/showers, and a door that we can close at night to separate the adults from this kids. A preferred 1BD was 42 points last night or $574 before tax. That’s a 1 bedroom villa for the cost of a preferred view Disneyland Hotel room… lots of value there!

Transient tax… all of the hotels have to pay the transient tax…

So, is VDH > VGC long term…IMO, no.

But does VDH have “value” relative to offsite? For a lot of people, yes!

 

[DebbieB]

It would be really tough competition against the studios next door who sleep 5 with two showers.

But the filings last week showed an extra full bathroom in 1 and 2 bedrooms. Big selling point.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I brought Porto's with me so I can really imagine what my stay might feel like in the next year or so.

Shhhhhhhhh

 

[zavandor]

For VDH, if we say it is $230 per point, divided by 50 years then you are paying $4.60 per point each year. $4.6 + $9.06 dues= $13.66pp. To stay at VDH in a preferred view studio last night was 24 points or $328 before tax.

I know one can find less expensive accommodations on Harbor… but given the stress we put ourselves through at work so that we can maintain a middle class lifestyle and have enough discretionary income to afford vacations like Disney…. I still think there is a lot of “value” in staying on property at an extra ~$100ish a night vs a Harbor hotel.

This is the trick number one they teach at "how to scam people into buying a timeshare" training.
Dividing by the total number of years means you're giving the same values to dollars in 2023 as in 2073. You're discounting inflation and opportunity cost.

 

[Spivey378]

Park Vue 4 lyfe.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This is the trick number one they teach at "how to scam people into buying a timeshare" training.
Dividing by the total number of years means you're giving the same values to dollars in 2023 as in 2073. You're discounting inflation and opportunity cost.

I am neutralizing unknown variables to get a general idea for a luxury item. Back of the napkin math works just fine for me.

 

[RoseGold]

LOL, if you want spacious accommodations, Disney in general is probably not the right pick. That's the issue with DLT? I don't think that's surprising to anyone.

 

[thelionqueen]

I've done both Many times. A hotel within a block (off Harbor) can be a shorter walk and sooo much easier parking the car. You can see the Disneyland sign from other hotels on your walk to the front gate - little to no "loss of bubble" time. Grand Californian is nice for DCA access - but still a pain to park. Some nearby hotels include a decent breakfast - not a financial deal breaker, but makes rope drop Way easier for us.

Couldn’t disagree more..but that’s why there are options for all. What you consider loss of bubble time I consider unfathomable. Yes they’re close, yes easier to park, NO not comfortable or safe or clean or kept up..but they are within inches of homeless sleeping on your path, violence, over crowding, drag racing and on and on. Just not for me

 

[AstroBlasters]

Couldn’t disagree more..but that’s why there are options for all. What you consider loss of bubble time I consider unfathomable. Yes they’re close, yes easier to park, NO not comfortable or safe or clean or kept up..but they are within inches of homeless sleeping on your path, violence, over crowding, drag racing and on and on. Just not for me

I will say that the Westin looks very nice and there is a lit walkway to get over there that does not involve walking down Harbor.

I’m sure the JW Marriott is lovely… but I have not stayed there or walked over in that area.

I thought the Marriott Theme Park was fine… and I am OK with the morning walk because I am so focused on the day…. It’s the walk at night that led to an annual “battle” with the wife on where we stay.

Literally every trip was a very subtle “if you are doing so well at work then how come so many other people get to stay at the Grand Californian and we can’t afford to?”

DVC will literally lead to less “conflict” with my spouse because I am too cheap to pay the cash room prices… that definitely has value!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

1000%
Yet the grounds of DLH & GCV is more magical than most WDW resorts. Gotta spend the $ where it counts imo

Yeesh, I love pretty much any Disney resort, and definitely adore DLH, but I think you may not have had a lot of stays at WDW resorts. Many have very beautiful grounds. Walking around Grand Floridian with the building lit up, Seven Seas Lagoon reflecting the lights, and Cinderella's Castle in the distance... very magical. Same with the Poly with the tiki torches lit up... the Boardwalk area is awesome... seeing giraffes outside your window at AKL... even moderates like Coronado Springs have lovely and amazingly themed grounds. WDW hotels actually have grounds thanks to all the space.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think staying in the bubble is lovely at both DLR and WDW. The bubble is just different at the two destinations, but it's there, not least because you remain surrounded by Disney theming to varying degrees throughout the vacation.

The value one places on that vs the alternatives will just vary from person to person, clearly.