VDH Opening

[elenex]

I don't know what the price charts will be. I look at Riveria where the point charts are often quite different between standard and preferred, especially when it comes to 1-2 bedrooms. I own at SSR so I don't think the difference between the two is that different. I could see the standards be realistically below VGC but the premium rooms above.
It is a difficult position especially with a studio because if a room is 30 points a night it is equal to say $700-800 which could be way above the normal rack rate for their hotel rooms which also can sleep 5. In that case, I could see people just wanting to stay hotel side where you can get two real queens

I think that's an interesting point and one I've been considering myself. I enjoy the DLH aesthetic much more... If i need to spend 25-30 points a night for a studio with a view i don't mind, why would i? I'm a MK holder and DLH discounted rates are typically in the 300-500 range on weekdays versus 25-30 points at 20pp avg rental rates... Doesn't add up. Even at 13.50pp for the theoretical buy in at 217pp for 50 years plus dues... That's basically current discounted rates at VDH and maybe some savings on tax/parking, but that's only assuming you aren't paying interest on a loan and are using the 13.50 as a guideline. For comparison VGC is currently 20-24pp for my next trip in May and discounted rates started at 625(plus taxes and parking). People who do the math will say nah, I'll just keep paying for the hotel once a year. Going to have to come in lower than VGC for studios, at least for standards.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I think that's an interesting point and one I've been considering myself. I enjoy the DLH aesthetic much more... If i need to spend 25-30 points a night for a studio with a view i don't mind, why would i? I'm a MK holder and DLH discounted rates are typically in the 300-500 range on weekdays versus 25-30 points at 20pp avg rental rates... Doesn't add up. Even at 13.50pp for the theoretical buy in at 217pp for 50 years plus dues... That's basically current discounted rates at VDH and maybe some savings on tax/parking, but that's only assuming you aren't paying interest on a loan and are using the 13.50 as a guideline. For comparison VGC is currently 20-24pp for my next trip in May and discounted rates started at 625(plus taxes and parking). People who do the math will say nah, I'll just keep paying for the hotel once a year. Going to have to come in lower than VGC for studios, at least for standards.

1) $300 a $500 would be a steal (even for magic key) during Spring Break, Summer, Fall Break, etc when many families travel. $500-$700 depending on the view seems to be more of what I see (as a MK/DisVisa holder).

2) Not as many families have access to magic key and even if they did it may not make sense if they only go 1x per year.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think that's an interesting point and one I've been considering myself. I enjoy the DLH aesthetic much more... If i need to spend 25-30 points a night for a studio with a view i don't mind, why would i? I'm a MK holder and DLH discounted rates are typically in the 300-500 range on weekdays versus 25-30 points at 20pp avg rental rates... Doesn't add up. Even at 13.50pp for the theoretical buy in at 217pp for 50 years plus dues... That's basically current discounted rates at VDH and maybe some savings on tax/parking, but that's only assuming you aren't paying interest on a loan and are using the 13.50 as a guideline. For comparison VGC is currently 20-24pp for my next trip in May and discounted rates started at 625(plus taxes and parking). People who do the math will say nah, I'll just keep paying for the hotel once a year. Going to have to come in lower than VGC for studios, at least for standards.

$300 discounted rate is hard to find at DLH, I haven't seen that in years even in September! But with a group rate you can get $385, which is $455 after the 17% in taxes (that's my rate for my 4 nights in April, for instance). But that only happens specific times of the year and under specific circumstances like a convention, normally I see discounter rates for MK holders or Visa cardmembers of ~$500 for weekdays, $700 weekends, and that's before taxes.

 

[DonMacGregor]

$300 discounted rate is hard to find at DLH, I haven't seen that in years even in September! But with a group rate you can get $385, which is $455 after the 17% in taxes (that's my rate for my 4 nights in April, for instance). But that only happens specific times of the year and under specific circumstances like a convention, normally I see discounter rates for MK holders or Visa cardmembers of ~$500 for weekdays, $700 weekends, and that's before taxes.

Yeah, $300-$500 is way down in the CM discount range...

 

[ClaraOswald]

1) $300 a $500 would be a steal (even for magic key) during Spring Break, Summer, Fall Break, etc when many families travel. $500-$700 depending on the view seems to be more of what I see (as a MK/DisVisa holder).

2) Not as many families have access to magic key and even if they did it may not make sense if they only go 1x per year.

Yeah...I'm wondering how people are finding under $500 for DLH because for our trips, I've never seen it that low. But...I'm not a magic key holder so maybe they get amazing discounts?!

 

[elenex]

1) $300 a $500 would be a steal (even for magic key) during Spring Break, Summer, Fall Break, etc when many families travel. $500-$700 depending on the view seems to be more of what I see (as a MK/DisVisa holder).

2) Not as many families have access to magic key and even if they did it may not make sense if they only go 1x per year.

Point one is totally true, but I was using the same dates for an apples to apples comparison. Spring break type rates are of course much higher but so are the point costs, so would need a similar comparison. I had these numbers handy because I was considering adding 2 nights to my 4 night stay at VGC. The 4 nights cost 84 points, the total with tax for woods/courtyard for 2 weeknights during this time was 1429. 715 vs. 15 (roughly the current VGC buyin+dues actual cost pp) x 21..315. More than 50% savings. DLH at 25-30pp for a studio at the same time... How would that stack up to the ~500 spring (15% off for everyone)/MK (20% off) rates?

To point 2...MK discounted rates are only slightly better than the general public discounted rates (see above).

 

[elenex]

Yeah...I'm wondering how people are finding under $500 for DLH because for our trips, I've never seen it that low. But...I'm not a magic key holder so maybe they get amazing discounts?!

I mean I've stayed there 3 or 4 times in the past year and never paid a base of 500 or above... Most recently for MM end of Jan into Feb. I think the highest has been around 450 with the lowest in the 350 range.

Edit for more transparency, I always find these rates on the main Disneyland hotels page https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/

I do check frequently when we know we want to book something and try to book as soon as the discounted rates become available. And we've never booked standard view... Always pool or premium. I've seen discounted standard view in the very low 300s in 2022. I am typically not going at peak times as my son is only preschool age, but as mentioned above I'm using the same point values for reference of the lower rates so... Apples to apples.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yeah...I'm wondering how people are finding under $500 for DLH because for our trips, I've never seen it that low. But...I'm not a magic key holder so maybe they get amazing discounts?!

They came out with the MK rates about a week or so ago and DLH SV was around $500 pre-tax. We ended up canceling the Westin and switching to a discounted Grand Cal hotel rate. Our last cash stay…..

 

[AstroBlasters]

I mean I've stayed there 3 or 4 times in the past year and never paid a base of 500 or above... Most recently for MM end of Jan into Feb. I think the highest has been around 450 with the lowest in the 350 range.

Edit for more transparency, I always find these rates on the main Disneyland hotels page https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/

I do check frequently when we know we want to book something and try to book as soon as the discounted rates become available. And we've never booked standard view... Always pool or premium. I've seen discounted standard view in the very low 300s in 2022. I am typically not going at peak times as my son is only preschool age, but as mentioned above I'm using the same point values for reference of the lower rates so... Apples to apples.

I remember the days before the kids were in school and we could travel and those magical low priced hotel and flight dates…..

 

[ClaraOswald]

They came out with the MK rates about a week or so ago and DLH SV was around $500 pre-tax. We ended up canceling the Westin and switching to a discounted Grand Cal hotel rate. Our last cash stay…..

I thought you've been a VGC owner for years! We did cash at the Grand Californian for our recent trip but had a friends and family discount. I can't imagine paying rack rate for any of the onsite DLR hotels. The prices are crazy even with the discounts they sometimes offer.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They came out with the MK rates about a week or so ago and DLH SV was around $500 pre-tax. We ended up canceling the Westin and switching to a discounted Grand Cal hotel rate. Our last cash stay…..

That's what I saw too. Even PPH was around $380 per night.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I mean I've stayed there 3 or 4 times in the past year and never paid a base of 500 or above... Most recently for MM end of Jan into Feb. I think the highest has been around 450 with the lowest in the 350 range.

Edit for more transparency, I always find these rates on the main Disneyland hotels page https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/

I do check frequently when we know we want to book something and try to book as soon as the discounted rates become available. And we've never booked standard view... Always pool or premium. I've seen discounted standard view in the very low 300s in 2022. I am typically not going at peak times as my son is only preschool age, but as mentioned above I'm using the same point values for reference of the lower rates so... Apples to apples.

Do the rates increase the closer to the trip dates? Or are they pretty much the same 1 month out as they are 6 months out?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Do the rates increase the closer to the trip dates? Or are they pretty much the same 1 month out as they are 6 months out?

Closer to the trip date. They don’t need to offer discounts if the rooms are already full.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They came out with the MK rates about a week or so ago and DLH SV was around $500 pre-tax. We ended up canceling the Westin and switching to a discounted Grand Cal hotel rate. Our last cash stay…..

Here are the cheapest MK mid-week rates between now and the end of the promotion (6/6):

 

[ClaraOswald]

Closer to the trio date. They don’t need to offer discounts if the rooms are already full.

I was just curious because I have a screen shot from early January when I was looking at prices for DLH and GC for our February trip. There was a 20% discount at the time and they looked like this. Maybe if I had searched months earlier the 20% off would have been on an even lower amount? I don't know. But still pricey, to me, with the discount.

Grand Californian, standard view, 2 queen bed.


Disneyland Hotel, standard view, 2-queen bed.

 

[elenex]

They have a limited number of rooms available for each category under the promotion, if they are all booked then you'll only see higher rates. So yes, booking closer to your date typically means higher rates.

I mean, this is 4/16-4/19 done right now. A couple weeks ago you probably could've gotten the MK rate at 5% less.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I thought you've been a VGC owner for years! We did cash at the Grand Californian for our recent trip but had a friends and family discount. I can't imagine paying rack rate for any of the onsite DLR hotels. The prices are crazy even with the discounts they sometimes offer.

My wife has been a Disney person for 40+ years (and was a CM during her college summer breaks). I was pixie dusted when we started going with our oldest son 12-13 years ago.

We go to DLand 1-3x/yr and always stayed at DLH through CostCo (with the occasional GC) but had to start moving off property the kids started school and the rates and overall cost of the trip went up.

Every time we walked through downtown Disney or were in DCA my wife would always walk by and ask (with jealousy) how anyone could afford to stay at GC at todays prices. Every trip plan turned into a battle about her wanting to be at DLH or VGC and me not wanting to pay for it.

Then I made the mistake of staying one night at VGC during last years spring break and the rest at an Airbnb just past DLH. It was so much less stressful.

The whole DVC bug hit me when we rented a 2BD LV Villa at BLT for our only WDW trip and I was amazed with the amount of space. Then last fall we were in an Aulani Parlor View suite and paying a ridiculously high rate. That is when I learned about resale and became obsessed with trying to learn as much as I could and find “the catch”. I think I watched every YouTube video and listened to every podcast and read every DIS board thread that I could find. (Taking everything with a grain of salt because a lot of sources have a financial interest in getting you to buy or sell points).

So, my wife and I made a deal that I could get AUL if she got VGC or DLH so that I could go to Hi more often, we wouldn’t have to stay off property at DL ever again, and we could go on a great WDW every 5-10 years.

Now we are much poorer, but happier.

 

[Littlelulu01]

Rate for member magic weekend at dlh was $377/night. Sure they can manipulate the hotel side room rates to make new villas more attractive but Long term inflated hotel side rates are not sustainable. Grand Californian hotel was a couple hundred extra on this same night. We went with GCH just because it was only one night and we wanted direct access to park. I’d expect some pretty decent and exciting incentives to add on at new villas. I’m thinking something that would make me purchase a decent sized contract would be meaningful and substantial and more than just one time park ticket discounts. I’m not going to purchase a contract for 20 nights a year when the cost of admission is thousands more than wdw. I’ll fly across country to wdw and keep our ap’s there instead. Now tempt me with an offer I can’t refuse and I’ll give up the wdw ap’s and switch to dl for a few years.

 

[TeamRiley]

Anyone else get the email about the VDH opening? Expiration date, cost, etc.?

 

[gmi3804]

The more I think about it, and look at property maps, the less I like the location of the new VDH. It's a LOOOONG walk to the Esplanade, which will make taking breaks more involved. Monorail service to Tomorrowland will be more convenient, but that won't help at RD or after park close. I think once the "new and shiny" wears off of this property, the less it's going to appeal to me. I'm sure it'll be wildly popular; I still much prefer the location and style of VGC.