VDH Opening

[DonMacGregor]

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.

Fun fact: the distance from the front door of the new tower to the DL main entrance is only about 100 yards further than the walk from BLT's front door to the MK main entrance. Granted, there's no resort Monorail to hop on, but people seem to be gaga about how convenient the BLT walkway is.

Since no one ever seems to complain about the walk from the Frontier Tower (they still sell out every room in that whole hotel), I doubt too many will be complaining about the walk from VDH.

 

[soniam]

Fun fact: the distance from the front door of the new tower to the DL main entrance is only about 100 yards further than the walk from BLT's front door to the MK main entrance. Granted, there's no resort Monorail to hop on, but people seem to be gaga about how convenient the BLT walkway is.

Since no one ever seems to complain about the walk from the Frontier Tower (they still sell out every room in that whole hotel), I doubt too many will be complaining about the walk from VDH.

I think that’s partly because walking is such a novelty at WDW; whereas, most DLR hotels are walking distance.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I think that’s partly because walking is such a novelty at WDW; whereas, most DLR hotels are walking distance.

And probably the fact that the resort Monorail runs in the wrong direction if you're heading TO MK from BLT...

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Fun fact: the distance from the front door of the new tower to the DL main entrance is only about 100 yards further than the walk from BLT's front door to the MK main entrance. Granted, there's no resort Monorail to hop on, but people seem to be gaga about how convenient the BLT walkway is.

Since no one ever seems to complain about the walk from the Frontier Tower (they still sell out every room in that whole hotel), I doubt too many will be complaining about the walk from VDH.

Beat me to it. Yes many local hotels and Grand Cal are closer but if people are going to talk up how awesome the walk is from BLT or even Grand Flo they shouldn’t be dogging the walk from DLH. Plus there’s so much awesome in downtown Disney along the way as opposed to… nothing for offsite DLR hotels / BLT.

 

[Canchaser143]

Beat me to it. Yes many local hotels and Grand Cal are closer but if people are going to talk up how awesome the walk is from BLT or even Grand Flo they shouldn’t be dogging the walk from DLH. Plus there’s so much awesome in downtown Disney along the way as opposed to… nothing for offsite DLR hotels / BLT.

This! I enjoy the walk through downtown Disney vs harbor

 

[ClaraOswald]

We had our first on-site stay in February and the walk to our room at the GC was definitely further than when we stayed at Park Vue last summer. But the walk was more pleasant. And I feel like in the summer it will be a LOT better since the walk over to Harbor is pretty much all sun. So I don't mind the extra walk. For the DLH, maybe I would since I have now been spoiled.

 

[AstroBlasters]

DVC-Y will get access to Star View Station in Tomorrowland , so that does provide some mid-day relief to VDH direct buyers without having to walk or get on the monorail.

I told my wife we are going up to get her a Coca-Cola every time we walk in Tomorrowland.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think that’s partly because walking is such a novelty at WDW; whereas, most DLR hotels are walking distance.

Yup, life is just a series of comparisons, haha. For us as WDW regulars, the walk from VDH to DL/CA is a breeze. We already own at BLT and think that walk is glorious lol

 

[ClaraOswald]

DVC-Y will get access to Star View Station in Tomorrowland , so that does provide some mid-day relief to VDH direct buyers without having to walk or get on the monorail.

I told my wife we are going up to get her a Coca-Cola every time we walk in Tomorrowland.

Are you still considering VDH? I thought you were doing VGC. It's a bummer resale people can't use the lounge but my son probably wouldn't like it anyway so I'm just going to remind myself of that.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Are you still considering VDH? I thought you were doing VGC. It's a bummer resale people can't use the lounge but my son probably wouldn't like it anyway so I'm just going to remind myself of that.

Well plus you only need enough direct to qualify for benefits like the lounge (currently 150points if not grandfathered in at a smaller number) but then can go resale for additional points. We are totally a mix.

 

[LilyJC]

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.

DLR is our local park, and for us, we couldn’t care less about the distance but more so the change that tower has made to the pool area. It really has made the area feel incredibly crowded, and the pool area feels engulfed by the new tower. Tangaroa Terrace has already been on the struggle bus since reopening, and I can’t even imagine how insane it will be after adding 344 more units.

We have one more DLH staycation/conference stay in August, so we’ll get a feel closer to its completion. My husband wanted to buy points there, but I’m just not so sure we’d enjoy it. Plus, I think we already have too many VGC points (especially if runDisney doesn’t bring back all four race weekends).

 

[HIRyeDVC]

We had our first on-site stay in February and the walk to our room at the GC was definitely further than when we stayed at Park Vue last summer. But the walk was more pleasant. And I feel like in the summer it will be a LOT better since the walk over to Harbor is pretty much all sun. So I don't mind the extra walk. For the DLH, maybe I would since I have now been spoiled.

The walk from the DVC wing is much much lesser than from the hotel side. Especially to the new Pixar pier entrance. It’s literally steps from the DVC building.

 

[Royal Consort]

DLR is our local park, and for us, we couldn’t care less about the distance but more so the change that tower has made to the pool area. It really has made the area feel incredibly crowded, and the pool area feels engulfed by the new tower. Tangaroa Terrace has already been on the struggle bus since reopening, and I can’t even imagine how insane it will be after adding 344 more units.

The perspective seems off as this mammoth tower has been shoved into submission on the plot. Engulfed is apt. The food situation will be ... interesting. Ultimately Disney will quickly learn they need to expand quick service options. Grumpy guests lining up at Tangaroa. VDH will forever change the atmosphere of the Disneyland Hotel, its crowds, and the small areas of tranquility that remain. I don't think it will be horrendously unpleasant but it will just feel different.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

The perspective seems off as this mammoth tower has been shoved into submission on the plot. Engulfed is apt. The food situation will be ... interesting. Ultimately Disney will quickly learn they need to expand quick service options. Grumpy guests lining up at Tangaroa. VDH will forever change the atmosphere of the Disneyland Hotel, its crowds, and the small areas of tranquility that remain. I don't think it will be horrendously unpleasant but it will just feel different.

Disney can and will probably haveto adjust. They did it at Aulani only a few years of opening by adding Ulu Cafe QS and and the grotto pool.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

The perspective seems off as this mammoth tower has been shoved into submission on the plot. Engulfed is apt. The food situation will be ... interesting. Ultimately Disney will quickly learn they need to expand quick service options. Grumpy guests lining up at Tangaroa. VDH will forever change the atmosphere of the Disneyland Hotel, its crowds, and the small areas of tranquility that remain. I don't think it will be horrendously unpleasant but it will just feel different.

I think they'll need to reopen Steakhouse 55 at the least, and add another quick serve later on

 

[DonMacGregor]

DVC-Y will get access to Star View Station in Tomorrowland , so that does provide some mid-day relief to VDH direct buyers without having to walk or get on the monorail.

I told my wife we are going up to get her a Coca-Cola every time we walk in Tomorrowland.

That place is going to be my home away from home (Inspire Key holder and OC local).

 

[DisVDS]

I think they'll need to reopen Steakhouse 55 at the least, and add another quick serve later on

Nevermind..

 

[DonMacGregor]

The perspective seems off as this mammoth tower has been shoved into submission on the plot. Engulfed is apt. The food situation will be ... interesting. Ultimately Disney will quickly learn they need to expand quick service options. Grumpy guests lining up at Tangaroa. VDH will forever change the atmosphere of the Disneyland Hotel, its crowds, and the small areas of tranquility that remain. I don't think it will be horrendously unpleasant but it will just feel different.

I think the fact that the food at Tangaroa is terrible will be an even bigger factor. They've been fixing it slowly since it originally reopened (like offering real French fries rather than only sweet potato fries originally), but it's still iffy in my book.

 

[ClaraOswald]

That place is going to be my home away from home (Inspire Key holder and OC local).

I'll only have a resale contract (hopefully!) so I'll just wave at you guys from down below with all the other poors....ha!

 

[DonMacGregor]

Didn't they demo it to build the tower?

Steakhouse 55 is intact and is actually going to be re-opened with a new name and theme. Everything is still there, including the bar between it and Goofy's Kitchen (complete with all the bar glassware, tables, chairs, stools, etc.).