Villas @ Disneyland (TOT) vs Grand Californian (Higher Point Chart)

[sagosto]

We are staying peak Spring break (April 14th 2025) and just noticed the point chart for VDL is cheaper than VGC but VDL has the TOT. The boss wants to stay at 1BR (62 VGC vs 54 VDL) but the lower point chart nearly negates the TOT. Am I missing something?

 

[erg]

You are correct in regards to the difference in points. The TOT is at the VDH only. I believe it comes to preference and as well how may points you want to USE this stay. IF there is another stay you could use those 8 points for. You're mentioning an 8 point difference so think of it as well as cost per point that you purchased at, wherever your home resort is - and also consider at which you want to stay. The GCA goes fast b/c it's popular and at the 7 month window GONE / WAITLIST. If you haven't stayed at either, then ask yourself and the boss which you would like to see first - and distance to parks you want . Either one, they are both great resorts and I hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

I’ll be the first to chime in that there’s actually TOT at both… but it’s much lower (as bargained by Disney and Anaheim many moons ago) and baked into VGC dues. So you can thank VGC owners for covering your TOT when people are staying there on non home resort points. . And yes there are definitely wide swings currently on when it makes much more sense points wise to stay at one or the other between these two properties. Have a great trip!

 

[AstroBlasters]

We are staying peak Spring break (April 14th 2025) and just noticed the point chart for VDL is cheaper than VGC but VDL has the TOT. The boss wants to stay at 1BR (62 VGC vs 54 VDL) but the lower point chart nearly negates the TOT. Am I missing something?

1) VDH has less villas than VGC, and has not even declared them all into the association. This means you will be less likely to get one unless you are an owner.

2) For owners, the dues at VDH are higher than VGC…. in addition to the TOT. This doesn’t matter for renters.

3) VDH has more “point seasons” and this creates times of the year when VDH is a better value.

4) VGC is due for a refurb sometime in 2025. VDH 1Bd are still relatively new.

5) Kitchen layouts are different. My wife prefers the counter space in the island in VGC.

6) VGC can have theme park views, the best you will ever get at VDH is a pool view.

7) The walk to the park is a shorter at VGC, especially with 2 special entrances into DCA.

 

[sagosto]

The 1BR point different wipes out the TOT but not for the studio so it does make it interesting to consider a 'newer' resort. The pool/water slide looks MUCH nicer at VDH but doubt my kills will use it much. They love Riviera and the 'newness' so that's what is appealing for VDH.

 

[AstroBlasters]

The 1BR point different wipes out the TOT but not for the studio so it does make it interesting to consider a 'newer' resort. The pool/water slide looks MUCH nicer at VDH but doubt my kills will use it much. They love Riviera and the 'newness' so that's what is appealing for VDH.

The “newness factor” will definitely go to VDH until VGC gets its refurb next year. Definitely worth checking out IF you can get a villa.

 

[ehh]

A VDH stay will cost 54 points and $154.92 in TOT.

As for VGC, it's 8 points more, but no time-of-stay TOT.

How do you value your points? In this scenario, if these stays are equivalent to you, you value each point at $19.37 of free cashflow. If that seems high to you, then you should pick VGC.

There's also secondary elements that some others have mentioned:

• VGC will be much easier to book (VDH 1BR availability is...poor).
• If you're already a VGC owner using VGC points, you're effectively paying TOT twice (once via your VGC dues, then again at time-of-stay at VDH)
• VGC will very likely be in the middle of an active refurb in mid-April 2025.

 

[sagosto]

A VDH stay will cost 54 points and $154.92 in TOT.

As for VGC, it's 8 points more, but no time-of-stay TOT.

How do you value your points? In this scenario, if these stays are equivalent to you, you value each point at $19.37 of free cashflow. If that seems high to you, then you should pick VGC.

There's also secondary elements that some others have mentioned:

• VGC will be much easier to book (VDH 1BR availability is...poor).
• If you're already a VGC owner using VGC points, you're effectively paying TOT twice (once via your VGC dues, then again at time-of-stay at VDH)
• VGC will very likely be in the middle of an active refurb in mid-April 2025.

Ack. April 13-16th. Is there info on what that looks like? If it's the rooms, is there a chance my reservation will be cancelled? Or I assume that's taken into consideration given the booking was confirmed.

 

[ehh]

Ack. April 13-16th. Is there info on what that looks like? If it's the rooms, is there a chance my reservation will be cancelled? Or I assume that's taken into consideration given the booking was confirmed.

Room refurbs for sure, unsure about common areas. They proactively pulled room inventory so you shouldn't be cancelled, but there might be disruptions.

If things do go awry with their plans and they do need to cancel you for some reason, based on recent precedent at BWV (where they fell behind schedule) they will replace the reservation with something at another location (GCH or VDH are my guesses).

Worst case is bad, you might just end up with a standard hotel room at GCH even while spending 1BR points, but not as bad as 'find something else on your own'.