ClaraOswald
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
I just can't see us wanting to stay at VDH ever. Maybe I'll change my mind once I see them in person though.
Having now stayed at VDH, not sure we will do it again. None of us preferred anything about it to VGC, aside from the cleanliness. Glad we opted for more VGC instead..can't wait for 25 for the refurb!I just can't see us wanting to stay at VDH ever. Maybe I'll change my mind once I see them in person though.
I always go back and forth about direct points but I always end up on figuring it doesn't make sense for us. The only "extras" I think we'd use would maybe be the lounge and then the 10% (or whatever it is) discount. So in the end, I don't think those 2 things are worth the price jump. Well, I guess we could also book at VDH or Riviera or future resorts if we had at least 150 pts but I don't see us wanting to do that either.
I just can't see us wanting to stay at VDH ever. Maybe I'll change my mind once I see them in person though.
I'd love to hear what things you weren't a fan of at VDH.Having now stayed at VDH, not sure we will do it again. None of us preferred anything about it to VGC, aside from the cleanliness. Glad we opted for more VGC instead..can't wait for 25 for the refurb!
The main benefit of having a pile of direct points is that you are a bit more "future proof" on what DVC is likely to become in the next 10 to 15 years. I'd never recommend that someone buy points direct for any perk as the primary reason, but they are nice. If you visit Disneyland enough, the lounge is great and it's an awesome alternative/bonus when you don't have enough DVC points and have to stay further down the road on Harbor and want to relax in the middle of the day.
I used to say that I value direct points over resale if the delta was less than 20 to 30 dollars a point. Now that I've had more time to reflect on how I use my points I would say that I may push that value a little higher to as much as 40. I also factor in our age and the fact that if/when the 2042 resorts convert we'll just barely be in our early 60s and hopefully still enjoying our membership/points. Would be happy to not be locked out of BCV2, BWV2, etc years from now. So far I've used my "cheap" riviera points for stays at VDH, VGC, BRV, extending/enhancing a stay at CCV, and I have booked us and a friend two 7 night stays in a BWV 2BR for our 2024 summer trip. We also have used them at Riviera too and love that resort.
TLDR - if you find yourself in need of more points for the program, and value long term flexibility on what they may do with the program, you might be looking to buy direct in 2024.
I'm still processing and my current answer answer is..... if I had to pick and stay at only one VGC for sure. But as I don't have to make that choice. VGC is the better resort for Fall/Winter trips. Grand Cal does the Christmas holiday season way better.
For later spring/summer trips, I think the vibe at Disneyland Hotel may win out.
It felt sterile to me. My 4 year old simply rejected the room, prefers the firework carpet and magic headboard from DLH proper. My wife still felt like she walked into an IKEA even though she admitted the quality of fixtures were better than she expected. The lack of a balcony in the studios sucks. The pool/pool bar are accessible to all guests so we can just visit them on stays at DLH. It lacks the charm and location of VGC. And I dislike the security gate to get into downtown... They are stricter there than at VGC since the general public enters that way too (I've been known to bring in an adult beverage to go from time to time).I'd love to hear what things you weren't a fan of at VDH.
I guess I never really thought about what would happen with the other resorts start converting. I need to go look at what year that is for every place. We still aren't sure what our son will think of WDW. If he's not a big fan, I don't see us going back very often. But we will hopefully keep going to Disneyland at least once a year. Or maybe more as the years go on...which we'd obviously have to do resale if we want to do VGC for every trip.
My husband and I have only briefly talked about what our plans would be if our son ends up loving WDW and we want to alternate between there and DL. So it's pretty up in the air at this point. What's the cheapest place you can buy direct?? We've only ever stayed at moderate and value resorts in the past. And the only Deluxe we have even visited is Wilderness Lodge so I don't really know much about the others ones except for the minimal research I've done this past year.
What kind of vibe does the DLH give up that makes you think it would be good in summer? I'm hoping to get a quick tour of the place when we go next June.
There are a lot of factors I hadn't really considered when it comes to direct vs. resale. Hmm.
I would agree. We also own at both and I like both for different reasons. The rooms at VDH are definitely newer, nicer, and more modern. Our kids love the pools, splash pad, and slides at VDH, which makes me lean towards VDH for warmer weather trips. Not to mention easy access to Dole Whip. For the holiday decorations though, it’s hard to beat VGC, although the Santa photo setup for VDH was nice this year. I really like the new Palm Breeze Bar at VDH. I don’t find VDH to be terribly far, especially for DCA since we use the back entrance. DL does feel a bit farther at the end of the night, but walking through DD isn’t bad. I love the new murals at VDH so much that we ended up buying canvas prints to hang up at home.For later spring/summer trips, I think the vibe at Disneyland Hotel may win out.
1) VGC will likely be getting Murphy beds during the referbIMO, VDH has the following advantages to VGC
1) Murphy Beds
2) Some low point chart weeks
3) More rooms available if a studio will do
4) You only have to compete with direct points for a reservation, not every resale point in the system
1) VGC will likely be getting Murphy beds during the referb
2) What are you comparing though? You can’t compare the Duo Studio. The standard and preferred view studios have lesser views than anything at VGC and don’t have patios. They only thing you can really compare are the garden view room, and I’m not even sure that they all have patios. A VGC studio is generally a better deal than a Garden View studio at VDH… especially when you add on the tax (and even with the tax added in dues are still cheaper at VGC). There is also the added convenience of location. Yes VDH has cheaper rooms if you are also looking for a lesser room… but once you add on the tax and higher dues, I don’t know.
3) This is true if you are okay with a lesser room.
4) If you are a seven month person this is true. At VGC it’s kind of a non issue because not many people get in at the 7 month window anyway. Getting in at the 11 month window isn’t an issue at VGC. The 11 month window shouldn’t be an issue at VDH, other than maybe the duo studios. We will have to wait until the resort is sold out to see what the seven month window is like there. I expect it will probably harder then most resorts but probably not quite as bad at as VGC.
I was thinking about VDH before the details were announced. I decided to buy a VGC contract in January when prices dipped, and don’t regret the decision at all. I got to stay at VDH for two nights and VGC for one night in November (both booked at 1 month). It was my first time at both resorts. Whol I liked the newness of the rooms at VDH, I enjoyed VGC much more and would pick that resort any day… also VGC rooms will have the better newness factor in 2025. Also the resale restrictions at VDH will hurt the resale value. I don’t think it will be as bad at riviera though. The restrictions at VDH just make VGC more valuable.
I know everyone’s situation is different and we all have our own points of view… but this is mine.
I am definitely proud to be a VGC owner… no regrets on picking it over VDH, and I must admit my timing was perfect.
1) VGC will likely be getting Murphy beds during the referb
2) What are you comparing though? You can’t compare the Duo Studio. The standard and preferred view studios have lesser views than anything at VGC and don’t have patios. They only thing you can really compare are the garden view room, and I’m not even sure that they all have patios. A VGC studio is generally a better deal than a Garden View studio at VDH… especially when you add on the tax (and even with the tax added in dues are still cheaper at VGC). There is also the added convenience of location. Yes VDH has cheaper rooms if you are also looking for a lesser room… but once you add on the tax and higher dues, I don’t know.
3) This is true if you are okay with a lesser room.
4) If you are a seven month person this is true. At VGC it’s kind of a non issue because not many people get in at the 7 month window anyway. Getting in at the 11 month window isn’t an issue at VGC. The 11 month window shouldn’t be an issue at VDH, other than maybe the duo studios. We will have to wait until the resort is sold out to see what the seven month window is like there. I expect it will probably harder then most resorts but probably not quite as bad at as VGC.
I was thinking about VDH before the details were announced. I decided to buy a VGC contract in January when prices dipped, and don’t regret the decision at all. I got to stay at VDH for two nights and VGC for one night in November (both booked at 1 month). It was my first time at both resorts. Whol I liked the newness of the rooms at VDH, I enjoyed VGC much more and would pick that resort any day… also VGC rooms will have the better newness factor in 2025. Also the resale restrictions at VDH will hurt the resale value. I don’t think it will be as bad at riviera though. The restrictions at VDH just make VGC more valuable.
I know everyone’s situation is different and we all have our own points of view… but this is mine.
I am definitely proud to be a VGC owner… no regrets on picking it over VDH, and I must admit my timing was perfect.
I wouldn’t mind getting 25-50 additional points. I’ve only seen one 25 point contract since I got my points and it wasn’t my use year. I won’t buy points in a different use year. I would honestly probably buy 25-30 points direct if they had them.Yeah, I feel our timing of purchasing VGC in March was pretty great. Now I just need to try to time when we (eventually) want to add more points. Ha!
CoolNice! We have 6 nights in mid-June for our first VGC stay.
I really have no clue how many points we would want to add down the road. I'd have to look at the points chart more thoroughly. I also have no idea how long of trips we may want to take once our son is older. Right now, we find 6 nights with 5 park days is good for him. We've done 6 park days but by the end, he was clearly ready to head home.
If the 2nd contract is same use year, is it pretty easy to book a trip using the 2 contracts?
Very easy, like it was one contact.Nice! We have 6 nights in mid-June for our first VGC stay.
I really have no clue how many points we would want to add down the road. I'd have to look at the points chart more thoroughly. I also have no idea how long of trips we may want to take once our son is older. Right now, we find 6 nights with 5 park days is good for him. We've done 6 park days but by the end, he was clearly ready to head home.
If the 2nd contract is same use year, is it pretty easy to book a trip using the 2 contracts?
Yes, if same UY and home resort, the system will use both contracts like they were 1.Nice! We have 6 nights in mid-June for our first VGC stay.
I really have no clue how many points we would want to add down the road. I'd have to look at the points chart more thoroughly. I also have no idea how long of trips we may want to take once our son is older. Right now, we find 6 nights with 5 park days is good for him. We've done 6 park days but by the end, he was clearly ready to head home.
If the 2nd contract is same use year, is it pretty easy to book a trip using the 2 contracts?
You know I love my VGC as much as the next person. But I would definitely pick VDH for late August. VGC is way too expensive and not worth the points. I love the idea of being able to book VDH at 7 months using some of my direct points too. But 7 month availability isn't always so good from what I've seen, even for the deluxe studios. Perhaps it's because it's still so new. I'm just happy and thankful that there is another option in town. Though, I recently stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Harbor and it was fantastic. The room was very spacious. The kids loved the bunk bed. The pool and play area was awesome. We saw fireworks from the balcony. Dining options were plenty. And it was also much closer to the park than from VDH. So good that my kids would probably prefer it over VGC! Oh the irony.I don’t look at it as VGC vs VDH, I agree with previous posters that there is an advantage to having access to both.
If you look at the point charts for both resorts there are some weeks that are materially lower (for the exact same room type) at VDH vs VGC. An example would be the first weekend of January at VDH when the parks are still decorated for the holidays.
My wife isn’t a big fan of VDH, but she likes that we can use some of our Aulani direct points to stay at VDH if she wants to squeeze in an extra DLand trip at the expense of a nicer room view at Aulani.
So, IMO it’s useful to understand where VDH has some advantages if traveling to DLand in 2024.
Yeah, first week of January and late August are prime VDH vs VGC delta periods.You know I love my VGC as much as the next person. But I would definitely pick VDH for late August. VGC is way too expensive and not worth the points. I love the idea of being able to book VDH at 7 months using some of my direct points too. But 7 month availability isn't always so good from what I've seen, even for the deluxe studios. Perhaps it's because it's still so new. I'm just happy and thankful that there is another option in town. Though, I recently stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Harbor and it was fantastic. The room was very spacious. The kids loved the bunk bed. The pool and play area was awesome. We saw fireworks from the balcony. Dining options were plenty. And it was also much closer to the park than from VDH. So good that my kids would probably prefer it over VGC! Oh the irony.