VDH Opening

[take36]

I think we're going to eat breakfast in our room most days next time because you're right...Craftsman definitely added up fast! And honestly, it just takes a fair amount of time for us too. That's actually what we used to do off-site a well because we stayed at places with no free breakfast (or very little options) - Park Vue and Desert Inn.

breakfast at DL is the best part!! Good QS and table service and snack options.

 

[ClaraOswald]

breakfast at DL is the best part!! Good QS and table service and snack options.

We literally never do table service at Disneyland. It always seems like a big time-suck to me.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We literally never do table service at Disneyland. It always seems like a big time-suck to me.

This is a big benefit we’ve enjoyed with DVC: we know we’ll be back many times, so we don’t feel like we have to maximize every minute of every day.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We literally never do table service at Disneyland. It always seems like a big time-suck to me.

Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, Napa Rose….. you can get a fine dining experience and they are completely understanding and kid friendly.

My wife and I don’t get a lot of “fine dining date nights” so we cherish our meals at these locations.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, Napa Rose….. you can get a fine dining experience and they are completely understanding and kid friendly.

My wife and I don’t get a lot of “fine dining date nights” so we cherish our meals at these locations.

Don’t forget story tellers and lamplight lounge!

 

[thadhouse]

Anyone know how the Sept 28-30th days would work for someone that already has an Oct use year? Would they get 2022 use year points that could only be used for those 3 days, or would Disney just not give 2022 UY points, and just start the contract as of the 2023 UY, essentially blocking those 3 days?

 

[ClaraOswald]

This is a big benefit we’ve enjoyed with DVC: we know we’ll be back many times, so we don’t feel like we have to maximize every minute of every day.

Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, Napa Rose….. you can get a fine dining experience and they are completely understanding and kid friendly.

My wife and I don’t get a lot of “fine dining date nights” so we cherish our meals at these locations.

Don’t forget story tellers and lamplight lounge!

Maybe when our son is older he'll be able to tolerate a sit-down meal. But, unfortunately for us, he just can't handle the amount of time it takes. (Needless to say, we aren't able to eat much at restaurants in our everyday life either.) Thankfully we have years (decades!) of trips ahead of us so who knows what the future will hold!

(Oh....but if Restaurant Marrakesh every comes back to Epcot, that is one I will force my son into visiting. That was my favorite place to eat there and I'm so sad it's gone.)

 

[Sandisw]

Anyone know how the Sept 28-30th days would work for someone that already has an Oct use year? Would they get 2022 use year points that could only be used for those 3 days, or would Disney just not give 2022 UY points, and just start the contract as of the 2023 UY, essentially blocking those 3 days?

There most likely won’t be any 2022 points for VDH. It didn’t exist in 2022 so the first set for all UYs will be 2023.

Dues for 2023 will be prorated from the date of opening or start of UY, whichever is later.

If someone with an Oct UY or Dec Uy wants to go in Sept, they’d have to borrow the points.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Don’t forget story tellers and lamplight lounge!

Oh, I would definitely add Lamplight & Carnation cafe as places we love that are sit down, but I don’t put those in the “fine dining” category.

We ordered a champagne while at Blue Bayou last month and got the blue Disney 100 special champagne glasses. The beverage was amazing, but I did feel slightly guilty drinking in Walt’s park…

 

[BrianLo]

The premium you would pay in fees to own there does not make sense. Itll have 366 rooms (puts it on the range with the Poly), most of which is studios. You will not need that 11 month booking window, especially considering the typical length of stay at Disneyland is 3-4 days VS a week or more at WDW.

Do whatever makes you happy, more power to you. But you cannot convince me (and don’t fool yourself) that its a good value.

I do hear you, I think the ToT and Studio mix actually is a good thing for non-owners that VDH should be 7 month bookable. Obviously not all the time and it will probably be a scramble with way more SAP wanting to get into the resort.

However - I will make a small argument Duo Studios are actually a good value, but probably seen as a highly niche case. I also doubt Duo Studios will be bookable at the 7 month window probably ever. You simply cannot get into a bed within walking distance in Anaheim for the amortized rate of a Duo Studio. Let alone an on property one.

I do realize for many Duo Studios are not remotely what they are after and potentially antithetical to the original concept of DVC. But they are an ok deal.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Maybe when our son is older he'll be able to tolerate a sit-down meal. But, unfortunately for us, he just can't handle the amount of time it takes. (Needless to say, we aren't able to eat much at restaurants in our everyday life either.) Thankfully we have years (decades!) of trips ahead of us so who knows what the future will hold!

(Oh....but if Restaurant Marrakesh every comes back to Epcot, that is one I will force my son into visiting. That was my favorite place to eat there and I'm so sad it's gone.)

Pro Tip: Reserve a table right at open, ask for crayons and a coloring set, and then make sure the iPhone/iPad is fully charged with their favorite shows downloaded and noise canceling headphones in the backpack in case of emergencies.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Oh, I would definitely add Lamplight & Carnation cafe as places we love that are sit down, but I don’t put those in the “fine dining” category.

We ordered a champagne while at Blue Bayou last month and got the blue Disney 100 special champagne glasses. The beverage was amazing, but I did feel slightly guilty drinking in Walt’s park…

Guys, guys, why are we telling everybody about Lamplight? It’s already a huge pain to get a table there at a convenient time.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Guys, guys, why are we telling everybody about Lamplight? It’s already a huge pain to get a table there at a convenient time.

I mean…. the drinks and appetizers are awful and you should never dine there (especially for brunch!)…. yeah…. that’s what I meant….

Just like Trader Sam’s…. awful place!

 

[nalabear]

Maybe when our son is older he'll be able to tolerate a sit-down meal. But, unfortunately for us, he just can't handle the amount of time it takes. (Needless to say, we aren't able to eat much at restaurants in our everyday life either.) Thankfully we have years (decades!) of trips ahead of us so who knows what the future will hold!

(Oh....but if Restaurant Marrakesh every comes back to Epcot, that is one I will force my son into visiting. That was my favorite place to eat there and I'm so sad it's gone.)

Just back from WDW this month and walked Moracco at the end of the night on EEH before heading down to GOTG. It was SO QUIET and empty back there. Sad it's been shuttered for so long.

QS at DL: Bengal BBQ. Hard to beat that.

 

[nalabear]

I mean…. the drinks and appetizers are awful and you should never dine there (especially for brunch!)…. yeah…. that’s what I meant….

Just like Trader Sam’s…. awful place!

See what you're doing there - Those chilequiles are dumpster level

 

[Aussie RJ]

QS at DL: Bengal BBQ. Hard to beat that.

Tomato Soup at Jolly Holiday would like to enter the conversation.

 

[take36]

See what you're doing there - Those chilequiles are dumpster level

Yeah those are gross, I ate so many to try to deplete the supply so others won't try them and be disappointed!

 

[BlueIsis]

Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, Napa Rose….. you can get a fine dining experience and they are completely understanding and kid friendly.

My wife and I don’t get a lot of “fine dining date nights” so we cherish our meals at these locations.

This. 1000%

 

[DVacationer]

I do hear you, I think the ToT and Studio mix actually is a good thing for non-owners that VDH should be 7 month bookable. Obviously not all the time and it will probably be a scramble with way more SAP wanting to get into the resort.

However - I will make a small argument Duo Studios are actually a good value, but probably seen as a highly niche case. I also doubt Duo Studios will be bookable at the 7 month window probably ever. You simply cannot get into a bed within walking distance in Anaheim for the amortized rate of a Duo Studio. Let alone an on property one.

I do realize for many Duo Studios are not remotely what they are after and potentially antithetical to the original concept of DVC. But they are an ok deal.

I agree with you on that. If you want to get the Duo Studios you will need that 11 month window. Pointwise, a fantastic value. Very niche though. It’ll basically be 2 adults no kids or solo travelers.

The true value really can’t be evaluated without time. I can see that if you base your decision now on how scarce the Grand Californian is, how expensive it is to own now, you will justify buying Disneyland DVC on the fear of missing out. And if the maintenance fees barely increase for the next, say 5 years, it’ll be a good value.

But Im betting once the fomo buyers have purchased, there wont be as much interest as Disney thinks, and resale will have a sizable amount of contracts at a great value. Especially if the owners see the MFs increase in line with other DVCs or more.

I think for those that have itchy trigger fingers (most DVC owners such as myself do), I would put my excitement and attention on Fort Wilderness or Polys new tower with incentives, use those points at studios for a year or 2 At Disneyland, feel out the market, then sell it to purchase Disneyland resale. I think that would be the smart way to go.

 

[pineapplepalms]

I agree with you on that. If you want to get the Duo Studios you will need that 11 month window. Pointwise, a fantastic value. Very niche though. It’ll basically be 2 adults no kids or solo travelers.

The true value really can’t be evaluated without time. I can see that if you base your decision now on how scarce the Grand Californian is, how expensive it is to own now, you will justify buying Disneyland DVC on the fear of missing out. And if the maintenance fees barely increase for the next, say 5 years, it’ll be a good value.

But Im betting once the fomo buyers have purchased, there wont be as much interest as Disney thinks, and resale will have a sizable amount of contracts at a great value. Especially if the owners see the MFs increase in line with other DVCs or more.

I think for those that have itchy trigger fingers (most DVC owners such as myself do), I would put my excitement and attention on Fort Wilderness or Polys new tower with incentives, use those points at studios for a year or 2 At Disneyland, feel out the market, then sell it to purchase Disneyland resale. I think that would be the smart way to go.

Despite the fees/pricing I’m still considering VDH. There are so few 1BR/2BR villas there that I think the 11 month window will matter, and we need those as a family of 5. We’ve stayed at plenty of hotels on Harbor and also the Westin, but there is just something special about staying on DLR property and although different from WDW, the bubble still exists, at least for us. These last few years, we’ve been staying at VGC for 3-4 weeks a year, which hasn’t been the easiest to accomplish since all our points are at WDW home resorts. I finally gave in and we actually have a VGC resale in the process of closing right now, but it won’t be enough points for the stays we want, and I’d still need to book at 7 months. A VDH contract would help accomplish that, and I just don’t see us buying any more points at WDW resorts since we already have 5 home resorts there. I’d rather buy VDH direct and not resale since I could still try to switch to VGC at 7 months if I wanted to, but if I can’t switch I’d still be on property. I’m going to wait and see how the incentives are, what happens with parking, and then do some calculations before deciding.