First DVC Resale Contract for The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

[kboo]

yeah if you go balls out

I just chuckled because I haven't heard that term since my water polo days. And we did recently do that and we were exhausted after 3 days and we still hadn't done everything we wanted to. That said, part of it is because my kids wanted to ride Matterhorn and Radiator Springs Racers nonstop and that made it difficult to do some of the other things. We came away from that trip very interested in buying VGC resale or VDH direct.

But we also tend to do the parks more slowly, most often head back to our room for awhile mid-day. We also never do more than 3 park days in a row, making sure we have some time to relax and recover.

This is what we do at WDW.

Sigh. I'm flexible around when and how we visit DL so I will continue to look wistfully at VDH and VGC contracts. We are done w addonitis for a while.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I just chuckled because I haven't heard that term since my water polo days. And we did recently do that and we were exhausted after 3 days and we still hadn't done everything we wanted to. That said, part of it is because my kids wanted to ride Matterhorn and Radiator Springs Racers nonstop and that made it difficult to do some of the other things. We came away from that trip very interested in buying VGC resale or VDH direct.

This is what we do at WDW.

Sigh. I'm flexible around when and how we visit DL so I will continue to look wistfully at VDH and VGC contracts. We are done w addonitis for a while.

Same boat. The only thing that I could see changing that is if they came out with a new pass just for DVC-Y where it was the price of the Believe Key…but with Inspire Key blackout dates, no parking included, and no additional discounts besides the standard DVC-Y discounts.

 

[disneylandtour]

Is the Palm Breeze Bar always open to anyone who wants to visit or will it be walled off only for DVC guests currently staying on points? I was there the other night. Nice.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Is the Palm Breeze Bar always open to anyone who wants to visit or will it be walled off only for DVC guests currently staying on points? I was there the other night. Nice.

They are happy to take money from anyone who wants to give it to them.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

Agree completely. We typically do somewhere around an 8 night stay when we visit DL.

To be fair, we have relatives in the area. So one day is typically primarily for family visits and maybe just dropping into the parks. But we also tend to do the parks more slowly, most often head back to our room for awhile mid-day. We also never do more than 3 park days in a row, making sure we have some time to relax and recover.

We also do the parks more slowly. We will rope drop some days, other days sleep in and go into the parks late morning. Rope drop days we go back and take a nap mid day, and then go back into the park after dinner for fireworks/world of color, or to just ride the rides at night. We also usually fit in a pool day in between park visits as well.

 

[RichVIII]

They are happy to take money from anyone who wants to give it to them.

I would have said the same thing about TOTW at BLT but here we are at DVC-Y.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Is the Palm Breeze Bar always open to anyone who wants to visit or will it be walled off only for DVC guests currently staying on points? I was there the other night. Nice.

It is open to anyone staying at the DLH (hotel side or DVC), as long as you have a room key to access the pool deck/breezeway.

 

[AstroBlasters]

It is open to anyone staying at the DLH (hotel side or DVC), as long as you have a room key to access the pool deck/breezeway.

It doesn’t show any restrictions at all on the Disneyland app. Anyone can walk into the lobby of the DVC tower and then walk outside to the pool area

 

[DonMacGregor]

It doesn’t show any restrictions at all on the Disneyland app. Anyone can walk into the lobby of the DVC tower and then walk outside to the pool area

There is a keyed gate that is just outside the lobby. You can walk onto the patio outside the lobby, but not into the pool area. If they didn't, then anyone and everyone could access all the pools and water slides by just walking into the hotel. All other gates to the pool deck are key access too.

 

[AstroBlasters]

There is a keyed gate that is just outside the lobby. You can walk onto the patio outside the lobby, but not into the pool area. If they didn't, then anyone and everyone could access all the pools and water slides by just walking into the hotel. All other gates to the pool deck are key access too.

We were able to just walk in, but perhaps that is because people are always leaving the door open…

 

[DonMacGregor]

We were able to just walk in, but perhaps that is because people are always leaving the door open…

It's a blue painted steel gate with the signature flower motif cut into it. People keep flinging it open and it gets wedged on the sloped concrete. I doubt they'll leave it that way for long, as it allows full access to every pool on the property, the cabanas, and the water slides.

 

[Sunnyore]

It's a blue painted steel gate with the signature flower motif cut into it. People keep flinging it open and it gets wedged on the sloped concrete. I doubt they'll leave it that way for long, as it allows full access to every pool on the property, the cabanas, and the water slides.

I can confirm anyone can eat at Palm Breeze Bar. Did this on Friday since they opened up after I checked out on Tuesday. They put the wristband distribution stations on either side of the bar area and so they won’t let non guests use the pools. But ya, it’ll just be like Craftsman Grille with bar top first come first serve and waitlist for the tables.

 

[Sunnyore]

Fair. I think my experience is probably very different from some of you guys who live a little further away from the park albeit still in California since I grew up in Southern California and have parents who are cast members at Disneyland currently. So having been hundreds of times and living 15 minutes from the park for over 30 years changes my perspective. I know there’s so many things to do at Disneyland, but I don’t know if I would do them for a week at a time but it’s just a personal preference and is why I haven’t added on at a DL resort.

Edited to add: The other thing to consider though is do most people go to DL as many times as you do? Obviously for you it’s worth it since it seems like you spend 24 days a year at DL and you’re planning to pass it down to your kids which makes 150 perfect. I just don’t really see a down side to having more flexibility to break up the contracts somewhat over a few hundred dollars if your kids decided down the line they want to sell off only a portion of the membership? But again, to each their own. If your kids keep their contracts to expiration then splitting it was pointless. I suppose I’m somewhat of a hypocrite because my first RIV contract was 150 but I do wish I had broken it into a 100 and a 50 since I did add on more direct but hindsights 20/20.

I also live 15 min away my entire life and go to Disneyland all the time and don’t think I am their target audience, and yet here I am considering buying more points. I had 3 stays so far at VDH and I found myself having a different experience versus just commuting from home. This last stay I did go into the parks but only to do the seasonal things (firework show, HMH and Monsters after dark, etc). I did things like trick or treat around the resort and pumpkin decorating. Did Goofy’s Kitchen and Trader Sam’s. Also dinner at Napa Rose. I know I can do these things anytime anyway but staying on site just made it all easier. I’m really loving these mini staycations. Now I wouldn’t stay for a week but a mini stay every month would appeal to me. I did break up my 150 pts into small contracts though because I can’t predict the future. But I think if I’m going to sell, I’d probably sell my wdw points first because I think I’ll always be able to find a way to use my VDH points.

 

[intamin]

I also live 15 min away my entire life and go to Disneyland all the time and don’t think I am their target audience, and yet here I am considering buying more points. I had 3 stays so far at VDH and I found myself having a different experience versus just commuting from home. This last stay I did go into the parks but only to do the seasonal things (firework show, HMH and Monsters after dark, etc). I did things like trick or treat around the resort and pumpkin decorating. Did Goofy’s Kitchen and Trader Sam’s. Also dinner at Napa Rose. I know I can do these things anytime anyway but staying on site just made it all easier. I’m really loving these mini staycations. Now I wouldn’t stay for a week but a mini stay every month would appeal to me. I did break up my 150 pts into small contracts though because I can’t predict the future. But I think if I’m going to sell, I’d probably sell my wdw points first because I think I’ll always be able to find a way to use my VDH points.

Yep, if I had VDH points that's probably how I would use it. Maybe just a weekend getaway once a month onand I would use the rest to supplement my WDW trips. But also just a personal preference if I'm going to own one of the California resorts I'd have to go with VGC so I can be as close to DL as possible and take my chances at 7 months at VDH.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I can confirm anyone can eat at Palm Breeze Bar. Did this on Friday since they opened up after I checked out on Tuesday. They put the wristband distribution stations on either side of the bar area and so they won’t let non guests use the pools. But ya, it’ll just be like Craftsman Grille with bar top first come first serve and waitlist for the tables.

I'm glad they decided to go with wrist bands. At least that way you can visit the bar. One thing though, several months ago we popped out of DCA to grab some lunch at Craftsman (love those nachos), and there was a security CM right at the gate there by Tenaya Stone and they were only allowing hotel guests into that whole side of the pool area (the spa, the pool bar, and the quick serve).

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Yep, if I had VDH points that's probably how I would use it. Maybe just a weekend getaway once a month onand I would use the rest to supplement my WDW trips. But also just a personal preference if I'm going to own one of the California resorts I'd have to go with VGC so I can be as close to DL as possible and take my chances at 7 months at VDH.

I like this idea also, but it only works if you can buy VGC direct…which will currently set you back over $300/pt. On the other hand, I guess I could use my VGF direct points to try for 7m.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I also live 15 min away my entire life and go to Disneyland all the time and don’t think I am their target audience, and yet here I am considering buying more points. I had 3 stays so far at VDH and I found myself having a different experience versus just commuting from home. This last stay I did go into the parks but only to do the seasonal things (firework show, HMH and Monsters after dark, etc). I did things like trick or treat around the resort and pumpkin decorating. Did Goofy’s Kitchen and Trader Sam’s. Also dinner at Napa Rose. I know I can do these things anytime anyway but staying on site just made it all easier. I’m really loving these mini staycations. Now I wouldn’t stay for a week but a mini stay every month would appeal to me. I did break up my 150 pts into small contracts though because I can’t predict the future. But I think if I’m going to sell, I’d probably sell my wdw points first because I think I’ll always be able to find a way to use my VDH points.

I stayed with family earlier in the fall and did the whole drive into the parking structure in the morning and drive back to the house at night Disneyland trip…. it felt so different from what I am used to (staying on property for 3-6 nights). It was a fun day(s), but it didn’t feel like a vacation. Staying on (or near) property feels like a vacation.

 

[DebbieB]

We were able to just walk in, but perhaps that is because people are always leaving the door open…

I was at VGC 2 weeks ago, we took a walk over on the day of the DVC Halloween event. Had no problem getting in to take pictures.

 

[Sunnyore]

I stayed with family earlier in the fall and did the whole drive into the parking structure in the morning and drive back to the house at night Disneyland trip earlier in the year…. it felt so different from what I am used to (staying on property for 3-6 nights). It was a fun day(s), but it didn’t feel like a vacation. Staying on (or near) property feels like a vacation.

100% agree. People always ask me why I go to WDW so much when I go to Disneyland all the time and I tell them Disneyland is part of normal life and WDW is a vacation. But now Disneyland can also feel like a vacation with more on site stays. I am also considering VGC points too but definitely would rather have direct points. I’ve been lucky to grab some days at 7 month with my resale. The other night after the fireworks show, I caught part of the villains dance party and took the monorail back to VDH and that felt pretty nice. I also pictured picking up some Din tai fung in the future on the walk back to my room and that got me excited.

 

[intamin]

I like this idea also, but it only works if you can buy VGC direct…which will currently set you back over $300/pt. On the other hand, I guess I could use my VGF direct points to try for 7m.

If they even offered it I’d probably take it and buy 100 but since they don’t I wouldn’t mind getting it off the resale market and using my RIV points to stay at VDH.