Using Points @ a DISNEYLAND Resort

[soozaay]

I'm going to California in October and will be visiting Disneyland for a couple of days. I'm thinking of using points to stay at one of the Disney resorts. Has anyone ever done this? Is one resort better than another? Disneyland Resort and Paradise Pier are around the same point per night, but the Grand Californian is quite a bit more... I'm just looking for input, I haven't been to DisneyLAND since I was 12 and I'm sure things have changed since then! :jawdroppi

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[DVCerLee]

We used points to stay at the Disneyland hotel. We got a lovely room overlooking DTD. It was a great way to use up our last 22 points!

[diva452]

We do it. We are local, about 20 minutes from DL but like to stay there on some holidays. Last year we stayed at GC Concierge Level for 4th of July (didn't even go into the park, just hung at the pool), Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve. I think there might have been a couple other randon nights as well.

We only stay at GC and on Concierge Level. I think it's about 50 points per night. We like the Concierge Level because of the service (they meet us at the car and we avoid check in lines), the nice snacks (chocolate covered strawberries) and wine in the evenings, storytime for the kids, and a nice continental breakfast in the morning. We never have and probably won't stay at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier, or at GC without Conceirge. Disneyland Hotel does have a really cool pool though.

It just depends on how many points you want to use. All of them have something to offer.

[retlaweast]

We've stayed at D'Land at GC on both concierge and regular rooms as well as the Disneyland Hotel. Up until the last two years we were not pleased with the rooms we got at the Disneyland Hotel. It took them a while to understand the value of DVC and the type of room that should be assigned. When Matt Oumette (former Prez of DVC) became president of Disneyland, he certainly impressed upon the cast how important the DVC owner/guest is to Disneyland. At Grand Californian, we had one incident where we booked concierge but were assigned a regular room, they made up for it later. We highly recomend the concierge there. We love Disneyland, its where Walt walked and its great to compare the difference in the Magic Kingdoms and specific attractions.

[soozaay]

thanks for the help everyone!
i think we're going to try the DL hotel...but GC does sound nice! my sister lives in California, and we're going with them (sister, bil & nephew)...I'll be using points for their room too, so the less points used, the better.

i just thought of this....i DO call the DVC member # that i call for wdw reservations...right? :imwithstu

thanks again!!


retlaweast...love your reason for loving DL....never thought of that...we'd be walking where walt walked! too cool! also, i see you live in nj...so do i.... where abouts are you?

[mikayla73]

Yes - just call MS and they will fix you up with your reservation.

We have stayed at the DLH twice and the GCH once on points. We love it at DL!

The parks will be all decked out for the fall and October will be Mickey's Trick or Treat Party. It's an after hours separate ticket event at DCA. I am hoping to go this year :) Also the HM will be changed over for the Nightmare Before Xmas. I like it, but the original HM is my favorite. Plus the villians are out and about more.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2185.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2190.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2199.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2237.jpg

Sorry I went overboard, but I love DL! (Did I already say that ... lol)
Have a great trip!!

[soozaay]

thanks mikayla73! i love the photos! that's awesome about dl & dca being decked out in halloween stuff & them having a afterhours halloween party (like wdw does). i'm even more excited now!

[retlaweast]

thanks for the help everyone!
i think we're going to try the DL hotel...but GC does sound nice! my sister lives in California, and we're going with them (sister, bil & nephew)...I'll be using points for their room too, so the less points used, the better.

i just thought of this....i DO call the DVC member # that i call for wdw reservations...right? :imwithstu

thanks again!!


retlaweast...love your reason for loving DL....never thought of that...we'd be walking where walt walked! too cool! also, i see you live in nj...so do i.... where abouts are you?

Disneyland is more intimate than WDW and hopefully you'll have time to go on the attractions that are special just to Anaheim some are Casey Jr, Canal Boats, Materhorn and Finding Nemo Submarine Ride. Toontown is fun & Pirates is great and if Fantasmic is on make sure you see that show. We live in Monmouth County Hazlet Twp.
When in the Disneyland Hotel there is a display of Disneyland related items going back over 50 years! Its the building where you check-in. If you enjoy Disney History this is the place to visit.
Have fun!!!!!

[kiapgh23e]

good question sooz, Im trying to go to DL before a mexican cruise Mar 4-7, but they have not published their points yet. So im waiting. You can also book your trip on the website or call MS. Publish a report when you get back.

:dancingba

[Pocahantas]

Gald you asked this question, we are considering a trip to Disneyland next summer and I was wondering how it works with DVC points, etc. We have only used our points at the DVC resorts so this is all new to me too.

Hope you have a great trip in October!!

[mikayla73]

good question sooz, Im trying to go to DL before a mexican cruise Mar 4-7, but they have not published their points yet. So im waiting. You can also book your trip on the website or call MS. Publish a report when you get back.

:dancingba

You might try calling to see if they know what they are and you can make a reservation if you are ready too now. I know it took a while to get the DL points posted for 2008, and people were calling MS and still making reservations before the point charts were posted on the DVC website. Of course it may depend on where you want to stay. I am not sure how it will work at the GCH with the VGC coming, when it will be ready and all that. The worst that could happen is they say they can't make a reservation for that time yet and you'll get to listen to their great hold music :) (I actually like the music :idontgeti)

[mikayla73]

thanks mikayla73! i love the photos! that's awesome about dl & dca being decked out in halloween stuff & them having a afterhours halloween party (like wdw does). i'm even more excited now!

I have tons of pics! Here are some of the DLH.
Front entrance
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2374.jpg
King Bed room
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2430.jpg
Room View
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_2432-1.jpg
Our other rooms view - it is zoomed some
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/dne42503/100_3058.jpg