VGC - Cost/Benefit - All Opinions Welcome!

[BlueGreen5]

Hi all, looking for some opinions on something that has been bothering me for about a week now. I can't decide what I want to do.

We have a stay coming up at VGC, on points. Let's say a reasonable equivalent for those points would be about $4,000, if rented at the normal price for SAP+ points (we are going during a point-heavy time and staying in a point-heavy room). Not within the 60-day window, yet, and plenty of time left in the use year so no concern about being able to rent them or bank them. On the other hand, there are many hotels with availability on Harbor and Katella that appear to be similar-sized accommodations and would be around $1,500 for the same time period. In other words, it feels like we are really spending about $2,500 to "upgrade" to VGC for a few nights. Is it worth it in your mind? We are coming from the east coast, so a DLR trip is not something that is going to be frequent for us, which makes me think "shoot, let's bite the bullet and do it right once." On the other hand, it's $2,500, which is nothing to sneeze at. That would pay for most of our ticket cost.

What are your thoughts? I understand most responses are going to be biased opinions and I welcome them all because odds are something is going to resonate with me one way or the other. I'm especially interested to hear from VGC owners on this because they've presumably already done this debate and feel confident in their decision. Feel free to tell me I'm thinking about this the entirely wrong way, too.

TIA!

 

[Canchaser143]

My biggest question is do you plan on using EE? That is the main selling point for VDH and VGC, at least for my family. If you do not see yourself utilizing EE, I would vote for a Harbor Hotel. My second question is, do you plan on spending a lot of time in your room and/or at the resort? If you are park open to close person, again I would choose a Harbor Hotel And I say all this as an owner at VDH lol

 

[BlueGreen5]

My biggest question is do you plan on using EE? That is the main selling point for VDH and VGC, at least for my family. If you do not see yourself utilizing EE, I would vote for a Harbor Hotel. My second question is, do you plan on spending a lot of time in your room and/or at the resort? If you are park open to close person, again I would choose a Harbor Hotel And I say all this as an owner at VDH lol

Thanks! This is a first-time trip to DLR, so I can only speak to what we do at WDW. There, we like to get to the park before the crowds to enjoy the scenery before it gets crazy (maybe ride a ride, but it's not imperative), a few hours' long mid-day break (late lunch and early dinner), and then back for the evening shows until one of us can't bear to stand anymore. FWIW, a half-mile walk isn't a big factor - we're walkers.

HOWEVER, we are allergic to long lines. We'll entirely avoid doing something if it means we need to wait more than 45 minutes in line. That was the primary attraction to VGC -- the ability to enter the park on what appeared to be a more-expedited basis than off Harbor.

 

[kboo]

We stayed in a 2br over Xmas so - points heavy time for sure. We felt it was worth it. came from the East Coast, so we were up REALLY early most days, and we were often back in our room by dinner time. We did EE a few times but even on the days when we didn't do EE, we were in the park right at open and it was so convenient. A few times, we mis-planned with the weather, and it was great to be able to run back to the room for a jacket.

We aren't VGC owners but have gotten lucky with the 7mo window. I always book a nearby hotel as a backup in case the 7mo window doesn't work out. We do love VGC enough to have considered buying points there. This year we got World of Color dessert party tickets and were exhausted by the time it was over (jet lag) and took the Pixar Pier exit and were back in our room in 5 minutes. That was priceless.

 

[BlueGreen5]

We stayed in a 2br over Xmas so - points heavy time for sure. We felt it was worth it. came from the East Coast, so we were up REALLY early most days, and we were often back in our room by dinner time. We did EE a few times but even on the days when we didn't do EE, we were in the park right at open and it was so convenient. A few times, we mis-planned with the weather, and it was great to be able to run back to the room for a jacket.

We aren't VGC owners but have gotten lucky with the 7mo window. I always book a nearby hotel as a backup in case the 7mo window doesn't work out. We do love VGC enough to have considered buying points there. This year we got World of Color dessert party tickets and were exhausted by the time it was over (jet lag) and took the Pixar Pier exit and were back in our room in 5 minutes. That was priceless.

I didn't even think about jet lag factor! I've been to California many times, and it's never bothered me, but I've never been with kids and they might be more sensitive. Really good point there. I've said the same about staying at VGF and BCV - the ability to quickly get back to your room after HEA or EPCOT fireworks is priceless, and it seems like the walk back to VGC is much shorter than either.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Hi all, looking for some opinions on something that has been bothering me for about a week now. I can't decide what I want to do.

We have a stay coming up at VGC, on points. Let's say a reasonable equivalent for those points would be about $4,000, if rented at the normal price for SAP+ points (we are going during a point-heavy time and staying in a point-heavy room). Not within the 60-day window, yet, and plenty of time left in the use year so no concern about being able to rent them or bank them. On the other hand, there are many hotels with availability on Harbor and Katella that appear to be similar-sized accommodations and would be around $1,500 for the same time period. In other words, it feels like we are really spending about $2,500 to "upgrade" to VGC for a few nights. Is it worth it in your mind? We are coming from the east coast, so a DLR trip is not something that is going to be frequent for us, which makes me think "shoot, let's bite the bullet and do it right once." On the other hand, it's $2,500, which is nothing to sneeze at. That would pay for most of our ticket cost.

What are your thoughts? I understand most responses are going to be biased opinions and I welcome them all because odds are something is going to resonate with me one way or the other. I'm especially interested to hear from VGC owners on this because they've presumably already done this debate and feel confident in their decision. Feel free to tell me I'm thinking about this the entirely wrong way, too.

TIA!

I’m trying to figure out the nicest way to say that you’d be crazy to give up a VGC reservation on points for any hotel on Harbor or Katella….

 

[BlueGreen5]

I’m trying to figure out the nicest way to say that you’d be crazy to give up a VGC reservation on points for any hotel on Harbor or Katella….

Lol, no need for niceties. I appreciate the check!

 

[MagicDVC]

I’m trying to figure out the nicest way to say that you’d be crazy to give up a VGC reservation on points for any hotel on Harbor or Katella….

So true. Nothing beats walking 5-10 mins from the park straight to your room. Well worth the premium, but that's why we bought at VGC.

 

[hhisc16]

Thanks! This is a first-time trip to DLR, so I can only speak to what we do at WDW. There, we like to get to the park before the crowds to enjoy the scenery before it gets crazy (maybe ride a ride, but it's not imperative), a few hours' long mid-day break (late lunch and early dinner), and then back for the evening shows until one of us can't bear to stand anymore. FWIW, a half-mile walk isn't a big factor - we're walkers.

HOWEVER, we are allergic to long lines. We'll entirely avoid doing something if it means we need to wait more than 45 minutes in line. That was the primary attraction to VGC -- the ability to enter the park on what appeared to be a more-expedited basis than off Harbor.

For our first DLR stay, we did a split stay between VDH and VGC.
(East Coasters)
We enjoyed trying both resorts. VGC was awesome!

 

[BlueGreen5]

For our first DLR stay, we did a split stay between VDH and VGC.
(East Coasters)
We enjoyed trying both resorts. VGC was awesome!

No doubt, it's awesome and we're totally excited to stay there.

In retrospect, would you have given up your room if someone offered you a similar sized room on Harbor or Katella along with $2,500 in cash?

 

[dcfromva]

It sounds like we are going around the same time. I would not give up my VGC reservation. I find it very comfortable to stay there.

We've stayed on Harbor and they have some nice places, but it is just not the same experience.

We bought points at VGC so we could afford to stay there year after year. (I'm not sure we could if we had to pay the cash prices).
So, we are probably looking at this differently than you are.

 

[DoggoneVGC]

No doubt, it's awesome and we're totally excited to stay there.

In retrospect, would you have given up your room if someone offered you a similar sized room on Harbor or Katella along with $2,500 in cash?

No, I would not. I prefer to not leave the bubble. Life has become incredibly stressful, now more than ever and staying at VGC or VDH allows me to escape from that reality. I own at both resorts and find both magical in their own way, but VGC is extra special with its proximity. That being said it might be more stressful for you to be out of pocket $2500

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think it's partly in how you view your own points. Maybe you're using about 200 points and valuing your points at $20 pp b/c that's sort of about what you'd get for renting the points out. I tend to think of my points as less b/c I have to pay dues on those points so really I think of my points as somewhere around $10-12pp. We are using 142 points to stay at VGC. I'm not a VGC owner and got my points pretty cheap. At that valuation, it's costing me about $390 per night. The hotel we stayed at on Harbor in 2022 was around $300-350 per night after taxes so in that situation I feel I'm doing pretty well, not to mention that we will have a 1BR and not just a standard hotel room.

So that's what I mean. If I actually valued my stay at $4,000 and a Harbor hotel was $1,500 for the same length of stay, I can tell you I'd take the Harbor hotel. The half hour EE isn't, in my view, worth the extra $2,500.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

If you’re using non VGC points at VGC your TOT is already paid so there’s that expense for off property places to consider as well. Most the places within super close… ok I’ve become a hotel snob. Haha. But Westin Anaheim is close and really nice. But yes as an owner I love staying at VGC. I’ve timed it and from standing in my room to being through security standing in front of Goofy Sky School / Corn Dog Castle through that entrance… 3 mins! That said they they recently changed it so that entrance is only until noon. Boo. But if get it.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Maybe you're using about 200 points and valuing your points at $20 pp b/c that's sort of about what you'd get for renting the points out.

It's a few more for a little less pp, but you get the idea.

At that valuation, it's costing me about $390 per night. The hotel we stayed at on Harbor in 2022 was around $300-350 per night after taxes so in that situation I feel I'm doing pretty well, not to mention that we will have a 1BR and not just a standard hotel room.

That's how I originally thought of it, kind of. But, rather than looking at the Habor rates, I looked up the cash rate for my room and my jaw dropped at how much we were saving through DVC.

That being said it might be more stressful for you to be out of pocket $2500

Nah, no stress to stay at VGC. I just want to be sure I'm not crazy for doing so. I'm also not really "out of pocket" $2,500 because I used my own points for the room. The $2,500 is opportunity cost, not real cost.

I’ve timed it and from standing in my room to being through security standing in front of Goofy Sky School / Corn Dog Castle through that entrance… 3 mins!

That's a big selling point to me. I despise wasting time and waiting for people who are unprepared to deal with whatever they are about to do (don't get me started on the folks who "didn't know" they have to remove their phone/keys in the TSA lanes...or who get to their third LL entrance of the day and still only then think to take out their phone...can you tell where I'm from?!) Curious -- what time of day was this and how long ago? I assume not at park open. I think I've been told to expect it to take 30-45 minutes to get from my room through the gates at park open.

 

[zavandor]

I have to admit that the only way I can use my DVC points is if I think of them as Monopoly money. I would never even consider paying cash for VGC and if I start thinking how much I could rent my points for I wouldn't book DVC either.
But, I bought DVC to enjoy it, to upgrade my accommodation and enjoy resorts that I would never ever have experienced otherwise. VGC is superlative, the location cannot be beaten, the theming is fantastic. It really is one of the best Disney resorts everywhere. If you decide to keep the room, I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensely.

That being said, the other option is not wrong either. $2,500 is a lot of money and my DVC strategy is to travel at times when it's possible to book resorts with favorable point charts, like BWV. The points saved allow me to stay for longer or rent leftovers to offset some dues. Or balance the times I book VGC or VGF.

 

[hhisc16]

No doubt, it's awesome and we're totally excited to stay there.

In retrospect, would you have given up your room if someone offered you a similar sized room on Harbor or Katella along with $2,500 in cash?

We went to DLR in June 2024.
2 nights at VGC (rented points) and 2 nights at VDH (my points). Studio at both.
For us, it was our first time and we wanted the full Disney bubble experience.

If you want to save money, you could do a split stay between VGC and the rooms on Harbor/Katella.

 

[BlueGreen5]

VGC is superlative, the location cannot be beaten, the theming is fantastic. It really is one of the best Disney resorts everywhere. If you decide to keep the room, I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensely.

Love it, that's some high praise!

 

[hhisc16]

Love it, that's some high praise!

I agree. We have stayed at all DVC resorts except Aulani.
VGC is at the top.