Wow. Haha. You really are blatantly honest but also able to admit when you are wrong about certain things which I appreciate. Totally agree that some of the materials and finishes for DVC are trending cheaper - hope that stops but am not optimistic. I feel like if your first room had been the non ADA room with the monorail pool the overall tone and enjoyability of your stay would have been so different. I think it wouldn't hurt (if you are willing) to pass along your comments to DVC about how the ADA rooms fall short and why. Yes I get most people have shorter stays at DRL but some people like to have drawers and you should get significant amount of them like you said regardless of ADA or not. I'm glad you were able to see the size of the non-ADA rooms - they are actually on the medium to larger size for DVC (more square footage) than deluxe studios at Bay Lake (no surprise), Beach Club, Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Copper Creek and Saratoga. I wish California didn't have the TOT but you're going to pay it no matter where you stay so hopefully you do return to Disneyland. You said if Aulani were to have TOT you would immediately sell your points. Well now that you know it does I hope you don't. Same as CA - something you just have to pay. Makes our trips to FL seem cheap in comparison - haha. Appreciate your review and yes totally check out the 1-2 bedrooms - they have a little of the build quality issues but mostly are just gorgeous and spacious... but yeah about that TOT. A Lot! haha Thanks Banks family - see ya around the parks.
Thanks for comment! I did share with DVC. ;). Aulani does have a TOT but not this high. Feels less punitive. I won’t stay at this property again. Certainly hope Grand Cal doesn’t swing that high but I think come January they will. :(
I think a bit nicer, but yeah. The overall hotel is far swankier than a value, but all the DVC rooms are being developed more generically which is a complaint of a lot of us long time Disney fans.
Totally agree with you on the quality of the furniture and the views - the standard view is even worse. They really need a third view category so you can choose the interior pool view.
Great video of the new property- one minor point of correction though as a Grand Cal DVC owner. Grand Cal villas (VGC) do have the Anaheim transient tax, but it’s less than Disneyland Hotel villas (around 50-ish cents for VGC vs around $2.80-ish per point for DL villas). Also, the tax for VGC is wrapped into owner’s annual dues. So unlike Disneyland Hotel Villas, no taxes are paid by the occupant at the at the time of use. Hope you’ll reconsider being ‘done’ with DVC in CA and come back to VGC knowing taxes have already been prepaid for you- especially after Grand Cal villas finally receives its upcoming overdue hard goods refurbishment (hopefully pottery barn standards!). Cheers!
Hey. Thanks for commenting! As I understand from my discussions with the manager about all our various complaints while there, the TOT began with the opening of the Villas but is coming to VGC in January. I hope I was misinformed. If I was we definitely will stay there. Being a native Cal and one who loves Disneyland we always want to visit.
I just wanted to point out one inaccuracy in your video. The way they do the transient tax at Disneyland Hotel is not coming to The Grand Californian. In fact The Grand Californian has always had the transient tax, but it’s built into the dues. When they built The Grand Cal, they worked out a much better deal so the tax is lower and it doesn’t have to be paid separately…. That’s not changing. I’m not sure where you got that information. What’s crazy though is that the dues at The Grand Californian, even with the transient tax included are cheaper than the dues at Disneyland Hotel without the transient tax… when you add on the transient tax the dues at the Disneyland Hotel are over $12 a point. It’s also less convenient than the grand Californian because you have to pay them at the end of your trip. I think the main reason that the taxes is cheaper at the grand Californian is that they have to be paid by the owner, regardless of whether or not they stay there. At Disneyland, hotel if an owner stays at a different resort they don’t have to pay the taxes on those points… so they are higher so that the government can still get paid. ;) The Grand Californian is a much nicer hotel and has a much better deal when it relates to taxes and dues. It’s also getting a full remodel next year. If you’re interested in DVC at California, I recommend buying a resale contract there… however The Grand Californian is the most valuable DVC resort. It’s the only resort that Disney does not sell directly, and the resale value is usually higher than the direct price. (that’s why Disney doesn’t sell it). Also, Aulani already does have a transient tax that has to be paid separately. It always has. It’s much much lower than the Disneyland hotel though.
I am aware both the Aulani and GC have a transient tax that is significantly lower. I hope I am wrong, but don't think I am, that the GC tax is going up. When I was inquiring about the huge cost in the tax with the front desk, the rep there told me that on Jan 1, 2025 it was increasing at the GC as well. Anaheim has passed a new fee structure and as city tax is not part of an owners contract it can be levied at any time. Again, I'd be happy if I am wrong. But if I'm not, I won't be staying at DVC CA again.
@@MrAndMrsBanks you're both right, the tax is built into owners of VGC annual dues, but the dues can and do increase. The main difference here is paying for the room tax after your stay. Those who use VGC points at VGC currently DO NOT have to pay a tax at checkout, it's paid in dues. This can change at any point if the state/city pass new laws/regs/statutes ... I actually called DVC to confirm this information.
Of course! Thanks for watching and commenting! I suspect they placed us there for the accessible room request value being stronger. But then they should have comped us points. For my wife, the view was the higher value. So we were glad we did get moved.
Wow. Haha. You really are blatantly honest but also able to admit when you are wrong about certain things which I appreciate. Totally agree that some of the materials and finishes for DVC are trending cheaper - hope that stops but am not optimistic. I feel like if your first room had been the non ADA room with the monorail pool the overall tone and enjoyability of your stay would have been so different. I think it wouldn't hurt (if you are willing) to pass along your comments to DVC about how the ADA rooms fall short and why. Yes I get most people have shorter stays at DRL but some people like to have drawers and you should get significant amount of them like you said regardless of ADA or not. I'm glad you were able to see the size of the non-ADA rooms - they are actually on the medium to larger size for DVC (more square footage) than deluxe studios at Bay Lake (no surprise), Beach Club, Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Copper Creek and Saratoga. I wish California didn't have the TOT but you're going to pay it no matter where you stay so hopefully you do return to Disneyland. You said if Aulani were to have TOT you would immediately sell your points. Well now that you know it does I hope you don't. Same as CA - something you just have to pay. Makes our trips to FL seem cheap in comparison - haha. Appreciate your review and yes totally check out the 1-2 bedrooms - they have a little of the build quality issues but mostly are just gorgeous and spacious... but yeah about that TOT. A Lot! haha Thanks Banks family - see ya around the parks.
Thanks for comment! I did share with DVC. ;). Aulani does have a TOT but not this high. Feels less punitive. I won’t stay at this property again. Certainly hope Grand Cal doesn’t swing that high but I think come January they will. :(
Thanks for this enlightening video! Very shocked at these revelations.
The rooms look like a value resort.
I think a bit nicer, but yeah. The overall hotel is far swankier than a value, but all the DVC rooms are being developed more generically which is a complaint of a lot of us long time Disney fans.
Thanks for you brutally honest review
:) Glad you watched and commented. Much appreciated.
Totally agree with you on the quality of the furniture and the views - the standard view is even worse. They really need a third view category so you can choose the interior pool view.
I love a good rant! 😂 Seriously, you were honest, but still kind. California is crazy in so many ways, for sure.
Thanks for watching Julie!
Great video of the new property- one minor point of correction though as a Grand Cal DVC owner. Grand Cal villas (VGC) do have the Anaheim transient tax, but it’s less than Disneyland Hotel villas (around 50-ish cents for VGC vs around $2.80-ish per point for DL villas). Also, the tax for VGC is wrapped into owner’s annual dues. So unlike Disneyland Hotel Villas, no taxes are paid by the occupant at the at the time of use. Hope you’ll reconsider being ‘done’ with DVC in CA and come back to VGC knowing taxes have already been prepaid for you- especially after Grand Cal villas finally receives its upcoming overdue hard goods refurbishment (hopefully pottery barn standards!). Cheers!
Hey. Thanks for commenting! As I understand from my discussions with the manager about all our various complaints while there, the TOT began with the opening of the Villas but is coming to VGC in January. I hope I was misinformed. If I was we definitely will stay there. Being a native Cal and one who loves Disneyland we always want to visit.
I just wanted to point out one inaccuracy in your video. The way they do the transient tax at Disneyland Hotel is not coming to The Grand Californian. In fact The Grand Californian has always had the transient tax, but it’s built into the dues. When they built The Grand Cal, they worked out a much better deal so the tax is lower and it doesn’t have to be paid separately…. That’s not changing. I’m not sure where you got that information.
What’s crazy though is that the dues at The Grand Californian, even with the transient tax included are cheaper than the dues at Disneyland Hotel without the transient tax… when you add on the transient tax the dues at the Disneyland Hotel are over $12 a point. It’s also less convenient than the grand Californian because you have to pay them at the end of your trip.
I think the main reason that the taxes is cheaper at the grand Californian is that they have to be paid by the owner, regardless of whether or not they stay there. At Disneyland, hotel if an owner stays at a different resort they don’t have to pay the taxes on those points… so they are higher so that the government can still get paid. ;)
The Grand Californian is a much nicer hotel and has a much better deal when it relates to taxes and dues. It’s also getting a full remodel next year.
If you’re interested in DVC at California, I recommend buying a resale contract there… however The Grand Californian is the most valuable DVC resort. It’s the only resort that Disney does not sell directly, and the resale value is usually higher than the direct price. (that’s why Disney doesn’t sell it).
Also, Aulani already does have a transient tax that has to be paid separately. It always has. It’s much much lower than the Disneyland hotel though.
I am aware both the Aulani and GC have a transient tax that is significantly lower. I hope I am wrong, but don't think I am, that the GC tax is going up. When I was inquiring about the huge cost in the tax with the front desk, the rep there told me that on Jan 1, 2025 it was increasing at the GC as well. Anaheim has passed a new fee structure and as city tax is not part of an owners contract it can be levied at any time. Again, I'd be happy if I am wrong. But if I'm not, I won't be staying at DVC CA again.
@@MrAndMrsBanks you're both right, the tax is built into owners of VGC annual dues, but the dues can and do increase. The main difference here is paying for the room tax after your stay. Those who use VGC points at VGC currently DO NOT have to pay a tax at checkout, it's paid in dues. This can change at any point if the state/city pass new laws/regs/statutes ... I actually called DVC to confirm this information.
Hi
Have a great weekend ❤
You too!!
That's not a preferred view. Sorry they did that
Thanks for the review.
Of course! Thanks for watching and commenting! I suspect they placed us there for the accessible room request value being stronger. But then they should have comped us points. For my wife, the view was the higher value. So we were glad we did get moved.
That view is nice if you're on the 4th floor or below. I was disappointed as well when they gave us the 9th floor!