Currently at GCV

[theOCdisney]

We checked in today at GCV (VGC :)) We are in a 1 bdrm and have a 5th floor view of California Adventure!! I am posting while my husband is napping. We live in OC, but needed a little getaway. We have the villa for 3 nights. I booked this late last fall. We arrived at noon and received a text at 12:34 that our room was ready.

Both my husband and I grew up in OC, but never have stayed "on property". This is very fun. I am sitting in a chair watching the paradise pier rides. As far as noise, I can faintly hear the screams from the rides with the door closed. If I wanted to sleep, I would have the T.V. on low. This room would be perfect for the water show when it opens this summer.

The room is beautiful. Sort of dark, but it goes with the theme of the hotel. We have been Marriott owners for more than 10 years so I can't help but compare it with Marriott. The detail in the fixtures and decorator items such as tile and wood trim are beautiful. Very nice to have two bathrooms in a 1 bdrm. The furniture is actually comfortable. This is a pet peeve we have with Marriott. (Their furniture is rarely comfortable.) Balcony is on the small size, but the livingroom has a nice large window, so going out on the balcony is not required to sit and look outside. A couple of items were missing in the kitchen, but were quickly brought up after a call. I have never been in a timeshare that had all the items in the room at check-in.

The weather should be decent for the next few days. The parks are more crowded than we expected, but it is president's weekend. I was at the parks a couple of weeks ago and we walked onto every ride. Very sparse crowd that day. Since we have passes, we may do this again in Sept or Oct.

Well, back to the parks.pirate:

[wideeyedwonder]

Well, back to the parks.pirate:

Lisa, I'd have to agree, staying on property is a much different feel than the day trips we used to take to DLR.

Let us know if they test out the WoC tonight, and snap some pictures/video for us!!! :goodvibes

[rmonty02]

Oh how I loved our VGC villa on the 5th floor. Have a great time:thumbsup2

[lulubelle]

Have a wonderful stay and enjoy the villa. I'm green with envy.

...but not too much, we stay three magical nights in two weeks.;)

And we live just over an hour away.

[bobbiwoz]

Enjoy your stay! It's the only DVC that I haven't stayed at so far, but we will, someday.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[stopher1]

Oh how I wish I were there too! I love it there. Enjoy your stay!

[kikiq]

Sighhhh, have a wonderful time. Wish we were there too.

[kerickson]

Sighhhh, we were supposed to be there, but had to cancel our trip for an earlier Dec trip and VGC was booked. We'll be there end of April, hopefully for the WOC show! Enjoy!

[Longhairbear]

We just checked out today, we watched WOC being tested every night.

[wideeyedwonder]

We just checked out today, we watched WOC being tested every night.

Pretty sweet, ain't it? :goodvibes

[Longhairbear]

Pretty sweet, ain't it? :goodvibes
YES, we ran around like crazy trying to see it better. We even peeked through the fence at the BBQ area.

[kerickson]

We just checked out today, we watched WOC being tested every night.

Anyone have a new date for when it will start? We'll be there April 26, hoping we'll be able to see it. I guess testing is a good sign!

[lulubelle]

Anyone have a new date for when it will start? We'll be there April 26, hoping we'll be able to see it. I guess testing is a good sign!

I am anxiously awaiting an official date as well. It's driving me nuts!
We are staying in a villa Mother's Day weekend and I just booked "Taste" on 5/29. No studios were available so I reluctantly forked out 36 points for DLH. :sad2: I REALLY want to see the show from the villas viewing deck in early May, but some rumors state it will be Memorial Day weekend. Don't they know we are all impatient!?!?:rotfl:

[rentayenta]

:thumbsup2 Sounds great! 119 days and we'll be staying GCV!!! :woohoo:

[preedymtnwest]

TOMORROW (2/14) at this time, we'll be checked into our VGC GV - but will mostly likely be on Main Street at this time, waiting for the fireworks! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Hope to see WOC trials, too......:banana:

[lulubelle]

TOMORROW (2/14) at this time, we'll be checked into our VGC GV - but will mostly likely be on Main Street at this time, waiting for the fireworks! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Hope to see WOC trials, too......:banana:

Keep us updated on the WOC testing....please.:flower3: And see if you can rangle some concrete info on a date from a chatty CM. :laughing:

Have a fabulous trip!:goodvibes

[bjakmom]

I can't wait for my first stay at GCV!! I read somewhere about a lounge at GCV with a viewing/deck area for WOC for DVC members - now I can't find where I saw the info. If anyone finds out about this, I would love to know the details - sounds like a great way to see the show:thumbsup2 Enjoy your stays!

[nunzia]

All I know about it is that it's there. People have reported it's closed right now and another was able to enter since housekeeping was up there or something. I heard that it is standing room only area, not like a lounge.

[mom2dzb]

Oooh! How exciting! Can't wait for our stay at VGC in 126 days!

[Longhairbear]

All I know about it is that it's there. People have reported it's closed right now and another was able to enter since housekeeping was up there or something. I heard that it is standing room only area, not like a lounge.
It was locked this past week when we went up to look. It is an open air standing area.

[jaurban]

Is there a specific view to request on the reservation that would be best for WoC. We will be in a 1BR May 23 - 27 and are hoping the show will be on!

[theOCdisney]

So sorry not to come back and report in. We have had a very busy weekend. Driving back from AZ right now. Ended up only staying two nights and m:happytv:y sis and her DH used the 3rd night. I asked about WoC at both the registration desk and the guest services desk and both said the last week in March would be the opening. They tested it every night we were there. Also the construction was ongoing 24/7. They must have 3 constructions shifts. On a high floor the noise was not really noticable, but lower floors may hear more of the truck noise. They are adding a ride in the San Francisco area.

We did the early morning entry to DL on Sat. Rolled out of bed at 6:45, threw our clothes on and went into the park by 7:00. Wow! That was great. We felt like we had the park nearly to ourselves. Only select rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland were open. The other areas were roped off with castmembers standing guard. We went on 7 rides in an hour. :wizard: As soon as 8:00 came we went to adventureland and rode more rides without lines. The park officially opened at 8:00, but I don't think the tram from the parking garage started working until 8:00. I say that because until 8:30 or so the park was very empty. At about 8:45 we walked over to MiMi's and ate breakfast.

The viewing area is on the 6th floor. It is a large covered balcony. The door was locked, but we could see through the glass. If you ask for a high floor facing Calif. Adv. then you should have a wonderful view from your own, private balcony.

It really was more fun than either of us expected to stay onsite. I think we will plan a family trip for a couple of days when our kids are in town next.

Another little tidbit, DVDs are available to DVC owners free of charge. They have a very good selection. (Every Disney movie ever made:laughing: + many others.)We watched the Count of Monte Cristo.

We had a very unusual experience in Storytellers Cafe that I will post on a new thread.:sad2:

Anyway, whenever I stay at a DVC I always want to add on more points. We have several other timeshare weeks that we love, but Disney is so great because of the flexiblilty. I need to let some time lapse before I look at add-ons. Maybe when we have grandkids we will add on. Next up: Vero Beach and AKV in May.:woohoo: