The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0

[curiouslittleoyster]

How exciting for you! Congrats!

Thank you! We are very excited about Aulani and are hoping to stay there late next year.

So what other rules are they going to ignore? Does this mean that I can 'steal' the robes, towels and kitchen equipment without repercussion too?

ALL rules need to be enforced -- period, the end. If someone above, below or next to me is smoking on their balcony the front desk will get constant phone calls or personal visits until it is rectified. And they'd better charge the offender the $250 cleaning fee. As an owner I don't want to pay a smidgen for it and I certainly don't want a unit that smells of smoke.

Friends and I stayed in a 2 bedroom a couple of weeks ago and we were very careful with all of the furnishings not to cause damage, spills etc. It didn't take a tremendous amount of effort.

I completely agree. We are also very careful during our stays and we treat the rooms as if they were our home because we do consider it our home. That studio was the first time for me to see a villa there in such condition. In addition to letting the front desk know, we also told our guide and contacted member services. Apparently, the issue needed to be forwarded to a couple different people but I was told I would receive a response soon. I'll post an update here.

 

[Nonsuch]

ALL rules need to be enforced -- period, the end. If someone above, below or next to me is smoking on their balcony the front desk will get constant phone calls or personal visits until it is rectified.

I don't like smoking at the Grand, so don't blame the messenger
I suspect that some smokers stay at the Grand because every room has a balcony.

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

Ok so we leave for our long anticipated trip in 2 more days but the posting of crowds there and rainy forecast is adding to my stress! My question is if the weather is low 60's do people still swim? Is pool heated? I know 60 degrees here near Chicago has people in shorts and flip flops but not sure what we will expect in CA? Thinking I should redo some of my packing!?! Hhheeeelllpppp!

 

[wbl2745]

Ok so we leave for our long anticipated trip in 2 more days but the posting of crowds there and rainy forecast is adding to my stress! My question is if the weather is low 60's do people still swim? Is pool heated? I know 60 degrees here near Chicago has people in shorts and flip flops but not sure what we will expect in CA? Thinking I should redo some of my packing!?! Hhheeeelllpppp!

I wouldn't worry about whether "people swim" only about whether you'd like to swim. Agreeably, 60 is a little cool, but the pools are heated and there is a hot tub. My brother jumps in his hot tub in the middle of a snow storm here in Utah. You probably don't want to lay about on the lounges, but swimming might be OK.

We were at WDW in early December and there were huge crowds, totally unexpected. I think that Disney is learning how to draw crowds year-around, which makes sense for them. Just adjust your plans. Use Fast Passes to their fullest. Consider eating off hours. Get the World of Color Picnics so that you have better viewing of the show. Do off-the-beaten-track sort of things. Take a tour like the Cruisin' California Segway Tour, or the Art of the Grand Californian Tour.

You'll have a great time! VGC is fantastic!

 

[franandaj]

Ok so we leave for our long anticipated trip in 2 more days but the posting of crowds there and rainy forecast is adding to my stress! My question is if the weather is low 60's do people still swim? Is pool heated? I know 60 degrees here near Chicago has people in shorts and flip flops but not sure what we will expect in CA? Thinking I should redo some of my packing!?! Hhheeeelllpppp!

It's supposed to rain on and off starting tonight through Tuesday.

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

I wouldn't worry about whether "people swim" only about whether you'd like to swim. Agreeably, 60 is a little cool, but the pools are heated and there is a hot tub. My brother jumps in his hot tub in the middle of a snow storm here in Utah. You probably don't want to lay about on the lounges, but swimming ok.
You'll have a great time! VGC is fantastic!

well thats the the whole thing keeping me calm is that the resort looks like its amazing and we are finally trying a one bedroom (instead of studio)! We will be there 8 nights (6 day park pass) so we can take it slow if crowds are too crazy. Swimming will be great to entertain my 2 girls (8 and 14) else I will have to listen to them whine about us not being at WDW as our usual spring break trip.

 

[Nonsuch]

...we are finally trying a one bedroom (instead of studio)!

You will love the one bedroom (and the two bathrooms)
It will be hard to go back to a studio
I hope you get a great view

...We will be there 8 nights (6 day park pass) so we can take it slow if crowds are too crazy.

It seems you might get some rain, but the crowds will be much smaller. Bring rain gear, and enjoy the short lines

...Swimming will be great to entertain my 2 girls (8 and 14) else I will have to listen to them whine about us not being at WDW as our usual spring break trip.

I'm sure they will not miss waiting in bus lines, in fact they might whine about the buses during your next WDW trip

 

[DISNEYFOURME]

Thanks NONSUCH! I totally agree (with all your points!) gotta go to bed..early flight tomorrow a.m.!! Soooooo excited!

 

[stopher1]

... we are finally trying a one bedroom (instead of studio)! We will be there 8 nights

That is so very, very cool! I am envious. How awesome for you. Enjoy it!

 

[Nonsuch]

I have previously posted a floor by floor map of VGC, but thought it would be nice to show the villa numbers from the exterior

View from Pool:

View from Redwood Creek Challenge Trail:

View from Paradise Pier (Jumpin' Jellyfish):

 

[preedymtnwest]

Wow, Nonsuch, I didn't see those pics before - that is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

[nunzia]

Wow.that is great. Thanks!

 

[stopher1]

Very nice job Nonsuch... thanks for sharing.

 

[Nonsuch]

Wow, Nonsuch, I didn't see those pics before - that is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

No one had seen those pictures before
I took the photos a few weeks ago, and added the room numbers yesterday

 

[preedymtnwest]

No one had seen those pictures before
I took the photos a few weeks ago, and added the room numbers yesterday

Oops, my bad. I misread that you had posted them before but you said a floor plan, not the outside pics.

I especially like the color coding! Wish the member site had something similar for all the resorts, but then I'm sure those of us who stress about those things would drive them crazy requesting certain rooms!

 

[marts35]

Maps are good, but the visual on these shots is awesome. Thanks so much. I see it's still beautiful even when we are waiting to get to go again. It makes me want to print them out and check them off as we get to stay in each one. We do love our Villas at the Disney Grand Californian!

 

[jforever52]

No one had seen those pictures before
I took the photos a few weeks ago, and added the room numbers yesterday

Thanks for posting those pictures. They rock!!! It is so much easier figuring out what type of view the rooms have using them.

 

[Nonsuch]

I especially like the color coding!

The colors match my floorplan diagrams
6 page version 1 page version

Wish the member site had something similar for all the resorts, but then I'm sure those of us who stress about those things would drive them crazy requesting certain rooms!

I make room requests with a list of room numbers. The cast member assigning rooms can simply look at the list and find the first available.

When I checked in earlier this month the cast member would not give me the room number. This is normal, since it was only noon and the room was not ready.
The cast member did say "We have you on the 6th floor" to which I replied (with a big smile) "6502"

 

[funatdisney]

The colors match my floorplan diagrams
6 page version 1 page version

I have downloaded your wonderful floor plans and just love to use them when I plan a trip. The color coded pictures of the room's outside facing walls are a great compliment to the floor plans. a great job, Nonsuch. Thank you for both the floor plans and the recent pictures.

 

[Disney Princess]

Thanks for the new diagram pictures Nonsuch! That helps a lot.