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

[Nonsuch]

Some quick feedback I experienced during my visit 10/19 regarding the two bedroom dedicated unit #6500.

The public viewing patio adjacent the room is accessible via one very loud metal door that slams shut every time someone accesses the patio. If you're in the bedroom adjacent that door, be prepared to be woken up if you happen to have put your kids down, or gone to sleep early yourself. It's extraordinarily loud for the rooms having such relatively good sound proofing.

I can't hear anyone entering or existing their rooms on the opposite side, but the door to the patio you will hear every single person who uses it.

Thanks for the information

There are 2 doors leading to the viewing patio. The headboard of a queen bed in the 2 bedroom villa is on the other side of the wall of the glass door in the background of the photo

I suspect the glass door creates the noise, but whatever the cause I would avoid 6500 (although I have yet to book a 2 bedroom). Of course, I would be in the king bed on the other side of the villa

(sorry about the blurry picture)

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

What "online tool" you are referring to?

I have had good results emailing request to member services.

It's where you can click to contact Member Services, you submit it from the web page. Next time, I'll try email.

 

[bigAWL]

We are looking at a 6 night stay from 6/6 to 6/12. Your words are very encouraging, however I will still be planning on getting up bright and early on my 7 month mark waiting for MS to open . Just wondering, have you booked via online booking through MS or do you call, if you have done both, which do you prefer better

I used to call MS in the past, but since they starting the online booking, it's the only one I've used. I prefer it because if you are checking different options for your stay (different nights, different size rooms, different resorts), you can more quickly compare those options yourself online than you can talking to a MS operator over the phone. This is probably more pronounced when booking a WDW DVC than it is in Disneyland with only one DVC option. But the other advantage of doing it online, is that your 7-month window opens at 8am online, while the MS phone line doesn't open until 9am (eastern time, I mean).

If you've never booked online, I suggest playing with the online interface a bit before trying it out of the morning of you 7-month window. Get comfortable with navigating the options and making changes. This link shows the search function that helps you find the availability you are looking for.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43784601&highlight=img#post43784601

After you select the exact room and dates you want, there are four steps to completing the booking:

1. Selecting the contract points you want to use, including borrowing points from a future UY in necessary.
2. Entering guest information (name, ages of children, addresses, etc) for each guest in the room.
3. Reviewing the booking details.
4. Getting a confirmation of the booking.

I believe on the page for the final confirmation, you still have an option to "undo" the booking, and put all your points back where they were. But once you navigate away from that page the booking is set, and any changes will need to be made through MS on the phone, and cancellations are subject to the regular cancellation policies.

 

[Nonsuch]

It's where you can click to contact Member Services, you submit it from the web page. Next time, I'll try email.

The email request will result in an immediate automatic reply, followed by a confirmation. Confirmations were taking several days a year ago, but recently I have received confirmations in a few hours

 

[PoohsFan1]

I used to call MS in the past, but since they starting the online booking, it's the only one I've used. I prefer it because if you are checking different options for your stay (different nights, different size rooms, different resorts), you can more quickly compare those options yourself online than you can talking to a MS operator over the phone. This is probably more pronounced when booking a WDW DVC than it is in Disneyland with only one DVC option. But the other advantage of doing it online, is that your 7-month window opens at 8am online, while the MS phone line doesn't open until 9am (eastern time, I mean).

If you've never booked online, I suggest playing with the online interface a bit before trying it out of the morning of you 7-month window. Get comfortable with navigating the options and making changes. This link shows the search function that helps you find the availability you are looking for.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43784601&highlight=img#post43784601

After you select the exact room and dates you want, there are four steps to completing the booking:

1. Selecting the contract points you want to use, including borrowing points from a future UY in necessary.
2. Entering guest information (name, ages of children, addresses, etc) for each guest in the room.
3. Reviewing the booking details.
4. Getting a confirmation of the booking.

I believe on the page for the final confirmation, you still have an option to "undo" the booking, and put all your points back where they were. But once you navigate away from that page the booking is set, and any changes will need to be made through MS on the phone, and cancellations are subject to the regular cancellation policies.

Thank you so much for the great information. I haven't done online booking yet, but planned on doing so this time around. My main question was when I do online booking, I was going to have to borrow into next years points, and I wasn't sure if I was allowed to do it then or if I had to call. Thank you for setting my mind at ease and telling me what to expect when doing it .

 

[Nonsuch]

Another thread has noted that new thermostats are being installed, that automatically shut of the air conditioning.
In some cases while guests are still in the room

I have not encountered one of these thermostats, but a solution was posted:

Hold the temp down button and the system power button simultaneously. "BP" will display on the screen. The motion sensor requirement is now bypassed for 24 hours. Enjoy!

 

[dcfromva]

These are the amenities found in the "master" bath of a 1 bedroom villa in October 2012:

The bottles contain: Sea Salt Body Wash, Sea Salt Hydrating Body Lotion, Refreshing Mouthwash, Sea Marine Collagen Conditioner, Sea Marine Revitalizing Shampoo.

Oh no! They got rid of the Spa H2O peppermint body wash? I am so sad. That was my favorite.

 

[Susie63]

What kind of bedding is used in the Villas? Are they duvets or quilts?

 

[cpster]

Woohoo...just got my waitlist to add on a 5th night to our first stay in February as DVC members...can't wait! Have stayed on the hotel side before, but the microwave will be a nice addition as we have two little ones.

 

[jockotaco]

I am sure this is posted somewhere but I am looking for 2 bedroom villa suggestions. Would like park/ world of color views.

 

[JimmyJam838]

jockotaco,
Those would be rooms ending in x500 and x506 are is a dedicated 2 bedroom along with 3522. 3522 would give you the best view of world of color if it is not blocked by any trees. If you click here you can see a complete floor plan. Toward the bottom of the page is a color coded map of the villas.

 

[Nonsuch]

I am sure this is posted somewhere but I am looking for 2 bedroom villa suggestions. Would like park/ world of color views.

This would be my request:
5506, 6500, 5500, 4500, 4506, 3522, 3500, 3506

My reasons:
x506 has a better angle to WOC than x500, but a tree directly outside the villas is an obstruction on lower floors.
6500 can have noise from other guests using the patio to view WOC.

Those would be rooms ending in x500 and x506 are is a dedicated 2 bedroom along with 3522. 3522 would give you the best view of world of color if it is not blocked by any trees.

3522 is closest and has the best angle to view WOC, but the trees are an issue.

 

[Nonsuch]

What kind of bedding is used in the Villas? Are they duvets or quilts?

There is a comforter (down or down-like), which is wrapped on both sides with sheets. A bedspread is on top. The hotel has switched to a narrow bedspread at the foot of the bed, but the villas still have full size bedspreads.

 

[friends with mickey]

This would be my request:
5506, 6500, 5500, 4500, 4506, 3522, 3500, 3506

My reasons:
x506 has a better angle to WOC than x500, but a tree directly outside the villas is an obstruction on lower floors.
6500 can have noise from other guests using the patio to view WOC.


3522 is closest and has the best angle to view WOC, but the trees are an issue.

We were in 6500 in September and it was GREAT! We never experienced any noise from guests using the viewing patio. The views of the park are wonderful. Watching WOC from there provides views you do not get from the ground. Make sure you see WOC from both vantage points however, it is a very different experience from above. You really can enjoy the fountains and colors from 6500.

 

[Susie63]

Thank you Nonsuch You have been so helpful in planning our first DVC stay.YOU ARE AWESOME

 

[BlazerFan]

We were in 6500 in September and it was GREAT! We never experienced any noise from guests using the viewing patio. The views of the park are wonderful. Watching WOC from there provides views you do not get from the ground. Make sure you see WOC from both vantage points however, it is a very different experience from above. You really can enjoy the fountains and colors from 6500.

We've been lucky to stay in 5500 and 5506 our last few stays.

You really have to see WOC from the park but I also enjoyed watching the 2nd show each night from our balcony, or listening to the soundtrack through the open patio door as a lullaby

 

[Goofy4Pooh]

We stayed in 5508 and loved it. Watched WOC every night from our balcony! We will be going back in a year with my brother and sister-in-law and was wondering if anyone had pictures of the view from 3522. I am also planning a small family reunion and would love to see pics of the view from the park side grand villa if anyone has stayed there. 8

 

[aymekae]

Hello! Hoping to get some waitlist advice.

First of all, do you think I have any chance of upgrading to a 2 bdr from the 1 bdr I have booked at VGC from 1/24-1/27/13?

Second, do I need to submit separate waitlist requests for a 2 bdr dedicated and a 2 bdr lock-off? (I know I can only have 2 waitlists per UY, which is fine by me, but I don't want to do it if it's not necessary).

Third, how smart is the waitlist system? Since I have 1 bdr booked, and a studio becomes available during my time, will they recognize that as having a 2 bdr available for me in particular? (My guess is absolutely not, but I have to ask.)

Fourth, I am requesting to replace an existing reservation. If my waitlist comes through, and that reservation is cancelled, I will have enough points for the 2 bdr. If they try to book it before cancelling the first reservation, I will not have enough points without borrowing. I don't want to borrow, obviously, as I have no plans to use this this UY, so I declined that option on the waitlist request. But am I shooting myself in the foot, since they cancel a waitlist that doesn't have available points? (In other words, which comes first, the chicken or the egg?!)

Thanks in advance!

 

[spe1983]

Was able to book a full week in a studio villa for the second week of December(4 days at 7 months, 1 day checking almost twice a day for months, and then the last two days setting up separate wait lists which came through right before the 30 day point). Haven't been to Disneyland since 1989, quite excited to finally go somewhere for my birthday with my wife and 16 month old daughter.

Expecting it to be quite busy due to the holidays but with 6-7 days in the parks it should allow us to take it slow and get a chance to catch everything. Highly anticipating the new additions to the park, and finally getting to ride the Matterhorn I coveted so highly when I was 6. This thread is great, so much good information.

 

[salemk]

I know the self park lot is located across the street from the hotel. I was wondering what the parking lot right in front of the hotel was for? Is it just temporary parking to check in or drop off something really quick? I have a handicap placard & was wondering where I could park at? Does anybody know if you can get free Valet parking if your handicap?