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

[mrobin023]

Thanks to everyone for all the information and pictures posted here. My VGC waitlist just came through and was added to our stay for a total of 5 nights in June. Because of what I learned here, I did send my email room # requests to Member Services. We are arriving on a Wednesday, so I don't know what that does for our chances of a high floor Paradise Pier view, but they are certainly better than if I didn't send the email request. This will be our third stay at VGC, but the other two times I didn't request a view till check in. Thanks again!!

We also have a wait list for June. Did you book at the 7th month or 11 month window?

 

[melissac]

Went to DL staying at PPR Dec 2013 and loved GCV. Had planned to return in March with kids and Husband but DD16) tore ACL skiing last week and cancelled because now she is having surgery over springbreak and waitlisted June 3-6 1BR. I'm hoping for some pixie dust to come our way , I'm sure we made some waitlister VERY HAPPY . Wish us luck and if worse comes to worse will just stay off site

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We also have a wait list for June. Did you book at the 7th month or 11 month window?

When is your June wait list? We may be giving up our 1br reservation. If we are, and it is your time, maybe we can coordinate and you can grab it as it becomes available.

 

[dawnmommy]

We are WDW veterans planning our first trip to Disneyland, I'm so excited!!

We plan on 4-5 nights, checking in around November 4th or 5th (we'll be at Huntington beach a few days prior).

I really like the idea of staying at The Villas, but have no idea how to go about renting points for them? any recommendations on good sources? We'd ideally like a 1 bedroom.

Also, if we are renting points (and we don't have Annual Passes), will we still get the daily early entry for onsite guests? My kids are already early birds, and wtih the time change from Chicago I want to ensure we're in the parks early.

thank you!

 

[melissac]

When is your June wait list? We may be giving up our 1br reservation. If we are, and it is your time, maybe we can coordinate and you can grab it as it becomes available.

June 3-6. They way our luck has been going it would be great to get a little

SORRY looked to quick thought it was to me.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

June 3-6. They way our luck has been going it would be great to get a little

Shoot! We are off by a few days. Our reservation begins on the 10th. Wishing you lots of pixie dust on your wait list.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We are WDW veterans planning our first trip to Disneyland, I'm so excited!!

We plan on 4-5 nights, checking in around November 4th or 5th (we'll be at Huntington beach a few days prior).

I really like the idea of staying at The Villas, but have no idea how to go about renting points for them? any recommendations on good sources? We'd ideally like a 1 bedroom.

Also, if we are renting points (and we don't have Annual Passes), will we still get the daily early entry for onsite guests? My kids are already early birds, and wtih the time change from Chicago I want to ensure we're in the parks early.

thank you!

Be aware that GCV is very small compared to WDW resorts. There are only 24 1br units. If you really want a reservation, find a DVC owner with GCV as their home resort who is willing to rent their points and take advantage of their 8-11 month booking window. If you can't do that, find a DVC member renting points who is willing to get online right when the booking window opens for all DVC members. It can be very hit or miss, so you need to have a backup plan.

Early Entry is for all guests staying at the resort hotels(including DVC) as well as those who have an EE day from their ticket.

David's has a very good reputation for renting points. You can also check the dis rental board to see who is renting. There are other boards and rental agencies, but I believe we are prohibited from listing them.

 

[mdsd8700]

Be aware that GCV is very small compared to WDW resorts. There are only 24 1br units. If you really want a reservation, find a DVC owner with GCV as their home resort who is willing to rent their points and take advantage of their 8-11 month booking window. If you can't do that, find a DVC member renting points who is willing to get online right when the booking window opens for all DVC members. It can be very hit or miss, so you need to have a backup plan.

I agree. We don't own at VGC so can only book at the 7 month mark. This will be our second stay in the villas this summer. Due to it's size/popularity booking needs to be done exactly when it opens and as bosieflyfisher said can be hit or miss. We did summer trips both times, July and now June.

 

[Shelly S]

We also have a wait list for June. Did you book at the 7th month or 11 month window?

I booked at 7 months on line at exactly 8am, but the first day was not available so I waitlisted it, next day went online again and the second day not available so i waitlisted it. On the third day, I was able to get the third, fourth and fifth day. A week later, day 2 waitlist came through, and just this week, at four months day one came through.
Good luck with your wait list. I'm sure mine both came through as they were single days done right at the seven month mark. I have been stalking the website for availability and I never saw the one bedroom available on line, but the wait list did pick it up both times.

 

[mrobin023]

When is your June wait list? We may be giving up our 1br reservation. If we are, and it is your time, maybe we can coordinate and you can grab it as it becomes available.

June 16, 17, 18. That would be great!

 

[mrobin023]

Thank you for your offer boiseflyfisher...but it looks like we won't need it! I went to the DVC site to check in on things and our wait list was confirmed! Happy, happy, happy! Now that the room is for sure need to really get after the rest of the trip planning.

 

[XMom]

So every year we stay at the villas in a studio for the 1/2 marathon weekend. We decided since we are not vacationing this year except for that trip that we would try to upgrade to a 1 BR. We put in our first wait list ever after figuring it out for Friday, Aug 30 to Monday, Sept 1 thinking that there was no way that we would get it since everyone there is usually running the 1/2 marathon on Sunday. Well this Saturday the Fri-Mon wait list came through! We almost fell over! Just to be daring we thought we would add one more day so that we can stay until Monday evening and head home after dinner. Well I just got notification that the wait list for that one ought came through also! So we are staying in a 1BR for the first time. We have been members since 2008 and always have stayed in a studio with the three kids sharing a bed or getting a sleeping bag and pad from housekeeping and they would rotate who would sleep on the floor. Now we all get our own beds and hubby and I even get our own room

Just had to share my excitement with people that understand!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Wow thats great XMom!

I don't know how you guys have done a studio with three kids!! I can't even stand the thought of doing a studio with just 2 kids. Those darn one bedrooms with their washing machine and dryer really spoil you! Enjoy!!

 

[XMom]

Wow thats great XMom!

I don't know how you guys have done a studio with three kids!! I can't even stand the thought of doing a studio with just 2 kids. Those darn one bedrooms with their washing machine and dryer really spoil you! Enjoy!!

I think we have managed because we only live about 90 minutes away(without traffic), so it's kind of like a hotel room to us with the bonus of a microwave, toaster and fridge. I feel like I should plan better this time and stop at the market before we check in so that we can have most of our meals in our room. We will of course have our chicken nachos from whitewater at least once though!

 

[dawnmommy]

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my questions.....can you tell I'm new to Disneyland planning? I had no idea there were only 24 one bedrooms!

We have 2 kids and I imagine can do a studio, but will try for a one bedroom. at least now I'll have more realistic expectations. I think we'll use David, already familiar with him from WDW.

We are looking for Monday Nov 4 checking out Saturday Nov 9, so maybe we'll stand a chance at a one bedroom (I know, probably dreaming!)

thank you all! we're so excited!

 

[DebbieB]

So every year we stay at the villas in a studio for the 1/2 marathon weekend. We decided since we are not vacationing this year except for that trip that we would try to upgrade to a 1 BR. We put in our first wait list ever after figuring it out for Friday, Aug 30 to Monday, Sept 1 thinking that there was no way that we would get it since everyone there is usually running the 1/2 marathon on Sunday. Well this Saturday the Fri-Mon wait list came through! We almost fell over! Just to be daring we thought we would add one more day so that we can stay until Monday evening and head home after dinner. Well I just got notification that the wait list for that one ought came through also! So we are staying in a 1BR for the first time. We have been members since 2008 and always have stayed in a studio with the three kids sharing a bed or getting a sleeping bag and pad from housekeeping and they would rotate who would sleep on the floor. Now we all get our own beds and hubby and I even get our own room

Just had to share my excitement with people that understand!

I thought the limit in a studio was 4 (plus 1 under 3).

 

[XMom]

I thought the limit in a studio was 4 (plus 1 under 3).

That is correct. The last time we were there, she was 4. We left her name off the reservation because we didn't have enough points for a 1BR. If a 3 year old can stay in the room with 4 others, then we figured a 4 year old could too. It sure isn't like stuffing 5 adults or even 4 adults into a room. At 3 she slept in the pack n play they supply in each room, and last time slept in the bed with her brothers.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I have a question about grocery delivery at VGC. We like to do the grocery delivery service through the MS sight when staying in the WDW DVC resorts, we like to get milk, pop, water, breakfast items, and any snacks for the room. When I was looking at the grocery order form for VGC, I noticed that they don't have as much of a selection as the ones for WDW. We like to get donuts or poptarts for breakfast on certain mornings but have found that you can't order these items while staying at VGC. I'm just wondering if there is a market somewhere in GCH where we can purchase these items at...we would still have the water, pop, milk and other items delivered to the room so we won't have to lug it up ourselves.

 

[hakepb]

If you can get them in "to go" containers like DisneyWorld, I would pick up some cinnamon rolls for the next day's breakfast (much, much better than pop-tarts) especially after a little bit in the microwave.
http://adventureswithben.com/food-drink/cinnamon-buns-breakfast-everyday/

But the grocery order form does not have much besides bagels, cereal, and eggs.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Thanks for the tip, cinnamon rolls does sound much better then pop-tarts, especially if the cinnamon rolls look like those .