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

[sgrap]

We're not really fans of WOC, but we did watch it from our room one night. Viewing in the park is better of course, but so much less hassle from the room.

The park view, on the other hand, we absolutely loved. We spent quite a bit of time on the balcony just watching/taking in the park.

This wasn't our first trip btw,so it wasn't just first visit love. The view was really that awesome.

Super, thanks. We've stayed at the Grand many times, but this will be our first DVC trip. We love WOC and try to do it every trip, but sometimes it is exhausting and takes up such a huge chunk of time. It would be nice to have another option one night. But I agree that the view alone without WOC would be amazing! Several times we have had rooms that overlook the GCH entrance to DCA--so a fun view of Grizzly River, but I can imagine the Paradise Pier view is much more fun, especially at night. Thanks again for the input!

Oh, can I ask what rooms you put down on your request list? Thanks!

 

[sgrap]

Where is that awesome post with all the room numbers and pictures from the rooms linked to it? I've been to it quite a few times, and now I can't find it for the life of me!

 

[sgrap]

Where is that awesome post with all the room numbers and pictures from the rooms linked to it? I've been to it quite a few times, and now I can't find it for the life of me!

Found it finally!
Has anyone stayed in 5508? I'd love to hear how the view is from there--there aren't pictures linked to the page for that room.

 

[Nonsuch]

Where is that awesome post with all the room numbers and pictures from the rooms linked to it? I've been to it quite a few times, and now I can't find it for the life of me!

Although you already found them, here is a repost...

Exterior view of villas facing Paradise Pier and World of Color:

Exterior view of villas facing Redwood Creek:

Exterior view of villas facing Pools:

 

[Snurk71]

Oh, can I ask what rooms you put down on your request list? Thanks!

You want to request the white numbers in Nonsuch's first picture - 5508, 4508, 6502, 5502, 4502. Any of those would have an awesome view.

 

[sgrap]

You want to request the white numbers in Nonsuch's first picture - 5508, 4508, 6502, 5502, 4502. Any of those would have an awesome view.

Thanks! I don't see any white numbers (all the one bedrooms look turquoise to me), but I see those room numbers, so that is perfect, thanks!

 

[sgrap]

I have had good results sending Member Services a list of specific room numbers.

Nonsuch, when you say sending, I gather you mean e-mailing?

I went to Livechat, but I didn't see the option. Is Livechat only available during the Eastern time zone business hours?

BTW, so much for making the awesome maps and pictures of the rooms. So incredibly helpful! I'm so excited to see them all for myself! On our last trip (GCH hotel stay), dh wanted to take a DVC tour, but I didn't want to take the time. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it. We weren't even thinking DVC at that time . . . but then dh made the mistake in January of saying we should order the DVC DVD. He pretty much sealed our fate with that free DVD.

 

[Snurk71]

Thanks! I don't see any white numbers (all the one bedrooms look turquoise to me), but I see those room numbers, so that is perfect, thanks!

Sorry, I'm color blind. They look white to me.

I live chatted my request - I just left the window open on my computer at when waiting for sometime to answer (during regular MS hours). I felt more confident that someone noted the request than relying on an email, though I've read many people being satisfied with emailing.

 

[sgrap]

Sorry, I'm color blind. They look white to me.

I live chatted my request - I just left the window open on my computer at when waiting for sometime to answer (during regular MS hours). I felt more confident that someone noted the request than relying on an email, though I've read many people being satisfied with emailing.

Sorry about that--I actually wondered that when I typed it. Just heard a story on the news about a new treatment being studied for color-blindness, so had that fresh on my mind (although the treatment involved regular shots into the eye, so that part didn't sound like a great solution to me!). I will give the live chatting a try tomorrow. Thanks so much for the help! I'm sure once we stay the first time and see everything in person, it will all make much more sense to me.

 

[Snurk71]

Sorry about that--I actually wondered that when I typed it. Just heard a story on the news about a new treatment being studied for color-blindness, so had that fresh on my mind (although the treatment involved regular shots into the eye, so that part didn't sound like a great solution to me!). I will give the live chatting a try tomorrow. Thanks so much for the help! I'm sure once we stay the first time and see everything in person, it will all make much more sense to me.

If you're checking in before your room is ready, be sure to look in the upper left (I think left, maybe it's right) corner of the sheet they have you sign - your room# will be listed and if it's not a good view you might ask for a different room view.

 

[sgrap]

One more question: I know that the 6th floor of GCH is the concierge level. Does staying VGC on the 6th floor require any extra fee? I'm thinking not, but want to make sure. I haven't seen any extra point levels for concierge with VGC.

 

[sgrap]

If you're checking in before your room is ready, be sure to look in the upper left (I think left, maybe it's right) corner of the sheet they have you sign - your room# will be listed and if it's not a good view you might ask for a different room view.

Awesome, would have never though to look for that, thanks!

 

[Nonsuch]

If you're checking in before your room is ready, be sure to look in the upper left (I think left, maybe it's right) corner of the sheet they have you sign - your room# will be listed and if it's not a good view you might ask for a different room view.

 

[sgrap]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Nonsuch]

One more question: I know that the 6th floor of GCH is the concierge level. Does staying VGC on the 6th floor require any extra fee? I'm thinking not, but want to make sure. I haven't seen any extra point levels for concierge with VGC.

No added fee (or points) for the 6th floor villas.

While the concierge lounge is on the 6th floor, the 6th floor is not dedicated to concierge.
Concierge can be added to all hotel rooms, but cannot be added to villas.

 

[DMPicone]

wow, I just scanned through all 147 pages of this three over the past 2 days. Thank you to everyone that has provided so much valuable information over the past several years that this thread has been growing. I purchased 100 points in BLT last June and will be using it for the first time this fall when I visit VGC for 10 nights from 9/26 until 10/6 in a Studio. This will not only be my first time using my DVC but also my first time to Disneyland so I've certainly had a lot to learn from everyone. I immediately sent in a room request list as everyone seems to do, hopefully I'll get a Paradise Pier view. I have a question though, if a particular room is not available because someone is in it, has anyone ever asked about moving rooms during a stay? I'm just thinking in case we aren't able to get a room with a view we like, we're their for 10 nights so that's likely to be an entire rotation through the rest of the rooms during that time period.

I especially want to thank the person that created the room location images. I was warned when buying my DVC that the VGC are small (already knew this trip was planned at the time), but had no idea they were that small! No wonder it's so hard to get in their, maybe by my second trip west things will be expanded.

 

[sgrap]

wow, I just scanned through all 147 pages of this three over the past 2 days. Thank you to everyone that has provided so much valuable information over the past several years that this thread has been growing. I purchased 100 points in BLT last June and will be using it for the first time this fall when I visit VGC for 10 nights from 9/26 until 10/6 in a Studio. This will not only be my first time using my DVC but also my first time to Disneyland so I've certainly had a lot to learn from everyone. I immediately sent in a room request list as everyone seems to do, hopefully I'll get a Paradise Pier view. I have a question though, if a particular room is not available because someone is in it, has anyone ever asked about moving rooms during a stay? I'm just thinking in case we aren't able to get a room with a view we like, we're their for 10 nights so that's likely to be an entire rotation through the rest of the rooms during that time period.

I especially want to thank the person that created the room location images. I was warned when buying my DVC that the VGC are small (already knew this trip was planned at the time), but had no idea they were that small! No wonder it's so hard to get in their, maybe by my second trip west things will be expanded.

I second the kudos!

We have stayed at the Grand Californian many times, but this will be our first time in the DVC portion. You will absolutely love how close the Grand is to the parks. Going into DCA, it is literally right there. If you get wet on Grizzly River, you just pop back up to the room for a change (can you tell I've had kids upset about being wet?? ;-) ). We love Disneyland, and I know some people don't care for DCA, but we love it. It has a very different feel from Disneyland, and we enjoy both immensely. We also love to park-hop, and it is close enough to do that in 5 minutes time. Have you taken a look at the Disneyland forum?

We also love the atmosphere of the Grand Californian. Some people think it is too dark, but we enjoy it. Maybe it's because we're from the NW and it is the craftsman style? Maybe because we're used to 'dark' around here? ha ha Whatever the case, we much prefer it over the DLH and PP.

Oh, are you doing any Halloween Time events? I think you will be there when that has started. There is a thread on the Disneyland forum about Halloween Time in Disneyland.

Enjoy the planning!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

wow, I just scanned through all 147 pages of this three over the past 2 days. Thank you to everyone that has provided so much valuable information over the past several years that this thread has been growing. I purchased 100 points in BLT last June and will be using it for the first time this fall when I visit VGC for 10 nights from 9/26 until 10/6 in a Studio. This will not only be my first time using my DVC but also my first time to Disneyland so I've certainly had a lot to learn from everyone. I immediately sent in a room request list as everyone seems to do, hopefully I'll get a Paradise Pier view. I have a question though, if a particular room is not available because someone is in it, has anyone ever asked about moving rooms during a stay? I'm just thinking in case we aren't able to get a room with a view we like, we're their for 10 nights so that's likely to be an entire rotation through the rest of the rooms during that time period.

I especially want to thank the person that created the room location images. I was warned when buying my DVC that the VGC are small (already knew this trip was planned at the time), but had no idea they were that small! No wonder it's so hard to get in their, maybe by my second trip west things will be expanded.

DVC is supposed to charge for changing rooms. We have been charged in the past (at VB) but still did it because my mother was along, used a wheelchair and preferred to stay in the room but couldn't see over the solid walled balcony in the room we were given so we moved the next day and got a balcony she could enjoy sitting out on.

 

[DMPicone]

I second the kudos!

We have stayed at the Grand Californian many times, but this will be our first time in the DVC portion. You will absolutely love how close the Grand is to the parks. Going into DCA, it is literally right there. If you get wet on Grizzly River, you just pop back up to the room for a change (can you tell I've had kids upset about being wet?? ;-) ). We love Disneyland, and I know some people don't care for DCA, but we love it. It has a very different feel from Disneyland, and we enjoy both immensely. We also love to park-hop, and it is close enough to do that in 5 minutes time. Have you taken a look at the Disneyland forum?

We also love the atmosphere of the Grand Californian. Some people think it is too dark, but we enjoy it. Maybe it's because we're from the NW and it is the craftsman style? Maybe because we're used to 'dark' around here? ha ha Whatever the case, we much prefer it over the DLH and PP.

Oh, are you doing any Halloween Time events? I think you will be there when that has started. There is a thread on the Disneyland forum about Halloween Time in Disneyland.

Enjoy the planning!!!

That sounds great, I always skip the river rapids ride at Animal Kingdom for that exact reason so I may finally be able to go on it! When I first started planning this trip I was expecting to not get all 10 days so I was planning on a day at each of the hotels. I managed to get all 10 nights at VGC but was still planning to switch to the Disneyland Hotel for one night since my use year ends October 1st and I have 10 extra points (received 2013 points without dues so the loss isn't that much) to use up. After reading this thread though I think I'll be staying at the VGC the whole time.

We were in WDW during the Christmas events a in 2013. We never went to the actual parties but enjoyed the extra decorations. I'm not a big costume person but I have been considering adding one of the holiday parties in DL for the rare characters and an added night in the park since tickets are limited to 5 days.

DVC is supposed to charge for changing rooms. We have been charged in the past (at VB) but still did it because my mother was along, used a wheelchair and preferred to stay in the room but couldn't see over the solid walled balcony in the room we were given so we moved the next day and got a balcony she could enjoy sitting out on.

Thanks for the info, I'm guessing it's probably related to the house cleaning fees since that would be an extra cleaning. There are a lot of nice rooms, so hopefully we'll be fine. I think it would only be a big issue if we get a low room (I don't like first floor rooms at hotels, especially when they have balcony/patios).

 

[sgrap]

That sounds great, I always skip the river rapids ride at Animal Kingdom for that exact reason so I may finally be able to go on it! When I first started planning this trip I was expecting to not get all 10 days so I was planning on a day at each of the hotels. I managed to get all 10 nights at VGC but was still planning to switch to the Disneyland Hotel for one night since my use year ends October 1st and I have 10 extra points (received 2013 points without dues so the loss isn't that much) to use up. After reading this thread though I think I'll be staying at the VGC the whole time.

We were in WDW during the Christmas events a in 2013. We never went to the actual parties but enjoyed the extra decorations. I'm not a big costume person but I have been considering adding one of the holiday parties in DL for the rare characters and an added night in the park since tickets are limited to 5 days.

We aren't big costume people either. You won't feel out of place if you don't wear a costume. We just did t-shirts that look like a character, because my family was OK with doing that. But plenty of people don't wear costumes at all. Then there are the people who go all out with costumes, which are very fun to see. My favorite parts of the parties were the villains/characters you don't usually see, and the fireworks. So, if you are there when they are going on, I'd recommend doing 1 of the parties. Also, the Conjure a Villain tent (not just during the parties) back in the Big Thunder Ranch area was fantastic. We did it 3 times and loved it. They have really cool pumpkin carving and painting back in there, and characters coming out in Halloween costumes.