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

[sarahk0204]

We are going to start praying now that we can get a 1 bedroom villa at the 7 month window! No matter what though, I cannot wait to see Walt's original park!!!!

We got our 2BR villa at 7 months for this June. I was online the instant it opened, and it went fine. I will think some positive thoughts for you!

 

[Nonsuch]

Does anyone know (or have any ideas) why 1 bedrooms are fully booked in early December?
1BR are available from mid-November (7-month window) through early January, which includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE. Only December 3-6 are not available.


It might be related to Candlelight (likely December 3-4), although December 4-5 were fully booked before December 3 and 6.

 

[AZMermaid]

Strange... I would have guessed Candlelight too

 

[PoohsFan1]

We got our 2BR villa at 7 months for this June. I was online the instant it opened, and it went fine. I will think some positive thoughts for you!

We are staying in a 2 bedroom villa in June as well and I was able to book it at our 7 month mark (I was ready to go first thing in the morning once the online booking opened up), unfortunately I had to try 3 mornings in a row because the only day that kept closing up was the arrival day, all the other days were opened. Luckily the 3rd time was a charm because I finally got it. We cannot wait...this will be our first time in a 2 bedroom villa. Have a great trip, we loved it our first time that we went to DLR, there is just something so special about walking down the Main Street that Walt had a hand in making .

 

[mlnbabies]

My dh and I are staying in a studio for our 20th wedding anniversary. We are staying from 2-20 to 20-22. We are so excited. This will be my 3rd trip to DL.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Does anyone know (or have any ideas) why 1 bedrooms are fully booked in early December?
1BR are available from mid-November (7-month window) through early January, which includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE. Only December 3-6 are not available.
View attachment 162421

It might be related to Candlelight (likely December 3-4), although December 4-5 were fully booked before December 3 and 6.

I think there have historically been CM Christmas parties on the first Monday and Tuesday of December. -- Suzanne

 

[chrisaman]

Does anyone know (or have any ideas) why 1 bedrooms are fully booked in early December?
1BR are available from mid-November (7-month window) through early January, which includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE. Only December 3-6 are not available.
View attachment 162421

It might be related to Candlelight (likely December 3-4), although December 4-5 were fully booked before December 3 and 6.

I think it is a combination of candlelight and the fact that it is the cheapest points time during the Christmas season.

 

[MrJT]

I have a feeling that at least one of my questions have been answered, but there are a lot of pages to go through, and things change, so I am going to ask now.
We're going to be staying at VGC in July. My mom's friend hooked us up with his points. My mom isn't sure if there is any resort fee/tax that we would have to pay when we're there. Is there? I thought it would be covered by her friend being an owner, but I really don't know.
We may have 3 vehicles. If so, how much is parking?

 

[Nonsuch]

...My mom's friend hooked us up with his points. My mom isn't sure if there is any resort fee/tax that we would have to pay when we're there. Is there?

There is no resort fee/tax on VGC stays, the Guest Folio will show $0.00
It does not matter if you are an owner or a guest.
The Guest Folio is hung on the door (or under the door) on the morning of departure, but sometimes when it is 0.00 balance there will be no Guest Folio printed (Guest Services or Registration will print on request).

...We may have 3 vehicles. If so, how much is parking?

Guests staying on DVC points receive free Self Parking, and all room keys will have Self Parking printed on them. The official limit is 2 cars, but in practice there is no limit. Room keys are only visually (and rather casually) checked leaving the parking lot, since the keys are not scanned there is no way to monitor how many cars are parked per room.

 

[MrJT]

There is no resort fee/tax on VGC stays, the Guest Folio will show $0.00
It does not matter if you are an owner or a guest.
The Guest Folio is hung on the door (or under the door) on the morning of departure, but sometimes when it is 0.00 balance there will be no Guest Folio printed (Guest Services or Registration will print on request).


Guests staying on DVC points receive free Self Parking, and all room keys will have Self Parking printed on them. The official limit is 2 cars, but in practice there is no limit. Room keys are only visually (and rather casually) checked leaving the parking lot, since the keys are not scanned there is no way to monitor how many cars are parked per room.

Nonsuch, thank you. You confirmed everything that I thought that I had read when reading the whole thread, a few pages a week, and I still have close to 20 pages to read through.
And the parking as pretty much become a non issue. We have just about decided to fly from San Antonio. Why drive for 20 hours, when you can fly for less than 4?

 

[AZMermaid]

We are about 6 weeks out from our stay. I have two separate reservations for a 1BR because I used two contracts. I would like to request that those be linked so we don't have to check out in the middle or worse.... possibly change rooms! I would also like to request a non paradise pier view (shocking, I know!) as we have 3 Grad nights during our 5 night stay. Do I email teh resort directly or Member services? Thank you!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We are about 6 weeks out from our stay. I have two separate reservations for a 1BR because I used two contracts. I would like to request that those be linked so we don't have to check out in the middle or worse.... possibly change rooms! I would also like to request a non paradise pier view (shocking, I know!) as we have 3 Grad nights during our 5 night stay. Do I email teh resort directly or Member services? Thank you!

You would contact MS to have the stays linked as continuing stays and for the view request.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I would also like to request a non paradise pier view (shocking, I know!) as we have 3 Grad nights during our 5 night stay.

Grad Nights do keep DCA open late, but most of the activities seems to be in the Hollywood side of the park. If you want a quiet room, request 5514 facing Redwood Creek.

Contact MS for linking and requests.

 

[AZMermaid]

Thank you!

 

[dcfromva]

Does anyone know (or have any ideas) why 1 bedrooms are fully booked in early December?
1BR are available from mid-November (7-month window) through early January, which includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE. Only December 3-6 are not available.

I wish I knew. I was considering around 1-5 Dec for a studio and the dates were already gone when I got around to looking. It wasn't right at the 11 month mark that I looked, but it was still pretty early.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I wish I knew. I was considering around 1-5 Dec for a studio and the dates were already gone when I got around to looking. It wasn't right at the 11 month mark that I looked, but it was still pretty early.

Candlelight processional. It's been the trend for several years for the time around that weekend. The studios will book up and then a little while after that the 1BR's. I haven't paid too much attention to the 2BR's. But I think it's still easy to book right at 11 months, it's just that it starts filling shortly after.

 

[MrJT]

I first started reading this thread in December, and I finally finished it today!
In just over 10 weeks, we'll have 4 nights with 3 days in the parks, and this thread has given me a lot of info. I can't wait to return to Anaheim after 20 years!

 

[ACDSNY]

Just canceled a 1 bedroom for 8/14 - 8/17/16, hopefully it makes someone happy today.

 

[lwanthony]

We just secured a reservation at the 7 month mark for a 1 bedroom for 5 nights the week after Thanksgiving! We haven't stayed in a one bedroom before and are super excited about it! Nothing better than the VGC at Christmas time!

 

[nostalgic4disney]

I was wondering if anyone has had success booking a studio at VGC for the Disneyland Half weekend at the 7 month mark?