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

MiaSRN62 · Mar 30, 2015

KAT4DISNEY said:
Hi Maria! Things change quite a bit at VGC so I'd give the waitlist some time and also check the website periodically. When I've failed to book prior to 7 months I've had pretty good success at getting single night waitlists there.

Thanks Kathy!

Snurk71 · Mar 30, 2015

Just a quick note from our stay last week. We were in a 1br - 5502,which was an awesome view. I used Nonsuch's pictures to make a room request of 4 specific room#s. I forget where 5502 was in the list - I think it was 2nd. When we checked in (at 7 am after starting the night at one of the best westerns) the CM commented that she knew I had made a room request. I saw our room# on the slip,so I knew we had scored.

The room was great - in great shape. And did I mention the view? ?

The one downer, which really wasn't a downer, was that what I'll call the main quiet pool area was closed down for renovations. With as nice of weather as we had, that meant everyone had 2 pool spaces to use instead of 3.

LisaT91403 · Mar 30, 2015

Maybe someone can help me with a reality check here. First, some background. We live about 45 min - 1 hour away from DLR, and even though we are close by, we enjoy staying on-site once or twice per year. GCH is our favorite, but we haven't stayed there in a couple of years because the prices have really skyrocketed. When we first started staying, it seemed like getting a room for less than $300 (including tax) was a good deal. Now, if you can get the same room for less than $400 (*not* including tax), you are in good shape.

This coming June, right at the beginning of the month, we are doing a 2-night, midweek stay at the GCH hotel at a "discounted" rate of $398/night. I was thrilled when the price dropped from $530 last week

But I got to thinking...this stay is going to cost us $931. And we have gone to Aulani twice (once on rented points, once for cash but still in the Villas). If I add up how much we keep spending on Disney hotels, it's a lot. Maybe we should own?

My big issue with ownership is how we travel. We just don't make plans 11 months in advance, especially if we just want to do a quick overnight here in California. Even 7 months out would be very unlikely for us. So for those of you how own at VGC, my question is...is it even realistic to think that we could just grab a Saturday night stay here or there if we are only looking to book a month or two in advance? And I suppose my other question is...why wouldn't we just buy "cheap" points (not VGC) in this case? If we don't plan to book 11 months in advance, why not just buy at a different resort?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Meemoo · Mar 31, 2015

I think its very unlikely to get a night at short notice for VGC particularly a Saturday night. It might work for you if you can try book ahead, you can always cancel if your plans change. I guess you could get lucky with a wait list but many people wait list from 7 months so if you were to go in at a month or two's notice I'd imagine there would be many on the wait list before you. Aulani on the other hand, you might be able to grab something at short notice depending on the season. I hear you re, prices of the Disney Hotels, they have indeed gone up big time, and for me the exchange rate from AUD to USD, add 30% - ouch :crazy2:

KAT4DISNEY · Mar 31, 2015

LisaT91403 said:
My big issue with ownership is how we travel. We just don't make plans 11 months in advance, especially if we just want to do a quick overnight here in California. Even 7 months out would be very unlikely for us. So for those of you how own at VGC, my question is...is it even realistic to think that we could just grab a Saturday night stay here or there if we are only looking to book a month or two in advance? And I suppose my other question is...why wouldn't we just buy "cheap" points (not VGC) in this case? If we don't plan to book 11 months in advance, why not just buy at a different resort?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

To answer your second question first - absolutely you would just want to own cheap points if you would not be able to take advantage of the home resort booking. In most cases that means owning SSR which has some of the lowest resale purchase prices and also some of the lowest dues.

Now for the first part - my observation is that there are nights that will open up - sometimes it's last minute. I suspect that quiet a few locals book in advance and then just have last minute changes so in that case you're being close is an advantage. I see nights I'd love to grab for a last minute trip but I'm in Reno so the drive is just a wee bit long.

But it's not always Saturday nights - sometimes it is of course but it's all over the place and can be 1BR's and 2BR's also. In the end, it might work if you are very flexible and willing to book various size units or different days of the week but there's a big possibility that it wouldn't work out for what you like to do.

LisaT91403 · Mar 31, 2015

Thanks, everyone. Sounds like it would be risky to buy, given our situation. But it's still tempting....

skylynx · Apr 1, 2015

Finally can join this group as an owner...we are officially closed on our 50 point add-on and the points are sitting there deliciously active. We got on the waitlist to purchase an add-on during a cruise 13 months ago and it just came through last month. We did get all the 2014 points, too, so I'll bank those and we'll start next year with 100!

Since we move to Colorado from the Midwest we've been making more trips to California (closer and cheaper to fly) and after staying at the Grand Californian a couple times on points we are ruined for staying anywhere else. Though we've been lucky to get rooms a few times by waitlisting at the 7 month window, it will be nice to be able to plan earlier and have a better chance at reserving our travel dates. As huge fans of Trader Sam's, we will really enjoy being able to spend lots of time, there, too, and then walk "home."

It's a happy day!

sgrap · Apr 1, 2015

skylynx said:
Finally can join this group as an owner...we are officially closed on our 50 point add-on and the points are sitting there deliciously active. We got on the waitlist to purchase an add-on during a cruise 13 months ago and it just came through last month. We did get all the 2014 points, too, so I'll bank those and we'll start next year with 100!

Since we move to Colorado from the Midwest we've been making more trips to California (closer and cheaper to fly) and after staying at the Grand Californian a couple times on points we are ruined for staying anywhere else. Though we've been lucky to get rooms a few times by waitlisting at the 7 month window, it will be nice to be able to plan earlier and have a better chance at reserving our travel dates. As huge fans of Trader Sam's, we will really enjoy being able to spend lots of time, there, too, and then walk "home."

It's a happy day!

Congratulations! We are right behind you with our contract just closing yesterday. Can I ask you how the process went with getting the deed recorded, etc? I am guessing this might be different for you because it sounds like you bought from Disney, and we bought resale. But any info you can give me would be great! Can't wait to get back to our favorite hotel, this time as DVC owners! Woo-hoo!

sgrap · Apr 1, 2015

Is there any storage service in Anaheim similar to the one people use in Florida? I kind of doubt it due to the much smaller size, but thought I'd ask just in case.

Also, anything else a new VGC owner should know--any tricks or trips? We've stayed at GCH many times, so we know general tips about the hotel, like when to use the DCA entrance, etc., but we don't know anything DVC/VGC specific. Thanks!

skylynx · Apr 1, 2015

Well, congrats to you, too, sgrap! We did buy direct from Disney for this one (we have bought resale in the past at other resorts.) I think because we went direct, the process went pretty fast and nearly everything happened "behind the scenes" once we returned our paperwork. It was just under three weeks from when we FedEx'ed our paperwork to Disney to the closing and recording of the deed. Our points were visible in our account online after a week, but not "active" where we could bank or use them for a reservation.

We purchased a Wilderness Lodge resale through the Timeshare Store right before the restrictions on resale purchases took effect, and the entire process from accepted offer to deed recording took about five weeks.

Our vacation time for the rest of this year is already allocated to other adventures, but we're looking forward to our first visit home to Grand Cal as owners a year from now.

Halefamilyof6 · Apr 7, 2015

Well, we are back on the waitlist for more points, lol. This is will be our 3rd add on. We've contemplated picking up another home resort, but we just can't seem to pull the trigger. Living in No. Ca. it is much too easy to load up the car and head to VGC for a few days (yes, even planning way out!). Last time we were on the WL for about two months, but from what I read, our wait might be significantly longer this time around. Regardless, we are excited to have more points, even if our 2016 trip is to Florida, ha ha!

bethy · Apr 7, 2015

skylynx said:
Well, congrats to you, too, sgrap! We did buy direct from Disney for this one (we have bought resale in the past at other resorts.) I think because we went direct, the process went pretty fast and nearly everything happened "behind the scenes" once we returned our paperwork. It was just under three weeks from when we FedEx'ed our paperwork to Disney to the closing and recording of the deed. Our points were visible in our account online after a week, but not "active" where we could bank or use them for a reservation.

We purchased a Wilderness Lodge resale through the Timeshare Store right before the restrictions on resale purchases took effect, and the entire process from accepted offer to deed recording took about five weeks.

Our vacation time for the rest of this year is already allocated to other adventures, but we're looking forward to our first visit home to Grand Cal as owners a year from now.

I just saw your post in March when you first got your points from Disney. We joined the waitlist in Feb 2014 also and also for a December UY! So this gives me hope that we are inching our way up the list for an add on (and that maybe - just maybe the waitlist has some integrity - ahem....) It looks like you bought 50 and we are on the list for 200 I think, so it may take a bit longer. But I think I'd better give DH a heads up since he's the one who writes the checks around here

keaster · Apr 7, 2015

Thought I'd check with the experts...planning ahead to potentially booking a stay at GCV at the end of August 2017. We would want a 2 bedroom (lock off or dedicated, doesn't matter) and would be booking at 7 months. Is that time of year crazy difficult to get in at 7 months? Is it a complete pipe dream? I guess an option would be to rent out our AKL points and then book at 11 months renting points from a GCV owner?

bethy · Apr 7, 2015

keaster said:
Thought I'd check with the experts...planning ahead to potentially booking a stay at GCV at the end of August 2017. We would want a 2 bedroom (lock off or dedicated, doesn't matter) and would be booking at 7 months. Is that time of year crazy difficult to get in at 7 months? Is it a complete pipe dream? I guess an option would be to rent out our AKL points and then book at 11 months renting points from a GCV owner?

Historically the end of August is a relatively good time to visit Disneyland in that it tends to be a bit less crowded. Sometimes high demand DVC times can be the times with lower crowds though. Also, it will be easier to book a 2 bedroom - esp a dedicated one - than it would be a studio so you've got that in your favor. It also depends a lot on how long you want to stay. I'd think your chance were pretty decent for a couple of nights midweek. Weekends are always tougher IME, even with higher point requirements.

I think your chances are decent. If you don't get it, then waitlist and make sure you have backup plan with free cancellation. Or use the points to book at DLH.

skylynx · Apr 8, 2015

bethy said:
I just saw your post in March when you first got your points from Disney. We joined the waitlist in Feb 2014 also and also for a December UY! So this gives me hope that we are inching our way up the list for an add on (and that maybe - just maybe the waitlist has some integrity - ahem....) It looks like you bought 50 and we are on the list for 200 I think, so it may take a bit longer. But I think I'd better give DH a heads up since he's the one who writes the checks around here

Hello, Bethy
I was sort of surprised at how long it actually took for our small-ish wait list to come through, since we'd actually said we'd take ANY use year. When the time came, our guide made it sound as though they were able to assign points to match our current use year. We have two use years, because our Wilderness Lodge points are April, and our SSR and AKL and now VGC are December, but they went with the larger point contracts. I thought unless you specified which use year you wanted when you got on the wait list, you just got whatever use year the contract you were getting the points from was, but maybe not. We figured by not specifying a use year, there would be points available sooner, but it didn't seem to be a factor.

Anyway, good luck to yours coming through soon!

Nonsuch · Apr 8, 2015

skylynx said:
...our guide made it sound as though they were able to assign points to match our current use year.

While Disney can split contracts to give buyers the exact number of points they wish to buy, I suspect it's not possible to change use year.

Contracts purchased on the resale market cannot be split or change use year.

ncgator · Apr 8, 2015

Hi everyone. I also recently added a small 60 point contract and am looking to plan a trip for 2016 (with banking and borrowing, have up to 180 points to use). With WDW, I enjoy going in October and December. Any recommendations on best time of year to go to Disneyland? For 2016, I do want to make sure I hit the 60th anniversary activities. My initial thoughts are late April/early May or September. My last trip to Disneyland was in early October and that seemed nice too.

DennieC · Apr 9, 2015

ncgator said:
Hi everyone. I also recently added a small 60 point contract and am looking to plan a trip for 2016 (with banking and borrowing, have up to 180 points to use). With WDW, I enjoy going in October and December. Any recommendations on best time of year to go to Disneyland? For 2016, I do want to make sure I hit the 60th anniversary activities. My initial thoughts are late April/early May or September. My last trip to Disneyland was in early October and that seemed nice too.

A lot of the refurbishments and upgrades to festivities for the 60th will not be completed until May 22nd, so you most likely want to go after that time frame. September would be good as fall weather in Southern California is like springtime weather elsewhere. And with summer crowds over, it is a nice time to visit the parks. October is one of my favorite times, though, as the Halloween festivities have begun, and Disneyland really knows how to decorate for that season.

LisaT91403 · Apr 9, 2015

DennieC said:
September would be good as fall weather in Southern California is like springtime weather elsewhere.

I've lived in the Los Angeles area for over 40 years, in my experience, September is often brutally and miserably hot. Last year, most of the month had temps between 95 - 102 in Anaheim.

DennieC · Apr 9, 2015

You are quite correct. I live in Northern Cal, and we were down there last year the beginning of October and it was 102. Average is supposed to be 85 during September/October, but what is Average these days?

But still any day at Disney is a good day. Just have to be prepared for the heat.

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

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Glad to be a test subject

DIS Veteran

DIS Sponsor in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Sponsor in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Sponsor in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

Earning My Ears

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Share this page