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

gometros · Jul 12, 2015

The Room views thread said that information about making room requests was on the last page of this thread, which didn't make sense, since the last page is dynamic. I checked the first page and either missed it or didn't see it. We will be staying the first week of October. How much before should we make the request and where do we make it? DVC Member Services, the resort directly? Thanks.

Nonsuch · Jul 12, 2015

gometros said:
...We will be staying the first week of October. How much before should we make the request and where do we make it? DVC Member Services, the resort directly?

I make requests via email (or the DVC website) to Member Services, with a list of specific villa numbers.
Request can be made anytime, I have not noticed any difference between 1 month or 11 months in advance.

sgrap · Jul 12, 2015

gometros said:
The Room views thread said that information about making room requests was on the last page of this thread, which didn't make sense, since the last page is dynamic. I checked the first page and either missed it or didn't see it. We will be staying the first week of October. How much before should we make the request and where do we make it? DVC Member Services, the resort directly? Thanks.

You can make them anytime, I believe by phone, by e-mail, or by the 'chat' feature on the DVC website.

AZMermaid · Jul 12, 2015

We just bought and closed resale at VGC! I made our first reservation for June 12-16 today! I will hopefully add either the 11th or 17th with my Aulani points at 7 months to give us a 5 night stay. This will be our longest ever DL trip and we are really looking forwrad to it. We have been going in the winter the last few years for easier bookings/ school schedules/ birthdays etc. We went this year Feb 7-10 and it was packed and so much was down (we expected the ride closures and figured we were trading low crowds for them. Nope. Packed Packed Packed. Never saw a single "walk on," nothing even close). So DH said, "that's it- next time, we go in the summer. If it is going to be this busy, I at least want to ride Splash Mt and go swimming!" So, we will be there 4 full days- leaving one day open as a pool/resort day!

sgrap · Jul 12, 2015

AZMermaid said:
We just bought and closed resale at VGC! I made our first reservation for June 12-16 today! I will hopefully add either the 11th or 17th with my Aulani points at 7 months to give us a 5 night stay. This will be our longest ever DL trip and we are really looking forwrad to it. We have been going in the winter the last few years for easier bookings/ school schedules/ birthdays etc. We went this year Feb 7-10 and it was packed and so much was down (we expected the ride closures and figured we were trading low crowds for them. Nope. Packed Packed Packed. Never saw a single "walk on," nothing even close). So DH said, "that's it- next time, we go in the summer. If it is going to be this busy, I at least want to ride Splash Mt and go swimming!" So, we will be there 4 full days- leaving one day open as a pool/resort day!

Congratulations!!! We closed in April on our first DVC contract and booked for mid-November. Already adding on and we haven't even been yet! ;-) We are debating on an early June 2016 trip as well for my milestone birthday. Have never done June--not sure if I'd handle the crowds and heat well. We are usually March through May goers or October-November. You should have everything open for your trip, which will be wonderful!!! You will have a blast!

chrisaman · Aug 3, 2015

Woohoo. Close to one month till our marathon weekend stay. Can't wait

NMDisneyMom · Aug 6, 2015

After a long drought of not going to DL, I'm hoping to head there next year with my daughter. I'm looking at Spring Break week. We would drive out on 3/25 and stay until 3/31 or so. I know that to have any chance at a studio I need to be logged in and ready to go at 8 am EST on the 7 month out mark. Do you all think I've got a good shot at it? I've never "walked" a reservation as it seems like it's "gaming" the system and really seems to be unfair, but I'd really like to head to California that week. Thoughts?????

Rjmdds · Aug 6, 2015

Honestly, it's a lot of luck. Time of year is a big factor and Spring Break time is a tough one. I was very lucky to get a studio at VGC for 8 days for the end of this month but I know that is not the norm. As you said, be ready at 8 sharp. I would also regularly call Member Services and see if they can check too. I needed two days for my reservation (they were on waitlist) and when I called the CM said she could book my waitlist. Again, all luck...but possible.

Meemoo · Aug 7, 2015

Hello

We will be checking into VGC 10/19 for four nights, our first DVC stay away from our home resort Aulani. I was so happy that I managed to secure a studio as I realize the demand for it. I requested the 4 room numbers that most people recommend for the amazing view of California Adventure Park. Our flight gets in late afternoon though and I'm concerned that we may not get considered for our requests arriving so late. We are coming from Australia, first DL trip in a decade, and first trip for my kids apart from HKDL a few years back. The hotel looks lovely, I can't wait to experience it! We have 6 nights booked off site after this, I fear the transition blues :scared1:

but hey, we'll still be at Disney so can't complain a great deal!

sjaz22 · Aug 7, 2015

What are the chances of getting, at the 7 month window, a studio or 1-bedroom for the first week of August?

Nonsuch · Aug 7, 2015

Meemoo said:
...I requested the 4 room numbers that most people recommend for the amazing view of California Adventure Park. Our flight gets in late afternoon though and I'm concerned that we may not get considered for our requests arriving so late.

Best of luck with your room request, but you are correct that late check-in can be an issue. Guests checking in early in the day may take the studio initially assigned to you. You might try calling GCH early in the day, before your long flight.

I just stayed in 6504, so this is the view you are requesting:

A panorama:

Meemoo said:
...We have 6 nights booked off site after this, I fear the transition blues

On a split stay, starting off-site would allow very early check-in at VGC -- Just a tip for your next visit.

Nonsuch · Aug 7, 2015

sjaz22 said:
What are the chances of getting, at the 7 month window, a studio or 1-bedroom for the first week of August?

I'm sure you read the answer recently posted on the thread you started, but I'm reposting it here:

Just Peachy said:
Before I purchased at VGC last year, I watched the booking pattern for about two years (by renting from other owners, following the posts on the Dis-board and other sites, and using the temporarily-available tool published by another Disney-fan site that allowed you to look at all the availability of rooms looking out 7+ months).

What I saw was that the studios were gone before the 7-month window for any high visitation dates to the DLR (Christmas/NYE, Thanksgiving, July 4, Memorial and Labor days, Marathon weekends, etc) and gone soon after entering the 7-month window for most any other times. The 2-br’s were available a little longer but only about a week or so longer and the 1-br’s just a little longer than that. In August of 2016, you should still be able to get something at 7-months.

Since my points were purchased via re-sale, I don’t have the option to use the Disney Collection. However, I have done several cash-stays at the DLH in the past few years and have found that there has been standard rooms available even at 45 days out from my summer travel dates (with the notable exception of this year around the 60 Anniversary week where nothing was available at 60 days out). I don’t know if the Disney Collection inventory of rooms at the DLH is different from the inventory of standard rooms, though.

Good luck with your planning!

Meemoo · Aug 7, 2015

Nonsuch said:
Best of luck with your room request, but you are correct that late check-in can be an issue. Guests checking in early in the day may take the studio initially assigned to you. You might try calling GCH early in the day, before your long flight.

I just stayed in 6504, so this is the view you are requesting:
View attachment 114326
A panorama:
View attachment 114328

On a split stay, starting off-site would allow very early check-in at VGC -- Just a tip for your next visit.

That view looks wonderful. I will try contact them the day before we leave, no harm trying! I would have liked off site first but attempting to book at the 7 month window I wanted to allow myself 2 chances, I was just lucky to have secured it at all. A view like that would be a great intro to Disneyland for my kids first visit.

Meemoo · Aug 7, 2015

Is there a way to directly contact the hotel or must I go through the general Disney Resort phone number and emails?

Nonsuch · Aug 7, 2015

Meemoo said:
Is there a way to directly contact the hotel or must I go through the general Disney Resort phone number and emails?

VGC does not have dedicated check-in, so call the hotel directly.
GCH pre-registration: (714) 300-7210
GCH main: (714) 635-2300

pirate33 · Aug 9, 2015

We are new owners--bought two contracts in the last six months. I just booked two studios for next July. I had to call MS about some details, and the easiest way to fix them was to cancel and rebook. In the process of doing that, the operator said only 5 studios were still available on our dates! This property does book up fast. (I will say that when we got our first batch of points, I had no problem booking a 2 BR in December just before the 7 month window opened. I guess it's true what I've read here--the studios go fast.)

ZamboniNerd · Aug 9, 2015

chrisaman said:
Woohoo. Close to one month till our marathon weekend stay. Can't wait

It is impossible to make the clock move any faster!
Staying for an entire week Sep 3 - 10 and running the races. Should be an amazing time in our favorite home away from home.

sechelt · Aug 9, 2015

Meemoo said:
Hello We will be checking into VGC 10/19 for four nights, our first DVC stay away from our home resort Aulani. I was so happy that I managed to secure a studio as I realize the demand for it. I requested the 4 room numbers that most people recommend for the amazing view of California Adventure Park. Our flight gets in late afternoon though and I'm concerned that we may not get considered for our requests arriving so late. We are coming from Australia, first DL trip in a decade, and first trip for my kids apart from HKDL a few years back. The hotel looks lovely, I can't wait to experience it! We have 6 nights booked off site after this, I fear the transition blues but hey, we'll still be at Disney so can't complain a great deal!

When you contact the hotel, be certain to tell them you'll be a late arrival, from Australia. It might help. My son needed to take a very late flight, from Canada, but when he arrived at 11:30 p.m., unit 6504 was waiting for him with open arms.

I'd also mention that it's your kids' first visit. Every little bit helps.

Meemoo · Aug 9, 2015

sechelt said:
When you contact the hotel, be certain to tell them you'll be a late arrival, from Australia. It might help. My son needed to take a very late flight, from Canada, but when he arrived at 11:30 p.m., unit 6504 was waiting for him with open arms. I'd also mention that it's your kids' first visit. Every little bit helps.

Thanks for the tip, I shall try! So telephoning the hotel is the best idea, aside from putting the requests in via DVC?

DebbieB · Aug 9, 2015

I checked in today around noon. I emailed member services a couple of months ago with a list of 5 preferred room numbers, park views. Happy to say we got one of them, an awesome view! Waiting for World of Color in about 30 min!

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