Renting a villa at Grand Californian

[Lyn-CA]

Originally Posted by ValpoCory

What type of villa do you want? A studio, a 1-Bedroom, or larger? And how many nights? Just wondering what a 12-night WDW person is planning on doing at DLR.

We have 2 trips planned as we will be getting APs for the first time. We're looking for either studio or 1 bedroom. The first trip will be end of Sept/first of Oct. for 9 nights and the second trip will be for either the first or second week of December for 3 nights.

Sorry but I don't understand your last question.

[ahsquared]

We are going the end of September. I went to make my reservations 1week late and had to push my trip back a week to get a room. This hotel fills FAST.

[mdsd8700]

Originally Posted by ahsquared

We are going the end of September. I went to make my reservations 1week late and had to push my trip back a week to get a room. This hotel fills FAST.

In 2010 I waited 2 days past the booking window and there were no studios available but luckily a one bedroom was but we also had to change our dates by a few days. Definitely learned firsthand to book when the window opens especially for VGC.

[hakepb]

Originally Posted by mdsd8700

In 2010 I waited 2 days past the booking window and there were no studios available but luckily a one bedroom was but we also had to change our dates by a few days. Definitely learned firsthand to book when the window opens especially for VGC.

In general with DVC rooms, the 2BR fill first, then studios, then the 1B, so yes, you have a better chance of a 1BR.

[boiseflyfisher]

Originally Posted by hakepb

In general with DVC rooms, the 2BR fill first, then studios, then the 1B, so yes, you have a better chance of a 1BR.

That isn't the case for GCV. The studios absolutely fill up first, probably because of the higher number of points required. The dedicated 2br units are last to fill up. Even with that, they all fill very quickly.

If you look at the 7 month window, currently the week of 9/21-28 is wide open for 2br units. Studios have two nights available during that week and 1br units have 3 nights available. Right now everything starting on 10/29 is wide open, but those dates won't be bookable until tomorrow for the 7 month window.

Looking ahead to the beginning of December, in the first week, studios are booked for 4 out of the 7 days of the first week. Everything else is open. In fact, they are wide open for the month of December with exception to the studios the first week and studios on New Years Eve.

If you are set on your dates and are renting, you need to find an DVC owner who has GCV as their home resort or keep an ongoing request with David's.

[ValpoCory]

Originally Posted by Lyn-CA

We have 2 trips planned as we will be getting APs for the first time. We're looking for either studio or 1 bedroom. The first trip will be end of Sept/first of Oct. for 9 nights and the second trip will be for either the first or second week of December for 3 nights.

Sorry but I don't understand your last question.

Sorry. I meant I like to see what WDW vets feel is the right time at DLR. We are 8 night WDW people. We chose to stay 6 nights at the VGC (75% of the WDW length). You are a 12-night WDW vet, and choosing to stay 9 nights at the DLR (75% of the WDW length).

[mdsd8700]

Originally Posted by hakepb

In general with DVC rooms, the 2BR fill first, then studios, then the 1B, so yes, you have a better chance of a 1BR.

We were brand new to DVC at the time and had not yet figured that one out. Certainly all the reading I do on these boards has educated me on many things Disney and DVC. So much to absorb!

[mdsd8700]

Originally Posted by boiseflyfisher

That isn't the case for GCV. The studios absolutely fill up first, probably because of the higher number of points required. The dedicated 2br units are last to fill up. Even with that, they all fill very quickly.

Thanks for the info! VGC is definitely a higher point stay for us (worth every point though ) but this information is the kind of thing I like to read/learn for the future.

[Lyn-CA]

Originally Posted by ValpoCory

Sorry. I meant I like to see what WDW vets feel is the right time at DLR. We are 8 night WDW people. We chose to stay 6 nights at the VGC (75% of the WDW length). You are a 12-night WDW vet, and choosing to stay 9 nights at the DLR (75% of the WDW length).

Oh, I think I understand.

We're hardly WDW vets (only 5 trips over a 15-year span). Our 9 night stay is unusual for us, our previous DLR trips were typically 4 day/3 night trips.

This time though will be 9 nights for several reasons: we are getting APs for the first time ever so we want to put them to good use; we skipped vacationing for 3 years so we're trying to make up for it (2013 is our Disney year); we want to take our time esp. with our toddler in tow at both parks (so many new changes since our last visit in 2007).