3 Bedroom Suite at Grand Californian, how much room?

[OregontoDisney]

Those pictures are great! Thank you so much for posting them, I really enjoyed looking at them.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Those pictures are great! Thank you so much for posting them, I really enjoyed looking at them.

My pleasure! It was a great trip and we really enjoyed the space.

 

[dizneekrazee]

How in the heck do you get this Grand Villa? It looks amazing!!! Anyone know nightly rate/points needed?

 

[Lewdannie]

Do both of the Grand Villas have World of Color views?

 

[adykate]

Depending on the time of year you go, the 3 bedroom Grand Villa (only available through DVC points), is (very) roughly $1200/night - more in high season, slightly less in off seasons. You can look at DVC point calculators on any rental agency website to see how many points are needed per night, depending on the season, and if it is weekday or weekend. Then calculate the number of points by $13 (somewhat standard rate through agencies for buying points, can possibly get slightly less buying privately with an owner, but right now the GCH villas are so popular owners are starting to charge more than $13 per point).

A GCH 3 bedroom suite (not part of the DVC villa section), which does not have a kitchen (just mini fridge and wet bar), and can be booked directly with Disney, was quoted to me today as about $14,000/week for a May reservation. A 2 bedroom around $10,000, 1 bedroom was $8000.

I am not a DVC member, and I am currently trying to figure out a way to get the Grand Villa for a week next May which is why I have researched all of this. After talking to several owners, and a couple rental agencies, I was pretty much told it is almost impossible due to the number of points needed for a lengthy stay (more than a couple nights). So if anyone here has any inside tips for me on how to get the grand villa for at least 5 nights, it
would be greatly appreciated!

 

[adykate]

Do both of the Grand Villas have World of Color views?

No, I believe one has a park view (probably a WoC view), the other is a pool view.

 

[Nonsuch]

I am not a DVC member, and I am currently trying to figure out a way to get the Grand Villa for a week next May which is why I have researched all of this. After talking to several owners, and a couple rental agencies, I was pretty much told it is almost impossible due to the number of points needed for a lengthy stay (more than a couple nights).

The DVC rules have changed over the years, so rental companies cannot pool points from several owners. It is unlikely a single VGC owner is renting the number of points needed, but there might be an owner from another DVC resort. If the Grand Villa is available 7-months in advance you might be able to rent from a non-VGC owner.

Another approach requires an actual DVC owner, that you know and trust. You would rent VGC points from other owners and transfer them to the one you trust.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I believe one has a park view (probably a WoC view), the other is a pool view.

One Grand Villa has the best WOC view
the other looks at the pool

 

[boiseflyfisher]

The DVC rules have changed over the years, so rental companies cannot pool points from several owners. It is unlikely a single VGC owner is renting the number of points needed, but there might be an owner from another DVC resort. If the Grand Villa is available 7-months in advance you might be able to rent from a non-VGC owner.

Another approach requires an actual DVC owner, that you know and trust. You would rent VGC points from other owners and transfer them to the one you trust.

This is sage advice. As you know, the point requirements for the GV is very high. You could find two VGC owners and have them each book a portion of your stay, then have them link the reservations. This doesn't guarantee that you will get to stay in the same villa, but since there are only two, odds are that you will stay in the original one. The other way is to have one owner transfer points to the other owner.

I could book your reservation with using this year's points and borrowing next year's points, but that ties up a lot of points for us and would mean that we couldn't enjoy VGC for our own vacation. For that kind of point commitment that far out, most owners are going to want 100% up front and are going to want $13+ per point. That is requiring a lot of trust on both sides. With VGC being more and more difficult to book at 7 months out, it seems like most owners are holding tight to their points and are actually using them at their home resort rather than trading them out.

 

[adykate]

Thank you for the info and advice. It is much appreciated! I wish I knew some DVC owners so I could try and set this up without the huge risk of paying $10,000 11 or 7 months in advance to a total stranger, and then showing up to find no reservation was ever booked and I got screwed. I completely understand why there is risk involved on both sides, however, and that GCH is a hot resort to book. My family is willing to pay the $13/point for a 6 or 7 night stay, as this is kind of a once in a lifetime family trip, in celebration of some special events. I just don't have much confidence I will find an owner with enough points who can access the booking early enough to get a Grand Villa, or that I will find TWO owners who are willing to work with each other, or transfer points to help me out. I know there are wonderful people in this world who help total strangers, but it's hard to have faith all the stars will align and this will work for my family. I will keep trying though - never say never! Thanks again, and sorry to the OP for kind of hijacking this thread.