DCA-Grand Californian

[cdndisneydaddy]

Hello All!

New member to DVC (joined on our Hawaiian cruise!) and really excited. Aulani is our home resort but we really want to go to Disneyland!

Trying to book using our 7 month advance window online but I'm having a hard time as it seems like there is never a week clear. Always 1 or 2 days unavailable here and there or nothing at all!

1 - Is this norm? I heard that it is a really popular spot. Historically, is this a hard one to get?

2 - Is it true we can use our points to book a regular hotel room? And if so, does anyone know if it is a lot more points or around the same?

Such a noobie at this and I apologize. Hoping someone can share with me some of their experience with the Grand.

Thanks,

Roy

 

[DebbieB]

Hello All!

New member to DVC (joined on our Hawaiian cruise!) and really excited. Aulani is our home resort but we really want to go to Disneyland!

Trying to book using our 7 month advance window online but I'm having a hard time as it seems like there is never a week clear. Always 1 or 2 days unavailable here and there or nothing at all!

1 - Is this norm? I heard that it is a really popular spot. Historically, is this a hard one to get?

2 - Is it true we can use our points to book a regular hotel room? And if so, does anyone know if it is a lot more points or around the same?

Such a noobie at this and I apologize. Hoping someone can share with me some of their experience with the Grand.

Thanks,

Roy

I've been able to get a studio at exactly the 7 month mark for early May last year and late September this year.

You can book regular hotel rooms but they are about the same points as a 1 bedroom. Check the member website for the points chart. Keep in mind that once you book outside of DVC, those points cannot be used for a DVC resort if you cancel. So if you book a hotel room and then a DVC room becomes available, you can't switch.

 

[cmwade77]

My suggestion is that you "trade" with someone who owns at the Grand Californian. I know we would love to book Aulani at the 12 month window, so I am sure there are others that would do this.

Basically, how we worked it with one is we booked the vacation for the other member and they did the same for us. But you may be able to transfer the points and have them transfer the points, we just weren't sure if that was allowed for sure or not, as you are not supposed to get any compensation for transferring points.

 

[tjkraz]

There are only 48 villas at the Grand Californian and only a fraction of that number likely matches what you are trying to book. If memory serves it's something like 21 Studios + 1Bs, 25 Two Bedrooms and 2 Three Bedroom Grand Villas.

Owners at the Grand californian have a 4 month priority window to book. Some times of the year villas will be completely gone before you can even book 7 months prior to arrival.

Other times villas will make it to the 7 month window but they can be quickly snatched up by the tens-of-thousands who do not own at the Grand Californian.

Best chances for success will be if you try booking exactly 7 months prior to your arrival. And again to maximize your odds for success, get on-line at 8am eastern to book it.

Everything is first come, first served. If you try to book on 3-4 months' notice, thousands of DVC members have already had the opportunity to grab the limited supply of rooms. Even trying to book at noon pacific time exactly 7 mos out means others have gotten a 7 hour jump on you.

It's nothing like booking a cash hotel room. Disney's cash resorts tend to run 80-90% occupancy during all but the busiest times of the year. DVC is much different given the limited supply and large volume of owners vying for certain locations.

Yes, you can book GC hotel rooms on points. The cost is about 2.5x the cost of a DVC Studio. The chart is on DVCMember.com. Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier are also bookable on points but the costs are similarly high. Securing a VGC Studio Villa will cost you the fewest points but it will rarely be an easy get.

 

[papamouse1]

Hello All!

New member to DVC (joined on our Hawaiian cruise!) and really excited. Aulani is our home resort but we really want to go to Disneyland!

Trying to book using our 7 month advance window online but I'm having a hard time as it seems like there is never a week clear. Always 1 or 2 days unavailable here and there or nothing at all!

1 - Is this norm? I heard that it is a really popular spot. Historically, is this a hard one to get?

2 - Is it true we can use our points to book a regular hotel room? And if so, does anyone know if it is a lot more points or around the same?

Such a noobie at this and I apologize. Hoping someone can share with me some of their experience with the Grand.

Thanks,

Roy

1) It absolutely is the norm. The issue is simple.. there are an absolute maximum of 71 rooms available. 23 dedicated 2BR units, 23 1BR and Studio units that can be combined to be another 2 BR unit (so if you broke these up the most you get is 46 rooms), then lastly 2 3BR Grand Villas. That is an extremely small DVC resort. Combine that with the fact that is the only DVC resort at DL and you can see why they hard to get ahold of.
Now with that said, we have been able to get it each time by simply hitting the phones (or this last time, we used the online registration), and booking the SECOND they come available. We are heading to DL for Thanksgiving weekend, so you know that is premium busy season. I jumped online immediately, booked 1BR for 3 nights. It took about 5 minutes to do it, then I waited about 5 minutes then went back to see if any were still available, and already only a studio and a 2BR were available. As you can see, it is possible, but have to get on it and I mean the SECOND you can **** then book

2) Yes, you can book standard hotel rooms at any of the DL resort including the GC. The point charts are available online under "2012 Disney Collection"... then click "Disneyland Resort in California). We actually booked another 3 days on our trip at the DL Hotel so we can see it after all the renovations, So first 3 nights are at GCV and last 3 nights are at DLH. But be ready for sticker shock. DebbieB made a good assessment... it is about the same as a 1BR rate.

Here's a quick comparison

Summer months with points needed listed as weekdays/weekends

Disney hotels with standard view....
Paradise Pier 33/41
Disneyland Hotel 44/55
Grand Californian Hotel room 53/66

Grand Californian DVC...
Studio 26/32
1BR 52/64
2BR 70/88

So if you go with PP, you can get a rate closer to a studio rate, and GC at around a 1BR rate...

As a new DVC owner, the best advice I can give you is plan early and relax. We have pretty much always gotten what we wanted by being a little flexible, and by booking first thing... and we LOVE our DVC!
If you relax and work at it, so will you

 

[cdndisneydaddy]

You guys are GREAT!

Thank you so much for the responses. I love Dis. Awesome information. I'm gonna have to do some planning. The trading with others seems like a great idea. Will definitely look into that.

Wow so much to learn as a new member. Good to have all the "family" helping.

Thanks again everyone.

Roy

 

[papamouse1]

 

[Cinderpamela]

Now with that said, we have been able to get it each time by simply hitting the phones (or this last time, we used the online registration), and booking the SECOND they come available. We are heading to DL for Thanksgiving weekend, so you know that is premium busy season. I jumped online immediately, booked 1BR for 3 nights.

I completely agree with Papamouse! Be on that computer all ready to hit the booking button right when your 7 month window opens up! So important especially for VGC.

We are going at the same time as Papamouse, Thanksgiving weekend through till the following Tuesday, and we got our 1 bedroom the very second that our window opened up.

Welcome Home, and best wishes with your bookings! My DH and I are excited to try out your home resort of Aulani in just a month and a half!!

 

[Twinprincesses]

We are going in October and I was having horrible luck. I finally work up at I think it was 5 am our time here jumped online and got it then. I am still out of a room for 3 days though so we will jsut stay off site those days.

 

[Julylady]

We wanted 6 nights in a two bedroom at GC last June. The best I could do was 3 consecutive nights and wait list for the rest. I booked the other three nights at Paradise Pier "just in case." The wait list never came through and we ended up changing hotels. Not ideal, but okay. I called early in the morning at the exact 11month date. We loved GC, but I agree it's hard to get.

 

[DebbieB]

We wanted 6 nights in a two bedroom at GC last June. The best I could do was 3 consecutive nights and wait list for the rest. I booked the other three nights at Paradise Pier "just in case." The wait list never came through and we ended up changing hotels. Not ideal, but okay. I called early in the morning at the exact 11month date. We loved GC, but I agree it's hard to get.

Did you book the 3 nights at PP with points? If the waitlist came through, you could not have used those points for VGC, they became reservation points when you booked PP.

 

[gracelrm]

We are hoping to go to Disneyland next summer (June 2013). I've always called for reservations and call at 7:00 am CT when I'm wanting a hard to get reservation, but have never used the on-line system. What time would be the earliest you could go on=line for a reservation?

TIA

 

[DebbieB]

We are hoping to go to Disneyland next summer (June 2013). I've always called for reservations and call at 7:00 am CT when I'm wanting a hard to get reservation, but have never used the on-line system. What time would be the earliest you could go on=line for a reservation?

TIA

8:00am eastern when you are at the 11 or 7 month window. Other than that, you can book anytime. Member Services phone line opens at 9:00am eastern (8:00am central).