DVC Grand Californian Rooms not Available - Even at the Window???

[hjgaus]

Yep, not many rooms there. I own there and find that if I don't book right at the 11 month mark, what I want is often not available. I just had my wait list come through that I created in February for a December trip.

I'm trying to train the people I travel with most to let me know when they want to go at least a year out, but that's an uphill battle.

As others have mentioned, the traffic patterns there are a little different as there are many West Coasters who own who plan weekend trips, so I get the impression Thurs-Sun nights are in slightly higher demand than Mon-Wed.

YES!! This is true for us local DVCer's! Also that the 2 bedroom & Grand Villa are usually ready available than the 1 bedroom or studios! Although sometimes reserving on Monday school holidays or checking in ON a Wednesday then check OUT Saturday bodes well for us too!! You really have to watch the online reservations like a hawk to find openings depending what /when your needs are! Keep trying something will open up for you!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

VGC is very small in comparison, which is why there is no $25 booking fee for transferring to the Disney Collection at DLR. Using points at PPH and DLH are viable options that many on the West coast use, themselves (unless you are a resale buyer after the March date).

To be forward, I hate this entitlement mentality. No, you didn't pay thousands of dollars to get a room at VGC, the owners of that resort did. You get the leftovers; period. If it doesn't fit with your schedule, then buy points at the resort and then you are entitled to the extended booking window, since it is the true owners of the VGC villas, whom are booking the rooms that you want.

VGC is a perfect example of why it is critical to buy where you want to stay and it proves the value of direct purchased points over resale for those who travel to DLR frequently.

Bottom line, the only people entitled to a room at any given resort are the owners of that resort. The rest of us are graciously permitted to book there if there is left over availability.

This is truly an informative post that succinctly addresses many of the questions that frequently circulate on the DVC boards (e.g., being part of the club, importance of home resort). If this was Facebook, then I would be hitting the promote button to move this post to the top of the board.

 

[holula]

And this is why we traded out our points to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel (not villas) for Labor Day weekend. It's more points, but nowhere near as bad as trading out points for other non-DVC WDW resorts. Going around a holiday in California means it will be BUSY.

I accidentally looked at VGC instead of VGF availability yesterday for late January and 1-bedrooms were still available. Getting into VGC requires you to be flexible, own there, or trade out points.

I would love to see more DVC on the West Coast though.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

VGC is very small in comparison, which is why there is no $25 booking fee for transferring to the Disney Collection at DLR. Using points at PPH and DLH are viable options that many on the West coast use, themselves (unless you are a resale buyer after the March date).

To be forward, I hate this entitlement mentality. No, you didn't pay thousands of dollars to get a room at VGC, the owners of that resort did. You get the leftovers; period. If it doesn't fit with your schedule, then buy points at the resort and then you are entitled to the extended booking window, since it is the true owners of the VGC villas, whom are booking the rooms that you want.

VGC is a perfect example of why it is critical to buy where you want to stay and it proves the value of direct purchased points over resale for those who travel to DLR frequently.

Bottom line, the only people entitled to a room at any given resort are the owners of that resort. The rest of us are graciously permitted to book there if there is left over availability.

I, too, love this post! You are spot on on everything you said. Sometimes my dh gets that entitlement mentality and I remind him that he got exactly what he paid for, deluxe accommodations at our home resort at a discounted rate over time. No more, no less. Anything else we get by being DVC members is icing on the cake. Luckily, we own VGC. At the time we purchased, we really only visited DL. Now that we live closer to WDW, we rarely get back to our home resort.

 

[David Raguso]

Thanks everyone for your feedback I should have provided more insight in my initial email but here are some additional thoughts. I dont want people think I hate that club, thats not true I love going to Disney, the resorts and parks etc I just growing concerned that availability is getting challenging.

Background - I've been a DVC member for 5 years and it was much easier to get a room when i first joined, I usually got first pick of room and dates and I usually didnt have to book that far out maybe 1-2 months out..why would this change? Yes more people purchase membership but they also build new hotels...doesnt Disney manage the number of owners to the availability of rooms?

GC Number of Rooms - It really is puzzling why DVC was added with so few rooms at Grand Californian. On the one way Im thankful we have DVC at all there but at the same time didnt someone think, if we're gonna bother adding DVC that the current number of rooms is too few? if nothing else I hope they add more DVC after Grand Floridian is done.

Avails for Feb - Some people had questions on this so, to be specific, I could not get a room of any size for the original dates i looked and even other dates I was willing to consider at the Grand Californian. Yes its around Presidents Weekend but Disney considers this the "adventure" season which is the least busiest season...why would they classify it this way if its actually a peak time? regardless there are not many options on when to plan a vacation when you take into consideration childrens school calendars, work schedule/workload and expensive travel costs, February was really one of the few times feasible to go.

How Far out to Book - A lot of people I guess dont have an issue booking a vacation 11 months or 7 months in advance. Unfortunately thats challenging here...I dont know what work will be like 11 or 7 months in advance to know if its a good time to take off from work, I just cant take off whenever I feel like and I like taking time off when I know for sure its going to be manageable.

Home Resort - A few people were wondering why I dont own in Cali, Im in NYC and go to Florida most of the time so owning at Grand Californian doesnt make any sense. Besides, the whole point of Disney Vacation Club is to be able to have the freedom to experience staying at other resorts besides the home resort, I shouldnt have to feel chained to the home resort although yes there is the nice advantage for some people to book 11 months out if they are able to.

Flexibility - Some people think I feel entitled, and thats not the case, Im only seeking whats fair I am understanding that Disney is always popular and there will be competition to make the best vacation possible. However I do feel that the main selling point of DVC is to go whenever and however you want. Its the reason I liked DVC much better than traditional timeshare options. Yes, thats clearly contingent based on availability but when you have to fight tooth and nail to get a room within hours of the first available time window possible, I dont think thats right either. I was really trying to be flexible as I can, I looked at different room sizes and slightly different dates but if I cant even book plan#4 within hours of the first possible time to book I really think thats an issue.

I love the club and have no regrets being a member I just want the great fleixbility back that I had when I first joined. Even Florida avails have gotten challenging, I never thought Id see the day that even getting any room at the huge Saratoga Springs would be challenging but even that resort books months in advance.

 

[hakepb]

DVC members own 100% of the rooms they can book, there is not supposed to be extra availability.
Now, DVD declares new units as they expect to sell more. Perhaps they do not declare as much extra rooms as they used to?
There is also now more information on the "Internets" and more owners know how to better use their points and/or know easier ways to rent extra points that used to just sit around.
And you have the general "popularity breeds popularity". You have to advance plan to go to a Yankees game, so people plan and attendance is high. But you can generally walk up to a Mets game and get tickets, so fans don't plan, and don't go. At VGC, it was difficult at some times so more people reserved in advance, which resulted in more difficulty and more advanced planning.
...and then there's the whole Cars Land thing that has done so well, I think Disney stopped offering California resident ticket discounts. Disneyland and especially California Adventure was seen as struggling 5 or so years back, and is now Hot, Hot, Hot!

I think DVC always knew they could sell more...but on what land? They really couldn't get more...and then GCV sales were actually very poor due to the economy. It took a few years to sell what should of been a 6mo sellout.

 

[dmunsil]

The past few years there has been lower occupancy, even for DVC, because of the depressed economy. I would guess a bunch of people banked their points rather than travel. Now they're using their banked points as the economy picks up or because they have to use them or lose them, and suddenly there are more people chasing the same rooms and it becomes harder to get the room you want.

 

[taaren]

VGC is very small in comparison, which is why there is no $25 booking fee for transferring to the Disney Collection at DLR. Using points at PPH and DLH are viable options that many on the West coast use, themselves (unless you are a resale buyer after the March date).

To be forward, I hate this entitlement mentality. No, you didn't pay thousands of dollars to get a room at VGC, the owners of that resort did. You get the leftovers; period. If it doesn't fit with your schedule, then buy points at the resort and then you are entitled to the extended booking window, since it is the true owners of the VGC villas, whom are booking the rooms that you want.

VGC is a perfect example of why it is critical to buy where you want to stay and it proves the value of direct purchased points over resale for those who travel to DLR frequently.

Bottom line, the only people entitled to a room at any given resort are the owners of that resort. The rest of us are graciously permitted to book there if there is left over availability.

This is a fabulous post. I'd add, that the main reason that sentence kind of bugged me is that the people you are "fighting with", tooth and nail, are also people that paid thousands of dollars. You are 'competing' with other DVC owners, not with Disney/DVD at the 11 and 7 month marks.

I guess its easier to think that the system could be better rigged, but the truth is, a lot of people want to use the points they paid for all around the same time. In a few years, when my DS is a little bit older and we won't be able to take him out of school as easily, we'll be competing for those school vacation times and I WILL have my vacations mapped out over 11 months in advance, because I know that what's important to me is also important to many others.

The past few years there has been lower occupancy, even for DVC, because of the depressed economy. I would guess a bunch of people banked their points rather than travel. Now they're using their banked points as the economy picks up or because they have to use them or lose them, and suddenly there are more people chasing the same rooms and it becomes harder to get the room you want.

This is really interesting ... I saw a thread on *the other forum that shall not be named* that said they thought demand might be up on points rentals due to the economy recovering as well as the PAP promotion may have sparked a lot of owners to use a lot of their points in 2013 and 2014.

 

[SFlaDisneyfans]

If I can compare, I would say that VGF will in someways mirror VGC. I have the option to buy into VGF. My GF and I chose not to (she didn't think the villas compared favorably to the cash resort when we visited the models) purchase there. Due to its small size and popularity, I have no illusions of getting a room there at popular times during the 7 month window. I accept that as the consequence of the choice we made to not purchase there. I feel the same applies to everyone who did not purchase at either VGF or VGC.

 

[BestDadEver]

Thanks everyone for your feedback I should have provided more insight in my initial email but here are some additional thoughts. I dont want people think I hate that club, thats not true I love going to Disney, the resorts and parks etc I just growing concerned that availability is getting challenging.

Background - I've been a DVC member for 5 years and it was much easier to get a room when i first joined, I usually got first pick of room and dates and I usually didnt have to book that far out maybe 1-2 months out..why would this change? Yes more people purchase membership but they also build new hotels...doesnt Disney manage the number of owners to the availability of rooms?

GC Number of Rooms - It really is puzzling why DVC was added with so few rooms at Grand Californian. On the one way Im thankful we have DVC at all there but at the same time didnt someone think, if we're gonna bother adding DVC that the current number of rooms is too few? if nothing else I hope they add more DVC after Grand Floridian is done.

Avails for Feb - Some people had questions on this so, to be specific, I could not get a room of any size for the original dates i looked and even other dates I was willing to consider at the Grand Californian. Yes its around Presidents Weekend but Disney considers this the "adventure" season which is the least busiest season...why would they classify it this way if its actually a peak time? regardless there are not many options on when to plan a vacation when you take into consideration childrens school calendars, work schedule/workload and expensive travel costs, February was really one of the few times feasible to go.

How Far out to Book - A lot of people I guess dont have an issue booking a vacation 11 months or 7 months in advance. Unfortunately thats challenging here...I dont know what work will be like 11 or 7 months in advance to know if its a good time to take off from work, I just cant take off whenever I feel like and I like taking time off when I know for sure its going to be manageable.

Home Resort - A few people were wondering why I dont own in Cali, Im in NYC and go to Florida most of the time so owning at Grand Californian doesnt make any sense. Besides, the whole point of Disney Vacation Club is to be able to have the freedom to experience staying at other resorts besides the home resort, I shouldnt have to feel chained to the home resort although yes there is the nice advantage for some people to book 11 months out if they are able to.

Flexibility - Some people think I feel entitled, and thats not the case, Im only seeking whats fair I am understanding that Disney is always popular and there will be competition to make the best vacation possible. However I do feel that the main selling point of DVC is to go whenever and however you want. Its the reason I liked DVC much better than traditional timeshare options. Yes, thats clearly contingent based on availability but when you have to fight tooth and nail to get a room within hours of the first available time window possible, I dont think thats right either. I was really trying to be flexible as I can, I looked at different room sizes and slightly different dates but if I cant even book plan#4 within hours of the first possible time to book I really think thats an issue.

I love the club and have no regrets being a member I just want the great fleixbility back that I had when I first joined. Even Florida avails have gotten challenging, I never thought Id see the day that even getting any room at the huge Saratoga Springs would be challenging but even that resort books months in advance.

It seems you really not to sure how DVC works even after 5 years . I agree with grayword also , but he did leave out the part that even if you own a specific resort it's not guaranteed that you get what room or date you want even at 11 months . Although it gives you a much better chance .

Some things that are sticking out to me is that the low point times are high demand DVC times people want to get value for there points . You may have had an easier time booking pres week cause most won't want to spend the points . Not being able to book is quite a big deterrent to buying DVC this is preached on these boards almost daily , especially if you want a specific resort . I am sure you can get a room somewhere under 7 months but I doubt you will get a high demand time resort at say 5 months .

Your whole felxability issue is going to be a problem for you through your membership IMO , they are only adding more resorts some , even the older ones are still in high demand even if its not that persons home resort . This really can cause log jams at specific times and resorts if most people are opting to stay outside there hone resort leaving availability at there home resort but making you fight tooth and nail to get that prime location and time . That is why it's preached buy where you want to stay , and most will advise against buying DVC if you state you can't plan at least 7 months out

 

[k3chantal]

I own a small contract at VGC- and have never gotten the 1 bedroom because I can't get it at the 7 month window when I can combine my points. So I am endlessly stuck with the studios I can book at 11 months.

And the wait list has NEVER come through for me, either. Not once.
I was already on the wait list for Labor Day weekend when someone else running Dumbo posted that they called and got the 1 bedroom. Ticked me off to no end. Thanks a LOT, MS!! Grrrrr.
I really need to add more points there...someday...

I agree with this. I have only been able to get a studio too.

 

[Msmithmd]

It seems you really not to sure how DVC works even after 5 years . I agree with grayword also , but he did leave out the part that even if you own a specific resort it's not guaranteed that you get what room or date you want even at 11 months . Although it gives you a much better chance .

Some things that are sticking out to me is that the low point times are high demand DVC times people want to get value for there points . You may have had an easier time booking pres week cause most won't want to spend the points . Not being able to book is quite a big deterrent to buying DVC this is preached on these boards almost daily , especially if you want a specific resort . I am sure you can get a room somewhere under 7 months but I doubt you will get a high demand time resort at say 5 months .

Your whole felxability issue is going to be a problem for you through your membership IMO , they are only adding more resorts some , even the older ones are still in high demand even if its not that persons home resort . This really can cause log jams at specific times and resorts if most people are opting to stay outside there hone resort leaving availability at there home resort but making you fight tooth and nail to get that prime location and time . That is why it's preached buy where you want to stay , and most will advise against buying DVC if you state you can't plan at least 7 months out

Have to say, on some issues with DVC I've differed strongly in opinion with BestDad in the past. Here though, he said EXACTLY what I was going to write.

His reply is precisely correct. If I consistently couldn't plan seven months out at a minimum, I'd personally sell my dvc interest and travel on cash. Now sure, you can usually find availability somewhere a lot of the time-but for high demand bookings or high demand seasons, forget about it on short notice. Nothing against you if that doesn't work for you at all. Just realize that dvc is set up to work against your professional circumstances.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think DVC always knew they could sell more...but on what land? They really couldn't get more...and then GCV sales were actually very poor due to the economy. It took a few years to sell what should of been a 6mo sellout.

I don't think they did. There was the rest of the wing in the build out that extends out from the GC to the wing that became DVC. Instead of making that DVC (though the documents have some reference to it being owned by DVC) they turned them into hotel rooms.

 

[Starr W.]

Have to say, on some issues with DVC I've differed strongly in opinion with BestDad in the past. Here though, he said EXACTLY what I was going to write.

His reply is precisely correct. If I consistently couldn't plan seven months out at a minimum, I'd personally sell my dvc interest and travel on cash. Now sure, you can usually find availability somewhere a lot of the time-but for high demand bookings or high demand seasons, forget about it on short notice. Nothing against you if that doesn't work for you at all. Just realize that dvc is set up to work against your professional circumstances.

I will agree, when we purchased back in 2006, our guide told us if we could not plan at a minimum 7 months out, paying cash via CRO would be a better bet for us. For us it's easy to do, have the next year's school schedule at least 18 months ahead of time. If DH has something come up with work, he either leaves or joins us later.

 

[nunzia]

I don't think they did. There was the rest of the wing in the build out that extends out from the GC to the wing that became DVC. Instead of making that DVC (though the documents have some reference to it being owned by DVC) they turned them into hotel rooms.

I agree.. I remember when VGC opened people were really shocked (I think Disney included) how long it took to sell out. There were those of us beating the drum here saying to jump in while you could because we knew that in the future the tide would turn and VGC would become a hot ticket. And it has. I bought my contracts at various times in all this and paid under $100 for some and $130 for the last. I always book 11 months out and have never had a problem, I even added 1 night to three- 1 bedrooms and a studio right before the 7 month mark without a problem. I agree that VGC fits into the buy where you want to stay thought process. I'm glad I own there. I also realize that when I plan for a long Food and Wine trip to WDW in the futrue, as much as I'd like to stay at BCV that will probably not happen since I don't own there.

 

[BlazerFan]

I agree.. I remember when VGC opened people were really shocked (I think Disney included) how long it took to sell out. There were those of us beating the drum here saying to jump in while you could because we knew that in the future the tide would turn and VGC would become a hot ticket. And it has. I bought my contracts at various times in all this and paid under $100 for some and $130 for the last. I always book 11 months out and have never had a problem, I even added 1 night to three- 1 bedrooms and a studio right before the 7 month mark without a problem. I agree that VGC fits into the buy where you want to stay thought process. I'm glad I own there. I also realize that when I plan for a long Food and Wine trip to WDW in the futrue, as much as I'd like to stay at BCV that will probably not happen since I don't own there.

I'm very similar to you. I went on the DVC tour when they were selling AKL which would allow you to purchase VGC before the points went on sale to non-members. I didn't sign anything while I was there and went home and thought long and hard about it but in my heart I knew I would rather have the extra points at VGC instead of a WDW resort since we are on the west coast. I called my guide and told him I wasn't ready but to call me as soon as sales were available to non-members. I started with 320 points and have added on several times and now have 620 and I'm on the wait list for more. We usually get a 2BR because we are always taking family and friends.

I take part in the DL and Tinker Bell 1/2 marathon weekends so I'm online at 11 months to be sure I get an in demand weekend.

I've dealt with trying to make WDW reservations for 1/2 marathon weekends at the 7 month mark and feel your pain. I HATE to borrow points but just did to make it work for the Princess 1/2 marathon in 2014 because I had to book a 1BR to get the resort I wanted rather than a studio.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks everyone for your feedback I should have provided more insight in my initial email but here are some additional thoughts. I dont want people think I hate that club, thats not true I love going to Disney, the resorts and parks etc I just growing concerned that availability is getting challenging.

Background - I've been a DVC member for 5 years and it was much easier to get a room when i first joined, I usually got first pick of room and dates and I usually didnt have to book that far out maybe 1-2 months out..why would this change? Yes more people purchase membership but they also build new hotels...doesnt Disney manage the number of owners to the availability of rooms?

GC Number of Rooms - It really is puzzling why DVC was added with so few rooms at Grand Californian. On the one way Im thankful we have DVC at all there but at the same time didnt someone think, if we're gonna bother adding DVC that the current number of rooms is too few? if nothing else I hope they add more DVC after Grand Floridian is done.

Avails for Feb - Some people had questions on this so, to be specific, I could not get a room of any size for the original dates i looked and even other dates I was willing to consider at the Grand Californian. Yes its around Presidents Weekend but Disney considers this the "adventure" season which is the least busiest season...why would they classify it this way if its actually a peak time? regardless there are not many options on when to plan a vacation when you take into consideration childrens school calendars, work schedule/workload and expensive travel costs, February was really one of the few times feasible to go.

How Far out to Book - A lot of people I guess dont have an issue booking a vacation 11 months or 7 months in advance. Unfortunately thats challenging here...I dont know what work will be like 11 or 7 months in advance to know if its a good time to take off from work, I just cant take off whenever I feel like and I like taking time off when I know for sure its going to be manageable.

Home Resort - A few people were wondering why I dont own in Cali, Im in NYC and go to Florida most of the time so owning at Grand Californian doesnt make any sense. Besides, the whole point of Disney Vacation Club is to be able to have the freedom to experience staying at other resorts besides the home resort, I shouldnt have to feel chained to the home resort although yes there is the nice advantage for some people to book 11 months out if they are able to.

Flexibility - Some people think I feel entitled, and thats not the case, Im only seeking whats fair I am understanding that Disney is always popular and there will be competition to make the best vacation possible. However I do feel that the main selling point of DVC is to go whenever and however you want. Its the reason I liked DVC much better than traditional timeshare options. Yes, thats clearly contingent based on availability but when you have to fight tooth and nail to get a room within hours of the first available time window possible, I dont think thats right either. I was really trying to be flexible as I can, I looked at different room sizes and slightly different dates but if I cant even book plan#4 within hours of the first possible time to book I really think thats an issue.

I love the club and have no regrets being a member I just want the great fleixbility back that I had when I first joined. Even Florida avails have gotten challenging, I never thought Id see the day that even getting any room at the huge Saratoga Springs would be challenging but even that resort books months in advance.

I think you have to also remember that in order for you to trade to another resort, those owners have to trade as well. Those that own DVC at VGC probably do because they want to stay there more often than they don't, which means a lot less availability for those that aren't owners. And, I get that owning there for those occasional trips you might want to take makes no sense.

But, I also think that more people may be buying where they want to be and that too will affect trading abilities. I own at BLT and BWV and it will be very infrequently that my points won't be used at those two places.

I think the same will happen for those buying VGF--they want to own there so they can stay there which means a lot fewer rooms for the rest of us..

 

[BlazerFan]

I think you have to also remember that in order for you to trade to another resort, those owners have to trade as well. Those that own DVC at VGC probably do because they want to stay there more often than they don't, which means a lot less availability for those that aren't owners. And, I get that owning there for those occasional trips you might want to take makes no sense.

But, I also think that more people may be buying where they want to be and that too will affect trading abilities. I own at BLT and BWV and it will be very infrequently that my points won't be used at those two places.

I think the same will happen for those buying VGF--they want to own there so they can stay there which means a lot fewer rooms for the rest of us..

This is so true. I own at VGC and Aulani. Because we don't plan to travel to Hawaii every year at first, we use our Aulani points to stay at WDW on other years and use all of our VGC points at VGC.