GC suites/villas

[lilsassymom]

We just got back from our trip and we are already planning on another trip next year and my sister-in-law wants to bring her family and we can rent a 2 bedroom suite/villa. How soon are you able to book that? If I'm not a Disney Club Resort member will they be harder to get? It would be fun for the little cousins to stay in the same room. I know it's not for a ways out Nov/Dec 2017 but would like to know

 

[Thometake]

I don't know how far out you can book if you are not a DVC member, but I can tell you that since there are only 48 villas at the resort, they book up FAST! We are DVC members, and that is our home resort and have found that if we don't book during the 11 month window, we can't get in. Good luck!

 

[boscoj]

We just booked a 2 bedroom for the end of Nov at the 7 mth window so it is possible but I would recommend if you really want to make sure try to book as close to the 11th mth window as possible. If you are planning on renting points make sure you find a renter before then.......

 

[hawkfam]

We are not DVC members. We are going early November 2016 and booked our 3-bedroom grand villa in August 2015 (of which there are even fewer of than 2 bedrooms so my experience maybe a bit different). But, guess that makes it 15 months out that we were able to book as non-DVC members so if that timing holds true then you should be able to find some as early as this August.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Definitely look into the different renters, there are a few that DVCers like to use and that are reputable. You also may want to go over to the DVC boards and check over there, they may be able to answer your question better. We are DVC members but have never rented points to others or have rented points for ourselves before, so not sure how to answer your question. We booked a 2-bedroom villa at VGC for this June and I booked it right at our 7 month window (the time frame where we can book rooms that are not at our home resort), it wasn't tough but like the PP said, they do go quick. Good luck.

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

We are not DVC members. We are going early November 2016 and booked our 3-bedroom grand villa in August 2015 (of which there are even fewer of than 2 bedrooms so my experience maybe a bit different). But, guess that makes it 15 months out that we were able to book as non-DVC members so if that timing holds true then you should be able to find some as early as this August.

DVC rooms cannot be booked before 11 months out. If you booked on Disney's website, especially that far out, it was for one of the hotel's 3 bedroom suites, which is different.

The best option for OP is line up a GC DVC renter as close to 11 months out as they can - this is substantially cheaper than booking with Disney. By 7 months out, all DVC has access to the rooms and they go quick, so you want to be booked before that.

 

[lilsassymom]

DVC rooms cannot be booked before 11 months out. If you booked on Disney's website, especially that far out, it was for one of the hotel's 3 bedroom suites, which is different.

The best option for OP is line up a GC DVC renter as close to 11 months out as they can - this is substantially cheaper than booking with Disney. By 7 months out, all DVC has access to the rooms and they go quick, so you want to be booked before that.

Ok so there are options for 2 or 3 bedroom suites? I thought that's what the villas are. I'm SO confused lol

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Ok so there are options for 2 or 3 bedroom suites? I thought that's what the villas are. I'm SO confused lol

So there is the "Grand Californian Hotel" (GCH) which is the normal hotel and the "Villas at Grand Californian" (VGC) which are the DVC rooms.

The rooms at the Grand California Hotel are booked just like normal rooms. You call Disney, tell them which room you want and which days, and pay cash. There are normal hotel rooms all the way up to the fancy suites.

The Villas at Grand Californian are basically just one wing on the southern part of the hotel that are reserved for DVC members. They come in studios, 1 bedroom villas, 2 bedroom villas, 3 bedroom villas (these are called "Grand Villas"). Technically they are "villas", but many people will use the term "suite" and "villa" interchangeably.

VGC Square Footage:
Studio: 379
1BR: 865
2BR: 1257
GV: 2426

Floorplans of VGC units at this link:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/gr...updated-11-7-13.2396588/page-23#post-36355632

In order to book a room at VGC, you must be a DVC member. The way DVC works is that there is a point system. You buy a contract with a certain number of points each year, and you can use those points to book a room at VGC or any other DVC resort based on a certain set of rules. For people who choose VGC as their home resort, they can book VGC rooms 11 months in advance. For people who have different home resort, they can book 7 months in advance.

Occasionally, in certain scenarios, some VGC rooms are rented out for cash that are available to anyone, but I think it's relatively uncommon at VGC because it's so tiny. It basically only happens if a VGC owner doesn't use their points for some reason.

If an non-DVC member wants to book a room at VGC, you basically need to "rent points." You need to find a DVC member who is willing to book a reservation for you using their points, then you pay them. VGC is one of the more expensive DVC resorts because it is high demand and has very few rooms.

If you're not really familiar with the process, it's probably best to go through a broker such as David's so they can walk you through the process.

 

[Thometake]

We are not DVC members. We are going early November 2016 and booked our 3-bedroom grand villa in August 2015 (of which there are even fewer of than 2 bedrooms so my experience maybe a bit different). But, guess that makes it 15 months out that we were able to book as non-DVC members so if that timing holds true then you should be able to find some as early as this August.

Wow, so you had a stay in the two-story 3-bedroom Grand Villa with the pool table? So jealous! We've toured the Grand Villa and it's amazing! Would love to stay there some day, but it's so expensive that we just can't justify the expense. We used the points for a 3-bedroom villa at Aulani instead, which was worth it - those take up an entire ocean-facing end of the building so the views are spectacular (no pool table, though).

I have noticed that the only villa readily available under 6-months out is the Grand Villa. Probably because it is so pricey, even though there are only 2 at VGC.

 

[hjgaus]

Both VGC Grand villas have pool tables on the 2nd floor. One is pool view while the other is an AWESOME PARK view (layout is handicap design)
Stayed 2 years at pool view and 1 year at park view!! Although both are fine we LOVED park view the best!!! We are banking our points for this year so we might try for a VGC Grand villa next year or year after!

 

[Thometake]

Both VGC Grand villas have pool tables on the 2nd floor. One is pool view while the other is an AWESOME PARK view (layout is handicap design)
Stayed 2 years at pool view and 1 year at park view!! Although both are fine we LOVED park view the best!!! We are banking our points for this year so we might try for a VGC Grand villa next year or year after!

Oooohhh...