GCV June 6-June 10

[donmil723]

DH and I along with our DD and her fiancée stayed at GCV recently. We are DVC members and our home resort is BCV. We usually go to WDW 3-4 times each year. This was our second trip to DLR. Our last one was 14 years ago.

Flight from KC to LAX was good. Our pilot pointed out Pikes Peak, the Four Corners area, and the Grand Canyon. We met DD and DF at LAX. Booked execucar express to take us to GCV and they were great. Maybe a 5 minute wait after calling once we picked up our luggage. Renee was our driver. The van was spotless and his driving was exemplary. Would definitely recommend him.

Check in at GCV seemed to take longer than at a WDW resort but then again, they don't offer online checkin. We had Daniel checking us in and since he was earning his ears, he wasn't very informed or speedy. We did get DVC lanyards though which was nice. It was about 11 am and our room wasn't ready so we got some nachos at WWS and headed to the pool. We really, really missed the refillable mugs. However, the lounge chairs at the pool are awesome with comfy cushions. Our rooms were finally ready about 3:30. We had studio 1504 facing CA and DD had studio 1509 facing the pool but all you could see was the landscaping.

We headed into CA after applying our GAD vouchers to a 4 day PH pass. We rode Monsters and got a FP for Soaring and then went to see Aladdin. Great show. Reminded me of the shows on the DCL ships. Then on to DL. Ate pizza and rode a few rides before watching Magical fireworks. They were nice but not nearly as good as Wishes at the MK.

Day 2. Coming up....

 

[donmil723]

Day 2. Got up early and was at rope drop at DL. Followed HydroGuy's recommendations about getting fast passes which worked great. Thanks, HydroGuy! Wasn't as thrilled with Ridemax but part of that could be I just didn't know which rides to put in for each day. I did use the spreadsheet I created using Ridemax's info which was helpful for the most part. Really didn't hit many lines until close to noon. Met up with a DCL buddy and her DDs for a nice visit before heading back to GCV and the pool. Ate at ESPN before going back to watch Fantasmic. We first saw this on our trip in the mid-90s and thought it was awesome. After watching it at Hollywood Studios with the nice seating area, I think they are pretty much the same experience with the exception of the sailing ship, Columbia.

A side note...I had called DreamMakers to order toasting flutes with Mickey and Minnie bride and groom, a bottle of wine and some chocolate covered strawberries to be delivered to my DD's room. The first night all they delivered was the strawberries. I had to get in touch with them the next day to find out what happened. It seems that the girl I worked with was off on Sunday and her coworker forgot to have them delivered. Then they didn't deliver the bottle of wine because GCV's room service didn't have Rosa Regale any longer and they failed to let the DreamMakers know. Instead, they just didn't deliver any wine at all. Lauren, my DreamMaker was very nice and apologetic and finally sent a different bottle of wine and extra strawberries with the goblets and our note congratulating our DD and her DF on their engagement. She said the wine and strawberries would be complimentary since there was a mix up. Unfortunately though, GCV room service charged my credit card anyway but Lauren is supposed to be getting that straightened out now. This was my first time using DreamMakers and I was a little disappointed that they weren't quite as efficient as I had expected.

Also, called housekeeping 3 times before we got more paper plates, bowls, and plastic cutlery and an iced tea pitcher. I called at 7:30 a.m. because I used the only bowl in the room for my cereal. Called a 2nd time in the early afternoon and finally a third time around 5 p.m. The last time housekeeping said they would call back to make sure I got them. They called about 30 minutes later and the items still hadn't been delivered. Finally, a manager delivered them a few minutes later and this was before the strike at DLR.

Overall, a good day! We liked that DL and CA were small enough and close enough to go back and forth and the GCV are very, very convenient.

Day 3....Up next...

 

[donmil723]

Day 3

We were at the gate by 7:30 a.m. and headed to Peter Pan when the gates opened. Followed Ridemax's tips for magic mornings. No way could we get all the rides in FL done before regular park opening and we didn't do Nemo. Started collecting FPs as soon as regular park hours began. Also went to Toontown. We enjoyed posing around Toontown even though we were all adults. I think Toontown at DL is much better than Toontown Fair at the MK.

Picked up FP for Screaming on our way back to GCV. I got a bread bowl of Roasted Corn Chowder at Pacific Wharf Cafe and DH ate at the Mexican restaurant at PP. Both were good. Enjoyed the tours of both the tortilla and bread factories. The warm tortillas were especially delicious. Spent the afternoon at the pool again. Had June Gloom every morning but the sun came out each afternoon so we could swim and relax.

Ate the buffet at Storyteller's Cafe for dinner. It was good although everything could have been a little warmer. We enjoyed the turkey, asparagus, and the delicious bread pudding the most. Tried to watch the World of Color from the observation deck at the GCV but it was locked. Although we met 3 managers heading to it as we were getting back on the elevator to go back down. Tried to talk them into letting us watch but they weren't very friendly. So we went to the lobby and shared a bottle of wine by the fireplace.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Great report, waiting for more. We are staying at the Villas in August so hope the service picks up.

Jack

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Day 2. Got up early and was at rope drop at DL. Followed HydroGuy's recommendations about getting fast passes which worked great. Thanks, HydroGuy! Wasn't as thrilled with Ridemax but part of that could be I just didn't know which rides to put in for each day. I did use the spreadsheet I created using Ridemax's info which was helpful for the most part. Really didn't hit many lines until close to noon. Met up with a DCL buddy and her DDs for a nice visit before heading back to GCV and the pool. Ate at ESPN before going back to watch Fantasmic. We first saw this on our trip in the mid-90s and thought it was awesome. After watching it at Hollywood Studios with the nice seating area, I think they are pretty much the same experience with the exception of the sailing ship, Columbia.

A side note...I had called DreamMakers to order toasting flutes with Mickey and Minnie bride and groom, a bottle of wine and some chocolate covered strawberries to be delivered to my DD's room. The first night all they delivered was the strawberries. I had to get in touch with them the next day to find out what happened. It seems that the girl I worked with was off on Sunday and her coworker forgot to have them delivered. Then they didn't deliver the bottle of wine because GCV's room service didn't have Rosa Regale any longer and they failed to let the DreamMakers know. Instead, they just didn't deliver any wine at all. Lauren, my DreamMaker was very nice and apologetic and finally sent a different bottle of wine and extra strawberries with the goblets and our note congratulating our DD and her DF on their engagement. She said the wine and strawberries would be complimentary since there was a mix up. Unfortunately though, GCV room service charged my credit card anyway but Lauren is supposed to be getting that straightened out now. This was my first time using DreamMakers and I was a little disappointed that they weren't quite as efficient as I had expected.

Also, called housekeeping 3 times before we got more paper plates, bowls, and plastic cutlery and an iced tea pitcher. I called at 7:30 a.m. because I used the only bowl in the room for my cereal. Called a 2nd time in the early afternoon and finally a third time around 5 p.m. The last time housekeeping said they would call back to make sure I got them. They called about 30 minutes later and the items still hadn't been delivered. Finally, a manager delivered them a few minutes later and this was before the strike at DLR.

Overall, a good day! We liked that DL and CA were small enough and close enough to go back and forth and the GCV are very, very convenient.

Day 3....Up next...

I don't think that VGC is as prepared and/or used to DVC people as they are at WDW. I had seen where someone else posted this comment, and I wasn't sure just what they meant, but I get it now. They seem to treat the villas almost as hotel rooms rather than DVC, and I think it will take a while before they catch on.

But aren't those rooms just lovely?

 

[donmil723]

The decor is beautiful and having the robes to use was a nice touch.

 

[donmil723]

Our last day!

We decided to sleep in this morning and skip opening at DL. We were at the GC entrance to CA at 9:30 a.m. and they let us in a few minutes later. We rode Soarin' and then got FP for Grizzly River Rapids before heading over to Toy Story. It was only about 10:20 but the line for TSMM was already 50 minutes long. We decided not to wait and headed to the only other ride we still wanted to do at CA--Tower of Terror. Only that section of the park was closed as they were getting ready for World of Color that night...no wonder TSMM had such a long wait. We headed back to PP and did Screamin' and Mickey's Fun Wheel. Unfortunately, we got stuck on it for about 20 minutes. Now that doesn't sound like a long time, but I'm not a big fan of ferris wheels anyway so I was just about ready to freak out. We did get a FP that we used for ToT so I guess it was worth it.

Spent the afternoon again at the GC pool. Did I mention we loved those loungers? Great place for some sun and a nap.

Had the best meal of our vacation that evening at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. Conner was our waiter and he was awesome!!!!! We started with the Southern Garlic Cheese Bread--yummy!!!! DD and I shared the Grilled Medallions of Beef, DH also got the Grilled Medallions of Beef and DD's fiancee got the Grilled New York Strip Steak. Conner had brought us a sample of the crawfish mashed potatoes beforehand and we all thought they were delicious so DF subbed those for the potatoes that usually came with his steak. For dessert, DD and I shared the New Orleans Bread Pudding. It was okay but not as good as the bread pudding we had at Storytellers Cafe.

After dinner, we headed back into DL for one last time!!!!

On Thursday, we took a cab to Budget Car Rental on Harbor Blvd., picked up our rental car and headed to Yosemite!!!!

Although we had a pretty good time at DLR, we really missed our home resort, Beach Club Villas, and WDW!!!! Thankfully, we will be there in September for MNSSHP and the Food and Wine Festival. DD and I will be running in our first Disney Half-Marathon at the Inaguaral Wine and Dine Half Marathon on October 2nd. I'm really hoping that they keep the Main Street Electrical Parade at WDW until after that trip at least as I LOVE that parade!!!!

Donna