Grand Californian-is it possible to get a reservation

[bgda24]

I'm planning a trip to GC and Aulani Summer 2024. Is it possible to book a 2 night reservation is GC is not my home resort? In otherwords, does it sell out before the 7 month window

 

[starry_solo]

I'm planning a trip to GC and Aulani Summer 2024. Is it possible to book a 2 night reservation is GC is not my home resort? In otherwords, does it sell out before the 7 month window

yes it sells out before the 7 month window. Maybe a one bedroom might be available…for like 10 seconds…

 

[Narcoossee11]

YES... VGC is tiny (50 rooms) so hard to book.
Better to 'try' Villas at Dland hotel . Should be able to book there by that time.

 

[bgda24]

I was hoping to use points....

 

[bwvBound]

It is tough but not impossible. I just snagged two nights over Easter Weekend at the Grand Cal in a Studio Villa (Fri/Sat nights). While we generally avoid booking summer (as these months are outside our banking window), we tend to book one to three nights each month between Oct-Jun using SSR points. Then again, we aren't choosy about dates or unit size.

Book a nearby hotel as a guarantee and then use the DVC Waitlist and online stalking to get the nights you need. Do expect to book a 1BR unit rather than a studio. If you can't be flexible on dates (given the nature of your trip) ... at least be flexible on unit size and type (accessible). Search everything! All unit sizes and types ... search, search, search. (Good luck!)

 

[ookitarepanda]

I'll be at Grand Californian this weekend and I booked at 7 months. We have a 2-bedroom villa, and those tend to be a little bit more available than the studios. If you're only doing 2 nights, a waitlist could totally happen.

 

[DebLovesPooh]

I think it may be possible if you are willing to stay in a 1-bedroom and are flexible with dates.

 

[Mexacajun]

I grabbed a 2 bedroom for 3 days and a studio for 2 days at 7 months for this July. I felt pretty darn lucky. I have had a waitlist for my 3rd day I need for the studio since the 7 month mark and it is still sitting there. So it is possible!

 

[Shelly S]

Summer is possible, especially a 1BR. At 7 months I was able to get 8 nights this April, 3 different room categories so we will have to move twice. And for August I was able to get 8 consecutive nights in a studio. Originally wanted September but as we saw availability disappearing way before 7 months we switched to August. Higher point costs have a better chance of availability, but all availability disappears at 8am 7months for at least that day.

I still have 2 single day waitlists for April, but those are unlikely to come through.

 

[dawnandnala]

I booked a one bedroom for July on the 7 month mark and waitlisted a Studio - my waitlist for the Studio came through yesterday

 

[gharter]

We have never been able to do it on points, and always paid cash and then didn't have a problem getting a room. Its always possible something could open up. But as I understand it, there are very few DVC rooms at GC.

 

[drusba]

I was hoping to use points....

The reference above to the Villas at Disneyland Hotel was to the new DVC which is expected to open sometime in Fall 2023, and thus you might be able to use points for it for a summer 2024 trip.

 

[crisi]

Possible, but not likely - especially as you have a certain date you need to hit and can't be flexible. Have a backup plan.

 

[AZMermaid]

I booked a one bedroom for July on the 7 month mark and waitlisted a Studio - my waitlist for the Studio came through yesterday

This is the way to go!

Don’t expect a studio. There’s only 11 days open in a studio for the rest of 2023, all singles except one pair. Summer points are high which makes things a bit easier…. But plan for a 1bedroom and if the studio is open, bonus! You can waitlist the studio- just make sure it works with use year and borrowing if you have to do so for the 1 bedroom.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Now that they are booking for the new resort your chances might be better for getting a room. Or swap points with an owner who owns out there.

 

[BrianLa]

I was lucky to snag a 1BR for 7 days in July at 7 month mark. Studios were all gone.

 

[cfox612]

It's actually gotten a bit easier since Covid, but as others have said, they don't have many rooms, and those rooms go quick. Especially during times when larger numbers of kids are off school (like summer, holidays, etc).

 

[bwang123]

when we tried, studio wasn't available but a one bedroom was. it ended up being one of our favorite dvc rooms.

 

[kboo]

It's a points hog, but we booked at 7 months over Easter break as well. Right at 7 mo there can be some movement even during the day, so we were able to get a 1br first, and then a studio opened up. THEN my family wanted to go to Aulani over that time, so (cringe) I gave up VGC and did the same game with AUL (studios all gone, we are in a 1BR OV at 62 points a night)

 

[musicman0725]

I'm planning a trip to GC and Aulani Summer 2024. Is it possible to book a 2 night reservation is GC is not my home resort? In otherwords, does it sell out before the 7 month window

Yes it is possible, but it depends on what room type you want to get. Larger rooms are easier to get than studios. You may also need to be somewhat flexible with your dates and jump on at the 7-month window. We have gotten a reservation there 2-times (once pre-covid and another after covid). Depending on time of year, you may also find availability for 2-bedrooms w/out jumping on right at the 7-month window. We got lucky with our first stay there. I was debating booking late February or pushing it out a couple weeks into March but we decided to go with February since that is when food and wine was starting up. We ended up doing food and wine and seeing the preview for the magic happens parade. Disneyland resort closed 2 weeks after our trip for COVID. Overall it was a great trip and Grand Californian is one of our favorite Disney resorts. Depending on how long your trip is, it might be nice to have a room with in-unit laundry which should be easier to get than a studio.