Grand Californian Villa??

[Joan S.]

Hi, We are DVC members that own at DVC resorts in Florida (OKW,BCV,SSR, and BLT ). We just returned from a last minute trip to DL and DCA. We stayed in two rooms at the PPH (on points). We booked this trip 2 weeks out and I did not even ASK if the GCV had any openings. We enjoyed our stay at PPH but missed having a villa.(we usually stay in a 1 or 2 bedroom) So my ?? is with so few villas at the GCV and seeing as I do not own there,WHAT are my chances of EVER getting to stay there on points?? I also heard that they are almost SOLD OUT at GCV, is this TRUE?? ANY info is appreciated!! Thanks, Joan

 

[marjam]

Hello fellow DVC member. We are staying at the villas starting Thursday (SO EXCITED) and we booked at 7 months out. We don't own there, our home resort is Saratoga Springs. I have also heard that they are close to selling out at VGC.
So it is possible to stay at VGC, I just don't know if being able to book at short notice will be possible.

Hope you enjoyed your time at Disneyland.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Thank You and have a WONDERFUL time at DL!! We had a great vacation especially seeing that I planned it all in 2 weeks!! (we had been in DL last in 2005) The people on these boards were a GREAT help with my planning! I talked to a DVC Guide at the PPH and she was recommending to buy into SSR to stay at the VGC.( She gave no mention of the 7 month booking.) If you have any ?? for your upcoming trip feel free to ask!! Joan

 

[Michael623]

We're also staying next month and we booked right at 7 months and there was plenty of availability. I think your best bet is to travel off-season and book right at 7 months. Our next DL visit will be in May and I will be on the phone at exactly 7 months, you can bank on that.

 

[CrazyDuck]

We're also staying next month and we booked right at 7 months and there was plenty of availability. I think your best bet is to travel off-season and book right at 7 months. Our next DL visit will be in May and I will be on the phone at exactly 7 months, you can bank on that.

I'm booked in late May for 1 week through Memorial Day weekend. Good luck with your ressies!

 

[kikiq]

We bought VGC because we wanted to stay Memorial Day weekends as well as our anniversary weekend which is in July. I tried 7 months out for July and was not successful. Lucked out for one night Memorial Day weekend. My DH decided that we needed to buy the minimum to be able to book those dates 11 mos out. I received a card from my guide that said they only have March Use year left.

Depending on the time of year, I would be on the phone first thing 7 months out.

 

[Joan S.]

Thank you everyone for the replies on your experiences. Hopefully next time we visit (possibly in 2012) I will know my dates ahead of time and try booking at the 7 month mark. I was SURPRISED that a DVC guide would encourage anyone to buy at SSR to stay at VGC??( She sited the price point as her reasoning.) I own at BCV and I know if I really want to stay there to get my dates in BEFORE the 7 month window opens, since it is a smaller DVC resort. Joan

 

[Joan S.]

We bought VGC because we wanted to stay Memorial Day weekends as well as our anniversary weekend which is in July. I tried 7 months out for July and was not successful. Lucked out for one night Memorial Day weekend. My DH decided that we needed to buy the minimum to be able to book those dates 11 mos out. I received a card from my guide that said they only have March Use year left.

Depending on the time of year, I would be on the phone first thing 7 months out.

Thanks for the info . I had heard/read that they were almost sold out. Joan

 

[stitch4336]

Just adding my two cents We rolled the dice and tried for a wait list at VGC when we went down in June this year for a two-day-turn-around trip. We got a 1 bdr confirmed about 2 weeks out and it was awesome! Granted we were just going for one night, but we got it! I put in the wait list about 30 days out and got a confirmation about 14 days out.

(We did have a backup ressie at a good neighbor hotel just in case the pixie dust didn't sprinkle our way!)

 

[ACDSNY]

This is just my opinion, but I think this year was easier for other resort owners to get reservations at VGC due to the fact that availability opens up as units are sold and declared into inventory. So new owners may not have been using their points right away for VGC. In addition, many of the new owners if they were just at DL may have used their points at WDW DVC resorts instead of VGC this year. My prediction is it will get harder to secure reservations under the 7 month booking window in the future, especially for studios.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

It's always good to check around the 30 day cancellation mark. I did that and had a studio for a previously "sold out" weekend - Aug 7.

I can see where many might hold something for a weekend getaway and then have it fall through.

 

[nunzia]

We bought VGC because we wanted to stay Memorial Day weekends as well as our anniversary weekend which is in July. I tried 7 months out for July and was not successful. Lucked out for one night Memorial Day weekend. My DH decided that we needed to buy the minimum to be able to book those dates 11 mos out. I received a card from my guide that said they only have March Use year left.

Depending on the time of year, I would be on the phone first thing 7 months out.

Dang! My use year is still available causing me to wonder if I should add on again... Hold me back...