Grand californian Villas

[surgefest]

Does anyone know if there are different "views" for the Grand Californian Villas??? I noticed there is no difference in points values like other DVC resorts with Different views. Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.

 

[disney4metoo]

Does anyone know if there are different "views" for the Grand Californian Villas??? I noticed there is no difference in points values like other DVC resorts with Different views. Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.

Yes, there are different views, but views are requests only and there is not a point difference.

 

[las3888]

What are some of the options to request? What do you recommend? Thanks!

 

[bethy]

Park view and Pool view.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Do the Villa's get cleaned, laundered, resupplied daily? DGF thinks she wants to stay there for a week.

Jack

 

[Califgirl]

Do the Villa's get cleaned, laundered, resupplied daily? DGF thinks she wants to stay there for a week.

Jack

Yes, if you have a cash reservation. If you are using DVC points you get a trash & tidy visit on day 3 (w/ new towels) and a full cleaning on Day 7. You can get full housekeeping for a charge when you use DVC points, the cost depends on the size of the unit.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Yes, if you have a cash reservation. If you are using DVC points you get a trash & tidy visit on day 3 (w/ new towels) and a full cleaning on Day 7. You can get full housekeeping for a charge when you use DVC points, the cost depends on the size of the unit.

Thanks, I have not been able to find out much info on how the villa's operate.

Jack

 

[MommiePrincess]

Can you get booking information on the villas when you call the normal GCH reservation number? I know they have a studio....is it that much more (cash price) then a regular room...doeen't seem like it would be as the only difference seems to be a microwave and a few square feet.

 

[the donut]

What are some of the options to request? What do you recommend? Thanks!

I think the park view is much cooler than the pool view. You face out onto the DCA lagoon area and see the sunwheel and california screamin as your view. The pools are under construction right now and so are not as nice a view, though perhaps a bit more quiet (except when the jackhammer is going). We stayed there a few weeks ago and had a 1BR on the end of the wing (ends in 513 I think?) which kind of gives you a bit of both views. We directly faced the grizzly river rapids mountain and could see the pools under construction off to the side. It was fun to see everyone running through the redwood creek challenge course.

 

[Perdygirl]

Do you know when the pool renovation will be finished? I'm thinking about a family trip the first week of May. My kids will want to swim daily.

 

[las3888]

Do you know when the pool renovation will be finished? I'm thinking about a family trip the first week of May. My kids will want to swim daily.

ditto--we'll be there in June. We had a non-villa hotel room overlooking the villa's pool last summer while pool construction was happening. We had to move rooms. We couldn't have a conversation or even hear our phone ring when we had our balcony door open--it was that loud...looks like I should request a park view to be on the safe side unless constuction is over....???

 

[MrsMork]

Can you get booking information on the villas when you call the normal GCH reservation number? I know they have a studio....is it that much more (cash price) then a regular room...doeen't seem like it would be as the only difference seems to be a microwave and a few square feet.

There is quite a difference IMHO. We are at this moment in a studio. We have a nice comfy couch, a kitchenette - yes microwave and small fridge - lots more space than a regular hotel room and a free laundry down the hall. Much, much nicer than the GC rooms we have stayed in. I don't know how you book cash as we are DVC members...like many others our only regret is that we did not buy sooner. 2002 for us.

 

[MrsMork]

ditto--we'll be there in June. We had a non-villa hotel room overlooking the villa's pool last summer while pool construction was happening. We had to move rooms. We couldn't have a conversation or even hear our phone ring when we had our balcony door open--it was that loud...looks like I should request a park view to be on the safe side unless constuction is over....???

During this stay we have had both park view and pool view here at the Villas. The park view is much noisier with construction than the pool view right now. The villas pool view is the Villas pool, which is not under construction.

 

[blackjackdelta]

There is quite a difference IMHO. We are at this moment in a studio. We have a nice comfy couch, a kitchenette - yes microwave and small fridge - lots more space than a regular hotel room and a free laundry down the hall. Much, much nicer than the GC rooms we have stayed in. I don't know how you book cash as we are DVC members...like many others our only regret is that we did not buy sooner. 2002 for us.

Thanks for the info on the "free laundry" and observations. We are trying to figure out if we can cram 4 of us into a studio and survive. I wonder what the cash price/day would be. May have to call.

Jack

 

[MrsMork]

Thanks for the info on the "free laundry" and observations. We are trying to figure out if we can cram 4 of us into a studio and survive. I wonder what the cash price/day would be. May have to call.

Jack

Four of you will fit better in a studio than a regular 2 queen room. However, two will sleep on a hide-a-bed couch. We haven't tried the ones here, but have used the ones at DVC villas in FL and they were quite comfortable. (and we are not small people!! ) MMMMM I smell bacon frying coming from one of the 1 bdrms somewhere near us. That is something you can do in a studio also. Bring some precooked bacon, warm it in the microwave. There is also a toaster here so you could make some frozen waffles (I make my own and freezer bag them) or bring some boiled eggs and have those with toast and bacon. Or microwave scramble some eggs. I've done that in FL as well. A good protein breakfast without a lot of $$.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Four of you will fit better in a studio than a regular 2 queen room. However, two will sleep on a hide-a-bed couch. We haven't tried the ones here, but have used the ones at DVC villas in FL and they were quite comfortable. (and we are not small people!! ) MMMMM I smell bacon frying coming from one of the 1 bdrms somewhere near us. That is something you can do in a studio also. Bring some precooked bacon, warm it in the microwave. There is also a toaster here so you could make some frozen waffles (I make my own and freezer bag them) or bring some boiled eggs and have those with toast and bacon. Or microwave scramble some eggs. I've done that in FL as well. A good protein breakfast without a lot of $$.

The mix is 3 ladies(46,19,17) and little oldddddddddddddddddd me. There is a fairly large price difference between the 1 bedroom and the Studio. We stayed at the GCH last August and it was bit cramped. Thanks for all the info. Would anyone have a clue what the cash price for 6 nights mid august.

Jack

 

[M4travels]

Jack,
I may be in the minority when it comes to thinking about occupancy but even though the studio CAN sleep four, I would never do 4 in there, or at least 4 of the ages involved with your trip. Yes, it is definitely more pricey point-wise for a one-bedroom, but with the one-bedroom there are 2 full baths, a master bedroom with a king-sized bed (I think I'm right in that it's not a queen) with a pull-out couch and a murphy bed.

We've stayed in the studio (only 2 of us) but have viewed the one- and two-bedroom units and they are gorgeous. Again, I know it's a pricier level, but.....

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, if you have a cash reservation. If you are using DVC points you get a trash & tidy visit on day 3 (w/ new towels) and a full cleaning on Day 7. You can get full housekeeping for a charge when you use DVC points, the cost depends on the size of the unit.

On a DVC reservation of 7 nights or less, you get a trash & towel (take out trash, replace towels & soaps) on day 4 (check-in is day 1). For stays of 8 nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day 4 and a trash & towel on day 7, then the cycle repeats if you are staying 11 nights or more.

 

[the donut]

I think it's pretty expensive, but availability might be the real issue. Only one or two units are available for cash paying non-member guests. I'd recommend renting points from a member.

The mix is 3 ladies(46,19,17) and little oldddddddddddddddddd me. There is a fairly large price difference between the 1 bedroom and the Studio. We stayed at the GCH last August and it was bit cramped. Thanks for all the info. Would anyone have a clue what the cash price for 6 nights mid august.

Jack

 

[blackjackdelta]

I think it's pretty expensive, but availability might be the real issue. Only one or two units are available for cash paying non-member guests. I'd recommend renting points from a member.

There is a bit of a risk renting points so I thought I would try and compare. Do AP holders get a discount on the Villa rates?

Jack