Grand californian Villas

[blackjackdelta]

Jack,
The parking is the same as for the regular rooms. You can use the complimentary parking across the street or valet park. Personally, I'd go for the complimentary.

Thanks Michael: Used the complimentary last year and it worked fine. I thought I had read there was an underground garage somewhere. If everything works out tonight, I should have a points ressie by tomorrow.

Bet your missing Cabo.

Jack

 

[VallCopen]

Blackjack there is underground parking, but it is used for valet only. At one time I think some of us believed it was going to be DVC complimentary parking too but that was not the case. Glad to hear you are going to be able to stay in the villas. What are you going with, a 1 bedroom? Hope you have a great time. Also they have 2 very nice BBQ's located on the Pier side of the villas that is for use only to DVC guest and I believe you get the tools for the BBQ from the front desk and free movies to DVC'ers to rent at the front desk. If you can and are interested be sure to have whoever is booking your ressie to request an upper floor Paradise Pier View, it will be hard to get and everyone will be requesting it, since the World of Color is coming, but if you get lucky you will be able to sit and watch it from your balconey, if you don't request it I don't think you will have much of a chance to get it.

 

[lulubelle]

I hope the deal comes through for you and your family, Jack. Let us know.
You will L-O-V-E the villas and will want one everytime you visit!

 

[MCSfromWA]

Jack, I am also glad to hear that you will be renting points to stay at VGC. I think you will really like it and maybe you might decide that you will want to own at VGC afterall

The nice thing about staying on points is that there are no taxes or resort fees tacked on -- it is just the cost of renting the points. And the convenience is fablous. My DSis has been a member of DVC for a number of years but we didn't buy in until they started selling points for VGC because we go to DLR far more often than WDW. In any event -- good luck and I know that you and your family will really enjoy the villas!

 

[nunzia]

Sounds like a great plan! Keep us posted

 

[blackjackdelta]

Blackjack there is underground parking, but it is used for valet only. At one time I think some of us believed it was going to be DVC complimentary parking too but that was not the case. Glad to hear you are going to be able to stay in the villas. What are you going with, a 1 bedroom? Hope you have a great time. Also they have 2 very nice BBQ's located on the Pier side of the villas that is for use only to DVC guest and I believe you get the tools for the BBQ from the front desk and free movies to DVC'ers to rent at the front desk. If you can and are interested be sure to have whoever is booking your ressie to request an upper floor Paradise Pier View, it will be hard to get and everyone will be requesting it, since the World of Color is coming, but if you get lucky you will be able to sit and watch it from your balconey, if you don't request it I don't think you will have much of a chance to get it.

We are going with the 1 bedroom, deal is set up but I am having problems with paypal moving the money. Been on the phone with them, appears my bank and Paypal do not want to talk. We will see how the day goes, look like it will be fun.

Jack

 

[blackjackdelta]

We are going with the 1 bedroom, deal is set up but I am having problems with paypal moving the money. Been on the phone with them, appears my bank and Paypal do not want to talk. We will see how the day goes, look like it will be fun.

Jack

Finally got PayPal to agree with me and we are now booked. Dropped the Friday night to save money and now looking for a ressie at the Grand for 8/20, standard room, would like to know what the AP rate would be for that one night.

Jack

 

[MCSfromWA]

That is great news. I hope you find a good AP rate. We will be doing the same thing for our trip. I hate to waste points if I am arriving later in the evening and cannot enjoy the villa for the day. But as much as I like GC we might stay elsewhere. Unless we can get an excellent AP rate.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Still looking for that AP check. Can someone please tell me how the linen, toiletries, etc are handled? Anything else I need to know about for daily service if any.

Jack

 

[M4travels]

Still looking for that AP check. Can someone please tell me how the linen, toiletries, etc are handled? Anything else I need to know about for daily service if any.

Jack

For stays of seven or fewer nights, Trash and Towel Service is provided on day four. With this service, Housekeeping will

Empty the trash and put new liners in the wastebaskets
Provide fresh bathroom towels
Replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap
Replenish facial tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper
Replenish coffee, sugar, and cream
Replenish diswashing liquid, dishwasher detergent, sponges, and laundry detergent as applicable


There is no daily housekeeping service unless you pay for it. For a one-bedroom I believe the cost is $30 per day.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I think I was told that at check in you can add daily trash and towel for stays less than a week for $15 a day... I am thinking about doing this for October...

 

[blackjackdelta]

For stays of seven or fewer nights, Trash and Towel Service is provided on day four. With this service, Housekeeping will

Empty the trash and put new liners in the wastebaskets
Provide fresh bathroom towels
Replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap
Replenish facial tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper
Replenish coffee, sugar, and cream
Replenish diswashing liquid, dishwasher detergent, sponges, and laundry detergent as applicable


There is no daily housekeeping service unless you pay for it. For a one-bedroom I believe the cost is $30 per day.

Thanks Michael. Do we check in at the main lobby desk? Is there a trash bin near by?

Jack

Jack

 

[M4travels]

Thanks Michael. Do we check in at the main lobby desk? Is there a trash bin near by?

Jack

Jack

I'm not sure on the trash bins. They shouldn't be far, but we've only stayed in the studios and it was only for a couple of nights each time so trash didn't really accumulate and we didn't need them. I'm sure someone will chime in about locations.

Check in is currently at the main lobby desk. There was a point where I think they considered a separate area, but for now the main desk it is! Just bring the copy of your reservation when your owner sends it to you and you'll be good to go!

 

[pycees312]

wow those rack rates are horrendous. Glad I bought in... although the point chart for this resort is also horrendous lol!

 

[the donut]

Finally got PayPal to agree with me and we are now booked. Dropped the Friday night to save money and now looking for a ressie at the Grand for 8/20, standard room, would like to know what the AP rate would be for that one night.

Jack

As far as I can tell, the AP calendar only shows through May right now. The current "APH" rate special only covers dates through March 24th. Maybe someone else knows more?

 

[CrazyDuck]

wow those rack rates are horrendous. Glad I bought in... although the point chart for this resort is also horrendous lol!

Yea, I didn't realize how much more points (up to 30%) VGC required until I planned to book a trip to WDW later this year. Can't wait to see Aulani's point chart!

 

[MCSfromWA]

Check in is in the main lobby. There is a trash and recycle room on the first floor of the wing with the villas. Very easy to find -- my DH had no trouble taking the trash and recycles down each day.

We have stayed at BWV a few years ago on my DSis points for a week stay and it we were fine with no housekeeping. And when we stayed at VGC in September it was fine. In a one bedroom villa you have a washer and dryer so we just washed a load of towels each day and when or dishwasher was full we ran it. My DH took care of the trash (just took a few minutes each day). I didn't miss mousekeeping.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Check in is in the main lobby. There is a trash and recycle room on the first floor of the wing with the villas. Very easy to find -- my DH had no trouble taking the trash and recycles down each day.

We have stayed at BWV a few years ago on my DSis points for a week stay and it we were fine with no housekeeping. And when we stayed at VGC in September it was fine. In a one bedroom villa you have a washer and dryer so we just washed a load of towels each day and when or dishwasher was full we ran it. My DH took care of the trash (just took a few minutes each day). I didn't miss mousekeeping.

So if you are not on the first floor you have to take the trash down the elevator? lovely!

 

[VallCopen]

Maybe this isn't proper but we just nicely tied are trash up every couple days and gave it to a maid when they came by, then she would always give us another trash bag, did this for the whole 14 day stay and they never seemed to be upset or tell us it was not allowed. We did always give them a few bucks though to say thanks.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Is there a trash bin near by?

First floor, in a special "room", next to the vending machine "room" (or was it the laundry room?), and before you get to the outside door to the BBQ grills.

So if you are not on the first floor you have to take the trash down the elevator? lovely!

Correct, but I've NEVER had to wait for an elevator in that wing of the GC, and we bring our own kitchen trashbags with drawstrings...it's a quick trip down maybe once a day.