Grand Floridian Update

[wdrl]

Like TSMIII, I didn't see anything that listed a view category by room number when I looked through the VGF Master Declaration. In fact, I only noticed an indirect mention to VGF having a "Lake View" category when reading the section on VGF's Fixed Ownership Interest.

The documents show the room numbers for all of the villas on floors 1 through 4, and we can tell whether a two-bedroom villa is dedicated or lock-off. But what view categories, if any, and where they might be are just conjecture at this time.

 

[DenLo]

I'm just guessing, but I think it looks like there is a shower there (in the studio portion), not a closet. The layout of the "shower" in the studio looks to match the format of the shower in the master. There is a small door and the wall bumps out a little to allow for pipes providing water for the shower. Both the master shower and the studio "shower" have that same feature.

If so, that would be a very nice feature, as you would still have almost three baths in a 2-bed. Or a bath plus shower in a studio.

There is also a little "bump" on the back wall of that space that looked like (and would be in the correct position for) a shower head. Maybe they are going to provide a whirlpool tub and separate shower stall in the studios!

Even if it's a regular tub, having a separate shower stall would be very handy.

If the studios have a separate shower, I would love that. I wouldn't expect a jacuzzi tub though as all of the MB jacuzzi tubs are shown as an oval. And it just not like DVC to have two different types of jacuzzi tubs.

But why did they change the configuration of the studio bathroom in the HCA 2 BR? There is still a tub in the studio so the studio portion does not have a roll in shower.

I'm going to pull up the condo drawing which are clearer prints of the floor plans and see if other studios have that shower dot and if other the HCA rooms have a different configuration of the studio bathroom.

 

[LisaS]

If the studios have a separate shower, I would love that. I wouldn't expect a jacuzzi tub though as all of the MB jacuzzi tubs are shown as an oval. And it just not like DVC to have two different types of jacuzzi tubs.

Good point about the different tubs.

But why did they change the configuration of the studio bathroom in the HCA 2 BR? There is still a tub in the studio so the studio portion does not have a roll in shower.

I'm going to pull up the condo drawing which are clearer prints of the floor plans and see if other studios have that shower dot and if other the HCA rooms have a different configuration of the studio bathroom.

Look at Unit 2A. The drawings of the rooms in that Unit have a circle in the middle of the master bath shower stall and also in the studio closet/possible shower stall. What is that, a shower drain perhaps? Just curious what you think.

I don't see this on many of the other room drawings but based on the AKV floor plans, some floor plan drawings are more detailed than others.

 

[DenLo]

Hey we are on the same wavelength. Here's a pic from the 2nd floor.

The floor plan gets a little grainy when you blow up like I did in the photo, but the circle for the drain is definitely there.

It is definitely looking like a shower to me.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm just guessing, but I think it looks like there is a shower there (in the studio portion), not a closet. The layout of the "shower" in the studio looks to match the format of the shower in the master. There is a small door and the wall bumps out a little to allow for pipes providing water for the shower.

You may be right.

It will be unique but I'm not sure how practical it would be. How often would Studio occupants need to use a tub and shower at the same time?

Personally I could think of better uses for the space--particularly if compromises were made in the living area.

Just looking at availability of the resorts currently in the DVC portfolio, the VGF are going to be near impossible at the 7 month window.

I would expect the studios, 1 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms to be as coveted as the AK Club level rooms or more so. You will need some major pixie dust to get a weekly stay in anything but the slowest times of the year. Grand Villas I think will be available at 7 months due to the amazing cost it will be.

I would love to sell some BCV points to buy some of these, but the price point difference is going to be too high.

AKV Club Level is a different situation altogether. There you have tens-of-thousands of OWNERS who have 11 month booking rights but only 1% of the facility is Club Level.

VGF is small but--like every other resort--it will not often be fully booked at 7 months. Some inventory will slip through to 7 mos and the high nightly point costs will weed out a lot of potential guests.

Many people are able to book the Grand Californian at 7 months...and it's less than half the size of the Grand Floridian. You'll have to be quick to get a room at 7 mos, but it will happen with regularity.

 

[DenLo]

You may be right.

It will be unique but I'm not sure how practical it would be. How often would Studio occupants need to use a tub and shower at the same time?

Personally I could think of better uses for the space--particularly if compromises were made in the living area. . . . . .

Looking at the floor plan it looks like the bedroom area couldn't have been enlarged that much unless someone wanted to look at the kitchenette while laying in bed.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

You may be right.

It will be unique but I'm not sure how practical it would be. How often would Studio occupants need to use a tub and shower at the same time?

Personally I could think of better uses for the space--particularly if compromises were made in the living area.


I agree. I think of our family of 4 trying to get ready at the same time. Everyone wants to shower. Nobody wants to bathe unless it's at night after a long day at the park. Then everyone wants the jacuzzi tub!!!!

 

[shwn]

You may be right.

It will be unique but I'm not sure how practical it would be. How often would Studio occupants need to use a tub and shower at the same time?

Personally I could think of better uses for the space--particularly if compromises were made in the living area.


I agree. I think of our family of 4 trying to get ready at the same time. Everyone wants to shower. Nobody wants to bathe unless it's at night after a long day at the park. Then everyone wants the jacuzzi tub!!!!

I was thinking that the studio would consist of a separate walk in shower and a shower/tub combo where the tub is on the studio floor plan (just like all existing studios). That way two people could shower at the same time which would be a huge plus in my mind (if it is actually set up that way). As other posters said, it looks the tub in the studio is not a whirlpool tub.

If the tub is just a tub (and not a shower combo), then I agree it seems to not be much of an advantage at all.

 

[tjkraz]

Looking at the floor plan it looks like the bedroom area couldn't have been enlarged that much unless someone wanted to look at the kitchenette while laying in bed.

They could have gone with the more traditional Studio design...or at least a closer variant.

One of the most oft-heard complaints regarding DVC accommodations is the small size of the BLT studio living space. Hard to tell exact sizes without furniture or other frames-of-reference in the drawing, but that VFG Studio living space looks small to me.

It's all personal opinion but if sacrifices were made in the amount of living space in order to add a stand-along shower, I would not personally be impressed. That would also leave the room with just one closet, which looks pretty small in the drawing.

 

[shwn]

They could have gone with the more traditional Studio design...or at least a closer variant.

One of the most oft-heard complaints regarding DVC accommodations is the small size of the BLT studio living space. Hard to tell exact sizes without furniture or other frames-of-reference in the drawing, but that VFG Studio living space looks small to me.

It's all personal opinion but if sacrifices were made in the amount of living space in order to add a stand-along shower, I would not personally be impressed. That would also leave the room with just one closet, which looks pretty small in the drawing.

Completely agree that is a huge negative to the BLT studios. I still think they are very nice, but I really did think how they set up the kitchenette was a huge waste of space and made the living area very small.

We will have to wait and see how the size really pans out, but I would also be disappointed if the living area was the size of BLT's studios. I am hoping that they were able to squeeze in the shower without taking too much space out of the living area.

 

[zeferjen]

I snapped some construction pics for you guys last week. Not sure if this link will work:

 

[LisaS]

I was thinking that the studio would consist of a separate walk in shower and a shower/tub combo where the tub is on the studio floor plan (just like all existing studios). That way two people could shower at the same time which would be a huge plus in my mind (if it is actually set up that way). As other posters said, it looks the tub in the studio is not a whirlpool tub.

If the tub is just a tub (and not a shower combo), then I agree it seems to not be much of an advantage at all.

I was thinking the same, a shower/tub combo. But even if it's just a tub, when DH and I are racing to get ready to go out to dinner after staying too long at the pool, one of us takes the whirlpool tub, the other takes the shower so we can get ready at the same time. After a long day in the parks, I like a soak in the tub and this would leave the shower free for DH to use.

And why not make it a whirlpool tub? The Grand Floridian is supposed to be luxurious. Why not provide a whirlpool tub for studio guests?

 

[ITGirl50]

I'm disappointed there aren't two bathrooms in the 1-bedroom. Having that feature in AKV Kidani and BLT is wonderful. I have a hard time booking anywhere else because I won't get the extra bathroom.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It's a lot easier for me to use a standing shower stall rather than using the tub/shower. So, if that's what it is, I'm fine with it. For DH and myself, we use studios, and IF I buy at the Grand Floridian, studios are what we'll use.

 

[cosmos]

When did you take these photos, cosmos? The porte cochere looks big at that angle. In fact it looks like a small building in front of the resort.

I took the construction photos last week (before Easter). The porte cochere in person looks like the right size for the building.

 

[mjc2003]

Can't wait to see where those 4 bedrooms top out at points wise for a week. Premier season.....1500?

 

[LCoulter]

I'm disappointed there aren't two bathrooms in the 1-bedroom. Having that feature in AKV Kidani and BLT is wonderful. I have a hard time booking anywhere else because I won't get the extra bathroom.

I'm disappointed too! It seems like a down-grade to me. I was really excited about possibly staying there but not so much anymore. Maybe most owners don't really care about having two bathrooms? If you have someone sleeping in the livingroom area, it's nice having the second bathroom.

 

[Donna M]

The third bathroom would be nice, but at least there is access to a bathroom from the livingroom, which is better than OKW, where you have to walk through the master to get to the bath. And it looks like, if the 2 bdrm has the tub/shower combo, then 2 people can shower at the same time in privacy since there is a door within the bathroom. The whole setup is not as private as 3 baths would be, but it looks like there just wasn't enough room to add another complete bath.

I'm ready to check it out for a few days.

 

[OKW Lover]

The third bathroom would be nice, but at least there is access to a bathroom from the livingroom, which is better than OKW, where you have to walk through the master to get to the bath.

Only true for the first phase of OKW. Building numbers 30 and above at OKW have a second entrance to the bathroom through the laundry.

 

[Shellandscott]

The third bathroom would be nice, but at least there is access to a bathroom from the livingroom, which is better than OKW, where you have to walk through the master to get to the bath. And it looks like, if the 2 bdrm has the tub/shower combo, then 2 people can shower at the same time in privacy since there is a door within the bathroom. The whole setup is not as private as 3 baths would be, but it looks like there just wasn't enough room to add another complete bath.

I'm ready to check it out for a few days.

They could have done something with the master bed, that big walk-in closet and the kitchen area, I think they could have done some moving around to fit the 2nd bath into the one bedroom. Since the last few resorts built (VGC, AKV, BLT,) all have the extra bath, it is a HUGE disappointment. The bath a VGC is small but it still gave my 12 yr old niece somewhere to get ready and shower. Small stand up shower, not sure what the others have since I have never stayed at them.