HELP! Waitlist for VGC GVC (Grand California Villas). NOW WHAT???? see post 40

[sonnyjane]

Plan B is either stay on-site at DLH (36 DVC points) or PPH (31 DVC points) or go to Ramada Maingate ($130) or BW Raffles ($82) or Courtyard Marriott in Torrance ($50).
I suppose I could also pay for a night at GCH- but really don't want to lay out the cash for this.

This is for the only for the night of 10/1-10/2. On 10/2 we are going on the Disney Wonder. I have dining with WOC pkg (9pm) for the night of 10/1 and I plan on seeing the fireworks at 930pm and fantasmic at 1030pm. But we are a family of 5 and I really need a refrigerator for my son's food (lots of food allergies, so foods and meds that must stay in fridge)......hate to have to pack our stuff. Will disney move our suitcases from VGC to PPH or DLH? Should we just stay near the port that night? Uggghhhhhh....stressing!

TIA

I'm fairly certain, as it's been asked on here before, that they will not move your luggage Depending on what time your cruise leaves, I might agree with your thought about getting a room that last night near the port if it's too much hassle to move for the one night, but it sounds like you have very ambitious goals of seeing all three nighttime offerings at once, so that would make it a very late night. Can you not see WOC on another night? Doing all three in one night is absolutely not ideal by any stretch of the imagination...but I guess that's another thread entirely...

 

[cathicool]

I'm fairly certain, as it's been asked on here before, that they will not move your luggage Depending on what time your cruise leaves, I might agree with your thought about getting a room that last night near the port if it's too much hassle to move for the one night, but it sounds like you have very ambitious goals of seeing all three nighttime offerings at once, so that would make it a very late night. Can you not see WOC on another night? Doing all three in one night is absolutely not ideal by any stretch of the imagination...but I guess that's another thread entirely...

Yes, I'm starting to think that seeing all 3 events might not work out. 10/1 is the only night that the fireworks and fantasmic is showing the entire time we are at DL. WOC is only showing 1 other night (9/29), maybe I can change the WOC dining to that night instead. Thanks for the advice.

Yikes! Disney won't move our luggage????? Ugh.....another thing to consider (or rather, reconsider).

 

[sonnyjane]

Yes, I'm starting to think that seeing all 3 events might not work out. 10/1 is the only night that the fireworks and fantasmic is showing the entire time we are at DL. WOC is only showing 1 other night (9/29), maybe I can change the WOC dining to that night instead. Thanks for the advice.

Yikes! Disney won't move our luggage????? Ugh.....another thing to consider (or rather, reconsider).

Check that schedule again. Disneyland's online schedule has WOC playing every night in September and October, with two shows on the weekends, including the time during your visit.

 

[cathicool]

Check that schedule again. Disneyland's online schedule has WOC playing every night in September and October, with two shows on the weekends, including the time during your visit.

I've rechecked the schedule! I've changed things around a bit and I've got WOC on a different night than fantasmic and the fireworks. Great suggestion!

Still going to be a late night on 10/1....so still need to brainstorm the best scenario for that night, assuming the VGC doesn't come thru

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I've rechecked the schedule! I've changed things around a bit and I've got WOC on a different night than fantasmic and the fireworks. Great suggestion!

Still going to be a late night on 10/1....so still need to brainstorm the best scenario for that night, assuming the VGC doesn't come thru

I would suggest you book PPH as a back up on cash.

GCV will be able to hold you bags, including anything that needs refrigeration, until your room is ready at PPH. Since DLR hotels don't appear to be willing to transfer your luggage for you, I suggest PPH since it is physically closer between the front desk of GCV and PPH, than it is to the DLH. I suggest a cash reservation so you can continue to keep your WL for the room at GCV.

You will be without a room from 11 am until about 4, but you can use the pool at GCV. There is even a shower in the restrooms at the pool. If you need access to a refrigerator during this period, I think you could rent a cabana at the pool.

The other option would be to cancel all your nights at the GCV and book a room at either DLH or PPH using points for all your nights. Disappointing, but maybe easier in the long run. -- Suzanne

 

[cathicool]

I would suggest you book PPH as a back up on cash.

GCV will be able to hold you bags, including anything that needs refrigeration, until your room is ready at PPH. Since DLR hotels don't appear to be willing to transfer your luggage for you, I suggest PPH since it is physically closer between the front desk of GCV and PPH, than it is to the DLH. I suggest a cash reservation so you can continue to keep your WL for the room at GCV.

You will be without a room from 11 am until about 4, but you can use the pool at GCV. There is even a shower in the restrooms at the pool. If you need access to a refrigerator during this period, I think you could rent a cabana at the pool.

The other option would be to cancel all your nights at the GCV and book a room at either DLH or PPH using points for all your nights. Disappointing, but maybe easier in the long run. -- Suzanne

Yes, I'm thinking PPH as well and in cash so I can cancel "late in the game" if VGC comes thru. My sticking point is what will I do wuth the stuff that must be refrigerated when we are at PPH? Will PPH allow a refrigerator in my room? How about staying at GCH?

I can't cancel the VGC nights (first, they will go into holding points now-yuck!) and I need a kitchen- refrigerator, freezer, stove, microwave- for meds and to store and prepare food. I don't make big gourmet meals for my son when we are away, but I do like to make sure I can feed him when (if) we end up with a chef who just isn't willing to go the extra mile for us. Disney is great with food allergies in general, but there is always a wrinkle here and there. So many times we have had issues at WDW, so i just like to be ready on the fly instead of it ruining our day.

Thanks....good PPH suggestion!

 

[the donut]

Yes, I'm thinking PPH as well and in cash so I can cancel "late in the game" if VGC comes thru. My sticking point is what will I do wuth the stuff that must be refrigerated when we are at PPH? Will PPH allow a refrigerator in my room? How about staying at GCH?

I can't cancel the VGC nights (first, they will go into holding points now-yuck!) and I need a kitchen- refrigerator, freezer, stove, microwave- for meds and to store and prepare food. I don't make big gourmet meals for my son when we are away, but I do like to make sure I can feed him when (if) we end up with a chef who just isn't willing to go the extra mile for us. Disney is great with food allergies in general, but there is always a wrinkle here and there. So many times we have had issues at WDW, so i just like to be ready on the fly instead of it ruining our day.

Thanks....good PPH suggestion!

All Paradise Pier rooms have a refrigerator, I believe, while GCH rooms do not. The one time we stayed at PPH, the room was ready when we checked in around 7am. Maybe if you go over and check in early, you could get the room before you need to check out of VGC? PPH is a big hotel. I would be surprised if they couldn't get you into a room by 11am if you went over and checked in before 7am, especially if you explain the circumstances.

Just out of curiosity, are there refrigerators and microwaves on the Dream? We've never done a disney cruise.

ETA: The last time we stayed at DLH on points, we booked the day before we were going down. So if you wanted to use points for that PPH room at the 7 day mark (if the VGC doesn't come through), you could still cancel your cash reservation and use points, as long as there is availability. Also, I believe the suites at PPH have a microwave, at least I've seen that in the pictures. Good luck!

 

[franandaj]

I would call to verify, but I've read several posts that they do transfer your bags.

I'm glad you've realized you can't do all three shows in one night. Just exiting WoC will take 15-20 minutes. The 2 DL shows are possible though.

Unless you plan on leaving DLR completely, I wouldn't stay at the Torrance hotel. There's no reason to go check in and go back to Anaheim, but I would suggest paying cash with a possibility of canceling 24 hours in advance in case the WL comes through. I has it come through less than a week before my stay so you never know!

 

[cathicool]

I would call to verify, but I've read several posts that they do transfer your bags.


Unless you plan on leaving DLR completely, I wouldn't stay at the Torrance hotel.

We are going on the disney cruise on 10/2, so my thought was to stay at the parks on 10/1 and when we were ready to leave (late night) we'd go to the hotel in torrance since it would be close to the port. But this really won't work--now that 10/1 is the only night we have for fantasmic, I don't want to miss it, so we will be at the parks pretty late that night. I don't want to drive at midnight! Also, I still have the bigger issue of my son's foods and meds which must remain refrigerated. So Torrance is out.

I called disney for hotel ressies and there are no standard rooms available in either of the 3 onsite properties. (Yikes...it's going to be crowded!!!) I have a ressie at DLH, a deluxe (lower level poolview) for $283. I also have a ressie at PPH in a premium (DCA view) for $313. Both rooms have a refrig in it (and they say they will put a microwave in it for medical reasons). They will move the bags and keep the refrigerated stuff in the bellhops fridge (although I think I will move the refrigerated stuff myself). Parking WILL cost me $15- even with the handicapped tag at either resort. GCH only had a premium view for $450.

So choices are: in order of cost, but also seems to be in order of least to most convenient!

Torrance, $55 total...............cancelled this
BW Raffles, $96 total
Ramada Maingate, $152 total
DLH, STANDARD, $259 plus $15 parking (BTW, 36 DVC points and no parking fee)....was able to grab this at 4pm!
PPH, premium, $313 plus $15 parking (BTW, 33 DVC points and no parking fee)
GCH, premium, $450 plus $15 parking...of course the most convenient!


Geeze, I just wish/hope/pray the VGC waitlist comes through...come on 1BR/ 2BR or 2br l/o!

 

[franandaj]

Well, it sounds like you have everything covered as best as you can. The main reason it is so crowded that weekend is probably because of Gay Days. Supposedly about 30,000 people come for that event. You never know what can happen on the WL, so good luck!

 

[cathicool]

. Supposedly about 30,000 people come for that event.

YIKES! That's alot of people! I'm sure you are right.....the hotels are booked!

 

[MukilteoSailor]

Just out of curiosity, are there refrigerators and microwaves on the Dream? We've never done a disney cruise.

The cabins have a cooler but no refrigerator. On our cruise in May our son had to take medicine that needed to be refrigerated. We had to keep that stored at guest services desk. They had a refrigerator in the back room.

 

[cathicool]

The cabins have a cooler but no refrigerator. On our cruise in May our son had to take medicine that needed to be refrigerated. We had to keep that stored at guest services desk. They had a refrigerator in the back room.

not so sure the above info is correct....

the magic and wonder have coolers, but the dream (and presumably the fantasy) have mini fridges. my son has meds that also need refrigeration and also special food (he has multiple and severe allergies) that must stay refrigerated. on the magic and wonder a refrigerator is placed in our cabin (in the desk space), but on the dream, everyone has a fridge. we've done 11 disney cruises--9 on magic/wonder and 2 on the dream.

 

[MukilteoSailor]

not so sure the above info is correct....

the magic and wonder have coolers, but the dream (and presumably the fantasy) have mini fridges. my son has meds that also need refrigeration and also special food (he has multiple and severe allergies) that must stay refrigerated. on the magic and wonder a refrigerator is placed in our cabin (in the desk space), but on the dream, everyone has a fridge. we've done 11 disney cruises--9 on magic/wonder and 2 on the dream.

Our cruise was on the Wonder, sorry I should have specified, so not sure about what is on the Dream. Also I didn't ask (or know I could ask) for a fridge for the room and no one at the guest services desk offered to put one in our room so we just stored the medicine down in their fridge.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't cancel the VGC nights (first, they will go into holding points now-yuck!)

I know you won't cancel b/c of the kitchen, BUT as far as I know, holding points can be used for PPH and DLH. They are exceptions to the rule.