Key West Grand Villa Opinion

[uclasilva]

I am looking into the Grand Villa and wondered if any of you have stayed there and what type of reaction you had to it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have stayed in GVs a couple of times. We LOVE the extra large living room and the master bedroom is larger than in the 1 & 2 bedroom villas. The only negetive I can think of is that I prefer the kitchen in the 2 bedroom over the GV. In the GV, the sink is too close to the corner, and it is difficult for more than one person in the kitchen at a time. It's difficult to work with the sink so close to the stove too. I like the extra food storage in the island though.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Is it hard to book a GV @ 7 months in June or July?

 

[ilovediznee]

We stayed at the two floor one a number of years ago with 12 of us. We never felt cramped and it worked out well. Plenty of seating both in the kitchen and family room, plus for those that got up early, a screened in porch.

We went a few months before this trip and I went to OKW and asked to see a Grand Villa, which helped me plan who would sleep where and such.

Also, the laundry room is quite large, so we stored our bottled water and coolers in there so we wouldn't use any kitchen space.

Hope this helps - Diane

 

[mikesmom]

Is it hard to book a GV @ 7 months in June or July?

Yes. That's why we eventually added on there.

 

[childsplay]

Is it hard to book a GV @ 7 months in June or July?

If you go early enough in June, first week really, you might have a shot, but once the schools let out it gets difficult. We have owned for going on 8 years and every year we go in the second or third week of June, for the first five years OKW GV's were available at the 7 month window, for the last three years they have not been available.

 

[sgtdisney]

We just got back from a stay in a Grand Villa earlier this week. It was our first time in a Grand Villa. There were seven of us, so it was kind of a splurge. We had wanted to try one and never had in the 15 years of membership. The Grand Villa was beautiful, but I don't forsee us reserving one again in the near future. For us, the kitchen was too far removed from the Living area and I agree with Diane the layout in the kitchen was a little unusual. Also the bathrooms in the upstairs bedrooms were small compared to the baths in the 2nd bedroom of a 2 bedroom or a studio . The door barely cleared the toilet it was that tight as the tub and toilet are in one small room and the sink is exposed to the bedrooms. Even the master bathroom seemed to be layed out not as nicely as the master bath in the 1 or 2 bedroom units. The shower was smaller. The 3rd bedroom only has doubles which are nice for 1 person, but not 2. The other thing we werent in love with is the stairs! My family and I were upstairs, my Dad had the Master, so we were up and down the stairs a lot. We live in a ranch and aren't used to it, especially after a long day in the park with tired legs.

In the future I think we will be reserving a 2 bedroom and studion when we travel with the same sized group again. It seems to be less points and enough room for us. I will say the 4th bathroom was great as it had an additional shower for those who hate showering in the bathtub. The GV is very large and everyone should probably try it at least once. For some, I am sure it is perfect. For us, I am not so sure we will spend the points that way again.

 

[Plutofan]

You should think about going to the Disney website and taking a virtual tour of the Grand Villa.

 

[dianeschlicht]

SgtDisney, I agree that the layout of the master bath is a bit better in the 2 bedroom. I like the double pedistal sinks, but I always miss the vanity of the 2 bedroom master. The shower, while a little smaller, isn't a big difference though. The master bedroom itself is about 3 feet longer also.

The laundry room is large enough to almost be used as a bedroom! If those of you who have stayed in the OKW 2 bedrooms think those laundry rooms are large, you will LOVE the one in the GV! I also love that extra 3/4 bath in the downstairs hall. I think it is one of the nicest decorated baths in DVC. LOVE the tile in there.

 

[coolmickey]

OKW grand villa's are great. Unbelievable space.

 

[OneMoreTry]

The OKW GV has a great WOW factor! It is basically the size of Liberty Square but with more bathrooms. It would be a great house to retire in.

The extra 3/4 bath more than makes up for any decrease in size of the master bath. Guests don't have to climb stairs or tromp through the master to use a bathroom. The tile in there IS awesome.

I guess if you're going to WDW for a master bath, then don't go with a GV.

I'm not sure how the kitchen can be too far from the LR. The only way would be to make the GV smaller or put the kitchen between the DR adn the LR, which would be wierd. So I don't get that comment. Personally, I don't think a kitchen should be close to the LR anyway.

Our sink (on my 1 GV stay) was not close to the corner. 4815. Are the layouts different? This was a HA villa, so maybe that accounts for the difference.

Overall, the GV was comfortable and seemed the most like "home" of any place we've ever stayed anywhere. It was inviting, engaging, comfortable, pleasant, well-maintained and the highlight of our recent trip. If you stay in one go with people you like and plan to hang out there.

We will definitely stay in one again!!!

That said, I have two negatives. The main one is the cheap, ugly fake plants. At least dust the wretched things. I bent some of the poor, drooping leaves back up on one of them.

Second is a minor point: the LR can act as an echo chamber, so speak quietly if someone is asleep upstairs.

 

[sgtdisney]

I guess if you're going to WDW for a master bath, then don't go with a GV.

I'm not sure how the kitchen can be too far from the LR. The only way would be to make the GV smaller or put the kitchen between the DR adn the LR, which would be wierd. So I don't get that comment. Personally, I don't think a kitchen should be close to the LR anyway.

I don't tend to go to WDW for a master bath, but was just stating my opinion. I didn't care for the layout. Too much like a tunnel, didn't care for the placement of the shower. Not fond of pedestal sinks. Compared to the 2 bedroom's bath, it seemed not as nicely laid out. Just my own opinion. Still a wonderful bath, just not as nice to me.

In regard to the kitchen, since I am not living in a villa but vacationing there, so I like for the area to not be so cavernous. It just seemed like wasted space to me, again, just my opinion. I don't want anyone to think I am putting the GV or OKW down. OKW is my home resort, I love it. I am glad the GV is an option, and am certain that there are many who simply love it. It is beautiful and everyone should experience one once. It is just, for my family, it was not something we will probably do again for a variety of reasons.

It is funny the tile in the 4th bath is mentioned. I used that bath to shower in each day because I didn't like the cramped shower/toilet in the 2nd bedroom upstairs, and I don't remenber the tile being any different than in the other baths. Now you have me curious. I will have to check out my pictures to see what was different about it.