Regretting DVC GCV need some encouragement:)

ifer924

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
71
I booked GCV months ago and got a fair price renting but now am regretting the big spend, since so many hotels seem to be walking distance close with fireworks views. We have another big family vacation this year and my reservation is none refundable, so who has some encouraging words about the benefits of GCV or how great it will be?
 
How long are you staying and how much did you pay for GCV rental per point? GCV is the a good choice with greatest/closest location. You won't be disappointed as you practically staying at the GCH at a lower rate.
 
Having only stayed GCH (vs GCV) I can only comment on the hotel part. It's beautiful. And while other properties are indeed walking distance it's amazing to exit DCA and step right onto your hotel property. You totally stay in the Disney bubble & that's very fun in itself. We stay offsite & on & the first time staying onsite was a great experience. We find staying in the bubble drops the stress level of the trip. The pools at GCH are boring thematically but the lounge chairs are SO comfortable. It sounds like you've planned out a lovely trip that will be very memorable for your entire family. Oh- also staying onsite gets you into one of the parks one hour early each day! That is a great perk of onsite so do get up to take advantage of it.
 
We stayed on Harbor once and it was fine, but we stayed at VGC the past three trips and just love it. I am a DVC member so I don't have to pay to rent, but I would definitely feel that renting is worth it. You may even get a theme park view. Last time we were able to watch WOC every night from our balcony. of course that cannot be counted on, but they do have a 6th floor viewing area where you can see most of the show without the crowds in the park. The resort is beautiful with really nice pool areas. You did not say what size unit you are renting, but the one and two bedroom are spacious with full kitchens and washers/dryers. I am sure you will love it. I can not wait to be there in less than two months. Don't regret your decision, the money is already spent so just enjoy it. If you can, get in touch with the member you rented from and ask them to contact member services with a request for rooms to give you a theme park view. Those room numbers can be searched on the DVC resorts board. There is a VGC room view thread. I hope you really have a wonderful trip!!!!!!
 

Ha! I am on the other side of the boat. I remember clearly seeing availability and someone with points to rent 8 months ago, but didn't jump on it...and am now regretting my offsite stay this week. I love renting/staying DVC at WDW, and the VGC looks beautiful. When I go to Disney, I need to stay at a resort that is relaxing/uplifting/beautiful. I need this as a break from all of the sometimes-too-much Disneyness of Disney ; )

When is your stay? With such great demand, no doubt you could find someone (maybe even on this board) to transfer the reservation too. I say stay, but know that there are outs. The DVC owner is able to change the names on the reservation I believe.
 
Thank you everyone. These are all the reasons I booked in the first place. I believe I spent $12/PP for a 1BR in the season 1 up from value. We're staying for 5 nights so we'll have 5 days of parks and pool time. I agree with Disney Bubble as part of our frequent WDW trips. Also the tip for theme park view is great. Thank you again!
 
In no particular order:

1. You can enter an hour early every day into one of the parks.
2. Washer and dryer in your unit.
3. Gas grills available only to DVC. Ask at the front desk for BBQ tools.
4. White Water Snacks, at VGC, has a few supplies for your kitchen, and decent food too.
5. World of Colour viewing from the 6th floor deck.
6. Two full bathrooms
7. Jacuzzi tub in master bathroom
8. Private patios/decks
9. Can have your purchases sent to the hotel. No need to carry them around the parks.
10. Full size coffee-maker.
11. Piano music played live in the lobby. Not for everyone but I loved it.
12. Some of the best views of all the surrounding hotels.
13. You can charge everything at DL and DCA to your room and pay at check-out.
14. It's the Grand Californian! Your Disney friends will be soooo jealous!

Here's the room view link: http://www.disboards.com/threads/vi...californian-room-views.2906031/#post-44522663

Personally, I'd request the specific room numbers designated 'paradise pier', on the 4th, 5th, or 6th floors. One time I didn't put in a room request and was given the second floor, facing the trees of Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Very dark and no view, at all. I did, however, see one of the DL cats wander by. :)

Enjoy your adventure!
 
:love:
Wow...$12pp is a great deal. We stayed in a studio a couple years ago and loved it. I can't seem to find anything under $13 pp and we usually stay for 9+days so it get pricey. Did you request any specific rooms? There are rooms with fantastic Paradise Pier views. They are not guaranteed though if you request them. Early morning entries are FABULOUS and loved the short walk from the parks. We stopped every night in the lobby for a drink and met people from all over the world. You will love it.... and next time you can stay on Harbor.....maybe
 
Thank you everyone. These are all the reasons I booked in the first place. I believe I spent $12/PP for a 1BR in the season 1 up from value. We're staying for 5 nights so we'll have 5 days of parks and pool time. I agree with Disney Bubble as part of our frequent WDW trips. Also the tip for theme park view is great. Thank you again!

I rented DVC points at WDW for 14$ a point. So you got a fairly good deal on the points. While I haven't stayed at GCV, I have stayed at a few villas in WDW. I loved having a large room, much better than a "regular" hotel room. I loved the full kitchen, washer and dryer, and multiple bathrooms! You will love it! Yes it is a bit of a splurge, but it makes the trips so enjoyable and relaxing IMO.
 
We just stayed in a 1 Bdr in the VGC, got back Wed. It was AMAZING. I highly highly recommend it. We had enough room to spread out and it was so nice having the full kitchen and the washer/dryer.
 
...so who has some encouraging words about the benefits of GCV or how great it will be?
I love both VGC and GCH, and stay in the villas when advance scheduling (and my points balance) permit. GCH is a full service luxury hotel, of which VGC is only a small part.

Skim the VGC superthead for many details about the villas.

I highly recommend making a view request, which must be done by the DVC owner.
Floor by floor maps of VGC are linked in my signature.

A few view photos which should be "encouraging", all from 1 bedroom villas.
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vgc_3507.jpg

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VGC5514.jpg
 
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Our Disneyland trip isn't until Nov/Dec so I haven't actually stayed at the GC villas yet, but I know when we were first planning and looking at all the hotel options, the villas were our first choice and we were so excited to get matched up with an owner through the DVC Rental Store. Our kiddos are still young and we don't want to deal with strollers and will probably have to send the kids back to the hotel for afternoon rest time, so we needed to get as close to the parks as possible, but didn't want to deal with crossing a busy street. We're also taking at least one set of grandparents with us, possibly both sets, and the price of a 2 bed villa rental was less than 2 (or 3) standard rack-rate rooms at DLH. We also stayed at BWV on an adults-only trip last January, and having the in-room laundry and full kitchen was such a nice bonus and we used them both, so I'm glad we'll have that on this trip. The DCA early entry option was also a big factor in our decision, as our boys are huge Cars fans and that is one several reasons why we chose DL over WDW for their first intro to Disney parks.

I did get a tiny bit freaked out at the cost when we put down the first deposit for the reservation, but then I went through some of the DL trip reports and GC superthread and looked at all the pics of the hotel and villas, and that helped quite a bit. Like others have said, since you can't get a refund, the only thing to really do at this point is to just look forward to the trip itself : )
 
We stayed at GCV back in April and loved it! I would be excited about it. And you cannot beat the convenience factor! Having a seperate entrance to CA and and entrance right into DTD to get to DL park can't be beat. I'm hoping to stay there again in Oct as long as I can book it on my points.
 
If all you want to do is sleep, the motels on Harbor are fine... I live near Disneyland, but when I know I want to stay extremely late or get there quite early, I stay at the Ramada Maingate. It is a place to sleep and you can easily walk to the parks. (I already made a reservation for the 60th!)
You are on vacation though! When I want a relaxing Disneyland stay where I take advantage of all the resort has to offer, I stay in the VGC. The experience of staying on property is far different from the experience of staying off property. Heck, I used some DVC points there myself this year because I needed a break even though I go to Disneyland weekly. I believe it is worth the extra money to have a better vacation experience!

Have fun (you will have fun) regardless what you chose to do!
 
Ha! I am on the other side of the boat. I remember clearly seeing availability and someone with points to rent 8 months ago, but didn't jump on it...and am now regretting my offsite stay this week. I love renting/staying DVC at WDW, and the VGC looks beautiful. When I go to Disney, I need to stay at a resort that is relaxing/uplifting/beautiful. I need this as a break from all of the sometimes-too-much Disneyness of Disney ; )

When is your stay? With such great demand, no doubt you could find someone (maybe even on this board) to transfer the reservation too. I say stay, but know that there are outs. The DVC owner is able to change the names on the reservation I believe.
me too. I cannot believe how much money I am going to have to pay to stay there in June.
 
There is no comparison! Seriously. Nothing beats VGC! I am still sad that we couldn't get a room for our next trip. We are VGC owners and prior to the villas being built I could never afford to stay there so I've stayed at several within walking distance hotels, both Disney and non. Of course, anything is fine when you're at Disney. But there's nothing like staying at the Grand.
 

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