Rekindling the Love for my 1st Disney Park & VGC pictures.

[franandaj]

This is my story of my rekindled magic with my first love DL and the beautiful resort she has grown into. This love started as a child and grew when I moved to SoCal for college between 25 and 30 years ago. We shared wonderful times through my coming of age. But in 1993 I began to stray from my first love with her sister WDW. While I still held a fondness for DL, I found myself longing for WDW, so much that even with DLR’s new enhancements (DCA, DTD, GCH), I still longed for my WDW. Soon I wasn’t even spending entire days with her, but perhaps we’d just have dinner. And we didn’t share all the rides, maybe just one or two if even that. Soon I spent my thoughts planning my time together with WDW, rather than thinking of my first love.

But one day, several years ago she added a F&W Festival, and the Festival became our Therapist and again brought me to see her deep inner beauty. Last year I realized to rekindle our flame, I needed to show her how much I truly loved her by purchasing DVC points at HER resort, not just her sister’s enticing offerings.

Immediately I was ecstatic planning our time together (however still conspiring with her sister.) As the year progressed, I became more inspired planning visits together that I had not originally planned for! Then after joining the DISboards, I realized she too had been cheating on me! There were so many who loved her, and saw such different things in her than myself! I realized that if she could forgive me for my love for her sister, I could not be upset that so many other share my love for this beautiful little resort.

So with this new found magic, here is a trip report of my first stay at the Villas at the Grand Californian.

Edited: I'm coming back a bunch of times during F&W so it won't only be the first stay, but all in the next month or 6 weeks!

 

[franandaj]

So as I mentioned we had many visits to Disneyland, long before there was a resort, back when we used to be able to park in front of the park and turnstiles, there was no other park, and “the hotel” was so far away that one hardly even thought about it. When they announced the Villas at the Grand Californian I thought, “That would be stupid to buy there, it’s easier just to drive home.” Hah! Did I change my mind fast on that one! We spent the night before the last day of the F&W Festival in the hotel, after attending “Taste”. Soaking in my (not even Jacuzzi) Tub, I realized that I wanted to be able to do this EVERY year! So we marched right down to the DVC Counter, made an appointment with our rep.

As soon as the points were deposited in my account I made a reservation for a studio for the first weekend of the F&W Festival. If you’re interested in that, well that’s another report (currently in progress as well), this is about my new home and what a beautiful place it is.

For years I have been walking through these doors, and admiring their beauty, but never with the same eyes as I did for my first stay as an owner!

And the bench where you can wait for the Valet to bring your car.

This little mural is on the wall as you enter the building.

The lobby is so wonderfully big and spacious

And oooooh the light fixtures are just beautiful

These little beauties were on the counter for the Registration desk.

The CMs were so nice a friendly and all said “welcome home” to us as soon as they found out we were DVC Members. So we checked into the hotel, and because of these boards I know about what rooms have good views. When she handed me my packet, it said 1509. I wasn’t thrilled, but told DP we weren’t going to have any view. I asked the CM what would be the best way to get a good view for my stay in two weeks. She asked me to hold on for a few minutes and she would consult a DVC specialist.

She came back smiling, and said, "I'll have to issue you new room keys, but I think you'll find it was worth the wait, you're on the sixth floor now." Not only the sixth floor but room 6504! I knew from the DISboards that was the room with the best view for WoC! Woohoo!

We arrived in the room, to see this:

 

[franandaj]

When we bought our points, I had never stayed in a studio, but we couldn’t afford to buy into any more points than we did. I was afraid that after staying in mostly one bedrooms that I would find the Studio very small. It actually worked pretty well for us since we didn’t spend much time in the room except sleeping, checking email, and the only “cooking” we did was English Muffins and heating some banana bread that I made the night before we left.

I took a few pictures and we waited for Bell Services to bring our luggage. This is an AMAZING view! After several attempts at trying to figure out how to open the sliding door we figured it out. We sat around for about an hour with the door open listening to the theme park sounds. I watched California Screamin’ and tried to follow the cars through their entire ride, it was really cool, but finally we shut the door to take advantage of the Air Conditioning, plus the screams and stuff got a little annoying after a while!

I’m sure you’ve all seen studios, but I like to take pictures of every room that I stay in so here they are.

And I love me a well stocked pantry:

We had dinner at Steakhouse 55, and arrived back in the room to find the Electrical Parade going on in the park and we could see it from our room! It was about halfway through so we watched the last half on the balcony.

This was the park view at night:

After the parade ended. we got to our computers checking emails. The doors are really soundproof because I did not hear the start of WoC, but at some point (fairly early on in the show) caught a glimpse of it and sprung out the door immediately! They ran the whole show and we came out while they were playing a really obscure song from Alice in Wonderland, but DP who is serious Disneyphile recognized it. We saw at least fifteen minutes of the 20-25 minute show. The water projections were difficult to see from our angle and will be even harder to see from the DVC viewing platform as it is about 4-6 rooms farther away, but the water and light shows were spectacular. I’m sure when we see the show from the front it will be incredible! I’m not sure if it will exceed my enjoyment of Fantasmic because the DL version of this show is just so cool with all the various mediums it uses, the water projections, the little boats, the Columbia & Mark Twain, however WoC is going to be a definite awesome show. Viewing it with 8999 of my closest friends….not so sure, but I will definitely take advantage of any VGC or dinner package specials to see it!

Here’s some pics:

Next up pictures of the grounds, and more light fixtures!

 

[ACDSNY]

Thanks for the wonderful TR, I'm loving it. I can totally relate to the association with WDW, but we too have come back to our first Disney love. We love the VGC too!

 

[nunzia]

I am loving this report! Thank you!!

 

[spiceycat]

sounds like you had a good time with your first luv.

have never even been to DL. but loved it on TV.:lovestr

 

[TLPL]

I feel dirty after reading the first post

 

[thelionqueen]

I too have a fond love for my original love of DLR! I have been lucky enough to have a pilot for a father and family in Anaheim, so I went to Disneyland for weeks every summer. Only until about 1999 did I start having my affair as well

They are 2 very different experiences, and both wonderful. But if I absolutely HAD TO choose only one to vacation at for the rest of my life, it would be Disneyland hands down!!

Your pictures are FANTASTIC!!! Keep em' comin!

 

[BigEeyore]

I too grew up at DL, even worked there 2 summers. I have since become a WDW junkie but DL will always hold that special place in my heart!
We will be staying at VGC next month w/ my parents (their home resort is VGC and they live in Long Beach too!). I can't wait. What room location should we request? Will theme park view be too loud? We have two young kids and I don't want them to be kept up at night by a lot of noise.
Thanks for all the info and beautiful pics! Soooo looking forward to seeing it for myself!

 

[MCSfromWA]

That was so beautiful.

Our first stay was in a one bedroom (6502). We will be back soon and I hope that we will be as lucky again. Your trip report and pictures make me want to go back home NOW. But alas, we will have to wait and I will just have to re-read your thread again and again until it is time.

I, too, love the light fixtures. In fact, I bought a lamp for my home that reminds me of the style of GH a few years ago and everytime I look at it I remember GH and DLR.

Thank you for your TR!

 

[stopher1]

Thank you so much for that lovely batch of pictures, and your narrative. I hope you have more to come. DL is definitely my first love too... having grown up about 30 minutes from the park, worked there, and have many friends from those days still. It's such a wonderful place - and if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have WDW to enjoy either. Thankfully my employer is based in Irvine, and we still have family in So Cal - so annual (sometimes more) trips west are still very much a part of life for me - and thanks to our VGC points, will continue for many years to come! I love WDW - but that love will truly never eclipse what's in my heart for Disneyland.

 

[franandaj]

We will be staying at VGC next month w/ my parents (their home resort is VGC and they live in Long Beach too!). I can't wait. What room location should we request? Will theme park view be too loud?

I would request a Paradise Pier view, anything 0X (X being an even number) and the smaller the number the closer the view to WoC. You can't see the water screens as good from the villas as you will from the viewing area, but it's certainly not bad!

The only time I found it loud and it wasn't THAT loud, was during the day when we had the door open. You could hear the screams of the people on the coasters and various other park noises. It wasn't really bad, just annoying after about an hour or more.

 

[burnsoc]

I feel dirty after reading the first post

I'm glad I'm not the only one. With all that talk of loving the sister, I'd assumed the thread was posted by Larry King.

Seriously, thanks for a great thread and pictures. I've never been to DL, but after this I've got the itch.

 

[franandaj]

Thank you so much for that lovely batch of pictures, and your narrative. I hope you have more to come. DL is definitely my first love too... having grown up about 30 minutes from the park, worked there, and have many friends from those days still. It's such a wonderful place - and if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have WDW to enjoy either. Thankfully my employer is based in Irvine, and we still have family in So Cal - so annual (sometimes more) trips west are still very much a part of life for me - and thanks to our VGC points, will continue for many years to come! I love WDW - but that love will truly never eclipse what's in my heart for Disneyland.

I'm going back almost every weekend for the next six weeks, either for a stay or like tonight a Wine Maker Dinner at Steakhouse 55. I have plenty more pics from last weekend, but I plan to draw it ou as much as I can!

 

[franandaj]

The next day, I spent most of my day at the Napa Rose Cooking School, and dinner at the F&W Festival, so most all my pictures from that day were of food and were posted in my F&W Review. Sunday morning however, the entire day was free until dinner time, so I took this opportunity to check out the resort in further detail and Visit Disneyland.

The DVC wing entrance is right near the pool, the wing is the brown building pictured here on the left side of the photo.

There are three pools and two hot tubs (I think, there might be a third, but I can’t remember).

This is the tub that I soaked in later that day.

These are the cabanas that you can rent for big bucks…

This is the pathway to the pool, I love all the lush green plants everywhere.

Inside the lobby is this beautiful fireplace area

And many lovely light fixtures

It’s relaxing to listen to the pianist play in the afternoons and evenings

There is the gift shop

Storytellers, this is a nice place for a good family meal (at Disney Prices)

Napa Rose – The fine dining option, one of the best restaurants in all of Orange County

White Water Snacks – The Quick Service option

The pool bar (which I noticed keeps quite busy bringing drinks to the pool patrons when I was in the hot tub later)

And here’s a few more of the grounds on your way to DTD

 

[BigEeyore]

I did not know the monorail went thru the hotel! Very cool.
Nice pool pics!

 

[sierranevada]

Awesome trip report!! I can live vicariously through this report until it is time for my trip!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Alison, I love the Craftsman and Mission style furnishings. I've got a couple of pieces here in my den that would look great in the villas.

 

[franandaj]

Thanks for the wonderful TR, I'm loving it. I can totally relate to the association with WDW, but we too have come back to our first Disney love. We love the VGC too!

Thanks for reading!

I am loving this report! Thank you!!

I hope it helps you out for your first stay, which is coming up soon!

sounds like you had a good time with your first luv.

have never even been to DL. but loved it on TV.:lovestr

It's even better than on TV, there's something so different to walk down DL Main Street than MK, both are great but I think it's Walt's presence that you feel.

I too have a fond love for my original love of DLR! I have been lucky enough to have a pilot for a father and family in Anaheim, so I went to Disneyland for weeks every summer. Only until about 1999 did I start having my affair as well

They are 2 very different experiences, and both wonderful. But if I absolutely HAD TO choose only one to vacation at for the rest of my life, it would be Disneyland hands down!!

Your pictures are FANTASTIC!!! Keep em' comin!

I think you're right, there are some things there that a just too precious.

 

[franandaj]

I feel dirty after reading the first post

I'm glad I'm not the only one. With all that talk of loving the sister, I'd assumed the thread was posted by Larry King.

Seriously, thanks for a great thread and pictures. I've never been to DL, but after this I've got the itch.

You crack me up!