*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group*

I'm going next week too with DW and two toddlers. We are planning on using the monorail at 7am to get to MK in the morning for EE, and then using the boat to head back around noon for a break at the pool/room. Fallback is a 20 minute walk with the stroller. Hoping to enjoy the Christmas decorations between noon and 3pm, and then late at night. Any evening Park trips we will be driving after reading the boards lately-seems like a hot mess to try the MR or bus. Hoping this strategy allows us to enjoy our time at VGF.
This is how we do (have done) VGF and MK forever (since our kid were in strollers). The line looks rough because there isn't much space on the platform, but they've been pretty efficient getting people through security and onto the platform. for the next monorail. We were there Thanksgiving week and were lucky to miss the crazy line other than 4-5pm on a MVMCP night (it went back to the birdcage elevator, but looks like they wind it the other way now, which makes a lot of sense). Even though we were close to the elevator, we made it onto the 2nd monorail - i.e. one pulled in, platform cleared, as soon as the platform cleared, they loaded up the platform and the zigzag after security.
My last trip just over a month ago, there were some times that I was pleased with the bus & monorail transportation, and other times where it very negatively affected my stay at VGF. IMHO, at a minimum, they need to expand the bus stop to support at least 2 buses at a time, and have a better organization of where to wait for buses to DS, DHS, and DAK. Buses arriving full, especially for ECVs, is a valid issue too.
Totally agree - we went to HS in late morning and almost didn't get on a bus because we though there were a lot of people ahead of us. Turns out they were 2 big families each with 1 ECV and there was only space for 1 more ECV on the bus. But I did feel bad walking around all the people to squeeze past to get on a bus.

Multiple times in the past, I've headed towards RotR only to find out it has a delayed opening.
So .... because we also had LLs for Slinky dog, TSMM and ToT, we "rope dropped" HS to get in the standby line for RotR knowing that it wouldn't open until 9am at least. Even with a ride breakdown of about 15 minutes (we were already on our colors the first time, before the interrogation room), we were done by 9:20. FWIW it was the saturday after thanksgiving, we arrived at the park at 8:30, had our id's checked by 8:40 just past star tours, and were in line for rotr no later than 8:45.

We love VGF - as I mentioned above we’re staying there later this month and it will be our first time not doing a split stay with a Crescent Lake resort. But I just can’t rationalize staying there for long stretches of time for park-heavy trips.
We usually split between an MK resort and Riviera (or BWV/BCV occasionally), and this last trip we were at VGF the whole week. It was nice not to have to pack up and move (even though we got the opposite of our room request), and I'll admit: 1) we only spent a half day/night at AK but used evening extra hours there. ODD and I went a little early (3pm) and waited in line an hour for the safari. My YDD and DH arrived later, went to Dinoland and played games and rode Triceratopspin. We met for dinner at Tiffins, then rode FOP and Everest standby and called it an early night. Could have done more but we had a 6:30 wake up time for rope dropping MK the next day, and 2) For rope dropping HS we took a car service there, did RotR, Slinky, TSMM, ToT, Millennium Falcon, Star Tours by 12:30 and then hopped to Epcot.

We did do a lot more MK time, and we wanted to focus on Epcot and Festival of the Holidays.
 
This gives me hope! Does anyone have experience rope dropping HS while at VGF during December? Is it a lost cause?
sorry this got lost - yes we have rope dropped HS from VGF in December and (recently Thanksgiving) and it is doable - but I would suggest building a car service into the budget for the early morning.

FWIW HS rope dropping nowadays seems to mean arriving at 8am for 8:30am early entry - we rope dropped HS multiple times with a double stroller, in the rain, in December 2019 when RotR had first opened and you had to get the VQ *after tapping in* to the park. And the VQ opened at 7 so lines would build at 6am. Our Lyft drivers at 5:45am usually had already made a trip to HS those mornings.
 
sorry this got lost - yes we have rope dropped HS from VGF in December and (recently Thanksgiving) and it is doable - but I would suggest building a car service into the budget for the early morning.

FWIW HS rope dropping nowadays seems to mean arriving at 8am for 8:30am early entry - we rope dropped HS multiple times with a double stroller, in the rain, in December 2019 when RotR had first opened and you had to get the VQ *after tapping in* to the park. And the VQ opened at 7 so lines would build at 6am. Our Lyft drivers at 5:45am usually had already made a trip to HS those mornings.
Thank you! This is good intel!! 🙂
 
sorry this got lost - yes we have rope dropped HS from VGF in December and (recently Thanksgiving) and it is doable - but I would suggest building a car service into the budget for the early morning.

FWIW HS rope dropping nowadays seems to mean arriving at 8am for 8:30am early entry - we rope dropped HS multiple times with a double stroller, in the rain, in December 2019 when RotR had first opened and you had to get the VQ *after tapping in* to the park. And the VQ opened at 7 so lines would build at 6am. Our Lyft drivers at 5:45am usually had already made a trip to HS those mornings.
I read this and think…. that sounds awful, why does anyone visit this place…..
 
WDW….people are getting in line for an Uber at 6am EST….. if I even suggested that my wife will tell me “either you buy the LLPP or we’re never coming back here ever again”

🤣
One of the nice things about DVC is I’m a lot more relaxed than that these days. Later starts, breaks in the afternoon, and a lot more enjoyable.
 
WDW….people are getting in line for an Uber at 6am EST….. if I even suggested that my wife will tell me “either you buy the LLPP or we’re never coming back here ever again”

🤣
I was also at WDW in early December 2019 right after RotR opened and had some 5am mornings. It was a complete rush and actually exciting being in line and on Hollywood Boulevard that early. The virtual queue requiring you to already be in the park was rough, especially on the first Extra Magic Hour Sunday (RIP), but I had a great time and took naps in the afternoon. While I love VGF, I was happily walking over from Beach Club on this morning.

Screenshot 2024-12-18 at 2.01.35 AM.png

Disney actually ran "Extra, Extra Magic Hours" at DHS, MK, and AK when Galaxy's Edge opened and it was a wonderful time to be in the parks!
 
I was also at WDW in early December 2019 right after RotR opened and had some 5am mornings. It was a complete rush and actually exciting being in line and on Hollywood Boulevard that early. The virtual queue requiring you to already be in the park was rough, especially on the first Extra Magic Hour Sunday (RIP), but I had a great time and took naps in the afternoon. While I love VGF, I was happily walking over from Beach Club on this morning.

View attachment 921832

Disney actually ran "Extra, Extra Magic Hours" at DHS, MK, and AK when Galaxy's Edge opened and it was a wonderful time to be in the parks!
I do not see a lot of families or kiddos…..
 
back from our recent stay in a 1BD and wow!! this was our first stay at the resort and I feel so lucky to have stayed and luckier still to be an owner here. Considering writing up a trip report with some notes from our visit. can't wait to return.
 
WDW….people are getting in line for an Uber at 6am EST….. if I even suggested that my wife will tell me “either you buy the LLPP or we’re never coming back here ever again”

🤣
It’s all a matter of perspective and experience. Both times I’ve been to DLR it’s been really meh and I don’t get how it’s a destination for people. For us, it felt like there just wasn’t enough to do for more than 3 days, even if you take it leisurely. Whereas I’ve never really had a crazy experience or really used many Ubers at WDW at all. I think those crazy 6am Uber situations are pretty rare. WDW is an actual vacation the way we do it but there’s still so much to do when we want to be active and hit up the rides and parks. Even a week stay sometimes doesn’t feel like enough.

So I guess it all depends on when you go and what your expectations are for your trip. My expectations for Disneyland were really high based on what many fans on here have said but it just never lived up. It being Walt’s park didn’t fill enough of the void. But maybe we’ve done it wrong. I’m going to be a lot closer to Disneyland in the new year so I’ll get to experience it much more but sadly, given our lackluster trips, it doesn’t excite me that much. I hope that changes with time and experience and now that my expectations have been tempered.

ETA/ TL;DR those crazy situations are rare, temper your expectations and just accept something’s are different from what you’re used to. It’ll still be really great, it’s a DVC Disney trip! As my favorite Ina would say…
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It’s all a matter of perspective and experience. Both times I’ve been to DLR it’s been really meh and I don’t get how it’s a destination for people. For us, it felt like there just wasn’t enough to do for more than 3 days, even if you take it leisurely. Whereas I’ve never really had a crazy experience or really used many Ubers at WDW at all. I think those crazy 6am Uber situations are pretty rare. WDW is an actual vacation the way we do it but there’s still so much to do when we want to be active and hit up the rides and parks. Even a week stay sometimes doesn’t feel like enough.

So I guess it all depends on when you go and what your expectations are for your trip. My expectations for Disneyland were really high based on what many fans on here have said but it just never lived up. It being Walt’s park didn’t fill enough of the void. But maybe we’ve done it wrong. I’m going to be a lot closer to Disneyland in the new year so I’ll get to experience it much more but sadly, given our lackluster trips, it doesn’t excite me that much. I hope that changes with time and experience and now that my expectations have been tempered.

ETA/ TL;DR those crazy situations are rare, temper your expectations and just accept something’s are different from what you’re used to. It’ll still be really great, it’s a DVC Disney trip! As my favorite Ina would say…
View attachment 921958
Yeah, complete opposite. It must be an East Coast vs West Coast thing. The line wait times at WDW blow my mind. It’s hard to understand why anyone would subject themselves to that.

Also, DLand is part of SoCal. So you have the beach, LA, etc.
 
I do not see a lot of families or kiddos…..
WDW….people are getting in line for an Uber at 6am EST….. if I even suggested that my wife will tell me “either you buy the LLPP or we’re never coming back here ever again”

🤣
My DH did say "We are NOT coming back for a LONG LONG time" after my 1st kid as a toddler ran away from him at dusk before fireworks. We were back within a year ...
I was also at WDW in early December 2019 right after RotR opened and had some 5am mornings. It was a complete rush and actually exciting being in line and on Hollywood Boulevard that early. The virtual queue requiring you to already be in the park was rough, especially on the first Extra Magic Hour Sunday (RIP), but I had a great time and took naps in the afternoon. While I love VGF, I was happily walking over from Beach Club on this morning.

View attachment 921832

Disney actually ran "Extra, Extra Magic Hours" at DHS, MK, and AK when Galaxy's Edge opened and it was a wonderful time to be in the parks!
It was amazing!! I have pictures like that too. Brought a smile to my face. I wonder if it has something to do with MagicKey blockout dates too? WDW and the holidays brings a lot of first timers AND veterans alike, while it seems like the locals may avoid DL (or at least the parks) during the holidays.

And to bring this back around to VGF - we bought most of our points at VGF for that very reason: to stay around the winter holidays. It does cost a LOT of points, and yes it is crowded, but the giant tree, the gingerbread house, the decorations... it's magical.

Here's what we did for transportation when staying at VGF:
MK: monorail to, boat home
EP: Monorail+Monorail or walk to poly/breakfast/monorail.
HS: rope drop? take an uber/lyft; otherwise, bus is fine both ways
AK: no longer see a need to rope drop, especially if you have LLMP or extra hours - so bus is fine both ways. But we've often used uber/lyft as well.

If we split stay with Riviera or BWV/BCV, we only go to EP/HS when staying at a nearby resort, and then only visit MK/AK when at VGF.
 
Yeah, complete opposite. It must be an East Coast vs West Coast thing. The line wait times at WDW blow my mind. It’s hard to understand why anyone would subject themselves to that.

Also, DLand is part of SoCal. So you have the beach, LA, etc.
Oh for sure east coast v west coast thing, the rivalry will live on forever haha but yeah, in the same way you are lucky enough to be able to afford the LLPP, we use LLMP/SP when we really want to ride something. We never wait more than 20-25 mins for anything. But like us, I’m sure you go to Disneyland often enough that even for your favorite ride you wouldn’t wait more than 30 mins. Same thing here. I think the wait times for things is mostly overblown, outside of holidays seasons. It might take you 20mins to get from your hotel to HS but we are talking about a theme park resort area the size of San Francisco. With that amount space and distance, a lot more is offered. And WDW is also surrounded by beaches, it is Florida lol. Vero Beach is less than 2hrs away! Maybe a bit longer of a drive than to Laguna but certainly doable for a day trip. But then, you don’t need to leave property to have a full week trip (I’m sure we’ll do Vero when we’re a bit bored of the parks years from now, but not yet!)…and not to say you need to leave property to have a great trip to DLR! I guess we just didn’t find it as necessary to go for more than a few days and feel like we accomplished everything we mostly wanted and then felt itchy for more. I think it will be pretty great as a local though. I’m excited about evenings in the parks, a ride or two and getting my steps in lol
 
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