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

[ftmill]

Thanks for the explanation on the welcome home direct booking. What room would I be able to get that I ordinarily would not be able to get if I booked myself? I want a 2 bedroom villa in June.

 

[kes601]

Thanks for the explanation on the welcome home direct booking. What room would I be able to get that I ordinarily would not be able to get if I booked myself? I want a 2 bedroom villa in June.

Depends on what they have available. Nobody can really tell you that. They also won't be able to book more than 11 months out.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Thanks for the explanation on the welcome home direct booking. What room would I be able to get that I ordinarily would not be able to get if I booked myself? I want a 2 bedroom villa in June.

Assuming you are aware of the 11-month and 7-month booking windows, let’s say you hypothetically bought a new direct contract today at RR. You’re super excited to use your points, hopefully sometime before the end of the year. Realistically, existing RR owners have been booking those months since last December or January, and even members with contracts at other resorts have been able to book those months since May or June. The likelihood of there being rooms this late in the game is small, especially for high-demand room categories. (We won’t even get into “walking” reservations.)

To avoid leaving you high and dry and unable to utilize the $30k contract you just bought until sometime in 2023, DVC will reach into their own inventory to see if they can find a room for you to “welcome you home”. If the trip is far enough out they may still be able to get your home resort (in this hypothetical, RR), or they will at least try to get you a room an another resort if the trip is less far out.

If you’re not looking to book until next June, there’s really no benefit to the welcome home trip as you’d likely still be able to book any room category on your own.

 

[sndral]

Trying to get the hang of this board. Purchased at Grand Floridian and want to book 2 bedroom villa in June. Getting near the 11 month window. Have the following questions:
1. What is a “welcome home trip?
2. How soon after you book do you have to book tickets (waiting for annual passes)
3. Is the lakeview 2 bedroom worth the extra points over the standard view?
4. How do I find out when annual passes are being offered again? I can’t buy one with a weekend blockout.
5. Which restaurant is the most cost effective for a family of 7 for daily dinner?

Thank you

3. Lake view v. standard - I personally have been as happy w/ my standard view villas as I’ve been w/ lake view, so I opt to save points & book standard. Here’s my favorite standard view so far:

 

[DisneyMom_3]

3. Lake view v. standard - I personally have been as happy w/ my standard view villas as I’ve been w/ lake view, so I opt to save points & book standard. Here’s my favorite standard view so far: View attachment 683466

Agreed! I book standard and save my points.

 

[ftmill]

3. Lake view v. standard - I personally have been as happy w/ my standard view villas as I’ve been w/ lake view, so I opt to save points & book standard. Here’s my favorite standard view so far: View attachment 683466

That is really nice. I am told the two bedrooms are in another building.

 

[LadybugsMum]

That is really nice. I am told the two bedrooms are in another building.

The 2 bed, 1 bed, and deluxe studios are in the original villas building near the spa and wedding pavilion.

 

[ftmill]

The 2 bed, 1 bed, and deluxe studios are in the original villas building near the spa and wedding pavilion.

Have the villas in those suites been refurbished?

 

[mrsap]

Have the villas in those suites been refurbished?

Yes, they have!

 

[mrsap]

Trying to get the hang of this board. Purchased at Grand Floridian and want to book 2 bedroom villa in June. Getting near the 11 month window. Have the following questions:
1. What is a “welcome home trip?
2. How soon after you book do you have to book tickets (waiting for annual passes)
3. Is the lakeview 2 bedroom worth the extra points over the standard view?
4. How do I find out when annual passes are being offered again? I can’t buy one with a weekend blockout.
5. Which restaurant is the most cost effective for a family of 7 for daily dinner?

Thank you

and Congrats! I’ll add you to the Owners List!

 

[sndral]

That is really nice. I am told the two bedrooms are in another building.

That‘s from a 1 br. standard view in the original VGF building taken early 2020.

…
4. How do I find out when annual passes are being offered again? I can’t buy one with a weekend blockout.
5. Which restaurant is the most cost effective for a family of 7 for daily dinner?

Thank you

4. Re: AP sales, I’m sure the minute anything happens w/ AP sales you’ll read about it here on the DIS.
5. Disney restaurants aren’t really cost effective, currently open at the GF in the main building is the counter service restaurant Gasparillas, the sit down ‘moderately’ priced Grand Floridian cafe, and the signature restaurant Citricos. Soon to be or already reopened is the very pricey Victoria & Alberts. Not yet reopened is the buffet 1900 Park Fare.
On the grounds by the marina is the soon to be closed for refurb signature restaurant Narcoossees, I hope it’ll be reopened long before June. Narcoossees is my personal favorite (well, except for V&A’s) but it’s on the more expensive side.
I wouldn’t limit myself to the GF for all my dinners, you can stroll or monorail over to the Poly’s restaurants and monorail over to the Contemporary’s restaurants. If you’re spending the day or evening in the MK there are several restaurants there as well. I tend to plan my dinners to be near or in whichever park I’m going to visit that day/evening.

 

[ftmill]

That‘s from a 1 br. standard view in the original VGF building taken early 2020.

4. Re: AP sales, I’m sure the minute anything happens w/ AP sales you’ll read about it here on the DIS.
5. Disney restaurants aren’t really cost effective, currently open at the GF in the main building is the counter service restaurant Gasparillas, the sit down ‘moderately’ priced Grand Floridian cafe, and the signature restaurant Citricos. Soon to be or already reopened is the very pricey Victoria & Alberts. Not yet reopened is the buffet 1900 Park Fare.
On the grounds by the marina is the soon to be closed for refurb signature restaurant Narcoossees, I hope it’ll be reopened long before June. Narcoossees is my personal favorite (well, except for V&A’s) but it’s on the more expensive side.
I wouldn’t limit myself to the GF for all my dinners, you can stroll or monorail over to the Poly’s restaurants and monorail over to the Contemporary’s restaurants. If you’re spending the day or evening in the MK there are several restaurants there as well. I tend to plan my dinners to be near or in whichever park I’m going to visit that day/evening.

The food at all the Disney parks has always been the challenge with a large family, in my case grandchildren. Whether it is cost or just getting a table for a party of 7 it is something that vexed us since our daughter was young. We haven’t been to Disneyworld since 2012. We went Disney Paris though and the food there was horrible. With DVC we can eat breakfast and snack in the evenings (one of the reasons we bought) but it is hard to return to the room to have main meals.
I can get the pixie dust AP as currently I am a FL resident but we need to be able to access the parks on the weekend we arrive.
Thank you for the great suggestions here. Hope AP opens up soon.

 

[Hoppy-tn]

are you able to see the fireworks from all the one bedroom lake view villas?

 

[LadybugsMum]

are you able to see the fireworks from all the one bedroom lake view villas?

No, most of them look at the Contemporary. Check Touring Plans for room views: https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/the-villas-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-and-spa

 

[wdwlver]

Staying VGF2 lagoon view next month. Does anyone know if the ewp is viewable from there? I have a memory of seeing it as it’s performed in front of poly but can’t remember clearly. Thanks

 

[ftmill]

Yes, they have!

 

[DisneyMom_3]

Looks like we can borrow 100% now!

 

[mrsap]

Looks like we can borrow 100% now!

You can! Got an email!

 

[ftmill]

If you are booking can you request a line in the buikfing

 

[ftmill]

Now if only I could pick a room in the building or a line in the building. Do they allow that?