The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[drewmisha]

In 2010 easter (4th) is in the early part of the month and hence premier (4/1-10).
In 2011 easter (24th) is in the latter part of the month and hence premier (4/15-30).

What I don't get is that for 2010, april 11th-30th is in the choice season and
for 2011, april 1st-14th is now the magic season. It seems DVC took the other part of april (not easter/premier) and upped the point requirements. Maybe it's because of springbreak (some years it falls in line with easter and other years it doesn't)?

 

[kinhops]

Thanks, can you guess what the shuttles might cost?
Mollie read the message you sent.

Thanks

Moe

Here is a good site that lists all the options for shuttles and even has a coupon for one:

http://www.mousesavers.com/shuttle.html#dl

Mousesavers.com usually has some pretty good info when you need it.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

I think they did over-compensate

I'd have to agree, but that's probably because we tend to visit Sunday-Wed twice a year! We had bought enough points to get a 2 BR LO twice a year, 3 nights each, and have enough left over to donate a studio or 1 BR stay to our school fundraiser...

...after the rea-allocation, we only have EXACTLY enough for the 2BR stays. Oh well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks, can you guess what the shuttles might cost?
Mollie read the message you sent.

Thanks

Moe

Well, looking here, I see round trip rates of $25 for adults and $16 for kids when you book online.

On supershuttle.com, being sure to use the name of the hotel (NOT the zipcode, which will result in higher charge), I find $10 per person each way.

There are ways to get discounts. Entertainment Book generally has coupons for supershuttle. http://www.anaheimoc.org/ generally has a coupon for Disneyland Express like this one I just found.

 

[franandaj]

In 2010 easter (4th) is in the early part of the month and hence premier (4/1-10).
In 2011 easter (24th) is in the latter part of the month and hence premier (4/15-30).

What I don't get is that for 2010, april 11th-30th is in the choice season and
for 2011, april 1st-14th is now the magic season. It seems DVC took the other part of april (not easter/premier) and upped the point requirements. Maybe it's because of springbreak (some years it falls in line with easter and other years it doesn't)?

This is what KILLS me, I bought points so that I could stay for the opening weekend of F&W. I love to do the cooking school and I like to do the first weekend for F&W. What I have reserved this year for 46 points will cost me 67 points in 2011! I have four options:

1) Do the cooking school in May when it goes back to choice points and stay over the night before and after.

2) Stay over the night after and get up early to drive ALL THE WAY from Long Beach to get there by 10AM

3) Stay over only the night before and drive home after cooking school and enjoying the F&W Festival.

4) Suck it up like I've done every other year and drive the 20 minutes it takes to get there from Long Beach and not stay over at all.

Whichever way, I'm blessed to have the points I do. How many people are so obsessed that they live as close as I do and still feel compelled to buy points? Probably the adjustment will benefit me in the long run because most of our stays are over special weekends, but the moving of late April from choice to premier, just kills me on the number I points I bought last June. We can't afford an add on contract right now, but I've already been in the market for one. I haven't even stayed there, but the idea of overnights and weekends or even mid week weekends there sounds like so much fun. We've spent the last five years taking care of elderly parents, and that is now over so we can go back to our own lives and start living again.

Either way, it's just nice to have the option to stay there regardless of the gripes about point reallocation.

 

[nunzia]

This is what KILLS me, I bought points so that I could stay for the opening weekend of F&W. I love to do the cooking school and I like to do the first weekend for F&W. What I have reserved this year for 46 points will cost me 67 points in 2011! I have four options:

1) Do the cooking school in May when it goes back to choice points and stay over the night before and after.

2) Stay over the night after and get up early to drive ALL THE WAY from Long Beach to get there by 10AM

3) Stay over only the night before and drive home after cooking school and enjoying the F&W Festival.

4) Suck it up like I've done every other year and drive the 20 minutes it takes to get there from Long Beach and not stay over at all.

Whichever way, I'm blessed to have the points I do. How many people are so obsessed that they live as close as I do and still feel compelled to buy points? Probably the adjustment will benefit me in the long run because most of our stays are over special weekends, but the moving of late April from choice to premier, just kills me on the number I points I bought last June. We can't afford an add on contract right now, but I've already been in the market for one. I haven't even stayed there, but the idea of overnights and weekends or even mid week weekends there sounds like so much fun. We've spent the last five years taking care of elderly parents, and that is now over so we can go back to our own lives and start living again.

Either way, it's just nice to have the option to stay there regardless of the gripes about point reallocation.

Very well said. I got 125 thinking I could get by, but with all the grandkids and desired trips I'd like 75 more..most of my trips have gone up a bit too with the new chart. We're doing F&W this year..very excited!, in May. 2 of our kids have 3 kids, and this year we're ok because the baby is under 3, but after this they will need a 1 BR. I really think even more than 75 would be good, but heavens sakes.....

 

[rentayenta]

I so want to add on 100 pts at the GCV and get those 4 passes to WDW.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

They could still tweak the seasons a bit, but VGC is so new and has many variations in the charts compared to WDW resorts that it should take a few years to make any educated changes.

Tim, if you feel like it would take a few years to make any educated changes then why did DVC feel the need to make any point changes for VGC so soon after the resort opened up?

Personally I added on 100 points at VGC (and got the free 3 night cruise incentive) and really felt that was enough for a trip every 2-3 years but now even 200 points will only get me 4 nights in a 1br. If these points charts hold then likely we will take one trip to VGC once all the construction at DCA is finished and then sell it. And then replace those 100 points with an add-on at AKV.

 

[Longhairbear]

The new point chart has added about 2 points per night for the weekdays we usually have been booking at VGC for our last 3 stays. But on the other hand, the new point chart has reduced the amount of points we normally use for our annual week stay at VWL. For us it evens out, so far.

 

[toocherie]

How many people are so obsessed that they live as close as I do and still feel compelled to buy points?

ME! I live in Orange and bought points at VGC.

 

[lulubelle]

ME! I live in Orange and bought points at VGC.

And ME!
I live about 75 minutes away but bought points, too.

 

[wdw4life]

And me! I live about 30 minutes away.

 

[lulukate]

Just got home from 2nd VGC trip: a few thoughts:

Room # 3506 -- dedicated 2 bd

4 Adults 5 kids from 2 - 9 & one 6 months -- was tons of room.

- the pots and pans are hiding in the drawer under the stove....used the microwave to make the first batch of rice krispy treats.....just a bit messy!
- using the BBQ grill to make burgers & dogs is definitely worth it! will order some steaks next time! -- although DH says the grill runs a little hot -- he didn't have time to get the cheese on the burgers...still tasty...new personal burger variation -- blue cheese w/ olive tapenade..mmm
- Von's delivery on day of arrival to bell service worked out just fine
- only minor glitches -- dishwasher has a mind of it's own - I was the only one who could get the darn thing to work (I told DH apparently it requires an MBA to start...went downhill from there), didn't have the usual bath robes in the room & forgot to call about that until last day
- the hotel key is supposed to work at the self parking until midnight the day you check out, but it didn't AGAIN, however the gates are far enough apart that with a small car, you can just drive out in between the gates

I was somewhat stressed because we invited DH's elderly nephew & family who don't understand DVC and then I read the "DVC invite family nightmare" threads. However, elderly nephew & wife are lovely & it was just great (I shouldn't have been worried)! All the kids had a great time, including ours.

They were doing extensive World of Color testing last night. Holy Cow!!!! That is going to be an AMAZING show!!!! Oh my!!! We would have stood out on the balcony with our mouths wide open, but I had just cut up two candy apples.....so we managed to snarf those down while gaping at the testing!

Anyway, it was a fabulous trip & we were happy to be able to share it with family! Tomorrow, the diet starts because next time we go I think the Silly Symphony Swings will be open and I've got to drop a couple of pounds to ride them with the kids!

Hi
Was just wondering if you had to make arrangements with bell desk to accept groceries prior to grocery delivery? This is our first time ordering groceries.

Thanks
Dee

 

[ccoymsrd]

Just bought! We own already at AKV and when we were there in WDW (staying at AKV) for Christmas, we ended up adding on more points...at VGC!! We live about 22 miles south of Disneyland! Going to finally sign the paperwork this week at DLR!

 

[bumbershoot]

Hi
Was just wondering if you had to make arrangements with bell desk to accept groceries prior to grocery delivery? This is our first time ordering groceries.

Thanks
Dee

You shouldn't have to. They know what Vons is, and they know what to do.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

I was on my way to visit my brother in AZ this past weekend and at the last minute decided to stop by DLR and check out my new home for the first time. Wow! The villas really are a seamless addition to the Grand. We couldn't book anything at the villas on the day of (not too surprising) so we stayed at PP and had dinner at storytellers. My DGK's were great about not having time to do the parks and we had a lot of fun just cruising DTD and hanging out in the great room at the GCH and exploring our new home. I noticed that the viewing deck in the Villas is still not opened yet. Does anybody know if they are going to wait for the WOC show before they open the viewing deck? Just curious.

 

[stopher1]

I was on my way to visit my brother in AZ this past weekend and at the last minute decided to stop by DLR and check out my new home for the first time. Wow! The villas really are a seamless addition to the Grand. We couldn't book anything at the villas on the day of (not too surprising) so we stayed at PP and had dinner at storytellers. My DGK's were great about not having time to do the parks and we had a lot of fun just cruising DTD and hanging out in the great room at the GCH and exploring our new home. I noticed that the viewing deck in the Villas is still not opened yet. Does anybody know if they are going to wait for the WOC show before they open the viewing deck? Just curious.

That would make sense, actually. Don't know for sure, but that's what I figured when I stayed there in December.

Glad you had a nice visit just hanging out and exploring!

 

[ACDSNY]

I was on my way to visit my brother in AZ this past weekend and at the last minute decided to stop by DLR and check out my new home for the first time. Wow! The villas really are a seamless addition to the Grand.

I hope you were lucky enough to see some sunshine on your trip, I've about had my limit of grey days this month. It's pretty sad we you look forward to an offsite meeting this afternoon just to get out and see the sun.

 

[junglejoy]

We just purchased our first points ever! Two contracts - one for 100, one for 60!

We'll be staying on points next week.

Thanks for all your help, everyone. This has been a long time coming.

 

[ACDSNY]

We just purchased our first points ever! Two contracts - one for 100, one for 60!

We'll be staying on points next week.

Thanks for all your help, everyone. This has been a long time coming.

Welcome to the Club! Have fun planning your next trip!