The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[ACDSNY]

Glad you're getting the 2009 points. Will this be your first ever DVC purchase? Please do report back if you are able to split your contract as that will give me more ammo to try to get mine split. I just don't get why Disney is giving me such a hard time about it.

Are you purchasing through a different location then the members that are splitting their contracts? I have had differences between WDW and DL sales offices.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

To be honest, one of the things that attracted us to buying into DVC was the possibility of getting an actual kitchen in a high end Disney resort.

I understand that to many people, the idea of cooking while on vacation is crazy!

However, we've had two stays at our DVC "home" (The Villas at the Grand Californian), and we've become true believers in the "cooking while on vacation" concept.

We bought enough points to allow us two trips to DLR a year, both for three nights, and both in a 2BR. We chose enough points for a 2BR so that we can invite other families to enjoy DLR with us...and both times, it's worked out wonderfully!

One of the best parts is that we've divided up kitchen duties...each family is responsible for 1 breakfast and 1 dinner for the trip. That leaves 1 night for "eating out", and 1 breakfast for the traditional Goofy's Kitchen!

Not only have we eaten healthier and faster on this last trip, but we've saved a boatload of $$$ on two dinners and two breakfasts!

We had french toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, and orange juice for one breakfast, and oatmeal+brown sugar, fruit, and orange juice for the other. For dinner, we had spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, salad, and melon (all prepared by the kids!) on one night, and ricotta stuffed manacotti and cole slaw on the other night...and we used our own wine, so we knew we would like the selection!

We had expensive hot dogs ($6) and monte cristo sandwiches ($21) while in the parks, but we didn't mind so much knowing that we had saved so much on two breakfasts and two dinners!

I guess what I am saying is that having a kitchen and a full sized dining area in the room are some of the things that attracted us to DVC, and I'm glad that making use of both of them worked out higher than my initial expectations!

 

[Longhairbear]

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[Longhairbear]

To be honest, one of the things that attracted us to buying into DVC was the possibility of getting an actual kitchen in a high end Disney resort.

I understand that to many people, the idea of cooking while on vacation is crazy!

However, we've had two stays at our DVC "home" (The Villas at the Grand Californian), and we've become true believers in the "cooking while on vacation" concept.

We bought enough points to allow us two trips to DLR a year, both for three nights, and both in a 2BR. We chose enough points for a 2BR so that we can invite other families to enjoy DLR with us...and both times, it's worked out wonderfully!

One of the best parts is that we've divided up kitchen duties...each family is responsible for 1 breakfast and 1 dinner for the trip. That leaves 1 night for "eating out", and 1 breakfast for the traditional Goofy's Kitchen!

Not only have we eaten healthier and faster on this last trip, but we've saved a boatload of $$$ on two dinners and two breakfasts!

We had french toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, and orange juice for one breakfast, and oatmeal+brown sugar, fruit, and orange juice for the other. For dinner, we had spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, salad, and melon (all prepared by the kids!) on one night, and ricotta stuffed manacotti and cole slaw on the other night...and we used our own wine, so we knew we would like the selection!

We had expensive hot dogs ($6) and monte cristo sandwiches ($21) while in the parks, but we didn't mind so much knowing that we had saved so much on two breakfasts and two dinners!

I guess what I am saying is that having a kitchen and a full sized dining area in the room are some of the things that attracted us to DVC, and I'm glad that making use of both of them worked out higher than my initial expectations!

I agree with you 100%. We save a ton of money, and stay on diet by cooking in our villa.
We are staying at the VGC this coming week for 2 nights in a studio. I made a dinner for 2, and froze it to reheat in the microwave. The second dinner we will have out, and pick the restaurant for quality, not just to eat something for dinner. I am also bringing what we usually have for lunch to eat in room, so we save on calories, and dollars. We drink a lot of coffee, so
we bring coffee, sugar, Truvia, Coffeemate, filters etc. And of course all the fixin's for cocktails, and nibbles.
Our next booked trip to VGC is during Food & Wine, staying a few nights in a 1 bedroom, and we plan on bringing some nice steaks to grill in the BBQ area.

 

[kikiq]

To be honest, one of the things that attracted us to buying into DVC was the possibility of getting an actual kitchen in a high end Disney resort.

I understand that to many people, the idea of cooking while on vacation is crazy!

However, we've had two stays at our DVC "home" (The Villas at the Grand Californian), and we've become true believers in the "cooking while on vacation" concept.

We bought enough points to allow us two trips to DLR a year, both for three nights, and both in a 2BR. We chose enough points for a 2BR so that we can invite other families to enjoy DLR with us...and both times, it's worked out wonderfully!

That's what we want to do. We put off purchasing VGC points because we felt we needed to hold on to the money we had saved BUT we also hadn't decided how much we needed. We used our SSR points to stay for our birthday weekend which convinced us that we wanted to do exactly what you have planned. A 2 bdrm for 3 nights twice a year to have the family join us throughout the stay. My DH said that he could really imagine BBQ chicken or pasta in the kitchen with the kids coming in from the parks. Eating then leaving the little ones with us in the villa while they go back for more late fun. I even took a picture of my new DGD sitting on the bed. We plan on having a yearly picture of her and any future DGC there.

We love using the kitchen. I think we spoiled my DB and DSIL when we shared a 2bdrm with them in WDW. My DSIL loves cooking on vacation and she can't wait for the DLR DVC vacation.

 

[CrazyDuck]

To be honest, one of the things that attracted us to buying into DVC was the possibility of getting an actual kitchen in a high end Disney resort.

I understand that to many people, the idea of cooking while on vacation is crazy!

However, we've had two stays at our DVC "home" (The Villas at the Grand Californian), and we've become true believers in the "cooking while on vacation" concept.

You don't need to convince me... The kitchen was the big seller for us... We just arrived home from 6 nights at GCH. I can not count how many cheeseburgers and nachos I ate from white water snacks, or how many servings of chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese my kiddos ate. By the time we checked out this afternoon I was feeling realy sick.... I don't know if it was from the counter service food or the $1,000 in room charges for the food... blech....

 

[nunzia]

You don't need to convince me... The kitchen was the big seller for us... We just arrived home from 6 nights at GCH. I can not count how many cheeseburgers and nachos I ate from white water snacks, or how many servings of chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese my kiddos ate. By the time we checked out this afternoon I was feeling realy sick.... I don't know if it was from the counter service food or the $1,000 in room charges for the food... blech....

 

[duck_widow]

Are you purchasing through a different location then the members that are splitting their contracts? I have had differences between WDW and DL sales offices.

My guide is at DL. I'm very tempted to call a guide at WDW. I have a contact name from the webcast and just call to see what they say.

As of yesterday, after all of my bugging and examples from kind folks here who were brand new members who split their contracts, they are now saying that only just last week they started allowing the contracts to be split, but only if you buy 200 points or more. I am buying 160. Seems like they are just trying to get me to spend more money now. Folks posted here more than a week ago about splitting their contracts and at the 160 point level. This all seems just so like typical timeshare tactics and not very Disney-like at all.

Is their anyone else out there who bought at VGC as a brand new member and split their initial contract?

Thanks all.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

Glad you're getting the 2009 points. Will this be your first ever DVC purchase? Please do report back if you are able to split your contract as that will give me more ammo to try to get mine split. I just don't get why Disney is giving me such a hard time about it.

Yes, this will be our first DVC purchase and I will keep you posted for sure. I hope they are able to straighten it out for you.

We did a little test drive two weeks ago when we stayed Grand concierge. I wanted to see how often we would go back to the lounge to eat and if we considered it an inconvenience. I'm happy to report back that we had two meals in the park. The first was dinner at the Corn Dog Cart when we watched the parade and the second was lunch at the Blue Bayou the day we left. We stayed 5 nights, so that meant a lot of meals back at the hotel. We also think that the kitchen is a big draw and now know that we will take full advantage off it. We have been to DL so many times that the dining isn't a big draw. I can see having a meal out here and there, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if we have all of our meals in the villa.

 

[Nonsuch]

...they are now saying that only just last week they started allowing the contracts to be split, but only if you buy 200 points or more.

My initial contract of 220 points was split in December, so it's not something that changed last week. There are hundreds of split contracts filed with the Orange County Recorder, and some of those must be initial purchases.

I can't understand why DVC is giving you such a hard time. The contract numbers have a suffix to easily handle split purchases. The first contract is #####.000 the second #####.001 and so on. The contract printing appears very automated, so there is very little extra work needed to split contracts.

 

[franandaj]

I understand that to many people, the idea of cooking while on vacation is crazy!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Granted I probably won't be doing much of any cooking at the GCVs, but we just got back from the THV and AKV. On our 10 day trip we cooked 4 nights in the room, pretty much every breakfast, and most of our lunches.

We made grilled chicken & zucchini on the BBQ (everyone has their own at THV), keilbasa & sauerkraut, tacos, the last night we cooked was kind of a "free for all" use up the leftovers night. For breakfasts we had bagels & cream cheese, French toast, the traditional bacon/eggs/hash browns/toast, all kinds of different stuff. I put pictures of my home cooked meals in my Dining Review in addition to the food bought on property.

Most of our stays at GCV are coming up for F&W, so we're pretty much planning on eating either at the events or the tasting plates. However, we are staying over the night that the Festival ends in a 1 bedroom and maybe that night after spending so many weekends eating all the amazing food, perhaps that will be the night to break out the box of Velveeta Shells & Cheese!

 

[Longhairbear]

We had a change of plans for in room cooking. We are staying in a studio, so instead of me making and bringing microwavable dinners for one night, I am getting steaks to grill on the BBQ. I can "nuke" a bag of rice, or a couple of sweet potatoes. Along with bagged salad and dressing, we are good for a home cooked meal at our villa one night, and dinner out on the other night.

 

[franandaj]

We had a change of plans for in room cooking. We are staying in a studio, so instead of me making and bringing microwavable dinners for one night, I am getting steaks to grill on the BBQ. I can "nuke" a bag of rice, or a couple of sweet potatoes. Along with bagged salad and dressing, we are good for a home cooked meal at our villa one night, and dinner out on the other night.

I forgot about the BBQs, that's a great idea! We're in a studio 2 of our three weekends there, though we'd probably do something more "county fair" like hot dogs, between all the winemaker dinners and other things I've planned, we'll need some balance!

 

[disney4metoo]

I forgot about the BBQs, that's a great idea! We're in a studio 2 of our three weekends there, though we'd probably do something more "county fair" like hot dogs, between all the winemaker dinners and other things I've planned, we'll need some balance!

We love the BBQs at VGC!

It is nice sharing a meal in the villas!

 

[rmonty02]

We love the BBQs at VGC!

It is nice sharing a meal in the villas!

Where's my knife & fork? That looks D-licious

 

[Longhairbear]

I forgot about the BBQs, that's a great idea! We're in a studio 2 of our three weekends there, though we'd probably do something more "county fair" like hot dogs, between all the winemaker dinners and other things I've planned, we'll need some balance!

Good idea.

 

[lulubelle]

We were almost on page three!
Bumping us up.

I booked Taste for 5/29 with an AP discount (thanks to Alison for that info) and was bummed that only a one bedroom was available. Too many points for this girl. Anyone else going?

 

[franandaj]

We were almost on page three!
Bumping us up.

I booked Taste for 5/29 with an AP discount (thanks to Alison for that info) and was bummed that only a one bedroom was available. Too many points for this girl. Anyone else going?

You won't have any problem spotting us, we'll be the ones in scooters with little tray tables mounted to the front of our scooters! There is such a lack of seating it works out great, except for the tight U-turns!

I booked a 1 br for this weekend 11 months out (F&W is why I bought my points!). I can't wait to hit the jacuzzi tub after they kick us out of the event, we closed it last year!

 

[lulubelle]

Well, we will definitely stop and say hello.
I know what you mean about the limited seating. We try and rest a few hours before knowing there will be a lot of standing. Oh, and we never thought about the jacuzzi, that sounds great!

 

[duck_widow]

We had a change of plans for in room cooking. We are staying in a studio, so instead of me making and bringing microwavable dinners for one night, I am getting steaks to grill on the BBQ. I can "nuke" a bag of rice, or a couple of sweet potatoes. Along with bagged salad and dressing, we are good for a home cooked meal at our villa one night, and dinner out on the other night.

That's a great idea! You could also bring a CrockPot (if you are driving) and that would give you more options too.