The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[wbl2745]

Our first visit to VGC will be in about a month in a 2 bedroom villa and we're inviting some guests to come with us. When I made the reservation I gave everyone's names. We're arriving later and so that they don't have to pay for parking before we arrive, can they check-in (even if the room isn't ready) and park in the GCH self-parking?

Also, where do you check-in? Is it just the same place that hotel guests check-in? I need to give our guests some directions.

Lastly, our reservation says that we have a "dedicated 2 bedroom". What does "dedicated" mean? Do we have to be "dedicated Disney fanatics?"

Thanks in advance!

 

[VallCopen]

Dedicated rooms only have one entrance into the room, when you get a non-dedicated room you get a studio with a one bedroom so people staying in the 2nd bedroom can come and go from the their room or from the living room entrance too. I think dedicated rooms are good when you have small kids and don't want the second entrance but I think non-dedicated rooms are nice for adults and older kids that may want to come and go and not disturb other guests in the room. Also a dedicated has 2 queens and no couch in the second room, where as the non-dedicated has a King and a couch (since it is a studio layout).

 

[franandaj]

the non-dedicated has a King and a couch (since it is a studio layout).

I've never stayed in a studio yet (3 weeks from today ), does it really have a king? I thought it had a queen, I'd love it to be a King!

 

[toocherie]

no, a non-dedicated 2-bedroom has a king in the 1-bedroom portion and a queen/sofabed in the studio portion. No studio has a king. Only 1 bedroom and ups.

and I prefer a dedicated because you have more "real" beds.

On parking, you don't need to be checked in technically to park in self-parking -- you need the key card to get OUT of self-parking. So as long as they are checking in and staying on-site and don't need to move their car before you check in they will be fine.

ETA: and you check-in at the regular place hotel guests check in--they may not let your guests check in but they can leave their luggage with bell services until you get there.

 

[VallCopen]

Ohh.... Sorry on the King/Queen mistake. We have stayed in only a 2 bedroom dedicated and I thought that both rooms had a King so I guess I was wrong and it is a Queen.

 

[BeccaG]

Hey all, staid in villa 5518, a dedicated two bedroom, earlier this week. It has a straight on view of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and a side view of the fireworks from Disneyland and the pool. It would not be a good viewing spot for World of Color.

We took some friends with us, and since their name was on the reservation and they were there a bit before us, they were able to check in.

Guest services were super awesome with our request. We asked for an extra high chair. They brought one in minutes. Later we had a message making sure we got the high chair. Later, I discovered the can opener was missing. (Yes I actually cooked on this vacation and it did not seem like a chore in that beautiful room). It was brought up in minutes and literally seconds after the door close we got a call asking if we received it. My husband noticed that the cast members had some sort of PDA device that they check off after stopping by the rooms so this must be why the calls come so immediately after the item is delivered.

Even though our friends had to leave early because of a kid with a raging earache, overall it was a blessed trip.

Oh, and on a non GCV note, we went to the Minni and Friends breakfast at plaza inn. Awesome food and 10 characters in an hour and ten minutes! Try doing that anywhere else in the park. If you like characters or have kids who like Pooh and friends, Minnie or some others, I would highly recommend it.

 

[vellamint]

no, a non-dedicated 2-bedroom has a king in the 1-bedroom portion and a queen/sofabed in the studio portion. No studio has a king. Only 1 bedroom and ups.

and I prefer a dedicated because you have more "real" beds.

.

Uh oh.....can anyone direct/tell me how many are dedicated 2 bedrooms vs lockoffs....I am hoping to go and with 6 in my family we definitely need more beds.....I toured a 2 bedroom this past February and there was a king in the master...a pullout couch, a pulldown bed and two beds in the second bedroom....thats kinda what I was counting on....

A non-dedicated would have a King, the sofabed, the pulldown bed and then a bed and and sofabed in the second bedroom?


Thanks.

 

[DisneyDreamerK]

I bought DVC for Grand Californian Villas today! I am so excited to finally be a Member! I am hoping to go for my birthday in October....yay!

 

[BeccaG]

Uh oh.....can anyone direct/tell me how many are dedicated 2 bedrooms vs lockoffs....I am hoping to go and with 6 in my family we definitely need more beds.....I toured a 2 bedroom this past February and there was a king in the master...a pullout couch, a pulldown bed and two beds in the second bedroom....thats kinda what I was counting on....

A non-dedicated would have a King, the sofabed, the pulldown bed and then a bed and and sofabed in the second bedroom?


Thanks.

Yup. You can request when you book a dedicated two bedroom. Mine was indicated as such although requests are not guaranteed, in this case I think they are booked as being dedicated vs a lockoff.

 

[franandaj]

Uh oh.....can anyone direct/tell me how many are dedicated 2 bedrooms vs lockoffs....I am hoping to go and with 6 in my family we definitely need more beds.....I toured a 2 bedroom this past February and there was a king in the master...a pullout couch, a pulldown bed and two beds in the second bedroom....thats kinda what I was counting on....

A non-dedicated would have a King, the sofabed, the pulldown bed and then a bed and and sofabed in the second bedroom?


Thanks.

I believe there are 48 units, 4 GVs and something like 22 dedicated and 22 lock offs....That sounds like too many GVs, somebody help me here....

 

[CrazyDuck]

I believe there are 48 units, 4 GVs and something like 22 dedicated and 22 lock offs....That sounds like too many GVs, somebody help me here....

2 GV's, 23 Dedicated 2BR, and 23 lockoffs

 

[VallCopen]

There are 2 Grand Villas - one facing the pools and one facing the Pier with a great view of the world of Color. We have been in the one facing the Pier and it is beautiful....

 

[Longhairbear]

Hey all, staid in villa 5518, a dedicated two bedroom, earlier this week. It has a straight on view of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and a side view of the fireworks from Disneyland and the pool. It would not be a good viewing spot for World of Color.

We took some friends with us, and since their name was on the reservation and they were there a bit before us, they were able to check in.

Guest services were super awesome with our request. We asked for an extra high chair. They brought one in minutes. Later we had a message making sure we got the high chair. Later, I discovered the can opener was missing. (Yes I actually cooked on this vacation and it did not seem like a chore in that beautiful room). It was brought up in minutes and literally seconds after the door close we got a call asking if we received it. My husband noticed that the cast members had some sort of PDA device that they check off after stopping by the rooms so this must be why the calls come so immediately after the item is delivered.

Even though our friends had to leave early because of a kid with a raging earache, overall it was a blessed trip.

Oh, and on a non GCV note, we went to the Minni and Friends breakfast at plaza inn. Awesome food and 10 characters in an hour and ten minutes! Try doing that anywhere else in the park. If you like characters or have kids who like Pooh and friends, Minnie or some others, I would highly recommend it.

Hi Becca, Have you guys heard the date of WOC soft openings, or it's start date? I heard it was pushed back to June, and we have a villa booked in May.

 

[franandaj]

Hi Becca, Have you guys heard the date of WOC soft openings, or it's start date? I heard it was pushed back to June, and we have a villa booked in May.

I was just reading a thread that said it was pushed back to June 11th, but that was a rumor and couldn't be relied upon. I was hoping that it would be open during F&W, but sounds like they are going to open it just before summer so they can still hit the "spring" mark.

 

[stopher1]

I bought DVC for Grand Californian Villas today! I am so excited to finally be a Member! I am hoping to go for my birthday in October....yay!

Congrats & Welcome Home!

 

[nunzia]

I bought DVC for Grand Californian Villas today! I am so excited to finally be a Member! I am hoping to go for my birthday in October....yay!

Welcome Home!
I caved and bought my 50 point add on..now I have 175 VGC...going to sell my OKW to help pay for it.

 

[stopher1]

Welcome Home!
I caved and bought my 50 point add on..now I have 175 VGC...going to sell my OKW to help pay for it.

Congrats!

 

[BeccaG]

Hi Becca, Have you guys heard the date of WOC soft openings, or it's start date? I heard it was pushed back to June, and we have a villa booked in May.

I have been told via a cast member that April 29 is the soft opening day with the official opening as report by numerous Disney fan sites as June sometime, I think the first or maybe its the 11th. Of course, that is a goal, I guess last year the new Maleficent dragon never made its appearance at Fantasmic until August so I think they are shy or releasing a definitive date.

 

[marts35]

Thanks for the WOC info

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have been told via a cast member that April 29 is the soft opening day with the official opening as report by numerous Disney fan sites as June sometime, I think the first or maybe its the 11th. Of course, that is a goal, I guess last year the new Maleficent dragon never made its appearance at Fantasmic until August so I think they are shy or releasing a definitive date.

We'll be down there over June 11th (my BD!!) so that's the good part but I had been hoping it would open earlier - officially - so that the crowds wouldn't be that initial surge. I also had been thinking about trying to adjust our dates by one day so I could attend another event here at home on the 12th. Sigh - decision, decisions.