The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[Longhairbear]

Slightly off topic, but wanted to pass this info along. A friend just saw WOC tonight at a Imagineering staff preview. He loved it, and is sworn to secrecy.

 

[gfyjny]

Just bought 270 points at VGC while we stayed at BLT two weeks ago. I already made a reservation for Feb 2011, using our banked 2009 points. Can't stop dreaming about how great it's going to be, having a private access to California Adventure.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Just added 55 more points today.

Congratulations!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just added 55 more points today.

Congrats stopher!!

Must resist!

Slightly off topic, but wanted to pass this info along. A friend just saw WOC tonight at a Imagineering staff preview. He loved it, and is sworn to secrecy.

It won't be a secret for too much longer! My dining package is booked for the 11th!

Just bought 270 points at VGC while we stayed at BLT two weeks ago. I already made a reservation for Feb 2011, using our banked 2009 points. Can't stop dreaming about how great it's going to be, having a private access to California Adventure.

Congrats and Welcome to VGC!!

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I have never been to DL before and would love to bring my grandchildren there for a change instead of Disney World. I am completely unfamiliar with The Calif. Resorts so I have a few questions about staying there for all you DL experts

1: Do they have Magical Express at the Airport ?

2; Is there easy access to the parks when you stay there? I don't drive because I am legally blind so when I go by myself with the grand kids { they are 12,13 and 15 yrs old} I depend on the Disney transportation.

3; Do they have the meal plan there like they do in DW.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have never been to DL before and would love to bring my grandchildren there for a change instead of Disney World. I am completely unfamiliar with The Calif. Resorts so I have a few questions about staying there for all you DL experts

1: Do they have Magical Express at the Airport ?

2; Is there easy access to the parks when you stay there? I don't drive because I am legally blind so when I go by myself with the grand kids { they are 12,13 and 15 yrs old} I depend on the Disney transportation.

3; Do they have the meal plan there like they do in DW.

1) No - no Magical Express. Grayline operates a resort bus from both Orange County (John Wayne - SNA) and from LAX but it is not free and you will have to handle your luggage. It's approx $30 round trip and there are coupons available. Also - it does not run 24 hours/day but operates every hour during early morning/evening and every 1/2 hour during the main part of the day. There are other shuttle services like Super Shuttle that you can catch too. Other options are cabs or towncar services which might be just as economical for your size group.

2) Easiest access you'll find. Just a short walk from any of the 3 hotels and GC/VGC has it's own entrance right at the hotel into DCA. You can also catch the monorail in DTD and it will take you into Tomorrowland at DL.

3) No - no meal plan. You will have easy access to both parks, all three resorts and Downtown Disney restaurants. Once you cross the street you are at off-site dining.

 

[rmonty02]

Just bought 270 points at VGC while we stayed at BLT two weeks ago. I already made a reservation for Feb 2011, using our banked 2009 points. Can't stop dreaming about how great it's going to be, having a private access to California Adventure.

and stopher1...

Congrats!!

 

[wbl2745]

Slightly off topic, but wanted to pass this info along. A friend just saw WOC tonight at a Imagineering staff preview. He loved it, and is sworn to secrecy.

I was at the park on Friday evening and it was clear that they were going to show WoC to a private party. There were a lot of us "just hanging around" after closing hoping to see the show. However, Disney security was VERY pushy about everyone who was not in the private party for WoC Imagineers to leave. They told us that they would not start the show until the park had been cleared of everyone other than the private party. Sigh... Now, I'm on my way back home and will have to wait until October when I'm in LA again. I suppose I understand. It's their show and if they don't want the public to see it until this coming Friday, that's their prerogative.

 

[Longhairbear]

I was at the park on Friday evening and it was clear that they were going to show WoC to a private party. There were a lot of us "just hanging around" after closing hoping to see the show. However, Disney security was VERY pushy about everyone who was not in the private party for WoC Imagineers to leave. They told us that they would not start the show until the park had been cleared of everyone other than the private party. Sigh... Now, I'm on my way back home and will have to wait until October when I'm in LA again. I suppose I understand. It's their show and if they don't want the public to see it until this coming Friday, that's their prerogative.

I've been following the tweets on Twitter from the Cast Member Previews tonight, they all LOVE WOC, with comments such as "Did that just really happen???" No vids or cameras allowed, but lots of spoilers are now out on the net. I didn't see any posts from people on the DVC viewing deck yet. It might have been closed.

 

[rmonty02]

No vids or cameras allowed, but lots of spoilers are now out on the net.

So for the next year I'm making a promise to myself to not watch anything on the net of the show Of course I've seen pictures and have read descriptions of WOC, but I want to be totally surprised when I'm able to actually see in "en vivo" summer 2011. Should be possible, right?

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Made our first purchase at VGC tonight. My Guide called, thinking we were still in California and 3 hours earlier, and I told him to draw up the papers and send 'em out. I have had 3 wait lists for VGC not come thru, two past trips, and one this Fall that I don't expect to happen, and I figured I better improve my odds on future. I love the VGC and wish we had one just like it at WDW.

My Guide said that my points should show up in the system this Friday. They are already burning a hole in my trip planning pocket.

Happy 30th Anniversary to me, and many more (anniversaries and points, too.)

 

[ACDSNY]

Made our first purchase at VGC tonight.

My Guide said that my points should show up in the system this Friday. They are already burning a hole in my trip planning pocket.

Happy 30th Anniversary to me, and many more (anniversaries and points, too.)

Congrats on your VGC and your 30th Anniversary! We added on VGC points for our 30th Anniversary earlier this year too.

 

[franandaj]

I just called today and got a new guide since mine "is no longer with the company". The new one was real nice and gave me the current prices and incentives. We are currently applying for a home equity loan since the recent departure of my FIL left us cash poor and equity rich (24-7 caregivers are NOT cheap!), among the uses of that loan will be to buy more points at VGC, and add on at VWL and BCV. Unfortunately the latter two will be more difficult to accomodate our UY.

But at least once we are approved for the loan we can go ahead and get the VGC documents going!

 

[stopher1]

Congratulations!

Congrats stopher!!

and stopher1...

Congrats!!

Thanks all!

We are currently applying for a home equity loan since the recent departure of my FIL left us cash poor and equity rich (24-7 caregivers are NOT cheap!), among the uses of that loan will be to buy more points at VGC, and add on at VWL and BCV. Unfortunately the latter two will be more difficult to accomodate our UY.

But at least once we are approved for the loan we can go ahead and get the VGC documents going!

Woo hoo. I would love to get points at WL...but so far they don't have any in our UY. Have been searching the resales too, but most are either wrong UY, or too many points for available $$. But who knows...someday.

 

[Brownieone]

I've been following the tweets on Twitter from the Cast Member Previews tonight, they all LOVE WOC, with comments such as "Did that just really happen???" No vids or cameras allowed, but lots of spoilers are now out on the net. I didn't see any posts from people on the DVC viewing deck yet. It might have been closed.

Hi all. We're out here at VGC...room on the 5th floor with Paradise Pier view...all week, checking out on the 12th. Great view from the room! We have 6 PM dinner ressies at AG with the WOC dinner package for the 11th, to ensure we get "preferred viewing area" access for the early WOC show. Here's what we've discovered so far:

1. When I called to inquire about the DVC viewing deck (Paradise Terrace?) on the 6th floor, they said that would only be open during CA hours. I had wanted to get up there for to watch a WOC preview last night for a radio show contest audience. They said, when I do go up there, bring my room key, but it would likely be locked. I put the room key in, and it was, of course locked for the show. I then asked about June 11th on, and they said it would still be locked after the park closes at 9 PM. The CM admitted it did not make sense, and that lots was still changing, and they had little info on WoC. So we shall see. I'll watch the 9 PM show this Friday and try to get up there for the late show.
2. No special passes for DVC members ... I thought I saw that mentioned on this board somewhere at some point.
3. The GRR FP machines are past the rope drop, so while we can get to the rope spot at 9:30 AM, we would just queue up there until 10 AM for the WOC FPs. Again, we have the dining package for Friday, so we won't play in that.
4. There is a WoC Audio Channel in our deluxe studio room. While we haven't listened to the whole thing because we did not want to ruin anything for Friday, it is quite cool.
5. An a la cart dinner box option will come with WOC passes beginning the 11th, but these are just to "reserve viewing area" and not "preferred viewing area" you get with the AG or WCT dinner packages.

Crowds not bad this week, but that will sadly (for us) change this Friday we know.

Cheers,
-B1

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Hey there, Brownie, good to read your experiences with the WOC deal.

You may wish to remove your room no. from your post. Lots of crazies out there and you never know. I am just saying.

Have a great week.

 

[Brownieone]

Hey there, Brownie, good to read your experiences with the WOC deal.

You may wish to remove your room no. from your post. Lots of crazies out there and you never know. I am just saying.

Have a great week.

Done! Will post it up after we depart with some pics of the view. Cheers.

 

[Fellowship9798]

I can finally join the ranks of the VGC owners with the add-on we did a few days ago while at DL. I had to take a different use year (Sept) as mine was sold out (June) but I'm fine with managing the two contracts.

It was a little sad signing the paperwork (and payting the $) to own at the VGC then walking back across Harbour Blvd to our room at the Best Western Anaheim Inn, but we'll be looking forward to our future stays at the Grand Cal. We did get to stay there using our BWV points just after the Villas opening last September so we know we love it.

We'll be back next year.

 

[BeccaG]

I can finally join the ranks of the VGC owners with the add-on we did a few days ago while at DL. I had to take a different use year (Sept) as mine was sold out (June) but I'm fine with managing the two contracts.

It was a little sad signing the paperwork (and payting the $) to own at the VGC then walking back across Harbour Blvd to our room at the Best Western Anaheim Inn, but we'll be looking forward to our future stays at the Grand Cal. We did get to stay there using our BWV points just after the Villas opening last September so we know we love it.

We'll be back next year.

congrats, you will have to change your tag line in your name..since you don't have to hold out for something in Cali any more! Welcome Home!

 

[kikiq]

I can finally join the ranks of the VGC owners with the add-on we did a few days ago while at DL. I had to take a different use year (Sept) as mine was sold out (June) but I'm fine with managing the two contracts.

It was a little sad signing the paperwork (and payting the $) to own at the VGC then walking back across Harbour Blvd to our room at the Best Western Anaheim Inn, but we'll be looking forward to our future stays at the Grand Cal. We did get to stay there using our BWV points just after the Villas opening last September so we know we love it.

We'll be back next year.

Congrats Welcome Home!!!