The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[tjkraz]

I've wanted to do this since DCA opened. Grab FP for Soaring and GRR (they are not networked thus you can get passes for both). Hit the pool for a while. Dry off, get new GRR passes, hit Soaring, go on GRR, hit pool, hit GRR, then back in pool. Next June.

We did something similar last summer.

We hit DCA at opening to do TSM and a handful of other attractions. Last thing we wanted to do was GRR but the standby line was close to an hour. So we got FastPasses, returned to the Grand Cal to swim, and then walked right into DCA shortly after our FastPass return time arrived. After riding GRR it was straight back to the hotel.

Can't do that at WDW.

 

[funatdisney]

I've wanted to do this since DCA opened. Grab FP for Soaring and GRR (they are not networked thus you can get passes for both). Hit the pool for a while. Dry off, get new GRR passes, hit Soaring, go on GRR, hit pool, hit GRR, then back in pool. Next June.

We think of GRR as an extension of the pool And do it several times in a visit. I also bring aqua shoes to make it more efficient. The kids and just slip them on and off as needed and not worry about getting their street shoes wet. I also get lunch in the park and bring it back to the pool or I buy popcorn near Soarin'. I am always asked where I get popcorn from, and then have to explain that I got in DCA. AP's come in handy for this sort of thing.

So I keep forgetting which rides are not on the main computer for FP. It is GRR and Screaming that are not on the main computer line. Right?

 

[SoCalKDG]

We think of GRR as an extension of the pool And do it several times in a visit. I also bring aqua shoes to make it more efficient. The kids and just slip them on and off as needed and not worry about getting their street shoes wet. I also get lunch in the park and bring it back to the pool or I buy popcorn near Soarin'. I am always asked where I get popcorn from, and then have to explain that I got in DCA. AP's come in handy for this sort of thing.

So I keep forgetting which rides are not on the main computer for FP. It is GRR and Screaming that are not on the main computer line. Right?

I like the water shoe idea.

GRR and Roger Rabbit aren't on the network. Screaming is. Additionally DCA and DL aren't connected with each other thus park hopping for FP is a nice perk.

I wonder how many people realize just how close VGC is to DCA and to DL. Nice to know we will never have a "how slow the busses are" thread.

 

[funatdisney]

I wonder how many people realize just how close VGC is to DCA and to DL. Nice to know we will never have a "how slow the busses are" thread.

I am soo Laughing out Loud

No we will just get folks complaining how far everything is to walk! That is what I love about GHC and why I bought into it. It is a wonderful hotel and is centrally located to Disneyland, California Adventures and Downtown Disney.

 

[rmonty02]

Great info SoCalKDG We're booked for a 2bdr mid-Nov(my bday) and I can't wait. I requested parkview, but will be reading all those opening day TR's. I'm also waiting for the park hours that week, since our stay will be Sun-Thurs, I'm thinking we'll only get to see fireworks on our Sun night stay.

 

[Longhairbear]

This is the first I have heard of pool cabanas, very chic! We visited the pool area last moth and didn't think it was too small.

 

[dcfromva]

This is something else I remember my guide telling me: She mentioned that there will be rented cabanas around the pool. They will have flat screen TVs and servers.

I was just thinking how nice it would be to rent a cabana on check out day and hang out in the pool area until it is time to go to the airport to catch a flight home...

 

[kerickson]

I was just thinking how nice it would be to rent a cabana on check out day and hang out in the pool area until it is time to go to the airport to catch a flight home...

great idea!

 

[funatdisney]

I agree!!! Or if you arrive early and have to wait for your room. We always wait in the pool area when we arrive. It would be nice to sit at a cabana with a drink.

I know that folks like to head to the park, but we go to Disneyland once a month. When I stay at the Grand California, I go for the hotel experience. Can't wait to be at my one bedroom villa and feel right at home!

 

[BeccaG]

I wonder if the cabana's will be ready by opening? You would think they should start constructing them soon, if not already. . .
I so wish I could be there for opening, but I am all out of points!

 

[funatdisney]

That is a very good question, BeccaG. I ask my guide about that and she wasn't sure. (I was signing my DVC purchase papers last Sunday) She had just been told herself with a recent update DVC CMs get.

 

[dwelty]

Great info SoCalKDG We're booked for a 2bdr mid-Nov(my bday) and I can't wait. I requested parkview, but will be reading all those opening day TR's. I'm also waiting for the park hours that week, since our stay will be Sun-Thurs, I'm thinking we'll only get to see fireworks on our Sun night stay.

We are there opening week and I am really leaning toward requesting a pool view room facing the inside of the resort. Right now with all of the construction going on and the fact that the lagoon is drained, it makes the view less appealing to me. Next summer World of color will be running, and it will be a different story then!

 

[lisah0711]

So I keep forgetting which rides are not on the main computer for FP. It is GRR and Screaming that are not on the main computer line. Right?

Apparently GRR is now on the main FP computer -- or at least it was this week. Screaming has always been on as far as I know.

Just returned from our DL visit on our developers points. This was the view from one of the balconies of our 1 bedroom suite. The other balcony looked through the trees at the Maliboomer and Mickey Spinning Wheel o' Death which actually has some wonderful new light effects. There was even an owl that hooted outside our window at all different hours of the night -- it was a real owl because why else would it be on at 4 a.m.?

It was a point burner but well worth it for the last stay in the hotel proper.

They still don't know a whole lot about VGC -- training is starting "soon." The store will not have any additional food items according to the folks who work there and no one knows whether valet parking will be free. I did find that more people knew about various discounts for DVC members but we always carried our portable perks book just in case.

One thing everyone does know is that the villas are beautiful and are going to have some wonderful views of World of Color. They had some effects from the World of Color show in Blue Sky Cellar -- it is going to be spectacular!

Can't wait for my first trip home to the villas some time next year!

 

[funatdisney]

Apparently GRR is now on the main FP computer -- or at least it was this week. Screaming has always been on as far as I know.

When I went to DCA on Sunday 8/23 I got a FP for Screamin' after getting the FP for GRR - I couldn't! I couldn't be sure about change the cuz I kept on forgetting about which one was not on the main computer-GRR or Screamin' (see earlier post)

So. GGR may be on the main computer after all!

 

[lisah0711]

I asked a CM at the fast pass kiosks at GRR if it was still disconnected from FP and was told no, it had been on now for some time. I just wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or knew what he was talking about for sure -- I always try to get confirmation from a Dis'er too!

 

[funatdisney]

Bummer! I always liked to used that trick whenever possible.

 

[FCCA]

"Additionally DCA and DL aren't connected with each other thus park hopping for FP is a nice"

So does this mean that if I'm at DL, I don't have to wait to get a second FP at DCA? Wow, that's great. The only problem is that I'm normally the designated FP runner, and to get the second FP at DCA would require that everyone in our group would have to make the trip over to DCA.

 

[SoCalKDG]

"Additionally DCA and DL aren't connected with each other thus park hopping for FP is a nice"

So does this mean that if I'm at DL, I don't have to wait to get a second FP at DCA? Wow, that's great. The only problem is that I'm normally the designated FP runner, and to get the second FP at DCA would require that everyone in our group would have to make the trip over to DCA.

Only once in the morning. Once they have been you should be able to jump back and forth with their tickets no problem.

The best way to hit both parks is to do DL at opening until about 11 grabbing a couple FP, then head over to DCA, do some rides and pick up a couple FP, specifically Soaring as its at the front of the park and easy to get to from DL. Then pop back over to DL, new FP, play there for a while, use up all FP, then back over to DCA once again at the end of the day.

Of course if you are there 3-4 days then just spend 1 full leisure day in each park before hopping the last day or two.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I asked a CM at the fast pass kiosks at GRR if it was still disconnected from FP and was told no, it had been on now for some time. I just wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or knew what he was talking about for sure -- I always try to get confirmation from a Dis'er too!

I was last at DCA about 1 month ago and FP at GRR was down. I wonder if they were working on connecting it? Bummer that they did.

 

[Longhairbear]

. The store will not have any additional food items according to the folks who work there ...
The folks that work there are usually the last to know.