The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[disneyluvbug]

we jsut got back and did the concierge level..10/1-10/6..room 6006, dd really wanted bunk beds and had a very similar view, as well could see the villas.. we were kicking ourselves for not styaing in the villas, since we had the option to change our rooms a few months ago.. we did enjoy the concierge level and figured since it was the last time we could stay in the hotel than we should.. great pictures.. I need to book a spring trip, since we have 200 more points to use before april..ahhh love dvc!!

were did you get food? did you use the kitchen a lot?

 

[isyt]

220 here. Hope to stay this Thanksgiving. Going to WDW for Christmas and hope to stay at BLT. At Disneyland you only needed to buy 100 points at AKV or BLT to become a founding member, so I need to use those BLT points somewhere.

I am so excited I am going on Thanksgiving day until Tuesday. I can not wait!!!We have a 2 bdrm hdcp reserved.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Here are a few pictures from our trip to VGC last week (9/30 - 10/3). We had a two-bedroom (room # 4500) which had a great view of the park. The balcony overlooked the walkway (where the barbeques are) between the Grand and DCA and was just a few floors below the observation deck. This is an excellent room for viewing the parades and water shows later next year, but on this trip we mainly had a view of the ever changing colors of the Ferris Wheel and had a birds eye view of the construction activity and nightly preparation for the Mickey's Trick-or-Treat party.

Wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing. We were in a studio (3504) from 9/29-10/2 and had a similar view and also heard the Halloween Party prep which I thought was pretty cool. These are the 1st pics of a dedicated 2 bdrm I have seen so thank you so much for sharing them!

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks for posting the pics. I think the Mickey Spinning Wheel O' Death is much improved in looks with the cool new lighting at night -- still won't ride on it though . . .

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

Thanks for posting the pics. I think the Mickey Spinning Wheel O' Death is much improved in looks with the cool new lighting at night -- still won't ride on it though . . .

I don't blame you on that! I can't believe how tall that wheel is. It was bad enough being in the regular baskets, so I can't imagine what would lead someone to think that getting into the moving ones is a good idea...

 

[funatdisney]

Thanks for posting the pics. I think the Mickey Spinning Wheel O' Death is much improved in looks with the cool new lighting at night -- still won't ride on it though . . .

It does make a good night light though!

 

[mopee3]

I need your help! We have a ressie for May 2-5 at your GCV and we will also stay at the Candy Cane Inn for 2 days so the vacation will be for 5 total breakfasts/dinners, and I need to know where we should eat.
We normally use the Deluxe Dining Plan at WDW world and eat a sit-down breakfast and a sit-down dinner, that is how we use the credits. So we will probably eat the same type of meals at DL except no DDDP. That’s where you all come in handy. We plan on eating at Napa Rose and Blue Bayou but no other plans. So lay it on me, where when, etc.

Thanks

Moe

 

[thelionqueen]

I need your help! We have a ressie for May 2-5 at your GCV and we will also stay at the Candy Cane Inn for 2 days so the vacation will be for 5 total breakfasts/dinners, and I need to know where we should eat.
We normally use the Deluxe Dining Plan at WDW world and eat a sit-down breakfast and a sit-down dinner, that is how we use the credits. So we will probably eat the same type of meals at DL except no DDDP. That’s where you all come in handy. We plan on eating at Napa Rose and Blue Bayou but no other plans. So lay it on me, where when, etc.

Thanks

Moe

Will you have a car? That will be the deciding factor on where you should dine. If you are walking, there are several restuarants within walking distance, CoCo's is good for breakfast. There are many "chain" restaurants on Harbor while you're at Candy Cane (again without a car).

If you do have a car, there is a Spires (one of my favorite breakfast restaurants anywhere!) just west of Harbor on Ball. Right across the street is El Pollo Loco, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE (we don't have but one in CO ).

There's always "higher priced fare" at DTD. Napoli is great, so is House of Blues. Jazz Kitchen never appealed to me, but my SIL really loved it. There's always Goofy's Kitchen at DLH, which is a blast!

Rainforest Cafe' and ESPNZone have your standard "destination dining" choices, but both good (just horribly overpriced).

You didn't mention the Plaza or Carnation Cafe' both of which are yumm-o. Hope these suggestions help!

 

[Quilter007]

Spend some time on the Disneyland thread -- there's a bunch of food porn there. My personal favs are Cafe Orleans (Pomme Frittes, Blackened Salmon Salad & Mickey Beignets -- also French Onion Soup, but then risk not having room for the beignets -- unless DSes snort too many Pomme Frittes) also Storytellers (buffet for the adults, build your own pizza for kids). Ohhh -- also Trattoria in in DCA (pizzetta salad for me & the breadsticks w/ that sun-dried tomata cream-cheease). We've also been known to drag our DSes to Ariel's grotto for a princess character meal because they changed the food & it's so darn good now! No, not kidding about that...it really is that good! Younger DS is terrified of the princesses, will NOT have his photo taken with them (5) older DS thinks they are cute (9). So we have a bunch of photos w/ DS9 blushing w/ princeses.....and one photo of the page w/ both DSes -- the page was quite flattered that we wanted his photo.....

 

[kerickson]

I'd recommend asking your questions on the DLR boards, they are a wealth of info and may have stickies with restaurant reviews...

Last trip we ate at:

• Blue Bayou - have to eat there once, but don't think we'll return for awhile. Not really worth it with two little ones. I'd recommend Cafe Orleans over BB. Similar menu, cheaper and you can eat outside and people watch in the New Orleans district...
• Rainforest Cafe - ok food, fun atmosphere
• Tortilla Flats- I've heard mixed reviews, but we love it. They also have a take out option which we used one time and ate in the Concierge lounge. Would be great for a villa stay
• Celebration Roundup and BBQ at Big Thunder Ranch - this has also had mixed reviews. It's pricey, but we loved it. My husband loved the all you can eat chicken and ribs!
• ESPN Zone - good food and fun games!
• Goofy’s Kitchen - food was typical for a character breakfast meal, diverse food and lots of it. This was a last minute meal and we loved it!
• DCA also has some great counter service options

If you have a car Anaheim Garden Walk seems to have some great options: California Pizza Kitchen, Bubba Gumps...etc

 

[cseca]

Mimi's Cafe! It's wonderful...
It's a bit of a walk (by McDonald's on S. Harbor) but it's great food. The price is great too.

BTW, does anybody know how many % of GCV is sold by now?

 

[wideeyedwonder]

You didn't mention the Plaza or Carnation Cafe' both of which are yumm-o. Hope these suggestions help!

Plaza Inn and Cafe Orleans are my current favorites...Plaza (located at the end of main street) for the fried chicken (we share a meal), and Cafe Orleans (near Pirates) for the Monte Cristo sandwich and a pretty good all-around menu. I'm pretty sure you can ADR Cafe Orleans.

Here is a good list of available restaurants at the parks:

http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dl/dl_rest.htm

The Disneyland Dining Review with Pictures thread (on the DIS):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253888

We always do Goofy's Kitchen for at least one breakfast (at DLH)...and recently we tried Steakhouse 66 (also at DLH), and it was great (if expensive!)

Surprisingly (or maybe not) was the fact that my girls really like the cold sandwiches at Whitewater Snacks (at The Grand, next to the pool)...and the Nachos weren't half bad either.

 

[mopee3]

Thanks for all the suggestions, we will have a car while at the Candy cane but not when at GCV.

Thanks again.

M

 

[darby888]

I'll second the Wine Country Trattoria. Like the previous poster mentioned, I always get the pizzetta salad.

I really enjoy this restaurant every time & always go with the outdoor seating. Also, because the seating outdoors is elevated from the near-by walkway by about 5-6ft, you can get a great view of the parade if you time it right. (Actually, not sure if the parade still makes it's way thru that area with all the world of color construction going on. But hopefully by May, it will resume.)

 

[bumbershoot]

WWS is definitely good. We don't eat meat so have it kept out, but we love the breakfast burrito and the french toast sticks there. The nachos, eh, didn't so much love. Others do, however.

Wine Country Trattoria is good, I enjoyed the ratatouille at Cafe Orleans. Blue Bayou is more about the atmosphere than the food, and you pay a premium on that atmosphere compared to what the food tastes like!

Veggie chili or veggie gumbo, each in a breadbowl, is a lovely small meal that hubby and I share. Chili is at Pacific Wharf Cafe at DCA and also at Harbor Galley in New Orleans Square, and gumbo (they also have steak gumbo which my brother and SIL enjoy) is also in New Orleans Square, at Royal Street Veranda.

I have not enjoyed the Tomorrowland Terrace nor Pizza Oom Mow Mow.

Mimi's is good, as is Millie's. Liked Coco's, too. Avoid the IHOP as it's one of the most expensive ones in the country, and do NOT go into Captain Kidd's.

GardenWalk has Cheesecake Factory and others people have mentioned, and at CCI you won't be far.

 

[Mr_Potts]

Getting in the car to JFK airport in around 20 minutes and will be home at VGC in about 9 hours! Staying in a studio. Trip report to follow.

 

[nunzia]

We ate at the IHOP a couple time when were there for the Expo. YES..lord the prices are ridiculous. But the service was fine and the food good..love those swedish crepes.
La Brea in DTD is OK, Rainforest actually has a really nice breakfast, not crowed and not too expensive. WWS of course. We like River Belle Terrace..they still have the Mickey pancakes in the AM and very nice sandwhich things later. I always get the kids meal and it's plenty and economical. For a quick burst of protien you can get those meat sticks..right by the treehouse..what is that place's name? The new place in Fantasyland looks good, with the turkey legs but also chimichangas. There are so many little CS places tucked here and there and worth checking out. The Mexican place in DL is good..Rancho something.

 

[Mattsmommy]

We just checked in late last night. The room is beautiful. We have a view of the theme park. The cast members are so nice here. The young lady that checked us in gave my son a 1st visit button, balloons, and some pictures of mickey.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Gotta try the Corn dogs in DCA! I don't even like corn dogs but these are fantastic. They have hot links and other non-standard Corn Dogs and the breading is fantastic.

 

[toocherie]

Gotta try the Corn dogs in DCA! I don't even like corn dogs but these are fantastic. They have hot links and other non-standard Corn Dogs and the breading is fantastic.

actually, Corn Dog Castle is closed until 2011 for renovation

You can get the original flavored corn dog in DCA at Bountiful Farms Market but the hot links and other types are currently unavailable.