The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[KAT4DISNEY]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";30038584]

Has anyone heard if they will still be able to use points in the main building as they have in the past before the villas? I'm assuming yes.....except they will not be the same as if you were to get a studio where the villas are.

Or are they planning on making part of the main building into studios also by adding a microwave in them....am I making sense [/QUOTE]

I did not 100% guarantee that this can't be done with my guide but we spoke about still using points at the other 2 hotels. That combined with the footnote on the 2009 point chart leads me to believe the Grand will be unavailable for point stays in the hotel part.

 

[lisah0711]

Has anyone received their contracts to sign yet? I'm just so anxious to sign my name by those little palm trees!

 

[toocherie]

Has anyone received their contracts to sign yet? I'm just so anxious to sign my name by those little palm trees!

I think bethy had hers. I'm supposed to go into the DVC office at DL sometime this week. (Come on guide--call!)

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

I think bethy had hers. I'm supposed to go into the DVC office at DL sometime this week. (Come on guide--call!)

Bethy sent hers back already but I think she is ready to cancel to see if you can get the new Cruise incentive instead of the DPs. I have a call into my guide to see if I can get it also. My contract is sitting on the sideboard at home. I got it Friday. The new incentive is a 7 night Ocean View for 4 with 200 pt purchase. I hope it appies to GCV! It would be too fun! Esp. if we can book past Oct. 3rd.

 

[forevercruising]

Hello, all!

I am hoping that those of you with VGC use years of January - May will help me understand a use year issue with our new contracts. My questions are on the following thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=30059578#post30059578

(I hope it is allowed for me to post this here, but, since this is THE thread for new VGC owners, I'm hoping you can give me some feedback!)

Thanks!

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

Bethy sent hers back already but I think she is ready to cancel to see if you can get the new Cruise incentive instead of the DPs. I have a call into my guide to see if I can get it also. My contract is sitting on the sideboard at home. I got it Friday. The new incentive is a 7 night Ocean View for 4 with 200 pt purchase. I hope it appies to GCV! It would be too fun! Esp. if we can book past Oct. 3rd.

Talked to my guide this morning and she indicated that it is possible to get the cruise incentives (instead of DP's) for VGC add-ons. Since my family is larger than 4, I also asked about upgrades and she said those were possible too (I believe it is an extra $100 per person). I was in a rush to pick the kids up from school and had to cut the call short, but at this time it looks like we'll be cancelling our first contract and buying a new one with this incentive.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Talked to my guide this morning and she indicated that it is possible to get the cruise incentives (instead of DP's) for VGC add-ons. Since my family is larger than 4, I also asked about upgrades and she said those were possible too (I believe it is an extra $100 per person). I was in a rush to pick the kids up from school and had to cut the call short, but at this time it looks like we'll be cancelling our first contract and buying a new one with this incentive.

Me too!

 

[ACDSNY]

Me Three!

I just received my paperwork yesterday and now I'll be switching from DP to the cruise.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Me Three!

I just received my paperwork yesterday and now I'll be switching from DP to the cruise.

I can't tell you how cool this is! What a great idea from Disney. I have always wanted to do a Disney Cruise but couldn't justify the points (I know that sounds silly coming from someone who has mostly used their points to stay on non DVC hotels). Wooo Hooo! Let's go cruising!

 

[kerickson]

I can't tell you how cool this is! What a great idea from Disney. I have always wanted to do a Disney Cruise but couldn't justify the points (I know that sounds silly coming from someone who has mostly used their points to stay on non DVC hotels). Wooo Hooo! Let's go cruising!

I agree, way to go Disney/DVC. Maybe they did hear our complaints that points that expire Oct 3, '09 aren't that great of an incentive. If us die hard Founding Members are complaining, that incentive won't be a draw for the masses.

Now I won't be templated to book another cruise during my 7 day Western in Oct. I'll already have another one booked (planning on doing my own land and sea vacation)!

 

["Got Disney"]

I did not 100% guarantee that this can't be done with my guide but we spoke about still using points at the other 2 hotels. That combined with the footnote on the 2009 point chart leads me to believe the Grand will be unavailable for point stays in the hotel part.

If GCH is similar to any of the WDW properties with DVC villas, no, you will not be able to book the hotel using points once the villas are open. There is a footnote on the 2009 chart stating the points for the Grand are only valid for stays through Dec 2009, so it looks like they are planning on allowing villas only starting in Jan. Given there are only 48 villa units (23 of which are studios, it will be extremely difficult to book at 7mo (think AKV Concierge, VWL at Christmas..) You will be able to use points at DLH and PPH, but if you are set on staying at the Grand in the years to come, you probably want to purchase points. I agree that Hawaii should be easier to book at 7mo since they will have 400+ units and there really isn't a bad time to go to Hawaii! I suspect the point charts will be the highest we've seen though...

that will be a shame because there are sooooo many that stay at the Grand now using there points so with so few rooms with the members that stay there now and the new members and members buying points for there, there is no way there will ever be anyway to stay there.

Seems to me that having some studios also in the Grand main building would be a good idea. Even if they are just plain studios as before with no microwave and wanting like a DDD view would make sense. Mostly with the way the economy is. Cant see to many people wanting to pay 400-600 a night for a room. so instead of turning away people that can use points yet bring moneys into the park makes more sense than turning them away.

I can go anytime the kids are out of school so hopefully that will help. I can still buy but think I will wait a few to see what happens.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";30078469]that will be a shame because there are sooooo many that stay at the Grand now using there points so with so few rooms with the members that stay there now and the new members and members buying points for there, there is no way there will ever be anyway to stay there.
[/QUOTE]

That's just why I'm buying. I love to stay at the Grand and I think I will need points GCV if I want to stay there in the future.

On the other hand in this economy it may be wise to wait and see how things turn out.

But I've never been one to choose wisdom and patience over "I've gotta have now!"

 

[M4travels]

We, too, love the GCH and when we were talking to our guide when we were at WDW in October (he had moved back to FL) he said that while there was no official word he wouldn't be surprised if the California properties were treated slightly differently with the possibility of being able to stay at a property that was both hotel and DVC. If it happens, great! If not, for those times when we feel the need to be onsite and not a Good Neighbor hotel/motel and there is no room at GCV, we'll probably use some of our points at either the DH or PP. Here's hoping the $95 fee stays away.....

Michael

 

[ACDSNY]

On the other hand in this economy it may be wise to wait and see how things turn out.

But I've never been one to choose wisdom and patience over "I've gotta have now!"

Are you sure we're not related??? Just kidding, this sounds so like me, no patience! I've questioned whether we really need VGC points since most DLR trips aren't scheduled 11 months out. I REALLY GOTTA HAVE VGC POINTS!!!

 

[toocherie]

Are you sure we're not related??? Just kidding, this sounds so like me, no patience! I've questioned whether we really need VGC points since most DLR trips aren't scheduled 11 months out. I REALLY GOTTA HAVE VGC POINTS!!!

I'm obviously a member of your family too . . . . . .

 

[ACDSNY]

I'm obviously a member of your family too . . . . . .

The more the merrier...!

 

[lisah0711]

Count me in, too! Got my paperwork this morning and sent it back via Fed Ex this afternoon -- I just couldn't give them my money fast enough!

I stuck with DP because that was better for our family. I am glad there are some choices for everyone to pick what works best for them.

 

[toocherie]

Woo hoo! I just got my "new" member number. (I put the GCV interest in a trust so had to have a different member number.) Still trying to figure out what I am doing with the incentive (points vs. cruise).

 

[kerickson]

Woo hoo! I just got my "new" member number. (I put the GCV interest in a trust so had to have a different member number.) Still trying to figure out what I am doing with the incentive (points vs. cruise).

Toocherie
Does that make it a different contract so you won't be able to combine your SSR and VGC points at 7 mo - not that you will very often, we are going to be very stingy with our points

We didn't put our initial purchase in our trust (forgot about it) and my guide said that if we wanted our add on in our trust we'd either have to wait to add on until we changed the original (which I didn't want to do) or purchase a new contract (which we'd have to buy the min 160). I opted to keep it out, then we will switch both at some point in the future.

 

[toocherie]

Toocherie
Does that make it a different contract so you won't be able to combine your SSR and VGC points at 7 mo - not that you will very often, we are going to be very stingy with our points

We didn't put our initial purchase in our trust (forgot about it) and my guide said that if we wanted our add on in our trust we'd either have to wait to add on until we changed the original (which I didn't want to do) or purchase a new contract (which we'd have to buy the min 160). I opted to keep it out, then we will switch both at some point in the future.

Yes: I believe that is correct. But I wouldn't be likely to combine them and plan to transfer the SSR interest into the trust at some point too. If they won't let me combine at that point then oh well--but couldn't you book say three nights on one contract and three nights on another contract anyway and get the same result?