Yeah -- I was thinking of all the things I could put in an owners locker.....even though I've never had one, since VGC is our first try at
DVC! Still it's a darn good idea!
I think when we go in January & host DH's elderly nephew (30-something) & family we'll definitely try out the BBQ. Didn't someone say there were BBQ tools available to borrow?
We didn't see anyone in the cabanas the whole time we were there. But the pools were really only lightly used. Everyone we talked to in the pools was from someplace where a blizzard could erupt at any moment!
Overall, thoughts after first stay,
- free valet parking would be nice. free self parking across the street is fine. It's still way closer, faster & cheaper than the parking structure & tram.
- selection of groceries @ whitewater snacks is puny! Very glad I had time to shop @ a real grocery store before checking into VGC.
- Check-in process was not smooth, but quickly fixed, so that's OK.
- the free lanyards were a nice thought, but so cheap that stuff falls out easily on rides, so quickly abandoned for old non-DVC lanyards
- the blasted message light blinked the whole time we were there & annoyed me & my DS who inherited many of my obessive compusive traits!
- the fan for the HVAC is way loud and blasts air when it's on
- the view of the park is amazing -- as seen from everyone's photos -- ours was a ground floor view & still amazing. When we opened our slider we could hear people screaming for their lives from Mulholland Madness -- very funny! Couldn't hear a darn thing w/ door closed.
- Extra musical events in lobby were fun
- Pools/hot tub were great
- Good specials on massages @ the spa, but not enough time this trip to use them
- DH used the reservation hot key from the room phone & got a dining reservation w/ no waiting. When he called from his cell phone he waited for 5 minutes until his battery died, which is why he used the room phone. (He decided to surprise me -- his idea of advance planning is to make a reservation early the day of the event!)
- Loved the room decor!
- Bed was super comfortable as was the pull-out sofa bed.
- Sandwiches & pizza @ Whitewater snacks were good, but DH thought they were parsimonious w/ the tomatoes. He made up for it by getting extra tomatoes @ Taste Pilot's Grill....
- The microwaves are really powerful. DH kept burning the popcorn!
- They will monogram a bathrobe if you give them 24 hours notice! No I didn't ask how much that is! Maybe next time!
The convenience of being right at the parks is just amazing. We've stayed at the
Disneyland hotel, but never at the Grand Californian. Now I understand why they could charge so much more for it. It's not the decor -- it's the location! The difference between the DL Hotel and Grand Cal is huge -- didn't think it would be, but it is. Ack! I had planned on using Marriott points when we stay during the summer. I'm really not sure how we go back to using Marriott points now...........gotta go look at those resale listings again....
I'm hoping they'll still have a pin when I arrive. I just can't wait to sit in that beautiful lobby once again and relax - and of course see it all for myself. The photos that other have posted have been great, but just not the same as being there in person. Now if only I could have something like my OL waiting for me... oh well, I guess we can't have everything, now can we?
While DW & I are looking at our 2011 travel plans - most of our extended family is barely looking at where they'll be, or who they'll be with for Christmas this year in a mere 36 or 37 days 
(that is, if they've even figured out Thanksgiving next week!) 
