The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[ToodlesRN]

I booked our trip for Feb and already waitlisted For the 7th, but I got a room from the 8-11th. Is there something going on during that week? I'm waitlisted for a studio and 1 bedroom hope it comes through!

 

[Davids-Coco]

Yes they do, in fact one caught on fire from a short in the lights, and scorched the ceiling. The whole hotel was evacuated in the middle of the night a few years ago.

lol... I think we were there. Or maybe it was a small kitchen fire. I don't remember. I do know I freaked when the alarm went off in the middle of the night and grabbed our 15 mo old out of the pnp and rushed down the stairs... I even remembered the diaper bag! We took pictures of everyone out in the street because it was funny!

 

[stopher1]

I passed through the Grand's lobby several times yesterday, and will be over there again in a while. The parks don't open til 10am today, so I've got some time this morning uploading a few photos of the Christmas decorations. I stayed at the PPH last night and don't actually check-in to VGC until Thursday - so perhaps when I stay there Thurs & Fri night, I'll see more than I saw yesterday.

When we last stayed at the GC (Feb), the antique car was closer to the drop off area under the Porte Cachere, yesterday it was parked along the walk way leading in to the hotel from Disneyland Drive. It was decked out for the season, and now sports a Welcome Home message.

Inside, the lobby is decked out with a number of beautiful garlands, lights and of course, the supersized tree in the center. The piano has been moved off to the eastern side of the lobby, near the DVC desk. These were taken from the 3rd floor.

Here's a little close up of the detail on the garlands. Bows, lights, & balls mostly.

And then down on the lobby floor a couple of close-ups of the base as well as the ornaments on the tree.

Finally I wandered over to the Registration desk and saw these garlands over the signs.

I didn't see a "ton" of decorations outside of the lobby, but perhaps today I'll see more as I wander around.

 

[kerickson]

Love the DVC logo on the car!

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks for posting the pics, Stopher1!

 

[kerickson]

I'm not very experienced with waitlists. Just called to check on my waitlist status for Dec 12-14 and they told me it had expired 31 days prior to check in! I have a room booked off site as a back up, but would love to stay in the Villas! I had them put me back on the waitlist, but it will expire on Sat...

I checked the hotel for availability too but they said the last time we could book there for 2009 was Sept 22nd...hadn't really paid attention when that was communicated either.

Anyway, not much chance my waitlist will come through, but still excited for a Dec weekend at DL regardless!! Looks like I'll just have to wait until April for our first VGC visit. I'll still check things out when we are there in 12 days...

 

[marts35]

Thanks for the pictures of the Christmas decorations, Topher1. They bring back memories of previous celebrations at the Grand California.
We can't wait to see them for ourselves.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm not very experienced with waitlists. Just called to check on my waitlist status for Dec 12-14 and they told me it had expired 31 days prior to check in! I have a room booked off site as a back up, but would love to stay in the Villas! I had them put me back on the waitlist, but it will expire on Sat...

I checked the hotel for availability too but they said the last time we could book there for 2009 was Sept 22nd...hadn't really paid attention when that was communicated either.

Anyway, not much chance my waitlist will come through, but still excited for a Dec weekend at DL regardless!! Looks like I'll just have to wait until April for our first VGC visit. I'll still check things out when we are there in 12 days...

That's a bummer about the waitlist. I've been lucky that the CM's I've spoken to have always asked whether I want 31 or 7 days.

I hadn't heard about the booking requirement for GC either! So much for communications with members. The last time I asked about a GC room was at the beginning of Sept. They first told me it couldn't be booked but when I questioned it they came back and said it could and never said that was only thru the 22nd. I remember they made a big announcement about it for the Contemporary when BLT opened. I just looked now and still couldn't find anything other than the footnote that GC wouldn't be available after Dec 31st.


Stopher1 - thanks for the pictures! Have a terrific first stay at the Villas!

 

[stopher1]

I got an opening day pin at the Buzz Lightyear Store this morning and they had at least half a dozen more. They were out at the hotel store.

I'm hoping they'll still have a pin when I arrive.

Last night I checked at the World of Disney store and they were out. I checked in three different stores around DL this morning and no one had the opening day pins - not the pin shop in Frontierland, not the Emporium and not the little shop in the back of NOS near the POTC exit. It wasn't until I landed in Tomorrowland that I was able to purchase a pin - also at the Buzz Lightyear store like Quilter007! I was happy. They had 14 hanging on the wall behind the register - I counted them while waiting for the CM to come back from helping another guest out on the floor! Then when I was paying, I asked if there were any more, and he said yes, they still had about a dozen more that were not out on the wall due to space issues on the wall. SO - if you're in the area, and still want a pin...go to the Buzz Lightyear store.

 

[stopher1]

This evening our "opening night" dinner was at DTD! So I got to go back in to the lobby tonight and hang out for a little bit before heading back to the new hotel I'm in until I can get back to staying at VGC. There was no pianist - instead, the Dickens Carolers were there in front of the tree seranading a semi-large group of people just sitting around enjoying the ambiance. I don't know how long they'd been there, but I was able to enjoy 5 of their numbers. That was very enjoyable.

 

[Quilter007]

Oooooh!! So glad someone was able to get a pin off my tip! DH refers to everyone here as the "crazy people". I keep reminding him that the "crazy people" remind me that I'm still sane....at least I think I am! Of course, y'all could just be a bad influence on me! I'm still drooling about the retired couple with enough points to spend a year residing in Disney properties (well except that I have this irrational fear of cruises so that would have to be modified)....

Anyway -- just happy that I was able to actually help one or two folks with a tip, since I mostly just lurk and/or gripe in this section. I'm much more helpful in the Disneyland section -- honest!

Going back in January w/ extended family in a 2 br...somewhat concerned after reading the taking the family posts.......should have read those posts before extending the invitation not after......crossing fingers now!

 

[kerickson]

Last night I checked at the World of Disney store and they were out. I checked in three different stores around DL this morning and no one had the opening day pins - not the pin shop in Frontierland, not the Emporium and not the little shop in the back of NOS near the POTC exit. It wasn't until I landed in Tomorrowland that I was able to purchase a pin - also at the Buzz Lightyear store like Quilter007! I was happy. They had 14 hanging on the wall behind the register - I counted them while waiting for the CM to come back from helping another guest out on the floor! Then when I was paying, I asked if there were any more, and he said yes, they still had about a dozen more that were not out on the wall due to space issues on the wall. SO - if you're in the area, and still want a pin...go to the Buzz Lightyear store.

Hope to get one of those when I'm there in 12 days. I'll hit the Buzz Lightyear store first! How much do they cost?

 

[stopher1]

Hope to get one of those when I'm there in 12 days. I'll hit the Buzz Lightyear store first! How much do they cost?

With tax it was $13. I think it was $10.95 before tax, or maybe it was $11.95 but I'm not really sure (can't locate the receipt right now). That color coding system drives me crazy. It's a yellow tag though, I do know that.

 

[forevercruising]

Going back in January w/ extended family in a 2 br...somewhat concerned after reading the taking the family posts.......should have read those posts before extending the invitation not after......crossing fingers now!

Hi, Quilter!

I'm afraid I missed something somewhere; is there an issue regarding "taking the family" to stay at the villas? Can you direct me to those posts?

Thanks!

 

[BeccaG]

Hi, Quilter!

I'm afraid I missed something somewhere; is there an issue regarding "taking the family" to stay at the villas? Can you direct me to those posts?

Thanks!

I think Quilter is probably referring to a number of stories of folks who generously shared their points and took or planned to take their families, who, in return, not understanding how timeshares and points work, kept asking them to make changes to the ressies. Its kinda a common complaint here on the DIS. If it makes you feel any better, I have taken family and friends three times without a hitch!

 

[Quilter007]

Yes -- I didn't realize that family members who don't understand DVC would want you to change things and then make your life before you go and vacation there absolutely miserable just because you thought it would be fun to share your Disney with them......I found that thread AFTER we invited and made reservations for elderly DH's nephew & family -- going in January -- their kids are same ages as ours.... elderly nephew is only 3 yrs younger than us, & nephews wife is wonderful....so hopefully it will be fine! However, there are certain family members who will just have to pay their own darn way! Or do a LOT more kissing up!

 

[toocherie]

I'm checking into VGC tomorrow for a two-night stay in a studio Villa--taking my Mom so she can see the Christmas decorations. Anyone want to bet that I don't get a park view this time either? (this will be my third stay, and while I like the pool view, it would be nice to have the park view at least once!)

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Toocherie, I'm betting you get the park view. It's your turn.

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

Good luck! I am checking in next week, hopefully we will both get excellent views!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm checking into VGC tomorrow for a two-night stay in a studio Villa--taking my Mom so she can see the Christmas decorations. Anyone want to bet that I don't get a park view this time either? (this will be my third stay, and while I like the pool view, it would be nice to have the park view at least once!)

Use your Lawyer Voice!

When we last stayed at the GC (Feb), the antique car was closer to the drop off area under the Porte Cachere, yesterday it was parked along the walk way leading in to the hotel from Disneyland Drive. It was decked out for the season, and now sports a Welcome Home message.

I'd never seen or heard of that until I was reading the Disney Files thing about it yesterday... interesting!