The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[stopher1]

I have checked in to my studio, room 4504, overlooking DCA. The view is incredible! The room itself is incredible, though I have to say that I am quite disappointed in two things... the DVD player doesn't work, and the in-room side of the locking device on the door is practically falling off. The villas are only what, 7 weeks new. I'm definitely going to let the staff know.

The room is beautiful. I love the carpeting with the hidden Mickeys. The sofa is so comfortable to sit on (some hotel/timeshare couches just aren't - like the one I sat on in my room down at the Embassy Suites in Irvine the past several days).

This evening I've just been enjoying the lobby, the fireplaces, the room, the grounds and the VIEW! Tomorrow is a DL day, but right now I'm getting ready to go down and enjoy the jacuzzi. I don't leave til Saturday, and I cannot wait to come back here. Now just to figure out when.

 

[ACDSNY]

For 2010 we're going to see if the first week of November is less crowded than Oct. We have our reservation made, so now we'll just wait and see how many family members join us.

Of course, we'll need a night or two after the Panama cruise in Jan 2011 too.

Love my VGC!

 

[stopher1]

So today I KNOW that folks at Disney read these boards... I mentioned in my prior post that the DVD player isn't working in the room. I have not mentioned it to the staff yet, as I figured I'd just do later before I leave tomorrow. I just got back from DL for a quick charge to the phone & camera batteries before returning to the park for the fireworks later... and lo and behold there's a message on my phone from Guest Services telling me they have been told that my DVD player doesn't work and they'd be happy to send up maintenance if I plan to use it before I leave. Wow. I kinda figured someone did go through these boards...

 

[ACDSNY]

So today I KNOW that folks at Disney read these boards... I mentioned in my prior post that the DVD player isn't working in the room. I have not mentioned it to the staff yet, as I figured I'd just do later before I leave tomorrow. I just got back from DL for a quick charge to the phone & camera batteries before returning to the park for the fireworks later... and lo and behold there's a message on my phone from Guest Services telling me they have been told that my DVD player doesn't work and they'd be happy to send up maintenance if I plan to use it before I leave. Wow. I kinda figured someone did go through these boards...

Wow, now that's customer service!

 

[BeccaG]

So today I KNOW that folks at Disney read these boards... I mentioned in my prior post that the DVD player isn't working in the room. I have not mentioned it to the staff yet, as I figured I'd just do later before I leave tomorrow. I just got back from DL for a quick charge to the phone & camera batteries before returning to the park for the fireworks later... and lo and behold there's a message on my phone from Guest Services telling me they have been told that my DVD player doesn't work and they'd be happy to send up maintenance if I plan to use it before I leave. Wow. I kinda figured someone did go through these boards...

Wow. . that's crazy!

Attention dvc people reading this: I would like to request a theme park view for my stay March 21-23. The last person I talked to at MS told me all the rooms were theme park views, but we all know that is not true. I am staying in a two bed room. I would also like to spend one night in the suite in New Orleans square. Last time I was at the VCG for my b-day I was put in a regular hotel room because of maintenance issues. This would totally make it up to me. PM me for my name. OK JK. . well mostly

 

[Quilter007]

To the DVC people reading this....please PM me for my name...will be checking in on Jan 3rd...I'd like a theme park view and any of the following:
- a couple of fistloads of fastpasses -- Indy, Sceamin & Big Thunder would be great
- Club 33 passes for 9
- complimentary meal @ Storyteller for 9 (4 adults & 5 kids -- breakfast or dinner)
- InNOut or El Pollo Loco gift certificates for 9

Any of that would make up for the disastrous experience you forced upon us when you made us use our developer's points at SSR and maybe, just maybe when we add-on we'll add-on through you instead of the resale market! Oh -- and you can tell our guide that it is absolutely a complete waste of his time to call me unless he can do one of the above since he & the member satisfaction team did NOTHING to fix the disaster that was our experience at SSR. OK...taking a breath....had a great experience @ VGC in November....SSR was an anomoly...wait no it wasn't, Poly was horrible too, we just like Disney California better than Disney Florida. We like Animal Kingdom & the Space Center. Epcot was fine. But for us Disneyland will always be our favorite.

 

[BeccaG]

Wow. . that's crazy!

Attention dvc people reading this: I would like to request a theme park view for my stay March 21-23. The last person I talked to at MS told me all the rooms were theme park views, but we all know that is not true. I am staying in a two bed room. I would also like to spend one night in the suite in New Orleans square. Last time I was at the VCG for my b-day I was put in a regular hotel room because of maintenance issues. This would totally make it up to me. PM me for my name. OK JK. . well mostly

BTW, I had a totally lovely time on my b-day and loved our regular room , I just had to try ya know?

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Of course, we'll need a night or two after the Panama cruise in Jan 2011 too.

We are thinking the same thing....

 

[stopher1]

Wow. . that's crazy!

Attention dvc people reading this: I would like to request a theme park view for my stay March 21-23. The last person I talked to at MS told me all the rooms were theme park views, but we all know that is not true. I am staying in a two bed room. I would also like to spend one night in the suite in New Orleans square. Last time I was at the VCG for my b-day I was put in a regular hotel room because of maintenance issues. This would totally make it up to me. PM me for my name. OK JK. . well mostly

73% park view, 23% pool view. That's what they told us at the Welcome Home Member gathering this week here on-site. When I checked in to VGC, I simply reminded the desk lady about my request, said I know it's not a guarantee, but could I possibly get a theme park view room, and she looked and said no problem! Just be sure to put on your best smile and pleasant voice when you check in (but of course, make sure you have that request in the system too). If you can't get the MS rep to do it for you, call again and speak to another one. When I updated my reservation with that request several weeks ago, the guy I spoke to definitely knew there was a difference.

 

[The Red Head]

Tomorrow we will be checking in to a 1 bdr at the VGC. I am very excited to finally see the rooms. We did see the models, but its not the same thing. And I just realized it has been 1 year since we have seen the models we toured them last year when we went to see Candlelight, and we are going tomorrow to see Candlelight. Send some pixiedust wishes that it does not rain tomorrow, because I am here there is a slight chance. And if it does, they will cancel the show.

 

[stopher1]

Well I'm sitting here listening to lots of pre-opening ride testing going on behind me - as I pack and get ready to check out. I'm very bummed to leave, but, so glad that I have the potential of 50 years of return visits! I was very tempted to add more points while here, but while they tried to make it sound like what they were offering was a "do it now", "only good while you're here thing", it really was no different than what I could get by simply phoning my guide. I do want to get some more points for VGC, but also want to wait until after the New Year and we get through a couple of big expenses coming up in Feb. So I leave with no additional points, but a new reservation in place. Now I just need to add it to my tickers at the bottom. We'll be back in July for 3 nights in a 1 BR, so definitely something to look forward to.

Like others who've posted their theme park view pics - here's mine, from a couple of different angles. That Fun Wheel sure is pretty, and has a lot of different color patterns it runs through. I sat mesmerized by it for a good 20 minutes the first night.

I looked down, and saw how close I was to the BBQ's... later I went down and saw them up close. Those are some nice grills! Can't wait to be back in the summer with the family and try to use one of them...

For all of you who are about to check-in or check-in very soon... have a wonderful stay! I sure did.

For those of you who have a while to wait still - it's definitely well worth the wait! I am so very glad that we added on points here.

 

[ACDSNY]

We are thinking the same thing....

I may need a small add on to accomplish this, otherwise I'm borrowing as usual. I think we have DH cousin and his wife going with us now.

 

[ACDSNY]

For 2010 we're going to see if the first week of November is less crowded than Oct. We have our reservation made, so now we'll just wait and see how many family members join us.

Of course, we'll need a night or two after the Panama cruise in Jan 2011 too.

Love my VGC!

Well all of the programs showing DL at X-mas worked on my sister...she called last night to see if we could change our dates for Nov 2010 to the first week of the holiday stuff. So now we'll either go Nov 14th or Nov 15th. I wonder if World of Color will only be on the weekends?

 

[kinhops]

73% park view, 23% pool view. That's what they told us at the Welcome Home Member gathering this week here on-site. When I checked in to VGC, I simply reminded the desk lady about my request, said I know it's not a guarantee, but could I possibly get a theme park view room, and she looked and said no problem! Just be sure to put on your best smile and pleasant voice when you check in (but of course, make sure you have that request in the system too). If you can't get the MS rep to do it for you, call again and speak to another one. When I updated my reservation with that request several weeks ago, the guy I spoke to definitely knew there was a difference.

That is what happened to us this past week. I went in at 10am to check in and they said my room was ready, and I asked if I could get a Theme Park view. They said they could do that but I would have to wait for it. I figured it would be worth it, so I waited. Granted, I had to wait until the usual 4pm time to check in instead of 10am but it was worth it. We got room 4506 with an amazing park view (I will post pics later). Usually if you just ask while checking in and are willing to wait a little longer for your room they should be able to work it out, unless it is really crowded.

 

[toocherie]

Well, my "bad" luck has continued. I had reserved a handicap accessible room because my Mom came along this trip and it turns out (1) ALL the handicap accessible rooms are on the first floor, and (2) even if you got on the theme park side, you would be blocked by trees. I ended up on the end of the building facing a fence--not even a pool view. I understand that having the handicapped rooms on the first floor means less congestion (with scooters, wheelchairs, etc.) in the elevators but it seems unfair to me to have that beautiful view and a handicapped person never gets to see it. Luckily, when I am by myself or with others I don't need a handicapped room so will hopefully--maybe on my fourth stay--get the long-postponed theme park view room.

 

[DVCGeek]

Over the weekend I got my Grant Deed for VGC in the mail. Has anyone else's taken this long to arrive??? I had kind of forgotten I didn't have it to be honest; wonder what else I might be missing...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well, my "bad" luck has continued. I had reserved a handicap accessible room because my Mom came along this trip and it turns out (1) ALL the handicap accessible rooms are on the first floor, and (2) even if you got on the theme park side, you would be blocked by trees. I ended up on the end of the building facing a fence--not even a pool view. I understand that having the handicapped rooms on the first floor means less congestion (with scooters, wheelchairs, etc.) in the elevators but it seems unfair to me to have that beautiful view and a handicapped person never gets to see it. Luckily, when I am by myself or with others I don't need a handicapped room so will hopefully--maybe on my fourth stay--get the long-postponed theme park view room.

That's such a bummer Cheryl! I too am surprised that all the HA rooms are on the 1st floor. It's not very fair at all.

I've only stayed once so far and got the pool view which isn't a bad view of course, but still, not the same as the other views. The check in person wouldn't even look for a theme park view. I figure they're just saving the park view rooms for us until the get the World of Color up and running!

 

[toocherie]

I figure they're just saving the park view rooms for us until the get the World of Color up and running!

Ok--I'll go with that!!!!!!

 

[Disney Princess]

I can sort of understand the HA rooms being on the first floor. If there is an emergency and you can't use the elevators, wouldn't it be safer for those using wheelchairs and ECVs to be on the ground level? I mean, do the stairs have the accessible ramps with them? I am sorry that you (and all people who need HA rooms) will not experience the pretty view, but there may be a reason for it. Also, once WoC opens, hopefully the lounge will be a great place to experience the show for everyone.

 

[toocherie]

that would make sense to me were it not for the fact that I've been to other Disney hotels (even the GCH) and the handicapped rooms are on higher floors. There are so many indignities that go with being disabled and this was just one more--my Mom would LOVE to be able to sit in the room and watch the lights and sounds of DCA. And I guess she can go to the viewing platform but she would probably prefer (as would I) a room with a view of the World of Color so she could watch from the warmth of a room. But she won't get the chance because whenever she goes we need a room with rails in the bathroom, lower bed, etc. I do understand the safety issue--but it apparently wasn't an issue at other Disney resorts. Also, she really needs a roll-in shower arrangement and we found out in the last few weeks that Disney made NO accommodation for a roll-in shower room in the villas. (Despite my guide telling me for months that what MS was telling me was wrong.) From what I gleaned on the disabilities board, Disney was not required to do so because of the number of units at GCV, but it would have been nice if they could have made just one unit accessible by someone with an assistive device like a wheelchair. So it was just one more issue with GCV. I'm sure someone who wasn't disabled or traveling with someone who wasn't wouldn't think anything about it. Oh and one last thing--the doors from the main lobby to the villas are not accessible. There is no automatic opener like on other handicapped accessible places. I am going to contact DVC about that.