The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[lisah0711]

. The store will not have any additional food items according to the folks who work there ...
The folks that work there are usually the last to know.

I agree but there weren't any signs of anything changing in the store and it is
about 3 weeks until the grand opening so I tend to believe them. I was surprised, not even one little cold case?

My impression is that DL hasn't done a good job of training their CMs about DVC and even though it is close to grand opening things haven't changed. I think that they have some things to learn about the expectation that DVC'rs have about their DVC resorts and probably a bit of a learning curve!

That's just my 2 cents worth!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

. The store will not have any additional food items according to the folks who work there ...
The folks that work there are usually the last to know.

The typical DVC grocery items are supposed to be at White Water Snacks, not in the store.

 

[Longhairbear]

The typical DVC grocery items are supposed to be at White Water Snacks, not in the store.

Yes, I assumed that is what the OP was talking about.

 

[rangermom]

We just added on at VGC with 125 pts. We purchased them last night at the NY Dorways to Dreams event at $87/pt. We just couldn't pass it up.

 

[funatdisney]

Wow that is a great deal! We just bought a couple of weeks ago at $88/point. YOu got us beat by one dollar!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, I assumed that is what the OP was talking about.

LOL - and I assumed they were talking about the gift shop since that is the usual DVC layout and assumed you were talking about that too!

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

Okay, I am trying to remain calm, but I can't help but be excited!

Just a few weeks from now the family and I will be heading down to Disneyland for a week. We are using up our developer points to stay Concierge at the Grand Californian's existing rooms from 9/26 - 9/30 and then we are heading on over to the villas (a 2 bedroom - w/ family joining us) from 9/30 - 10/3.

I always look forward to our trips down to Disney, but this one is even more special as it will be our first experience with DVC resorts (we've only stayed at the resort hotels before). I can't hardly contain myself!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

When I went to DCA on Sunday 8/23 I got a FP for Screamin' after getting the FP for GRR - I couldn't! I couldn't be sure about change the cuz I kept on forgetting about which one was not on the main computer-GRR or Screamin' (see earlier post)

So. GGR may be on the main computer after all!

Screamin' is attached. GRR seems to be as well now...there is no other ride at DCA that is not connected.

At DL, Roger Rabbit isn't connected. So you can get a FP for whatever DL ride, then get one for RR (or vice versa). And you used to be able to have a GRR and a whatever-at-DCA FP as well b/c they weren't connected, but now they are.

So does this mean that if I'm at DL, I don't have to wait to get a second FP at DCA? Wow, that's great. The only problem is that I'm normally the designated FP runner, and to get the second FP at DCA would require that everyone in our group would have to make the trip over to DCA.

The experts say that once a ticket has been used in either park for a day, it's activated for all FPs, and doesn't have to be scanned at the other park. So if your group is in one park, you can take the tickets and go to the other park to snag a FP.

I've wanted to do this since DCA opened. Grab FP for Soaring and GRR (they are not networked thus you can get passes for both). Hit the pool for a while. Dry off, get new GRR passes, hit Soaring, go on GRR, hit pool, hit GRR, then back in pool. Next June.

Soarin' has always been connected to the network, but GRR wasn't, which is how that could be done. But now, alas, not possible.



However, sometimes at the opening of the park, the time stated on the bottom of the FP is very short, so another FP can be gotten relatively quickly.

 

[funatdisney]

However, sometimes at the opening of the park, the time stated on the bottom of the FP is very short, so another FP can be gotten relatively quickly.

Yes that is the strategy I use when I want to do lots of rides in one day. For instance at DL: go to Space Mountain, get FP. Jump on SM.

Go to Splash Mountain. Hop on ride. When finished, time to get another FP. Get Splash Mountian FP. So on. By 11am I have three to four FP and have ridden 4 to 5 rides. Developed this on my own. So you can imagine, having GRR on line can really throw a wrench into the plan.

BTW: I only do this when I have my teenage DD and friends with me. For myself, I like the slow and easy touring plan.

 

[JoRo]

Ok I am sorry but this thread just grew and grew so I didnt read all teh pages but I am really looking forward to feedback on the rooms and which room to request - we are hoping to get something that we might be able to see fireworks at MK and then in the future we are really looking forward to seeing the fireworks at GC....couple more days...

 

[SoCalKDG]

Ok I am sorry but this thread just grew and grew so I didnt read all teh pages but I am really looking forward to feedback on the rooms and which room to request - we are hoping to get something that we might be able to see fireworks at MK and then in the future we are really looking forward to seeing the fireworks at GC....couple more days...

Here is the layout of the new DVC's.

Here are some images from google earth that I doctored.

The first one is the Grand before any changes.

The next one is the new additions

This one includes labels showing the views of the 2 bedrooms. I may be off by one or two rooms, plus there are two 3-bedrooms, one faces the pier, the other faces the pool but you should also be able to see the rapids as well.

This shows an overview of the whole resort showing how the VGC is right in the middle of both parks. The parking lot in the upper right corner is gone with the new Carsland taking its place.

Its possible that the pool facing units floors 3 and above might be able to see the fireworks from DL. You might be able to look right over the hotel wing across the pool seeing the fireworks launched from DL. If this turns out to be true than it would mean that all the DVC units will have great views, either into DCA or fireworks from DL.

 

[funatdisney]

Maybe??? I would think your best shot would be form the 5 floor and up. Only when we get pictures will we know.

Who is going to the opening? Maybe a couple of us that have rooms for the opening can room hop to see other views.

 

[JoRo]

Thank you so much for posting those photos tonight they were really fun to look at with DH. We have a 1 bedroom for mid Oct so well request a higher floor if possible.

So another questions - where is the entrance to the park - is there a short cut like through the pools to the villas or is it going to be a long haul? Of course it really cant be any longer then staying at Good Neighbor hotel so not really complaining we are very excited about VGC.

 

[Longhairbear]

LOL - and I assumed they were talking about the gift shop since that is the usual DVC layout and assumed you were talking about that too!

LOL, I got an answer from MS, they had no info...but to keep checking back on the member only website as the opening day gets closer.

 

[nunzia]

Wow that is a great deal! We just bought a couple of weeks ago at $88/point. YOu got us beat by one dollar!

you both got me beat by A L O T !!! Welcome home and enjoy!

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

you both got me beat by A L O T !!! Welcome home and enjoy!

Put me in the "I paid a lot for my points" club. I'm still glad to have them though.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Maybe??? I would think your best shot would be form the 5 floor and up. Only when we get pictures will we know.

Who is going to the opening? Maybe a couple of us that have rooms for the opening can room hop to see other views.

The GC is only 5 stories, thus you can't go higher. This also means you are only looking over 5 stories. 3rd floor might be too low, but the 4th and 5th should do it.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Thank you so much for posting those photos tonight they were really fun to look at with DH. We have a 1 bedroom for mid Oct so well request a higher floor if possible.

So another questions - where is the entrance to the park - is there a short cut like through the pools to the villas or is it going to be a long haul? Of course it really cant be any longer then staying at Good Neighbor hotel so not really complaining we are very excited about VGC.

If you look at the photos on page 73, look at the top pool, top edge, go directly right. There is a tunnel under the GC that leads directly into DCA. How is that for close. You can also head straight up to get to DTD, then right a few hundred yards and you are at DL.

 

[DVCGeek]

The GC is only 5 stories, thus you can't go higher. This also means you are only looking over 5 stories. 3rd floor might be too low, but the 4th and 5th should do it.

I thought concierge level was the 6th floor, but maybe it's only in the one section of the hotel and the rest are 5 stories...

 

[SoCalKDG]

I thought concierge level was the 6th floor, but maybe it's only in the one section of the hotel and the rest are 5 stories...

Hmm, when we stayed there we were top floor in one of the wings and it was the fifth floor. The new DVC's run 5 floors as well. But I have noticed a few photos with 6 floors.