The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[cseca]

Thanks for doing that. I have been going to DLR resort since 1955 opening day. Going to stay in a 1 bedroom villa this august for 6 days. Not the closeness it is the comfort vs a suite. Family loves the grand, the reason I am reseaqrching.

Jack

I'm sure you'll love it...
The first time I stayed in a 1br at BW I had a hard time thinking about going back to a studio the next time around.
Just make sure to bring your check book or credit card if you decide to go to the presentation...

Have a magical stay!

 

[VallCopen]

I keep seeing people say Use Years are sold out. Unless I am not understanding correctly, my guide is telling me that you can still get any month as a Use Year but what is sold out is the 09' points (for some months). I just asked about adding more points but only if I could have June UY and my guide said no problem getting June as my UY but that I would not get the extra points from 09' just points starting in 10'. Does anyone know if this is correct in how I am understanding?

Jack I would seriously consider buying through Disney with the VGC, maybe not with other home resorts where you can pick them up cheaper through resale but VGC I would go through Disney. It seems to me like it is cheaper through Disney with the price incentive, than through the resales which are averaging 99-102 per point, where Disney price with incentive is going for about 93-97 per point depending on how many points you buy. I don't know if they pay closing cost on new contracts but with my add-ons Disney paid the closing cost, which is not so with resales usually. You also might still be able to pick up extra points from 09' that you could bank into 2010 if they are not all sold out, I just bought 2 weeks ago (add-on) and got an extra 125 points from 09' that I was able to bank into 2010, but as of yesturday June UY had no more 09' points left.

My guide did say that as of July 15th the price was going up to 120 per point instead of 112 before incentives (and who knows what incentives will be). I did see others say that the price change was on July 1st not the 15th so I am not sure on that date now. Happy thinking!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

Jack,

One more piece of info...if you do purchase 200 points, then have your guide split them into 2 100 point contracts. Smaller contracts are easier to sell down the road and for a higher price.

I too think VGC is calling your name.

 

[peloha86]

Hi Jack,
Well, for us it was a no brainer, after many years of researching, staying off site, going to different time share presentations, and camping, we finally had many comparisons of what was best for us as a family
1) We LOVE Disney and Disneyland.
2) The proximity of the VGC to DCA-you can walk into the park, and Disneyland-you can hop on the monorail to get into Disneyland, then take the train to Fantasmic!
3) The rooms-we do save money bringing our own food-time the lasangna in the oven before we leave, back for an early dinner ready to eat. Ice Cream in the fridge...coffee brewing and ready to go.
4) How can you not like the pool, and the lounge chairs! I've stayed in many different hotels, the Grand has the best!
5) The cost- I know that the equivalent of a one bedroom condo at VGC is more than lets say "Residence Inn" at $219.00 in July for 4 nights= $876.00 w/o tax...then you need to walk or take the car etc...to Disneyland. Some hotels across the main entrance are closer, but it's the quality, are you OK with that? I can get a studio at the Park Vue with breakfast for $120/night if I'm lucky, or I can get a room for $59/night far away up or down Harbor Blvd. It's like what my guide said, and she was very honest, "If you're going to compare Good Nite Inn to VGC, it's like comparing apples to oranges, you can't. But you can compare timeshare/1-2 bedroom hotels/renting from timeshare. You are paying ahead for your vacation, and there is a cost. If Disneyland is your passion and you like staying there, then it's for you. If not, think about it, no pressure".
I like the fact someone else is cleaning the room for me, so...
6) We sold our diesel truck and 27 foot 5th wheel trailer. Our kids are so happy, and so are we. We are very happy and I am very greatful we can afford VGC. SO thankful...

You need to be happy with where you vacation, esp. with family or friends. It's the TIME you share with them that's priceless. I like Walt's idea, a place where family can gather and be happy.
We tried "camping", the work, the time, the constant clean up, the bugs, it wasn't for us.
Good luck!

 

[franandaj]

Jack,

I too think VGC is calling your name.

I agree, I've been reading your posts on other boards and I think you are the VGC type, just like me. In reading about everyone's break even points, I don't have one! If we didn't own at the VGC and already have points, we would NEVER stay and always drive home at night. This year F&W was the best ever to wake up at Disney, have that PP view from our studio (it was VERY hard to suck it up and stay in a studio after only having done the larger units at WDW, but I rationalized it that my 1st home is only 1/2 an hour away, so ANY room at DLR is OK), walk downstairs to have dinner at Napa Rose, walk through DTD to Steakhouse 55. Not once did I have to leave the Disney environment.

I've actually had some good luck with waitlists and last minute stays, so far every one that I have put in has come through so my SSR points have come in handy, but I wouldn't bank on that always being the case.

For me it wasn't a question of "would the money work out?" It was that I had "tasted" the staying on property in 2009 and wasn't willing to live without it ever again! As soon as we get the green light that our refi will come through, I'll be on the phone to our guide for another 50 points! Now that I've stayed there, I want the option for other possible nights, (NYE, birthday, anniversay) which were not figured into the calculations when we bought our first set of points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I keep seeing people say Use Years are sold out. Unless I am not understanding correctly, my guide is telling me that you can still get any month as a Use Year but what is sold out is the 09' points (for some months). I just asked about adding more points but only if I could have June UY and my guide said no problem getting June as my UY but that I would not get the extra points from 09' just points starting in 10'. Does anyone know if this is correct in how I am understanding?

When you purchase direct you receive current points with your purchase. June UY's are now in their 2010 UY so it is normal to not be able to get the 2009 points anymore.

It's interesting to hear you can still get the June UY b/c one or more people were told it was sold out. Perhaps the guides really meant that they couldn't get 2009 points. Anyway - glad you could get what you needed.

 

[PoohNFriends]

When you purchase direct you receive current points with your purchase. June UY's are now in their 2010 UY so it is normal to not be able to get the 2009 points anymore.

It's interesting to hear you can still get the June UY b/c one or more people were told it was sold out. Perhaps the guides really meant that they couldn't get 2009 points. Anyway - glad you could get what you needed.

The other possible reason that June UY points are now available may be because people decided to not go thru with their contract so those points went back into the system. And KAT4DISNEY already explained the '09 points. We definitely were not one of those people because I was not going to regret not buying sooner at DL - too few rooms to be able to only be able to book at 7 months.

And to Jack, I've seen your posts too and can really tell you're a DL type of guy and recommend you really consider purchasing, especially if you can do it before the price increase. And like PP's have said direct is probably your best way if you want to purchase sooner; not very many options on the resale market. I know you said you can pay cash, but if you have to finance any Disney's preferred financing rate is better than resale and if you have a Disney Visa you can put up to $5000 of the purchase cost on it at 6 months, no interest. Good luck with your decision and as I'm sure you're aware the DIS boards has the best information and experts to get almost all of your questions answered.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I always research in depth and love the disbaords all the virtual friends.

Jack

 

[lisah0711]

Good luck on your decision, Jack. Hope that we will be welcoming you home soon!

One week from today I will be waking up in our 2 bedroom villa for our first trip home!

 

[peloha86]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I always research in depth and love the disbaords all the virtual friends.

Jack

We researched in depth for 15 years!!!
First DVC intro was SSR, we said no way, how often are we going to Florida?
VGC?
We waited a LONG time, so I truly understand

May the Disney force be with you

 

[Nonsuch]

Signup and watch the webcast for this Saturday.
New Owner Webcast

Add on price VGC
New member VGC

Add on price BLT
New member BLT

 

[ACDSNY]

We researched in depth for 15 years!!!
First DVC intro was SSR, we said no way, how often are we going to Florida?
VGC?
We waited a LONG time, so I truly understand

May the Disney force be with you

We first started looking at DVC in 2000 when we were planning our first trip to WDW at the Disney Institute. We firgured this would be a once in a lifetime trip so we pushed DVC aside. Went to WDW at OKW in 2003, still didn't think it would be for us. Both of these trip were in 2 bedroom units. By the time I was planning our 2005 trip I said wake up dummy you keep going to Disney so you might as well own a piece of it. In between the WDW trips we were going to DL all the time, so we got our feet wet with a resale contract at SSR and we've been hooked ever since.

 

[IssyHikerBiker]

We sent the signed papers for Villas at Grand Californian last Wednesday. Soon will be an owner of VGC and calling it our home! We have a reservation for a studio in November. Can't wait!

 

[ACDSNY]

We sent the signed papers for Villas at Grand Californian last Wednesday. Soon will be an owner of VGC and calling it our home! We have a reservation for a studio in November. Can't wait!

Welcome Home! We'll be at the VGC in Nov too.

 

[rmonty02]

We sent the signed papers for Villas at Grand Californian last Wednesday. Soon will be an owner of VGC and calling it our home! We have a reservation for a studio in November. Can't wait!

WELCOME HOME!!

DL is beautiful in November...Our DL trips were in Nov. the last three years...of course at VGC last year. You'll LOVE it

 

[LovinmyDisneylife]

DH and I are proud to add VGC as our second home resort. Added 100 points with $17 off incentive. Couldn't pass it up! Grand Californian is by far my favorite resort. Won't be heading that way until August 2011 for the D23 Expo. Can't wait!

 

[ACDSNY]

DH and I are proud to add VGC as our second home resort. Added 100 points with $17 off incentive. Couldn't pass it up! Grand Californian is by far my favorite resort. Won't be heading that way until August 2011 for the D23 Expo. Can't wait!

Congrats on your add-on and welcome neighbor! I'm sure you love your first trip home in Aug 2011.

 

[mcljr7]

We just got back from a 5 night stay at VGC. If you are looking for a room recommendation, try room 5008 for a 1 bedroom. We were very lucky-fifth floor, Paradise Pier Theme Park View. We were actually able to watch World of Color from the balcony. There were 2 small trees that slightly blocked the show, but it was still remarkable. It is stunning watching a theme park through your room's windows 24 hours a day.

 

[nunzia]

We sent the signed papers for Villas at Grand Californian last Wednesday. Soon will be an owner of VGC and calling it our home! We have a reservation for a studio in November. Can't wait!

WELCOME!!!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

We sent the signed papers for Villas at Grand Californian last Wednesday. Soon will be an owner of VGC and calling it our home! We have a reservation for a studio in November. Can't wait!

Welcome home!

Was just on the DVC website checking if a waitlist night came through (Nope ) and noticed that VGC is the "featured" resort. LOTS of great photos I had not seen before and a 360 tour of a grand villa (probably the only way I will ever get inside that room)

The room they use in these promo pics is the side that overlooks redwood creek area/ GRR and I definitely want that room at some point. Looks prettier than PP does right now.