The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

[Nonsuch]

...He came over and said "Is 5504 a good room?" Well I almost screamed I was so excited!!!

You know the locations of all the rooms in your vacation home
6504 might be a little better
I loved the view from the adjacent 1-bedroom 5502

 

[nunzia]

There are DVC member meetings?

 

[duck_widow]

Hiya,

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm getting very excited for my first ever stay on Disney property and first ever stay as a DVC member. We're taking our parents along and staying in a two bedroom. We only told them we are staying closer to the park this time. They should be very surprised!

Anyway I'm coming here for any advice you want to give a first-timer and I have a bunch of questions too. We check-in on 9/26.

-I've heard of kids getting pins and balloons at check-in. Can someone elaborate? Do we need to ask for them?

-Our parents are thinking they want scooters to get around. Both are having foot\hip problems and are in their 80's. Has anyone used an offsite service that delivers them to the hotel? Can anyone recommend something other than renting them at Disneyland?

-I'm going to try grocery delivery from Von's. Any tips there? I know we can't order alcohol unless we are there at delivery time?

-We are hoping (like everyone else) for a Paradise Pier view. What are the best room numbers to ask for for a two bedroom?

-Does Mickey call in the morning?

-Where is that yummy potato soup? Carnation Cafe?

-What is the best way to get Fast Passes for WOC?

What else should I know???

Thanks!

So excited here!

 

[funatdisney]

You know the locations of all the rooms in your vacation home
6504 might be a little better
I loved the view from the adjacent 1-bedroom 5502

I have stayed in that room, too. Definitely a great room!

 

[TSMIII]

I will be out west later this month on business and staying near DLR - unfortunately NOT at VGC - and was wondering if the model room there is still a VGC room or if it has been converted to an Aulani room for the purposes of selling that resort. Can anyone tell me which it is now and what the hours to view it are, if any?

In the event it is no longer a VGC model, I'm thinking of inquiring at the front desk to see if they have a vacant one I can poke my head into.

We are contemplating a small add-on out there since I will be getting out there 2-3 times a year on the company's dime and could precede or extend a business trip with the family coming out to visit DLR.

I'm planing on getting into the parks this month and it will be my 2nd visit - the first, and my only one thus far, having been 20 years ago on Spring Break in 1990!!

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

[sierranevada]

Hiya,

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm getting very excited for my first ever stay on Disney property and first ever stay as a DVC member. We're taking our parents along and staying in a two bedroom. We only told them we are staying closer to the park this time. They should be very surprised!

Anyway I'm coming here for any advice you want to give a first-timer and I have a bunch of questions too. We check-in on 9/26.

-I've heard of kids getting pins and balloons at check-in. Can someone elaborate? Do we need to ask for them?

Call Vacation Planning with any special requests like that, other gifts to be delivered, Dining reservations and Fantasmic! seating. 714-300-7526, press *2


-Our parents are thinking they want scooters to get around. Both are having foot\hip problems and are in their 80's. Has anyone used an offsite service that delivers them to the hotel? Can anyone recommend something other than renting them at Disneyland?

Deckers Surgical 714-542-5607 is great - much less expensive, delivers and picks up at the hotel. And you can use them back to the hotel from the parks. If you rent from DL, you have to turn it in when you leave the park


-I'm going to try grocery delivery from Von's. Any tips there? I know we can't order alcohol unless we are there at delivery time?

No special tips - we had our delivery scheduled prior to our arrival and all we did is call down once in our room and everything was brought up.

-We are hoping (like everyone else) for a Paradise Pier view. What are the best room numbers to ask for for a two bedroom?

We requested and got 3522 - dedicated 2 bedroom and it was awesome!! We watched WoC every night - be warned, it is loud!


-Does Mickey call in the morning?

I believe so - we don't use the wake up call much


-Where is that yummy potato soup? Carnation Cafe?

Yep!


-What is the best way to get Fast Passes for WOC?

Honestly, the best way is to book the WoC dining package at either Ariel's Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria. We have done Ariel's twice - food is good and the viewing area is great and not too crowded. Otherwise, all DLR hotel guests can go into DCA one hour prior to opening to get fastpasses. Entrance time is always subject to change so confirm with the front desk.


What else should I know???

Thanks!

So excited here!

See answers in red

 

[Disney Princess]

What is the 60-day rule?

When we called to check cash rates, we were told they cannot quote any to you until 60 days before your trip. They are not offering the villas for cash stays until 60 days out.

There are DVC member meetings?

I wondered the same thing??

 

[XMom]

You know the locations of all the rooms in your vacation home
6504 might be a little better
I loved the view from the adjacent 1-bedroom 5502

I don't really know the locations of all the rooms....I just obcessed before we left and read this thread from top to bottom and noted the good studio rooms with a good view.

Yes, they have DVC member meetings every Sunday at 6pm per the DVC Sales person that we spoke to.

We didn't get anything special at check-in, but then again, we didn't even get a welcome home either.

 

[franandaj]

We are contemplating a small add-on out there since I will be getting out there 2-3 times a year on the company's dime and could precede or extend a business trip with the family coming out to visit DLR.

I can't tell you about the models, but I can tell you that I tried to add on last week, and I am waitlisted for a Sept UY, anything but March and you're on the waitlist, they aren't completely sold out, but I'd get on the phone with your guide and find out if it is even feasible at this point....

Though I've never been in a studio at another property, the 1 Br's are the most gorgeous I've stayed in, better than Kidani, SSR and BWV! I love them and hope my waitlist does come through!

 

[nunzia]

I can't tell you about the models, but I can tell you that I tried to add on last week, and I am waitlisted for a Sept UY, anything but March and you're on the waitlist, they aren't completely sold out, but I'd get on the phone with your guide and find out if it is even feasible at this point....

Though I've never been in a studio at another property, the 1 Br's are the most gorgeous I've stayed in, better than Kidani, SSR and BWV! I love them and hope my waitlist does come through!

Again with the enticing news that MARCH is still available. I actually talked to DH last night and he wouldn't blink if I added on, but we're debt free and that would make us not . It needs to sell out so I'm not tempted...

 

[funatdisney]

Does anyone know how many non-DVC units are at the villas? I'm just curious.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Does anyone know how many non-DVC units are at the villas? I'm just curious.

I was told there were "0" non DVC units at the Villas, but not being a DVC member maybe someone can confirm or deny.

Jack

 

[Nonsuch]

We are contemplating a small add-on out there since I will be getting out there 2-3 times a year on the company's dime and could precede or extend a business trip with the family coming out to visit DLR.

You business trips will need to follow a fixed schedule to allow you to book VGC 11 months in advance.

 

[bigAWL]

Does anyone know how many non-DVC units are at the villas? I'm just curious.

If you are talking about the Grand Californian expansion which included the Villas, this information came from the Disney press release of the opening:

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 23, 2009 – Disneyland Resort today unveiled a stunning new addition to its Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including 203 new guest rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas, the first Disney Vacation Club property on the West Coast.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Does anyone know how many non-DVC units are at the villas? I'm just curious.

According to the map there are 4 hotel rooms on the first floor mixed in with the DVC units and 1 hotel room on floors 2-5 so 8 total. 7 are pool view and 1 is a ground unit facing DCA.

Maybe they'll convert them?!

 

[funatdisney]

If you are talking about the Grand Californian expansion which included the Villas, this information came from the Disney press release of the opening: ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 23, 2009 – Disneyland Resort today unveiled a stunning new addition to its Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including 203 new guest rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas, the first Disney Vacation Club property on the West Coast.

I was asking about the Grand Californian. The 50 Villas, I think, pertain to the DVC units. Are there more units that can booked through the hotel and are not apart of DVC inventory (but these rooms are the same as the DVC units)? Usually there are non-DVC rooms right a long side the DVC units in one property. If so, how many are non-DVC units?

 

[bigAWL]

I was asking about the Grand Californian. The 50 Villas, I think, pertain to the DVC units. Are there more units that can booked through the hotel and are not apart of DVC inventory (but these rooms are the same as the DVC units)? Usually there are non-DVC rooms right a long side the DVC units in one property. If so, how many are non-DVC units?

Check out this post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36355632&postcount=450

Included are a series of floor plan maps showing the expansion where the 50 DVC villas are just a part of the new wing. I believe the units not colored on these maps are regular hotel rooms, booked like the rest of the hotel, and not part of the DVC inventory. I could be wrong, but I don't think any of them are studio villas - just regular hotel rooms. As KAT4DISNEY said, 8 of those are mixed in on the same hallway with the DVC units.

I didn't count, but that's probably a total of 203 non-DVC units that are part of the expansion, as per the press realease that I quoted.

 

[funatdisney]

Thank you bigAWL!

The floor plans maps were very informative and very clearly state where everything is and I have book marked it for future reference. So, I guess, it is safe to say that all the studios, one-bedrooms and two bedrooms are DVC?? Is a guest able to book any of these rooms when they call Disney reservations?

 

[nunzia]

....sooooo..anyone know the current price per point through Disney?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

....sooooo..anyone know the current price per point through Disney?

Wasn't it just 5:08 AM when you weren't going to add on?!!?

Base is now $120.
50-99 pts is $10 off
At 100 pts it goes to $15 off and then I'm not certain what the next price break is since I was only considering at most 125 pts.

My points still aren't in my account from my add on although my guide said they probably would be on Friday. Guess I need to call and see what's going on.