The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0

[carissa1970]

When we stayed at the Aulani my husband dumped the trash in the trash room daily, and said there were bags stored in the room. Not a problem at all.

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[Chereya]

Someone at some point earlier mentioned bringing larger sized plastic cups because the villa cups were small glasses. What about the coffee cups? Are they normal sized or do I need to bring my own coffee mugs?

How about things like salt & pepper shakers?

Trying to be as thorough as I can... my in-laws are coming with us and my FIL is a fuss budget.

 

[Snurk71]

What day of the week did you check in?

Sunday

I asked about changing rooms, and I did get a better room. Still not one of the ones in my list though.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Sorry if this question has already been answered before, I just could not find the answer to my question. We are DVC members staying on points at VGC in June and are contemplating renting a car. I thought I had read somewhere that DVC members can park their car across the street in the non valet parking lot for free. I was wondering if this is still true. Also, we will be staying at DLH the night before we check into VGC and I was wondering if we parked our car in the same parking lot (for when we are staying at VGC) will we have to then pay for the parking during that part of our stay or will it still be free. I am not trying to cheat the system by any means and if we have to pay for parking for the first night, we will. I am just trying to figure out our options. Thank you for any information regarding this.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This implies that a guest checking in earlier and also having an earlier reservation could "steal" a room assignment from a guest checking in later

Yes, it does, doesn't it!?!?!

Someone at some point earlier mentioned bringing larger sized plastic cups because the villa cups were small glasses. What about the coffee cups? Are they normal sized or do I need to bring my own coffee mugs?

How about things like salt & pepper shakers?

Trying to be as thorough as I can... my in-laws are coming with us and my FIL is a fuss budget.

The coffee cups are small by most peoples standards. Probably 8-10 oz. I have no problem using them myself. I just refill and my coffee is always hot in the cup.

DVC doesn't provide salt & pepper in the rooms so you need to bring it or could grab a couple extra packets from one of the CS locations if you stop to eat at one. They may sell the shaker packs at Whitewater snacks but I'm not certain if they do or not.

 

[Mousequake]

Sorry if this question has already been answered before, I just could not find the answer to my question. We are DVC members staying on points at VGC in June and are contemplating renting a car. I thought I had read somewhere that DVC members can park their car across the street in the non valet parking lot for free. I was wondering if this is still true. Also, we will be staying at DLH the night before we check into VGC and I was wondering if we parked our car in the same parking lot (for when we are staying at VGC) will we have to then pay for the parking during that part of our stay or will it still be free. I am not trying to cheat the system by any means and if we have to pay for parking for the first night, we will. I am just trying to figure out our options. Thank you for any information regarding this.

Not sure about the second part of your question, but parking in the self-park lot across the street is definitely still free for those staying at DVC.

 

[uncw89]

My post showing the two laundry rooms

Thanks!!!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Not sure about the second part of your question, but parking in the self-park lot across the street is definitely still free for those staying at DVC.

Thank you for the quick response. Would I just have to show our DVC membership card in order to get the free parking or is that something that will be taken care of at check-in?

 

[XMom]

Thank you for the quick response. Would I just have to show our DVC membership card in order to get the free parking or is that something that will be taken care of at check-in?

It is taken care of at check-in. They give you something to put in your window and also activate your room key to open the exit gate when leaving so you don't have to pay.

You can try to park in the same lot the first night. They will just add parking to your bill I believe. You can also always take the magical express bus if you are flying in. There is an Alamo rental office behind Earl of Sandwhich in Downtown Disney. That way you could just get the car for the days you are going to actually use it instead of having it sit in the lot.

 

[hjgaus]

Yes, it does, doesn't it!?!?!




The coffee cups are small by most peoples standards. Probably 8-10 oz. I have no problem using them myself. I just refill and my coffee is always hot in the cup.

DVC doesn't provide salt & pepper in the rooms so you need to bring it or could grab a couple extra packets from one of the CS locations if you stop to eat at one. They may sell the shaker packs at Whitewater snacks but I'm not certain if they do or not.[/QUOTE]

No... & Yes about the salt /pepper shakers - We stayed at the grand villa 3 times but the last time there wasn't any so we called up & they brought it to us! They were small like the ones you get for room service.
Our times in the 1 or 2 bedroom villas had none but they DO SELL them at the White Water Snacks! Bought 1 set last August & still using them!
YES... DO BRING your own larger plastic cups! We brought SOLO plastic cups & worked out great instead of their glass ware!
Also if you have cream or sugar with your coffee bring your own or get extras from wherever you dine at. They only give you a few kits which did not have enough for more than 1 cup per person per day. They sometimes would call me to see if we needed anything (paper towels, dish towels & toilet paper) and bring what I needed within 15/20 minutes during our last stay just this week! At least that made up for NOT giving us our room request! Well, just a wee bit!

 

[hjgaus]

Sorry if this question has already been answered before, I just could not find the answer to my question. We are DVC members staying on points at VGC in June and are contemplating renting a car. I thought I had read somewhere that DVC members can park their car across the street in the non valet parking lot for free. I was wondering if this is still true. Also, we will be staying at DLH the night before we check into VGC and I was wondering if we parked our car in the same parking lot (for when we are staying at VGC) will we have to then pay for the parking during that part of our stay or will it still be free. I am not trying to cheat the system by any means and if we have to pay for parking for the first night, we will. I am just trying to figure out our options. Thank you for any information regarding this.

Hello PoohsFan1!!
Yes Self parking for DVC is FREE even if you stay in one of the DLR hotel rooms on points is still FREE!!

 

[PoohsFan1]

It is taken care of at check-in. They give you something to put in your window and also activate your room key to open the exit gate when leaving so you don't have to pay.

You can try to park in the same lot the first night. They will just add parking to your bill I believe. You can also always take the magical express bus if you are flying in. There is an Alamo rental office behind Earl of Sandwhich in Downtown Disney. That way you could just get the car for the days you are going to actually use it instead of having it sit in the lot.

Thank you, I am trying to get prepared for what I need. I am going to look into the car rental place in DTD, however I found a really great rate through my DH's company.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Hello PoohsFan1!!
Yes Self parking for DVC is FREE even if you stay in one of the DLR hotel rooms on points is still FREE!!

Thanks....the night we are staying at DLH, it is a cash reservation. We are more then fine to pay to park the car for that night/day .

 

[Nonsuch]

...the night we are staying at DLH, it is a cash reservation. We are more then fine to pay to park the car for that night/day .

Spending the first night at DLH will save points AND allows you to check in very early to prevent your requested villa from being "swapped"
It is only a short distance from DLH to the GCH, so walk over very early in the morning (~6AM) just to check in -- later, you can check out of DLH and deal with your bags.

Bell services will sometimes transfer luggage between hotels, but it does not seem to be a standard service. You will be without a room for a few hours, so plan on storing your bags (at either hotel).

 

[PoohsFan1]

Thank you Nonsuch, that is a great idea and something we will definitely be doing . Our plans are to have breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen before heading to DCA for the day, but since we will more then likely be up at the crack of dawn, if not earlier, since we are coming from Illinois and our time zone is 2 hours ahead of Anahiem's, we will certainly be able to get over to GCH to check in before our breakfast.

 

[adykate]

I am slowly working my way through this entire thread...only on page 97 though! I am not an owner, and I am wanting to buy points to get a studio and 2 bedroom at VGC for 4 nights in May 2014. I was going to go through an agency, and hope for the best we get the rooms, possibly not until the 7 month mark. I am nervous going directly through an owner. Any thoughts on my chances of getting both a studio and 2 bedroom at 7 months if the agency can't find a VGC owner to do reservations at 11 months? Would any of you suggest I try to find a couple different VGC owners and do it directly with them at 11 months? Do owners really get up at 5am (if on west coast) to get reservations for renters??? I so want to make this work for my family vacation. There are 10 of us total, celebrating some exciting events, and I am just so worried we won't get to stay in the villas. And no, buying into DVC is not an option for us . I wish! Thanks to everyone for all the great info on here!

 

[mdsd8700]

I am going to look into the car rental place in DTD, however I found a really great rate through my DH's company.

We always rent a car at DLR because we like to do other things besides Disney while we are in California. I got a full size from Alamo for the first week in June for 8 days total with taxes was $175. Not sure how well that compares to the rate you have already gotten or how long you need the car. I will keep looking for a better rate, but this is one I can live with if I have to.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[floribr1]

I am slowly working my way through this entire thread...only on page 97 though! I am not an owner, and I am wanting to buy points to get a studio and 2 bedroom at VGC for 4 nights in May 2014. I was going to go through an agency, and hope for the best we get the rooms, possibly not until the 7 month mark. I am nervous going directly through an owner. Any thoughts on my chances of getting both a studio and 2 bedroom at 7 months if the agency can't find a VGC owner to do reservations at 11 months? Would any of you suggest I try to find a couple different VGC owners and do it directly with them at 11 months? Do owners really get up at 5am (if on west coast) to get reservations for renters??? I so want to make this work for my family vacation. There are 10 of us total, celebrating some exciting events, and I am just so worried we won't get to stay in the villas. And no, buying into DVC is not an option for us . I wish! Thanks to everyone for all the great info on here!

We are taking a trip in early May (only 24 days away!). I do not own at VGC, and booked right at seven months. Early May was not much of a problem at all, however I think it probably gets more difficult the closer you get to Memorial Day.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We always rent a car at DLR because we like to do other things besides Disney while we are in California. I got a full size from Alamo for the first week in June for 8 days total with taxes was $175. Not sure how well that compares to the rate you have already gotten or how long you need the car. I will keep looking for a better rate, but this is one I can live with if I have to.

Hope you have a great trip!

That is really a great rate and is about the same as the one through my DH's company. The more I think about it, I think it would be smarter for us to just rent the car for the days that we will need it (we have 2 off days during our stay and want to do some sightseeing and go to a beach) and rather paying for a car to just sit in a lot for the 10 days that we are there, I'll just pay for the days that we need it. But then again, it would be nice to have a car at our dispense so if we wanted to go offsite one night for dinner or for whatever, then we will have it. Such decisions .

Does anyone know if the rental company near DTD is opened on the weekends? The 2 off days I was mentioning are during our only weekend there, and when I was looking into car rental companies near DLR, it looked like the offices are closed during the weekend .

 

[kvichi]

There are sim any places to eat within walki g distance of DLR, you probably won't need a except for the days you want to explore other areas.