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

[Brownieone]

We recently completed another wonderful stay at VGC ... still our favorite DVC.

But no stay is perfect, and this time the trash and towel service left us puzzled. Here's what happened for this six-night stay:

1. We arrived on a Saturday, so I believed the trash and towel to be on Tuesday ... on the 4th day. Back in the room around 4 PM after swimming, I noticed we hadn't gotten it. So I called Housekeeping. They explained my 4th day was actually Wednesday and it would come then. I didn't agree, but ok.

2. Wednesday was our no park day, but we were out of the room the whole day. Huntington Beach in the morning, Captain America 2 in the afternoon ... great film. But no trash and towel service when we returned late afternoon. So I called Housekeeping again. Different person answered, I explained this was the 5th day, and didn't we get it on the 4th? She said, no 5. I said, I think it's 4. Then I got a polite, I don't want to argue. Would you like your free trash and towel service today? To which I said yes.

Within a half hour, housekeeping arrived and took care of us. Very friendly.

Again we had an excellent stay, but what is the ground truth on when trash and towel service is supposed to take place for a 6 night stay? On the 4th day, right? So for us ... Tuesday?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bigAWL]

Just wanted to put in another plug for the VGC room views thread I started a while back.

Villas at Disney's Grand Californian - Room Views

We've been collecting quite a few room view photos (which I've indexed on the first post of the thread), but we can always use more. There are still a bunch of rooms we don't have views for yet, and with tree growth and construction, some of the views change over time, so updates are always welcome.

 

[rentayenta]

Just wanted to put in another plug for the VGC room views thread I started a while back.

Villas at Disney's Grand Californian - Room Views

We've been collecting quite a few room view photos (which I've indexed on the first post of the thread), but we can always use more. There are still a bunch of rooms we don't have views for yet, and with tree growth and construction, some of the views change over time, so updates are always welcome.

Awesome! Is there a way to know which of the 2 bedrooms are dedicated and which are lock offs?

 

[sechelt]

Awesome! Is there a way to know which of the 2 bedrooms are dedicated and which are lock offs?

The 2 bdr on bigAWL's list are all dedicated. The lockoffs will combine a studio and 1 bdr.

 

[::danielle::]

Just wanted to put in another plug for the VGC room views thread I started a while back.

Villas at Disney's Grand Californian - Room Views

We've been collecting quite a few room view photos (which I've indexed on the first post of the thread), but we can always use more. There are still a bunch of rooms we don't have views for yet, and with tree growth and construction, some of the views change over time, so updates are always welcome.

Thanks for sharing the link!

 

[Nonsuch]

...what is the ground truth on when trash and towel service is supposed to take place for a 6 night stay? On the 4th day, right? So for us ... Tuesday?

(late reply)
You checked in Saturday (day 1), so trash/towel should have been Tuesday (day 4)

When VGC was new, there was a card in the villa describing the cleaning schedule -- the example was checkin Sunday, trash/towel on Wednesday.
I searched for a picture of the card (or even the card itself ), but could not find it.

 

[rentayenta]

Ahhhhhh! Just scored our two bedroom dedicated for December. I can't believe it! There is still one bedrooms and two bedrooms showing available for the 6 nights we booked, Dec 9-15.

 

[rentayenta]

The 2 bdr on bigAWL's list are all dedicated. The lockoffs will combine a studio and 1 bdr.

 

[Quam]

Success after a few misses ! I was able to book a 1br for Dec 9 - 13. I am on the wait list for Dec 7-9 to see if we can add a few extra days. If nothing opens up, we can also book a room and move to the 1br.

 

[Quam]

Ahhhhhh! Just scored our two bedroom dedicated for December. I can't believe it! There is still one bedrooms and two bedrooms showing available for the 6 nights we booked, Dec 9-15.

Congrats and thanks for the information...it helped us book our stay

 

[rentayenta]

Congrats and thanks for the information...it helped us book our stay

I'm so glad!

 

[Nonsuch]

Ahhhhhh! Just scored our two bedroom dedicated for December. I can't believe it! There is still one bedrooms and two bedrooms showing available for the 6 nights we booked, Dec 9-15.

Success after a few misses ! I was able to book a 1br for Dec 9 - 13. I am on the wait list for Dec 7-9 to see if we can add a few extra days. If nothing opens up, we can also book a room and move to the 1br.

Early December is a great time to visit
I'll be there December 4-10, specifically scheduled to include Candlelight (Dec 6-7)

 

[ACDSNY]

Ahhhhhh! Just scored our two bedroom dedicated for December. I can't believe it! There is still one bedrooms and two bedrooms showing available for the 6 nights we booked, Dec 9-15.

Congrats!

 

[rentayenta]

Congrats!

I was starting to get very nervous Angela.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

If I want to rent points to stay here how far out would I have to request it? Is there a certain time of yeah that they have less DVC occupancy?

 

[Breyean]

If I want to rent points to stay here how far out would I have to request it? Is there a certain time of yeah that they have less DVC occupancy?

I would start trying to line up a rental as soon as you can. There never seem to be very many VGC points available for rentals/transfers, and with only 48 DVC villas you really should try to book as close to the 11 month window as possible.

It sort of depends a little on time of year for how hard it is to book there, but it's a matter of degree. If you are planning a trip around major holidays or special events, even at 11 months you have to be on the ball. Other times you might find something for a few nights. It also helps if you are flexible with your dates.

But it's never too early to start looking at rentals (or transfers) once you have a general idea of when you are looking to go.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

I would start trying to line up a rental as soon as you can. There never seem to be very many VGC points available for rentals/transfers, and with only 48 DVC villas you really should try to book as close to the 11 month window as possible. It sort of depends a little on time of year for how hard it is to book there, but it's a matter of degree. If you are planning a trip around major holidays or special events, even at 11 months you have to be on the ball. Other times you might find something for a few nights. It also helps if you are flexible with your dates. But it's never too early to start looking at rentals (or transfers) once you have a general idea of when you are looking to go.

I'm thinking later in fall 2015, Im thinking 3 or 4 nights.

 

[Breyean]

I'm thinking later in fall 2015, Im thinking 3 or 4 nights.

I not 100% sure about all the events, but Labor Day weekend (not exactly the end of the fall, but a place to start) is extremely busy with the DL 1/2 Marathon and Dumbo Challenge races. Very busy weekend, which also slops over into a few days before and a few days after.

In October a big event is Gay Days.

Middle of November, new starting this year, are the Avengers races. Again Disney spreads out the event all weekend and with registration and such, this expands the weekend to a few days before and after.

December has the Candlelight Processional, not to mention the Christmas decorations, parades and tours.

I'm sure there are a lot of other events I'm missing. Maybe someone else will add to my list.

Here's the good news. Three or four nights, esp if you do them during weekdays, are doable. That's what we do for out trips (except when tied to a race). We've found that to be a nice number of days to let us do everything we want in the parks. This also saves you points because the weekends are a lot more expensive than week days.

 

[rentayenta]

Early December is a great time to visit
I'll be there December 4-10, specifically scheduled to include Candlelight (Dec 6-7)

Candlelight always looks like such a neat event.

 

[CailinFig]

Are guests allowed to still use pool facilities after checking out of room?