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

[AstroBlasters]

I’m used to getting a bill at checkout. Do other people not charge everything to the room and then pay it off with a Disney gift card the night before checkout?

 

[DonMacGregor]

I’m used to getting a bill at checkout. Do other people not charge everything to the room and then pay it off with a Disney gift card the night before checkout?

Nope. All goes on the Delta Reserve card. Starts adding miles for the next trip.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Nope. All goes on the Delta Reserve card. Starts adding miles for the next trip.

Does the point conversion for miles add up relative to a 5% discount?

 

[DonMacGregor]

Does the point conversion for miles add up relative to a 5% discount?

I doubt it's even remotely close.

The Delta Reserve card only earns straight miles. No conversion.

I tend to split things up following a simple formula. I earn most of the miles I need for vacation by purchasing airfare on the Delta card throughout the year for business (3X) flights, and miles earned through miles flown. As for the hotel bill, I probably "only" rack up maybe $500 per trip, soaking wet, so it doesn't really move the needle that much in the big picture and the hassle of getting gift cards and then paying the bill just adds another step that doesn't really seem worthwhile. On a larger bill, I'm sure the gift card savings would be beneficial. and far more significant.

For me, the hotel bill is usually pretty small because I don't charge restaurant meals to the hotel. Restaurants go on my Bonvoy Brilliant card (3X for restaurants). THOSE points absolutely get converted 1:1 to SkyMiles. Only stuff like Epcot food kiosks and junk from the gift shop ends up on the Magic Band for the most part.

I primarily have the Delta card for the miles I earn on airfare spend and for the companion certificate every year. Paired with the Platinum card and the Marriott Bonvoy card, it's a nice trifecta. Does it offset a 5% discount using gift cards? I'm positive it doesn't, but for me it's adding another few hundred miles with the cash spend to a bigger pile that just grows all year. Like throwing your change in a jar on your dresser.

 

[KPeterso]

Just stayed at VGC the end of last week (11/15-11/17). We had room 5504 and amazing views of the park lit up and World of Color from our room. It did look ready for the refurb, but was not too bad looking overall. Still love it there. I did get a comment about the refurb should be happening next year from a cast member and to make sure I use my 11 months for my holiday time trip next year.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Just stayed at VGC the end of last week (11/15-11/17). We had room 5504 and amazing views of the park lit up and World of Color from our room. It did look ready for the refurb, but was not too bad looking overall. Still love it there. I did get a comment about the refurb should be happening next year from a cast member and to make sure I use my 11 months for my holiday time trip next year.

We’d like to go late November of next year… but would have to borrow points from a Dec/Feb UY….

 

[KPeterso]

We’d like to go late November of next year… but would have to borrow points from a Dec/Feb UY….

I have December and February UYs too. My VGC points are in Dec UY. I have gone during mid November several times, but I am local, so I can go easily. But I totally get the concern going so late in the UY.

 

[Dobermanns]

We have VGC in Jun and Dec UYs to cover year-round stays. My favorite times are Halloween and Christmas

 

[winnieforme]

Just stayed at VGC the end of last week (11/15-11/17). We had room 5504 and amazing views of the park lit up and World of Color from our room. It did look ready for the refurb, but was not too bad looking overall. Still love it there. I did get a comment about the refurb should be happening next year from a cast member and to make sure I use my 11 months for my holiday time trip next year.

so glad you had a wonderful view. there was a time when many more of the rooms had great views...when will disney trim the trees for both the hotel and villas?

 

[ClaraOswald]

I'm still trying to figure out which months would be the WORST to book with my June UY. April/May?

 

[AstroBlasters]

I'm still trying to figure out which months would be the WORST to book with my June UY. April/May?

Not worst….Most risky….

 

[ClaraOswald]

Right. I suspect there will sadly be some years we have to cancel due to illness/death in the family (especially as we all get older...) but that would likely end up being in that 30 day window anyway where points would have to go into holding. Otherwise, we pretty much stick with things once booked or change well in advance.

For the heck of it, I went to look at what months we've gone to the parks. (I couldn't actually remember so I had to pull up old photos.) Since moving away from California, we have had trips back in January, February, June, August, September, October, November, December. That's from 2007 - 2023. So I think we did okay by picking a June UY. Just February outside of banking window. (WDW trips have only ever been January and February.)

 

[lilsonicfan]

One thing to consider is that if you really did have to cancel last minute, there's always the possibility you could rent out the reservation, since VGC is such a hot ticket item. I've been thinking about this since I have a reservation that is two months before my new UY starts, if I have to cancel, those points are as good as gone since I may not be able to go before the new UY starts. My thought was that I could probably rent out the reservation last min, and it would probably cover my dues on the points.

 

[Chili327]

One thing to consider is that if you really did have to cancel last minute, there's always the possibility you could rent out the reservation, since VGC is such a hot ticket item. I've been thinking about this since I have a reservation that is two months before my new UY starts, if I have to cancel, those points are as good as gone since I may not be able to go before the new UY starts. My thought was that I could probably rent out the reservation last min, and it would probably cover my dues on the points.

This.

 

[ClaraOswald]

That's a good point. Though we usually book 6 nights. Not sure how many people would want that many nights, last minute. I'd definitely try it though because it's worth a shot rather than losing out completely.

So points in holding have to be used before the end of the UY then? I guess I didn't even think about that. Ha!

 

[lilsonicfan]

That's a good point. Though we usually book 6 nights. Not sure how many people would want that many nights, last minute. I'd definitely try it though because it's worth a shot rather than losing out completely.

So points in holding have to be used before the end of the UY then? I guess I didn't even think about that. Ha!

All points that aren't banked have to be used before the end of the UY otherwise they expire. Holding points have the problem that they have to be used in a much smaller window.... it's not that they have to be used before the end of the UY per se that is the problem, it's that if the end of the UY is coming, the window to use them is even smaller. In my case I have used 140ish points for my reservation so that's a lot of points that could go to waste. I could potentially book something at WDW with them and try to rent those out but it does seem more attractive to rent out a VGC reservation.

Your 6 nights might be rentable esp if you're booking in a studio, I have to book 1BRs but studios are a much lower point cost and more attractive for that reason. Also, no transient tax!

 

[Chili327]

All points that aren't banked have to be used before the end of the UY otherwise they expire. Holding points have the problem that they have to be used in a much smaller window.... it's not that they have to be used before the end of the UY per se that is the problem, it's that if the end of the UY is coming, the window to use them is even smaller. In my case I have used 140ish points for my reservation so that's a lot of points that could go to waste. I could potentially book something at WDW with them and try to rent those out but it does seem more attractive to rent out a VGC reservation.

Your 6 nights might be rentable esp if you're booking in a studio, I have to book 1BRs but studios are a much lower point cost and more attractive for that reason. Also, no transient tax!

Is it possible for them to break them into 2, 3-night stays, easier to rent a 3 night?

 

[CarolynFH]

Is it possible for them to break them into 2, 3-night stays, easier to rent a 3 night?

Only if those two reservations are separately available. MS can’t break it up.

BTW that’s why we recommend that someone wanting a split stay book it that way at 11 months to begin with, so that at 7 months they can modify the nights they want elsewhere. Not applicable in this case, of course.

 

[ajiuo]

I know the 6.39% rate hike on dues for 2024 is a tough pill to swallow, but just remember this…


VGC 2024
8.5544 Dues
0.0000 Separate Transient Tax
________
8.5544 Total


VDH 2024
9.5307 Dues
2.8200 Separate Transient Tax
________
12.3507 Total


VGC perks

• All Rooms have patios
• Closer proximity to Parks
• All room views are pretty good
• Fully Renovated rooms coming in late 2024
• Stunning hotel lobby and grounds.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I hope everyone who celebrates had a nice Thanksgiving! (And that those who don't celebrate had a nice Thursday. Ha!)