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

[franandaj]

Tell us all about Napa Rose - we are considering making reservations there and at Storytellers. Thoughts?

There is also a thread on the Disneyland board dedicated to folks who have dined at the Napa Rose Chef's counter and shared pictures of their meals. I've posted a couple different meals over there.

I need to go back there again soon now that they are offering a new seasonal menu. It's one of our favorite restaurants in all of Southern California!

 

[kikiq]

Your husband should be quite busy. There are 54 versions of the new Star Tours, so if you assume 30 mintues ride and wait time each time, that 27 hours. If you go to the park 6 days, that is 4.5 hours per day just on Star Tours! And that's assuming he doesn't need to ride more than 54 times because he got a repeat! -- Suzanne

AND that's not including any wait time. Last night the wait time was 100 minutes, we didn't wait. Right now, I'm looking at MouseWait, 120 min stand by and the FPs are for 10:10 PM!!!! So just leave him at ST all week.

 

[arielrocks]

Can't wait till sept when we try the grand Cali for the first time!

 

[Lucille1963]

I'm a big step closer to buying VGC contract!!! I got a pile of dough, now just waiting for the right contract to come along!!

 

[EEyorelover22]

AND that's not including any wait time. Last night the wait time was 100 minutes, we didn't wait. Right now, I'm looking at MouseWait, 120 min stand by and the FPs are for 10:10 PM!!!! So just leave him at ST all week.

nothing is worth that wait and he won't. Guess we'll check it out next year at WDWthanks for the heads up...guess we better get there early!

 

[Nonsuch]

He said he was going for them all

All the parts can seen in only 3 rides, but you would need to be strong with the force
I saw all the parts in 6 rides

 

[franandaj]

All the parts can seen in only 3 rides, but you would need to be strong with the force
I saw all the parts in 6 rides

however that is if you get the right rides. It took me seven to see eachand every part.

 

[nunzia]

I'm a big step closer to buying VGC contract!!! I got a pile of dough, now just waiting for the right contract to come along!!

 

[the donut]

Just got back from a stay - got room 5500 (2BR), which husband says is his favorite room yet (other than the Grand Villa of course), due to its proximity to the ice machine and elevators and yet somehow being fairly quiet at the end of the hall/building corner. I think everyone down the hotel wing does not take the VGC elevators so it gets very little foot traffic. Great trip.

The high points:

Loved the special fast passes and the 9am early entry to ride Little Mermaid just for hotel guests. Walked on to LM on both Sunday and Monday. Awesome! The special fastpasses do not have guests' names associated with them and are good for the rest of the summer (until 9/11/11).

Rode Star Tours 2.0 twice. Also awesome, even though I got the same planet visits on both rides.

Found a great Thai place that delivers to the GC. Yum. Am I allowed to post that info?

Have started doing 1 non park day on Saturday on the last couple of trips because we have Deluxe passes and can't go on Saturdays right now, and we might make it a tradition. Slept in, did BAB, took a look at the new DL pool, spent some time at the GC pool, picked up some Korean bbq and side dishes from the Korean groceries in Garden Grove and grilled it up for dinner, watched a DVD with the family. And perhaps the best part is that we were well rested for Sunday MM and the sprint to Star Tours.

Finally did WOC in the blue wet zone instead of watching it from the villa like the lazy person that I am. Worth going downstairs for as it is more impressive from the ground. Certain effects don't look quite as cool from above as they do at eye level.

In the rush of packing up, I forgot to tip mousekeeping! Can I call in a tip to the front desk? Has anyone ever done this?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Just got back from a stay - got room 5500 (2BR), which husband says is his favorite room yet (other than the Grand Villa of course), due to its proximity to the ice machine and elevators and yet somehow being fairly quiet at the end of the hall/building corner. I think everyone down the hotel wing does not take the VGC elevators so it gets very little foot traffic. Great trip.

The high points:

Loved the special fast passes and the 9am early entry to ride Little Mermaid just for hotel guests. Walked on to LM on both Sunday and Monday. Awesome! The special fastpasses do not have names associated with them and are good for the rest of the summer (until 9/11/11).

Rode Star Tours 2.0 twice. Also awesome, even though I got the same planet visits on both rides.

Found a great Thai place that delivers to the GC. Yum. Am I allowed to post that info?

Have started doing 1 non park day on Saturday on the last couple of trips because we have Deluxe passes and can't go on Saturdays right now, and we might make it a tradition. Slept in, did BAB, took a look at the new DL pool, spent some time at the GC pool, picked up some Korean bbq and side dishes from the Korean groceries in Garden Grove and grilled it up for dinner, watched a DVD with the family. And the perhaps the best part is that we were well rested for Sunday MM and the sprint to Star Tours.

Finally did WOC in the blue wet zone instead of watching it from the villa like the lazy person that I am. Worth going downstairs for as it is more impressive from the ground. Certain effects don't look quite as cool from above as they do at eye level.

In the rush of packing up, I forgot to tip mousekeeping! Can I call in a tip to the front desk? Has anyone ever done this?

You can post about the Thai, sounds like you had a great trip.

Jack

 

[mdsd8700]

I'm a big step closer to buying VGC contract!!! I got a pile of dough, now just waiting for the right contract to come along!!

Awesome! We stayed there last July and I fell in love with the place. My dream is to own some points at VGC some day. Good look looking for that contract!

 

[EEyorelover22]

The high points:

Loved the special fast passes and the 9am early entry to ride Little Mermaid just for hotel guests. Walked on to LM on both Sunday and Monday. Awesome! The special fastpasses do not have names associated with them and are good for the rest of the summer (until 9/11/11).

Rode Star Tours 2.0 twice. Also awesome, even though I got the same planet visits on both rides.

forgive my ignorance but checking in on points allows you the fast passes too? Can you explain the early entry for LM too.

sorry if this is somewhere else. I'm behind on life and planning this vaca. I am so used to showing up at WDW...I am not the veteran DL planner.
Thanks.

 

[the donut]

You can post about the Thai, sounds like you had a great trip.

Jack

The Thai restaurant was called Fa Sai Thai (714) 956-2830 (http://www.fasai-thai.com/). When we called, the woman took our order, credit card number, and room number. Strangely, she did not ask for my name, and I wondered if we were going to get our food when I realized it. But she showed up just as she promised almost to the minute - took about 40 minutes. Bell services gave us a ring, and we had to meet her down in the lobby where I gave her a cash tip and signed the bill (around $46).

We ordered orange chicken and pad see you with tofu for the kids, and pad kee mao with pork, panang curry with chicken, and spicy green bean with pork. We ordered the last three medium spicy and thought it was perfect for us (we're spice lovers so that's pretty hot). We've gotten takeout from Thai Nakorn down the road before, but they don't have delivery and we were feeling a bit lazy about driving anywhere so we gave this place a try. Thai Nakorn is a bit better, but this was really very good. So worth it for not having to fetch the car and pick up the food.

The link to their menu on their site is broken, but you can also find the menu at restaurant.com (http://www.restaurant.com/rdc/fa-sai-thai-cuisine-anaheim-thai-restaurant-rid=392452#). The restaurant.com coupon is not valid for delivery.

If anyone else tries it, I hope they post. It would be nice to know if they're consistently good.

 

[the donut]

forgive my ignorance but checking in on points allows you the fast passes too? Can you explain the early entry for LM too.

sorry if this is somewhere else. I'm behind on life and planning this vaca. I am so used to showing up at WDW...I am not the veteran DL planner.
Thanks.

You're not really that ignorant, this is new as of 6/3. DLR guests of all 3 hotels, including those staying on points, get 2 special fastpasses/person that can be used on any ride with fastpass (e.g. the new star tours, but not TSMM). This weekend, DLR guests could also enter DCA through the GCH entrance starting at 9am to get first crack at WOC fastpasses and ride the LM ride. I'm not sure if that's going on all summer or just for a little while until the LM crowds die down. You must enter through the hotel for early entrance, and they allow the regular guests in through the main turnstiles around 9:30. We used the early entry to pick up both Soarin and WOC fastpasses. Some people actually ride Soarin, but you flirt with not making it to TSMM in the first mad rush. The Soarin fastpass cuts off a fair bit of the line so it's not really worth that risk for me as TSMM is my favorite ride, though the ST 2.0 is pretty high on my list now too.

ETA: I posted a more extensive discussion of strategy for attacking the new rides with the special fastpasses on the disneyland board, which seems to have gotten split into 2 threads somehow (hope they get merged). They are here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2735721
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2735719

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thank you very much.

I have some reading to do before we leave!

I have to believe that if we were able to see everything at US/IOA including WWOHP and see the wand show, get picked for the wand show only about a month after the grand opening and over the 4th of July weekend...we'll somehow make the most of DL. I hope!

But...I need to start reading more plans.
Thank you!

I am also thinking DS who turns 20 in August may not want to try the LM.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I saw on the July park hours that the Matterhorn is closed for rehab.

Anyone know if this is accurate. DD will not be a happy camper.

 

[csharpwv]

All I know is that the Matterhorn had better be open when we go in August!

I hope it's open for your trip as well!

The dates on the website and language don't specify any dates that it will be closed with in the date-range on the website. SO, I don't know that it will actually be 'closed' at all during that time or if there may be some refurbishment activity that may require the attraction to close a few times throughout the day - or it may be closed for a day here and there.

I hope it's not closed for a few weeks in the summer - that just doesn't make sense being one of the most popular and iconic attractions!

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thank you. It doesn't really say. All I know is she sees it all the time in Soarin' at WDW And it's about all she talks about. She is 18, but that doesn't mean she'll handle it wellShe got a new phone with the wait time app and she is always texting me what the wait times are for rides and that we should have been at WDW today

It's my own fault...I created the Disney freak that she is.

 

[nunzia]

All I know is that the Matterhorn had better be open when we go in August!

I hope it's open for your trip as well!

The dates on the website and language don't specify any dates that it will be closed with in the date-range on the website. SO, I don't know that it will actually be 'closed' at all during that time or if there may be some refurbishment activity that may require the attraction to close a few times throughout the day - or it may be closed for a day here and there.

I hope it's not closed for a few weeks in the summer - that just doesn't make sense being one of the most popular and iconic attractions!

I think it is closed into August..someone going to the Expo was kinda complaining about it being down when that was happening.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I was looking at the daily hours for July and it was listed. It wasn't for June. What a bummer. I suppose it will be completely closed then?