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

[Nonsuch]

Practically everyone in CA has earthquake insurance. I am sure Disney has everything insured to the maximum allowed.

I'm a California native, and don't know anyone who has earthquake insurance

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

I'm a California native, and don't know anyone who has earthquake insurance

Same here .... another native .... and I also don't know anyone with earthquake inssurance.

 

[kikiq]

I'm a California native, and don't know anyone who has earthquake insurance

Me too, California native, I don't know that any of our friends or relatives have earthquake insurance.

BUT Disney has to build to strict earthquake standards. So most of the minor quakes we get don't do major damage, mostly cosmetic damage. If there was a MAJOR earthquake, VGC would be the least of our worries.

What's interesting to me is that people worry about California earthquakes that happen infrequently but yet some of these same folks live in areas with hurricanes and tornadoes EVERY year.

 

[franandaj]

I'm a California native, and don't know anyone who has earthquake insurance

Same here .... another native .... and I also don't know anyone with earthquake inssurance.

Yeah, it's just way too expensive. However, having been basically on the epicenter of the Northridge quake, the structures that were severely damaged were mostly older and/or poorly constructed. Either that or the soil was Alluvial Plain and suffered severe shaking. Most solid construction these days can withstand most earthquakes. Basically if a quake would do serious damage to the VGC, the damage in So Cal would be extensive enough that Disneyland would be the least of the problems. It would probably have to be near to or as big as the quake that hit Japan. Not saying we aren't due, but you would probably be more likely to win the lottery.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Me too, California native, I don't know that any of our friends or relatives have earthquake insurance.

BUT Disney has to build to strict earthquake standards. So most of the minor quakes we get don't do major damage, mostly cosmetic damage. If there was a MAJOR earthquake, VGC would be the least of our worries.

What's interesting to me is that people worry about California earthquakes that happen infrequently but yet some of these same folks live in areas with hurricanes and tornadoes EVERY year.

I so agree .... I'd worry much more about hurricanes and tornadoes!

 

[G'sMaman]

I so agree .... I'd worry much more about hurricanes and tornadoes!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I think the major difference is that you can actually purchase hurricane and tornado insurance whereas earthquake insurance is very limited with high deductibles and less than 12% of Californians even have coverage. I am also a native Californian and unfortunately for me was living in Sf and then LA when the big ones hit both areas. Still not enough to cause us to move out of Cali or to give up buying real estate, but I was curious as to how something like that is handled with a DVC timeshare. It sounds like the owners are on the hook, but I agree that new construction tends to be built to withstand most tremors with little damage and so the actual risks are probably not significant. My search continues!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I think the major difference is that you can actually purchase hurricane and tornado insurance whereas earthquake insurance is very limited with high deductibles and less than 12% of Californians even have coverage. I am also a native Californian and unfortunately for me was living in Sf and then LA when the big ones hit both areas. Still not enough to cause us to move out of Cali or to give up buying real estate, but I was curious as to how something like that is handled with a DVC timeshare. It sounds like the owners are on the hook, but I agree that new construction tends to be built to withstand most tremors with little damage and so the actual risks are probably not significant. My search continues!

The POS has language that indicates they could pass along the costs but not that they definitely have to so it would seem to be up to them. Also, they could decide to not rebuild at all if there was enough damage. They are required to maintain insurance for all the regular stuff like fire etc. but earthquake is not listed that I've ever noticed.

 

[Longhairbear]

I was rather stunned to hear only 12% of CA residents have earthquake insurance. We were required by our lender to have it when bought our current house. Every friend or family member of mine that are homeowners carry it, so I assumed most did.

 

[G'sMaman]

The POS has language that indicates they could pass along the costs but not that they definitely have to so it would seem to be up to them. Also, they could decide to not rebuild at all if there was enough damage. They are required to maintain insurance for all the regular stuff like fire etc. but earthquake is not listed that I've ever noticed.

Thanks so much for checking. Much appreciated!

I was rather stunned to hear only 12% of CA residents have earthquake insurance. We were required by our lender to have it when bought our current house. Every friend or family member of mine that are homeowners carry it, so I assumed most did.

The 12% number is pretty widely quoted. You can google something like "12% California earthquake insurance" to get more info. Yes, surprising I agree!

 

[Nonsuch]

I stayed in the handicap accessible (HA) grand villa (GV) last month and wanted to share the HA details:

The HA GV is 4522 and faces Paradise Pier

The HA changes are in the 4th floor master bath and kitchen, there are no HA features on the 5th floor.

The master bath sinks are low and the counters are shallow. An identical second sink is on the opposite side of the room. There is the same whirlpool tub used in the 1 and 2 bedrooms villas with sliding partitions to the bedroom (no picture). The tub does not have HA features.

The toilet and shower are in an adjacent room separated by a pocket door. The room is large with many handrails and low towel bars.

The shower entry is "roll in"

The shower has a fold down bench and low mounted controls

There is a also a high mounted shower head

The master bedroom balcony has a small ramp, the other 3 balconies do not.

The safe is mounted low in the closet near the main entry

The kitchen counters are low and the sink is shallow with space below

The oven has controls on the front edge. The microwave (no picture) is on the counter rather than above the cooktop.

The refrigerator is the same freezer on top type used in other villas, a side by side might be more HA.

 

[Nonsuch]

The Grand Villa (4522) has a Cuisinart 12 cup coffee maker. This unit requires cone coffee filters, unlike the flat bottom basket filters used in other villas

Bring the correct filter for your Grand Villa vacation

 

[Boutilier]

We are heading to the villas for my daughter's 9th birthday and she requested filet minon for dinner. Rather then take our group of 7 to Steakhouse 55 ($$$), we are going to bring steaks, rice, salad etc and cook ourselves. Do we need to bring any BBQ utensils? My husband has NEVER cooked on a gas grill - any advice from experienced grillers would be great!
TIA
Jennifer

 

[franandaj]

We are heading to the villas for my daughter's 9th birthday and she requested filet minon for dinner. Rather then take our group of 7 to Steakhouse 55 ($$$), we are going to bring steaks, rice, salad etc and cook ourselves. Do we need to bring any BBQ utensils? My husband has NEVER cooked on a gas grill - any advice from experienced grillers would be great!
TIA
Jennifer

You can get the utensils from the front desk.

I don't do Filet Mignon, usually rib eyes or porterhouse steaks, I make sure the grill is nice and hot. I grill for two minutes, then rotate 1/4 turn (same side for nice grill marks), after another two minutes I turn the steaks and repeat the process. For 1 to 1 1/2 inch steaks they come out rare to medium rare. If you want them a little more done do three minutes on each for the first side and two for each on the second. If you're eating in the room, the steaks will rest on the trip up the elevator so have everything else ready to go and eat as soon as you get back with the cooked steaks.

Sounds Yummy! Have fun!

 

[Boutilier]

You can get the utensils from the front desk.

I don't do Filet Mignon, usually rib eyes or porterhouse steaks, I make sure the grill is nice and hot. I grill for two minutes, then rotate 1/4 turn (same side for nice grill marks), after another two minutes I turn the steaks and repeat the process. For 1 to 1 1/2 inch steaks they come out rare to medium rare. If you want them a little more done do three minutes on each for the first side and two for each on the second. If you're eating in the room, the steaks will rest on the trip up the elevator so have everything else ready to go and eat as soon as you get back with the cooked steaks.

Sounds Yummy! Have fun!

Thanks so much!! Now I just need my husband to follow the directions and not just "wing-it"!!

 

[franandaj]

Thanks so much!! Now I just need my husband to follow the directions and not just "wing-it"!!

I'm very picky about my steak! I like it still mooing almost! I hope he doesn't over cook it!

 

[Nonsuch]

You can get the utensils from the front desk.

While you may check the tools out from Guest Services, I have started bringing my own

Mignon, usually rib eyes or porterhouse steaks, I make sure the grill is nice and hot. I grill for two minutes, then rotate 1/4 turn (same side for nice grill marks), after another two minutes I turn the steaks and repeat the process. For 1 to 1 1/2 inch steaks they come out rare to medium rare. If you want them a little more done do three minutes on each for the first side and two for each on the second.

The grills are very hot (much hotter than my gas grill at home). When dealing with an unknown grill, use a meat thermometer (or cut into one of the steaks).

The grills have a timer to turn on the gas.

 

[franandaj]

or cut into one of the steaks.

I would hate for that to be mine!

 

[stopher1]

Greetings VGC friends & neighbors. It's been a while since I've popped in, but I wanted to say hi.

I'll be heading west tomorrow for a family memorial service this weekend, and will get to at least sit in the lobby Sunday & Monday night. Naturally with the nature of DVC, and the overall limited time since the death and scheduling of this trip, I wasn't able to get a room at VGC but I was able to secure a room at the DLH... so I can at least hang out in the lobby of my beloved west coast home before I return home again on Tuesday. I will be out for a business trip in October and do have a reservation then, so I'm looking forward to a lovely studio at that time. And this way I can check out the renovations at the DLH pretty closely too. It's all good.

Have a great day!

 

[franandaj]

Greetings VGC friends & neighbors. It's been a while since I've popped in, but I wanted to say hi.

I'll be heading west tomorrow for a family memorial service this weekend, and will get to at least sit in the lobby Sunday & Monday night. Naturally with the nature of DVC, and the overall limited time since the death and scheduling of this trip, I wasn't able to get a room at VGC but I was able to secure a room at the DLH... so I can at least hang out in the lobby of my beloved west coast home before I return home again on Tuesday. I will be out for a business trip in October and do have a reservation then, so I'm looking forward to a lovely studio at that time. And this way I can check out the renovations at the DLH pretty closely too. It's all good.

Have a great day!

You'll love the DLH, if you haven't stayed in one of the rennovated rooms, they are quite nice. Not the Grand of course but certainly not disappointing. Enjoy your time with family and friends and make the best of it!

 

[JimmyJam838]

I wasn't able to get a room at VGC but I was able to secure a room at the DLH... so I can at least hang out in the lobby of my beloved west coast home before I return home again on Tuesday.

Maybe you'll get lucky and get an upgrade to the Presidential Suite like we did when we stayed on points.