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

[Disney Princess]

Thanks for the photo nonsuch. Now i know what to look for!

 

[nunzia]

Also..groceries from Wonderland Market, free delivery, walking distance also:714-535-0127, 1178 W. Katella Ave

 

[franandaj]

Also..groceries from Wonderland Market, free delivery, walking distance also:714-535-0127, 1178 W. Katella Ave

We went out to the park for some "retail therapy" yesterday and I wanted to check out this place. I got their card and will scan it in and post it. I would highly reccomend it. I asked the gentleman at the register what their policy was for delivery.

No minimum
Allow an hour from the time you place your order.

A woman in the store when I asked said, "They are REALLY fast, sometimes they are there in 10 minutes". I was impressed with their selection, they had everything that most people on vacation would want. Soups, cereals, chips, drinks, pancake mix, syrup, milk, deli meats, cheeses, bread, frozen dinners, packaged side dishes, etc. They have HUGE selection of liquors, beer and wine. The only thing that they didn't have (that I would have wanted) is green vegetables. They had some fruit available, but I didn't see green veggies.

They will take your order to Bell Services and call your room when it's ready. I like to support Mom & Pop businesses. Vons is a nice mega market, and they do give you free shipping on your first order, however I tried them a couple months ago and wasn't impressed. I was sick and wasn't able to go to the market so I opted for home delivery. They placed my food on a truck that was going to Huntington Beach (nowhere near Long Beach when you have Ice Cream on your order). The delivery was supposed to come between 10AM-12PM and it arrived at 2PM. The driver did call, but it was annoying since I was out of a lot of the things I ordered, and had to wait to eat. If you were ordering alcohol and this happened at the Villas, you'd be stuck waiting until the delivery arrived because you have to be present to sign for alcohol.

I'll try to get that card posted sometime today.

 

[stopher1]

Both Vons & Wonderland are listed & linked on page1, for future reference.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thank you again! We are still on Cloud 9 over getting the room!!


Never been to DL so planning is so different.
I can plan for WDW in my sleep

 

[lulubelle]

Spent the weekend in a studio with DD23. All of the Christmas decorations are spectacular. We were in 5504. Second room to the left off of the elevator. Good (but not great) view of WOC, and nice view of DCA. We sure did watch it from the balcony while drinking our wine. And who would have believed it would be 86 degrees on Sunday? I had to buy suncreen for $13 because I didn't think to pack it in December! And the hot buttered rum I had been dreaming of while sitting by the fireplace did not happen. Instead we had frozen Apple Juice slushies from DL. The weekend before Thanksgiving was freezing cold and rainy. Crazy CA weather.

Alison - I agree with you, I would support the mom & pop store over the giant chains anyday. I try to do that where I live, but it's hard to not go into Riverside where the quality of stores is better!

 

[Nonsuch]

Spent the weekend in a studio with DD23. All of the Christmas decorations are spectacular. We were in 5504. Second room to the left off of the elevator. Good (but not great) view of WOC, and nice view of DCA.

We were in the one bedroom 5502 the week before. Second time in that room, so it more and more like our home away from home
Everything was great, except the villa was not ready until 5:40PM. The text messages sometimes do not arrive (or are not sent), so I called the hotel at 3PM and 4PM and 5PM.

...And who would have believed it would be 86 degrees on Sunday? ...The weekend before Thanksgiving was freezing cold and rainy. Crazy CA weather.

You are so lucky. The prior Sunday, Candlelight was rained out.
The heavy rain made ElecTRONica seem like a scene out of Blade Runner
I saw a preview of TRON last night, and ElecTRONica is better than the movie.

 

[funatdisney]

We were in the one bedroom 5502 the week before. Second time in that room, so it more and more like our home away from home
Everything was great, except the villa was not ready until 5:40PM. The text messages sometimes do not arrive (or are not sent), so I called the hotel at 3PM and 4PM and 5PM.

We have stayed in 5502, too. Of course, that really isn't so unusual.

 

[JimmyJam838]

We've stayed 5 times now and have yet to get a room above the 2nd floor. On check in, they said they only had a first floor room available. When my wife went to pick of the room keys after being notified our room was ready, she asked if anything else was available. They happened to have the 2nd floor room available, 2252, which didn't have much of a view, but better than looking at the walls on the first floor.

Anyone have any secrets of getting an upper level floor? I have put in the requests for upper floor rooms, but doesn't seem to do any good. We usually check in on Sundays if it makes any difference.

 

[funatdisney]

I have always requested "any room above the fourth floor". I leave it to chance whether we get pool side or park side. I have, so far, gotten my request. I figure I would enjoy any room as long as it is on an upper floor not facing a wall.

 

[lulubelle]

Oh, and forgot to mention that the villa was ready at 1 pm! It's the first time we did not have to wait until 4 or almost 4. But of course we left all our luggage in the car across the street and had to walk right back because the room is never ready early!

 

[Nonsuch]

We've stayed 5 times now and have yet to get a room above the 2nd floor.

That is a bummer. I would be very disappointed with a 1st floor room.

Anyone have any secrets of getting an upper level floor? I have put in the requests for upper floor rooms, but doesn't seem to do any good. We usually check in on Sundays if it makes any difference.

I have had good results emailing the room request, and checking in early.
On my 3 visits home:

5502, 1 bedroom, February 2010, 5 nights, check in on Sunday.
No advanced room request. When I checked in, I requested a high floor facing the park and also mentioned it was our first visit (thought that might help). I checked in early (around 10AM), but made it clear I was willing to wait for a better view. The registration cast member took some time and disappeared into a backroom. I assume the delay was to change my room assignment. As usually with early check in, I received room keys without knowing the room number. Room was ready at 3PM.

3502, 1 bedroom, September 2010, 1 night, check in on Thursday.
This trip was planned only 2 weeks in advance.
I emailed a request to member services:
"Prefer a high floor with Paradise Pier Park View.
The room order of preference is: 6502, 5508, 4508, 5502, 4502, 3508, 3502, 2522, 2508, 2502"
Checked in a 9AM, room was ready at noon.

5502, 1 bedroom, December 2010, 5 nights, check in on Sunday.
This trip was booked at the 11 month window (if that matters).
I emailed the same request to member services:
"Prefer a high floor with Paradise Pier Park View.
The room order of preference is: 6502, 5508, 4508, 5502, 4502, 3508, 3502, 2522, 2508, 2502"
Checked in around 1PM. Registration was fast, so I assume the room was already assigned. The room was not ready until 5:40.

I hope you get a great view on your next visit home

 

[lulu2]

We recently booked a 1 bedroom for June 12-16
We have stayed at the GC before while the villas were being built, in a theme park room. My question is: Does the GC have activities like other DVC resorts? We stayed at BLT last week and we had lots of activities ie pool party, trivia, crafts, movies at night, etc. I don't know if any activiites are offered at GC? Any ideas?

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We recently booked a 1 bedroom for June 12-16
We have stayed at the GC before while the villas were being built, in a theme park room. My question is: Does the GC have activities like other DVC resorts? We stayed at BLT last week and we had lots of activities ie pool party, trivia, crafts, movies at night, etc. I don't know if any activiites are offered at GC? Any ideas?

Nothing is offered to villa guests above and beyond what is offered to hotel guests. They have early morning power walks, a couple of hotel tours, and the Grand Quest challenge for kids. They also offer early opening hours for Build a Bear and a Sephora makeover. I might be leaving something off.

 

[darby888]

Question...what email address do you use to send room request and to who's attention do you address it to?

Thank you all for your advice and tips....Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If anyone was looking for a studio for 12/25 & 12/26 I had to cancel earlier today. Since no waitlists can be running now I thought I'd post the info.

 

[ACDSNY]

Question...what email address do you use to send room request and to who's attention do you address it to?

Thank you all for your advice and tips....Merry Christmas everyone.

We've put in our requests through DVC MS when making our reservation and have received them upon check-in

 

[stopher1]

Just a couple more sleeps and we'll be there!

 

[Nonsuch]

Some construction photos taken from VGC 5502 in early December. I expect construction along the border with VGC will be complete before my visit in June

 

[Nonsuch]

When the Grand Californian and California Adventure were originally built, the hotel was not directly adjacent to the Paradise Pier area. The VGC now looks directly over some of those old buildings, in particular Souvenir 66 and Corn Dog Castle.

Last February, this was the rather unsightly backstage view:

Disney has made the effort to clean up the view. The "backstage" of the buildings have been painted green, which is similar to the trim and roof of the Grand. Of course, it's hard to notice this detail with all the construction in the area: