stopher1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2008
WELCOME! to The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0
Special thanks goes to The River's Rats for starting the original thread, and extra thanks go out to all of the special DIS people who shared, posted pictures and participated in that first thread running from before the resort opened through it's first full year of operation and then some. We simply outgrew that first thread since the page count nearly met the maximum allowed, so welcome to version 2!!
Even though it's closed and you can no longer post to it, I've included a link to the original thread in post #3.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You are about to enter an online realm where we are able to discuss, share and enjoy together the unique and wonderful splendor of the first West Coast DVC resort, The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, first opened September 23, 2009.
This beautiful addition to the DVC family of resorts was added-on to the lovely Craftsman-inspired hotel, built upon the former Disneyland parking lot when the expansion to Disneyland went full throttle - brining about both Downtown Disney and the 2nd gate, Disney's California Adventure park - forever changing Walt's ORIGINAL theme park from being Disneyland to "The Disneyland Resort" and a true multi-day destination. The Grand Californian was the first Disney designed-hotel on property - since the original Disneyland Hotel was not built by Disney...in fact it wasn't even owned by Disney until 1988 when The Walt Disney Company purchased it from the Wrather Corporation (Walt originally asked his friend Jack Wrather to build and operate a hotel across the street from his Magic Kingdom and further licensed the use of the Disneyland name to Jack Wrather). The Paradise Pier hotel, built and operated under a different name, was not purchased by TWDC until the mid-1990's, and then re-branded as the PP Hotel when DCA was about to open in 2001. The original Grand Californian designer was Peter Dominick, the same architect who designed both the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kindgom Lodge at Walt Disney World... you can certainly feel the influence of both of our sister lodges in the lobby of the Grand Californian (though I will say that personally I think that the Grand is the most elegant and cozy of all three of the Dominick hotels - and I have points at AKV and the WL is my favorite resort at WDW... so it's not just a bit of bias coming out - LOL - I just truly feel that in this case, the third time really was the charm!)
VGC as it is commonly referred to here on the DIS is home to 48 villas, and officially became "sold out" in October, 2010. Of course there will always be the possibility of points available on the resale market, but for now, "our" home is no longer available.
As owners, many of us became the "first" to buy, becoming Founding Members, while others waited and purchased later on. No matter if you were the first or even the last to buy your points and be able to call VGC "home" - whether it was your initial purchase into the DVC system, or VGC is just one of multiple resorts you call "home" - welcome to the 2nd version of our thread. We're happy you've stopped by.
Whether you've joined us by stepping through the resort's front door... or you're a "back door" guest coming in from Downtown Disney...
...here you can find out information about our beloved VGC; get your questions answered; share photos and upcoming trip information; review your stays; or just shoot the breeze... no matter, you're welcome here, and you'll find that the people that make up this thread are friendly, happy to help, and very glad you've stopped by. In post #2 you'll find a calendar of upcoming stays of some of our fellow owners and maybe even some non-owners too. In post # 3 you'll find a variety of links to other threads related to the Grand Californian, Disneyland or DCA, transportation options, reservation information, etc, that you might find helpful in researching or planning your own upcoming stay.
Your room might be amongst the 73% of the villas that look out onto the neighboring DCA with a "theme park view"... or it might look out over the pools...
Many of them will provide amazing views of the all-new World of Color spectacular...
There are only 2 Grand Villas at VGC. They are two-story units, and both have a pool table for your added enjoyment - 1 is theme park view, the other isn't. Both will amaze you!
The lobby of the hotel is spectacular... the fireplace is very cozy & inviting...
...and the elevator lobby to the villas wing is just a short covered walk away from the main resort lobby...
In the evenings you might enjoy a beverage with friends at the Hearthstone Lounge, or a meal at Storyteller's Cafe or Napa Rose; You might simply relax in the overstuffed chairs listening to the pianist play, or during the holiday season, the carolers come around and serenade guests with lively tunes to get you into the spirit of the season. And of course, like all Disney parks and resorts, the Grand Californian goes out all decking its' halls making the season bright.
Compared to most Disney resorts, the grounds of the Grand Californian are small, but very lovely... and the amenities plentiful...
...including those plush poolside cabanas... and the fun pool slide...
...and an outdoor fireplace & wedding lawn too!
One of the best parts of the resort though has to be its' proximity to both theme parks, and its' own private entrance directly in to Disney California Adventure ... just steps away from both Soaring Over California , Grizzly River Run...and soon, the all-new Little Mermaid attraction coming to Paradise Pier. I would say that unless Disney builds another DVC resort INSIDE a theme park in the future - there will never be another resort CLOSER to a theme park than VGC - with its' views and entrance both directly into DCA.
WELCOME! We're very happy you're here...
Special thanks goes to The River's Rats for starting the original thread, and extra thanks go out to all of the special DIS people who shared, posted pictures and participated in that first thread running from before the resort opened through it's first full year of operation and then some. We simply outgrew that first thread since the page count nearly met the maximum allowed, so welcome to version 2!!
Even though it's closed and you can no longer post to it, I've included a link to the original thread in post #3.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You are about to enter an online realm where we are able to discuss, share and enjoy together the unique and wonderful splendor of the first West Coast DVC resort, The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, first opened September 23, 2009.
This beautiful addition to the DVC family of resorts was added-on to the lovely Craftsman-inspired hotel, built upon the former Disneyland parking lot when the expansion to Disneyland went full throttle - brining about both Downtown Disney and the 2nd gate, Disney's California Adventure park - forever changing Walt's ORIGINAL theme park from being Disneyland to "The Disneyland Resort" and a true multi-day destination. The Grand Californian was the first Disney designed-hotel on property - since the original Disneyland Hotel was not built by Disney...in fact it wasn't even owned by Disney until 1988 when The Walt Disney Company purchased it from the Wrather Corporation (Walt originally asked his friend Jack Wrather to build and operate a hotel across the street from his Magic Kingdom and further licensed the use of the Disneyland name to Jack Wrather). The Paradise Pier hotel, built and operated under a different name, was not purchased by TWDC until the mid-1990's, and then re-branded as the PP Hotel when DCA was about to open in 2001. The original Grand Californian designer was Peter Dominick, the same architect who designed both the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kindgom Lodge at Walt Disney World... you can certainly feel the influence of both of our sister lodges in the lobby of the Grand Californian (though I will say that personally I think that the Grand is the most elegant and cozy of all three of the Dominick hotels - and I have points at AKV and the WL is my favorite resort at WDW... so it's not just a bit of bias coming out - LOL - I just truly feel that in this case, the third time really was the charm!)
VGC as it is commonly referred to here on the DIS is home to 48 villas, and officially became "sold out" in October, 2010. Of course there will always be the possibility of points available on the resale market, but for now, "our" home is no longer available.
As owners, many of us became the "first" to buy, becoming Founding Members, while others waited and purchased later on. No matter if you were the first or even the last to buy your points and be able to call VGC "home" - whether it was your initial purchase into the DVC system, or VGC is just one of multiple resorts you call "home" - welcome to the 2nd version of our thread. We're happy you've stopped by.
Whether you've joined us by stepping through the resort's front door... or you're a "back door" guest coming in from Downtown Disney...
...here you can find out information about our beloved VGC; get your questions answered; share photos and upcoming trip information; review your stays; or just shoot the breeze... no matter, you're welcome here, and you'll find that the people that make up this thread are friendly, happy to help, and very glad you've stopped by. In post #2 you'll find a calendar of upcoming stays of some of our fellow owners and maybe even some non-owners too. In post # 3 you'll find a variety of links to other threads related to the Grand Californian, Disneyland or DCA, transportation options, reservation information, etc, that you might find helpful in researching or planning your own upcoming stay.
Your room might be amongst the 73% of the villas that look out onto the neighboring DCA with a "theme park view"... or it might look out over the pools...
Many of them will provide amazing views of the all-new World of Color spectacular...
There are only 2 Grand Villas at VGC. They are two-story units, and both have a pool table for your added enjoyment - 1 is theme park view, the other isn't. Both will amaze you!
The lobby of the hotel is spectacular... the fireplace is very cozy & inviting...
...and the elevator lobby to the villas wing is just a short covered walk away from the main resort lobby...
In the evenings you might enjoy a beverage with friends at the Hearthstone Lounge, or a meal at Storyteller's Cafe or Napa Rose; You might simply relax in the overstuffed chairs listening to the pianist play, or during the holiday season, the carolers come around and serenade guests with lively tunes to get you into the spirit of the season. And of course, like all Disney parks and resorts, the Grand Californian goes out all decking its' halls making the season bright.
Compared to most Disney resorts, the grounds of the Grand Californian are small, but very lovely... and the amenities plentiful...
...including those plush poolside cabanas... and the fun pool slide...
...and an outdoor fireplace & wedding lawn too!
One of the best parts of the resort though has to be its' proximity to both theme parks, and its' own private entrance directly in to Disney California Adventure ... just steps away from both Soaring Over California , Grizzly River Run...and soon, the all-new Little Mermaid attraction coming to Paradise Pier. I would say that unless Disney builds another DVC resort INSIDE a theme park in the future - there will never be another resort CLOSER to a theme park than VGC - with its' views and entrance both directly into DCA.
WELCOME! We're very happy you're here...
You are the thread master extraordinaire!! 
