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

[stopher1]

We are arriving tomorrow for week stay in a 1 bedroom villa. I just read on another thread that there is a world of color viewing area for the villas. Is this true? If so can you see any/all WOC shows from there. We aren't planning to visit the parks tomorrow but if we are back from dinner in time I would to be able to see WOC that night.

I hope you have a wonderful time!

There is a viewing platform up on the 6th floor, but it is way off to the side, and you won't be able to see the projections very well. But they do play the music, to add to what you can already hear from the show itself - and there are restrooms up there.

If you end up with a Paradise Pier view - on floors 3 or higher - you'll most likely be able to see it from the balcony of your room, and from the living room window.

 

[maburke]

I hope you have a wonderful time!

There is a viewing platform up on the 6th floor, but it is way off to the side, and you won't be able to see the projections very well. But they do play the music, to add to what you can already hear from the show itself - and there are restrooms up there.

If you end up with a Paradise Pier view - on floors 3 or higher - you'll most likely be able to see it from the balcony of your room, and from the living room window.

Can we bring guests to the viewing platform? We have 9 in the room, and are inviting 6 more for a dinner to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Could we bring them all up to watch WOC?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Can we bring guests to the viewing platform? We have 9 in the room, and are inviting 6 more for a dinner to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Could we bring them all up to watch WOC?

You sure can. There were a lot of people up on the platform when we went last year and the view is not really great. I thought I had a better one from my room.

Jack

 

[TLinden16]

I brought a couple of guests up to the observation deck with me one night. Most nights it wasn't that crowded up there (the first time I went I thought I had the wrong spot because I was the only one there as the show began, and only a few others joined me that night). Other nights, I had a full house (I saw it about four times the week I was there). It's really not a great view unless you are against a rail, so i tmay be hard if you had a group of 15.

 

[Nonsuch]

I think we have to wait, but I requested the courtyard view because it's the non HA villa.

HA reservations are guaranteed, but view requests are not. Unless both GV are available on the check in day, a view request cannot be granted.

The differences in the HA GV seem minimal, based on the floorplan documents. The master bath on the 4th floor has a more open layout with a roll-in shower. The kitchen counters will likely be lower. There are no HA features on the 5th floor.

I will post a first person report next month

 

[DebbieB]

Just got home last night. Had the most awesome room - 6504 (studio). Great view of DCA. My friend arrived on Saturday and stayed at PP. She went over to VGC to check-in at 7:00am on Sunday morning. She asked for a World of Color view. The cm went in the back and said they had a great room but it wasn't ready (of course). She said no problem, we'll wait! I flew out on Sunday morning and she called me while I was connecting in Phoenix and updated me, she said the cm said we got a great room! Before I boarded the plane, she sent me a text that she got a text saying our room was ready! No way! 9:45am! When I got to VGC, I called her and she said she was in the room. I had to stop at the front desk to get my key and the cm said "you got the best room!". I couldn't believe it when I walked in:



We were both so excited. We were out on the balcony when we heard a voice in the room. It was the bellman with the luggage, he said he knocked but had a feeling we were out on the balcony!

The view after WoC:



It was a great first stay at VGC. The room was right around the corner from the elevator and was in great shape. We watched WoC everynight, twice in the park and 3 times from the balcony. Great show!

Edit: got the same room in 2018, trees grew!

 

[marts35]

Awesome....This is one of our favorite rooms. Great pictures!

 

[Disney Princess]

Debbie - what an awesome room! We are hoping to get that exact view in 10 days when we check in. I imagine we'll watch WoC a lot too with that view.

 

[barngro]

I am sitting on my balcony right this moment listening to the beautiful music they play on the pool side of DVC. I always request the pool view for this reason. The mornings are so peaceful and a wonderful way to reflect on how fortunate we are to be in this wonderful place. The hustle and bustle will come later, but for right now I am in heaven.

 

[Circusgirl]

I am sitting on my balcony right this moment listening to the beautiful music they play on the pool side of DVC. I always request the pool view for this reason. The mornings are so peaceful and a wonderful way to reflect on how fortunate we are to be in this wonderful place. The hustle and bustle will come later, but for right now I am in heaven.

I totally agree!

 

[Disney Princess]

I am sitting on my balcony right this moment listening to the beautiful music they play on the pool side of DVC. I always request the pool view for this reason. The mornings are so peaceful and a wonderful way to reflect on how fortunate we are to be in this wonderful place. The hustle and bustle will come later, but for right now I am in heaven.

This is good to hear. No matter what room we get, we will enjoy the view for one reason or another. I simply can't wait!!

 

[Lucille1963]

I'm a long time lurker poking my head out for the first time in this thread. We LOVE Disneyland and I'm dreaming of a trip in late Jan - early Feb 2012. We want to spend a week or so in a 1 BR and would LOVE LOVE LOVE a view like the ones shown in this thread!

 

[Nonsuch]

...We LOVE Disneyland and I'm dreaming of a trip in late Jan - early Feb 2012. We want to spend a week or so in a 1 BR and would LOVE LOVE LOVE a view like the ones shown in this thread!

That's a great time to visit, the crowds are lighter and the points required are low
Book as soon as possible, since the low points does increase demand.
Make sure to send a room request to member services

 

[franandaj]

I'm a long time lurker poking my head out for the first time in this thread. We LOVE Disneyland and I'm dreaming of a trip in late Jan - early Feb 2012. We want to spend a week or so in a 1 BR and would LOVE LOVE LOVE a view like the ones shown in this thread!

That's a great time to visit, the crowds are lighter and the points required are low
Book as soon as possible, since the low points does increase demand.
Make sure to send a room request to member services

Usually that's a great time of year. If you don't own at VGC get ready to call MS when they open at your 7 month window, they book up quickly! Good luck!

 

[Lucille1963]

It is a little over a month before the 7 month window. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out for us. Thankfully, we have some wiggle room on our dates. Also, I'm also hoping to add a couple of nights at the DLH. Its my favorite place to stay and with all the changes I want to experience it for myself (our last trip was 2008).

Any ideas which room size is the hardest to book? I really have my heart set on a 1 bedroom.

I'll definitely be dialing the moment my 7 month window opens up!

 

[rentayenta]

DH and I were talking about adding on at GCV, possibly resale- need to figure out what the differences are. We the GCV.

 

[the donut]

It is a little over a month before the 7 month window. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out for us. Thankfully, we have some wiggle room on our dates. Also, I'm also hoping to add a couple of nights at the DLH. Its my favorite place to stay and with all the changes I want to experience it for myself (our last trip was 2008).

Any ideas which room size is the hardest to book? I really have my heart set on a 1 bedroom.

I'll definitely be dialing the moment my 7 month window opens up!

I think the studios go first. I have pretty good luck getting 2BR's. Of course, there are also only 2 grand villas, and they must be hard to get, but I hardly ever inquire about them.

 

[CrazyDuck]

It is a little over a month before the 7 month window. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out for us. Thankfully, we have some wiggle room on our dates. Also, I'm also hoping to add a couple of nights at the DLH. Its my favorite place to stay and with all the changes I want to experience it for myself (our last trip was 2008).

Any ideas which room size is the hardest to book? I really have my heart set on a 1 bedroom.

I'll definitely be dialing the moment my 7 month window opens up!

Form what I hear the studios are the most popular. There are only 8 dedicated studios. There are no dedicated 1br's just the 23 1br's attached to the 23 adjoining studios. With the studios filling up first the 1br's should be the easiest to book... However, 23 is still a small number, especially durring off-peak (DVC Busy) times! Good Luck!

 

[Nonsuch]

From what I hear the studios are the most popular. There are only 8 dedicated studios. There are no dedicated 1br's just the 23 1br's attached to the 23 adjoining studios.

Those 8 units not attached to 1-bedroom villas are hotel rooms.
DVC could convert those rooms to studios and sell more points, but all the VGC documents show them as hotel rooms.

 

[Nonsuch]

It is a little over a month before the 7 month window. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out for us. Thankfully, we have some wiggle room on our dates. Also, I'm also hoping to add a couple of nights at the DLH. Its my favorite place to stay and with all the changes I want to experience it for myself (our last trip was 2008).

Any ideas which room size is the hardest to book? I really have my heart set on a 1 bedroom.

I'll definitely be dialing the moment my 7 month window opens up!

If you have difficulty booking at 7 months in January or February, you could consider March. The points are much higher in March, so it is easier to book. I have booked a 1-bedroom less than 2 months in advance, but in late February at the higher rate.