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

[JimmyJam838]

From what I've read, dates for the Matterhorn refurb are 6/13/11-6/17/11, 6/20/11-6/24/11 and 7/11/11-9/1/11.

 

[EEyorelover22]

thank you for the info though. DD will be bummed to the max.

 

[Nonsuch]

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)...

I returned Monday from a 3 night stay in the Grand Villa - room 4522
This trip was planned 8 months ago, and I hoped that Little Mermaid and Star Tours would be open. June 3, when we checked in, was the official opening day for both rides. This was also the start of the 2 fastpass promotion and the Little Mermaid early entry for resort guests

I'll post some pictures and details about the Grand Villa in the next few days.
In the meantime, some quick comments about the trip:

We took advantage of Magic Morning to ride Star Tours - it's awesome
On Saturday (the second day Star Tours was officially open), we were able to ride twice during Magic Morning, then grab a fastpass for later.
On Sunday, we were able to ride 3 times during Magic Morning.

We also took advantage of the Little Mermaid early entry for resort guests.
The World of Color fastpass distribution for resort guest has changed. Previously, resort guests would enter California Adventure at 9AM and get fastpasses from the machines at Grizzly Rapids (and often immediately return to the hotel).
We lined up at the Grand Californian entrance to California Adventure at 8:30 (after already doing Disneyland Magic Morning). We were second in line, so showing up at 9AM would have been fine. At 9AM, cast members walked down the line and handed out World of Color fastpasses -- they did not check for park tickets or room keys. This is a much more efficient process, taking only a few minutes.
The entrance opened at 9:30, and we were able to ride Little Mermaid 4 times
The park main gates also open at 9:30, but a room key is required to ride the Little Mermaid before 10AM. On our 3rd and 4th rides of Little Mermaid there were hundreds of non-resort guests waiting, but we were able to literally "walk on" the ride.

It was a great trip, with only a couple mistakes...

I was unable to see any of the Star Tours opening ceremony. The entire entrance to Tomorrowland was blocked by a huge line for Star Tours, hundreds of people had camped out overnight. It turns out, it might have been possible to go around and view from Tomorrowland Terrace. I'll know better for Star Tours 3.0

I should have rode the Matterhorn. It is likely the renovation will replace the seat belts with lap bars.

 

[the donut]

I returned Monday from a 3 night stay in the Grand Villa - room 4522

Hi Nonsuch! We were there at the exact same time!

I was unable to see any of the Star Tours opening ceremony. The entire entrance to Tomorrowland was blocked by a huge line for Star Tours, hundreds of people had camped out overnight. It turns out, it might have been possible to go around and view from Tomorrowland Terrace.

We were on that side, and it's true it wasn't that crowded. But we used the time to ride SM and Nemo with no lines.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I think DH may just hurt me...last year getting up with the chickens for Harry Potter and now I told him about MM for Star ToursI hope isn't too annoyed. He and DS are huge Star Wars fans. DH is first generation and DS is 2nd. For that matter I am not sure DS will be okay with it!!

Thank you for the tips though. If they see it in print, they will believe. That's what I did last year with HP...they read it and got up and we were at the gates by 7 am

We are so excited...cannot wait to see the pictures!

Can someone help me out where the fitness center is too?

 

[franandaj]

Can someone help me out where the fitness center is too?

I'm pretty sure that is over near the Mandara Spa between Whitewater Snacks and the parks entrance.

 

[PoohNFriends]

From what I've read, dates for the Matterhorn refurb are 6/13/11-6/17/11, 6/20/11-6/24/11 and 7/11/11-9/1/11.

I thought I read on one of the Disney-related newsletters that 1 track would be down at a time so 6/13-6/17 would have 1 track down and 6/20-6/24 would have the other track down, but I would imagine 7/11-9/1 would have the whole ride down ? Of course, I can't find where I read this at all so I could be completely wrong (and apologize ahead of time if I am).

I'm pretty sure that is over near the Mandara Spa between Whitewater Snacks and the parks entrance.

Yes, it is right there (I didn't use it but I remember seeing what looked like some sort of devices that are used as cruel and evil punishment )!

 

[taaren]

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!!

Congrats, that's more than half the battle won right there! Now its just the waiting and waiting and tapping one's foot impatiently! Here's some on finding your contract!

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.

We won the room lottery last year since we had no requests and they gave us 4500, and loved loved loved that view! Is 5500 the top floor for that room? Probably since I don't remember seeing a 6500 when we went to the viewing deck. There's no elevated ceilings or anything in that room is there? That would have to be one of the nicest spots in the whole wing. We also very much enjoyed stepping off the elevators and being at our front door.

I returned Monday from a 3 night stay in the Grand Villa - room 4522
It was a great trip, with only a couple mistakes...
I was unable to see any of the Star Tours opening ceremony. The entire entrance to Tomorrowland was blocked by a huge line for Star Tours, hundreds of people had camped out overnight. It turns out, it might have been possible to go around and view from Tomorrowland Terrace. I'll know better for Star Tours 3.0

Definitely looking forward to the pics of the Grand Villa ... one of these years we'll splurge our points and stay in one ...
As far as the Star Tours opening ceremony, there's an article about it I read with pictures (I think there's a link on the DIS that showed up on my Facebook newsfeed), and from the sounds of it you didn't miss much, it was fairly low-key according to the blogger, no celebrities or anything he considered exciting.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We won the room lottery last year since we had no requests and they gave us 4500, and loved loved loved that view! Is 5500 the top floor for that room? Probably since I don't remember seeing a 6500 when we went to the viewing deck. There's no elevated ceilings or anything in that room is there?.

There are 3 villas on the 6th floor, all facing the Paradise Pier.
6500 - 2 bedroom
6502 - 1 bedroom
6504 - studio
The ceilings are standard height.
The balcony in 6504 is open on 2 sides, giving a view of Paradise Pier and also toward Grizzly Rapids.

 

[rentayenta]

Just booked the GCV from Nov 27-30, waitlisting Nov 30 and Dec 1st. Can't wait. I so need to add on there.

 

[taaren]

There are 3 villas on the 6th floor, all facing the Paradise Pier.
6500 - 2 bedroom
6502 - 1 bedroom
6504 - studio
The ceilings are standard height.
The balcony in 6504 is open on 2 sides, giving a view of Paradise Pier and also toward Grizzly Rapids.

Cool thanks! I know that somewhere in this thread there's a map of the wing layout floor by floor, but didn't want to hunt for it. Well, maybe one year we'll get 6500. Almost never book studios so probably will never get to see the dual view balcony though it sounds awesome. Anybody on here stayed in 6500 and know if the ceilings are normal height?

 

[Snurk71]

The World of Color fastpass distribution for resort guest has changed. Previously, resort guests would enter California Adventure at 9AM and get fastpasses from the machines at Grizzly Rapids (and often immediately return to the hotel).
We lined up at the Grand Californian entrance to California Adventure at 8:30 (after already doing Disneyland Magic Morning). We were second in line, so showing up at 9AM would have been fine. At 9AM, cast members walked down the line and handed out World of Color fastpasses -- they did not check for park tickets or room keys. This is a much more efficient process, taking only a few minutes.

The CMs only have so many FPs to hand out though. We found out the hard way - when the group in front of us was the last group to get FPs (and there were plenty of people behind us too). We got in line at 9:00 for a 10:00 park opening, and our line spot was at WWS.

So we had to wait to get our WOC FPs until we got into the park (slow getting through the security there), which delayed getting on SOC (3 months ago). So we weren't fans of the new process. I'd go line up even earlier now to make sure I got the FP handout.

 

[Nonsuch]

I know that somewhere in this thread there's a map of the wing layout floor by floor, but didn't want to hunt for it.

1 page version
6 page version

Anybody on here stayed in 6500 and know if the ceilings are normal height?

I've stayed in 6502, and the ceilings were normal height.

 

[Nonsuch]

The CMs only have so many FPs to hand out though. We found out the hard way - when the group in front of us was the last group to get FPs (and there were plenty of people behind us too). We got in line at 9:00 for a 10:00 park opening, and our line spot was at WWS.

Thanks for the info.
The line at the Grand Californian entrance last Saturday might have been unusually short, since many guests were going to Disneyland for Star Tours.
It is generally a good idea to arrive by 8:30.

 

[frank808]

I am staying at the grand cal right now. This morning and the previous mornings, they were still passing out the WOC fast passes. The best part was they did not run out and I got in line at 9:05 and the line was past wws and to the pool gate. The cast members still had a pretty sizeable stack of fast passes to give out.
FWIW the cast members just asked how many passes you needed and did not need to see park tickets (though they did ask to see a room key). I saw one guy ask and get 11 fast passes by himeself.

 

[disney4metoo]

Subscribing

 

[mikeandkarla]

Wow! We were blown away with the quality of the rooms at VGC. The murphy bed under the tv in the living room really provided more space than a sleeper chair when each was open along with the couch bed. We checked in later in the day so we got a pool view, (requested a park view) we had room 4507. Loved the proximity to DTD, DCA, and DL. I was even lucky enough to score a DVC vinylmation from D-street. The weather was unbelievable. Thiss was our first visit to California. Highs everyday were low to mid 70's,
With the free FP we were given at check in, we were able to ride Star Tours 5times. we had a great time.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Wow! We were blown away with the quality of the rooms at VGC. The murphy bed under the tv in the living room really provided more space than a sleeper chair when each was open along with the couch bed. We checked in later in the day so we got a pool view, (requested a park view) we had room 4507. Loved the proximity to DTD, DCA, and DL. I was even lucky enough to score a DVC vinylmation from D-street. The weather was unbelievable. Thiss was our first visit to California. Highs everyday were low to mid 70's,
With the free FP we were given at check in, we were able to ride Star Tours 5times. we had a great time.

Sounds like a perfect trip.

Jack

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Any one else think that its time for DVC to ratchet up the DVC discount on DL APs? WDW gives a $100 discount and DL only gives $20. According to my records, in 2008, the WDW AP and the DL PAP were both $369 after DVC discount (not including tax on the WDW AP). Now, the WDW AP is $419 and the DL PAP is $479!

If nothing else, it would be nice to see a DL PAP that would be available to DVC members which would not include parking in the Mickey & Friends lot. We stay in hotels or the GCV when we visit and never use the non-hotel parking lots. Just taking away the parking rights should enable DVC to negotiate a price that is $99 less for the PAP.

Do the rest of you buy APs or use the non-hotel parking? -- Suzanne

 

[franandaj]

We always park at the hotel.