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

[KAT4DISNEY]

If given the choice between a new DVC resort at DLH and the expansion of VGC, I'd vote for the latter. I already own at VGC and adding to the # of rooms available to me at 11 months would be a lot better than adding a new resort where I'd either have to buy more points to get that advantage or wait until 7 months like everyone else to stay at DLH DVC.

I've read reports that when they built the DVC rooms at VGC and added on a bunch of other hotel rooms, some of those were built so they could be converted into DVC rooms if so desired. If true, that would be great.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks. Didn't know that, and we were so anxious to get to the EMH at CA I didn't even really look at it except where she said to sign.

I have a question, though. We're going back in Sep and I realized even though I made the reservation at the 11 month window I didn't know then about room requests. So when we got back this week, I called MS and read them my preferred rooms, this time for a 1 bedroom.

I got to talking with the CM and he said rooms aren't assigned until a couple of weeks before arrival date.

When I checked in Monday, the CM at the front desk said rooms are assigned based on when you make the reservation, and some are determined by a difference of minutes as to who gets their choice over another person.

I've also on the boards that checking in early increases your chance of actually getting a room you specifically request.

I can see how the room assignments at 2 weeks and the use of time of reservation made can work together to determine your room.

What I'm not sure of is the part about checking in early. Does it really make a difference if the other 2 criteria are used?

I ask because on our next trip we MIGHT be able to get to VGC early, but it w/b a real hassle.

I even asked when checking out, and the CM suggested I call that morning and do check in over the phone while driving there.

Ever hear of that being done, and does that make a difference in getting the room you request before someone else snatches it up?

Thanks.

In May of last year, my friend arrived at DL the day before me and stayed at PPH. She went over to VGC at 7:00am and asked for a Paradise Pier view studio. They said we were assigned a room facing the rapids. She asked if they could check for any view facing World of Color, the cm went into the back room and came back with 6504, which is an awesome view. She got a text at 9:45am that it was ready! I was on my way out, she texted me when I was connecting in PHX that it was ready and we had a great view, I couldn't believe it. So getting there early does make a difference.

 

[the donut]

I've read reports that when they built the DVC rooms at VGC and added on a bunch of other hotel rooms, some of those were built so they could be converted into DVC rooms if so desired. If true, that would be great.

Interesting - when we stayed there last week over the July 4th holiday, the bellhop told us that GCH was only running about 60-70% full for the summer. I think that would be and argument for conversion to DVC rooms since they aren't being occupied anyway. Then again, maybe the bellhop was just angling for a bigger tip (which we gave him).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks. Didn't know that, and we were so anxious to get to the EMH at CA I didn't even really look at it except where she said to sign.

I have a question, though. We're going back in Sep and I realized even though I made the reservation at the 11 month window I didn't know then about room requests. So when we got back this week, I called MS and read them my preferred rooms, this time for a 1 bedroom.

I got to talking with the CM and he said rooms aren't assigned until a couple of weeks before arrival date.

When I checked in Monday, the CM at the front desk said rooms are assigned based on when you make the reservation, and some are determined by a difference of minutes as to who gets their choice over another person.

I've also on the boards that checking in early increases your chance of actually getting a room you specifically request.

I can see how the room assignments at 2 weeks and the use of time of reservation made can work together to determine your room.

What I'm not sure of is the part about checking in early. Does it really make a difference if the other 2 criteria are used?

I ask because on our next trip we MIGHT be able to get to VGC early, but it w/b a real hassle.

I even asked when checking out, and the CM suggested I call that morning and do check in over the phone while driving there.

Ever hear of that being done, and does that make a difference in getting the room you request before someone else snatches it up?

Thanks.

No suggestions since I've never tried a call to check in - didn't even know you could - but just to share our recent experience. A month ago when we arrived to check in around 1PM the CM told me that she was glad we had arrived b/c she had already been asked 3 times by others to be switched to the room we had been assigned. She said she had not felt that was fair since we had booked right at 11 months. Frankly I do think preference ought to be given on some sort of basis like that and thought it was very nice that she took the time to check.

 

[franandaj]

No suggestions since I've never tried a call to check in - didn't even know you could - but just to share our recent experience. A month ago when we arrived to check in around 1PM the CM told me that she was glad we had arrived b/c she had already been asked 3 times by others to be switched to the room we had been assigned. She said she had not felt that was fair since we had booked right at 11 months. Frankly I do think preference ought to be given on some sort of basis like that and thought it was very nice that she took the time to check.

That's awesome to know. I usually book at 11 mos, if I know the date, so I'll keep that in mind.


Now if the would only anounce if F&W is oming back in 2013, I've already started booking my dates in case, but if they don't, I bought a lot of points for nothing!

 

[nunzia]

That's awesome to know. I usually book at 11 mos, if I know the date, so I'll keep that in mind.


Now if the would only anounce if F&W is oming back in 2013, I've already started booking my dates in case, but if they don't, I bought a lot of points for nothing!

..on a waitlist of 65 more

 

[mouselike-harrier]

Our flight from the East comes in early evening. Does this mean we get a villa with a bad view?

 

[sechelt]

Our son arrived very late on a Friday, for the DL half marathon. When I say late, it was probably around 10 or 11 at night. He was given studio 6504, the one with the incredible view, even though we hadn't made any room requests at all. His friends also arrived late, maybe Saturday, and were given a free upgrade from a studio to a 2 bdrm. No room request was put in for them either.

This was only 10 months ago so would policy have changed since then or were they just lucky?

 

[taaren]

Interesting - when we stayed there last week over the July 4th holiday, the bellhop told us that GCH was only running about 60-70% full for the summer. I think that would be and argument for conversion to DVC rooms since they aren't being occupied anyway. Then again, maybe the bellhop was just angling for a bigger tip (which we gave him).

I know Iger was quoted as saying there would be no more West Coast DVC for awhile ... in my mind largely because that would detract from trying to sell Aulani, which will probably take them 5+ years. I got the impression when I was at Aulani that sales were not nearly as brisk as had been projected, largely due to the tsunami/disaster in Japan. (Though sales to Japanese-speaking guides were still outpacing English-only speaking guides by a wide margin.)

And after Aulani is sold, they probably won't want to do any more sales in this region for awhile if its been going badly.

I was at VGC during opening weekend of Carsland, and I asked if the hotel was full and one of the greeters near the check in said they were only about 70% full in the hotel though the villas were booked solid.

When I have been there in past Octobers and asked about occupancy, they've stated that they had no more rooms to give on the weekend (I watched guests request to switch/add rooms and they were completely full on the hotel side). Anybody know what the target goal for hotel occupancy at Disney is? I know average hotel occupancy rates looked at industry-wide tend to range from 45-80% seasonally, and the past few years has been slightly slack.

I'd guess that 70% is a really good occupancy rate for a luxury hotel such as the Grand Californian, though they'd love 98% I'm sure. Of course DVD and the Disney Resort Hotels are completely different arms of Disney and make profits in very different ways so I'd be curious if that was even a factor in their decision making.

Interesting speculation. I'd personally love to see both more villas at the GC or a tower at the DLH. But I'm not really their target demographic anymore since if I buy points it will likely be on the resale market. It would be kind of cool if the rooms on the VGC wing that are currently hotel rooms got converted to inn-style rooms like they have at Vero. The main problem with converting those rooms into a general VGC points pool is the view issue. Those rooms will have no chance of an awesome view like the current ones, and if you mix the inventory together a lot of people will be upset/disappointed unless they make view categories like they have at AKV, BLT, BWV.

 

[Nonsuch]

...It would be kind of cool if the rooms on the VGC wing that are currently hotel rooms got converted to inn-style rooms like they have at Vero. The main problem with converting those rooms into a general VGC points pool is the view issue. Those rooms will have no chance of an awesome view like the current ones, and if you mix the inventory together a lot of people will be upset/disappointed unless they make view categories like they have at AKV, BLT, BWV.

"Inn Style Rooms" is a great idea, having a new room type would be easier than attempting to renovate existing hotel rooms. Rooms with 2 queen beds might be more desirable to some guests, that the current studio layout.

 

[disneydenisel]

I usually stay in a one-bedroom, and this is what I would request:
6502, 5508, 4508, 3508, 5502, 4502, 3502, 5514, 4514, 3514

My reasoning:
6502 only 3 villas on the 6th floor
x508 slightly better WOC view than x502
x502 WOC view
x514 redwood creek view (you have already had this view, so these could be left off your request)

Thank you SO much for your list ! I have printed it out and am ready to add it to my villa requests at 11 months out. I would rather have a different view than Redwood Creek since I have had that 2 out of 2 so far. Something different would be lovely!

 

[Nonsuch]

No suggestions since I've never tried a call to check in - didn't even know you could - but just to share our recent experience. A month ago when we arrived to check in around 1PM the CM told me that she was glad we had arrived b/c she had already been asked 3 times by others to be switched to the room we had been assigned. She said she had not felt that was fair since we had booked right at 11 months. Frankly I do think preference ought to be given on some sort of basis like that and thought it was very nice that she took the time to check.

A different CM might have done the swap to make the guest checking in happy, so early check in is the only way to make sure your room is not swapped. I might try the phone option.

Our son arrived very late on a Friday, for the DL half marathon. When I say late, it was probably around 10 or 11 at night. He was given studio 6504, the one with the incredible view, even though we hadn't made any room requests at all. His friends also arrived late, maybe Saturday, and were given a free upgrade from a studio to a 2 bdrm. No room request was put in for them either.

This was only 10 months ago so would policy have changed since then or were they just lucky?

I think they were both very lucky. An upgrade in villa type is rare, I don't recall reading about another instance at VGC in this or the earlier owners thread (over 5000 posts).

VGC is often fully booked, but I don't think it is purposely over-booked. However the villa assignments must be carefully managed, to insure 2-bedroom lockoff and HA reservations are met. So even though the villas are not overbooked, there was no studio available for your fiends' visit without creating a conflict. Were they upgraded to 3513 by any chance? It seems the HA villas are often held back as the last assignment.

 

[Breyean]

A different CM might have done the swap to make the guest checking in happy, so early check in is the only way to make sure your room is not swapped. I might try the phone option.

We're not going back until September and will try the phone option as well.

Since we don't really want to risk a bad room assignment, I'll probably call the hotel before then and just ask if you can even do a phone check in for the DVC side. That way I'll know (maybe) and if they say no, I'll arrange to get there early. Longish drive from AZ though to get there early! That's why I hope it really does work.

 

[sechelt]

A different CM might have done the swap to make the guest checking in happy, so early check in is the only way to make sure your room is not swapped. I might try the phone option.

I think they were both very lucky. An upgrade in villa type is rare, I don't recall reading about another instance at VGC in this or the earlier owners thread (over 5000 posts).

VGC is often fully booked, but I don't think it is purposely over-booked. However the villa assignments must be carefully managed, to insure 2-bedroom lockoff and HA reservations are met. So even though the villas are not overbooked, there was no studio available for your fiends' visit without creating a conflict. Were they upgraded to 3513 by any chance? It seems the HA villas are often held back as the last assignment.

The 2 bdrm was on the first floor but I'm not sure which way it faced. I didn't know upgrades were that rare so I guess they really were very lucky. I thought the hotel may have had an opportunity to get $$ for the studio while the 2 bdrm sat empty.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A different CM might have done the swap to make the guest checking in happy, so early check in is the only way to make sure your room is not swapped. I might try the phone option.

Yes, and from this thread it sounds like they often do. I was happy that at least one - or maybe a few are trying to use some factors to base request filling on rather than the squeaky wheel method.

Since we don't really want to risk a bad room assignment, I'll probably call the hotel before then and just ask if you can even do a phone check in for the DVC side. That way I'll know (maybe) and if they say no, I'll arrange to get there early. Longish drive from AZ though to get there early! That's why I hope it really does work.

I think bad is relative and I don't think anything at VGC really qualifies as bad. I've had all views and have enjoyed every one.

 

[luv2sleep]

How hard is it to get a weekend in December 7 month out? Any weekend. Impossible pretty much?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

How hard is it to get a weekend in December 7 month out? Any weekend. Impossible pretty much?

Other than the first weekend when they usually have the CP you would have had a chance right at 7 months for this year. Things seem to be getting tighter and tighter though so it's hard to say how it will be going forward.

 

[luv2sleep]

Other than the first weekend when they usually have the CP you would have had a chance right at 7 months for this year. Things seem to be getting tighter and tighter though so it's hard to say how it will be going forward.

Good to know. I don't go to the CP and don't like that weekend anyway because it's so crowded. I tend to like the 2nd weekend.

Thanks!

 

[dcfromva]

Other than the first weekend when they usually have the CP you would have had a chance right at 7 months for this year. Things seem to be getting tighter and tighter though so it's hard to say how it will be going forward.

Yup...That first weekend is really in demand! We had to make a change to our upcoming reservation involving the first weekend in Dec at about 8.5 months prior and we had to WL one of the nights. (Changes are a bear!)
Last year (first weekend in Dec again) we had a WL for one of the nights due to changes at the 7 month point.--The WL never came through. It is a truly wonderful time to visit.

 

[hjgaus]

You are very welcome

Checking in early is a very good idea. When you register, be sure to mention it is your first visit. On my first visit, the Cast Member went into a back room to reassign my room (I did not make a view request in advance).

Although the CM will not tell you your room number, it is printed on the registration form. Look at the room number and request a change, if needed, before signing. It never hurts to ask for a different room, and the CM can spend more time with you since registration will not be busy early Thursday morning.

I just made a 2 day reservations @ VGC for Jan. 4 - 6, would it be okay to call member services now with a list of requested rooms or wait til check in day @ 6 am to make my requests?
I also made a hotel reservation on points for Jan. 3 (the day before the villa stay) Would it also be better to check out ASAP (6am) then check in for villa to get a good room request? I think my family will be doing early morning entry (if available) so we would definitely have somewhere to go while waiting for a room.