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

[Greysword]

We are going to DL in mid-April and I don't remember seeing this anywhere but does anyone know if you can charge back to your room like you can at WDW? I can't remember if I listed a CC# when I made my reservations. TIA.

If this is your first time at DLR, you'll want to visit the Disneyland DISboard and read:
- HydroGuy's sticky threads (all a great and inportant info)
- the "wide right" thread for getting onto Radiator Springs Racers (RCR)
- World of Color superthread

Plus, DLR seems to be enforcing fast pass return times (new for them), which is causing a stir. In addition, the CMs are taking people's pictures to attach to multi-day parkhoppers of all sorts, since they do not have the biometrics as in WDW. Seems to be issues with ticket renters.

So we were so excited to see that our waitlist came through, but have discovered that they took the extra points from the wrong contract! I called and asked if they could fix it and they said no. They said that the other contract shouldn't have even been listed as an option since we were not in the 7 month window yet. So now our Grand CA contract only has 59 points for next year. We need at least 98 to book for the 1/2 marathon in 2014. Not happy...

Congrats on the waitlist! Last year before our trip, I was able to call within the 7 month booking window and get the room charged to SSR points from VGC points. maybe worth a try, but make sure you have a knowledgeable CM first, in case something goes awry.

 

[nunzia]

Speaking of direct buy wait lists, does anyone have any knowledge on the length of wait for each use year? Nunzia, you mentioned that you have been waiting for a year now on the wait list. Were you looking for a use year that matched your current contracts or were you open to any use year?

I have a March use year and am only interested in having that as I want it to mesh with my current membership and not have to have two as I think I might find that pretty confusing.

 

[sechelt]

Speaking of direct buy wait lists, does anyone have any knowledge on the length of wait for each use year?

Spoke with our guide about a month ago. The people at the top of the April UY waitlist, were added in April 2011, almost two years ago! Don't know about the other UY's.

 

[Checkers]

If this is your first time at DLR, you'll want to visit the Disneyland DISboard and read:
- HydroGuy's sticky threads (all a great and inportant info)
- the "wide right" thread for getting onto Radiator Springs Racers (RCR)
- World of Color superthread.

I have searched and searched and cannot find the "wide right" thread. Also, does HydroGuy have his own sticky? If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. TIA.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Here you go....

Hydro Guy's thread for WDW Newbies:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

The Wide Right Thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596

Hope this helps

 

[gortman65]

I have searched and searched and cannot find the "wide right" thread. Also, does HydroGuy have his own sticky? If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. TIA.

I think this is the thread you are looking for: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596.

 

[Checkers]

Here you go....

Hydro Guy's thread for WDW Newbies:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

The Wide Right Thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971596

Hope this helps

Thank you!

 

[icephoenix25]

That 108 one would be the one I am waiting on to see if it passes ROFR. It seemed there used to be contracts in the high 90's, which is what I paid for my original direct contracts. (I have 4 contracts purchased direct). The contract I made an offer on at 108 looked high, but I see now that many are listed higher. Never thought I'd go the resale route, but being on the direct waitlist for almost a year pushed me into it

I wouldn't think you'd have a problem passing ROFL. We passed at 87, but that was back in 2011. I haven't kept up with Disney's purchasing habits lately.

 

[taaren]

I wouldn't think you'd have a problem passing ROFL. We passed at 87, but that was back in 2011. I haven't kept up with Disney's purchasing habits lately.

Wow, $108 definitely seems like it should pass. We bought direct at $96 in 2009 (2008?), then picked up a contract resale at $82. I wish we could get another contract since I'm always running out of points and now that we're only a 5 hour drive away, I can see us running out of points even sooner, but at over $100/pt? Probably not going to happen. *Sigh*

Just we'll just have to be content with what we have at VGC. At least I'll know that if I ever need to unload my contracts, they've more than held their value.

 

[Greysword]

Thanks for the assist, guys!

here is a link to the Disneyland board super sticky:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

On this one page are lots of links to get you all the info you could ever need/want about DLR, at least as a primer

 

[Breyean]

Wow, $108 definitely seems like it should pass. We bought direct at $96 in 2009 (2008?), then picked up a contract resale at $82. I wish we could get another contract since I'm always running out of points and now that we're only a 5 hour drive away, I can see us running out of points even sooner, but at over $100/pt? Probably not going to happen. *Sigh*

Just we'll just have to be content with what we have at VGC. At least I'll know that if I ever need to unload my contracts, they've more than held their value.

I just passed 2 weeks ago at $90. Waiting for the closing docs now.

It was add on so we could do 1 bedrooms rather than studios more often.

I was surprised that it passed at that price.

 

[XMom]

I just passed 2 weeks ago at $90. Waiting for the closing docs now.

It was add on so we could do 1 bedrooms rather than studios more often.

I was surprised that it passed at that price.

Was that resale or direct?

 

[sparkhill]

Was that resale or direct?

Direct does not go through ROFR and costs $130/point.

 

[dmwang9]

I check in to the VGC tomorrow for 5 nights of much-needed vacation! Staying in a studio -- this is a solo trip, so I don't need or want anything larger -- and looking forward to exploring the parks! I haven't been to DLR since Carsland opened in DCA.



-- Dave

 

[Nonsuch]

I check in to the VGC tomorrow for 5 nights of much-needed vacation!

Welcome Home
I'll be there Wednesday

 

[Nonsuch]

Last week I had my first villa facing the Redwood Creek Trail, villa 5514.
A one bedroom on the 5th floor.
Very quiet, there are no rooms above and the bedroom is not adjacent to another villa (only hallways and a maintenance closet). The balcony is also not adjacent to another balcony.

Window view:

View down toward Redwood Creek area:

View down toward pool:

 

[taaren]

Last week I had my first villa facing the Redwood Creek Trail, villa 5514.
A one bedroom on the 5th floor.
Very quiet, there are no rooms above and the bedroom is not adjacent to another villa (only hallways and a maintenance closet). The balcony is also not adjacent to another balcony.

Wow Nonsuch, those pictures and view are gorgeous! I hope to get that view one day ... I've had the WOC view several times and the pool view, too, so I'm just missing the Redwood view from my collection!

 

[Breyean]

Last week I had my first villa facing the Redwood Creek Trail, villa 5514.
A one bedroom on the 5th floor.
Very quiet, there are no rooms above and the bedroom is not adjacent to another villa (only hallways and a maintenance closet). The balcony is also not adjacent to another balcony.

We had this exact room in December. I had to walk around the hallways to make sure what I thought was right - as you said, very quiet and private inside and out.

We spent some time sitting and watching kids play on the bridge in the Redwood Creek area.

A very peaceful setting, except during WOC, from which I don't think there's any escape!

 

[AZMermaid]

I think I like the Redwood Creek views better than the PP view... maybe!

 

[Nonsuch]

Wow Nonsuch, those pictures and view are gorgeous! I hope to get that view one day ...

Make a view request, this villa was far down my request list.

I booked this 1 bedroom 11/24/12 and it was the last 1 bedroom available. At that time, there were only two 3-day reservations for March. If view request priority is based on order of booking, I would have very low priority.

My view request was:

Prefer a high floor with Paradise Pier Park View.
The room order of preference is: 6502, 5508, 4508, 5502, 4502, 3508,
3502, 5514, 4514, 3514, 2522, 2508, 2502, 2514

I received #8 on my request list.
I still prefer a WOC view, but might move 5514 up on my request list.

We had this exact room in December. I had to walk around the hallways to make sure what I thought was right - as you said, very quiet and private inside and out.

The hallway that wraps around the bedroom is only to access the second floor of the grand villa, so it is seldom used.