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

[SuzanneSLO]

As of July 30, its official: we have moved from the VGC lovers group to the VGC owners group. Although we have been able to book 5 stays using our BWV points, we decided it was time to buy at VGC.

We went on the WL for a direct purchase in March, but are still waiting. Instead, we found a small resale contract in late May and the deed just recorded! -- Suzanne

 

[Mich Mouse]

As of July 30, its official: we have moved from the VGC lovers group to the VGC owners group. Although we have been able to book 5 stays using our BWV points, we decided it was time to buy at VGC.

We went on the WL for a direct purchase in March, but are still waiting. Instead, we found a small resale contract in late May and the deed just recorded! -- Suzanne

Congratulations! We have loved the GC for years- it's the most wonderful hotel we have ever encountered. We are also BWV owners and are using our BWV points to check into VGC for the first time on Sunday. So very thrilled to be staying in the villas this time. I hope to join this owners club someday too!

 

[taaren]

As of July 30, its official: we have moved from the VGC lovers group to the VGC owners group. Although we have been able to book 5 stays using our BWV points, we decided it was time to buy at VGC.

We went on the WL for a direct purchase in March, but are still waiting. Instead, we found a small resale contract in late May and the deed just recorded! -- Suzanne

Congrats! It will be fabulous for you having your home away from home be so close! Its weird thinking about booking at 8-11 months when you live in California and are just a few hours drive away, but its really necessary at the VGC ...

 

[nunzia]

As of July 30, its official: we have moved from the VGC lovers group to the VGC owners group. Although we have been able to book 5 stays using our BWV points, we decided it was time to buy at VGC.

We went on the WL for a direct purchase in March, but are still waiting. Instead, we found a small resale contract in late May and the deed just recorded! -- Suzanne

Congratulations!

 

[maburke]

As of July 30, its official: we have moved from the VGC lovers group to the VGC owners group. Although we have been able to book 5 stays using our BWV points, we decided it was time to buy at VGC.

We went on the WL for a direct purchase in March, but are still waiting. Instead, we found a small resale contract in late May and the deed just recorded! -- Suzanne

Congrats! Did you post your info in the ROFR thread? If not, please do!

 

[Dostert9]

We have a large family and are looking to book a trip for Aug. 2014. I've always been curious about renting DVC points and staying at the Grand CA. We are a family of 9 with a son in law and 2 boyfriend/girlfriends so there will be 12 of us all together. Who is the best person to rent through, how to figure out cost, what is included etc. I know there are threads but I would like to find out the most important stuff here then scour the threads. I am a little nervous with the dvc point rental but would love to see what the costs would be. I have a son with Autism and another with JRA so it would be wonderful to have a place close to the parks.
Thank you so much!

 

[boiseflyfisher]

For that large of a group, you are going to have to rent a grand villa. There are only two of them.

Here is the description: The Grand Villa is two stories tall and 2,426 square feet. They will accommodate up to twelve people, plus a child under age three in a crib. There are three bedrooms with a king-size bed in the master suite and two queen-size beds in each of the other two bedrooms. There is a queen-size sofa bed in the living room and a full-size sofa bed in the upstairs sitting room. There are four bathrooms: the master bathroom with a whirlpool tub and a shower, a full bathroom off each of the two bedrooms, and an additional bathroom in the living area which has a shower but no tub. There are flat-panel TVs in each bedroom plus the living room, with a DVD player in the living room. There is a laundry area with a stacked washer/dryer. There is a full kitchen with stove, oven, microwave, full-size refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, coffee maker, toaster, dishes and flatware, pots and pans, and cooking utensils. The Grand Villas are two stories high - the main entrance is downstairs, with a second entrance upstairs. The master suite, additional bathroom, kitchen, dining room, and laundry areas are downstairs, with the two bedrooms/bathrooms and a sitting area with sofa and pool table upstairs.

The grand villas are going to be 152 points per night Sunday-Thursday and 188 per night for Friday-Saturday. Multiply the point per night by $12-15 and you will have the total price per night. You can rent through individual owners or through DVC brokers like David.

 

[Breyean]

Just wanted to add, as the PP said so concisely, there are only 2 GVs.

For an August 2014 trip the 11 month window is fast approaching. You might want to start looking for VGC points immediately. You'll need quite a few and not many of us who own there rent very often.

Getting a Gv there at the 7 month window, which could use any DVC points, is usually pretty tough.

Good luck.

 

[Circusgirl]

We have a large family and are looking to book a trip for Aug. 2014. I've always been curious about renting DVC points and staying at the Grand CA. We are a family of 9 with a son in law and 2 boyfriend/girlfriends so there will be 12 of us all together. Who is the best person to rent through, how to figure out cost, what is included etc. I know there are threads but I would like to find out the most important stuff here then scour the threads. I am a little nervous with the dvc point rental but would love to see what the costs would be. I have a son with Autism and another with JRA so it would be wonderful to have a place close to the parks.
Thank you so much!

I used David's DVC Rentals and had a flawless experience. You can get a quote for your desired stay at his site. It probably will be slightly more expensive to rent from his group than directly from a member, but as others have already said, availability will be an issue. It may be harder than average to find someone with an 11 month window at the Grand who wants to rent their points.

There is a thread about and for renting and trading points under the Disney Vacation Club section on this board. I know many people who travel exclusively on rental points.

As a good DISer I have to warn you that you will be at increased risk of becoming a member yourself after your stay. Since that trip I've been back many times on my own points.

 

[maburke]

We have a large family and are looking to book a trip for Aug. 2014. I've always been curious about renting DVC points and staying at the Grand CA. We are a family of 9 with a son in law and 2 boyfriend/girlfriends so there will be 12 of us all together. Who is the best person to rent through, how to figure out cost, what is included etc. I know there are threads but I would like to find out the most important stuff here then scour the threads. I am a little nervous with the dvc point rental but would love to see what the costs would be. I have a son with Autism and another with JRA so it would be wonderful to have a place close to the parks.
Thank you so much!

I don't think you'd have to have a Grand Villa; with adult children, a 2BR and a studio could work. When we go to DL, we have our two boys with autism and my neice with JRA, and we have a fantastic time at the VGC.

Even with needing slightly fewer points of a 2BR + studio instead of a GV, the fact remains that VGC points can be hard to find, even through David's. Assume at least $14 per point in your price calculations.

You'd do well to look at the sticky threads on the rental board -- we'd probably forget something if we tried to repeat that here. Then ask if you still have questions.

 

[Kimmielee]

How many Deluxe Studios are there in GCV? I was on line at 7:45 a.m. and my dates were still available when I tried to book the day before our hopeful arrival. So at 8:00 AM ... it came up as available for all 5 nights and by the time I hit Select this offer... it was gone. Are there that few studios?

 

[maburke]

How many Deluxe Studios are there in GCV? I was on line at 7:45 a.m. and my dates were still available when I tried to book the day before our hopeful arrival. So at 8:00 AM ... it came up as available for all 5 nights and by the time I hit Select this offer... it was gone. Are there that few studios?

Are you talking about the 7 or 11 month window? There are (I believe) 23 possible studios, if none of them were made into a 2BR lock-off. But if you are looking at the 7 month window, then far fewer might have been available as of the day before.

 

[Kimmielee]

Are you talking about the 7 or 11 month window? There are (I believe) 23 possible studios, if none of them were made into a 2BR lock-off. But if you are looking at the 7 month window, then far fewer might have been available as of the day before.

7 month window... it was a pipe dream... we have hotel reservations at DL Hotel already but was hoping to flip our trip to DVC. Since DL Hotel was our first choice then I can't complain!!!

 

[DebbieB]

When you check in, even if your room isn't ready, you will be given a slip to sign about not smoking in the room, stuff like that. On the top of that slip is the room number.

So before you hand it back, take a look and you should see the room you've been assigned.

This worked for us about 3 weeks ago when we checked in. I had requested 6502, 5502, 4502, 5508, 4508 (1 bedroom). When I signed the form, I saw 4502. This was about 2:00pm, room wasn't ready. We waited for the text and when it didn't come by 4:00, we went to the front desk. Still not ready, give it a few minutes. 4:30, went back again, the cm went into the back room for awhile and came out and said it should be ready in a couple minutes. In the meantime, he gave us a slip for instant fastpass that could be used anywhere except World of Color or Radiator Springs. After he filled that out, he checked the computer again and it was ready (now about 4:45pm). It was 4502, we were concerned there might have been a switch. We used the fastpass for Toy Story Mania (it didn't have to be a fastpass ride).

 

[Breyean]

This worked for us about 3 weeks ago when we checked in. I had requested 6502, 5502, 4502, 5508, 5502 (1 bedroom). When I signed the form, I saw 4502. This was about 2:00pm, room wasn't ready. We waited for the text and when it didn't come by 4:00, we went to the front desk. Still not ready, give it a few minutes. 4:30, went back again, the cm went into the back room for awhile and came out and said it should be ready in a couple minutes. In the meantime, he gave us a slip for instant fastpass that could be used anywhere except World of Color or Radiator Springs. After he filled that out, he checked the computer again and it was ready (now about 4:45pm). It was 4502, we were concerned there might have been a switch. We used the fastpass for Toy Story Mania (it didn't have to be a fastpass ride).

Good for you. We're checking in Thursday; only a studio this time. Hope we have as good luck as you had and as we have had in the past with our room request!

 

[Circusgirl]

7 month window... it was a pipe dream... we have hotel reservations at DL Hotel already but was hoping to flip our trip to DVC. Since DL Hotel was our first choice then I can't complain!!!

If it works for you to wait list the dates, I encourage you to do so. I've been surprised at how often my hoped for dates open up. I was shocked when a Grand studio wait list came through for the weekend of D23 in 2011.

 

[Chereya]

I really loved the towels we had when we stayed at VGC in April but I forgot to take a pic of the towel tag so I could try to buy some for my home. Does anyone know what kind of towels they are or if you are headed to VGC soon would you mind checking?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

How many Deluxe Studios are there in GCV? I was on line at 7:45 a.m. and my dates were still available when I tried to book the day before our hopeful arrival. So at 8:00 AM ... it came up as available for all 5 nights and by the time I hit Select this offer... it was gone. Are there that few studios?

At max there is a total of 23 rooms that can be booked as a studio. And as was mentioned if any 2BR lockoffs were booked then that lowers that number.

 

[Kimmielee]

Well... Today I was able to get what I wanted!! I just shifted our trip a day and was able to book 5 nights at VGC deluxe studio!! We start at VCF for 2 nights in Lakeview Deluxe... Then to 1 Bedroom at BCV to do any last minute laundry while my DS enjoys his favorite pool... The off to Disneyland for 5 nights!!! The Disneyland leg of the trip is a surprise!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Mil leech]

Well... Today I was able to get what I wanted!! I just shifted our trip a day and was able to book 5 nights at VGC deluxe studio!! We start at VCF for 2 nights in Lakeview Deluxe... Then to 1 Bedroom at BCV to do any last minute laundry while my DS enjoys his favorite pool... The off to Disneyland for 5 nights!!! The Disneyland leg of the trip is a surprise!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

It was you!!

I was online at 8:02 on August 25th and lost the studio!! It was there when I looked a few minutes prior! the last two days have been gone so we may have to slip our trip a week. I keep trying every day at 8am! No luck yet...