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

[wind in the willows]

Welcome Home!!

 

[forevercruising]

I've not received a parking permit, is this something new?
I have always (at least since VGC has existed) shown my room key (with "Self Parking" printed on it) to exit the self parking lot

Each time we have stayed at VGC, our key cards have said "Self Parking" on them, but each time, we have also been given, at the security gate upon check-in, a parking card/permit which we have been instructed to put on the dashboard of our vehicle while it is parked in the self-parking lot. It is approximately 4 X 6, has our last name on it, and has our check out date on it. In fact, that card is the only item ever looked at when we have left the lot; we have never been asked to show the "Self Parking" on our keys!

My husband specifically remembers our last one, because we stayed for ten nights and by the time we checked out, the green card (usually it is white, but the last one was green) was quite faded by the sun when we left!

Strange how experiences differ! We have not "gone home" for two years, but that was the protocol for all of our stays prior to that.

 

[Linda67]

Hi everyone
Just wanted to update everyone as you were all so helpful
Sadly, I couldn't get the studio for the 6 nights I wanted (I didn't try and walk the reservation but now wish I had tried!)
I'm on the wait-list so will hold tight for a couple of months but will then have to cancel my flights in order that I can get a refund
Fingers crossed - I guess you never know, someone may cancel

 

[JimmyJam838]

I currently have a 2 bedroom lockout reserved for a few days later next month. Anyone know how easy it is to switch to a 1 bedroom if necessary?

 

[Snurk71]

I currently have a 2 bedroom lockout reserved for a few days later next month. Anyone know how easy it is to switch to a 1 bedroom if necessary?

Pretty sure you'd have to cancel and rebook, keeping your fingers crossed the 1br doesn't disappear between the cancel and new reservation.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-Note2 using DISBoards

 

[Shelly S]

Hi everyone
Just wanted to update everyone as you were all so helpful
Sadly, I couldn't get the studio for the 6 nights I wanted (I didn't try and walk the reservation but now wish I had tried!)
I'm on the wait-list so will hold tight for a couple of months but will then have to cancel my flights in order that I can get a refund
Fingers crossed - I guess you never know, someone may cancel

I got 8 nights in a studio 4/11 to 4/19. I did walk mine for two days as I was in yellowstone park with limited cell signal on the 12th, but didn't need to. Right now 15th studio is available I would book it and do 2 short 1 or 2 day wait lists until you get what you want. It will be nearly impossible to get all 6 days on one wait list. Also check the website daily as single days often open up. We have had good luck with single day wait lists at VGC piecing them together till you get all your days. Good luck!

 

[bigAWL]

I got 8 nights in a studio 4/11 to 4/19. I did walk mine for two days as I was in yellowstone park with limited cell signal on the 12th, but didn't need to. Right now 15th studio is available I would book it and do 2 short 1 or 2 day wait lists until you get what you want. It will be nearly impossible to get all 6 days on one wait list. Also check the website daily as single days often open up. We have had good luck with single day wait lists at VGC piecing them together till you get all your days. Good luck!

Once you get all the 1-2 day wailist reservations fulfilled, do you call MS and have them all linked together? Do they become one reservation? I assume they can do that without actually dropping any of the nights and risk losing them.

 

[Shelly S]

Once you get all the 1-2 day wailist reservations fulfilled, do you call MS and have them all linked together? Do they become one reservation? I assume they can do that without actually dropping any of the nights and risk losing them.

Yes. Last year I could not get the first two days out of 5. I booked the other 3 days. Day 1 came in about two weeks later, day 2 came in at 4months. Remember, you can only do 2 wait lists at a time. They were all linked on one reservation. This was in June.

 

[Linda67]

I got 8 nights in a studio 4/11 to 4/19. I did walk mine for two days as I was in yellowstone park with limited cell signal on the 12th, but didn't need to. Right now 15th studio is available I would book it and do 2 short 1 or 2 day wait lists until you get what you want. It will be nearly impossible to get all 6 days on one wait list. Also check the website daily as single days often open up. We have had good luck with single day wait lists at VGC piecing them together till you get all your days. Good luck!

I've only just spotted your reply
I think I've made a real mess of this attempted reservation. The CM at member services advised me to wait list the full 6 nights when I tried to book right on my 7 month window
It doesn't sound like that was the right decision for me to make

 

[JimmyJam838]

I currently have a 2 bedroom lockout reserved for a few days later next month. Anyone know how easy it is to switch to a 1 bedroom if necessary?

I was able to switch to a 1 bedroom. The member services rep had to get a supervisor to do it without cancelling and rebooking. My points went into holding. Since it's so hard to get into a villa room within 60 days of a reservation and since my wife forgot to buy Halloween party tickets for 10/20, we decided to stay an extra night and get a hotel room for the night of 10/22 and buy the tickets for that night.

 

[LisaT91403]

I was able to switch to a 1 bedroom. The member services rep had to get a supervisor to do it without cancelling and rebooking. My points went into holding. Since it's so hard to get into a villa room within 60 days of a reservation and since my wife forgot to buy Halloween party tickets for 10/20, we decided to stay an extra night and get a hotel room for the night of 10/22 and buy the tickets for that night.

If you really want to go to MHP on the 20th, I'd check with the front desk when you check in. The Disney hotels & resorts always have some MHP tickets available...it's just a matter of getting them (the day of) before they are all gone.

 

[Nonsuch]

Grizzly Game Arcade has been transformed into Eureka Fitness Center.
The change was made about a month ago.

Eureka Fitness Center is open 24 hours.

This is a convenient location for VGC guests, located near the elevators

VGC maps linked in my signature have been updated with the change

 

[finchy3]

Grizzly Game Arcade has been transformed into Eureka Fitness Center.
The change was made about a month ago.

Eureka Fitness Center is open 24 hours.

This is a convenient location for VGC guests, located near the elevators

VGC maps linked in my signature have been updated with the change

Awesome thanks for the heads up

 

[Breyean]

Grizzly Game Arcade has been transformed into Eureka Fitness Center.
The change was made about a month ago.

Eureka Fitness Center is open 24 hours.

This is a convenient location for VGC guests, located near the elevators

VGC maps linked in my signature have been updated with the change

So did they move the equipment over from the spa? If so, what took over that space at the spa?

It's sort of funny. Back before there was a VGC, the fitness center was on this side of the pool. Then when they did some construction or remodeling of the space along the walkways, they moved the fitness center to a tent on the grass where VGC would eventually wind up.

Then the fitness center moved to it's current location at the spa. Until just now, it seems, when it's back close to where it started many years ago.

 

[Nonsuch]

So did they move the equipment over from the spa? If so, what took over that space at the spa?

The windows to the old location are covered with paper, and currently unused. The spa staff did no know what would be taking over the space.

It's sort of funny. Back before there was a VGC, the fitness center was on this side of the pool. Then when they did some construction or remodeling of the space along the walkways, they moved the fitness center to a tent on the grass where VGC would eventually wind up.

Then the fitness center moved to it's current location at the spa. Until just now, it seems, when it's back close to where it started many years ago.

The more things change, the more they stay the same
The old fitness center was only open 6AM to 8PM, some guests will appreciate 24 hour access.

 

[Breyean]

The windows to the old location are covered with paper, and currently unused. The spa staff did no know what would be taking over the space.

The more things change, the more they stay the same
The old fitness center was only open 6AM to 8PM, some guests will appreciate 24 hour access.

I used to enjoy getting some fruit and maybe some water at the old fitness center location on my way back to my room from a run. Once they moved it to the other side with the spa, they made me sign in just to take an apple. It was also sort of out of the way, and dripping at the front desk signing in for an apple was a bridge too far.

I wonder if they'll have fruit at the new location?

 

[Nonsuch]

A quick report on another great VGC stay

Checked in around 8AM and received 1-bedroom villa 5502
This visit was booked last December, which might be a factor in favorable room assignment. 5502 is number 3 on my request list.

The view from 5502 remains unobstructed by trees:

The LG television has been replaced by a Samsung.
Installation is rather sloppy:

The bedroom desk lamp is this now this style:

The same design is used throughout GCH:

The original lamps were more attractive, but were often stolen:

 

[finchy3]

Looks like they need a bigger Samsung to fill that space.

 

[sparkhill]

Small world... We checked out of 5502 yesterday morning.

This was our second stay in this room, with the last time in April 2014. I also immediately noticed the terrible TV install. The washer and dryer have seen better days. You will love the Velcro dryer closure.

Edit: I just noticed that we checked in on your checkout day.

 

[dreamseeker9]

Hi all - I'm thinking of renting points for a GCV studio, June 4-6, 2015. I have a conference starting June 7th, so unfortunately my dates are fixed to enjoy DLR. I saw that Grad Nights are scheduled for June 5-6, bummer.

I'm debating between the GCV studio (it's cheaper than any of the Disney hotels' regular rooms to rent these points, believe it or not!) or extending my convention hotel stay (Hilton Anaheim). I'll arrive by early afternoon on Thursday, June 4th, so I'll go to the parks that afternoon/evening. I'll take advantage of EMH on Friday, June 5th. I'll be solo, but I may have 2 friends meet up with me on June 6th, so it may not be a parks day.

I've only been to DLR once for 1 day last November, and I've never stayed in Anaheim. I really want to explore DLR more, and I want to explore GCH, DLH, and DD.

Any pros or cons you can think of if I go with the GCV studio? I'm really leaning toward it, even though it will cost more than another 2 nights at the Hilton.

Thanks!