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

[pepe3penelope]

Correct.

 

[RyanJW]

So looks like a refurb in 2024 is scheduled? Might be even tougher for non-owners to get a room here.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Obsessed with the light fixtures at Grand Cal. Here’s a photo of one from a VGC lamps I made into my phone home screen. Greetings on New Years Eve from VGC!

 

[vicarrieous]

Obsessed with the light fixtures at Grand Cal. Here’s a photo of one from a VGC lamps I made into my phone home screen. Greetings on New Years Eve from VGC!

Enjoy! We can't wait to visit in July

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Enjoy! We can't wait to visit in July

Until then you can live @vicarrieous -ly. Xoxo.

 

[vicarrieous]

Until then you can live @vicarrieous -ly. Xoxo.

Bwahahahaha true that!

 

[pkgman]

I was lucky to grab a reservation @ GCV (non-owner) next July. When I try to buy tickets on DVC member site, they only list WDW tickets with my reservation. If I try to buy tickets for Disneyland on the general ticket website only dates until 5/2 are listed. Can I not but tickets until the open reservation dates? Seems to be real disadvantage if packages could be reserving with reservation and I cannot.

 

[Wakey]

Where’s the quiet views at VGC? I’ve booked for August- 3rd year I’ve booked (coming from UK, so previous 2 years had to be cancelled). I’d like a theme park view but my wife hates any noise so think I’d better request a quiet view. Third time lucky hopefully. We have a 1 bed booked. Thanks.

 

[SeaDis]

I was lucky to grab a reservation @ GCV (non-owner) next July. When I try to buy tickets on DVC member site, they only list WDW tickets with my reservation. If I try to buy tickets for Disneyland on the general ticket website only dates until 5/2 are listed. Can I not but tickets until the open reservation dates? Seems to be real disadvantage if packages could be reserving with reservation and I cannot.

Congrats!
Park Reservations only show 120 days out. Staying onsite, you won't have anything to worry about if you book in a reasonable amount of time. There is a hotel "bucket" of reservations that seems to have plenty of availability. If you want to buy tickets now, you can just pick random dates in May and then cancel/adjust them later in your online account. Or, you can use an authorized ticket reseller (without making reservations) and probably save a few bucks in the process; then book your dates once they are available. The current tickets expire first use December 2023, I believe.

I can never remember which resellers are approved to post here, but there are basically three major ones right now if you search around. One of them even offers flexible/refundable tickets for a very modest fee.

To use the hotel bucket: 1) Create account on Disneyland.com 2) Add your VGC reservation 3) Add your park tickets 4) Make your park reservation through your hotel details page.

 

[SeaDis]

Where’s the quiet views at VGC? I’ve booked for August- 3rd year I’ve booked (coming from UK, so previous 2 years had to be cancelled). I’d like a theme park view but my wife hates any noise so think I’d better request a quiet view. Third time lucky hopefully. We have a 1 bed booked. Thanks.

The end units x514 facing Redwood Creek might be a compromise for you both. You might get a little glimpse of DCA by leaning over the railing (not much and it may be gone with trees by now), but get away from the noise of Goofy's & Golden Zephyr and other happenings in that area.

Other than that, we somehow have never stayed on the pool side, but I am warming up to the idea with every passing trip. It would definitely be quieter, especially in the evenings when the pool slows down and then closes. The pools are beautiful at night also. I personally would not want to be on the ground floor, however. Floor 2 and above would be fine on the pool side.

We use white noise app on our phone or bring an actual sleep machine from home.

 

[pkgman]

Congrats!
Park Reservations only show 120 days out. Staying onsite, you won't have anything to worry about if you book in a reasonable amount of time. There is a hotel "bucket" of reservations that seems to have plenty of availability. If you want to buy tickets now, you can just pick random dates in May and then cancel/adjust them later in your online account. Or, you can use an authorized ticket reseller (without making reservations) and probably save a few bucks in the process; then book your dates once they are available. The current tickets expire first use December 2023, I believe.

I can never remember which resellers are approved to post here, but there are basically three major ones right now if you search around. One of them even offers flexible/refundable tickets for a very modest fee.

To use the hotel bucket: 1) Create account on Disneyland.com 2) Add your VGC reservation 3) Add your park tickets 4) Make your park reservation through your hotel details page.

Thanks SeaDis I have already downloaded the Disneyland app. My reservation automatically linked when signed into the app. I found in the app that I can make reservation starting March 4th.
I just wanted to buy tickets now. I assumed that DL raises prices early in the year just like WDW.

After 15 trips to WDW, I feel a little overwhelmed understanding everything I need to plan for DL.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Where’s the quiet views at VGC? I’ve booked for August- 3rd year I’ve booked (coming from UK, so previous 2 years had to be cancelled). I’d like a theme park view but my wife hates any noise so think I’d better request a quiet view. Third time lucky hopefully. We have a 1 bed booked. Thanks.

The Paradise Pier view (or has that name changed - probably) is the loudest. I'd normally say the pool view is the most quiet but the Redwood Creek end is not bad.

 

[SeaDis]

Thanks SeaDis I have already downloaded the Disneyland app. My reservation automatically linked when signed into the app. I found in the app that I can make reservation starting March 4th.
I just wanted to buy tickets now. I assumed that DL raises prices early in the year just like WDW.

After 15 trips to WDW, I feel a little overwhelmed understanding everything I need to plan for DL.

Understood. DLR had a "surprise" price increase in October 2021. Prior to the Parks closing, yes, the price increases were regularly early in the year. Who knows what to expect this year. It could be an increase or a tweaking of the tiers/multi-day prices. By all means... if you know you will be making the trip this Spring or at some point, you can buy anytime. Have fun!

 

[AZMermaid]

I request “quiet view” now everytime. Twice I’ve gotten studios ending in 09 which is kinda a corner side pool view which was very quiet. Once we had a redwood creek view which is probably my favorite.

 

[mouschievous]

Question (and perhaps it's answered but I didn't want to scroll through 238 pages!) - are all the studios queen beds?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Question (and perhaps it's answered but I didn't want to scroll through 238 pages!) - are all the studios queen beds?

Yes.

 

[mouschievous]

@KAT4DISNEY, thank you!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Anyone know where the 1 bed hearing accessible room is located? I remember seeing a map with the wheelchair accessible room marked (first floor facing redwood area) but didn’t see the hearing accessible room marked. Thanks!

 

[celesta]

I'm debating a small contract at the Grand Californian but after reading about how difficult it is to book, I got worried. From owners, what are your experiences booking at the 11-month mark? Is it a wait to book at 8am EST at 11-month on the dot and hope there are no glitches, or is it more casual than that? I don't want to pay a lot for a contract and still have to bite my nails about being able to book.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

 

[HappyThoughtsTees]

I'm debating a small contract at the Grand Californian but after reading about how difficult it is to book, I got worried. From owners, what are your experiences booking at the 11-month mark? Is it a wait to book at 8am EST at 11-month on the dot and hope there are no glitches, or is it more casual than that? I don't want to pay a lot for a contract and still have to bite my nails about being able to book.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

As an owner I've never had trouble getting reservations. But I tend to book larger rooms as well are a family of 5. Booking a studio over the holidays may require being online that morning, but I don't think it's like Copper Creek studios where they are walked way ahead of time.