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

[AstroBlasters]

I hope everyone who celebrates had a nice Thanksgiving! (And that those who don't celebrate had a nice Thursday. Ha!)

 

[ajiuo]

Is there a way to see the cash value of rooms at VGC? I’m always curious to see the value of my stay. This is pretty easy to do with the Disney World resorts… but I can’t seem to find this info on VGC. I can’t even find where you can book cash rooms at all. Does VGC not do DVC rooms for cash?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Is there a way to see the cash value of rooms at VGC? I’m always curious to see the value of my stay. This is pretty easy to do with the Disney World resorts… but I can’t seem to find this info on VGC. I can’t even find where you can book cash rooms at all. Does VGC not do DVC rooms for cash?

https://www.dvcrofr.com/dvc-vs-rack-rates

There isn’t a cash value if nothing is available, but I think this does as good of job.

 

[DebbieB]

I know the 6.39% rate hike on dues for 2024 is a tough pill to swallow, but just remember this…


VGC 2024
8.5544 Dues
0.0000 Separate Transient Tax
________
8.5544 Total


VDH 2024
9.5307 Dues
2.8200 Separate Transient Tax
________
12.3507 Total


VGC perks

• All Rooms have patios
• Closer proximity to Parks
• All room views are pretty good
• Fully Renovated rooms coming in late 2024
• Stunning hotel lobby and grounds.

VDH rooms are less per night. I have a VGC studio for 32 points for 8/3, a standard studio at VDH is 26 points, 29 for preferred. I’m flying out a day early, I have a VGC 1 bedroom starting 8/4. Thinking of switching at 7 months to VDH for that 1 night, save a few points and try it out, have to use my BWV points, my VGC points are resale. May try for Duo if available.

Is there a way to see the cash value of rooms at VGC? I’m always curious to see the value of my stay. This is pretty easy to do with the Disney World resorts… but I can’t seem to find this info on VGC. I can’t even find where you can book cash rooms at all. Does VGC not do DVC rooms for cash?

This came up at an annual meeting, no cash rooms for VGC due to small number.

 

[ajiuo]

VDH rooms are less per night. I have a VGC studio for 32 points for 8/3, a standard studio at VDH is 26 points, 29 for preferred. I’m flying out a day early, I have a VGC 1 bedroom starting 8/4. Thinking of switching at 7 months to VDH for that 1 night, save a few points and try it out, have to use my BWV points, my VGC points are resale. May try for Duo if available.

It depends. VDH has 7 seasons. There are some instances where VGC is cheaper. I also don’t think it’s fair to compare a preferred view room to anything at VGC. I’ve had a preferred view room there and it faced the residential neighborhood west of the parks… makes me wonder what standard view is. Also, most VDH rooms don’t have patios where they all do at VGC…. Maybe the garden view rooms are more comparable to the pool view rooms at VGC, but I’m not sure if those all have patios.

Sure VDH has some cheaper options. But your getting what your paying for.

 

[AstroBlasters]

VDH rooms are less per night. I have a VGC studio for 32 points for 8/3, a standard studio at VDH is 26 points, 29 for preferred. I’m flying out a day early, I have a VGC 1 bedroom starting 8/4. Thinking of switching at 7 months to VDH for that 1 night, save a few points and try it out, have to use my BWV points, my VGC points are resale. May try for Duo if available.

This came up at an annual meeting, no cash rooms for VGC due to small number.

I would disagree with your blanket statement that “VDH rooms are less”.

Now, because there are different seasons then there are times, like when we go in Jan for 2 nights and will be staying at VDH, where VDH is a 1Bd for 74 points vs VGC at 152 points… that is a huge delta regardless of the TOT.

There are other seasons where VDH is actually higher than VGC.

For 8/3, because of the TOT I would essentially call it a tie… however my time has value (measured by how much I am spending on my vacation) and therefore I would say that VDH would “cost” you more.

It is also true that VDH has lower point cost lodging options (standard view, duo) and there is nothing wrong with booking those, but it is not a 1:1 comparison to a VGC studio.

Also, there are less SV studios and duos available and so I would hypothesize that there is a much higher chance of the PV studios being available at 7-month… which once again would not really be a saving vs VGC for a stay on 8/3.

 

[hhisc16]

Here is our example for June 2024:
VGC-Studio-24 points
VDH-Duo Standard-18 points + TOT
(Able to score VDH at 7 months, but had to rent VGC)

 

[Chili327]

Here is our example for June 2024:
VGC-Studio-24 points
VDH-Duo Standard-18 points + TOT
(Able to score VDH at 7 months, but had to rent VGC)

Duo should always be cheaper. How much is the standard studio for the same timeframe?

 

[hhisc16]

Duo should always be cheaper. How much is the standard studio for the same timeframe?

True.
Standard studio is 26 at VDH vs. VGC at 24.

 

[ajiuo]

True.
Standard studio is 26 at VDH vs. VGC at 24.

The View at VGC are also nicer then a standard view… in fact they are nicer then a preferred view… a garden view studio might be the closest comparison… i don’t think all garden room views have a patio though…

Yeah VDH has some cheaper rooms but you are getting what you pay for… then your going to pay 2.73 per point (2.82 in 2024)

 

[AstroBlasters]

True.
Standard studio is 26 at VDH vs. VGC at 24.

If you are two people or less who don’t plan to be in your room often and just want a place to lay your head at night… a duo is a nice DVC option to have because the point cost is low and you don’t need the extra space a studio has to offer. It’s a great addition to the Disneyland DVC inventory!

However, it’s not apples to apples with a VGC studio.

I’d pay the extra 3 points per night (including TOT) for a VGC studio over a VDH duo… but I would not pay to rent points at VGC if I have points that I can use at VDH and there is availability.

 

[meeshy1342]

I feel like I saw something mentioned in another thread about a refresh at VGC sometime in 2024 - for those that have a stay booked, what type of impact would we see? Does anyone have any additional info (i.e is it just the villas or is it also common areas such as pool, lobby, etc.)? Or has nothing been confirmed at all?

Edited to add, I wasn't sure if this warranted its own thread or if it was more appropriate to add to this one...hopefully this is the right spot to put this question!

 

[AstroBlasters]

I feel like I saw something mentioned in another thread about a refresh at VGC sometime in 2024 - for those that have a stay booked, what type of impact would we see? Does anyone have any additional info (i.e is it just the villas or is it also common areas such as pool, lobby, etc.)? Or has nothing been confirmed at all?

Edited to add, I wasn't sure if this warranted its own thread or if it was more appropriate to add to this one...hopefully this is the right spot to put this question!

Nobody knows anything officially yet. The pool and lobby are shared with the much larger hotel side and I have not read anything about renovations there….

 

[ajiuo]

I feel like I saw something mentioned in another thread about a refresh at VGC sometime in 2024 - for those that have a stay booked, what type of impact would we see? Does anyone have any additional info (i.e is it just the villas or is it also common areas such as pool, lobby, etc.)? Or has nothing been confirmed at all?

Edited to add, I wasn't sure if this warranted its own thread or if it was more appropriate to add to this one...hopefully this is the right spot to put this question!

They recently put Murphy beds in two rooms, probably to test them. They looked like they were the same style as the wood trim in the room. If I were to guess the rooms will probably be similar to the hotel rooms but a bit more updated.

I heard they have started blocking rooms for later next year… so we might find out what the referb will be in a couple of weeks at the meeting… perhaps it will be in the next Disney files

 

[ClaraOswald]

Right now, it's looking like the refurb might happen starting in the Fall of 2024. Speculation is that they will just do 1 floor at a time. I doubt they will do anything on the hotel side or with the pools. But again...all speculation.

 

[franandaj]

I love my VGC. I live half an hour away and of all my contracts I own more close to home than at any one resort in Florida. I own way too many points, but VGC is still my favorite.

However I'd like to try the VDH. How have folks been making out with 7 month reservations? Are they available? If so I'd use my SSR points for that!

When they announced it I was convinced I'd buy there. Circumstances have changed but I'm still considering 75 to 100 points? Do we think it will be in as demand as VGC?

 

[NVDISFamily]

I love my VGC. I live half an hour away and of all my contracts I own more close to home than at any one resort in Florida. I own way too many points, but VGC is still my favorite.

However I'd like to try the VDH. How have folks been making out with 7 month reservations? Are they available? If so I'd use my SSR points for that!

When they announced it I was convinced I'd buy there. Circumstances have changed but I'm still considering 75 to 100 points? Do we think it will be in as demand as VGC?

I'm glad I own both but I agree that VGC still is strongly my favorite as of now. I did a walk over to Disneyland Hotel and checked out the decor and the Grand Cal wins during the winter holiday by a wide margin. I do think I'm going to enjoy spring/summer trips at Disneyland Hotel and I'm glad that our UYs are split up to make VGC better for October/November and VDH for Spring/Summer.

In the long run VDH will be hard to get popular times in the larger rooms. Hope you will be able to check out VDH soon.

 

[Mathmagicland]

However I'd like to try the VDH. How have folks been making out with 7 month reservations? Are they available? If so I'd use my SSR points for that!

Since you live so close, if you are open to try a one night stay in a studio (the category I’ve been checking ) single nights within the 7-months window have been popping up from time to time these first few months.

 

[ajiuo]

However I'd like to try the VDH. How have folks been making out with 7 month reservations? Are they available? If so I'd use my SSR points for that!

I got a 2 night stay in a preferred view studio at about 6 weeks. I used AKV points. Was 46 points plus $126 in taxes.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This thread would make me wary to make a reservation for the holidays next year if I was in a 1 or 2 BD Villa

https://www.disboards.com/threads/b...struction-delays.3934999/page-3#post-65178678