The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 3.0

[NVDISFamily]

It would be nice to keep that entrance open especially as they do seem to station a security CM as well as the 1-2 guest services CM’s who check tickets, even well after noon.

Remember to fill out your guest surveys and to tell others to use that entrance.

The more I think of it my cynical/audit brain tells me that the entrance was really for a perk to justify the rack rate at the PP hotel and now that they have completed the remodel it's less of something they need to lean on so they are seeing if they can keep those rooms full with less of this perk. At least it helps in the AM to help with rope drop but overall it does distract from the premium feel of staying in the bubble (for guests at all of the resorts).

 

[VGCgroupie]

The more I think of it my cynical/audit brain tells me that the entrance was really for a perk to justify the rack rate at the PP hotel and now that they have completed the remodel it's less of something they need to lean on so they are seeing if they can keep those rooms full with less of this perk. At least it helps in the AM to help with rope drop but overall it does distract from the premium feel of staying in the bubble (for guests at all of the resorts).

I think they need to keep it and maybe use it as a selling point for VDH, because VDH is so much farther than VGC.

Just booked VDH this morning and now doing the math to see if I hate the walk enough to justify 16 extra points to stay at VGC for the same room type.

Edit: as soon as I hit reply I decided yes, yes it's worth it.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Just booked VDH this morning and now doing the math to see if I hate the walk enough to justify 16 extra points to stay at VGC for the same room type.

Edit: as soon as I hit reply I decided yes, yes it's worth it.

The whole VDH distance thing is not that big of a deal. The first time I tried the whole order from Corn Dog Castle thing for a snack for the family what we do at VGC I gave us a 10 min buffer on the mobile order that I normally don't do when we are at VGC and my son and I ended up standing around for a few min waiting to check in and get our snacks. Yea it's more walking but it's still easy to run the snacks back to our villa at VDH and they were still plenty fresh/hot. Plus that walk through the gardens of the DH grounds are fun and I also think the landscaping for the new entrance to DTD has added to the vibe of the place. It won't beat the Grand Cal but staying at VDH beats the hike from the villas at BW to EPCOT or HS.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I think they need to keep it and maybe use it as a selling point for VDH, because VDH is so much farther than VGC.

Just booked VDH this morning and now doing the math to see if I hate the walk enough to justify 16 extra points to stay at VGC for the same room type.

Edit: as soon as I hit reply I decided yes, yes it's worth it.

Man….

The whole VDH distance thing is not that big of a deal. The first time I tried the whole order from Corn Dog Castle thing for a snack for the family what we do at VGC I gave us a 10 min buffer on the mobile order that I normally don't do when we are at VGC and my son and I ended up standing around for a few min waiting to check in and get our snacks. Yea it's more walking but it's still easy to run the snacks back to our villa at VDH and they were still plenty fresh/hot. Plus that walk through the gardens of the DH grounds are fun and I also think the landscaping for the new entrance to DTD has added to the vibe of the place. It won't beat the Grand Cal but staying at VDH beats the hike from the villas at BW to EPCOT or HS.

I think it’s because you get hit with security right at the exit of the hotel, although I think it’s better now that it don’t hotel guests have their own security lines.

When it had to mix with the general population it was brutal.

For whatever reason, Grand Cal doesn’t feel as bad… especially with 3 security lines into Downtown Disney.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The whole VDH distance thing is not that big of a deal. The first time I tried the whole order from Corn Dog Castle thing for a snack for the family what we do at VGC I gave us a 10 min buffer on the mobile order that I normally don't do when we are at VGC and my son and I ended up standing around for a few min waiting to check in and get our snacks. Yea it's more walking but it's still easy to run the snacks back to our villa at VDH and they were still plenty fresh/hot. Plus that walk through the gardens of the DH grounds are fun and I also think the landscaping for the new entrance to DTD has added to the vibe of the place. It won't beat the Grand Cal but staying at VDH beats the hike from the villas at BW to EPCOT or HS.

For us the VDH walk seems so far, Im spoiled and probably exaggerating but at the end of the park day I was not happy about the walk from the turnstiles. Ive never stayed and did that walk at BW or BC to compare.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Man….

I think it’s because you get hit with security right at the exit of the hotel, although I think it’s better now that it don’t hotel guests have their own security lines.

When it had to mix with the general population it was brutal.

For whatever reason, Grand Cal doesn’t feel as bad… especially with 3 security lines into Downtown Disney.

Had to waitlist VGC. Boooo!!!

 

[ajiuo]

I think they need to keep it and maybe use it as a selling point for VDH, because VDH is so much farther than VGC.

Just booked VDH this morning and now doing the math to see if I hate the walk enough to justify 16 extra points to stay at VGC for the same room type.

Edit: as soon as I hit reply I decided yes, yes it's worth it.

Well… you could figure out how much you’re gonna pay in taxes for staying at VDH and put that money towards one time use points. Then it might not be quite 16 of your points that you have to use.

 

[AZMermaid]

Same. When we stayed at VDH it felt sooooo far. I know it’s not. But it felt far! And this was before the new security to DTD was open and the lines were horrendous. We walked to VGC and entered through the PPH hotel entrance (when it was open in all day).

We just discovered that terrace last trip! On one hand, glad we got to see it. On the other hand, now we know what we are missing!

My studio waitlist for 5/10 just came through! I’m not 100% sure we are keeping it now though. I have the 9th booked too. Decisions!

 

[ajiuo]

Same. When we stayed at VDH it felt sooooo far. I know it’s not. But it felt far! And this was before the new security to DTD was open and the lines were horrendous. We walked to VGC and entered through the PPH hotel entrance (when it was open in all day).

We just discovered that terrace last trip! On one hand, glad we got to see it. On the other hand, now we know what we are missing!

My studio waitlist for 5/10 just came through! I’m not 100% sure we are keeping it now though. I have the 9th booked too. Decisions!

Only bad thing about staying at VGC in May is Grad Nights at DCA. A lot of people complain about the noise. It personally doesn’t bother me any. I think May is a lovely time of year to visit Disneyland. If you’re worried about noise from the grad parties, I recommend requesting a pool view room. First week of May is mostly safe, but after that there will probably be a couple of parties per week.

 

[Dobermanns]

Not sure if it’s been reported as I didn’t read through the recent pages. Refurbishment of VGC has started on the 4th floor. I am on the 3rd floor, and right on the dot of 9am today, hammering and sounds of nuts/bolts dropped on the floor started. It was directly overhead. I imagine work is 9am - 5pm, because I arrived shortly after 5pm yesterday and all was quiet/normal.
I tried to get up to the 4th floor, and I could swear I pressed 4, but elevator took me to lobby level

 

[AstroBlasters]

Not sure if it’s been reported as I didn’t read through the recent pages. Refurbishment of VGC has started on the 4th floor. I am on the 3rd floor, and right on the dot of 9am today, hammering and sounds of nuts/bolts dropped on the floor started. It was directly overhead. I imagine work is 9am - 5pm, because I arrived shortly after 5pm yesterday and all was quiet/normal.
I tried to get up to the 4th floor, and I could swear I pressed 4, but elevator took me to lobby level

Thank you for the update!

 

[ajiuo]

Not sure if it’s been reported as I didn’t read through the recent pages. Refurbishment of VGC has started on the 4th floor. I am on the 3rd floor, and right on the dot of 9am today, hammering and sounds of nuts/bolts dropped on the floor started. It was directly overhead. I imagine work is 9am - 5pm, because I arrived shortly after 5pm yesterday and all was quiet/normal.
I tried to get up to the 4th floor, and I could swear I pressed 4, but elevator took me to lobby level

I’ve heard reports that it started on the 5th and 6th… Are they really doing 3 floors at once? Or maybe they finished the 6th! hopefully we get to see what they look like soon.
We

 

[AZMermaid]

Only bad thing about staying at VGC in May is Grad Nights at DCA. A lot of people complain about the noise. It personally doesn’t bother me any. I think May is a lovely time of year to visit Disneyland. If you’re worried about noise from the grad parties, I recommend requesting a pool view room. First week of May is mostly safe, but after that there will probably be a couple of parties per week.

Good reminder! I started requesting “quiet view” after a Grad night period stay quite a while ago. But my kids have gotten older and our trips are usually quick so I haven't the last few times. We are pretty sure we are keeping it and going so I’ll add the request. Every time I’ve requested that for a studio we’ve gotten x509. Like 4-5 times! Which is perfectly fine but amusing. Wonder if the streak will continue!

 

[lilsonicfan]

We were there 1/24-1/28 and stayed in 4508 - could definitely hear hammering etc. Even before 9am honestly, I believe it started at 8am!

 

[ehh]

Not sure if it’s been reported as I didn’t read through the recent pages. Refurbishment of VGC has started on the 4th floor. I am on the 3rd floor, and right on the dot of 9am today, hammering and sounds of nuts/bolts dropped on the floor started. It was directly overhead. I imagine work is 9am - 5pm, because I arrived shortly after 5pm yesterday and all was quiet/normal.
I tried to get up to the 4th floor, and I could swear I pressed 4, but elevator took me to lobby level

Are you under one of the Grand Villas or a different room type? I ask because they might just be starting on just the GVs, which span both the 4th and 5th floors.

(please do not feel pressured to answer this before you checkout)

 

[LilyJC]

We just snooped around this evening, and the only change we noticed was carpet…

Old Carpet:

New carpet…??




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The wall paper in the hallways is the same though

 

[AstroBlasters]

We just snooped around this evening, and the only change we noticed was carpet…

Old Carpet:

View attachment 934453
View attachment 934456

New carpet…??

View attachment 934454

View attachment 934457
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The wall paper in the hallways is the same though

Did they just take Chip and Dale out of the carpet? W T F

 

[VGCgroupie]

Did they just take Chip and Dale out of the carpet? W T F

Yeah not cool

 

[LilyJC]

Did they just take Chip and Dale out of the carpet? W T F

Yes, we noticed that as well

 

[CWTC]

I just hope they get rid of Pinocchio. My husband is totally creeped out by it and every time we discuss the refurb he brings it up.