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

[tx911]

Quick staycation. A few photos to share...

-Grass removed in this courtyard area. Replaced with gravel and mulch. Going to miss the grass if this is permanent.
-Bathroom definitely not touched in our Studio. Caulk/Grout separating at the tub.
-New Murphy bed is nice
-70th anniversary Joffrey's coffee in the roomView attachment 964005View attachment 964006View attachment 964007View attachment 964008View attachment 964009

In fact, that’s not even refurbishment worthy. That’s just basic maintenance that’s clearly not being done.

 

[tjkraz]

Wow, that’s even worse than the bathroom in the studio that I was in. Disney should be ashamed at passing this off as a hard goods refresh.

I really wish some of the news site sites or influencers would report this.. make it more public

I wrote about the refurb and lack of bathroom changes a couple months ago:

https://dvcnews.com/other-resorts/v...-dvc-villa-at-disneys-grand-californian-hotel

Problem is I haven't been able to get anyone to go on record definitively saying whether or not the refurb work is done; if there are plans to address them in the future. Without that, we're venturing into clickbait and speculation which I hate. Right now, not comfortable saying "the bathrooms will not be renovated", instead it's more "the bathrooms have not been renovated."

 

[Dobermanns]

Welcome Home,

Thank you for contacting us.

Your email has been given to me for response, and I am currently researching with our Compliance partners to best address your concerns. Once this research is complete I look forward to personally addressing your comments.

Thank you for your patience, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.


This was the response I got from my e-mail.

Thank you for the update. I will be looking at and documenting via photos (especially after seeing the floor photos above) during my stay in 10 days, then email DVC accordingly.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thank you for the update. I will be looking at and documenting via photos (especially after seeing the floor photos above) during my stay in 10 days, then email DVC accordingly.

The lack of transparency around this is just infuriating. They should have been clear about what was or was not going to be happening from the beginning. This is OUR money they are spending, not their own.

Where is the fiduciary duty here?

 

[ClaraOswald]

I stayed in a refurbished BLT studio 1 night last month, the bathroom was refurbished. The shower wall was replaced, glass door instead of a shower curtain. To be honest, I didn’t care for BLT studios before, I thought it was kind of plain, but was ok in a pinch to add some nights. I really liked the refurb, I would consider staying there for a whole trip, especially solo. On this trip, my friend had a separate room with her son.

I agree about BLT. I've never stayed there. But based on photos BEFORE the refurb, it looked so plain that I had no desire to ever stay. But now...I'd consider it because the refurb really looks great!

Another thing that I noticed that was a bit odd/disappointing. The new floors...

1)
Not a huge deal, but color choice is a bit odd. Normally floors in craftsman style homes have a much darker, rich and warm color tone. These floors are a very bright/light color.

2)
Seems like the material chosen is a thin vinyl material. See the picture of the corner curled up against the 90 degree miter of the baseboards. Instead of being flat.

3)
It's clear the baseboards were not lifted and/or replaced when the new floors were installed. Instead the new flooring is scribe cut and pushed up against the existing baseboards. Normally when new floors are installed, the baseboards are lifted and/or replaced, the new flooring is installed up against the drywall, and then the baseboards are installed ON TOP of the new flooring.

Ironic choices for a resort modeled after the arts and crafts movement. Which celebrates the work of skilled craftsmen. Specifically beautiful carpentry work. I obviously wouldn't expect REAL hardwood floors as the cost would be pretty crazy, but at least install the new floors UNDER the baseboards.

Wife and I lived in Pasadena for 8 years, and we loved all the craftsman homes in the area. So we obviously love the theme of the Grand Cal. So seeing these cost savings choices is kinda sad.

View attachment 964027View attachment 964028

Dang...this is like floor installation 101! Even know I it needs to be under the baseboards. Horrible, lazy, and sloppy.

 

[ajiuo]

Wow, that’s even worse than the bathroom in the studio that I was in. Disney should be ashamed at passing this off as a hard goods refresh.

I wrote about the refurb and lack of bathroom changes a couple months ago:

https://dvcnews.com/other-resorts/v...-dvc-villa-at-disneys-grand-californian-hotel

Problem is I haven't been able to get anyone to go on record definitively saying whether or not the refurb work is done; if there are plans to address them in the future. Without that, we're venturing into clickbait and speculation which I hate. Right now, not comfortable saying "the bathrooms will not be renovated", instead it's more "the bathrooms have not been renovated."

When I was there about a week ago I went in the DVC office and asked.. I guess they could’ve been wrong, but they told me that they were done with their renovation and they had no plans to renovate the bathrooms… perhaps others could go do the same thing and see if they get a different answer.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m pretty sure that they’re done here.

 

[tjkraz]

When I was there about a week ago I went in the DVC office and asked.. I guess they could’ve been wrong, but they told me that they were done with their renovation and they had no plans to renovate the bathrooms… perhaps others could go do the same thing and see if they get a different answer.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m pretty sure that they’re done here.

That could be true. It was always my suspicion--going back and renovating a bathroom after having done the floors and other areas in the room seems backward. However, there have also been instances where a backorder on certain materials delayed projects.

Shortly after I posted that story & pics, there were commenters who insisted they were told the refurb was not complete and the bathrooms would be addressed later.

Asking Cast Members is always dicey. It's like talking to the proverbial WDW bus driver. If a literal guest walks into the sales center and tells a rep "I read online that the bathrooms will be done later", he/she could easily repeat that info to others without doing anything to vet the source. Front line employees often aren't plugged-into exactly what management has cooking.

 

[ajiuo]

This is the response I got for my bathroom remodel concerns:

Yeah. I do it via the website… if you do that, I bet you’ll get a response basically saying that they’re sorry that you’re disappointed and that they’ll pass your comments on to somebody else… and then you’ll never hear anything after that.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I think many people who go to VGC may not even realize they haven't changed the bathrooms. There was a guy on FB convinced that the studio bathroom had new tile and counters...which all of us here know, isn't the case.

I fear we are the minority and most people going aren't going to notice or care, unfortunately.

 

[ajiuo]

That could be true. It was always my suspicion--going back and renovating a bathroom after having done the floors and other areas in the room seems backward. However, there have also been instances where a backorder on certain materials delayed projects.

Shortly after I posted that story & pics, there were commenters who insisted they were told the refurb was not complete and the bathrooms would be addressed later.

Asking Cast Members is always dicey. It's like talking to the proverbial WDW bus driver. If a literal guest walks into the sales center and tells a rep "I read online that the bathrooms will be done later", he/she could easily repeat that info to others without doing anything to vet the source. Front line employees often aren't plugged-into exactly what management has cooking.

The community should be able to generate enough noise to at least get a response /explanation from Disney… because the one thing that’s undeniable is that what’s going on here is not normal.

 

[ajiuo]

I think many people who go to VGC may not even realize they haven't changed the bathrooms. There was a guy on FB convinced that the studio bathroom had new tile and counters...which all of us here know, isn't the case.

I fear we are the minority and most people going aren't going to notice or care, unfortunately.

Perhaps not at first site… but once it’s pointed out to people and they understand the situation, and I’m sure that they also understand that they pay dues.. they would likely start to care more.

Disney is a large corporation and large corporations tend to get away with whatever they can as long as people remain quiet about it.

 

[ehh]

Looks like the red refurbishment warning text in the booking tool is now gone from VGC:


Meanwhile, PVB, VGF, RIV, CCV, BCV, BLT, Vero, BWV, BRV, and HHI all have notices about work that might impact your stay:

 

[ajiuo]

More confirmation that what they told me about it being complete is true.

 

[AstroBlasters]

That could be true. It was always my suspicion--going back and renovating a bathroom after having done the floors and other areas in the room seems backward. However, there have also been instances where a backorder on certain materials delayed projects.

Shortly after I posted that story & pics, there were commenters who insisted they were told the refurb was not complete and the bathrooms would be addressed later.

Asking Cast Members is always dicey. It's like talking to the proverbial WDW bus driver. If a literal guest walks into the sales center and tells a rep "I read online that the bathrooms will be done later", he/she could easily repeat that info to others without doing anything to vet the source. Front line employees often aren't plugged-into exactly what management has cooking.

Do we know if the condo association meeting for Grand Cal is in CA or FL?

Someone needs to calmly but forcefully light them up for thinking so little of us that we would find this acceptable…. preferably an attorney….

 

[ajiuo]

It seems like last year they separated the condo meetings for the different associations over a three day period instead of just one big meeting… I’m kind of starting to wonder if they did that to make questions less likely.

Not sure if anyone even attended the grand cal meeting… at least anyone with an online presence.

 

[that1jeff]

I'm sorry to keep harping on the floors. But last thing I swear... there are also very noticeable pencil marks from whoever was cutting the pieces of flooring. Some much more egregious than others.

All this said. We still love this place. Family has been having an awesome resort only stay. Nice adds to the menu over at Storytellers Cafe since the renovation. Solid quick service breakfast from Craftsman Grill this morning. Now enjoying the pool all day. Supposed to be a high of 96 degrees today. Life is good.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Looks like the red refurbishment warning text in the booking tool is now gone from VGC:
View attachment 964154

Meanwhile, PVB, VGF, RIV, CCV, BCV, BLT, Vero, BWV, BRV, and HHI all have notices about work that might impact your stay:

View attachment 964155
View attachment 964156

View attachment 964157View attachment 964158
View attachment 964159
View attachment 964160
View attachment 964161
View attachment 964163
View attachment 964162

For me this is a clear cut they are done notice.

 

[AstroBlasters]

It seems like last year they separated the condo meetings for the different associations over a three day period instead of just one big meeting… I’m kind of starting to wonder if they did that to make questions less likely.

Not sure if anyone even attended the grand cal meeting… at least anyone with an online presence.

I believe they did it to allow for more questions and interaction from owners that were resort specific.

 

[CarolynFH]

I believe they did it to allow for more questions and interaction from owners that were resort specific.

The new Florida laws regarding condo associations that were passed in response to the Surfside condo collapse required them to split up the meetings for the Florida D.V.C. condo associations and hold them quarterly. I think the non-Florida condo association meetings are still being held annually.

 

[tjkraz]

The community should be able to generate enough noise to at least get a response /explanation from Disney… because the one thing that’s undeniable is that what’s going on here is not normal.

It's not entirely unprecedented. The first major refurbs at many resorts only had cosmetic updates to bathrooms. OKW, BWV, I think Beach Club and Boulder Ridge as well. Most they got was a new coat of paint and new light fixtures.

The reserves funds can only be spent on refurbishment. So if they aren't spending any money on the bathrooms, it's still in the account for future use. IMO, the most likely scenario is that the impact of inflation over the last several years has left the reserves with insufficient funds to cover a more extensive project. I don't have first hand knowledge of construction costs in Socal, but the aftermath of the Palisades and Eaton fires certainly didn't help. Literally tens-of-thousands of structures that need to be rebuilt, all battling for the same skilled laborers.

If there isn't enough money to update the bathrooms, the choices are:

1) Issue a special assessment to bring in additional dollars. That's asking owners to pay even more, owners who have themselves been hit by inflation, or
2) Delay

Projects like this are literally paid for by owners. There's no reason for Disney to delay if the funds are available and the work is needed.

Someone needs to calmly but forcefully light them up for thinking so little of us that we would find this acceptable…. preferably an attorney….

I get the frustration, but I doubt there's anything illegal about how they acted. There aren't any explicit written guarantees regarding refurbishment frequency or scope. As long as Disney isn't siphoning the money off for something else, the project planning is entirely in their hands.

All they have to do is say something like: "We completed a thorough evaluation of those facilities and felt that the current condition warranted not immediately drawing additional reserve funds or issuing a special assessment to fund a complete makeover." That would pretty much be the end of it. Albeit with a little more closure than we have now.