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

[VGCgroupie]

I’d probably want a nicer one that also has a handheld extension.

If they are buying 100 of them…. let’s says that $6500 total. With labor you are at $7500.

Let’s make it an even $10k for the caulking parts and labor too….

I paid them $13,000 just myself in the last few months. Cant believe I have to shower with 16 year old shower heads and broken caulking

You can get Moen brand handhelds for that price on Amazon. While not as high of quality of the high end expensive Moens but still new and clean. There is really no excuse for not doing the bathroom imo, especially now that I know what the cost of the murphy beds are, they are not as expensive as I would have pegged them to be. Im still very mad about it, the exterior shouldn't have been part of the hard goods refurb budget. The way they kept putting off the refurb and then doing it half way just has me mad that they clearly for some reason dont care about VGC, Im thinking its due to it size and popularity, they think the small amount of owners will just shut up and just accept it. I really don't see them doing this at a FL property. I refuse to accept that fewer rooms is valid acceptable excuse for not doing what should be done.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I paid them $13,000 just myself in the last few months. Cant believe I have to shower with 16 year old shower heads and broken caulking

You can get Moen brand handhelds for that price on Amazon. While not as high of quality of the high end expensive Moens but still new and clean. There is really no excuse for not doing the bathroom imo, especially now that I know what the cost of the murphy beds are, they are not as expensive as I would have pegged them to be. Im still very mad about it, the exterior shouldn't have been part of the hard goods refurb budget. The way they kept putting off the refurb and then doing it half way just has me mad that they clearly for some reason dont care about VGC, Im thinking its due to it size and popularity, they think the small amount of owners will just shut up and just accept it. I really don't see them doing this at a FL property. I refuse to accept that fewer rooms is valid acceptable excuse for not doing what should be done.

The cost of labor is an unknown variable….

 

[VGCgroupie]

The cost of labor is an unknown variable….

I cant recall how the plumbing is set up but at least at every home I have owned in the last 10 years (5) you simply unscrew the head put new plumbers tape and screw the new one on. Easily under 5 minutes worth of labor even for a female who isnt handy.

 

[epski]

This thread is so depressing. My wife and I bought into VGC earlier this year and felt like we had great timing getting in just as the refurb was getting started. And now this. We had planned to stay on a 2BD with some family we'll be visiting while in Southern California, but now I'm almost embarrassed to have them come and see the rooms, especially since they have an idea how much money we spent to secure our annual points. Feeling pretty foolish now. Hopeful that the experience of it, while not fully to expectations, won't detract dramatically from our overall visit next spring.

 

[VGCgroupie]

This thread is so depressing. My wife and I bought into VGC earlier this year and felt like we had great timing getting in just as the refurb was getting started. And now this. We had planned to stay on a 2BD with some family we'll be visiting while in Southern California, but now I'm almost embarrassed to have them come and see the rooms, especially since they have an idea how much money we spent to secure our annual points. Feeling pretty foolish now. Hopeful that the experience of it, while not fully to expectations, won't detract dramatically from our overall visit next spring.

Believe me I get it. I never would have thought I would have any negative feelings about VGC.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This thread is so depressing. My wife and I bought into VGC earlier this year and felt like we had great timing getting in just as the refurb was getting started. And now this. We had planned to stay on a 2BD with some family we'll be visiting while in Southern California, but now I'm almost embarrassed to have them come and see the rooms, especially since they have an idea how much money we spent to secure our annual points. Feeling pretty foolish now. Hopeful that the experience of it, while not fully to expectations, won't detract dramatically from our overall visit next spring.

It’s still a 2Bd at the Grand Californian….

 

[epski]

It’s still a 2Bd at the Grand Californian….

Yeah, we'll see how we feel about that once we've had a chance to experience it. Hopefully it will still feel like it was worth the money.

 

[gsdweller]

I don't really think it is a big deal at all. First of all, I don't consider ANY Disney hotel to be a 'Luxury' stay. The fact that the shower head isn't the best in the universe means nothing. It is all about Location Location Location. Your 2 bedroom stay will still be awesome.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I don't really think it is a big deal at all. First of all, I don't consider ANY Disney hotel to be a 'Luxury' stay. The fact that the shower head isn't the best in the universe means nothing. It is all about Location Location Location. Your 2 bedroom stay will still be awesome.

It can be a big deal to those who have just spent money to join DVC that they get lower quality accommodations than if they just paid cash to stay on the hotel side. Who wants to take family to show off their DVC membership to be embarrassed by the quality of the room.

Yes location is amazing. I have always been 100% all in on VGC even vs a brand new VDH, but like I said in previous posts just because its popular and a great location doesn't give DVD the right to skimp on a much needed highly anticipated past schedule hard goods refurbishment.

 

[gsdweller]

just because its popular and a great location doesn't give DVD the right to skimp on a much needed highly anticipated past schedule hard goods refurbishment.

If you are good with yearly fees jumping double or triple what they normally do, then you can push for that.
I myself am not that concerned. I didn't buy DVC for the accommodations or to show them off, but that is just me.

 

[VGCgroupie]

If you are good with yearly fees jumping double or triple what they normally do, then you can push for that.
I myself am not that concerned. I didn't buy DVC for the accommodations or to show them off, but that is just me.

So we pay triple dues to get the same refurb all other properties get? They knew that VGC was small when they created it and the budget has been setting aside money for the refurb. Someone isn't handling the money in a smart way if they couldn't figure out that they should have bundled the hotel refurb with the DVC refurb to save on costs, like evidently the FL properties do. If people dont speak up they will continue to do things half way.

How did you not buy DVC for accommodations? That makes absolutely zero sense. Stay on Harbor if you don't care about accommodations and save money. Harbor is very close to the turnstiles. So you dropped 10's of thousands of dollars just for an entrance into DCA? This just proves we have very different opinions because we are clearly very different people.. I bought VGC 100% for the accommodations as I assume 99% of owners did.

Didn't buy for accommodations

I am not saying people need to show off their DVC, I was responding because the poster saying they were bringing family as a new DVC owner.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Now Im all fired up so @ajiuo what is Dierksons email, Im ready to give him (his secretary) my 2 cents.

 

[gsdweller]

Didn't buy for accommodations

I guess I should have said I didn't buy expecting luxury accommodations. I expect a decent suite/villa (almost always 1 or 2 bedrooms) in an awesome location for a price much lower than anything close by could ever match. Maybe I am lucky, but in decades of visits I have never had anything be seriously broken or not properly cleaned.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I guess I should have said I didn't buy expecting luxury accommodations. I expect a decent suite/villa (almost always 1 or 2 bedrooms) in an awesome location for a price much lower than anything close by could ever match.

I mean it's not the Four Seasons but I remember staying on cash at GCH and it feeling pretty luxury to me.

 

[AstroBlasters]

The layout of the 2 bd is spacious, there are 3 bathrooms, and the location is great.

I’m sure the touch up to the living room and kitchen are nice.

That doesn’t mean they get a pass for not doing some basic bathroom maintenance.

 

[epski]

I don't really think it is a big deal at all. First of all, I don't consider ANY Disney hotel to be a 'Luxury' stay. The fact that the shower head isn't the best in the universe means nothing. It is all about Location Location Location. Your 2 bedroom stay will still be awesome.

I have a feeling if I don't look close it will be all right, but I do have some expectations coming into this, and cold showers, peeling wallpaper and tiles, and so forth do not fit into the vision I bought into. I can live without USB ports and an upgraded coffee machine. I just want the place to feel nice and not like it hasn't been taken care of. I certainly don't want them to ruin the Craftsman vibe that drew me to this resort in the first place.

It can be a big deal to those who have just spent money to join DVC that they get lower quality accommodations than if they just paid cash to stay on the hotel side. Who wants to take family to show off their DVC membership to be embarrassed by the quality of the room.

Yes location is amazing. I have always been 100% all in on VGC even vs a brand new VDH, but like I said in previous posts just because its popular and a great location doesn't give DVD the right to skimp on a much needed highly anticipated past schedule hard goods refurbishment.

And the overall vibe of the resort is just superior, if you're into it. The waterslides and such over at Disneyland Hotel are fun for the kids, but when we had breakfast at Storytellers and wandered the property, including the lobby, I felt more like I was at a resort where I would actually want to spend some time relaxing and not just sleep there.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I have a feeling if I don't look close it will be all right, but I do have some expectations coming into this, and cold showers, peeling wallpaper and tiles, and so forth do not fit into the vision I bought into. I can live without USB ports and an upgraded coffee machine. I just want the place to feel nice and not like it hasn't been taken care of. I certainly don't want them to ruin the Craftsman vibe that drew me to this resort in the first place.


And the overall vibe of the resort is just superior, if you're into it. The waterslides and such over at Disneyland Hotel are fun for the kids, but when we had breakfast at Storytellers and wandered the property, including the lobby, I felt more like I was at a resort where I would actually want to spend some time relaxing and not just sleep there.

It’s the Disneyland HOTEL vs the Grand Californian RESORT.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have a feeling if I don't look close it will be all right, but I do have some expectations coming into this, and cold showers, peeling wallpaper and tiles, and so forth do not fit into the vision I bought into. I can live without USB ports and an upgraded coffee machine. I just want the place to feel nice and not like it hasn't been taken care of. I certainly don't want them to ruin the Craftsman vibe that drew me to this resort in the first place.


And the overall vibe of the resort is just superior, if you're into it. The waterslides and such over at Disneyland Hotel are fun for the kids, but when we had breakfast at Storytellers and wandered the property, including the lobby, I felt more like I was at a resort where I would actually want to spend some time relaxing and not just sleep there.

Yes this is the vibe VGC has that I love. The piano music being played.. it's all just so To me it does feel luxury, I am just very sad (mad) that they didnt do our resort justice in the refurb., it really does deserve better.

All in all I do think you will still be very happy.

 

[LilyJC]

This thread is so depressing. My wife and I bought into VGC earlier this year and felt like we had great timing getting in just as the refurb was getting started. And now this. We had planned to stay on a 2BD with some family we'll be visiting while in Southern California, but now I'm almost embarrassed to have them come and see the rooms, especially since they have an idea how much money we spent to secure our annual points. Feeling pretty foolish now.

Not all VGC owners are outraged and up in arms about this refurb. We’ve owned for years and just had the opportunity to add on direct AFTER seeing the refurb. We are still thrilled with the murphy beds and refresh. While it would have been nice to have the bathrooms redone, the villas are still quite nice and what I would consider wonderful accommodations. I’m certain your guests will find the 2 bedroom amazing. I would 1000% prefer staying at VGC over VDH any day.

That said, I will absolutely be escalating any issues we come across in the villas during the multiple stays we have over the next few months.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Pixar Pier Entrance Closed until Mid-June:

https://www.threads.com/@scottgusti...QF0GQcTSdNSoBgl06ctM_316upVGOxt28fAqoNOaGuxdQ