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

[PiratesOfTheSea]

I haven't stayed in anything but a studio. Is the condition of the kitchens bad? I know the bathrooms are looking a bit shabby. But I haven't seen examples of what's bad in the kitchens. I actually don't mind the counters, backsplash, or flooring in the kitchens in the photos I've seen.

Mostly seem to be that the design is outdated. The tiling and countertops in the kitchen in the 1BR we had was fine, there was some hardware that needed to be fixed/replaced, but almost everything was in much better shape than the bathrooms.

 

[gsdweller]

I just dont see how they couldnt have known that this move would cause major backlash.

Have they ever done a hard goods refurb on any other resort and not touched the bathrooms and kitchens?

In the grand scheme of things, 20 people commenting on a Disney forum is not 'major backlash'. In my experience, the vast majority of us owners are fine with what is being done.

 

[Girlstar30]

In the grand scheme of things, 20 people commenting on a Disney forum is not 'major backlash'. In my experience, the vast majority of us owners are fine with what is being done.

Im sure there are much more than 20 people that are upset. It is enough that management is aware of it and have addressed this multiple times. They are valid concerns that im sure when they chose not to touch the bathroom and kitchen on a hard goods refurb, they knew people would be upset.

 

[tx911]

In the grand scheme of things, 20 people commenting on a Disney forum is not 'major backlash'. In my experience, the vast majority of us owners are fine with what is being done.

I think they should be ashamed to call what has been done a hard goods refurb.

 

[Girlstar30]

I think they should be ashamed to call what has been done a hard goods refurb.

Agreed.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I think they should be ashamed to call what has been done a hard goods refurb.

They aren’t. They are calling it a “soft goods” refresh….

 

[tx911]

They aren’t. They are calling it a “soft goods” refresh….

Oh, is that the story now?
When was the last hard goods?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Also…. Hot Take: I’d still rather own at Grand Cal than any other resort.

So to all of the people who don’t own VGC and are coming over here to talk down about VGC…. I wouldn’t trade places with you for a second!

 

[AstroBlasters]

Oh, is that the story now?
When was the last hard goods?

I’m pretty sure the answer to that question is “Never.”

Based on analysis provided earlier in the thread, it looks like they didn’t raise the dues enough and had to blow a good portion of their budget to refurb the exterior at the same time the hotel was refurbishing the exterior.

 

[tx911]

I’m pretty sure the answer to that question is “Never.”

Based on analysis provided earlier in the thread, it looks like they didn’t raise the dues enough and had to blow a good portion of their budget to refurb the exterior at the same time the hotel was refurbishing the exterior.

 

[AZMermaid]

There’s never been a hard goods refurb. It was overdue already.

 

[mrandmrsthomas0618]

Question on early entry and pool access. We have a 2 bedroom booked for September. We have one family staying with us one night and a different one the next night. Do they do wristbands each day at the pool? If so, do they check names? Would I need to get the names changed after the first day? And if we were to try early entry, would I need to change then as well or are they just scanning first member and seeing number of people on reservation?

 

[Girlstar30]

Question on early entry and pool access. We have a 2 bedroom booked for September. We have one family staying with us one night and a different one the next night. Do they do wristbands each day at the pool? If so, do they check names? Would I need to get the names changed after the first day? And if we were to try early entry, would I need to change then as well or are they just scanning first member and seeing number of people on reservation?

Yes they do wristbands and monitor the pool. They stop you and ask who is the lead on the reservation and have a clipboard and look up the name and make sure youre staying there.

They didnt check everyone's name individually when I stayed there in May or id or anything to that extent.

Not sure if they checked how many people or what all was on that list, but everyone that came with us was on the reservation.

If it was me I would call MS and ask what to do in that situation with people's names. You may have to book two seperate nights and ask for a continuation to stay in the same room but not sure, dont want to give false info and that seems a bit unnecessary when a simple name change could be a possibility, but I would want the correct people on the reservation jic. Also so that they get a parking pass if they are driving seperately.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Question on early entry and pool access. We have a 2 bedroom booked for September. We have one family staying with us one night and a different one the next night. Do they do wristbands each day at the pool? If so, do they check names? Would I need to get the names changed after the first day? And if we were to try early entry, would I need to change then as well or are they just scanning first member and seeing number of people on reservation?

Yes, they do wrist bands each day. I believe they ask you to scan your room keys or magic band.

You don’t get one until you enter the pool area.

 

[tx911]

I’m pretty sure the answer to that question is “Never.”

Based on analysis provided earlier in the thread, it looks like they didn’t raise the dues enough and had to blow a good portion of their budget to refurb the exterior at the same time the hotel was refurbishing the exterior.

I think we mentioned before that grout and shower heads are relatively cheap.

 

[MagicDVC]

There’s never been a hard goods refurb. It was overdue already.

Well, BRV waited 23 years for theirs. I'd rather not have $12 pp dues to have more frequent hard goods refurbishment.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Well, BRV waited 23 years for theirs. I'd rather not have $12 pp dues to have more frequent hard goods refurbishment.

No… but I’d pay $1 more in dues and put another $1.1m into this refurb….

 

[VGCgroupie]

In the grand scheme of things, 20 people commenting on a Disney forum is not 'major backlash'. In my experience, the vast majority of us owners are fine with what is being done.

To be fair I have seen complaints across multiple platforms and substantially more than 20. I would say much more than 20 people have taken time out of their lives to email in fact, due to how my phone call went with a higher up regarding the matter.

In the end it's okay if you are okay with it. But not everyone is.

 

[VGCgroupie]

They aren’t. They are calling it a “soft goods” refresh….

Sigh yeah it seems that this could be how they are technically dealing with the backlash, just saying oh we know this isnt a hard good refurb So another 7 years it is

 

[VGCgroupie]

Well, BRV waited 23 years for theirs. I'd rather not have $12 pp dues to have more frequent hard goods refurbishment.

BLT just got an amazing refurb and their dues some of the lowest around.