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

[AstroBlasters]

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

I think they did a great job on the BLT refurb…. home run.

 

[LilyJC]

We just had another staycation last week in a 1 bedroom - 4502. More visits to the front desk than ever when I discovered the only two USB ports in the entire room didn’t work. I had packed my anker blocks in the bags my husband was bringing after work not thinking my phone would die before he made it over. Usually the 1 bedroom has a clock/radio with USBs, but this room had nothing!

I thankfully thought to grab a key from the front desk when I was at 3%. I quickly returned when I discovered the desk usbs weren’t functioning and complained again. A helpful FYI - concierge has blocks for guests to borrow

Everything else in the room was great!

We also experienced the special DVC section for WoC. We casually checked in at the Golden Vine House at around 11:30 that morning. My youngest and her boyfriend weren’t with us, so they just gave us their wristbands. They had this sign posted:

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And this is what the viewing area actual view looked like:

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I think this will be nice for guests wanting to watch the first show. They only offered the second show on 6/5. It was definitely difficult for little kids to see though. We stood in the back right near the rope while the teens squeezed in closer to the front. Very nice to have more DVC “perks” while they’re actively trying to sell VDH.

I REALLY wish they would have a DVC section near the castle at least a couple nights as Wondrous Journeys is my favorite nighttime experience currently at DLR, and seeing the castle is during the show.

 

[LilyJC]

Ooops, also don’t forget to check out the latest creation(?) if you’re passing through the lobby:

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[upritbass]

Usually the 1 bedroom has a clock/radio with USBs, but this room had nothing!

What happened to the new USBs in the kitchen?

 

[LilyJC]

What happened to the new USBs in the kitchen?

No USBs to be found anywhere but the desk in the bedroom. And they didn’t work with any amount of fiddling!

 

[ClaraOswald]

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!

SAME!

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'll be curious to see what kind of jump our dues have in 2026.

I think they did a great job on the BLT refurb…. home run.

Agreed. I had almost no desire to stay there before the refurb but now I'm interested!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I REALLY wish they would have a DVC section near the castle at least a couple nights as Wondrous Journeys is my favorite nighttime experience currently at DLR, and seeing the castle is during the show.

I also would love a DVC section near the castle for Wondrous Journeys! It's such a nice love letter to Disney animation and I gotta have a view of the castle to spot more characters. I actually would prefer this over WoC viewing area since we're fine going to the second, less crowded show but there's only one Wondrous Journeys.

It's a moot point for me, though, as we're going in July and there aren't special DVC perks then.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I wasn't sure where to post his Hooray for me post, but my guide just scored me 100 points in my use year!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I wasn't sure where to post his Hooray for me post, but my guide just scored me 100 points in my use year!

Yay!!!! What’s your UY?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Yay!!!! What’s your UY?

June.

 

[808blessing]

Yay! I have that year too. Welcome to JUN UY VGC club!

 

[RickNJane]

I wasn't sure where to post his Hooray for me post, but my guide just scored me 100 points in my use year!

CONGRATS!!! Our guide did as well! We now have 208 vgc June points. ROFR must be strong here!!!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Our guide did as well! We now have 208 vgc June points. ROFR must be strong here!!!

Congratulations!

 

[AstroBlasters]

SAME!



I'll be curious to see what kind of jump our dues have in 2026.



Agreed. I had almost no desire to stay there before the refurb but now I'm interested!

So… there are direct June UY points available now…. in case you want to build up to your target in 25 point increments….

 

[ClaraOswald]

So… there are direct June UY points available now…. in case you want to build up to your target in 25 point increments….

I don't know....we want probably 75-100 points. I feel like the price difference between direct and resale is so much. And 100 direct wouldn't get us any of the benefits.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I don't know....we want probably 75-100 points. I feel like the price difference between direct and resale is so much. And 100 direct wouldn't get us any of the benefits.

Quoting myself to add...

I just told my husband that there might be some direct VGC available and he basically said "I don't know...if I'm going to get direct, I'd probably buy VDH instead." I'm seriously surprised at how much he keeps warming up to VDH. But we'll have to see what he thinks once we visit. And I'll need to remind him of the extra tax or whatever.

What would the direct cost comparison be from VDH to VGC.... is it $245 vs. $310?
So for 150 points....$36,750 vs. $46,500? (I wonder how many 7-night stays in a 1-bedroom at VDH it would take to equal almost $10,000 in tax....)

 

[AstroBlasters]

Quoting myself to add...

I just told my husband that there might be some direct VGC available and he basically said "I don't know...if I'm going to get direct, I'd probably buy VDH instead." I'm seriously surprised at how much he keeps warming up to VDH. But we'll have to see what he thinks once we visit. And I'll need to remind him of the extra tax or whatever.

What would the direct cost comparison be from VDH to VGC.... is it $245 vs. $310?
So for 150 points....$36,750 vs. $46,500? (I wonder how many 7-night stays in a 1-bedroom at VDH it would take to equal almost $10,000 in tax....)

VGC direct is $330. So, basically on an upfront costs level 100 VGC is equivalent to 150 VDH with incentives.

 

[cruisehopeful]

What would the direct cost comparison be from VDH to VGC.... is it $245 vs. $310?
So for 150 points....$36,750 vs. $46,500? (I wonder how many 7-night stays in a 1-bedroom at VDH it would take to equal almost $10,000 in tax....)

Direct VGC is $330/point. You have to want it badly for home resort use while needing direct points for something else (VDH, RIV).

It's probably easy to do the math on the tax. For a week in a one bedroom in June next year you'll pay $906.19 in tax.

 

[ClaraOswald]

VGC direct is $330. So, basically on an upfront costs level 100 VGC is equivalent to 150 VDH with incentives.

I honestly don't know which avenue makes the most sense, cost wise. Especially long term. I think it will really come down to if we see VDH and actually WANT to own there. Or if we decide we just want to do VGC every trip. There are, of course, some benefits to owning at least 150 direct. I just can't see us spending the money on 150 VGC direct though.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Direct VGC is $330/point. You have to want it badly for home resort use while needing direct points for something else (VDH, RIV).

It's probably easy to do the math on the tax. For a week in a one bedroom in June next year you'll pay $906.19 in tax.

So basically 10 of those trips to be close to that being similar to the $10,000-ish more in up front costs. (And if we only stayed at VDH every other trip...that would take us about 20 years. Ha!)