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

[AstroBlasters]

Yep,

I am with you there. We bought in right at first and have never looked back. I have never actually stayed in a studio at VGC (or at Aulani). My first stay was possibly one of the most stress-free vacations I have ever taken. I would never pay rack rates either. I just thought the visual was kinda interesting so I shared it. Won't do that again.

The visual was interesting. I think we as a group might be a little bit touchy at the moment after having a lot of non-owners pop into this thread and talk smack about the refurbishment when they are trying to figure out how to stay at VGC in the 7m window…

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Yep,

I am with you there. We bought in right at first and have never looked back. I have never actually stayed in a studio at VGC (or at Aulani). My first stay was possibly one of the most stress-free vacations I have ever taken. I would never pay rack rates either. I just thought the visual was kinda interesting so I shared it. Won't do that again.

I appreciated the visual! I think folks are being a tad touchy, you did mention that there are other factors beside the lowest cost yearly option. For many of us, the value is in comparing to Grand Cal cash rates rather than rental prices.

But sticking to just yearly cost: I did wonder whether you accounted for dues and rental cost of inflation? Hard to know what rental prices might be in several years, I guess?

 

[Flash_Sloth]

For a VGC studio, can you do 4 adults + 1 infant? I know that normally it maxes out at 4 adults. Thanks!

Edit: I think the answer is "no". Some DVC rooms that can will specifically list "Sleeps Up to 4 Guests and 1 infant (under 3 years of age)", but VGC Studio says "Sleeps Up to 4".

 

[Royal Consort]

There are many upsides to owning DVC that don't have to do with the numbers. It's obviously not the right choice for everyone. But there's more to it than just comparing prices.

.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I need to WL a 2 bedroom. What 2 options would you WL for the greatest chance of it being fulfilled.

 

[NVDISFamily]

I need to WL a 2 bedroom. What 2 options would you WL for the greatest chance of it being fulfilled.

The cabins are considered two bedrooms and they are fairly easy to book at seven months most of the year

As you have two options there I’d say you have good luck as long as it’s not early December.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The cabins are considered two bedrooms and they are fairly easy to book at seven months most of the year

As you have two options there I’d say you have good luck as long as it’s not early December.

Sorry WL was waitlist

 

[NVDISFamily]

Simulation #1 - $50,000.00 on hand.
VGC, $245 per point to buy, MF $8.80, $22 per point to rent.
One bedroom for 4 nights, Wed-Sat - 165 points.
Rack Rate: $7200.00

I know this conversation has mostly moved on but I still figure I'd also add some thoughts and my observations based on my homework for about a year before purchasing VGC in 2022 and continued research through today.

• I think the big wildcard and value of VGC/DVC is that we can book so far in advance. You have a fair rack rate, but I guess my question is, can you actually book this type of room (in a way I think the VGC rooms are superior to those on the hotel side but that's another point). When I was trying to compare VGC vs rack rate, I had a very hard time getting the suite to show me any rates/availability for any period of time outside of a day or two here and there.
• DVC vs hotel side. I think one big perk is that you know what you get with DVC. Book the 1 BR, you get a king, and the 2 beds in the LR and two bathrooms plus a kitchen. When I look at the suites on the hotel side it seems like most of the suites are a mix of a room/living area, and a random collection of attached rooms. I book more 2BR vs 2BR but still same point.
• The location of the DVC rooms is pretty awesome especially if they get that gate by Corndog Castle open again and we love the park views from the rooms.

If I wanted to have a larger Vanguard balance I should have stayed away from DVC

 

[NVDISFamily]

Sorry WL was waitlist

Oh no. Based on some quick homework looks like the number of rooms between BRV and CCV for 2BRs are fairly tied. CCV has more dedicated 2BRs.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Oh no. Based on some quick homework looks like the number of rooms between BRV and CCV for 2BRs are fairly tied. CCV has more dedicated 2BRs.

I appreciate the help. I am a CCV owner so this is truly helpful. But for this instance I am wanting to waitlist a 2 bedroom at VGC and I just don’t know what’s best choice. Lock off, dedicated or a variation of accessible.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I appreciate the help. I am a CCV owner so this is truly helpful. But for this instance I am wanting to waitlist a 2 bedroom at VGC and I just don’t know what’s best choice. Lock off, dedicated or a variation of accessible.

There are 23 dedicated 2BR units and 23 possible lock-offs. Given that, I would WL the dedicated for a better chance

ETA: sorry, I don't know about WL accessible

 

[cruisehopeful]

But for this instance I am wanting to waitlist a 2 bedroom at VGC and I just don’t know what’s best choice. Lock off, dedicated or a variation of accessible

I'd go with dedicated only because of the odds. If someone already has a waitlist for the studio or one bedroom and a lock off comes available, I would assume they would get their waitlist fulfilled before you. I really wish we could WL room size in any category. That's been a gripe of mine with VDH. They have so many types of studios. It's just a wild gamble.
Keep playing the slots!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I'd go with dedicated only because of the odds. If someone already has a waitlist for the studio or one bedroom and a lock off comes available, I would assume they would get their waitlist fulfilled before you. I really wish we could WL room size in any category. That's been a gripe of mine with VDH. They have so many types of studios. It's just a wild gamble.
Keep playing the slots!

Yes I wish they would combine it.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There are 23 dedicated 2BR units and 23 possible lock-offs. Given that, I would WL the dedicated for a better chance

ETA: sorry, I don't know about WL accessible

Thanks!

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

I know this conversation has mostly moved on but I still figure I'd also add some thoughts and my observations based on my homework for about a year before purchasing VGC in 2022 and continued research through today.

• I think the big wildcard and value of VGC/DVC is that we can book so far in advance. You have a fair rack rate, but I guess my question is, can you actually book this type of room (in a way I think the VGC rooms are superior to those on the hotel side but that's another point). When I was trying to compare VGC vs rack rate, I had a very hard time getting the suite to show me any rates/availability for any period of time outside of a day or two here and there.
• DVC vs hotel side. I think one big perk is that you know what you get with DVC. Book the 1 BR, you get a king, and the 2 beds in the LR and two bathrooms plus a kitchen. When I look at the suites on the hotel side it seems like most of the suites are a mix of a room/living area, and a random collection of attached rooms. I book more 2BR vs 2BR but still same point.
• The location of the DVC rooms is pretty awesome especially if they get that gate by Corndog Castle open again and we love the park views from the rooms.

If I wanted to have a larger Vanguard balance I should have stayed away from DVC

The Pixar Pier gate was open when we were there last weekend.

Also I'm in this thread precisely because I make bad financial decisions.

 

[Girlstar30]

We are on day 4 of 8 at VGC, our first stay here. I am really not happy with it. Why? It has ruined every other DVC resort for me. I was not anticipating the room size (studio) or how pristine the room is (even if the "full" refurb doesn't match what was done on the WDW side). Craftsman Bar / Grill is also awesome.

And, those pool chairs. Wow. For the record they did replace the cushions between June 30 and July 2 but they are just as good as before.

For reals, this resort is everything a resort should be i am in love after our last stay, dreaming of our next stay and wanting more points

 

[Girlstar30]

Owning is much better than renting because you can stalk. I rented vdh for my birthday and im stuck in a studio with no view and I cant stalk for the garden view I really want which im sure with my persistence I would have gotten if available as an option before the trip.

I also would never have gotten to stay at vgc for 4th of july and mother's day last minute renting out someone elses points. Once you book a room you are stuck.

Plans change all the time and more desirable resorts pop up and you are literally stuck when renting and no full refund unless you pay much more. Also it costs $26 pp to rent from more trusted brokers like the rental store and davids which is what most people would be comfortable doing. Me personally im not willing to risk thousands of dollars renting from a stranger without some protection. I wish I could get a refund on my rental store purchase, but I cant and the credit also has an expiration date I believe. This is literally the core reason we decided we need direct points. Having no flexibility sucks.

Also it really is nice to be part of this membership and meet others and get little gifts and other magical touches and im not even direct yet and feel the magic. We didnt get that magical feeling when renting i think they nailed it with that slogan. Throw in MM, sorcerers pass and other perks for being direct and the value is there.

To each their own, there is no way we would justify literally staying a month at Disney world in September or drop that kind of cash straight up without being owners.

Once the initial chunk is paid off and just paying dues its really nice not to front thousands of dollars in cash up front for a disney world trip like you have to do with renting (and not possible for some) i def wouldn't want to shell out thousands of dollars up front for years

 

[ClaraOswald]

I know this conversation has mostly moved on but I still figure I'd also add some thoughts and my observations based on my homework for about a year before purchasing VGC in 2022 and continued research through today.

• I think the big wildcard and value of VGC/DVC is that we can book so far in advance. You have a fair rack rate, but I guess my question is, can you actually book this type of room (in a way I think the VGC rooms are superior to those on the hotel side but that's another point). When I was trying to compare VGC vs rack rate, I had a very hard time getting the suite to show me any rates/availability for any period of time outside of a day or two here and there.
• DVC vs hotel side. I think one big perk is that you know what you get with DVC. Book the 1 BR, you get a king, and the 2 beds in the LR and two bathrooms plus a kitchen. When I look at the suites on the hotel side it seems like most of the suites are a mix of a room/living area, and a random collection of attached rooms. I book more 2BR vs 2BR but still same point.
• The location of the DVC rooms is pretty awesome especially if they get that gate by Corndog Castle open again and we love the park views from the rooms.

If I wanted to have a larger Vanguard balance I should have stayed away from DVC

Do the 1-bedroom options on the hotel side have 1 or 2 bathrooms? I only stayed on the hotel side once, in a standard room.

 

[Girlstar30]

So we loved our redwood view this past weekend, but I asked the front desk how the heck do people get a theme park view and she said the trick is to call 10 days before and ask for your room request as that is when they start assigning rooms.

She knew we were DVC, but my experience has been that if you call a hotel and ask to put in a request and they see its a dvc room, they direct you to MS.

I haven't tried this at vgc yet tho and for some reason every time we've gone and I ask the front desk if they can see our room requests they say they dont see any even though we did request. This could be however that since they were already assigned maybe it doesnt come up who knows. Anyways I know room requests aren't a guarantee, but has anyone tried calling 10 days before?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Do the 1-bedroom options on the hotel side have 1 or 2 bathrooms? I only stayed on the hotel side once, in a standard room.

It was enough to stay in a hotel room on the cash side…. a 1 bedroom suite… have mercy!