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

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I've tried to push this as far as I can. I've exchanged emails with DVC and had phone calls with DVC with the aim of speaking to someone higher up. I was met with dead ends and politely told (after being put on hold several times) that this was the end of the line for my enquiry. It was suggested that I attend the condo meeting and raise it if I wanted to, which I cant because I'm international. But I believe owners are owed an explanation and rationale. Disney have made it clear they dont want to be transparent about what happened here.

Disney also Informed me they consider this soft goods.

I’m curious - do you have it in writing that they considered this soft goods?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’m curious - do you have it in writing that they considered this soft goods?

Mine was verbal

 

[Liquidice]

I spoke with Peyton from DVC Member Services today for over an hour in response to the email I sent to william.c.diercksen@disney.com - I recommend if people are concerned with the refurb issue to continue to email leadership. Peyton did say my email was read by leadership and that I brought up some good points about the money in Capital Reserves vs other resorts like Bay Laker Tower.

Peyton did listen and take down my feedback, I mentioned that even if this was a so called "soft goods" refurb that the coffee pot, toasters and microwave as well as the bathroom fixtures like shower heads in the studios were not replaced and these are relatively low cost items that often get replaced in soft good refurbs. Peyton did seem to understand where I was coming from - but he did not offer up that this was only a soft goods refurb nor did he offer any explanation. All he said was that DVC was listening to our feedback and I wasn't the only one who had concerns with the refurb.

I did offer up that DVC should provide owners with an explanation at the annual meeting or sooner on where our money was spent out of Capital Reserves towards this refurb.

Hopefully this wasn't just lip service and DVC is actually listening to the feedback - but basically I told them that their most recent refurbs other than Grand Cal were mostly hits and set high expectations for refurbishments and despite having what seems like sufficient funds in our Capital Reserves for the refurb we got something that felt less than a soft goods refurb.

I'd encourage people to continue to email a complaint to DVC about this refurb if you own at VGC and maybe we'll get some kind of explanation at the annual owners meeting in December.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I spoke with Peyton from DVC Member Services today for over an hour in response to the email I sent to william.c.diercksen@disney.com - I recommend if people are concerned with the refurb issue to continue to email leadership. Peyton did say my email was read by leadership and that I brought up some good points about the money in Capital Reserves vs other resorts like Bay Laker Tower.

Peyton did listen and take down my feedback, I mentioned that even if this was a so called "soft goods" refurb that the coffee pot, toasters and microwave as well as the bathroom fixtures like shower heads in the studios were not replaced and these are relatively low cost items that often get replaced in soft good refurbs. Peyton did seem to understand where I was coming from - but he did not offer up that this was only a soft goods refurb nor did he offer any explanation. All he said was that DVC was listening to our feedback and I wasn't the only one who had concerns with the refurb.

I did offer up that DVC should provide owners with an explanation at the annual meeting or sooner on where our money was spent out of Capital Reserves towards this refurb.

Hopefully this wasn't just lip service and DVC is actually listening to the feedback - but basically I told them that their most recent refurbs other than Grand Cal were mostly hits and set high expectations for refurbishments and despite having what seems like sufficient funds in our Capital Reserves for the refurb we got something that felt less than a soft goods refurb.

I'd encourage people to continue to email a complaint to DVC about this refurb if you own at VGC and maybe we'll get some kind of explanation at the annual owners meeting in December.

Someone really should get fired over this. To not have enough in capital reserves to replace “coffee pot, toasters and microwave as well as the bathroom fixtures like shower heads” after 14 years is negligent.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Someone really should get fired over this. To not have enough in capital reserves to replace “coffee pot, toasters and microwave as well as the bathroom fixtures like shower heads” after 14 years is negligent.

Agreed. I think that they think that VGC is so small and so well loved they can get away with it. Like a people will love it no matter what mantra.

 

[Liquidice]

Someone really should get fired over this. To not have enough in capital reserves to replace “coffee pot, toasters and microwave as well as the bathroom fixtures like shower heads” after 14 years is negligent.

Personally, I don't think thats the case though - there was plenty of money in Capital Reserves as of 12/2024 when the budget came out. Including money from the 2025 Annual Dues, there was over $12M in Capital Reserves.

Its possible there is some explanation that just isn't being shared with owners, maybe some kind of structural issues were found and the Capital Reserves funds needed to be spent towards that. I don't think that external refurb ate up all of the Capital Reserves funds as it does have an estimate in the budget of how much a full replacement of all external items would be and DVC only owns 30% of those costs to the tune of around $3M. So even everything needed to be replaced, there should still have been money leftover in Capital Reserves for the interior refurb.

Maybe they realized they didn't have enough for a true hard goods refurb due to inflation or higher than expected costs, so like others have been told - they did just a cheap soft goods refurb and will be doing a true hard goods refurb in 7 years, but then I would expect a minimal amount of money to be taken from Capital Reserves. It will be important to see what the Capital Reserve funds look like when Annual Dues come out for 2026.

My fear though is that since this was the first DVC refurb on the West Coast that the funds got mixed together with the hotel side and our Capital Reserves were spent inappropriately for the hotel side. This would require DVC investigate and get the Disney hotel side to pay us back -- or possibly legal action.

Hopefully there will be some explanation at the annual meeting.

 

[Chili327]

This is what we purchased:

https://a.co/d/13iKEzi

@HyperspaceMountainPilot
Here is your answer!!

 

[Royal Consort]

I’m curious - do you have it in writing that they considered this soft goods?

I dont unfortunately, they would only speak to me over the phone and not in writing. It was challenging too due to the international time difference.

What email did you originally email?

william.c.diercksen@disney.com

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I hope someone is able to attend the annual meeting this year and ask why the refurb for VGC was done the way it was.

When is the annual meeting? We're local and I'd love to chat with them about the amount of VGC spec rentals I'm seeing all over the place anyway.

You need to pack a splitting device!!
I’m sure there are plenty out there, but you could use one badly.

We travel with one when we are on a cruise ship (and sadly, when we stay at VGC) but just because it allows you to charge the MBs does not make up for the inconvenience of not being able to easily charge my phone (which I like to use as a white noise device, especially in ground floor rooms!) and watch next to the bed... to say nothing of not having a nightstand or even small tray to set stuff on for one side of the bed.

Agreed. I think that they think that VGC is so small and so well loved they can get away with it. Like a people will love it no matter what mantra.

Guilty!

 

[AstroBlasters]

When is the annual meeting? We're local and I'd love to chat with them about the amount of VGC spec rentals I'm seeing all over the place anyway.

We travel with one when we are on a cruise ship (and sadly, when we stay at VGC) but just because it allows you to charge the MBs does not make up for the inconvenience of not being able to easily charge my phone (which I like to use as a white noise device, especially in ground floor rooms!) and watch next to the bed... to say nothing of not having a nightstand or even small tray to set stuff on for one side of the bed.

Guilty!

Bed in primiary room (villas) has a night stand on both sides of the bed.

 

[Mouseforward]

Honestly this is a HUGE pain when you have 4+ magic bands to charge each night, as well as your phones (personal and sometimes work devices) watches, back up battery, etc.

I stay at VGC for location, location, location— but I am disappointed they didn’t add convenient outlets, the option of brighter lighting, or a nightstand on both sides of the bed.

Yuck, what do you do if you have a magic band for every outfit ( asking for a friend.)

 

[Mathmagicland]

When is the annual meeting? We're local and I'd love to chat with them about the amount of VGC spec rentals I'm seeing all over the place anyway.

Historically, I believe it is sometime the second week of December. Not sure of the day of the week, maybe a Wednesday or a Thursday?

Edit to add - last year’s was Tuesday 10 December-

https://cdn2.parksmedia.wdprapps.di.../condo-association/180918-WDW-Mtg-Bk_GCAL.pdf

 

[VGCgroupie]

We will actually be in town at the parks around that time. But I’m not taking time away from my vacation and family to attend. I shouldn’t have to, this is 2025 why can’t meetings be held virtually? If you aren’t local I can’t imagine anyone paying to fly and using their time to go to a meeting.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We will actually be in town at the parks around that time. But I’m not taking time away from my vacation and family to attend. I shouldn’t have to, this is 2025 why can’t meetings be held virtually? If you aren’t local I can’t imagine anyone paying to fly and using their time to go to a meeting.

If it was virtual…. wouldn’t you still be taking time away from your vacation and family to attend?

 

[eticketplease]

If it was virtual…. wouldn’t you still be taking time away from your vacation and family to attend?

I still don’t think she would be attending, but the rest of us could

 

[Liquidice]

When is the annual meeting? We're local and I'd love to chat with them about the amount of VGC spec rentals I'm seeing all over the place anyway.

We travel with one when we are on a cruise ship (and sadly, when we stay at VGC) but just because it allows you to charge the MBs does not make up for the inconvenience of not being able to easily charge my phone (which I like to use as a white noise device, especially in ground floor rooms!) and watch next to the bed... to say nothing of not having a nightstand or even small tray to set stuff on for one side of the bed.

Guilty!

The annual meeting will get announced usually in the November timeframe so we don't know the exact date yet - but historically it is the first or second week of December and there will be a specific time for Grand Cal owners. Last year it was 12/10/2024 at 3pm for Grand Cal.

Here is an example of the announcement from last year (was announced November 7th, 2024): https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program-men...ual-condominium-meetings-and-member-reception

You do need to register to attend the meeting.

 

[Liquidice]

We will actually be in town at the parks around that time. But I’m not taking time away from my vacation and family to attend. I shouldn’t have to, this is 2025 why can’t meetings be held virtually? If you aren’t local I can’t imagine anyone paying to fly and using their time to go to a meeting.

If it was virtual…. wouldn’t you still be taking time away from your vacation and family to attend?

I still don’t think she would be attending, but the rest of us could

They actually simulcast the annual meetings at Disneyland - so they totally could do it virtually. My pessimistic view is that Disney doesn't want that many people attending. Too many people opens the door to too many questions.

Also, the law doesn't require them to do it virtually - so they won't. The law in Florida requires them to now have quarterly meetings, so they do and an annual meeting - so they do.

 

[VGCgroupie]

If it was virtual…. wouldn’t you still be taking time away from your vacation and family to attend?

Was meaning for subsequent meetings, and meetings for my other home resorts.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Was meaning for subsequent meetings, and meetings for my other home resorts.

If only we knew an attorney who lived locally, is a VGC owners, and who is extremely knowledgeable about everything going on at DVC…. who could also come in with a signed petition from other current VGC owners….

 

[Liquidice]

If only we knew an attorney who lived locally, is a VGC owners, and who is extremely knowledgeable about everything going on at DVC…. who could also come in with a signed petition from other current VGC owners….

In theory - you could sign over Power of Attorney to represent you or a group of VGC owners and attend the annual meeting. A lawyer well versed in California Timeshare law would likely be the best - but since the meeting takes place in Florida, it might be difficult to find someone local in Florida that is well versed in CA Timeshare law - but a FL Timeshare lawyer is probably not that hard to find. They wouldn't need to be intimately aware of everything going on with DVC but a short meeting should be able to explain the concern.

It might be a waste of money though if DVC already comes with all of the answers we seek to the annual meeting. A better approach might be a wait and see to find out what info they share with us and what the budgets look like.

If after that, we're still not satisfied with their answer - I believe a next step could be to pursue legal council and officially request further information on how money was spent for the refurbishment and then consider whether a civil law suit is worthwhile.

Hoping it doesn't come to that though.