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

[ClaraOswald]

-9 Fahrenheit, checking in! Any Disney trip in winter sounds balmy by comparison.

Oof. You have me beat. I think our windchill was around zero or maybe worse this morning but thankfully I'm warm inside just getting things packed up.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Oof. You have me beat. I think our windchill was around zero or maybe worse this morning but thankfully I'm warm inside just getting things packed up.

It was cold overnight! About 10 F now. It’s a good day to be home sick, sitting cozy on the couch (which I am).

 

[VGCgroupie]

New point chart. Haven’t had time to compare to 2026 or to compare to VDH.

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...disney-vacation-club/points/2027_GCAL-VGC.pdf

 

[LilyJC]

Wowzers for you all not local to SoCal! Here I am freezing my buns off in our 60 degree weather ️ Can’t wait to get back to high 70s next week

 

[AstroBlasters]

New point chart. Haven’t had time to compare to 2026 or to compare to VDH.

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...disney-vacation-club/points/2027_GCAL-VGC.pdf

VDH: https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...sets/disney-vacation-club/points/2027_VDH.pdf

 

[LilyJC]

Happy to report that the dresser in our studio was mostly not sticky at all! Just a tiny spot that we of course had placed a napkin on, so poor housekeeping had to deal with that since we ran out upon checkout to meet my sis. Downsides: the shower head and toilet seat were both pretty trashed

With the holiday decor fully up, the GCH lobby is absolutely insane. So much so that I’m not sure we’ll do a staycation next year. If anyone is heading over soon, be prepared for that and the ridiculous line for the holiday snack cart 🫩

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Since it was so crazy crowded everywhere, I enjoyed watching the fireworks from our balcony each night (Studio #3509).

Our interim guide called to have us stop by and grab these:

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I’m having serious fomo after seeing a fb post with the ornament gifted at Aulani though…

And finally, this was sold out when we first checked Acorn’s, but thankfully it was restocked a couple days later as it’s a must have for me!

​

 

[AstroBlasters]

From Chat GPT

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Below is a straightforward comparison of which weeks in 2027 are best booked at the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian (VGC) versus the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel (VDH), using:

• 2027 point charts
• $20/point valuation
• VDH transient occupancy tax (TOT)

TOT significantly alters value, especially for larger rooms at VDH.

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VGC becomes a better deal during high-demand periods or when booking larger rooms, because VGC does not charge the Anaheim TOT and VDH does.

The best VGC weeks are:

1. Thanksgiving Week
   Dates: November 23–27
   Reason: VDH TOT is extremely high during this period, often $150–$450 per night depending on room type. VGC avoids that added cost.
2. Christmas and New Year Weeks
   Dates: December 17–31
   Reason: VDH TOT is at its highest of the year. Even when VDH point costs are similar or slightly lower, the effective dollar cost is higher than VGC.
3. Summer Peak Season for Larger Rooms
   Dates: June 28–September 4
   Reason: VDH TOT is consistently high during summer and removes most or all of the point-savings advantage. VGC 2BR and Grand Villas are often cheaper in dollars.
4. All Seasons for Grand Villas
   Reason: VDH Grand Villa TOT ranges from roughly $293 to over $600 per night. Even when VDH uses fewer points, the TOT makes it more expensive than VGC virtually every week of the year.

Summary for VGC:

• Best for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
• Best for peak summer if booking 2BR or Grand Villa
• Best for Grand Villas all year
• Best overall when TOT is high at VDH

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VDH is most cost-effective when you are booking smaller rooms (Studio or 1BR) and traveling during lower-TOT periods.

The best VDH weeks are:

1. January Value Season
   Dates: January 3–31
   Reason: Low points and low TOT. Studios and 1BRs at VDH are far cheaper than VGC in dollar terms.
2. Early February to Mid-March
   Dates: February 1–March 14
   Reason: Points remain relatively low at VDH and TOT is still modest. VDH Studios and 1BRs are less expensive than VGC by a wide margin.
3. Early May
   Dates: May 1–22
   Reason: One of the lowest-cost periods for VDH. TOT is mild and point differences are meaningful.
4. Late August to End of September
   Dates: August 16–September 30
   Reason: Consistently one of the cheapest times of the year to stay at VDH. Studios and 1BR usually save $80–$150 per night compared to VGC.
5. Early October (non-holiday weekends)
   Dates: October 1–15
   Reason: Moderate point season and TOT still reasonable. VDH typically wins for Studios and 1BRs.

Summary for VDH:

• Best for Studios and 1BR stays
• Best during January, February, May, and late August through September
• Best when TOT is lowest and point differences are highest

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January 3–February 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: Lowest TOT and large point savings

February 28–March 18
Winner: VDH
Notes: Still low TOT and moderate points

March 19–April 3
Winner: VDH for Studios, VGC for larger rooms
Notes: TOT jumps for 2BR and GV at VDH

April 4–June 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: TOT modest enough that point savings dominate

June 28–September 4
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT is high enough at VDH to erase point savings for larger rooms

September 5–September 30
Winner: VDH
Notes: Some of the lowest point/TOT periods of the year

October 1–November 22
Winner: VDH for Studios and 1BR, mixed for larger rooms
Notes: TOT still moderate

Thanksgiving (November 23–27)
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike at VDH makes it much more expensive

November 28–December 16
Winner: Mixed
Notes: Depends heavily on room type; Studios may favor VDH, larger rooms favor VGC

December 17–December 31
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike makes VDH more expensive in all room sizes

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VGC is best:

• Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods
• All peak periods for large rooms
• All year for Grand Villas
• Most summer dates for 2BR and GV

VDH is best:

• January through mid-March
• May 1–22
• August 16–September 30
• Early October (non-holiday weekends)
• Almost always better for Studios and 1BRs outside of holiday weeks

 

[VGCgroupie]

From Chat GPT

---

---

Below is a straightforward comparison of which weeks in 2027 are best booked at the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian (VGC) versus the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel (VDH), using:

• 2027 point charts
• $20/point valuation
• VDH transient occupancy tax (TOT)

TOT significantly alters value, especially for larger rooms at VDH.

---

---

VGC becomes a better deal during high-demand periods or when booking larger rooms, because VGC does not charge the Anaheim TOT and VDH does.

The best VGC weeks are:

1. Thanksgiving Week
   Dates: November 23–27
   Reason: VDH TOT is extremely high during this period, often $150–$450 per night depending on room type. VGC avoids that added cost.
2. Christmas and New Year Weeks
   Dates: December 17–31
   Reason: VDH TOT is at its highest of the year. Even when VDH point costs are similar or slightly lower, the effective dollar cost is higher than VGC.
3. Summer Peak Season for Larger Rooms
   Dates: June 28–September 4
   Reason: VDH TOT is consistently high during summer and removes most or all of the point-savings advantage. VGC 2BR and Grand Villas are often cheaper in dollars.
4. All Seasons for Grand Villas
   Reason: VDH Grand Villa TOT ranges from roughly $293 to over $600 per night. Even when VDH uses fewer points, the TOT makes it more expensive than VGC virtually every week of the year.

Summary for VGC:

• Best for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
• Best for peak summer if booking 2BR or Grand Villa
• Best for Grand Villas all year
• Best overall when TOT is high at VDH

---

---

VDH is most cost-effective when you are booking smaller rooms (Studio or 1BR) and traveling during lower-TOT periods.

The best VDH weeks are:

1. January Value Season
   Dates: January 3–31
   Reason: Low points and low TOT. Studios and 1BRs at VDH are far cheaper than VGC in dollar terms.
2. Early February to Mid-March
   Dates: February 1–March 14
   Reason: Points remain relatively low at VDH and TOT is still modest. VDH Studios and 1BRs are less expensive than VGC by a wide margin.
3. Early May
   Dates: May 1–22
   Reason: One of the lowest-cost periods for VDH. TOT is mild and point differences are meaningful.
4. Late August to End of September
   Dates: August 16–September 30
   Reason: Consistently one of the cheapest times of the year to stay at VDH. Studios and 1BR usually save $80–$150 per night compared to VGC.
5. Early October (non-holiday weekends)
   Dates: October 1–15
   Reason: Moderate point season and TOT still reasonable. VDH typically wins for Studios and 1BRs.

Summary for VDH:

• Best for Studios and 1BR stays
• Best during January, February, May, and late August through September
• Best when TOT is lowest and point differences are highest

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January 3–February 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: Lowest TOT and large point savings

February 28–March 18
Winner: VDH
Notes: Still low TOT and moderate points

March 19–April 3
Winner: VDH for Studios, VGC for larger rooms
Notes: TOT jumps for 2BR and GV at VDH

April 4–June 27
Winner: VDH
Notes: TOT modest enough that point savings dominate

June 28–September 4
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT is high enough at VDH to erase point savings for larger rooms

September 5–September 30
Winner: VDH
Notes: Some of the lowest point/TOT periods of the year

October 1–November 22
Winner: VDH for Studios and 1BR, mixed for larger rooms
Notes: TOT still moderate

Thanksgiving (November 23–27)
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike at VDH makes it much more expensive

November 28–December 16
Winner: Mixed
Notes: Depends heavily on room type; Studios may favor VDH, larger rooms favor VGC

December 17–December 31
Winner: VGC
Notes: TOT spike makes VDH more expensive in all room sizes

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VGC is best:

• Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods
• All peak periods for large rooms
• All year for Grand Villas
• Most summer dates for 2BR and GV

VDH is best:

• January through mid-March
• May 1–22
• August 16–September 30
• Early October (non-holiday weekends)
• Almost always better for Studios and 1BRs outside of holiday weeks

Thanks! Whew! That’s a lot of info. Since I dont trust AI I’d have to cross check the info. It wrong often especially when it come to DVC.