WOW! It sure takes alot of points to stay at the Grand Califonia Resort

[nickspace]

How do you feel about this? I am a little put off by the point chart and feel the amount of points needed to stay there should be in line with the other resorts. This resort seems to require almost double the amount of points. Who knows how many points will be needed to stay at the Hawaii resort.

Sound off here...

 

[toocherie]

actually it's what I expected it would be--this will be the ONLY DVC resort in California.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Where are the point charts for the GC DVC? I didn't see them on the member website.

 

[kimberh]

Oh, I can bet Hawaii will be a ton of points. Everything in Hawaii is expensive!!! This must be the new wave of the Future!

 

[bethy]

See . . . I've been thinking it's a bargain b/c up till now I've spent so many of my AKV points at the DLR hotels. Compared to those point costs VGC looks like a steal! That is a clever marketing strategy for DVC to take with us West Coasters.

 

[sdlipton]

actually it's what I expected it would be--this will be the ONLY DVC resort in California.

What on earth makes you think that this will be the only DVC in California? It is widely known that Disney has been in long term negotiations to manage the hotels to be built at Garden Walk plus with plans to rebuild the DLH and ALOT more land in and around the existing two gates, it befuddles me why anyone would think this will be Disney's only DVC property.

To add to everything above, as of yesterday, DVC in Disneyland has sold nearly a quarter of the available points for the Villas at the Grand Californian and its only been 4 days. I sincerely doubt that VGC sales will ever get to the general public, heck, non-founding members may not have a shot at this rate.

The reason above by the way is why my DW and I bought at AKV last month, to make sure that we could add on at the Grand when it came up for sale.

My two cents.

 

[bethy]

To add to everything above, as of yesterday, DVC in Disneyland has sold nearly a quarter of the available points for the Villas at the Grand Californian and its only been 4 days. I sincerely doubt that VGC sales will ever get to the general public, heck, non-founding members may not have a shot at this rate.

The reason above by the way is why my DW and I bought at AKV last month, to make sure that we could add on at the Grand when it came up for sale.

My two cents.

Wowza!!!! Can you share where you go this info?

 

[kerickson]

What on earth makes you think that this will be the only DVC in California? It is widely known that Disney has been in long term negotiations to manage the hotels to be built at Garden Walk plus with plans to rebuild the DLH and ALOT more land in and around the existing two gates, it befuddles me why anyone would think this will be Disney's only DVC property.

To add to everything above, as of yesterday, DVC in Disneyland has sold nearly a quarter of the available points for the Villas at the Grand Californian and its only been 4 days. I sincerely doubt that VGC sales will ever get to the general public, heck, non-founding members may not have a shot at this rate.

The reason above by the way is why my DW and I bought at AKV last month, to make sure that we could add on at the Grand when it came up for sale.

My two cents.

I'm very interested to know where the sales numbers are. I asked my guide today when we purchased but she didn't know. She said she's sure someone is keeping the numbers, but they haven't communicated anything to the guides yet as it's only the 4th day. I do know she said it would take them 8-10 days to get our paperwork to us because they are slammed.

Also, don't think toocherie meant it will be the only DVC ever at DL, just the only DVC for now. I don't think they'll sell another one until Hawaii is close to being sold out which could take a few years... I assume they will have another property in the future though. That will be great, but by then the per point price will be crazy high! I'm guessing $120 for Hawaii.

 

[bethy]

Also, don't think toocherie meant it will be the only DVC ever at DL, just the only DVC for now. I don't think they'll sell another one until Hawaii is close to being sold out which could take a few years... I assume they will have another property in the future though. That will be great, but by then the per point price will be crazy high! I'm guessing $120 for Hawaii.

Plus, for me personally I don't have any time to lose. I need to get going on that 50 year contract so I can make the most of it. My kids arent' getting any younger either. I"ve already spent enough moolah on hotels.

 

[Inkmahm]

See . . . I've been thinking it's a bargain b/c up till now I've spent so many of my AKV points at the DLR hotels. Compared to those point costs VGC looks like a steal! That is a clever marketing strategy for DVC to take with us West Coasters.

I was thinking the same thing. I"m using points for a 4 day trip next August to the GCH and points in a studio at the villas would be 36 (I think) LESS than what I am spending for the hotel.

 

[nunzia]

What on earth makes you think that this will be the only DVC in California? It is widely known that Disney has been in long term negotiations to manage the hotels to be built at Garden Walk plus with plans to rebuild the DLH and ALOT more land in and around the existing two gates, it befuddles me why anyone would think this will be Disney's only DVC property.

To add to everything above, as of yesterday, DVC in Disneyland has sold nearly a quarter of the available points for the Villas at the Grand Californian and its only been 4 days. I sincerely doubt that VGC sales will ever get to the general public, heck, non-founding members may not have a shot at this rate.

The reason above by the way is why my DW and I bought at AKV last month, to make sure that we could add on at the Grand when it came up for sale.

My two cents.

If this is true, then I will be fairly miffed that they changed the maximum points founders could buy. I think I heard it was 160 and now it's 500? Why do that?
I do think that there will be more DVCs at DLR but not with the location of the Grand.
I certainly hope your sources are wrong and that the general membership will have a shot.


That said, the points are almost exactly what I was expecting. I was guessing they'd be close to BLT and they were, but they were BLT woth a view, not standard.

 

[Farmboy90]

actually it's what I expected it would be--this will be the ONLY DVC resort in California.

Will they lower the points when there is another DVC resort in the area? I doubt it.

The points are high to me, but I don't know many people who stay at Disneyland for more than a few days. So maybe there is a little gouging going on.

 

[Farmboy90]

To add to everything above, as of yesterday, DVC in Disneyland has sold nearly a quarter of the available points for the Villas at the Grand Californian and its only been 4 days. I sincerely doubt that VGC sales will ever get to the general public, heck, non-founding members may not have a shot at this rate.

Would you mind sharing more details about where you heard this? I will be quite upset if the points are gone before non-founding members have a chance to buy them. My guide promised me they would be available. At the time there was only supposed to be a 160 pt cap though.

Does anyone even know how many founding members there are? The total # of points is known, so it would be simple multiplication to see if it is even technically possible for all the points to be bought by founding members.

 

[toocherie]

What on earth makes you think that this will be the only DVC in California? It is widely known that Disney has been in long term negotiations to manage the hotels to be built at Garden Walk plus with plans to rebuild the DLH and ALOT more land in and around the existing two gates, it befuddles me why anyone would think this will be Disney's only DVC property.

Sorry--wasn't clear--as kerickson states below, this will be the only DVC at DLR for quite a while--since nothing is on the books yet. I think it will be at least 3 or 4 years ==if not longer-- before something opens. So I think the demand is going to be through the roof. Which is also why I bought at SSR last year to get first crack.

Also, don't think toocherie meant it will be the only DVC ever at DL, just the only DVC for now. I don't think they'll sell another one until Hawaii is close to being sold out which could take a few years... I assume they will have another property in the future though. That will be great, but by then the per point price will be crazy high! I'm guessing $120 for Hawaii.

Exactamundo!

Will they lower the points when there is another DVC resort in the area? I doubt it.

The points are high to me, but I don't know many people who stay at Disneyland for more than a few days. So maybe there is a little gouging going on.

I don't think it's gouging--as others have pointed out it is less than staying in one of the hotels--and you're getting better facilities (larger units, kitchens/kitchenettes). However, as you have indicated the stays at DLR are generally less anyway. And I don't think the points will go down when and in another DVC opens--the "Grand" will always be the premiere location and the points will reflect that, IMO.

 

[sdlipton]

Would you mind sharing more details about where you heard this? I will be quite upset if the points are gone before non-founding members have a chance to buy them. My guide promised me they would be available. At the time there was only supposed to be a 160 pt cap though.

Does anyone even know how many founding members there are? The total # of points is known, so it would be simple multiplication to see if it is even technically possible for all the points to be bought by founding members.

My source are individuals at TDA and Burbank with direct knowledge. Hence my hurry to buy AKV in December so i could buy first thing in January for VGC.

From what I have been told, there are more founding members who if purchase at an expected average, to sell out the point allotment before the general membership can buy and possibly before the founding period ends. Again, why my wife and I purchased on day 2.

I know a lot of folks will be upset by this. Because of code and space limitations TDA could not build the VGC any larger then they did, potentially artifically decreasing supply. With a HUGE demand (what recession based on the point totals my guide told me people are buying) Disney has set themselves up with one of the fastest sellouts and possibly a HUGE PR nightmare from folks who could not buy and DVC members who at that point can no longer stay at the Grand, at least on points.

 

[drag n' fly]

We are on the founders list and didn't buy due to the high minimum buy in. I did a little figuring out.

We only travel during the peak season every 2-3 years as we have three kids in school.

We find the one bedrooms for our family of five too small for trips so we get a 2 bedroom. It really matters when we take 10+day trips to WDW.

We do go for more than a few days to DL as the flight costs are 2500.00 to LAX and up to 3500.00 to MCO for our family of five and that is with a seat sale. It will always be a week at DL. We also do So-Cal while there.

We have found we do not use the kitchen (as much as we thought we would) as it is a holiday and we really enjoy letting someone else do the cooking.

It really is about balance and what matters to us personally.

It will cost us 76 points a night to stay s-th and 135 points a night to stay f&s in a 2 bedroom at the GCV.

It will cost us approx (based on the 2009 DL chart) 51 points a night to stay concierge at the DLH and 83 points a night for f&s.

We enjoy the amenities on concierge and are willing to give up some space to compensate for that. We did concierge at Christmas at AKV and loved it!!! We have discovered we spend more time enjoying the hotel and its amenities than the room itself.

We have been to DL many many times and only ever stayed onsite once at the GC.....GO HOJO WOOT!

Here is our take on it. We live 60 miles from Banff National Park. Every hotel around here is themed exactly the same as the GC. We bought at AKV because the african savannahs are far and few between up here in Alberta

When we go to Disney. We want Disney themeing. We are nostalgic old school Disney and love the themeing and the atmosphere of the DL hotel. It is the same reason we love DL over WDW.

The points for GCV only seem high if you are not going to make full use of the Villa. You also have to remember you are getting a whole lot more for your points in a Villa compared to a room at GC. For us since our trips are spaced so far apart we would rather stay concierge at DLH and get that Disney magic there instead. Everybody uses their DVC membership based on their own personal needs and wants.
At the GCV they are in line with supply and demand and you get what you pay for IMO.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

For us since our trips are spaced so far apart we would rather stay concierge at DLH and get that Disney magic there instead.

I am somewhat surprised at your high praise for the concierge at DLH.

We booked concierge at PPH a couple of years ago and while it was fine (and a heck of a deal at about $180/night plus tax and resort fee), it wasn't anything that we would rave about. Our only recent stay at DLH was in a 2BR suite, but we didn't add on conceriege because our room was in a different tower. I guess we should have tried it! -- Suzanne

 

[drag n' fly]

I am somewhat surprised at your high praise for the concierge at DLH.

We booked concierge at PPH a couple of years ago and while it was fine (and a heck of a deal at about $180/night plus tax and resort fee), it wasn't anything that we would rave about. Our only recent stay at DLH was in a 2BR suite, but we didn't add on conceriege because our room was in a different tower. I guess we should have tried it! -- Suzanne

We have never done concierge at the DLH. We have only ever stayed at GC. We are choosing to stay at the DLH over GCV on our next trip and we like the themeing better at DLH and have enjoyed concierge stays in previous trips. Just a personal preference

 

[toocherie]

We have never done concierge at the DLH. We have only ever stayed at GC. We are choosing to stay at the DLH over GCV on our next trip and we like the themeing better at DLH and have enjoyed concierge stays in previous trips. Just a personal preference

Yes, it is just personal preference and I think what your experience has been. I have only stayed at DLH once (not concierge) and if I can help it will never stay there again. It was just "meh" in my opinion. I LOVE the GCH (but not the price) and prefer PPH given the choice between the remaining two hotels.

 

[nunzia]

My source are individuals at TDA and Burbank with direct knowledge. Hence my hurry to buy AKV in December so i could buy first thing in January for VGC.

From what I have been told, there are more founding members who if purchase at an expected average, to sell out the point allotment before the general membership can buy and possibly before the founding period ends. Again, why my wife and I purchased on day 2.

I know a lot of folks will be upset by this. Because of code and space limitations TDA could not build the VGC any larger then they did, potentially artifically decreasing supply. With a HUGE demand (what recession based on the point totals my guide told me people are buying) Disney has set themselves up with one of the fastest sellouts and possibly a HUGE PR nightmare from folks who could not buy and DVC members who at that point can no longer stay at the Grand, at least on points.

I agree with these points..and my issue is..if they anticipated all this why raise the maximum founder's could purchase? The 160 was fair and would certainly have allowed other members a chance to purchase. As of 1 day before sales started, my guide told me the maximum had not changed. I'm confused why they would do this. I would have bought in at DLR to get a shot at this, but I don't want or need that many points, nor can I justify or afford a full WDW contract plus a VGC add on of the amount I want. This whole thing was handled very badly. I purposely bought my OKW resale to get into the membership with the understanding that founders would have a 160 point limit, and hoping existing members would have a shot beofre the general public. The Grand is my favorite place and if it sells out, then I guess I'll just wait for resales but the whole thing has been handled poorly considering the anticipation of this resort.
Just my .02