WWYD: VGC Studio, 4 (now just 3!) nights over Memorial Day Weekend

[bwvBound]

I'm inviting you to chime in on my decision making process. This is a familiar game known to DisBoard participants called, "What would you do ... (WWYD)."

Background elements:

• I have a reservation at VGC for 4 (now just 3!) nights, studio, over Memorial Day Weekend. Just the two of us, bwvBound and her DH. EDITED, 4/13: I've shortened the reservation to 3 nights by dropping the Thursday arrival. Ref post #13 below.
• We recently enjoyed a similar stay in late February / early March for our Anniversary. For that stay we went all out: park hopper passes, major dining reservations and the Fantasmic! Dessert package. We had a blast -- but exhausted ourselves as we maximized the rare treat of having park passes.
• We weren't planning on park passes for the May visit. This visit was intended as time to decompress from a busy school year (career activities). We would enjoy dining in the hotels and Downtown Disney area, catching up on borrowed movies, sleeping in, reading, spending time in the resort's Grand Lobby, etc.
• Going to the resort doesn't involve any travel (short drive) but would require putting household pets into various kennels. Kenneling involves both time and money.
• We have an OCT UY and if we cancel the reservation now/soon, we could still bank them to OCT 2013.
• I have big plans for 2014 which will require more points than our annual allotment. I can cover 2014 either by banking now or borrowing later. We intend to book multiple units at AKV to host family for the "Expedition Everest RunDisney" event. Some family have already eagerly agreed and I've transferred a chunk of points into the account - I have no worries about insufficient points to meet the 2014 plans.
• As much as I want to decompress (we both need it) ... my heart isn't into hanging around VGC in a studio unit.
• ... THUS ... I'm toying with canceling the reservation.

My intended Poll:
KEEP or CANCEL: VGC Studio, 4 nights over Memorial Day Weekend

• KEEP: Go and know you'll have more fun than expected once you get there. It is only ~90 points and you only live once.
• KEEP: But seriously, rethink buying Park Passes. It is Opa! celebration!
• KEEP: Because the reservation is a prize by itself. SSR owner snags VGC studio over holiday weekend and you want to cancel? Are you nuts?
• CANCEL: Enjoy decompress at the weekend house in the mountains: nature, horses, critters (no kenneling!), DH ... just skip the chores that will surround you.
  EDITED: This option is no longer being considered, see post #6 below. The replacement thought would be, "CANCEL VGC ... but go somewhere/anywhere."
• CANCEL: Because someone else wants this reservation more than you do!
• CANCEL: Because you should bank the points rather than spend them frivolously.
• Undecided / No Opinion / Other.

So ... what would you do? Please use the poll above and/or comment below! Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

I'd cancel, take the pets to the mountains and decompress there. Hotel stays are fun, but not really all that relaxing - just a different kind of stress, lol.

I'd be thinking about the pets and wishing I could run into the parks for "just a few minutes", LOL. Springtime in the mountains without chores sounds great!

What does DH say?

 

[wbl2745]

I think four days at the VGC would be great!

Here are some things to add to your list. Take the tour of the Grand Californian. I think it is a lot of fun and you learn about all of the things that the architect put in that you just walk by.

I'd definitely make reservations at the Napa Rose. If you are a foodee, make a reservation for the Chef's Counter. You can order off the menu or, which is more fun, have the chef select a meal for you!

Rent a cabaña at the pool for a day or 1/2 day.

In the morning take the power walk over at the Disneyland Hotel.

Enjoy Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel. I had lunch there and it was good. It was a fun place.

Watch the fireworks at Disneyland from the plaza in front of House of Blues. Watch World of Color from the balcony at the VGC.

I'd definitely keep the reservation!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Having been lucky enough to stay in a studio at VGC before, I say go. I love those studios, I think they are the nicest in all of DVC. The pool there is lovely, there are several good dining opportunities, movie theater right there, lovely spa. Probably more things to do than I can think of.

But then again, I live all the way across the country, so any opportunity to stay at VGC would be first on my list.

 

[bwvBound]

I'd be thinking about the pets and wishing I could run into the parks for "just a few minutes", LOL. Springtime in the mountains without chores sounds great!

We might be terrible pet parents, but we frequently kennel the animals without worry. We have full confidence in the staff at both locations. The bird has been boarding with his vet for almost 30 years. He knows the staff and is happy. The new dog seems to enjoy the kennel I used 14 years ago with the old dogs. While the new dog showed stress staying at PetSmart (super close to home), he wags his tail, grins "Goodbye, Mom!" and happily trots off following familiar handlers at the favorite dog spa. The horses are boarded either way just a few miles from the weekend house.

Yes, springtime in the mountains is lovely! While we disagreed with the comment, someone at church this past week said our mountain flowers rivaled the springtime desert bloom. (Nah, the desert wildflowers in Borrego Springs are really spectacular some years!)

What does DH say?

Oh, excellent question! Husband says he is happy with anything ... but ...

• He likes going to new places and seeing/doing new things. We are slowly working on our "world cruise in pieces" having travelled much of the world by sea. If I could find a repositioning trans-pacific cruise for our dates and w/in our budget the problem would be solved: we'd be cruising! We looked at lots of travel options in Alaska: cruise ship, BC Ferry, BC Rail, etc. but couldn't work the logistics.
• He enjoys bragging about the nice places we've visited ... long, long after the fact. At some point in the distant future, he'll revel telling of the major coup snagging this holiday weekend at a lovely location.
• The weekend house is my happy place ... but he views it as "work." I see "tinkering in the greenhouse, tweaking irrigation, planting new landscaping, puttering with the rose bushes, mending a broken board or two, touching up the paint" ... he sees work. Better for him that we should go "away."
• If we go away w/out the animals ... he gets more time with me. (He doesn't care to share, thank you.)

I might ask him tonight about the Bishop Mule Days. It has been on my bucket list for years and I Priceline'd a hotel w/ non-smoking room, king bed and mini kitchen for about $700 for 3 nights. Fits "me" perfectly ... but unless he would really be interested in the area ... I don't think he'll agree. Hmm, I'll wait until after telling him that I've wrapped up the taxes ... expect refund!

 

[bwvBound]

Ohhhh... wait a moment. I've just remembered why I don't want to go to the house that weekend. Last year didn't work out so well ... but I need to back up.

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally spent "just hanging" with my parents at some SoCal timeshare, most often Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad, CA. Mom would be just finished with her Bible Study Fellowship year (she was a leader for so many years) and I'd be wrapping up another school year for my customer. Mom and I would simply spend the days "catching up" and relaxing while the men commuted from that location to work. (An easier commute than normal for my Dad, a somewhat longer one for my DH.)

Two years ago Memorial Day weekend on Saturday night, my Mom revealed her then-recent cancer diagnosis. In the few months following we lost of my parents.

Last year, on Memorial Day, we found ourselves at the weekend house and crawling to "get away, do something." I couldn't mark that day sitting at home, it was driving me nuts with sadness. DH offered we should break out our new California State Park pass and visit a nearby park that was threatened for closure due to budget cuts. I agreed and we hopped into the 4x4 to take an unpaved state route across the mountain. Not too far on the dirt road, we flipped the truck. It was a really rough day.

So ... I don't want to be home to remember any of that ... staying home is now off the menu. Thanks for flushing out that thought and helping me steer clear of certain "gloomy spirit."

 

[bwvBound]

wbl2745 -- Excellent activity and dining suggestions, thank you! Yes, we've enjoyed appetizers and coffee at Trader Sam's on prior visits. Haven't yet done Napa Rose -- it would be a very nice addition to the weekend. So the Power Walk is now through the Disneyland Hotel? We've done the Power Walk through California Adventure Park and wondered what happened to the offer now that CA has earlier hours. Very good to know! Thank you!

RweTHEREyet -- oh, yes! The AMC Theaters would be great fun during a weekend visit with lucy-goosey-type plans. Excellent idea!

THANKS for the input, poll responses, and ideas, folks. Keep them coming! We must go somewhere.

 

[Firepath]

I think I would cancel. As a native San Diegan, I can say that the drive up from San Diego over the Memorial Day weekend isn't my idea of decompressing. Since you live so close, you could go another time when the parks won't be so busy and the drive less stressful. You did say your heart wasn't in it. I'd probably take a nice drive up to the observatory at Palomar Mtn. or try to book a B&B in Julian and bank the points for later. BTW, I always wanted to go to the Bishop Mule Days too, and my DH just laughed whenever I mentioned it. I hope you get there some day!

 

[bwvBound]

BTW, I always wanted to go to the Bishop Mule Days too, and my DH just laughed whenever I mentioned it. I hope you get there some day!

My DH is gently tolerant of my horse-craziness. He agreed to drive to Reno for a Mustang-Training-Naturally event July 2011, drive to Colorado last Sept for the Parelli Performance Summit and offered to tag along for the Dressage Summit in Florida (past Feb) if I'd buy the VIP passes instead of general admission. We didn't attend the Dressage Summit, but looking back, I sorta regret not making it a bigger priority. German Dressage master Walter Zettl presented at that event and later indicated that he would be winding down his travel (no more events in the Americas). We are planning a trip next year to Costa Rica for opportunity to study under Honza Bláha of the Czech Republic, if I'm lucky enough to score one of the 12 spots in the class. (Favorite YouTube clip of Honza with Gaston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHQczRbBHxI)

Palomar ... yeah, maybe ... not so much. That's where we flipped the truck last year. Ouch!

EDITED TO ADD: Firepath, have you ridden the Hiawatha Bike Trail? We did it a few years back ... over Memoral Day Weekend, as it turns out. Our group had a blast!

 

[CarolMN]

I'm not so sure we're helping much - but thanks so much for sharing with us. I'm enjoying reading your thoughts and plans. So sorry for the loss of your parents.

 

[Meriweather]

Keep it!!
We just got back yesterday.
We plan on doing a couple of nights next year just staying at the villas, no passes (before a cruise).
I love, love, love that resort and any time is a good time just to go there and stay.
Downtown, dining and resort is a vacation in itself.

 

[dwelty]

I would cancel. First of all I am a great VGC fan and own there, but Memorial weekend would not be my first choice to visit. Since you are doing a resort only stay, you might want to relax by the pool. As a local I can tell you that Memorial Day weekend is notorious time for "June Gloom". When most of the day will be cloudy and cool. Secondly, on a busy park weekend like that there will be a steady stream of locals in the lobby of the Grand Californian, making it loud and crowded. Downtown Disney will be crowded, the dining locations will be crowded, etc. I would not look at it as a relaxing weekend personally.

 

[bwvBound]

dwelty - All good points. We are in La Jolla weekdays and not far from Temecula on most weekends. La Jolla gives us plenty of marine layer, year round, including May Gray and June Gloom. Last summer we took the dog to the beach on July 4th and simply froze. It was funny retreating back to our neighborhood and observing locals dressed in sweatpants and UggBoots on the 4th of July! Skipped the fireworks ... brrrrr!

---

At this point, we've decided we must go somewhere. VGC becomes our fall back position if we don't have something else booked by the cancellation date. If we do go to VGC, we'll knock off the first night and make it just Fri-Mon (3 nights).

I'm reading the Mule Days schedule and pricing. Tickets would run $228 (box seat + Friday night BBQ), hotel for 3 nights $700 plus kennels, fuel for the truck, etc. Unfortunately, many of the events I'd like to see occur midweek with lots of "fluff" activities on the weekend. There are still several good events for late Fri, Sat and Sunday ... but I'd be missing the equitation, english pleasure, hunting and hack classes. Hmm, this would be waaaaay better if we planned ahead, had the RV ready and stayed on-site for the entire week's events.
Link to fun video of mules in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1sfDlLluJY

I've been scanning Worldmark, RCI, II, VacationsToGo and other sites for other opportunities. We'd love a few days in San Francisco ... hmmm.

 

[bwvBound]

I'm not so sure we're helping much - but thanks so much for sharing with us. I'm enjoying reading your thoughts and plans. So sorry for the loss of your parents.

Thank you, Carol. Losing my parents was a complete shock on many levels. We miss them greatly and often pause to recall specific events, milestones, dates, etc. They were our favorite travel partners and we are so blessed to have enjoyed a close relationship with them.

Actually, this thread has helped greatly. It helped me pinpoint why I'm feeling so "muddled" about the weekend. I just couldn't figure that out and had been struggling for weeks over wanting to cancel, not wanting to cancel, (back and forth, repeat). Thanks for the help!

 

[Cinderpamela]

From what you are saying I would recommend going somewhere for sure, and I also like you idea of cutting VGC short by one day thus putting some points back into your account.

So based on all that, I am voting for GO but for the shortened time ... and while you are at it get park hoppers for those days.

Sounds to me like you guys need to have some fun and enjoyment on what is the anniversary of some hard things in the past. Celebrate your parents lives with some fun and laughter.

 

[bwvBound]

Cinderpamela - Thank you!

I've just modified the reservation to drop the Thursday arrival night, sparing 20 points. Current reservation is now 3 nights (Fri/Sat/Sun) for 68 points. I have 100 points available to bank into Oct 2013. I have just over a week to either find something else ... or simply relax and look forward to "bird in the hand."

 

[Firepath]

BWVBOUND - I haven't been on the Hiawatha Bike Trail yet. After moving up here and getting eaten by mosquitoes in the forest, I developed such a bad allergy that all my trips into the wilderness are now at VWL! Loved your mule link - thank you. Let us know what you end up doing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I voted for the mountain get away because you don't have to kennel. Sometimes we skip a Disney vacation in favor of an opportunity to go where Belle can come with us!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Tough one! I love GC/VGC so spending 3 nights there even without the parks sounds wonderful.

But Mule Days also sounds like an interesting option. One of my old farriers used to compete in the shoeing contest every year (and won it at least once!) and always had lots of stories to tell. I saw a special on it a few weeks ago and was thinking that we ought to head down one of these years.

If you ever come up to Reno again let me know - I'm always up for a horsey event and would enjoy a mini meet!! Last year we spent the morning/afternoon watching Clinton Anderson work with a young horse at the Wild Horse/Burrow expo. One of the most fun days of the year. The Western States Horse Expo in Sac is a common decompression event for me in June.

 

[hjgaus]

dwelty - All good points. We are in La Jolla weekdays and not far from Temecula on most weekends. La Jolla gives us plenty of marine layer, year round, including May Gray and June Gloom. Last summer we took the dog to the beach on July 4th and simply froze. It was funny retreating back to our neighborhood and observing locals dressed in sweatpants and UggBoots on the 4th of July! Skipped the fireworks ... brrrrr!

---

At this point, we've decided we must go somewhere. VGC becomes our fall back position if we don't have something else booked by the cancellation date. If we do go to VGC, we'll knock off the first night and make it just Fri-Mon (3 nights).

I'm reading the Mule Days schedule and pricing. Tickets would run $228 (box seat + Friday night BBQ), hotel for 3 nights $700 plus kennels, fuel for the truck, etc. Unfortunately, many of the events I'd like to see occur midweek with lots of "fluff" activities on the weekend. There are still several good events for late Fri, Sat and Sunday ... but I'd be missing the equitation, english pleasure, hunting and hack classes. Hmm, this would be waaaaay better if we planned ahead, had the RV ready and stayed on-site for the entire week's events.
Link to fun video of mules in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1sfDlLluJY

I've been scanning Worldmark, RCI, II, VacationsToGo and other sites for other opportunities. We'd love a few days in San Francisco ... hmmm.

bwvBound
We will be IN LA JOLLA (other timeshare)this Memorial weekend and have spent a 4th of July there once when the weather was slightly cooler BUT always nice! We were just @ Temecula (live only 30 minutes from there) but sadly not for wine tasting or gambling @ Pechanga!
Disney is our fall back as well but to really enjoy your villa wouldn't the 1 bedroom or higher would be MORE enjoyable? We just spent our LAST time until 2015 @ VGC in the 2 bedroom & it was SOOO relaxing! We even BBQ steak & suprisingly appreciated the serenity of the backwoods view! Although it WAS NOT OUR request but we made the most of the 3 night stay!
I don't think staying in a studio would be as relaxing for us but if you think you may be keeping busy doing other things then maybe it will be fine!!