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

[Elly1004]

Low probability of success.

And is that for both resorts? If you were going to recommend, would you waitlist DL Villas over GC?

 

[AstroBlasters]

And is that for both resorts? If you were going to recommend, would you waitlist DL Villas over GC?

On a 2BD? You likely have a better chance at VGC.

The issue is that VDH is ridiculously studio heavy and VGC has a very small number of rooms overall.

 

[nalababybear]

On a 2BD? You likely have a better chance at VGC.

The issue is that VDH is ridiculously studio heavy and VGC has a very small number of rooms overall.

2BR is much higher at VGC compared to VDH.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Any VGC owners trying to snag a room at VDH for 6-nights? Anyone? Anyone?

Me......

 

[AstroBlasters]

Me......

I’m glad you have a bit of time to pop on the boards. Would you do 6nights at VDH vs VGC post remodel?

I like the full kitchen and island layout at VGC much better than the galley kitchen at VDH for that long of a stay.

 

[NVDISFamily]

I’m glad you have a bit of time to pop on the boards. Would you do 6nights at VDH vs VGC post remodel?

I like the full kitchen and island layout at VGC much better than the galley kitchen at VDH for that long of a stay.

Larger rooms, VGC for sure. But we have kind of fallen in love with that Garden Studio at VDH. If we are in a studio for an extended stay, that’s where I want to be. Next time we visit I’m going to pack a folding small table and a few folding chairs to extend our use of that balcony area.

Yea just been crazy busy with work and have worked about 4 weeks straight with no days off to cover for some sick people and to help with some items that popped up…..

 

[AstroBlasters]

Larger rooms, VGC for sure. But we have kind of fallen in love with that Garden Studio at VDH. If we are in a studio for an extended stay, that’s where I want to be. Next time we visit I’m going to pack a folding small table and a few folding chairs to extend our use of that balcony area.

Yea just been crazy busy with work and have worked about 4 weeks straight with no days off to cover for some sick people and to help with some items that popped up…..

I do very much like the garden studios/duos. They feel like some of the old hotels in Hollywood. I stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt in one of the rooms by the pool right after a night in a Garden Duo and it was actually a pretty cool transition.

Hope you get a little down time this coming week. My team is on high burnout watch at the moment.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Pools are nicer. And the Trader's Sam and Tangaroa Terrace -- solid nonpark facilities.

Yeah...I definitely think The Disneyland Hotel is nice, overall. But when it comes down to it, I don't think I'd ever pick it over VGC. We pretty much only do the parks when we're there. So far, we've just stayed at the Grand Californian twice. 6 nights each time. And we've still only used their pool 1 afternoon out of all those days. So while the Disneyland Hotel has a more kid-friendly pool area....we just wouldn't use it much.

 

[nalababybear]

Yeah...I definitely think The Disneyland Hotel is nice, overall. But when it comes down to it, I don't think I'd ever pick it over VGC. We pretty much only do the parks when we're there. So far, we've just stayed at the Grand Californian twice. 6 nights each time. And we've still only used their pool 1 afternoon out of all those days. So while the Disneyland Hotel has a more kid-friendly pool area....we just wouldn't use it much.

Wait a few years, the pattern changes.

The midday breaks become longer and stays by the poolside grow. Dips into dtd increase.

For sure the parks will rule the agenda, but it gogogo becomes a much more leisure pace. Even with an adult ASD.

 

[Dobermanns]

Wait a few years, the pattern changes.

The midday breaks become longer and stays by the poolside grow. Dips into dtd increase.

For sure the parks will rule the agenda, but it gogogo becomes a much more leisure pace. Even with an adult ASD.

This is so true! We didn’t use any pools at WDW and DLR until 2021 (we became DVC members in 2016 and had done cash stays for several years prior). Now I make sure we do resort/pool days each trip, and for VGC and DLH, I book staycations with pools being the primary focus and popping info parks for food only (MK helps in this case).

 

[NVDISFamily]

This is so true! We didn’t use any pools at WDW and DLR until 2021 (we became DVC members in 2016 and had done cash stays for several years prior). Now I make sure we do resort/pool days each trip, and for VGC and DLH, I book staycations with pools being the primary focus and popping info parks for food only (MK helps in this case).

We have done two non park trips since becoming members and I have to say it does make it magical and it's a different vibe for sure. Yea it's a super luxury to spend that much resources to be at Disney and not hit the parks, but just relaxing, sneaking a beverage at Trader Sams, Palm Breeze, or the Grand Cal lounge, it's awesome. Also makes you feel bad for all of the barely awake adults trying to recover in the spa after 3 days of rope drop to close and you are so relaxed....

 

[ClaraOswald]

Wait a few years, the pattern changes.

The midday breaks become longer and stays by the poolside grow. Dips into dtd increase.

For sure the parks will rule the agenda, but it gogogo becomes a much more leisure pace. Even with an adult ASD.

We've never done "gogogo" at all. We sleep "in" and never rope drop. We do the parks for a few hours, break at the hotel after lunch, go back for a few hours. Head back to the hotel around 8ish or so usually.

Our son is autistic and that's the routine he's comfortable with. He does like to "swim." Though for him, swimming is basically just standing/walking around the pool. No slides or anything like that. So I think he'll likely be perfectly happy in the GC pools. The one time we did them, it was February and he was way too cold getting out. Wasn't a fan. We likely won't use the pool at all in December 2025 unless it's super warm out. Though we may attempt one non-park day during our next June trip so we can hang out at the pool a bit and maybe wander DTD. It will be a bit of a "test" to see what he thinks of deviating from his routine.

If we could get him to want to hang out at the pool for more than 30 minutes....I'd love to rent a cabana or pod or something for a half day.

 

[ClaraOswald]

This is so true! We didn’t use any pools at WDW and DLR until 2021 (we became DVC members in 2016 and had done cash stays for several years prior). Now I make sure we do resort/pool days each trip, and for VGC and DLH, I book staycations with pools being the primary focus and popping info parks for food only (MK helps in this case).

I would love a non-park trip to WDW some day but I really don't think our son would handle not going to the parks at all. But I'd like to eventually add in a non-park day in the middle or something where we hang by the pool (if it's warm enough) and also check out Disney Springs.....which we've never been to. (My husband and I did DTD in WDW back in 2008 but that's it. Looks way better now.)

Do you have an annual pass or do you actually buy tickets and then only go into the parks for food??

 

[nalababybear]

We've never done "gogogo" at all. We sleep "in" and never rope drop. We do the parks for a few hours, break at the hotel after lunch, go back for a few hours. Head back to the hotel around 8ish or so usually.

Our son is autistic and that's the routine he's comfortable with. He does like to "swim." Though for him, swimming is basically just standing/walking around the pool. No slides or anything like that. So I think he'll likely be perfectly happy in the GC pools. The one time we did them, it was February and he was way too cold getting out. Wasn't a fan. We likely won't use the pool at all in December 2025 unless it's super warm out. Though we may attempt one non-park day during our next June trip so we can hang out at the pool a bit and maybe wander DTD. It will be a bit of a "test" to see what he thinks of deviating from his routine.

If we could get him to want to hang out at the pool for more than 30 minutes....I'd love to rent a cabana or pod or something for a half day.

Same here. Our adult son bounces around with his sea creatures. He uses one of those giant swim parkas once out of the water - keeps him quite warm until up in the room.

The hottubs are even closer

December last week it hit 70s with all the santa ana's -- so not unusual. Sept is a great HOT month and lowest points so grab those next year since 2025 is mostly gone already

 

[AstroBlasters]

We've never done "gogogo" at all. We sleep "in" and never rope drop. We do the parks for a few hours, break at the hotel after lunch, go back for a few hours. Head back to the hotel around 8ish or so usually.

Our son is autistic and that's the routine he's comfortable with. He does like to "swim." Though for him, swimming is basically just standing/walking around the pool. No slides or anything like that. So I think he'll likely be perfectly happy in the GC pools. The one time we did them, it was February and he was way too cold getting out. Wasn't a fan. We likely won't use the pool at all in December 2025 unless it's super warm out. Though we may attempt one non-park day during our next June trip so we can hang out at the pool a bit and maybe wander DTD. It will be a bit of a "test" to see what he thinks of deviating from his routine.

If we could get him to want to hang out at the pool for more than 30 minutes....I'd love to rent a cabana or pod or something for a half day.

I will say that early morning DCA if you try anything except Guardians or RSR is a delightful experience. You almost feel like you have the park to yourself for an hour.

 

[PCDisFan]

I will say that early morning DCA if you try anything except Guardians or RSR is a delightful experience. You almost feel like you have the park to yourself for an hour.

. The 60-90 minute black hole of RSR luring in rope droppers keeps the rest of DCA downright vacant.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I will say that early morning DCA if you try anything except Guardians or RSR is a delightful experience. You almost feel like you have the park to yourself for an hour.

If we ever accidentally get up early, that would be a good option. But typically we don't make it to the parks before 9. We take our time getting breakfast at Craftsman Grill. Then go back to our room to finish getting ready for the day.

 

[nalababybear]

If we ever accidentally get up early, that would be a good option. But typically we don't make it to the parks before 9. We take our time getting breakfast at Craftsman Grill. Then go back to our room to finish getting ready for the day.

The days he's in RSR mood, we tap in, DAS time request, then Craftsman on the side area or in the room.

On non RSR days, it's back entrance, get his spin rides in on Pixer Pier, Mania, and Mermaid and work forward to Webslingers and Soarin' before lunch and break.

So spoiled with that back entryway. Sad that it's exit only after lunch now. They really need to decrease the intense manual labor compared to WDW.

 

[AstroBlasters]

If we ever accidentally get up early, that would be a good option. But typically we don't make it to the parks before 9. We take our time getting breakfast at Craftsman Grill. Then go back to our room to finish getting ready for the day.

The play is to have Dad get breakfast and bring it back to the room while Mom gets the kids ready…. at least if you are in a villa.

 

[Dobermanns]

Do you have an annual pass or do you actually buy tickets and then only go into the parks for food??

I have AP at WDW and MK at DLR. LOL I don’t think I can justify buying a ticket to just go buy food.