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Grand Californian
- Thread starter MUTZIE77
- Start date
GoofGoof
Premium Member
Never tried to book it, but from what I understand there are only 50 villas and they can be hard to come by. Good luck, it looks pretty amazing.
wild01ride
Well-Known Member
We've been DVC owners at BWV at WDW for quite a while and we were successful in booking a Villa at Grand Californian for an early Dec. trip a couple years ago (which, consequently, is their second lowest season, points-wise). I'm pretty sure that I booked it 7 months out to the day and I don't remember if I had to waitlist and/or check back for availability for some part of a long weekend trip.
Anyhow, I've since fallen in love with DLR and literally cannot get enough of it (I still love you WDW!).
As such, I finally was able to purchase into Grand Californian early this year. Surprisingly, we actually were not able to book our first choice of dates when I tried to reserve in mid-February for a Dec. 2013 trip.
It's definitely worth trying from a non-home resort, but as you can probably imagine, you may not be able to get your top choice of dates.
Nevertheless, it's definitely worth waitlisting if you can't get your dates on the first attempt.
Good luck and enjoy! DLR is truly Magical!
Anyhow, I've since fallen in love with DLR and literally cannot get enough of it (I still love you WDW!).
As such, I finally was able to purchase into Grand Californian early this year. Surprisingly, we actually were not able to book our first choice of dates when I tried to reserve in mid-February for a Dec. 2013 trip.
It's definitely worth trying from a non-home resort, but as you can probably imagine, you may not be able to get your top choice of dates.
Nevertheless, it's definitely worth waitlisting if you can't get your dates on the first attempt.
Good luck and enjoy! DLR is truly Magical!
It will be very short notice, found cheap airfare and decided to go the first few days in may. I think I will get on the waitlist and then book through the "Disney collection" thought I might have a good chance booking at one of the three resorts that way. If all else fails I have a fall back plan.
steve2wdw
WDW Fan Since 1973
Loved our one bedroom stay at the GCV. We went the week after Labor Day back in 2010, and booked 7 months out. We were actually wait listed for a portion of our stay, but eventually got all our dates. I can't imagine wanting dates in a busier season. GCV owners must have to be on the phone exactly 11 months out, to get their desired dates.
Tinkerfan4ever
Well-Known Member
We tried to get a studio at the 7 month window for the end of Aug, but were unable. We could have gotten 3 of the 7 days that we wanted. We instead decided to book at Paradise Pier and had no problems what so ever. We actually just called and added a night and there was still room. One note though... when we booked at PP and moved our points into the Disney Collection... we were told that we couldn't move them back into regular DVC, they had to stay for use at a Disney Collection hotel. So if you decide to book at PP or the Disneyland Hotel, I don't think you will be able to move those points back to use at the VGC. (Someone please correct me if I have been misinformed!!!)
We were able to book at exactly 7 months for a May trip last year. We did have to split 4 days in a 1bdr, and 4 days in a studio. I can imagine that during a busy time, it will be almost impossible to secure anything there. Good luck!
AmongMadPeople
Active Member
It doesn't help the OP, but I was able to book a 1BR at 7 months for early May of this year. It's only a 4 night stay, which may have helped with availability. I was online early the morning our window opened to book it.
wild01ride
Well-Known Member
One thing to keep in mind though is that the Disney Collection points-per-night are so much more than staying in a Studio Villa!
For me, it's just not worthwhile. I guess if that was my only plan and I didn't care about burning that many points in one stay, that would be fine, but it is usually something close to double the points.
For me, I would rather take that second vacation rather than using them all on one.
Whatever works, I guess. It's just that, for me, I'm not getting enough value out of my points using them that way.
Nevertheless, good luck with your planning!
For me, it's just not worthwhile. I guess if that was my only plan and I didn't care about burning that many points in one stay, that would be fine, but it is usually something close to double the points.
For me, I would rather take that second vacation rather than using them all on one.
Whatever works, I guess. It's just that, for me, I'm not getting enough value out of my points using them that way.
Nevertheless, good luck with your planning!
Tinkerfan4ever
Well-Known Member
This is not always the case. For instance we are going Aug23-30 staying at Paradise Pier because the studios at GVC were not available. The Paradise Pier is using 203 points, while a stay at the GVC would have been 194 points for the same time frame. So only 9 points different. I think at Disney World the points per night for the Disney Collection is astronomical, but when booking our vacation we didn’t see that hold true at Disneyland, at least not with PP... the Disneyland hotel was more points. (And I totally agree with you… if it were double the points, we would much rather get 2 vacations out of it!
)
yoyoflamingo
Well-Known Member
We've booked a studio in May for a weekend a few years in a row. We were wait listed every time, but have always managed to get a room. It is difficult, but definitely possible. I always make a reservation at the Hojos too just in case, but never have to use it.
We're staying there next for the week in August for the D23 Expo - bought in and booked 11 months out.
We're staying there next for the week in August for the D23 Expo - bought in and booked 11 months out.
EOD K9
Well-Known Member
In 2009 they were still building the GC and we just got a room for two nights at around 40something points if I remember. Last may we got what was available (1BR) at the GCV and it wasn't cheap. It is tough to get what you want so we took was was available. The downside is that we were on site for such a short period of time that we didn't get to enjoy it. But as others have stated, the use of points for the Disney Collection is crazy.
Just be aware that once you book through the Disney Collection, the points become reclassified as "Reservation Points" and could not be used to book a villa even if one became available.
Honestly I think your odds of getting a villa on 2 months notice are extremely slim. There are only 48 villas at the Grand Cal...a combination of Studios, 1B, 2B and 3B Grand Villas. Normally whatever inventory survives to the 7 month window is quickly snatched up.