The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0

[Chili327]

Did you buy OTUP for an upcoming reservation?

I don't think so... what is OTUP?

 

[ehh]

I don't think so... what is OTUP?

One-time use points.

 

[Chili327]

One-time use points.

Oh yes i did, but not for Grand Cal. For an Orlando trip.

 

[ehh]

Oh yes i did, but not for Grand Cal. For an Orlando trip.

The points they assign don't necessarily correlate with the resort you're booking (since it's all at 7m, it doesn't need to). Looks like you got 'lucky' (it doesn't actually matter) and they gave you some VGC points for your OTUP points.

 

[Chili327]

The points they assign don't necessarily correlate with the resort you're booking (since it's all at 7m, it doesn't need to). Looks like you got 'lucky' (it doesn't actually matter) and they gave you some VGC points for your OTUP points.

Ohh gotcha, thats where the points came from. That makes sense, but still a weird glitch to include it like that. lol

 

[Mathmagicland]

For those looking to travel in May & June 2024, Disneyland has released the schedule of Grad nights for 2024 -

https://www.disneycampus.com/programs/field-trips/dlr/grad-nite-disneyland/

 

[nalabear]

Ohh gotcha, thats where the points came from. That makes sense, but still a weird glitch to include it like that. lol

Yeah OTUP got me Saratoga and Floridian up there. Those points are long gone, but the search still defaults them into our account signin

 

[emchen]

Excellent choice, & looking even better now, i bet the price starts going back up steadily.



Curious about the Fireworks, did it feel different, or anything special calling back to a different time.?



I agree with both...
Positive
Negative

I think it may have pushed out a lot of prospective buyers, but its not like no one will buy. I just hope a lot of people buy & split their contracts up into smaller ones, so the resale market is flourishing in a couple years. Also VGC value just went back up because of it.

We bought 6 x 50 point contracts in June... but they'll fall into the "last to go" bucket.

But never say never!

 

[Chili327]

We bought 6 x 50 point contracts in June... but they'll fall into the "last to go" bucket.

But never say never!

Smart to get all 50pt contracts!!! They could be gold mines down the road if DisneyForward happens. Which i think something will happen, just not sure what exactly.
And once VDH resale points start being commonly available i think they should definitely be cheaper than VGC, for a few years at least.

 

[nalabear]

VDH resale will absolutely be lower the VGC -- even if DisneyForward happens in its fullest glory. The back entrances will be nice if that happens to both theme parks -- ideally it'll be just one, single theme park at hopper prices IMHO. -

1 abolish the esplanade for entrance on the east gate at the garage and ground at harbor;
2 absorb DTD into the park when entertainment opens at Toy Story Lot
3 entrance on south entrance to DCA
4 entrance on north mickey lot to DL

PP, DLH and GC are all resort islands completely within the bubble. -- that would be an insane DisneyForward.

 

[Chili327]

VDH resale will absolutely be lower the VGC -- even if DisneyForward happens in its fullest glory. The back entrances will be nice if that happens to both theme parks -- ideally it'll be just one, single theme park at hopper prices IMHO. -

1 abolish the esplanade for entrance on the east gate at the garage and ground at harbor;
2 absorb DTD into the park when entertainment opens at Toy Story Lot
3 entrance on south entrance to DCA
4 entrance on north mickey lot to DL

PP, DLH and GC are all resort islands completely within the bubble. -- that would be an insane DisneyForward.

I posted this in the VDH thread also, but have you seen these videos (3 vid playlist) outlining the possibilities? (including Toy Story lot, & Garden Walk, as well as the Harbor connection)
The possibilities are endless, & I wonder what happens to VDH value when the Marriot or whatever it is gets turned into a DVC timeshare as well.

 

[nalabear]

I posted this in the VDH thread also, but have you seen these videos (3 vid playlist) outlining the possibilities? (including Toy Story lot, & Garden Walk, as well as the Harbor connection)
The possibilities are endless, & I wonder what happens to VDH value when the Marriot or whatever it is gets turned into a DVC timeshare as well.

Yeah; he does go into the whole harbor side potential
Personally I would LOVE a cosmic rewind level ride that starts in AC where the quintet is and that entire space behind Luigi's that's almost as large as radiator springs footprint.

The esplanade and tram space is also huge and repurposable if you make a gate opening along Magic Way from pixar pals.

Huge amount of possibilities and the cornerstone is getting the west parking gateway approved this time with community engagement properly along harbor.

I doubt GardenWalk will ever become disney though. No real need either IMHO.

 

[Chili327]

I doubt GardenWalk will ever become disney though. No real need either IMHO.

You don't think having Garden Walk would be beneficial (as opposed to someone else owning it) if they were to do something big at the Toy Story lot.?
If you look at all the space they own over there, im thinking they could almost put in another park. lol (DHS West or even WestCot)
My best guess would be to add on to GW to make it more like a Disney Springs with the timeshare option & other hotels & maybe build a monorail to the parks or DTD... Think Contemporary with a Monorail station inside it.

 

[emchen]

any chance Disney would flip some GC cash rooms like they did with VGF?

i am not sure if they were a new build or a flip. if they were a flip it could be good news for a GC flip

i would think that the villas would be the easier of the two... 48 rooms and no daily mousekeeping

Yeah, but we don't pay $800+ per night and general have high expectations. I'll be down there in a couple weeks and poke around a bit. I'm generally not very shy when it comes to chatting up and getting info out of CMs.

In established DVC / Deluxe Hotel properties (GFH, WLH, among others), conversion of hotel rooms to Villas is a great way for Disney to buffer their property’s occupancy rate. It is ultra-efficient to use point charts to incent DVC members to fill out occupancy during low-seasons. One can look at members as a reservoir of guests to pick up slack when hotels aren’t filling up.

Edited out reference to GCH... @AstroBlasters

 

[AstroBlasters]

In established DVC / Deluxe Hotel properties (GFH, GCH, WLH, among others), conversion of hotel rooms to Villas is a great way for Disney to buffer their property’s occupancy rate. It is ultra-efficient to use point charts to incent DVC members to fill out occupancy during low-seasons. One can look at members as a reservoir of guests to pick up slack when hotels aren’t filling up.

Occupancy rates aren’t an issue at Grand Cal
on the hotel side like they were at Grand Flo.

 

[emchen]

Occupancy rates aren’t an issue at Grand Cal
on the hotel side like they were at Grand Flo.

My point exactly: I don't think they (GCH) will be converting hotel rooms into Villas anytime soon.

 

[nalabear]

You don't think having Garden Walk would be beneficial (as opposed to someone else owning it) if they were to do something big at the Toy Story lot.?
If you look at all the space they own over there, im thinking they could almost put in another park. lol (DHS West or even WestCot)
My best guess would be to add on to GW to make it more like a Disney Springs with the timeshare option & other hotels & maybe build a monorail to the parks or DTD... Think Contemporary with a Monorail station inside it.

I agree that it would be dope, absolutely. It's just not needed or within reasonable viable footprint.

Gardenwalk is narrow and design completely opposite of the wide blvd that disney adores. It would be a complete rehab of the space while Toy story lot really is an open canvas to build a proper disney springs west.

 

[ajiuo]

For those looking to travel in May & June 2024, Disneyland has released the schedule of Grad nights for 2024 -

https://www.disneycampus.com/programs/field-trips/dlr/grad-nite-disneyland/

I have a trip from the 5th - 11th… the 10th will be my last park day, so I only have one grad night event to worry about. This only effects DCA in terms of the park closing early, right?

 

[Mathmagicland]

I have a trip from the 5th - 11th… the 10th will be my last park day, so I only have one grad night event to worry about. This only effects DCA in terms of the park closing early, right?

Yes, DCA only in terms of park closing early. It can make Disneyland more crowded in the evening as non-party park hoppers have to move over to there. And, my experience/opinion -both parks in general will have an over abundance of high school students throughout the parks, which can make them seem a bit louder and/or busier than other days.

 

[Claudia1]

I have a GCV check-in in coming up on Aug 15th for a 2-bedroom. Is the online check-in like WDW? Any suggestions on preferences or tips? TIA