Villas at Grand Californian Owners Thread

Never thought I would own here, but here I am. Love our Grand Cal points! Can't wait to stay again in August!

So happy I finally convinced my husband to purchase resale at Grand Cal this past year! It has been the best decision ever!!! Definitely my happy place.

We stayed hotel $ide a few times for very special occasions before becoming DVC - never dreaming we'd someday be staying regularly and in larger rooms.
The lobby is just so epic - sure it's similar to AKL and Wilderness Lodge but this one feels like home. Whenever I stroll through it I just feel relaxed and happy.
Hearthstone Lounge is so great too - love the food and while it can get busy it is a favorite hang. And well... Napa Rose (especially Chef's Counter) - it can hold its own against any Disney property restaurant. Can't wait to try it post-remodel.

We first stayed at VGC in the hotel side 20 years ago and just recently became owners there. We stayed in a 1 bedroom. Great Space! Lots of room! fantastic theming. Disney just does not build resorts like this anymore, such a pity. It is truly Grand! AKV, WL, and GC had the same architect and it really shows. That was truly the heyday of themed resort building. Now we get PIT, RIV, etc. Looks like DVC is going Marriott on us. Hope LL goes back the roots and is well themed.

VGC is da bomb :-)
Can't wait for our next stay in June

VGC really is a heart thing. One of the few things in life I said JUST go for it! Love this place, the trees, the quick serve, the fireplace that greets us. It is VIBE in all caps. I am thrilled to get to know more owners and be part of the founders of this community like all of you who are here today!

We love the VGC resort! It is truly a grand experience. We spent our honeymoon there and were lucky enough to be able to buy points back in 2023.

I am just about to close on a small resale for a trip in a studio every three years ( from the UK) So excited 😀

It's my favorite of my home resorts and feels most like "home" to me.

Purchased a small resale contract here early last year, and got to spend a week last Aug/Sept in a studio. It is such a beautiful resort!

We only bought about a year ago and are staying for the first time in June, but this was the resort that basically got me into DVC. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel when they were still working on VDH and saw the DVC brochure, but it seemed outlandish at those prices when I looked into it (didn't know about resale at the time), but I fell in love with VGC after wandering the property inside and out, and enjoying breakfast at Storytellers. I told my wife after that visit that I felt at home there and rued that I would "never" be able to stay there. Fast forward a couple years later: DVC had been tickling the back of my brain, and after much research I came across so many DVC resources, including DVC Fan, so eventually it seemed plausible to actually own a contract at VGC that would get us a 2BD stay there every 2 years, so we made our first offer ever and got it accepted right away, passed ROFR, and that got the ball rolling! (We ended up with 4 contracts in about 10 months.)

For me the architectural style and design are the main draw, and the way the whole thing is lit up inside and out. It just feels so homey there, which really brings that Welcome Home upfront, unlike some other resorts (which I still love, but Polynesian doesn't feel like a "home" to me the way VGC does), especially with a 2BD. That Craftsman style is just great. I'm sure I'll love other aspects of VGC once we're staying there, too, but I just can't wait to be there and wake up at the resort every day.

We have a small VGC contract and stay there every couple years. We love it! The pool chairs are the best and I love getting lunch and drinks delivered directly to our pool seat. Oh and entering directly into Ca Adventure is super awesome. We are going there next month and I can’t wait!!

The pool chairs!!! I have had my contract for a little over 3 years and I am dying to have a proper pool day and do just as you do @People Mover .

VGC is one of the main reasons we joined DVC. It's a magical place! Our favorite time to go is the week of thanksgiving so far but there is never a bad time to go to VGC :)

We will always cherish our VGC villas, but the way they managed the 2025 hard goods refurbishment has left me deeply disappointed.

I am here at the Grand Californian right now. I absolutely love it! I like that partial hardgoods refurbishment that has already been completed and am looking forward to the continuation that is supposed to happen later this year.

I'm encouraged that they appear to be going back in again.

I really want to see how much of the budget went to the room remodels and how much was slushed over to the outdoor refresh based on when the hotel side wanted to have that done.

Can we at least get some new shower heads and toilet seat covers?

My understanding is that this next pass will focus on the bathrooms, but it's all hearsay.

Yup. But the fact that they went so bare bones the first time around has fundamentally shaken my trust…..

Yeah, totally looks like they were trying to pass a soft goods refresh as a hard goods.

We don't own there (yet!), but have rented a 1 and 2 bedroom before. Love the Grand, it's my favorite resort of all the Disney Properties.

Like we weren’t going to compare to other hard goods refurbs that were actually well done.

Even AKV refurb looks better than what we got.

Yeah, it is a genuine problem, and they need to do better to gain back that trust. In general, though, it seems like we are getting less for more (more and more) as time goes on.

We shall see.

I still get a sense of peace and tranquility every time I step into the resort at the start of the trip, love the layout of the villa rooms, love how it’s pretty easy to book the 1 and 2bd during the home resort window, and love the original California Craftsman charm.

We also enjoy going into DCA for date nights and letting the kids eat pizza in the room and chill out for a few hours.

Finally…. the pool chairs at Grand Cal…. 2nd to none!

Looking forward to our kid being old enough to leave alone in the room!

It’s nice…. but I’d take a few nights of them being little again….

“We are always living in the good ol’ days”

I think we're all disappointed with the refurb, I'm just happy that DVC listened to us and are going back and doing a second refurb - hopefully it won't end up costing us tons of money in our annual dues though.

Looking forward to seeing what they change though!

We have @Ryan C largely to thank for the VGC Hards Refurb take 2 with the assist of DVC Fan. Appreciate you so much for shedding the light!

Do we know when the bathroom refurbs are supposed to start?

I don’t think they announced the exact timing, but this post on DVCFan says late 2026.

Thanks!

I'm glad I was able to do my part! :)

New LF bag spotted at the gift shop today. I asked the CM and they said they were fairly new. Price 88 bucks less discounts.

Hello Grand Cal owners…

I am coming for my first trip as an owner. I am planning some park time. Does anyone have suggestions for a successful rope drop? Specifically looking for knowledge as to when security opens up and how early should we be in line. Any tips will be appreciated.

The lines to get into DCA from the Grand Cal entrance at Rope Drop will look overwhelming. The earlier you're in it the better, but don't get overwhelmed if they look super long. Once security opens and it starts moving, it goes quickly.

We just became a member this week. We're from the East Coast and super excited to stay for our first time!

Welcome! Will this be your first stay at the GC? It's a magical experience being so close to the parks and all the fun. DLR is smaller than WDW for sure, but nothing can match staying at the GC..... it's awesome.

VGC was our first DVC purchase and we love it! So far we've only had two VGC stays, both times in studios. Our first 1 bedroom stay is coming up in June and I'm looking forward to it!

I really just love the overall vibe/style of the hotel. It just feels good being there. And I love eating breakfast outside at Craftsman Grill each morning of our trip.

We're staying in a 2BD for the first time in June!

I am struggling with how to book the chefs counter at Napa Rose. They no longer take reservations by phone. Online at the Napa Rose web sight it describes it as a option but I see no where to specifically request it. I appears like I just make a regular Napa Rose reservation and that at check in request it? Any Help would be greatly appreciated

Just did it this morning through the Disneyland website. It starts out like any other reservation, but then clicks you through the other steps. Just follow the screens.

VGC was the first DVC we decided to buy because it was becoming so darn hard to find owners willing to rent. We actually ended up buying and closing on a resale Boardwalk contract while waiting for the right Grand Cal contract to show up.