*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group*

[DisneyMom_3]

I understand DVC members staying at a DVC resort on points don't have to pay for overnight parking. Any idea if there is a limit to the number of cars allowed? We will have two cars for one villa (though it's a grand villa).

Sorry I’m not answering your question, but asking one instead - how hard was it to book the Grand Villa? I recently bought into DVC @ VGF and I’m hoping to take my family (parents, sister, brother, and their families) for their first trip in December 2022. I would love to be able to book the Grand Villa!

 

[DisneyMom_3]

I might be completely making this up, but isn't there supposed to be a soft goods refurb this year? Any word on when that will happen (or has it already happened and I just missed it??)

I'm really hoping so too! I booked for the beginning of 2022 thinking how nice it would be to stay in newly renovated rooms. Now I'm afraid that either a. they won't be refurbed by the time I get there (not that bad) or b. they will start it and it will be going on while I'm there and I'll be moved or deal with construction (bad).

I don't see them starting it in the uber busy October-December period, but we'll see. I really wish they would stick to the refurb schedule they announce!

I rented points last December for a 3 night stay - first night in a standard studio and the other two in a lakeview studio. They upgraded us to a standard view 1 bedroom! I guess they knew what they were doing , because I bought in at VGF and have another trip booked at VGF for this December. I’m hoping the refurbishment happens before or at least not during our stay!

 

[CSLucas]

I rented points last December for a 3 night stay - first night in a standard studio and the other two in a lakeview studio. They upgraded us to a standard view 1 bedroom! I guess they knew what they were doing , because I bought in at VGF and have another trip booked at VGF for this December. I’m hoping the refurbishment happens before or at least not during our stay!

We're going at the end of August and we added on extra points specifically because of this trip (I mean, we wanted them anyways, but we didn't really need them until that 2bdrm price-tag for this trip gave us a good excuse) so I'm really hoping we don't get booted! Taking the in-laws for the first time and really want the VGF experience! I was thinking they would want to have any sort of refurbishment completed by the 50th, but it's just weird to me that nobody has a timeline yet considering we are over halfway through 2021!

 

[DisneyMom_3]

We're going at the end of August and we added on extra points specifically because of this trip (I mean, we wanted them anyways, but we didn't really need them until that 2bdrm price-tag for this trip gave us a good excuse) so I'm really hoping we don't get booted! Taking the in-laws for the first time and really want the VGF experience! I was thinking they would want to have any sort of refurbishment completed by the 50th, but it's just weird to me that nobody has a timeline yet considering we are over halfway through 2021!

I’m surprised that there isn’t a timeline yet also. I hope they get to experience VGF. Hopefully you are safe since those staying at PVB in August already received emails about getting booted to the new Moana rooms.

 

[bigAWL]

Sorry I’m not answering your question, but asking one instead - how hard was it to book the Grand Villa? I recently bought into DVC @ VGF and I’m hoping to take my family (parents, sister, brother, and their families) for their first trip in December 2022. I would love to be able to book the Grand Villa!

Well, I'm not really sure how it would have been at the 7-month mark. I didn't book until three months out, and had to be flexible (I shifted my dates a bit to find two nights in a row available, and settled for two nights instead of three). But with home-resort privileges, you can book 11 months out. I'm guessing December will be in high demand, but you stand as good a chance as anyone. Just be sure to pay attention to when your booking window opens and jump on it. Good luck!

 

[nicole88s]

We're going at the end of August and we added on extra points specifically because of this trip (I mean, we wanted them anyways, but we didn't really need them until that 2bdrm price-tag for this trip gave us a good excuse) so I'm really hoping we don't get booted! Taking the in-laws for the first time and really want the VGF experience! I was thinking they would want to have any sort of refurbishment completed by the 50th, but it's just weird to me that nobody has a timeline yet considering we are over halfway through 2021!

I would almost guarantee that they will not start the refurbishment before your stay. Disney files permits in advance whenever they plan on doing construction and they are public. That's how people knew that the Poly villas would be next. If they haven't filed anything yet, your stay should be just fine!

 

[nuts]

I would almost guarantee that they will not start the refurbishment before your stay. Disney files permits in advance whenever they plan on doing construction and they are public. That's how people knew that the Poly villas would be next. If they haven't filed anything yet, your stay should be just fine!

Do they need a permit for soft goods only?

 

[nicole88s]

Do they need a permit for soft goods only?

Yes, they did for the Polynesian DVC buildings which is soft goods.

Here is an article talking about it:
https://blogmickey.com/2021/05/refu...c-rooms-at-disneys-polynesian-village-resort/
And here is what the permits look like (from wdwmagic). These were filed April 30 for the work that is starting this month:
1498 SEVEN SEAS DR(POLYNESIAN WATER BUNGALOW 20 - 7020) - General Construction


This is why we will have a heads up when they plan on doing VGF. They file the permits a couple of months before they plan to start the work.

 

[Dr Gunnie]

We rented points yesterday and booked a studio standard view room at VGF for 6 nights in June 2022. We normally stay at an Epcot resort and walk over to Epcot frequently, so other than a short Contemporary stay a few years ago this will be out first MK resort stay (and our first point rental/DVC stay).

I look forward to following this thread to learn all about the resort and the updates that are coming!

 

[Simba's Mom]

We rented points yesterday and booked a studio standard view room at VGF for 6 nights in June 2022. We normally stay at an Epcot resort and walk over to Epcot frequently, so other than a short Contemporary stay a few years ago this will be out first MK resort stay (and our first point rental/DVC stay).

I look forward to following this thread to learn all about the resort and the updates that are coming!

You'll love it! I'm here now in a lake view 1 BR and it is beautiful. Was in a studio yesterday and loved that too.

 

[Avery&Todd]

You'll love it! I'm here now in a lake view 1 BR and it is beautiful. Was in a studio yesterday and loved that too.

EEEKK...We're staying in a 1BR std view in November and I can't friggin wait! View or no view I'll be in the GF!!!

 

[sndral]

EEEKK...We're staying in a 1BR std view in November and I can't friggin wait! View or no view I'll be in the GF!!!

So far I’ve actually enjoyed my standard views as much as the one time I had lake view. These are from different standard 1 br.s on different sides of the building:

 

[Avery&Todd]

So far I’ve actually enjoyed my standard views as much as the one time I had lake view. These are from different standard 1 br.s on different sides of the building:
View attachment 591149

EEEKKK!! Now I'm even MORE excited!!! I'm just ready to be back at Disney!!

We stayed in the hotel side of GF in 2016 and I just fell in love with everything about the hotel...the looks, the smell, the layout....the monorail - ALL OF IT!

I just can't wait to be back there!

 

[DisneyMom_3]

So far I’ve actually enjoyed my standard views as much as the one time I had lake view. These are from different standard 1 br.s on different sides of the building:

I was going to say the same about my stay in a standard view but I couldn’t find the pics I took from the balcony. The view looked similar to your first two pics. We had booked a LV studio, but they offered to upgrade us to a 1BR standard view. We gladly accepted and our view was still very pretty.

 

[nicole88s]

It looks like a permit was filed for work on the Grand Floridian.

https://dvcnews.com/resorts/grand-floridian/news/5082-permit-filed-for-grand-floridian-construction
They are saying it is to start construction on Big Pine Key, but I'm wondering if it could be for the soft goods refurb at the existing studios? The address for the work is listed as the villas address and not the GF address. Anyone have any insight? I really want to know when this refurb will take place.

 

[Ssplashhmtn]

Hey guys! For those who have been recently, is the espresso machine back in the lobby yet? I will assume no, but my DH asked, so I said I knew the perfect place to ask!!!! Hope you are all well!!!!

We were just there two weeks ago, and a cast member working the VGF lobby said he would not expect the espresso machine back in the lobby. He said it was not actually removed due to COVID, but was because it costs too much to maintain, and was removed before COVID started. Very very disappointing if that’s true.

 

[DVCsloth]

We were just there two weeks ago, and a cast member working the VGF lobby said he would not expect the espresso machine back in the lobby. He said it was not actually removed due to COVID, but was because it costs too much to maintain, and was removed before COVID started. Very very disappointing if that’s true.

I will certainly miss it! It did seem to start having issues the last couple visits. Really hoping the GFV Orchestra is coming back!

 

[DVCsloth]

Looking forward to getting back to VGF next year. Been using my points to stay at the Riviera since there had been some pretty decent availability after the shutdown. I figured this would be a good time to try it since before the shutdown I rarely saw any standard view availability at 7 months. Now it looks like all of the resorts are booked up pretty solid. The only think I don't like about VGF is we used to be able to book a standard studio during the first or second week of December, but now they are being walked so bad that I changed my travel dates or I will just try for a 1BR. Hoping that VGF II doesn't make the 1BR at the Villas difficult to book.

 

[sndral]

Looking forward to getting back to VGF next year. Been using my points to stay at the Riviera since there had been some pretty decent availability after the shutdown. I figured this would be a good time to try it since before the shutdown I rarely saw any standard view availability at 7 months. Now it looks like all of the resorts are booked up pretty solid. The only think I don't like about VGF is we used to be able to book a standard studio during the first or second week of December, but now they are being walked so bad that I changed my travel dates or I will just try for a 1BR. Hoping that VGF II doesn't make the 1BR at the Villas difficult to book.

I’m a bit concerned as well, we love the 1 br.s and I’m hoping the flood of new points they sell for BPK doesn’t negatively impact my chance of getting a 1 br. in early Dec..

 

[Ssplashhmtn]

I’m a bit concerned as well, we love the 1 br.s and I’m hoping the flood of new points they sell for BPK doesn’t negatively impact my chance of getting a 1 br. in early Dec..

I’m worried about it too. I think the math says it will be a problem. There will be many more owners, and no greater supply of 1beds. I guess it could even out if current owners that stay in 1beds start to gravitate to the new studios, but I don’t expect that.