There’s one Disney resort that we completely adore, however haven’t but reviewed as a result of we’ve been not-so-patiently awaiting its long-overdue room renovations. With the up to date DVC refurbishment calendar out and exhibiting that received’t occur till 2025 on the earliest, it’s time for a fast take a look at the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge (VGC) and whether or not you need to keep right here or on the new Villas at Disneyland Lodge.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa is, because the title suggests, situated on the flagship lodge overlooking Disney California Journey (DCA). Whereas the lodge itself opened with the DCA theme park, the DVC wing was an enlargement undertaking that began in 2007 and opened in 2009.
Our first Disneyland journey got here shortly after that, so I’ve no reminiscence of the lodge pre-VGC. Actually, I’ve a tough time even conceiving of it. Whereas most Disney Trip Membership wings are apparent expansions as they’re separate buildings with an obvious standalone high quality, the addition of the Villas at Grand Californian is pretty seamless. I imply, you may see the place it was added, however it feels and appears prefer it was all the time there. At the very least, to me, somebody who has solely been visiting because it was all the time there.
It undoubtedly helps that the DVC wing was designed by the late, nice Peter Dominick. If that title sounds acquainted, he was additionally the architect for Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa in addition to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World. The villas additionally replicate the identical California Arts & Crafts type of the primary lodge, which immerses visitors in a turn-of-the-Twentieth-century California Craftsman expertise.
The DVC wing is way smaller than the lodge itself in addition to most different Disney Trip Membership expansions. The unique Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa options 745 visitor rooms, together with 44 suites. With the addition of the enlargement wing, the lodge now gives 945 visitor rooms, together with 44 visitor suites, and 48 Disney Trip Membership two-bedroom equal trip villas.
These 48 villas embrace 23 Deluxe Studios (lock-offs), 23 1-Bedrooms (lock-offs), plus 23 devoted 2-Bed room items and a pair of Grand Villas. (We really had the possibility to tour one in every of these spectacular Grand Villas a few years in the past due to a sort reader!) That makes for a complete most of 71 items, which continues to be small by Disney Trip Membership requirements. Between the low provide and excessive demand, the Villas at Grand Californian are fairly in style with DVC members!
This property is in high-demand as a result of it gives the entire similar promoting factors on the Grand Californian, which is a fairly nice lodge. This can be a assessment of the villas, particularly, so we’re not going to fixate on all of that. We are going to simply say that from the wealthy themed design and a focus to element to the non-public entrance into DCA, the Grand Californian is unmatched.
The rooms within the villas versus the lodge are in all probability a fairly large consideration for a lot of potential visitors, so let’s check out these…
The excellent news there may be that finally yr’s DVC Condominium Affiliation Assembly, Disney introduced plans for a high to backside laborious items refurbishment of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian.
This was initially slated to occur final yr…then this yr…now it’s 2025. Right here’s hoping this isn’t delayed once more, as a result of this was overdue even just a few years in the past. We love the Grand Californian and can keep within the outdated rooms if it means not paying the lodge’s pricing, however they’re positively exhibiting their age–identical to Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge previous to final yr’s reimagining.
Hopefully the idea takes thematic and stylistic components of the new-look GCH rooms–with a touch of Boulder Ridge–and combines that with the brand new Inova pull-down beds. That may be an enormous win.
Emulating the look of the glorious new Boulder Ridge rooms can be an enormous win for the Villas at Grand Californian. These designs make vital strides in space-saving design, whereas including progressive options just like the pull-down Murphy sleeper that’s by some means each a cushty sofa and a cushty mattress.
These new rooms look like the fruits of numerous classes realized by DVC over the past decade–iterating on previous successes and disregarding previous failures–into one thing that coalesces completely. To that time, Disney Trip Membership has indicated that visitor satisfaction scores have elevated 20% amongst visitors who’ve stayed in new rooms.
Personally, I feel the present rooms at VGC are largely tremendous. They’re outdated and drained, to make sure, and missing the usability enhancements of their newer counterparts. There are apparent enhancements that might be made, however they’re not downright unhealthy. On the plus aspect, they’ve thematic integrity.
I’d take the rooms on the Villas at Grand Californian over redone rooms from the 2016 to 2018 period (most of which are actually additionally being changed). These are superior from the attitude of performance, however function an aesthetic that’s attempting a bit too laborious to be stylish and stylish.
They’re additionally missing in type and substance as in comparison with the most recent rooms (like final yr’s replace at Boulder Ridge) as in comparison with the 2019 to current rooms. For my part, this is the reason the VGC rooms are arguably the worst DVC rooms on the market–as a result of the present technology of rooms are such an enchancment over the past one.
For my part, the Grand Californian ought to lean into its Arts & Crafts type with the 2025 reimagining. These rooms ought to have wealthy woods, lanterns, ornate particulars, and draw inspiration from the pure world. Friends who don’t like that or dismiss it as “too rustic” (it’s actually not!) can purchase and keep elsewhere.
Making all the pieces fashionable and “on pattern” additionally makes all the pieces bland and fewer distinct. Thankfully, I don’t actually suppose this occurred with the rooms on the lodge aspect of the Grand Californian and it additionally hasn’t occurred with the most recent rooms at Wilderness Lodge.
The most important problem will likely be making the VGC rooms distinctly Craftsman–as it’s thematically totally different from Wilderness Lodge. Not dramatically so, however by sufficient that the Pacific Northwest-inspired rooms at Boulder Ridge can be very off on the Grand Californian.
I’m not too involved about this. The brand new DVC rooms from the previous few years have been glorious, stuffed with particulars and little Easter Eggs. Previous to that, I might’ve been frightened that Disney would’ve heard complaints concerning the VGC rooms being “drab and dated” (as they undoubtedly have) by overcorrecting with sterile appears to be like and overly brilliant areas.
Now I’m way more assured that they’ll thread the needle nicely, updating the rooms whereas retaining the traits that make them particular. The woods, the headboards and the attractive art work. Effectively, possibly not the very same artwork, however new items that marry basic California with Disney characters. Once more, that’s what we noticed with Boulder Ridge, which was a really tasteful redo.
I just like the look and environment of the present Villas at Grand Californian rooms nicely sufficient, a minimum of in idea. They’re cozy and comfy, a pleasant technique to decompress after a busy day within the parks. There’s a chilled sense to them–identical to the lodge as an entire (nicely, when it’s not full of folks) and the Arts & Crafts type.
Just like the houses in Pasadena, these rooms are stress-free and lend themselves to indoor/out of doors residing. Sitting on the balcony or patio with a morning espresso or post-parks snack is an effective way to unwind. You’re feeling a world away from Disneyland, regardless of being within the coronary heart of all of it.
Once more, that’s in idea. The issue is that in individual, that’s not precisely how the rooms current anymore. It’s troublesome to inform from the photographs, however the carpet is worn–as is the furnishings. We’ve stayed at VGC just a few occasions in as a few years, and had some espresso tables and couches that have been actually dinged up, and carpet that had noticeable put on and tear ‘paths’ in areas with extra visitors.
Between that and staying in one of many brand-new rooms on the Villas at Disneyland Lodge, it’s clear how antiquated the rooms are at VGC. These pull-down beds and different little ‘high quality of life’ options all add up in combination, and that sharp distinction makes these older rooms on the Grand Californian really feel much more drained and outdated.
Talking of which, if you happen to’re attempting to determine between this and the Villas at Disneyland Lodge, try Grand Californian vs. Disneyland Lodge for a comparability (and distinction) of the promoting factors at every. That focuses on massive image stuff on the two accommodations. That is primarily simply concerning the rooms.
Whether or not the Villas at Disneyland Lodge or Villas at Grand Californian are best for you actually comes right down to how a lot newness and fashionable luxurious matter to you. The rooms at VDH are very good and contemporary, providing each comfort and high quality visitors have come to count on.
The rooms at VGC are…not that. They’re for much less fussy vacationers who both need one thing calming or aren’t involved with the pretension of modernity. As an entire, the Grand Californian is clearly nicer, however it’s much less in-your-face. It’s refined luxurious for the subtle and discerning traveler.
Maybe extra to the purpose, the VGC is healthier for many who prioritize the resort as an entire over the rooms themselves. In nearly each different regard–from location to eating places–Grand Californian beats Disneyland Lodge. It’s the higher possibility for many who care much less about rooms, and extra about the entire bundle.
Should you’re good with the extra mellow and earthy type of the present Villas at Grand Californian rooms, it’s a unbelievable choose. Having a kitchenette is nice, particularly when staying on the Grand Californian–the place you may order one of many scrumptious pizzas from GCH Craftsman Grill and save a part of it for leftovers to reheat.
Having your individual meals within the fridge can also be helpful on the Grand Californian, normally, as you’re so near the parks and may simply do a noon break to have wholesome snacks–or perhaps a full breakfast or dinner within the room, if you happen to so desired.
Staying within the Villas at Grand Californian studio rooms can also be the most cost effective technique to keep on the Grand Californian, whether or not which means utilizing your individual membership or saving cash by renting DVC factors. That is far and away our favourite of the three Resorts of Disneyland Resort, and that’s true whether or not you’re staying within the older villas or newer lodge rooms. (Proper now, we’d positively take the latter if cash isn’t any situation, however it clearly is for lots of visitors!) See our our Grand Californian Lodge & Spa Evaluation for an outline of facilities, why we find it irresistible a lot, and so on.
After spending numerous time on the Grand Californian, notably its widespread areas, I’ve come to actually admire the resort. It’s like a combination between Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Floridian: it has a way of cozy and earthiness like Wilderness Lodge, however with a extra polished and fashionable pedigree. It’s clearly a luxurious resort, however an inviting and extra casual one–very consistent with California. Its stage of distinction is quickly obvious in its furnishings and Craftsman design. The ostensibly “rustic” look would possibly seem less-refined at first blush, however upon nearer inspection, that couldn’t be farther from the reality. I’ll in all probability all the time have the Walt Disney World “house” resort bias, however with every keep, the Grand Californian comes nearer to dethroning Wilderness Lodge.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Lodge Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas on the Villas at Grand Californian? Have you ever stayed at each VGC and the Villas at Disneyland Lodge? Which do you favor? What do you consider the rooms, each at the moment and the probably end result of the refurbishment? How would your assessment differ from mine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or issues? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
