The grand opening of the Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is just nine days away. With construction largely complete, let's take a look at the current state of the resort and all of the new bits of information we accumulated during the D23 Expo.
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Looking up at the Disney Vacation Club villas from the pool area
Most rooms are complete and awating Cast Member previews scheduled for September 17th. Disney employees will spend a night in each villa testing every appliance, outlet and fixture. Any problems are reported to facilities, who will then have from 9/18 to 9/22 to resolve the problems before guests arrive.
The section where the original Grand Californian building links to the new is filled by floor-to-ceiling windows. The windows overlook the main entrance on one side...
...and the pool on the other.
Speaking of the pool, workers are putting the finishing touches on the new Mariposa pool.
However, it appears any hopes of seeing pooside cabanas have been dashed. The pool is surrounded by many new chairs, tables and umbrellas, but there are no cabanas in sight.
Another view of DVC villas ovelooking the main pool. These units should have a view of high-level fireworks at Disneyland. The Grand Californian already feeds audio from the Disneyland fireworks shows into guest rooms.
Look closely at the two-story Grand Villa window and you will see a lighting fixture reminicent of those in the Grand Californian lobby.
Other villas face the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney's California Adventure. Rooms on the second floor will have almost completely obstructed views. Third and fourth floor rooms are likely to have obstructed views, while fifth floor rooms will be high enough to perhaps see Tower of Terror and Grizzly River Run in the distance.
Another view from of the villas from inside Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
The final block of villas will overlook DCA's Paradise Pier...once the construction walls finally come down.
YouTube video tour of villa wing from pool area
Closer look at Mariposa Pool
Another interesting VGC tid-bit: according to a story we were told during the recent D23 Expo, it appears that actor Nicolas Cage may be on the verge of joining the Disney Vacation Club ranks. Mr. Cage was in Anaheim to vacation with his family and to appear at the Expo's film session. While in town he was given his usual suite at the Grand Californian but discovered something unexpected upon arrival--he could no longer see Disney's California Adventure from the balcony. Construction on the new wing of the hotel had blocked the sightlines to DCA.
After making some inquiries, he was informed that the DVC villas now have the prime view overlooking the California theme park. DVC may be on the verge of finding at least one customer for those high-priced Grand Californian Grand Villas.
