Seven years ago, on September 23, 2009, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opened as the Disney Vacation Club’s tenth resort.
Many DVC members had wondered if DVC would ever open a resort on the west coast. Back in 1994, Disney bought 35 acres at Newport Coast, midway between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach and not too far from Disneyland and announced their intention to build a DVC resort.
In 1995, DVC announced that their Newport Coast resort would be designed as an Italian-style Mediterranean village of 650 condominiums with sweeping ocean vistas, gondola rides along quiet man-made canals and overnight camping for kids.
However, in 1997, DVC announced that they had abandoned their plans for the Mediterranean-style Newport Coast resort.
In 2001, a new expansion of Disneyland opened that included a new upscale resort – Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This luxury hotel was designed by architect Peter Dominick to celebrate the early 20th Century Arts and Crafts era.
On September 18, 2007, Disney announced an expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa that would increase accommodations by more than 30 percent and would mark the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club.
The 2.5-acre expansion on the hotel’s south side would add more than 200 new hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas. Other elements planned for the project included a rooftop deck for viewing fireworks, a new swimming pool and about 300 underground parking spaces.
On March 26, 2009, sales officially began to the public.
On September 23, 2009, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opened to members and guests.
On October 20, 2010, DVC announced that The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel recently sold out of all available vacation ownership inventory.
With the success of VGF, members are wondering when DVC might expand their presence at Disneyland.
