A few weeks ago, our friend Stephen Clarke sent over some photos of what appeared to be a “refurbished” Deluxe Studio Villa at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa. I say “refurbished” in quotes because, well… not much seems to have changed. If this is indeed the final product, I have to admit, it’s underwhelming.
What’s New?
Let’s start with the obvious updates:
- Murphy Pull-Down Bed – As expected, the traditional couch has been replaced with the newer Murphy-style pull-down bed, which has been a staple in recent Disney Vacation Club (DVC) refurbishments. This is a welcome change that maximizes space and comfort.
- New Flooring & Carpet – The flooring appears to have been updated, with a shift toward a cleaner, more modern aesthetic. The carpet near the sliding door has also been refreshed.
And… that’s about it.
What’s Missing?
Here’s where things get frustrating. A typical full refurbishment usually includes enhancements to technology, decor, and convenience, but so far, those improvements are noticeably absent.
- Lack of Charging Upgrades – In 2025, I expect increased charging ports and outlets in a deluxe resort room. I didn’t see additional USB or USB-C ports in the photos, meaning we’re still stuck in the past when it comes to modern tech needs.
- No Keurig Coffee Maker? – Many DVC resorts have upgraded to Keurig-style coffee makers, but Grand Californian appears to be sticking with its existing setup. This might not be a dealbreaker for everyone, but it would have been a nice touch.
- Murphy Bed Artwork – One of the best parts of the new Murphy beds across DVC properties is the artwork that typically accompanies them. Yet, in these Grand Californian rooms, there is nothing on the outside of the pull-down bed. A missed opportunity for some added Disney magic.
- Bathroom Left Untouched – Looking at the photos, the bathroom appears to be identical to its pre-refurb state. It still has the same cabinetry, lighting, and overall layout. It’s disappointing that they didn’t take this opportunity to modernize it.
Is This the Final Version?
I’m leaning towards no—this doesn’t feel like a finished refurbishment. From what I’ve heard, there have been supply chain issues and construction delays that might be impacting the timeline for these updates. It’s possible that DVC is prioritizing getting rooms back into inventory as quickly as possible and will loop back around later to complete additional upgrades.
Not only are the DVC villas undergoing a refurbishment, but so are the hotel rooms at Grand Californian. That could mean a phased approach, where some of these missing elements—like updated charging solutions, new furniture, or a refreshed bathroom—are still coming.
If this is truly the finished product, it feels like a letdown. While I love the rustic feel of the Grand Californian, this refurbishment just doesn’t seem to live up to what we’ve seen at other DVC resorts. Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge was executed beautifully—so why does Grand Californian feel like an afterthought?
I’m hopeful that we’ll get more clarity on this soon, and Amy and I will be visiting Disneyland in June to provide a full update. Fingers crossed that this is just a work-in-progress and that we’ll see a more complete transformation in the coming months.
What do you think? Are you satisfied with what we’ve seen so far? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to DVCFan.com for the latest updates!
Theresa
February 25, 2025Having all your bath towels hanging over a toilet is disgusting – there must be a better idea for that
Sarah
February 25, 2025This is pretty disappointing. We took our first DL trip last year and stayed in a 1 bedroom villa at VDH. We liked the location of VGC better, but wanted to wait until after the refurbishment to try it out. I’m shocked that they didn’t even get rid of the dated “sliding window” between the bathroom and bedroom in the 1 bedroom villa. I would be very upset if I were a VGC owner; we all know what to expect from hard good refurbishments based off of literally every other hard goods refurb Disney has completed over the past few years. This looks exactly like a “soft goods” refurbishment. Plus the wording on the DVC website is suspicious, in my opinion. I’m not sure they are going to follow up with more work on these… “In the next few months, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will undergo a standard refurbishment to refresh guestrooms with updated furnishings and amenities.”
Margaret
February 25, 2025Did you contact DVC and ask them if it’s complete? Thank you for the update.