Hi Kimberly!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! You are going to love Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. With it’s elegant atmosphere, amazing dining, and convenient location right on the Monorail, it is a family favorite!
You are correct, that you can indeed use your Disney Vacation Club Membership to stay in non-Disney Vacation Club accommodations at the Disney Resorts around the world. At Walt Disney World, this currently requires a $95 fee. The Vacation Points then become Reservation Points and can be used at many resorts on property. For a complete list, visit the DVC Member Website. Under the Destinations tab at the top of the page, choose the Disney Collection.
If you are wishing to arrive a day early for your scheduled vacation, you have a few options. You can indeed book a standard room using your Disney Vacation Club Membership as you are inquiring about. You can also see if a Disney Vacation Club Villa is available to book with your points. This is usually a better value for your points than booking a standard room. Since standard rooms are not part of Disney Vacation Club, they usually require more points than a large villa, in addition to the $95 fee.
Another recommendation would be booking a room with cash. There are sometimes rooms available to Members that can be booked with a discount through Member Services. These rooms are limited however, so if you wish to do this I recommend doing so as soon as possible. You should also keep an eye on the
Walt Disney World Resort Special Offers page to see if a room discount becomes available for the night you are needing.
I hope one of these methods gets you a terrific deal on the room you are requiring. Happy planning, and let me know how else I can help you as you make arrangements for your magical vacation!
Wishing you Membership Magic!
- Kate