Grand Californian Super Thread Updated 9/17/12

[ltl engine]

Can anyone tell me what time Hearthstone Lounge & Whitewater snacks opens in the morning? TIA

[elaw]

Originally Posted by ltl engine

Can anyone tell me what time Hearthstone Lounge & Whitewater snacks opens in the morning? TIA

WWS opens at 7:00 http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/di...taurant.id=596

HSL opens at 7:00 as well http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/di...taurant.id=578 but ive also heard it sometimes open earlier 6 ish but can't confirm it.

[BunnieGene]

We've been to HSL between 6 and 6:30 AM when the parks had early openings at 7...

[elaw]

Originally Posted by BunnieGene

We've been to HSL between 6 and 6:30 AM when the parks had early openings at 7...

Consider it confirmed then ... At least for days with the 7am early entry mornings.

[ducky_love]

Does anyone know if you can order a snack and dessert at Napa Rose? I'm assuming they have a bar? The food doesn't look like anything my DH would enjoy but we could stop in for a drink and I could try a little something. Are they setup for that!? Thanks!!

[LizfromOz]

Checked out of Grand Californian today (boohoo). We are visiting from Australia and I had a message to call home. My beautiful grandma had taken ill. Without a thought I grabbed the room phone and tried to call home. The line was busy the first couple of times I tried but I finally got through. Heartbreakingly I said my goodbye over the phone.

Received another message to call home again the next afternoon. It took me a few times to get through again but when I did I learnt that Nan passed peacefully overnight.

So, I get my final account prior to checkout and my phone charges were $316 !!! $151 was for attempted calls. I went to see the concierge and explained what happened. I was happy to pay for calls I made successfully, but not so keen on paying for the attempted calls. He was so lovely, said he didn't want to make it worse for us being so far from home, and went ahead and wiped ALL of the phone charges from our account!

This kindness bought me to tears. Disney magic!

[Fuhnuh]

Originally Posted by ducky_love

Does anyone know if you can order a snack and dessert at Napa Rose? I'm assuming they have a bar? The food doesn't look like anything my DH would enjoy but we could stop in for a drink and I could try a little something. Are they setup for that!? Thanks!!

We have had a drink and food in the bar area several times at Napa Rose when the dining room was completely reserved. It was very enjoyable and the food/service was great.

[ducky_love]

Originally Posted by Fuhnuh

We have had a drink and food in the bar area several times at Napa Rose when the dining room was completely reserved. It was very enjoyable and the food/service was great.

Great!! Thanks so much!!

And LizFromOz- that is beautiful. I'm sorry for your loss but glad you were able to say goodbye.

[Tif]

I have a couple more questions. I talked to reservations and requested a daybed room, but now I'm worried about how far that would be from the park entrance (and wouldn't it face a parking lot?). So I asked about the bunk beds and from everything I read they sounded really small (like practically toddler size), but from what res told me they are junior twins and should really fit someone up to about 5'6 or so. Does anyone have experience in the bunk bed rooms? How small are the beds really? Are there a lot of bunk bed rooms? Are any of them close to the park entrances?

So I guess I had a lot of questions there, but I'm kind of stressing over what to be asking for. Its probably the only time we can afford to stay on site and in a dream world we'd have it all ... a daybed room close to the park entrance that had a great view.

[interstate70s]

Originally Posted by Tif

I have a couple more questions. I talked to reservations and requested a daybed room, but now I'm worried about how far that would be from the park entrance (and wouldn't it face a parking lot?). So I asked about the bunk beds and from everything I read they sounded really small (like practically toddler size), but from what res told me they are junior twins and should really fit someone up to about 5'6 or so. Does anyone have experience in the bunk bed rooms? How small are the beds really? Are there a lot of bunk bed rooms? Are any of them close to the park entrances?

So I guess I had a lot of questions there, but I'm kind of stressing over what to be asking for. Its probably the only time we can afford to stay on site and in a dream world we'd have it all ... a daybed room close to the park entrance that had a great view.

Our family has stayed in the bunk bed rooms twice. I love them. Our kids are 7 and 9 and fit fine, they look like normal bunks to me. Plus, there is a trundle under the bottom bunk. They are defiantely not anywhere near toddler size. Both times we have had perfect room location near lobby elevators. Once with monorail courtyard view and once with pool/theme park view. I'm 5'3' and I've laid in them and I did not feel cramped. The best part is the extra floor space in the room.

[interstate70s]

Here is the view from our room on our last trip. It might have been considered standard because it was on the corner and view of ferris wheel was partially blocked, or maybe considered partial view. Anyway I only paid for standard. 5th floor, 5300

[Lucille1963]

Great view!

[Nonsuch]

Originally Posted by Tif

...I talked to reservations and requested a daybed room, but now I'm worried about how far that would be from the park entrance (and wouldn't it face a parking lot?).

The daybed rooms do face a parking lot, but the area is nicely landscaped.
I would call it a "Sunset View"

[Nonsuch]

Originally Posted by sonjaandsue

Does anyone happen to know if Whitewater Snacks sells soy milk?

I checked this morning, no soy milk.

[andersonsc]

posted this on DL thread but thought I might get reponses here also. Hope that's OK.


Just booked thanksgiving dinner at storyteller's cafe. Wanted the buffet (starts at 3pm) but all booked after 3pm. Was able to get 2:30pm but CM said this would be plated meal, not buffet.

I was reading a review where the person said they were able to get the buffet early at 2pm last year b/c they started putting food out that early.

CM today also said if it takes 30 min or more to seat us then we could get the buffet.

Has anyone had experience with Thanksgiving dinner at Storytellers and being able to get the buffet early. What about time for getting your table during a holiday? At most importantly, what about the food!?

Any info appreciated