GRAND CALI GRAND CALI GRAND CALI ----simply the best.
Ok, give me a minute to compose myself....did I tell you we LOVE the Grand Californian. It is our absolute favorite disney resort, hands down.
3 years ago after we were married I finally convinced DH to try DL. He suffled his feet, whined it was so small, pouted and finally relented. I called our fellow Disney addicts (who loved DL as much as I did) and before you knew it....we were checking into the resort.
Hey....guess what I had playing on the car stereo as we turned into the entrance of the Grand Calif? You got it......"Now is the time".....from carousel of progress in WDW
....(Hello, I'm Julie your cruise director!) I always have a "musical tour" from the airport to WDW and DL...last time we arrived at WDW for Flower and Garden.....we drove under the Welcome to Walt Disney World sign to......Welcome Welcome Welcome (daily opening music for the MK). Oh my.....I got off track again. Sorry.
Ok, lets be serious now......
How can you NOT be overwhelmed when you first enter the lobby of the Grand Californian. It is a breathtaking hotel nestled into a teeny footprint of what was once the parking lot. There is a resort tour.....take it....it's worth the time.
What DH soon discovered, however, is there is a special magic at
Disneyland. Sure, WDW IS bigger.....but size doesn't always matter. Disneyland park is Walt's park....he walked there....Miss Lillian thought there was not enough shopping so Walt built New Orleans square. When you are taking the train around the park and stop in frontierland, you can here the tapping sounds of the teletype. Guess what is being broadcast? "To all those who come here today, welcome. Disneyland is YOUR land". Remember Walt saying that on opening day?
Yes, it's compact...you transit from one land to another almost instantly. Hey, it's easy for those of us who no longer walk as well as other!
Main Street IS smaller......but it's also charming. The castle IS smaller....but you can walk through and stand on the very spot we have seen Walt stand in the picture. Did you realize Sleeping Beauty's castle was built and named 3 years BEFORE any work on the Sleeping Beauty movie started.
Want some trivia (from an EXCELLENT "Walk in Walt's footsepts" tour - high recommended).
They were building the castle and Walt wanted gold leaf on the tops of the spires. "It's the ONLY thing which will sparkle even on a cloudy day" he told Roy. Roy responded with something like....ARE YOU NUTS - DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH GOLD LEAF COSTS.....in a word, Roy said no. Walt was not one to give up on an idea easily. He simply waited until Roy's next trip to NY and had the castle outfitted with the gold leaf before Roy returned. And those spires continue to sparkle today.
Castmembers are happy, the place is clean (perhaps because they are so close to the big burbank guys). There are even a few rides which kick WDW's butt! Space Mountain - hands down soooo much better at DL. WDW-SM, put your tail between your legs and go home! Pirates...so great...and starting in front of Blue Bayou...very cool.
Now that they are finally finding a way to make California Adventure more than an afterthought, it's just a GREAT choice.
It took no time for DH to fall in love with it as well. We are now out there every 18 months or so between a few WDW trips.
Go with an open mind. You will find the gentle charm of THE magical place which.........."was all started by a mouse".
Bon Voyage!