1st timer questions about pool and niece and nephew being dropped off

[NavyDad01]

Planning a quick 4 day trip to DL and staying at the Grand Californian. Its the first time staying on site and had some questions.

1. Is any character breakfast similar to lilo and Stich breakfast from WDW?

2. Can visitors use the pool?

3. My brother lives in California and plans on dropping off my niece and nephew with us at the hotel on his way to work at like 5am. My current family consist of 4 that will be in the hotel. Would there be consequences having my neice and nephew there with us? I know they say max guest 4, but they are not technically spending the night. THoughts?

 

[Geemo]

The PPH usually has Stitch at the Surf's Up character breakfast.

Pool visitors.... Can be a sensitive subject here.
I'd call the hotel and ask them directly.
Explain the situation and see what the GCH has to say about their pool policy for you.

Will your niece and nephew be going to the parks with you? Sounds like the cousins are going to have a fun time together.

Geemo

 

[NavyDad01]

Yes, We are buying them 1 day tickets to go. One is 10 and the other is 12 both lived in S California their whole lives and never been to Disneyland, so expect them to be excited.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree with Geemo that your best bet is Surf's Up at PCH Grill breakfast to see Stitch (no Lilo). Surf's Up is a buffet, rather than a family style AYCTE restaurant like 'Ohana, but it does have Mickey waffles! When I went in November, we saw Mickey (photo package at check-in), Daisy, Pluto, and Stitch (Minnie was also there, but we just missed her). I thought the character interactions were very good; they didn't seem at all rushed and the characters did interact with the kids. I posted photos of the buffet in the Disneyland Dining thread.

 

[bumbershoot]

So you'll be over room capacity and can add them. I personally (and I've taken a cousin-once-removed to parks before and therefore speak from some experience) wouldn't focus on the resort. Wouldn't bother with the pool at all.

As you say it's their first Disneyland trip. Focus on the parks. If they have parents who can't or won't take them there (so cal their whole lives without DL once?) why torment them with the fancy hotel there?

Your other thread...don't bother with the DCA entrance from the Grand. Since the kids are there so early you'll probably want to hit rope drop. Go to the main entrance. It's faster unless you want to spend an hour to be first in line, and then the kids probably won't be able to get in there anyway that early.

 

[SMD]

If your trip is before mid-May they live in the zip codes for the current So Cal ticket offer, you might want to have your brother pick up the special priced tickets at a grocery store. The 12 year old should have a school ID to activate the tickets, right? The price of a 2 day hopper is only $23 more than a 1 day at the current gate price, and they'd have until 5/21 to use the second day.

As far as the pool, it would be really unfair to registered guests if everyone felt they were entitled to bring an extra person above the capacity of their room to the pool. Many paying hotel guests would be shut out. You said in another thread that you can justify because only 4-5 of you will go in the pool, but just being at the pool affects the experience of the guests who should have access to the pool area, and that does not include your extra people.