2BR suite at GC

[4kidsandadog]

I just booked a 2BR suite at the GC using our DVC points. I'm wondering what the layout of the room is going to be like. I found a link on one of the other threads that showed some suite floorplans, but couldn't figure out which would be ours. According to my reservations, I have a 2BR Artisan suite. It didn't look like any of the floorplans had 2 bedrooms, just 1 bedroom and the living area. Anyone have any experience with these rooms and can give me a guess as to which we have? We are a family of 6... 2 adults and 4 kids ages 5, 7, 10, 14.

Thanks!

Karen

 

[Tink33]

Here is a link to the suite layouts at the Grand Californian.

I read on that link that adjacent guest rooms are available. Maybe you are getting an Artisan Suite plus a standard guest room.

 

[disneydenisel]

I've been tempted to use our soon-to-have DVC points to rent a suite at the GCH. How many points per night did you have to use? Was it hard to book? Thanks for your help!

 

[4kidsandadog]

Thanks... those are the layouts I saw earlier today. I am sure there is plenty of room for us; I guess I'll just be surprised! I only wish the concierge service was included in this reservation. If I were paying cash, I think it would be, but because I'm using DVC points, it isn't. I could have gotten 2 separate concierge rooms on points, but with my kids the ages they are, I prefer a suite.

Karen

 

[4kidsandadog]

I've been tempted to use our soon-to-have DVC points to rent a suite at the GCH. How many points per night did you have to use? Was it hard to book? Thanks for your help!

We are staying 4 nights for 364 points.... guess that's 91 points a night. So it's not cheap. That's a whole year's points for us, plus a few more. But we're using some of last year's points and 2005 points, and still had a bunch of 2005 points to bank into 2006... so we aren't hurting.

I'll try to post about it after we get back. We don't go until Feb 9.

Karen

 

[disneydenisel]

We are staying 4 nights for 364 points.... guess that's 91 points a night. So it's not cheap. That's a whole year's points for us, plus a few more. But we're using some of last year's points and 2005 points, and still had a bunch of 2005 points to bank into 2006... so we aren't hurting.

I'll try to post about it after we get back. We don't go until Feb 9.

Karen

Thanks, Karen. Do you know if you have to pay the $12/day resort fee with points, or is everything included?

 

[4kidsandadog]

I'm not familiar with that fee....

Karen

 

[disneydenisel]

I'm not familiar with that fee....

Karen

Hi Karen,

Most hotels now charge a daily resort fee for things that used to be included in the daily rate. GCH used to charge $8/day, then it was $10/day. I think it is up to $12/day now. A guide told me that it was included when we use DVC points, but I just wanted to make sure that she was telling me the truth.

Your point usage is fine. 91 per night x MFs is significantly less than renting direct. Plus, there is like 11% tax on top of the nightly rental fee, and that resort fee. I think 2 bedroom suites last year were going for $810/night plus taxes and fees, and that was without concierge. Egads!

I hope that you have a great time! We've only rented two standards rooms and asked for adjoining rooms before...never the suite...but maybe someday!

 

[macs4us]

If you look at the floorplan you will notice by the entry another door (bottom of the pic) - that is where the second bedroom will be. When we had the 2 bedroom it was a corner room, so we had a wrap around balcony. The second bedroom had it's own balcony as well, as it is a lock off standard room. Our suite had a king bed in the main suite and two queens in the second bedroom, but we only had 4 people (me, hubby, niece and her friend) so it was more than adequate. You should be fine!!! We had a Downtown Disney view - you can see it from the World of Disney. Have a great trip!!!

- Just looked at the other floorplans and we had the Artisan K/K A Suite with the extra bedroom off the entry -

 

[mesabravo]

Well, I'm a little bummed to say the least. I'm a new DVC member and only joined so that we can go to Disneyland and stay on site. I have 4 kids and have never been able to afford staying on site until now. I too am going in Feb and was told by several CM and my guide that you CAN'T get a suite ever using points. We settled for the 2 bedrooms adjoining and thought that was grand. We added the concierge since we had extra points. Now I know that I was missinformed. I'm going to call my guide next week to find out the proper way to reserve this next time. The suite is not even listed in the point chart for CA grand. Thanks for the information. I'll still have a grand time. How can you have a bad time at Disneyland. It's always better than working.

 

[sierranevada]

If you look at the floorplan you will notice by the entry another door (bottom of the pic) - that is where the second bedroom will be. When we had the 2 bedroom it was a corner room, so we had a wrap around balcony. The second bedroom had it's own balcony as well, as it is a lock off standard room. Our suite had a king bed in the main suite and two queens in the second bedroom, but we only had 4 people (me, hubby, niece and her friend) so it was more than adequate. You should be fine!!! We had a Downtown Disney view - you can see it from the World of Disney. Have a great trip!!!

- Just looked at the other floorplans and we had the Artisan K/K A Suite with the extra bedroom off the entry -

We had the same type of suite that you described - it was gorgeous and very spacious! Our wrap around balcony was right over the World of Disney entrance closest to the parks - it was a killer view for fireworks and people watching!

 

[4kidsandadog]

Well now I am getting excited. We will have even more space than we had in a 2BR villa at Beach Club Villas at WDW! But I'm thinking that next time we want to stay at the GC, I'll just get two adjoining concierge rooms and save my points. At this point, I had to use all those points because I was going to lose them if I didn't use them by the end of the month.

Karen

 

[Texasfan]

We will be staying in an Artisan 2 Bedroom Suite at GC this June and wanted to know what it like. I am not sure if the origional poster is back from her trip yet or not, but would love to hear more about the suite.

 

[4kidsandadog]

We were in suite 3014 and room 3013 on our trip earlier this month. These rooms are located 2 floors above the lounge on the main floor. 3014 is the 1BR suite with a large foyer and living room, big bedroom with a chair/ottoman, and large double-sink area outside the bathroom. There was a huge balcony with seating for 4 and entrances off the living room and bedroom. The bedroom also had a private balcony with a small table and chairs for 2, but it really wasn't big enough to use. The living room had a sofa sleeper and 2 chairs, a wet bar and a dvd player. There was also a small table with chairs to one side where the ethernet cable was located. If you go to the link above with the suite layouts, we were in an Artisan K/K Suite C. The small door at the bottom opened to the connecting standard room.

The second room was like the suite minus the living area and foyer. Both rooms had roomy closets with lights in them and stocked minibars (If you don't want to risk your kids running up the bill, they will lock them for you if you ask).

Oh, the view from this room is of the Paradise Pier area of DCA. It is a very pretty view, day or night! And to the person who asked about the resort fee... it is included in the points. The only thing not included is valet parking if you use it ($12/day) and any other incidental charges to your room (minibar, room service, etc.)

We loved the hotel and our room. I imagine we'll stay there the next time we go back as well.

Karen

 

[Texasfan]

Thank you for the info!