5 at the Grand Cali

[GatorChris]

So we all know that this place is very expen$ive, even for just the studio rooms. But with a family of 5, what is doable? I see the suites can fit 5, but renting points would be $600+/night and direct from Disney, it's a cool grand - ridiculous.

But here's the question of the day for me. If we did get a studio, is there room in there for us to have either an air mattress or egg crate for one of the kids to sleep on? I'd love to one day stay here (like we did at DLH and PP that have studios that sleep 5), but I simply can't do a suite to fit our family without giving up on the kids ever going to college....

 

[SeaDis]

With five in your group you will have "some" priority for room assignments (I've been told-- we also have five). Call the hotel direct (get hotel operator) a week or two early, and ask them to enter your room request in the system. Ask for a bunk bed room, or daybed room (your preference). Then, on check-in day, get there as early as you can and tell them you will wait for the right room to be available (versus first room available). I also casually offer to buy the check-in person a Starbucks. Yep.

 

[Gisele]

With five in your group you will have "some" priority for room assignments (I've been told-- we also have five). Call the hotel direct (get hotel operator) a week or two early, and ask them to enter your room request in the system. Ask for a bunk bed room, or daybed room (your preference). Then, on check-in day, get there as early as you can and tell them you will wait for the right room to be available (versus first room available). I also casually offer to buy the check-in person a Starbucks. Yep.

Lol
Do they take you up on your offer of Starmuchobucks?

 

[MommyJKM]

So we all know that this place is very expen$ive, even for just the studio rooms. But with a family of 5, what is doable? I see the suites can fit 5, but renting points would be $600+/night and direct from Disney, it's a cool grand - ridiculous.

But here's the question of the day for me. If we did get a studio, is there room in there for us to have either an air mattress or egg crate for one of the kids to sleep on? I'd love to one day stay here (like we did at DLH and PP that have studios that sleep 5), but I simply can't do a suite to fit our family without giving up on the kids ever going to college....

It's actually not THAT expensive if you look ahead of time. We always stay at GCH and I've found if you look 6-9 months ahead of time you can get a good rate.

Our friends just stayed in a standard GCH room and called ahead for the bunk beds. Their kids are approx 18, 12, 9. The 9-yr old slept on the trundle that pulls out from the bunk beds. She said it wasn't "roomy" but not bad either.

You're staying at GCH for the convenience and because it's GCH! We are only a family of 3, and when we go with others we request adjoining rooms so it seems "larger". We love to get wet on GRR and walk into the hotel and change. We love to not carry anything around the park because we can run up to the room and grab sweatshirts, clean clothes, etc. We love going to the room right when it gets cool and changing into warmer clothes and it doesn't take an hour. We love leaving the parks for rest time to go swim and it's just seems amazingly closer when you want to go back.

DLH rooms are larger and your kids from your photo look older than stroller age (I hope ) so I'm assuming you don't require the quick exit back to your hotel when a meltdown occurs or a nap is NECESSARY! (I'm making assumptions so please excuse if this is a requirement).

If you get a studio with 2 queens there is room for a cot, it depends on if your kids are picky about sleeping.

I say, decide to stay at GCH because you love the convenience and not because of the room size.

 

[SeaDis]

Starbucks = $10-spot. And yes, it always disappears with a big THANK YOU.

If check-in person appears to be a like-minded guy, I insert "beer" for Sbucks. It's a judgement call. Yep again.

 

[Nonsuch]

So we all know that this place is very expen$ive, even for just the studio rooms. But with a family of 5, what is doable? I see the suites can fit 5, but renting points would be $600+/night and direct from Disney, it's a cool grand - ridiculous.

But here's the question of the day for me. If we did get a studio, is there room in there for us to have either an air mattress or egg crate for one of the kids to sleep on? I'd love to one day stay here (like we did at DLH and PP that have studios that sleep 5), but I simply can't do a suite to fit our family without giving up on the kids ever going to college....

Studio is what Disney calls a single room DVC villa, basically a hotel room with a mini-kitchen (microwave, coffee maker, mini-fridge). Studios at VGC have an occupancy of 4.
You could rent points for a 1-bedroom villa, which has an occupancy of 5.

A 1-bedroom villa (part of VGC) is quite a bit different than a 1-bedroom suite (part of GCH).

Regular hotel rooms at all 3 on-site hotels have an occupancy of 5.

 

[tarheelalum]

The answer is to stay at some other place in Anaheim. Those prices are absurd.

 

[DG24]

we are a family and we have not been able to go to GC if all five are with us. when I was younger my mom would get a room and my dad would get a second one and my sister went back and forth, nice having parents who are divorced but always took you on the same vacation. A few times we had to get one room at PPH and one at DLH, just so they would not kill each other , only kidding, but they did. As we grew up and added my niece, we became 5, woew 10 years ago. My mom and dad don't fight anymore so we try to all stay together, but we have never been able to do this at the gc. First the bathroom is small, and not a seperate dressing area. Second my sister takes up all of the counter space. Third the rooms are very very small. They say you can put a mat on the floor in front of the closet, but the other side is the bathroom and both my parents get up at night so they will step on whom ever is there. We have done three at the grand but even that is small and tight.

As someone else said, studios only hold 4. If you get a bunk room, the kids can't be two tall, because the bunks are on the short side, and one child is on the floor, in a trundle bed. There are the few very few rooms with a daybed the room is slightly bigger, but not much so to me your even more squished. And lastly, it is first come first serve, so at $500 a night you maybe handed a sleeping bag and told sorry.

So as previous post have said, we have always if all going decided the PPH is the best for us, unless mom and dad are fighting, then different towers in the dlh. Oh one other way to get a good deal on rooms and get two, get ap rate in jan, or go military, you can then get a room for under $300 there.

I booked PPH yesterday, and for $8 more per night got concierge added. It took me a long time, but I was persistent. It was saying that price online but would not allow me to except the terms a do conditions. When I called in, they kept saying no it was $500 more. I kept trying and finally got the room and concierge for the Internet price. Today, I see it is $500, but I have my confirmation and we leave in three weeks.

 

[Gisele]

Good work DG24! Sometimes, persistence really can pay off.
Just make sure you have your confirmation with you.

Have fun!

 

[Malcon10t]

Starbucks = $10-spot. And yes, it always disappears with a big THANK YOU.

If check-in person appears to be a like-minded guy, I insert "beer" for Sbucks. It's a judgement call. Yep again.

Interesting. Disney has been very strict in the past about not accepting bribes at the front desk. They even have mystery shoppers who get PAID to spend a night at the 3 hotels and attempt to get an upgrade by doing what you have suggested. If they accept, they get retrained. A second time, they will be dismissed. I am very surprised it disappears. Will have to look into this.

To the OP, just booked the regular hotel for $254 a night, this might be cheaper than doing the Villas. Keep looking for discounts.

 

[Gisele]

Interesting. Disney has been very strict in the past about not accepting bribes at the front desk. They even have mystery shoppers who get PAID to spend a night at the 3 hotels and attempt to get an upgrade by doing what you have suggested. If they accept, they get retrained. A second time, they will be dismissed. I am very surprised it disappears. Will have to look into this.

To the OP, just booked the regular hotel for $254 a night, this might be cheaper than doing the Villas. Keep looking for discounts.

Honestly, what do you care if a guest makes that offer? Is it somehow going to decrease the quality of your day? Stay? Or life.
Wow...really, who cares!

 

[whoever]

Honestly, what do you care if a guest makes that offer? Is it somehow going to decrease the quality of your day? Stay? Or life.
Wow...really, who cares!

The guest can make the offer all they want. If the CM accepts, they will face disciplinary action. As they should. Want an upgrade, pay for it.

 

[tarheelalum]

Who is going to tell? The person offering the money is not going to say anything because they are getting what they want. The person taking the money is not going to tell on himself so nobody is ever going to know. I travel a lot and tip my way into upgrades on a regular basis. People who work in hotels do not make a lot of money. They need all the help they can get.

 

[Eeee-va]

A standard room (nothing DVC-style; just the Grand Californian) fits a twin-sized air mattress fine. We stayed with 4 adults and an air mattress with no issues. The mattress fit in the corner near the balcony.

If I had a family of 5, I'd probably look into another on-site option, but if your heart is set on a standard room at the Grand Californian and it's not too much trouble to bring an air mattress, that's an option.

 

[Malcon10t]

Who is going to tell? The person offering the money is not going to say anything because they are getting what they want. The person taking the money is not going to tell on himself so nobody is ever going to know. I travel a lot and tip my way into upgrades on a regular basis. People who work in hotels do not make a lot of money. They need all the help they can get.

I also tip at other places in similar fashion (Vegas is a big one) but Disneyland has rules, and attempting this will actually work against you here. Everything is video taped. If you offer a tip for an upgrade, you will be declined. And the chances of getting one are slim to nil because they don't want to be seen as having given you an upgrade and perhaps there will be a payment after. Your best bet is to either 1. Pay for the room you want or 2. Ask when you get there if there is anything available. Sometimes it will happen.

An air mattress is possible in the GCH rooms. Like the above posted showed, we also put on by the balcony. We moved the table closer to the TV and while the end of the mattress was under the table, it did work out. BUT it shows how small the rooms are.

 

[Gisele]

The guest can make the offer all they want. If the CM accepts, they will face disciplinary action. As they should. Want an upgrade, pay for it.

It isn't a big deal in my opinion.
Isn't that how it works anyway? Where the dollar is almighty. Pay for what you want? If you tip and receive, so be it. It isn't like the company pays all that much anyway. All though they should, based on the cost of just about everything.

 

[Gisele]

A standard room (nothing DVC-style; just the Grand Californian) fits a twin-sized air mattress fine. We stayed with 4 adults and an air mattress with no issues. The mattress fit in the corner near the balcony.

If I had a family of 5, I'd probably look into another on-site option, but if your heart is set on a standard room at the Grand Californian and it's not too much trouble to bring an air mattress, that's an option.

That image reminds me of a $2000.00 a month studio in the Marina Green District in San Francisco. With an extra $200 per month to park in your own building. Unbelievable....
Lol

 

[Gisele]

This thread title reminds me of the beginning of a joke.....like how many people does it take to screw in a lightbulb kind of joke.
Lol

 

[SeaDis]

Interesting. Disney has been very strict in the past about not accepting bribes at the front desk. They even have mystery shoppers who get PAID to spend a night at the 3 hotels and attempt to get an upgrade by doing what you have suggested. If they accept, they get retrained. A second time, they will be dismissed. I am very surprised it disappears. Will have to look into this.

To the OP, just booked the regular hotel for $254 a night, this might be cheaper than doing the Villas. Keep looking for discounts.

Uhhhh yeah some misunderstanding there...

I have never bribed anyone in my life. This is gratitude near the end of a good conversation and NOT contingent on anything. I tip all over DLR-- including buying coffee for CM's INSIDE the parks who have gone way above and beyond for my family. Always graciously accepted. I have also followed up with emails about them. Front desk folks are the least-tipped in the industry. And further-- I have called ahead from the airport to pre-check-in for a villa and beg for our room (view) requests to be gradted. After we arrived at the front desk, and yes on our room requests, I put two Starbucks on the counter with my appreciation... one for the front desk person, and one for the GREAT lady in the back who took my earlier phone call and scored us the Villa. The front desk person picked up both and marched one through the door to the back office, then came back out with "She said thank you so much!". There was nothing to hide at all. Again, graciously accepted. When I said "disappear" I was not implying anything underhanded.

And finally, I am not paying for a room above my booking class. I agree that would not/should not be possible. We are talking about bed configuration and... room location and/or view. But, by all means, please look into this and let us know.

Good luck Gator Chris! Try the GCH with room requests and get there early. But warning: you may be hooked.

 

[tarheelalum]

I also tip at other places in similar fashion (Vegas is a big one) but Disneyland has rules, and attempting this will actually work against you here. Everything is video taped. If you offer a tip for an upgrade, you will be declined. And the chances of getting one are slim to nil because they don't want to be seen as having given you an upgrade and perhaps there will be a payment after. Your best bet is to either 1. Pay for the room you want or 2. Ask when you get there if there is anything available. Sometimes it will happen.

An air mattress is possible in the GCH rooms. Like the above posted showed, we also put on by the balcony. We moved the table closer to the TV and while the end of the mattress was under the table, it did work out. BUT it shows how small the rooms are.

I've been to Vegas enough times to know how to slip someone a fifty in a quick handshake without the eye in the sky ever catching on. But this is not my rodeo. No chance of me paying those GCH rates and sleeping on the floor when I can get a suite at the Orange County Hyatt Regency for less right down the street.

Personally, I do not see the value in paying Disney hotel rates. Especially with what they charge at the GCH but different strokes for different folks. The proximity to DCA can't be beat and I guess for some people it's worth it.

I hope the OP enjoys their trip and has a great time.