AAA advantages, GC questions

[curiousgeorge]

I am going for Oct 28-30 and staying at Grand Californian through a AAA package. It was a huge splurge, however I am now 27 and have not been to disneyland since I was 13 and I am extremely excited.

I want this to be the best trip ever! I am just a little worried about the negative reviews I have read about the Grand Californian. I understand there is a convention there that weekend and that they are sold out.

If they are sold out and I have an issue with the room I am given, will I be out of luck?

I am going with the wife and my 4 and 2 year old sons and what if they give me a room that is too far for us to be walking to and from the park? Have any of you had problems on a sold out night? If so, what did management do to assist you?

And what is the chance of us getting a room with bunkbeds.(I really hope that we do. Sorry to sound negative, it is just that I want everything to be great!

Also, I understand and have read about the AAA fastpass advantage and the preferred seating at some shows. Are there any other advantages other than those two for AAA members and if so how can I use all AAA benefits at Disneyland and GC to the best of my advantage.

If there is one, can someone direct me to a AAA forum.

Any help and comments would be greatly apprectiated.

 

[pcryan]

We just did GC AAA this past weekend. Even though there is a convention there it shouldn't impact you. There was a huge produce convention in town last weekend (16,000) and we saw vendor events set up but it did not bother us!

Bunkbed: when we checked in they had changed our city view, two queens to a pool view w/ bunks. Only problem my DD is 14 and 5'8" and that wasn't going to work. We were changed back to a city view, 2 queens. It was at the far end of the hotel but it really isn't any further than walking at other hotels plus it more than makes up for how close to the parks you are. Our elevator was closer to CA and the pools so that is the trade off. Your travel agent should be able to put that in as a request and then ask for it again when you check in.

We didn't use our ESPN $10.00 each cards, nor did we use the priority seating for the shows--we just didn't have time to do them. We did use the coupon for the free 5x7 photo. There are many times when the photographers are out taking your pictures. We just saved up the little numbered ticket they gave us and bought the photo the day we left. They keep them in system for 72 hours so we looked at them all at once and picked our favorite (the one taken at Mickey's house in Toontown). You can't use it on Splash or Tower photos.
Hint: if you are going to purchase one of those photos do it early in the day, the line before closing is really long!

We got our laynard and pins. There is a AAA booth right next to City Hall. They don't open first thing in the monring, just check every time you go by.

We got a little coupon book which I kept forgetting about except the 10% off your purchase at the Downtown Disney Disney store. So we checked out everything we wanted that we could get at that store and made one large purchase our last day there, even did some Christmas shopping.

We never had to use the fast past benefit but I guess it is nice to have.

Have fun!

 

[Judy from Boise]

The FP benefit is fabulous ! I can't think of a better perk !
Whereever you are put in the resort there will be tradeoffs between being close to the parks,pool restaurants etc. It will be fine .

 

[Snurk71]

Where are you reading negative reviews about GC???

You can't beat the location of GC, and the resort isn't that spread out to where you can get a room that will be too far of a walk.

We had stayed at DLH a couple of times before GC (DLH is more Disney-themed that GC). Now we are really torn because we loved the location (quickest walk to either park - can be on GRR or Soarin' in 5 minutes from leaving room, walk right out to DTD and WOD) and "newness" of the GC.

The pools were really nice at GC too. There is a good small kiddie slide for at least your 4 yo, if not your 2 yo.