DGC theme park view worth it?

[freshstart19]

Hello. Will be a DL in 1 month. We have a theme park room booked at DGC. Am know going through all reservations and fine tuning things to possibly save some money. We want to stay at the DGC but is a theme view room really worth the $400+ more? I can probably shave $700 to 800 off our trip by just downgrading views! Coming from the east coast and planning way too much!

 

[hjgaus]

Hello. Will be a DL in 1 month. We have a theme park room booked at DGC. Am know going through all reservations and fine tuning things to possibly save some money. We want to stay at the DGC but is a theme view room really worth the $400+ more? I can probably shave $700 to 800 off our trip by just downgrading views! Coming from the east coast and planning way too much!

I have not stayed in a "view room" from the hotel side but the best "theme park view" from the Grand Californian is MOST of the VILLAS.
You can see the World of Color show from the higher floors BUT you can also see the show from the viewing deck on the 6th floor for ALL guests staying in the hotel!

View or no view I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!!

 

[BensWife]

For us, the "view" is not worth it. $700-$800 is a BIG chunk. That is a lot of souvenirs or snacks. We have stayed at the GCH twice and were in the standard view both times. The first time we had a view of the front of the hotel and the second I don't even remember our view much because we weren't in our room long enough for me to remember. I think it was of trees, but I'm not sure. I would much rather have just a standard view and save the money. However, if you are going to spend time back at the room, then it might be worth it. For me, (and I would have to see the price difference before I spent the money), I might stay in a view room where we could see the fireworks if we had little kids and knew we were going to have to be back to the hotel early everything night and miss them in the park.

We just got back from staying at the DLH, and DH upgraded us to a deluxe pool view. When we got there they upgraded us to the premium pool view. We were super happy about getting the free upgrade, but we found out that the difference between the deluxe and premium was how high up you are. For us, we were glad we didn't spend the extra $30 a night for the premium that may be on the 7th floor instead of the 4th. And, we also found out that even though the pool view was nice, we don't think it was worth it for us since we weren't in the room much to enjoy it.

 

[whoever]

Depends... We've had it as an upgrade for free, and it was neat, but I don't think I'd pay for it. We were looking right into goofy's sky school.

 

[DebbieB]

I got a theme park view once at GCH and we ended up above the park entrance facing the rapids. View was mostly trees.

 

[whoever]

I got a theme park view once at GCH and we ended up above the park entrance facing the rapids. View was mostly trees.

I've been longing for that view. Maybe I can swing it for either Dapper Day or in October.

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks for your replies. Sounds like I can ask for an upgrade if they are not fully booked since we are not going during high season. Sounds like it makes sense.

 

[larina]

I haven't stayed at the Grand, but in general my personal opinion is that its always worth it to pay for a room with a view. We've done view rooms at both PPH and DLH and I wouldn't stay on-site without one. I truely think it makes the experience. We also spend more time in our room than some people do. I usually travel with my parents and my children, with maybe a friend or two. My dad spends lots of time in the room, it's his time to relax. And he loves the view and seeing the park action while he works or just hangs out in the room. So for us, it's "worth it" but I know it isn't for everyone.

 

[freshstart19]

Thanks for your reply, Larina. My girls are 11 and 24 so I'm envisioning not much room time. We had a savannah view at Animal Kingdom in WDW and that was really worth it. I wasn't paying for food then since we had a free dining plan.

 

[GeneralTso]

When I'm dropping $$$ at DLH or GC, I go big or I go home

The view is important to me. I want the whole package, Concierge, view, all of it. Saving a few bucks here or there when you are spending that kind of money on the hotel just doesn't make sense.

Now, on trips when I'm not spending that kind of $$, like when we stay at the Hilton with our Hilton points, I don't care as much. We end up upgraded with a fantastic park view but don't pay for it because of Hilton Honors status.

On property though, I'll pay for it.
If you're penny pinching and worried, it's not worth it at all.

I always say "that's A LOT of churros!"

 

[cattywampus]

Not sure exactly what dates you are staying but we are there last week of August, and new annual pass rates have just been released. We are staying in theme park view for less than $375 per night, including tax. Call reservations and have then quote all rates. You may be able to rebook and it may be cheaper to purchase one annual pass to get room rate and restaurant discounts. Rate also came with one fast pass per person and free photo pass. Even if you already bought tickets, you can upgrade to AP. You only need one AP and you don't need it to book -- just to check in (and you can buy it at hotel front desk! Though I'm not positive you can upgrade already purchased tickets at hotel)).

We go to GC multiple times per year. Theme park view is very nice and I really enjoy it but not worth $100 per night. If rate is discounted enough, I will pay up to $50 per night to upgrade. Also do not accept pool view that they try to give you. Insist on TPV at check-in.

 

[chrisaman]

Look into David's vacation rental. You can rent. A cation club points. If u go that route u aren't guaranteed a theme park view but u can request it. It is usually cheaper though but harder to get availability. If u aren't planning 7 to 11 months out there may be no availability for vacation club rooms

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

you can also see the show from the viewing deck on the 6th floor for ALL guests staying in the hotel!

Wait, what? How have I not heard of this before? Is it a good view? Is the music piped in? Anyone have pictures of said view?

We were able to watch and listen to WOC through our PPH park view room, but it was very far away, and partially blocked by rides, so you couldn't see the image projections at all.

 

[MermaidHair]

I've been longing for that view. Maybe I can swing it for either Dapper Day or in October.

We had a room over the entrance to DCA last time. It was on the second floor and overlooked Trees but we knew GRR was on the other side of those trees and could hear the music from the park. We were on the second floor and had standard view rooms booked. I do not know if we were upgraded to these rooms but we LOVED them! I asked for the same room numbers (2349 & 2351) for our Halloween stay.

 

[MermaidHair]

We had a room over the entrance to DCA last time. It was on the second floor and overlooked Trees but we knew GRR was on the other side of those trees and could hear the music from the park. We were on the second floor and had standard view rooms booked. I do not know if we were upgraded to these rooms but we LOVED them! I asked for the same room numbers (2349 & 2351) for our Halloween stay.

Oh, and I meant to add, I would have been irked if I paid $100 more for a theme park view and had this tree view. It would not have met my expectations for a theme park view.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I go big or I go home
The view is important to me. I want the whole package, Concierge, view, all of it...

I feel the same

...Also do not accept pool view that they try to give you. Insist on TPV at check-in.

Others might like the Pool View, but I agree with you
Pool and Courtyard are my least favorite views.

 

[cattywampus]

I feel the same

Others might like the Pool View, but I agree with you
Pool and Courtyard are my least favorite views.

I don't mind pool view. I just mind when they try to substitute it as theme park view, while still charging you the same rate without telling you!

 

[Nonsuch]

Wait, what? How have I not heard of this before? Is it a good view? Is the music piped in? Anyone have pictures of said view?

The 6th floor viewing patio is open to all GCH (and VGC) guests, room key required.
The view is poor. I don't recall if music is played on the patio, but the sound direct from the show is quite loud.

 

[whoever]

We had a room over the entrance to DCA last time. It was on the second floor and overlooked Trees but we knew GRR was on the other side of those trees and could hear the music from the park. We were on the second floor and had standard view rooms booked. I do not know if we were upgraded to these rooms but we LOVED them! I asked for the same room numbers (2349 & 2351) for our Halloween stay.

I'll be asking for the 300-odds during my stay. We had even last time, and had a view of the pool area, but I wanted to be facing across the hall. A better location cannot be had IMHO than that wing of the hotel

 

[hjgaus]

The 6th floor viewing patio is open to all GCH (and VGC) guests, room key required.
The view is poor. I don't recall if music is played on the patio, but the sound direct from the show is quite loud.

Thanks for the pics Nonsuch!
I've only been @ the viewing deck once (when our villa had a view of redwood creek plus our friends stopped by for a visit but no park tickets to see WOC) and also can't recall if the music was piped BUT could definitely be heard while watching from there. You CAN see all most the entire show but mot so much the projection scenes on the water. The best way to see that would to actually be IN the park!
As for room views - the park view VILLA rooms are by far the CLOSEST & BEST PARK VIEW out there!!!