Disneyland Resort Guest Perks?

[wdw&sonny]

What are the perks for staying at Grand Californian? I have a trip in May. Wondering if there is 1 hour early entry or extra magic hours?
thanks.

 

[PirateBrigade]

What are the perks for staying at Grand Californian? I have a trip in May. Wondering if there is 1 hour early entry or extra magic hours?
thanks.

Perks? This isn't 2019! You get a shorter walk and a fireplace.

Actually, the only perk to staying on-site now is a fairly generous availability bucket for ticket/AP reservations....and possibly a shorter/more comfortable security line somewhat shielded from the harsh elements of Southern California.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I guess I am used to WDW where there are enough resort guest to make it worth it to have early entry or late hours. DL must not have that many on-site guests for them to bother. Too bad.

 

[bookgirl]

Has Disneyland not reinstated the 30 minute early entry?

In my head I thought it had.

I go to WDW more so I may be attributing their policy to DL.

 

[roxy72]

Perks? This isn't 2019! You get a shorter walk and a fireplace.

Actually, the only perk to staying on-site now is a fairly generous availability bucket for ticket/AP reservations....and possibly a shorter/more comfortable security line somewhat shielded from the harsh elements of Southern California.

LOL, same!! Barely any 'perks'.

From my knowledge, no room service (food), no daily housekeeping (if at all), no package delivery from parks to your hotel, etc. I'm pretty sure there's no free coffee at Hearthstone Lounge for GCH guests.

Prices keep going up, up, up...yet we get less in return. I know that I'm being cranky about it, but next week is our long-awaited honeymoon at GCH and I'm sorta bummed about the lack of amenities. Rant ahead: Our June 2020 wedding was totally screwed up due to you-know-what, so we got married via Zoom in our backyard with just our mom's present. Fast forward 1.5 years to our honeymoon, and I was hoping things would go a bit smoother. Instead, I've had so many issues with even getting my ShopDisney packages (shipped FedEx), including the bridal Minnie ears. Supply issues, lack of delivery drivers, lost packages, etc. I just wanted things to go a bit smoother this time. Oh well- it's all in the attitude, so I better turn mine around and be grateful to be here, happy, healthy, boosted (got my booster 2 weeks ago!) and alive!

 

[DisSurfer878]

LOL, same!! Barely any 'perks'.

From my knowledge, no room service (food), no daily housekeeping (if at all), no package delivery from parks to your hotel, etc. I'm pretty sure there's no free coffee at Hearthstone Lounge for GCH guests.

Prices keep going up, up, up...yet we get less in return. I know that I'm being cranky about it, but next week is our long-awaited honeymoon at GCH and I'm sorta bummed about the lack of amenities. Rant ahead: Our June 2020 wedding was totally screwed up due to you-know-what, so we got married via Zoom in our backyard with just our mom's present. Fast forward 1.5 years to our honeymoon, and I was hoping things would go a bit smoother. Instead, I've had so many issues with even getting my ShopDisney packages (shipped FedEx), including the bridal Minnie ears. Supply issues, lack of delivery drivers, lost packages, etc. I just wanted things to go a bit smoother this time. Oh well- it's all in the attitude, so I better turn mine around and be grateful to be here, happy, healthy, boosted (got my booster 2 weeks ago!) and alive!

The no coffee is true. And guests don't even get any priority at making dining reservations at their own dang hotel despite 0 room service, so thats lame

 

[Astylla]

For me the perks are more about proximity and location.
I just booked a 3 night stay for GCH during Food and Wine as it starts in early March and was able to get a great room rate using my Magic Key discount which would rival if I was lucky enough to rent points for s tudio anyway.

The ability to pop in and out if I'm spending time at DCA for events especially is value alone for me. I also enjoy the amenities and I work in a stressful long hours job so I work overtime a few days and pays for itself lol.
If you're looking at straight dollar paid..then may not be worth it. It's all relative what is important to you and touring style.

 

[jodybird511]

For me the perks are more about proximity and location.
I just booked a 3 night stay for GCH during Food and Wine as it starts in early March and was able to get a great room rate using my Magic Key discount which would rival if I was lucky enough to rent points for s tudio anyway.

The ability to pop in and out if I'm spending time at DCA for events especially is value alone for me. I also enjoy the amenities and I work in a stressful long hours job so I work overtime a few days and pays for itself lol.
If you're looking at straight dollar paid..then may not be worth it. It's all relative what is important to you and touring style.

This 100%. Is this alone worth the upcharge? Idk--I'm DVC, so we use points, but I must say, it's awfully nice to walk directly into and out of DCA from the hotel...

 

[sweethannah]

The price difference between a Disney onsite property versus offsite ( yet similar walking distance ) is enough that I could probably hire somebody to carry me Cleopatra-style to the main entrances and still have enough left over for at least one churro.

 

[wdw&sonny]

For me the perks are more about proximity and location.
I just booked a 3 night stay for GCH during Food and Wine as it starts in early March and was able to get a great room rate using my Magic Key discount which would rival if I was lucky enough to rent points for s tudio anyway.

The ability to pop in and out if I'm spending time at DCA for events especially is value alone for me. I also enjoy the amenities and I work in a stressful long hours job so I work overtime a few days and pays for itself lol.
If you're looking at straight dollar paid..then may not be worth it. It's all relative what is important to you and touring style.

What is the room discount with a Magic Key? Which level Magic Key?
If one person has a Magic Key, can they make the room reservations for multiple people in same group?
We have four rooms already booked. Will they apply the discount retroactively?

 

[Astylla]

What is the room discount with a Magic Key? Which level Magic Key?
If one person has a Magic Key, can they make the room reservations for multiple people in same group?
We have four rooms already booked. Will they apply the discount retroactively?

There are several offers currently for both Magic Key holders and non. Here is the link and be sure to sign into your Disneyland.com account to see all available to you.
ANY Magic key holder can book. As far as applying the new discount , not sure but can try and call if it's available for your dates. Usually you can book up to two rooms per key holder.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/offers-discounts/

 

[bookgirl]

There are several offers currently for both Magic Key holders and non. Here is the link and be sure to sign into your Disneyland.com account to see all available to you.
ANY Magic key holder can book. As far as applying the new discount , not sure but can try and call if it's available for your dates. Usually you can book up to two rooms per key holder.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/offers-discounts/

Okay I had rack rate originally and yesterday I switched over to the Getaway offer (someone posted the link to that offer) and saved around $400, Great!.

Well, I followed the above link just out of curiosity and saw that there were actually two offers.

Both offers are for the same dates
Getaway you can book online, but you have to actually call for the Magic offer
Both are room only (though you can add tickets)
Magic is GCH and DLH only and Getaway is all three resorts
But the big difference..... Getaway is Sun through Thur.....Magic only requires you stay at least 4 nights.

I have a Friday night so Magic gives me a bigger discount. The planner did call the Magic offer a 4 for 3 offer but it really is 25% just like the Getaway, it just lets you use all the days of the week.

She was mystified why there were two offers so similar.

But hey more savings for me!

Moral of the story...... Don't quit looking at whats available and always compare all the offers

Thanks for the heads up Astylla

 

[Pluto468]

Thanks for posting about that offer! I have a sun-th trip planned but really wanted to add Saturday night. This would help alot! (Hopefully my room type is available.)

 

[shosh1530]

What is the room discount with a Magic Key? Which level Magic Key?
If one person has a Magic Key, can they make the room reservations for multiple people in same group?
We have four rooms already booked. Will they apply the discount retroactively?

The Magic Key discount is 30%. You can apply it an existing reservation (at least they would when I called about mine). Only one person has to have the Magic Key, but you can only book a maximum of two rooms and both reservations have to be under your name. The require you to have an active magic key at check in, but would let me book even before purchase if I wanted.

 

[pharmama]

I guess I am used to WDW where there are enough resort guest to make it worth it to have early entry or late hours. DL must not have that many on-site guests for them to bother. Too bad.

DLR on site hotels USED to include Extra Magic Hour that allowed 1hr early admission to one park (it was DCA Mon, Weds, Fri, Sun and DL Tu, Th, Sat). However, this perk has not been reintroduced post-COVID closure. All the information about EMH (and Magic Morning, the DL early entry program that came with 3 day an longer parkhoppers) is still on the DLR website so hopefully they will reintroduce this at some point. Your trip isn't for a few months so keep an eye on this.

That said, they don't seem to be in the business of adding free perks to anything lately and are doing just fine filling the hotels without any extras

 

[thenicefamily]

There IS a little perk that we were pleasantly surprised to receive when we stayed at GCH a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't get much mention and, it's not a huge thing but, it's a nice thing.

We all received a 'Magical Extra' gift which consisted of a nice lanyard for our passes and a pin. We had to go and pick it up and, the person at the desk in the DCA shop we went to seemed surprised we were asking but, she did rummage around and managed to produce the little package. I'm guessing maybe not many people ask for their Magical Extra as DL Resort guests?

btw - I only found out about the Extra when I got my travel e-package and, it wasn't a front-and-centre item. I was clicking around and a drop-down appeared with the Magical Extra mentioned but, well, as I said, it wasn't really an in-your-face GET YOUR MAGICAL EXTRAS HERE! type button, lol.

 

[Kender]

There IS a little perk that we were pleasantly surprised to receive when we stayed at GCH a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't get much mention and, it's not a huge thing but, it's a nice thing.

We all received a 'Magical Extra' gift which consisted of a nice lanyard for our passes and a pin. We had to go and pick it up and, the person at the desk in the DCA shop we went to seemed surprised we were asking but, she did rummage around and managed to produce the little package. I'm guessing maybe not many people ask for their Magical Extra as DL Resort guests?

btw - I only found out about the Extra when I got my travel e-package and, it wasn't a front-and-centre item. I was clicking around and a drop-down appeared with the Magical Extra mentioned but, well, as I said, it wasn't really an in-your-face GET YOUR MAGICAL EXTRAS HERE! type button, lol.

Did you book a package through Disney? Those have often been given out with those (on site or good neighbor in the past). I still have my pin, lanyard, and luggage tag from the one time I booked a package (good neighbor) years ago.

 

[thenicefamily]

Did you book a package through Disney? Those have often been given out with those (on site or good neighbor in the past). I still have my pin, lanyard, and luggage tag from the one time I booked a package (good neighbor) years ago.

Yes, I booked the GCH and park tickets through Disney.

 

[Kender]

Yes, I booked the GCH and park tickets through Disney.

To be clear: you booked a vacation package? You didn't book each separately?

If so, then that was a perk of your vacation package. Not a perk of staying on site.


EDIT: Double checked on the official Disney vacation package booking site. Pin and lanyard are still one of the offers both for packages booked on site and at good neighbors.

Don't mean to pick on you, I just want to make sure it's clarified for those reading along that this is a vacation package perk. Not a Disney hotel perk.

 

[thenicefamily]

To be clear: you booked a vacation package? You didn't book each separately?

If so, then that was a perk of your vacation package. Not a perk of staying on site.


EDIT: Double checked on the official Disney vacation package booking site. Pin and lanyard are still one of the offers both for packages booked on site and at good neighbors.

Don't mean to pick on you, I just want to make sure it's clarified for those reading along that this is a vacation package perk. Not a Disney hotel perk.

Yes, to clarify for those booking at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/en-ca/ , we booked a "vacation package". We ((I) didn't realize we were booking a "package", all I knew was that I wanted to book directly with Disney and I wanted tickets and hotel booked together plus a minimal deposit. Honestly, I didn't ever consider it a package. I'm not a package travel person.

We (I) weren't interested in perks, other than $200 deposit on a trip 11-months in advance. There are many who maybe won't/can't relate to the benefit of that "perk" but, those who can, will. Even without the Covid-equation, the flexibility of booking almost a year in advance with a minimal deposit provided a welcome flexibility feature for us.

We (I) never, ever, thought we were booking a "package". A package holiday is anathema to me, a 100% indpendant-trip-planner. Disney(land), to me, is not at all a package, rather, it's a selection of amazing experiences I choose and book independently.