Disney's Grand Californian On Points

[eva]

Sorry, I'm sure that this question was asked before. I just never paid attention, since I never really thought that I would be going to DL in the near future. If you book a room at Disney's Grand Californian on points are there tickets included with the room? I know at DLP they do this, but I couldn't remember if I had seen anything about DL.

Also, for anyone who has booked a DD view at this resort: Was the view worth the extra points? Do all rooms at this resort have balconies?

I'm totally lost planning this trip. I just found out that I am attending a conference in Anaheim this August. So we decided to add on 5 days to the trip to stay at DL and hit the beach. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

[Kevin&Randall]

We just booked Grand California (Downtown Disney view) for May. No tickets are included, just the room.

As far as I know, all the rooms have a balcony/patio. We were there in 2001 and had a "courtyard" view. It was nice, not great. We tend to spend more time in the room than the average person so we thought the point difference to go from standard to Downtown Disney view was worth the extra points. If you are doing nothing but head on bed, then stick with the standard view.

Also, Disneyland Resorts are now offering pay as you go concierge, but it is expensive! Something like $150 per night.

Randall

 

[CarolAnnC]

WE have stayed there twice on points, park tickets were not included.

I chose standard view both trips, but would highly recommend choosing the Downtown Disney view, and would do so myself next time. We did have a balcony, and pleasant enough garden views, but the excitement of people watching at DD would certainly keep one entertained on their balcony, lol.

You will love it there!!

 

[goldilocks_63]

We were thinking of going to CA for the 50th.

Does are AP from FLA work in CA, or do we need to buy more tickets?

Goldi

 

[Caskbill]

We were thinking of going to CA for the 50th.

Does are AP from FLA work in CA, or do we need to buy more tickets?

Goldi

Florida AP's are only good for Florida WDW. You would need to buy separate admission media for Disneyland and/or California Adventure.

 

[Mooobooks]

Do NOT use your points for the Grand Californian. It's a lovely hotel, but the amount of points they ask is absolutely obscene.
You will do much better to buy a single Premium Annual Pass for about $300, then get the annual passholder rate at the Grand Californian. I just stayed there for $199 a night at the AP rate, rather than $350 for the normal rate.
At $199 a night, you can compare that to how much your points would cost by comparison. It's rather frightening!

 

[Dean]

They previously gave tickets for DL when you used points but not anymore.

 

[poohj80]

I just stayed there for $199 a night at the AP rate, rather than $350 for the normal rate.

We will also be going in May for the 50th and so far there are no AP rates released yet. With the 50th kicking off, there is no guarantee there will be many discounts available. I say if you want to stay at the GC, make your reservations using points or cash (whatever fits your budget best) to make sure you have something. We only get to DL about once every 10 years so we are making sure we do it exactly like we want.

 

[disgirl]

We stayed at the GC last August for 4 nights, had a CA Park view. We used points and yes it does use many points, but we all feel it was well worth it. I know what Mooobooks means about the cost of it compared to AP rate, but I do wonder if with the 50th celebration if they will offer discounts anyway.

I say if you really want to stay there and would rather use your points then dish out extra cash to stay there, GO FOR IT! We did and we do not regret it at all. I think you will like the DD view. We enjoyed the pool and park view, expecially at night. Have a great time!!

 

[rmontgo892]

We used points for The Disneyland Hotel a few years back. No passes. As someone posted they used to be included. I kept an "eye" out and bought when they were having a special. I want to say $99 for and adult, less for kids with 5 days on them thru the Disneyland website??? The point structure was "cheaper" in the end of Aug??? so we went then. Loved it!

This past December we paid cash and stayed at the Grand Californian Concierge floor and had a view of California Adventure. We bought the passes thru DL website again.

The Downtown Disney views can be amazing. I don't think the pts are worth the view but that's just my opinion.

The GC is so close to California Adventure("private entrance") and Downtown Disney that no matter where your staying/view it's an easy walk. Compare it to WDW and hands down you'll feel like your walk is "nothing" for sure! Plus, the rooms are on the smaller side as compared say to Wilderness Lodge. So using points for a view is why for me...it wasn't worth it at all.

It's a beautiful Hotel, the closest to the parks and downtown disney so it has a lot going for it to use pts to stay there. I was just as happy at the Disneyland Hotel but will say relatively speaking that if you have a choice...who wouldn't want to stay there with a regular view or Downtown Disney view.

Have a magical trip!

 

[maddy]

Janner and I are also going in May. We have stayed on points in the past and are doing so again even though the points have gone up considerably. We thought about renting our points out to use the cash to pay for GC but decided we joined DVC to have carefree and cash free vacations. The tickets are not included and will go up soon, just in time for the celebration so we're bying those early. We go for the garden view, its quiet and we do not spend lots of time in the room. The parks are staying open late in May. Its so much less walking than WDW we tend to have longer days in DL. We will be there the 21-24. Kevin and Randall when will you be there ? We dedided to make a Saturday night stay to decrease the airfare and the points don't increase for the weekend like they do at a DVC resort.

Maddy

 

[poohj80]

The parks are staying open late in May. Its so much less walking than WDW we tend to have longer days in DL. We will be there the 21-24.

We'll be there 21-25.

When I checked the DL web site, I was surprised to see that the parks were not staying open later during the week. DCA closes at 6 PM and DL at 9 PM.

 

[winjos]

Since we live 20 miles from DL and had a baby in Feb. last year, we decided to use our points for a stay at the GC. We stayed 2 nights, concierge, DCA view. Here's our take: GREAT VIEW, GREAT CONCIERGE, GREAT SERVICE, o.k. rooms. When I called to confirm our reservation at GC, the cast member mentioned that the price per night for our rooms were in the $350 range. We used 108 points. So, not the best use of our points!! However, we have spoken to several people who have tried to book at the GC and they haven't been able to do so. I've tried on a couple of occasions, and no success.
Good luck!

 

[Mooobooks]

The only time I ever had a problem booking at the Grand Californian was when there was a convention--one time. Instead of staying at the Grand Californian for the then AP price of $169 a night, I stayed at The Disneyland Hotel for the AP price of $125 a night.
Do NOT use your points!

 

[Califgirl]

Oh, go ahead and use your points if you want to! We live less than an hour away from Disneyland, and we have used our points to stay at the GC several times. It gives us two unhurried days to relax and enjoy the parks. We have had all the views, and stayed concierge (which is a splurge, but so what, it's our points!) We usually only stay one night, but occassionally we'll stay two (like we will in May to celebrate DH's birthday, and of course the 50th!)

As to the views, well ... I've had spectacular theme park views and so - so themepark views (mainly the pool). I've had wonderful concierge rooms, and the one that looks out over the parking lot. I enjoy DD view, but truthfully now that I've experienced them all, I'm happy with a courtyard view. However, whenever possible I really like the concierge floor.

I'm bummed this year that there is no point differentiation from weekends to week days. I always try to stay on a Sunday night, or perhaps Sunday, Monday. Partly to 'save' points, but mainly because as a S.Calif. passholder, I'm blocked out on Saturdays anyway. Now I could stay at the GC Saturday for the same amount of points as any other night. Unfortunately my AP would need to be upgraded, or I would have to pay a fee to get into the park on Saturday. (Too busy most of the time for me anyway, but the option is there)
I guess the reason I brought that up is, since there is no difference on points between the weekends and weekdays, it seems to suggest there won't be much of a discount offered in any manner, or to anyone. Well maybe to AP's, but as of yet, I haven't seen any.

I guess my point is, if you want to go, GO! and enjoy it. The GC is a lovely hotel, and if you have the points and want to use them to stay there, do it.
Just because it isn't right for someone else doesn't mean it isn't right for you.

Enjoy life and great vacations!
Chris

 

[eva]

Thanks for all the advice. I have tried a number of places to get a good rate on this room with no luck. The going rate seems to be a bit over $400 with tax. I think that we will probably be using points. I know that we could probably rent the points and come out ahead. But it seems that rooms for this summer are really booking up fast. And I can't take the chance of making cash reservations and not being able to rent my points and get payment before our trip in August. I know that it means losing about $150 a night, but I think that we will just have to bite the bullet and use the points. We have plenty of points to spare this year, since we won't be able to make it to WDW this year. Yikes! I can't believe I am saying that!

 

[JimC]

We have stayed at GC twice, this September will be our third, but first on points. We have had theme park and DD views and enjoyed both. As I remember the balconies are smaller than the deluxe resorts at WDW. This year we are trying concierge level.

When we booked the room the best rate I could find on the internet was no different the the cost of using our points (my cost not the rental value). It came out to a 20% discount off of rack rate (about equal to the best internet rate I could get).

Theme parks are not included.

 

[stlrod]

My 2 cents. I do not believe GC is worth either the points or cash required. I've stayed at PP, DH and GC Concierge. I think PP provides the best value, then DH and then GC. It's nice but does not have the ambiance of the WL.

 

[Mooobooks]

Paradise Pier provides the best value only in that it is the least expensive of the three hotels on Disney property. But it's not much different than many of the FAR less expensive hotels in the immediate vicinity.

 

[Tanya]

Hey - just happen to see this thread and I see alot of people are saying that it's not worth the points to use for the GC. That is what I was always told... "use your points for DVC".... we actually did use our points for a cruise but that was because we had to cancel a previous reservation and didn't want to lose them.

Sorry - my question..? I was told by someone that you can also use points towards a "suite" as opposed to a basic hotel room..? Do any of the DL hotels have suites that you can use points?.... (probably not the best way to use them I guess...

Thanks!