Enable Me Disney friends... Should I stay at the Grand Californian?

[ZamboniNerd]

I'll echo some other thoughts, be careful when you decide to splurge at GCH, it is very addicting.
Love the hotel, great location, very expensive but who is surprised by that when dealing with Disney.
We loved it so much, a DVC purchase quickly followed.

 

[azdisneylover]

I am here to enable you!! We are back from a trip to Disneyland. We stayed at the GCH and went to the 9/25 MHP. We first were in a room put back in the bowels of the hotel that even with a map I couldn't find my way back to the room! (Hubby and kids like that for a bit! LOL). We requested and after 2 days, we were moved to a room with a daybed. My kids and I got sick while there, and the staff at the GCH were wonderful, especially housekeeping. There is a nurse on staff. If you can stay there, I say do it. You have a great entrance into Downtown Disney, close to the Jamba Juice (think smoothies with added zinc and anti oxidants to help with sore throats/sick kids), the private entrance to DCA, great beds, restaurants in the hotel, room service, the list goes on and on. Even though my kids are older (13 yr old triplets), every step makes a big difference at the end of the day, especially if they are not feeling 100%.
With younger ones, I would do it in a heartbeat. I enjoyed sitting on the balcony in the morning sipping hot tea while watching the monorail go by. It made my sore throat not as sore.

 

[tlovesdis]

For the money we paid (which was less than you are looking at) we were disappointed in our GCH stay. We were excited about the special entrance to California Adventure, but the lines were ridiculous. On the Monday morning it took 45 minutes to get into the park, leaving only 15 minutes of EMH left because they were SO SLOW processing people who were just starting their vacations. If I ever were to stay there again I would probably just go around to the front of the park.

Our next trip we're staying across the street. We just can't justify Disney prices when there are perfectly fine hotels that close. (And we are people who like the Disney "bubble" and always stay on-property at WDW.)

NEVER use that entrance for EE! We were there a few weeks ago and one morning we were doing EE and came out of the elevator (the one near Napa Rose so close to the entrance) and the line was, and I am not exagerating here, all the way to the lobby of the hotel, almost out the fancy stained glass door!!! We just walked out to DTD and to the front entrance and we got right in and were on RSR probably before some of those people even got half way through the line!!

 

[Bud Ice]

It's worth doing once or twice at least. More if your income supports it. Especially during Christmastime and the Holidays

 

[Astylla]

I'l enable you myself LOL.

We're AP holders and doing a split stay at PPH Theme Park Club Level 2 nights - GCH Woods/CY view 2 nights - then PPH Standard club level 3 nights.
I love making use of the EMH and going back early and easily , then closing the park.
I only agree it's worth it if you are comfortable spending that much , otherwise just taking breaks to enjoy the hotel ( walk around , take photos , dine in resaturants) are all great ideas too for the feel of it.

 

[mgd]

Nice hotel, well-maintained for its age, though plumbing/toilet/sinks showing age. Nice lobby and atmosphere, comfortable but small rooms. You can enjoy the lobby atmosphere even if you are not a guest.

Somewhat worth it <$300 per night mainly for proximity, definitely not worth it in $500/night range for standard rooms.
If you are rich, do whatever you want, but you can literally stay at least twice in an average nearby hotel for the price of one stay in GCH.