Extra $560 for 5 nights at GC - Worth it?

[f15robyn]

Hi Folks,

So we're happily booked for 5 nights at the Park Vue Inn (2 adults only). King size bed, jacuzzi in the room.

We won't stay anywhere without a king size bed. And since my legs usually ache by the end of a day at the park, I was looking foward to my own jacuzzi.

But now with the 5 for 3 deal, and an extra $560 over what I'd be paying in total for Park Vue plus tickets, I can get a std view room at the Grand Californian.

This will be our first trip to Disneyland. And since we're in Vermont, we're not likely to be back anytime soon.

Thoughts? Stay with Park Vue, enjoy the jacuzzi and use the $560 for other stuff? Or take the chance to stay at GC?

Help!!

Thanks in advance.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I would say, the $560 IS worth it to upgrade to GCH. My 2 sisters refuse to stay in any other hotel, not even the disneyland hotel. They were spoiled by GCH, and refuse to look at any other hotel. Since you're coming from so far and it seems doubtful you'll be coming back in a year or 2, I'd splurge and stay at GCH. However, if getting a king size bed is the deal breaker for you, know that GCH does not guarantee bedding arrangements.

We've been lucky. We've stayed at GCH twice, requested the bunkbed rooms and have gotten them each time. Others in my family have not been so lucky. My mother in law requested 2 queens since mother in law, grandmother in law and sister in law were all sharing a room and they got a bunkbed room. My mil is in her 50s, gil in her 80s and sil in her 20s. They were not happy at all. My brother in law prefers king sized beds too. He requested a king bed and ended up getting 2 queens. He forked over the money and ended up upgrading to a 1 bedroom suite since that was the only way her could get a king size bed.

 

[ACDSNY]

Grand CA is my favorite too so I'd go for it!

 

[audrabolster]

Being that you are from so far away, I would go for it! It's such a nice hotel!

 

[Dopey's MIL]

Out of my 100+ trips to Disneyland, I've stayed there once...February 2001. It was brand new.

While we enjoyed it very very much, we didn't really spend that much time at the hotel. We ate at the restaurants, both excellent and we had an evening on the patio enjoying the outside fireplace and rocking chairs (which anyone can do).

If I had an unlimited supply of money to spend to each time I took daycare children to Disneyland I'd for sure stay there...but I always think about how much I can spend elsewhere on the kids.

If you stay there, you'll love it! If you decide to stay off property, you can still visit and enjoy it.

 

[Mugglemama]

imho, it sounds like a lot of extra money when GCH isn't even willing to guarantee bedding arrangements. (what a weird thing to not guarantee?)

 

[marsrunner]

imho, it sounds like a lot of extra money when GCH isn't even willing to guarantee bedding arrangements. (what a weird thing to not guarantee?)

I may be wrong, but I don't believe any Disney hotel in either DLR or WDW guarrantees bedding arrangements. I know the Disneyland Hotel didn't in February and March of this year, though I got lucky both times and got what I wanted.

It may be weird, but it is common Disney hotel practice.

 

[Mugglemama]

I may be wrong, but I don't believe any Disney hotel in either DLR or WDW guarrantees bedding arrangements. I know the Disneyland Hotel didn't in February and March of this year, though I got lucky both times and got what I wanted.

It may be weird, but it is common Disney hotel practice.

good to know! i wouldn't be so annoyed by that practice if i didn't have 4 children that make getting reliable bedding arrangements a must.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I've never had an issue getting the bedding combination I needed. Good to know that others have.

I did want to point out that the standard rooms are larger and almost always right off the lobby. This makes them extremely convenient and wonderfully acoustic at night, when you can hear the piano player in the lobby, if you crack your door.

 

[f15robyn]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I had no idea that if I requested a king size bed I wasn't guaranteed a king size bed.

I can only speak for 1 resort at WDW, but at POR, if you book a king, you get a king. But, you also pay more for that room (as you would for water view as well)

Hmmm... I'll have to think about that one.

 

[bethy]

As far as I know there aren't very many King Sized beds at the GCH . . . My DH and I once stayed just the 2 of us in a room and we ended up each taking a queen so we could get the space we needed. Most nicer hotels I've stayed at haven't been able to guarantee bedding.

That said, it was WELL worth it to us. There is a Huge, Huge difference between GCH and Park Vue in terms of quality, feel, atmosphere and Disney magic. Like at least 3 stars' difference. The Park Vue and most of the Harbor BLVD hotels are very old and just really, really basic and utilitarian - jacuzzi or not. We stayed at the Desert Inn once which is right next door to te Park Vue and the "Jacuzzi" was a large bathtub/shower combo that was kind of icky looking. We didn't end up using it . . . I have not stayed at the Park Vue though.

You can't beat the location of the Harbor hotels - location wise they are the same distance as the GCH or DLH. They would work great for a standard trip or if you were limited to them budgetwise. If I were taking a very special trip and could afford it though the GCH is well worth it. Especially if you like to lounge by a pool like we do - plus there is a nice jacuzzi there where they will bring you food and drinks. It is a true resort hotel - with it's "grounds" being DTD and California Adventure. BUT if you are the type who is never in the room and are in the park from opening till close then it would be less worth it. We are the lounging types for whom the Parks are only a part of our entertainment.

Five nights is actually a good long time for a stay at DLR. For me, if I were in a not-so-great hotel for 5 long nights I would get frustrated. BTDT. For that length of time you would have the time and leisure to enjoy the GCH's amenities.

 

[nunzia]

It's worth it to me.. I love that place and just can't stay anywhere else now. I'd just call and try and stress the King bed importance. We have gotten both types of rooms..I do know that the check in folks are very happy to help you get what you want.. Worth a try and I think you will love the hotel if you give it a shot.

 

[toni1227]

Book the GCH!!! I loved it! You will wish you were staying there if you don't and you see it at DTD. I hightly recommend especially since you will not be back anytime soon. It is great and you never leave Disney the entire time. When you call to book be sure to tell them you want a king bed and they will enter it in the requests for you. You should not have a problem and the beds are really comfortable. Also, they have a hot tub down by the pool you can use.

 

[cccdisney]

As far as I know there aren't very many King Sized beds at the GCH . . . My DH and I once stayed just the 2 of us in a room and we ended up each taking a queen so we could get the space we needed. Most nicer hotels I've stayed at haven't been able to guarantee bedding.

That said, it was WELL worth it to us. There is a Huge, Huge difference between GCH and Park Vue in terms of quality, feel, atmosphere and Disney magic. Like at least 3 stars' difference. The Park Vue and most of the Harbor BLVD hotels are very old and just really, really basic and utilitarian - jacuzzi or not. We stayed at the Desert Inn once which is right next door to te Park Vue and the "Jacuzzi" was a large bathtub/shower combo that was kind of icky looking. We didn't end up using it . . . I have not stayed at the Park Vue though.

You can't beat the location of the Harbor hotels - location wise they are the same distance as the GCH or DLH. They would work great for a standard trip or if you were limited to them budgetwise. If I were taking a very special trip and could afford it though the GCH is well worth it. Especially if you like to lounge by a pool like we do - plus there is a nice jacuzzi there where they will bring you food and drinks. It is a true resort hotel - with it's "grounds" being DTD and California Adventure. BUT if you are the type who is never in the room and are in the park from opening till close then it would be less worth it. We are the lounging types for whom the Parks are only a part of our entertainment.

Five nights is actually a good long time for a stay at DLR. For me, if I were in a not-so-great hotel for 5 long nights I would get frustrated. BTDT. For that length of time you would have the time and leisure to enjoy the GCH's amenities.

I agree with bethy!
I would also suggest, as far as getting a King size bed, that you might want to check-in (or pre-check) as early in the day as possible.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I love GCH and hate to stay anywhere else. It is a beautiful amazing hotel. I would upgrade if I had the funds. Also I have never had issues getting the room arrangements I want.

As for the adults who got bunkbeds I find that strange...they tried that when we checked in once and we were informed by the hotel that unlike wdw the bunkbeds here were meant only for children so they moved us. Weird.

 

[DizMe]

I read once that most of the king rooms go to those who request handicap-accessible. Since the number of king rooms is limited and those rooms have the most space for maneuvering, that makes sense.

I would ABSOLUTELY upgrade!! It is well worth it to me.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

As for the adults who got bunkbeds I find that strange...they tried that when we checked in once and we were informed by the hotel that unlike wdw the bunkbeds here were meant only for children so they moved us. Weird.

I was the pp who posted that my in laws got a bunkbed room. We thought it was strange and my grandmother-in-law was none too happy about it. She voiced her opinion rather strongly, and but the cm couldn't help much. They were booked solid (we went in the summer). I don't know if it made a difference that we booked a downtown disney view but that's what they were given. Mother in law slept on the bottom bunk, she's 5'10", sister in law slept in the trundle (she's 5'8") and grandmother in law slept on the queen (5'3"). By the way, that was their 1st stay there and I don't think they'll be going back to GCH after that experience. They've always been a DLH family and prefer it over GCH.

 

[blue donkey]

If it's not going to hurt you financially, definitely stay at gch.

I love staying there b/c it's so close to dca. My dh can just go upstairs earlier than me while I grab some quick fps before going up to join him for our midday rest.

The pool lounges there are fab & you can usually find some time in the hot tub w/o kiddies spashing everywhere. (Not that I don't love the kiddies, it's just the splashing in my face I can do w/o )

DH & I always request a king bed, & have only ended up with 2Qs once. They moved us the next day to a K room & gave me complimentary valet for the trouble. Great CM, that Kevin!

Plus you'll get to get MM by staying there. Ever since I got my dh to go one time, he never misses an MM.

But whatever you choose, you'll have a great time. It's DL afterall & you've planned lots of time to enjoy it.