Finally staying at The Grand Californian

[BoomerThePirate]

What do i need to know? anything? i heard about the service stairs in the northeast corner of the hotel. thought that was a cool tip.

Anyone ever try the woods/courtyard view? thats what i have booked.

 

[rentayenta]

My tip would be to really take time to enjoy the hotel. There is an Art of the Craft tour that's free. Also a power walk through DCA in the morning. Visit the Hearthstone Lounge for an after parks cocktail. Spend some time in the lobby. Look at the details. Its our favorite Disney Resort including those at WDW.

 

[chrisaman]

I just really enjoy time spent in the lobby listening to the pianist and everything going on there. It is best around Christmas time but anytime is great. Nice and cool on a hot summer day. We did the movie once out on the patio and that was really nice. Have fun

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

What's the deal with the service stairs in the northeast corner of the hotel? We're heading to DL for the first time and staying at GC. Is that an insider tip I should know about?!?

 

[Fuhnuh]

What's the deal with the service stairs in the northeast corner of the hotel? We're heading to DL for the first time and staying at GC. Is that an insider tip I should know about?!?

I think the tip must be that in the NE corner there are stairs that go directly out to DTD, so you don't have to walk all the way through the hotel. We were in that area for two of our visits and used them as a short cut to the parks when leaving. It was locked from the outside, so you couldn't return that way. I don't know if it still is available. We tried to find it on our last visit and took the wrong door that lead us to a caged alley between DCA and the outdoor courtyard. We were trapped and could not get out any of the doors. It took three calls to the front desk and about 30 minutes to get "saved" by a nice CM. We stopped looking for the secret shortcut after that. This stairway was not the shortcut we were looking for.

 

[BoomerThePirate]

What's the deal with the service stairs in the northeast corner of the hotel? We're heading to DL for the first time and staying at GC. Is that an insider tip I should know about?!?

There is a set of stairs in the northeast corner that lets you out at la brea bakery near the bag check tents. one way door that locks from the inside so you cant get back in that way.

 

[Nonsuch]

There is a set of stairs in the northeast corner that lets you out at la brea bakery near the bag check tents. one way door that locks from the inside so you cant get back in that way.

Red Circle marks the entrance. Guest rooms are on floor 3-5 in that area of GCH.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

We've had a courtyard view a couple of times. I really liked it. Sitting out on the balcony was very peaceful in the evenings. If it's the courtyard that the Monorail runs through, that was fun as well.

 

[Drusilla99]

If your room is facing or near dtd, you will hear the music they play loud & clear until 2-3 in the morning.

 

[Jerryp49]

The emergency exit across from rooms X447 and X449 where X is the floor number 2 ,3, 4 ,or 5 lets you out close to the security tents. The ground floor door locks after closing so you can`t enter the GCH that way. You will love the Courtyard View rooms. Very peaceful and so cool to see the monorail go by. And yes, avoid rooms where you can hear DownTown Disney. One time they gave us a room that was near where two wings are open to DTD, a gap between the two wings, and the constant drum beating was irritating. The front desk said the music goes on until 10pm. We said that was unacceptible and they moved us to another room

 

[gardengirl2790]

We've booked the woods courtyard view twice. The first time we did had a view of the courtyard, quiet and we could watch the monorail. The second time was more of the "woods" view. We had a view, through the trees, of DCA & Grizzly River Run. It was also really peaceful too. We are booked again with that same view for our next trip.

You can contact vacation planning and give them your room requests and have them make dining reservations/priority seatings etc. for you too. This is true for any guest staying at a DLR hotel. We have done this, and at check-in, you will be provided with an itinerary of all of your dining reservations/priority seatings.
vacationplanning@disneyonline.com

One thing I would share is how comfortable the pool lounge chairs are at the GCH. They are just wonderful for taking a little rest on and enjoying the pool.

 

[txlibrarian]

We are booked at GCH for our first visit to DL after being regular visitors to WDW for many years. Does anyone have a room request they would recommend?

 

[ludari]

Congrats. I have stayed at GCV (I'm DVC so I stay in the villas) and I love it. I would definitely request a DCA park view unless you are spending so much time in the parks or trying to save a little $ that the view is not important.