Grand Cal, seriously $800 .....

[wildekatza]

So, now that I am thinking this through even more, am I not really not getting much extra for staying "on property" now, during the "phased reopening" to warrant paying this much extra to stay on property? I mean, I don't get any early magic hours that I did get before, I don't know about the back door to get in to DCA that I got at GCH before. I don't know if they still offer that back entrance and now you are saying no room cleaning, etc.? Well, phooey. That makes that extra money sting even worse. When we stayed at WDW Yacht Club in September last year, we had room cleaning if we asked. No bell hop, but I have never stayed there so don't know if that was a normal thing or not. We normally stayed at the Dolphin. The pool was a wreck, full of leaves and algae and dirty bottom and the hot tub, we won't even go there with what was going on in the hot tub. I wrote it all off as just getting back in the swing of things. The staff were all willing to ride in the elevators with us which was no big deal to us either way and def not considered a perk of staying on property to me. LOL! But what else am I missing out on that I normally would get staying on property? I know the soaps and toiletries at Yacht club were not Disney either. I assumed they couldn't get them from the usual manufacturer. They were some no name brand bar of soap, good, but about on par with staying at a Sheraton or something. Nothing that I wanted to use over my home stuff I use on a daily basis. I was just glad to be back at Disney at that point so didn't really mind the missing extras but I also wasn't paying the crazy amount there at WDW that I am here.

 

[wildekatza]

^^^THIS^^^ for us. Who amongst us hasn't missed, completely, celebrations this past 18-months? Some of them milestones - like a 60th birthday, 20th anniversary (that's just us). We've been to DL before, and we'll go again, on the "cheap" but for this one time, for us, it is well worth paying it to realize a long-held dream of getting off the Grizzly Run, drenched, and simply opening a gate and walking into our hotel. Probably seems insane to many but, well, it's my dream and I'm going to make it come true - full-on Disney style - in November!

I prefer to stay as close as possible because of yeah, theming, but also I have a nerve issue with my leg that causes issues if I do too much walking. DL has become my park over DW due to this main issue, really and the volume of people at WDW now is just ridiculous no matter when we go. I can stay close to the parks and not have to walk for 10-20 minutes from the door of my room to get to the front of the hotel to either catch a boat or a bus to the parks! Then the walk from the bus lines to the gate of the parks is another 10 minutes. People are cringing thinking that is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but when you have sciatica and that nerve flares and you are at the back of a park and it is only 2 pm, you really start counting those precious steps. We have stayed at the Sheraton down the road from DL for a few times, but I would be dying and hobbling back to the room by the end of the day with my poor husband offering to pay for a cab for the last 2 blocks! LOL! I don't think after this trip though we will be staying at the GCH again. The cost/night has gotten out of control for me. I think those of us staying there now are paying for the rooms that have to be made unavailable due to social distancing, etc.

 

[lily_belle]

It is 100% worth it to me. When I travel with my mom, she has mobility issues so being that close to the parks is priceless. When I travel with my friend, being inside the Disney bubble and the safety that gives us is priceless. I may end up doing a solo trip for the first time in December and I will stick with the grand for that same reason. It isn’t necessarily about the hotel itself or the rooms, it’s the proximity to the parks and DTD that makes it “worth” it to me.

I am blessed to be able to afford this but it hasn’t always been like that. So I appreciate every second of those trips.

 

[DLgal]

I just wanted to also mention this. I hear people ALL the time say things like "Disney Deluxe rooms are no better than a Hilton or Marriott." I couldn't agree less with this. I just stayed at a (pretty nice) Hilton and paid around $300/night plus $35 for parking and it was not NEARLY as nice as my room at the GCH, nor was the hotel even REMOTELY on the same level, where amenities are concerned. I think people make these comments to make themselves feel better, but the fact is, there IS something special about the GCH and it does justify the inflated price over most of the competition offsite.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I guess the main issue I have with threads like this is that the tone often comes across as scornful of those who DO choose something considered extravagant, like GCH, and can make people feel defensive.

That definitely wasn't my intention with this thread. I was just very shocked the price of a standard room went up THAT much. I personally LOVE the Grand Californian, but haven't stayed there since 2010.
It doesn't help that my DH is a penny pincher. True story: In 2017, we went on a trip to Victoria, Canada for three days. We were going to leave our car at the ferry station at Port Angeles,but instead he moved it to a lot a few blocks away to save SIX dollars. Not $6 a day, $6 TOTAL!!! Believe me, I'd love more than anything to stay at the Grand Cal next summer. But for the price of a 5 day trip there, it would be cheaper to go to WDW. But at the same time, I know there's people that have no problem with that price and that's great. I just hope not too many people are willing to pay it, then maybe Disney will lower the price.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Some people DO pay it. There are plenty of people on the DIS who do. The whole site isn't a budget minded forum.

That was what I was alluding to in the analogy, moreso the discussion that followed, not specifically the OP's thread title.

 

[PirateBrigade]

True story: In 2017, we went on a trip to Victoria, Canada for three days. We were going to leave our car at the ferry station at Port Angeles,but instead he moved it to a lot a few blocks away to save SIX dollars. Not $6 a day, $6 TOTAL!!! Believe me, I'd love more than anything to stay at the Grand Cal next summer. But for the price of a 5 day trip there, it would be cheaper to go to WDW. But at the same time, I know there's people that have no problem with that price and that's great. I just hope not too many people are willing to pay it, then maybe Disney will lower the price.

Oof, that grinds my gears. I hate when people do not value their time. To be sure, it was a big mental shift for me going from being a broke college student with lots of free time.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hustle -- I did plenty of cheap moves growing up, but I was like 19!

 

[PirateBrigade]

I really should use multi-quote, but anyway.

I love staying at GCH/VGC -- I absolutely do not care about specific amenities that are often mentioned here that are part of a "luxury" hotel stay. I decline housekeeping everywhere, I really don't care if the towels scrape the top layer of skin off my bum, I can live with sandpaper-style toilet paper, and I really don't care about the square footage of the room as long as I have room for luggage (we pack light).

I stay here because the distance makes it easier to nap midday, which keeps us from having meltdown central at 7pm at night after 10-11hrs in the park. I don't want to walk across Harbor, I don't want to take a shuttle, I want a nice, pleasant stroll past WOD and a churro stand, then have the latter half of my walk be shaded under the awnings and in the hallways of GCH. I want a security line that is covered from end-to-end (not just the metal detector/tables part). I want to be able to buy ice cream at Salt & Straw and casually eat it off of a cone without having it melt as I walk.

So that's why I like it. I asked my daughter, and she said she likes the man playing the piano in the lobby.

I compromise other areas of life -- I drive a 7 year old car (not a Tesla, lol), I don't drink/smoke/gamble, we cook at home 95% of the time because we like our own food better than restaurants, and I bought like 10 of the same Hanes t-shirts and I wear that with Costco jeans 100% of the time I'm not in scrubs. To be fair, DW and I both make a decent salary, and our cost-basis is much lower than $800/night (90% of our stays are on DVC points, the other 10% we'll pay cash a few nights out of the year), we consider ourselves lucky.

So faced with $1k/night, I'll spend without remorse, because my 7 year old will be 15 in no time and might not want to hang around with dad & ride Alice in Wonderland anymore. Life's too uncertain to save money.

 

[DLgal]

I really should use multi-quote, but anyway.

I love staying at GCH/VGC -- I absolutely do not care about specific amenities that are often mentioned here that are part of a "luxury" hotel stay. I decline housekeeping everywhere, I really don't care if the towels scrape the top layer of skin off my bum, I can live with sandpaper-style toilet paper, and I really don't care about the square footage of the room as long as I have room for luggage (we pack light).

I stay here because the distance makes it easier to nap midday, which keeps us from having meltdown central at 7pm at night after 10-11hrs in the park. I don't want to walk across Harbor, I don't want to take a shuttle, I want a nice, pleasant stroll past WOD and a churro stand, then have the latter half of my walk be shaded under the awnings and in the hallways of GCH. I want a security line that is covered from end-to-end (not just the metal detector/tables part). I want to be able to buy ice cream at Salt & Straw and casually eat it off of a cone without having it melt as I walk.

So that's why I like it. I asked my daughter, and she said she likes the man playing the piano in the lobby.

I compromise other areas of life -- I drive a 7 year old car (not a Tesla, lol), I don't drink/smoke/gamble, we cook at home 95% of the time because we like our own food better than restaurants, and I bought like 10 of the same Hanes t-shirts and I wear that with Costco jeans 100% of the time I'm not in scrubs. To be fair, DW and I both make a decent salary, and our cost-basis is much lower than $800/night (90% of our stays are on DVC points, the other 10% we'll pay cash a few nights out of the year), we consider ourselves lucky.

So faced with $1k/night, I'll spend without remorse, because my 7 year old will be 15 in no time and might not want to hang around with dad & ride Alice in Wonderland anymore. Life's too uncertain to save money.

Bang on! All of this is what makes this hotel "worth it."

My husband is a combat Marine. He has been in some VERY bad/uncomfortable situations over the last 22 years. His motto is "money is no object where comfort and convenience are concerned." I can't argue with that. He likes the Grand and doesn't care how much it costs. As he says, "the eagle poops twice a month no matter what." There is always going to be more money coming in. Life is short, though, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

 

[AquaDame]

Oof, that grinds my gears. I hate when people do not value their time. To be sure, it was a big mental shift for me going from being a broke college student with lots of free time.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hustle -- I did plenty of cheap moves growing up, but I was like 19!

Agreed. Some people hit this point sooner than others (I am ready to just pay extra since we can afford it, my husband still tries to cheap out now and again to disastrous effect) and some never get there (my parents really should have chosen a closer hotel than PP - my Mom REALLY struggled with the walk back in July and it was awful).

Long and short of it is, the people who do are the ones who will choose to afford it, or need it badly enough that it is worth the "waste" of paying it. We've stayed there twice and I want to again next time we go if we can swing it. Not at $800 a night (still young and healthy enough that a longer walk isn't a concern) but I'd happily rent points and splurge since we don't get down there a ton. The lobby is a draw for me - I enjoy the music, the people watching, the fireplace. PP doesnt have anywhere to hang out besides the basic pool, and DLH's outside areas are of course great but I like taking a break inside in the heat of summer.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

So faced with $1k/night, I'll spend without remorse, because my 7 year old will be 15 in no time and might not want to hang around with dad & ride Alice in Wonderland anymore.

Yup. We save responsibility and donate generously, but I will spend money for memories. These moments are fleeting.

Which is why we stayed at the Grand on April 29, two days after my daughter turned 8, even though we live 10 minutes away. That allowed us to be literally first at the turnstiles when Disneyland reopened - watching her walk in and jump up and down is a memory and video that I will treasure forever. Plus, we had a wonderful time at the pool, enjoying our balcony overlooking DD in the evening, and generally feeling spoiled. It felt so special to be there as a family following so much time at home. I regret nothing.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I really should use multi-quote, but anyway.

I love staying at GCH/VGC -- I absolutely do not care about specific amenities that are often mentioned here that are part of a "luxury" hotel stay. I decline housekeeping everywhere, I really don't care if the towels scrape the top layer of skin off my bum, I can live with sandpaper-style toilet paper, and I really don't care about the square footage of the room as long as I have room for luggage (we pack light).

I stay here because the distance makes it easier to nap midday, which keeps us from having meltdown central at 7pm at night after 10-11hrs in the park. I don't want to walk across Harbor, I don't want to take a shuttle, I want a nice, pleasant stroll past WOD and a churro stand, then have the latter half of my walk be shaded under the awnings and in the hallways of GCH. I want a security line that is covered from end-to-end (not just the metal detector/tables part). I want to be able to buy ice cream at Salt & Straw and casually eat it off of a cone without having it melt as I walk.

So that's why I like it. I asked my daughter, and she said she likes the man playing the piano in the lobby.

I compromise other areas of life -- I drive a 7 year old car (not a Tesla, lol), I don't drink/smoke/gamble, we cook at home 95% of the time because we like our own food better than restaurants, and I bought like 10 of the same Hanes t-shirts and I wear that with Costco jeans 100% of the time I'm not in scrubs. To be fair, DW and I both make a decent salary, and our cost-basis is much lower than $800/night (90% of our stays are on DVC points, the other 10% we'll pay cash a few nights out of the year), we consider ourselves lucky.

So faced with $1k/night, I'll spend without remorse, because my 7 year old will be 15 in no time and might not want to hang around with dad & ride Alice in Wonderland anymore. Life's too uncertain to save money.

Now this I agree with WHOLEHEARTEDLY. We all value things differently, and I try not to judge those that are willing to spend their money their own way. There's definitely wisdom is both saving money when you can, and spending it when you should. I so wish I could drive a Tesla, but I'm happy with my Honda, and using that money for Disney trips!

 

[Aladora]

Oof, that grinds my gears. I hate when people do not value their time. To be sure, it was a big mental shift for me going from being a broke college student with lots of free time.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hustle -- I did plenty of cheap moves growing up, but I was like 19!

I remember reading somewhere that some people spend time to save money and other spend money to save time.

It really stuck with me.

For us, we stay at the Grand now whenever we can and rent DVC points if possible. Don't get me wrong, we have stayed at the motels on Harbor many times but we are at a place in our lives now where we can spend more to get the experience we want. Although, yikes, $800/night for the Grand would not be something I would spend, especially when you convert that to Cad$, that would be over $1k/night!

 

[AquaDame]

Not to get too far off topic but the average cost of a new car in 2021 is 40K... guess what a base model 3 or Y starts at...

I commute 30-45 min each way to work, most of it on "autopilot", and never having to go to a gas station is heaven... I'd pick my model 3 over expensive hotels any day but in the end its the same, I spend more for convenience and comfort.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

Not to get too far off topic but the average cost of a new car in 2021 is 40K... guess what a base model 3 or Y starts at...

I commute 30-45 min each way to work, most of it on "autopilot", and never having to go to a gas station is heaven... I'd pick my model 3 over expensive hotels any day but in the end its the same, I spend more for convenience and comfort.

One nice thing about living in Hawaii is that it's small and I put in gas usually once every two weeks. I would love to have a model 3 but I don't have a closed garage and I don't want my nice car to attract burglars. haha. But yeah, you ain't lying about the average cost of a new car. Like GCH, everything else is just more expensive.

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I remember reading somewhere that some people spend time to save money and other spend money to save time.

Great quote! Time is the one true equalizer.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Not to get too far off topic but the average cost of a new car in 2021 is 40K... guess what a base model 3 or Y starts at...

I commute 30-45 min each way to work, most of it on "autopilot", and never having to go to a gas station is heaven... I'd pick my model 3 over expensive hotels any day but in the end its the same, I spend more for convenience and comfort.

Yeah, I have a 5 minute commute -- I can drive a tractor to work and still be okay
But yes, we are at that point where electric vehicles (like the VW ID4) are cost competitive with their gas counterparts, and the charging stations in CA are fairly plentiful. I'll probably buy one once the engine falls off of my current car, which probably has another 150-200k miles left in it!

 

[PirateBrigade]

my husband still tries to cheap out now and again to disastrous effect) and some never get there

My all star cheap moment is detailed below:

I lived near SNA in college, and I had a ~7am flight out to the east coast for an interview & time with family. I didn't want to pay the ~$15 for taxi (this was pre-Uber/Lyft) nor bother my friends that early, so I DROVE to the Bank of America across the street and ditched my luggage under a tree by the bank.

I then DROVE home, parked, and then WALKED to the airport at like 4am. I plucked my luggage from under the tree, and then crossed the street to SNA.

Total time doing this = about 30 minutes (10 mins driving back and forth, 20 mins to walk). Underappreciated risks: risk of getting hit by a car at 4am, risk of luggage being doused with IRWD grey water from the sprinklers, risk of luggage getting stolen.

$15 saved.

 

[jandegumas]

My family of 4 stays at GCH, doesn’t use the pool, spends open to close in the parks (very little room time), etc. We love staying there though and we can afford it so why not? I don’t see why people get angry how other people spend their money. Besides, for my family it is all about the memories. We have been going annually (minus a couple years we couldn’t get the time to go) since our oldest was turning 1. He is now turning 16. Time goes so fast and these memories are cherished.

 

[Disneyland1084]

My family of 4 stays at GCH, doesn’t use the pool, spends open to close in the parks (very little room time), etc. We love staying there though and we can afford it so why not? I don’t see why people get angry how other people spend their money.

For the record, no one on this thread said they're angry how others spend their money.