Grand Cali issue fixed, but advice still desired!!!

[Celebgrrl]

I am planning a vacation to Disneyland on the 6,7, and 8th of October. Since it's my 30th birthday, and since it's the first time that our family will be together since the death of my father (about two years about during the same time period), we wanted to make it special, and stay in the Grand Californian.

However, the resort is "all sold out" for that time period. That can't be!!! It's crazy!!

Can ANYONE PLEASE HELP?!?!?!?! I'm going all panicky, and trying to pick up cancellations, and the Disney cast members are just saying the same old same old lines - "try to get cancellations, but don't bet on it."

I just want this to be special, and it's turning out so not special. HELP!!!!!!! (Any why, dear lord, it the hotel booked that week? Something is going on!)

 

[AFMom]

Could be Fall break for some of the schools there?.... My suggestion is to start looking at some of the other wonderful hotels in the area now so that you can start looking forward to your trip. DLH may be a little older - but most people who stay there still really enjoy it - and the pool is wonderful! There are many VERY nice hotels right near the parks - maybe you'll be able to get excited once you start looking..... Hey - the 14 of us stayed at the Super 8 and had a wonderful family reunion! The hotel was secondary - being together and getting to share Disney with our families was the important thing.
So sorry to hear your plans aren't working out - I do wonder why that would be so booked - but it is already the end of July, so you're only looking at about 2 months from now - a lot of people book pretty far out to stay at the GC. Good luck and try to look forward to the trip no matter where you stay!

 

[Michelle2]

A cast member told me once that October is considered the month of Conventions... that could be part of it? October used to be our month to go to DL, but I have noticed every year, it seemed to get a little more crowded every time. I think with the 50th celebration going on, that even compounds all these things more.

Try splitting up your reservations. I notice that it is easier to get Sunday through Thursday, and Friday and Saturdays are more filled up. At least a partial stay may be better than none? DL is a great hotel too, and we were going to do that when we thought we had to break our trip up between the 2. I was actually excited, but then our travel agent found us 2 more days at the GC. Always keep trying for cancellations on whatever days you were not able to get. I am sure things open up, but you have to stay on the ball to catch them. I am expecting the GC to be busy no matter when we go to DL with the big celebration and it being such an awesome hotel! Good luck!

 

[Celebgrrl]

OH -- Breaking news!!!!

My mother just got reservations for the dates we wanted at the Disneyland Hotel!!!

Wow, mom's are magical, aren't they?! YAY!!! Not the GC, but definately magical!!!! Now, for the Blue Bayou reservation ...

Anything else I shouldn't miss while I am there? Any strategy advice?

Thanks!!!

(Still can't believe that the GC didn't know I was coming, and that it was my birthday! )

 

[mwehttam]

Since you are staying on site, you can call Disney Vacation Department. They will be able to help with all your PS and the have great luck getting Fantasmic Balcony tickets if you need them. I used them for this and they got my #1 choice of both date and time.

-Matthew

 

[webray]

OH -- Breaking news!!!!

My mother just got reservations for the dates we wanted at the Disneyland Hotel!!!

Wow, mom's are magical, aren't they?! YAY!!! Not the GC, but definately magical!!!! Now, for the Blue Bayou reservation ...

Anything else I shouldn't miss while I am there? Any strategy advice?

Thanks!!!

(Still can't believe that the GC didn't know I was coming, and that it was my birthday! )

While we were just visiting DL, staying at GC, we had the opportunity to spend some time over at DL hotel. It is excellent, and we would have almost preferred staying there. We didn't get to see a room of course, but the restaurant options are better, the shops and bars are better than GC as well. The pool is excellent also. Pool area at GC was nice..but a bit dirty around the cement areas.

 

[dcfromva]

I just want this to be special, and it's turning out so not special. HELP!!!!!!! (Any why, dear lord, it the hotel booked that week? Something is going on!)

Celebgrrl,
Isn't that the start the Columbus Day three day weekend?

I would check and see if all 3 nights are sold out or if it is just the weekend nights. What I generally do is break up my reservation into smaller increments and link them together. You could keep checking back to see if there are cancellation. Sometimes, there are cancelations closer to the time of arrival, too.

Good luck to you.

-DC

 

[CAD3655]

You know I had just the same experience yesterday when making my reservations. I called first thing in the AM, nothing at all for either the 25th-29th of September or the 2nd-5th of October....called back 30 minutes later and spoke with someone else and I had my CHOICE of dates (both were suddenly available) and CHOICE of where I wanted to stay(GC, PP or DLR), and CHOICE of room view?!?!? I suggest keep calling and try to speak with someone else...

I'll be at the GC on the 25th-29th