Grand Califorian overated??????

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the reviews! I love the DLH, but have always dreamed of staying at the Grand Californian. I love Craftsman architecture... it would definitely have to be a trip for me and DH. We live locally so rarely stay at the hotels... and when I do it's typically not during low...

I am back! When my friends and I do go, one of them lives in Anaheim, two minutes from the parks - right down the street, actually. She hears the fireworks from her house every night. But she stays in the hotels - whichever one that may be - when we go because it makes it seem like more of a vacation to her, and she said that every time she goes to the parks it feels liek the first time all over.

To echo what (I think) Lisa said earlier (I hope I am recalling to correct poster!), I have another friend who prefers the DLH too. We have stayed in all three of the resort hotels, because, like another poster said (I forgot who - I am sorry; I am rushing because I have to get to work!), it adds to the experience. Enhances it. When you are on a budget but need a dose of Disney magic, the Paradise Pier will do just fine. And for elegance and ambience, it is the GCH. But as Lisa said, the DLH has something special about it, and this friend of mine who prefers it never wants to stay in the other two hotels! Actually, I like them all. For some reason, during summer, I would rather stay in the DLH - love the waterfall and the koi fish there. In fall, we stayed at PPH. In winter, like this coming December, I will be sitting in that cozy GCH lobby, by the tree, listening to the carolers and people watching! The lobby is great for people watching! Gotta run to work. Will have to read the rest of the posts later today!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I did not like the GCH. Yes it is overpriced - most Disney "Deleux" hotels are (compared to the amenities you get at a non disney deleux), but I also think it is overrated. DD and I have stayed at all three hotels and will never go back to stay at the GCH. Our room was disgusting. Despite my repeated efforts I could not get it cleaned. The tub was so gross that I would not let dd take a bath in it. I had also paid for a better view and got to look a roof top! After much discussion I was able to get the price reduced to what I would have paid if I had requested to look at a roof top. I have had better service from the value hotels in WDW.

 

[mlggator]

I have stayed at the GC once and I LOVED IT! The only thing I didn't like was the extremely slow service for food/drinks at the pool. I loved the convience of it. Having entrances into the CA and DTD. We had a great view of the pool with CA in the background. I have stayed at DLH too, and I didn't think the room size between the two was very different. I also liked the pool atmosphere at GC better. Not as much of a Disney theme, but it was less crowded and I liked that.
If I can afford it GC is definitely my top choice. Otherwise it is DLH, then off-site.
Also, when we check in we drive up, drop the luggage off with the bell hop, I go to check in and DH drives across the street with kids and they walk back together. By the time they arrive back at the hotel, I am checked in and we hit the pool or parks.

Michele

 

[doombuggy]

I am staying there 2/23-27. I am using DVC points, or i would be staying somewhere else. I am looking forward to it, as i loved staying at the VWL last october.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Any good places to look for the "good deal" you were talking about??

We actually booked the Gay Days rate last October. It's the best we've seen. For next October their rate is $229 a night for the GCH. I believe it was $209 when we went last Oct. A great rate for that place!

 

[Sherry E]

[QUOTE Also, when we check in we drive up, drop the luggage off with the bell hop, I go to check in and DH drives across the street with kids and they walk back together. By the time they arrive back at the hotel, I am checked in and we hit the pool or parks[/QUOTE]

Yeah, there is no way the people I go to the parks with want to drive into the GCH lot, which is narrow and sometimes congested with cars, drop me off with bags, drive across the street and then walk back, then when we check out, we either have to schlep our bags across the street or my friends have to walk across the street, find the car, drive back into the congested GCH lot in front of the hotel and get me & the bags. I have been there twice, with two different groups of people and nobody wanted to do that. But it is great if you are with people who don't mind doing that, and you can save yourself the money of valet parking. I only brought that up in my initial post earlier because guests should know before they get there that THAT is the parking layout for the GCH and know their options before blindly driving onto the GCH lot and thinking they can park there for free.

In any case, I love it there too. If I had experiences like what was mentioned here earlier - with a dirty tub and a room that hadn't been cleaned - I might not love it! Actually, Disney works so hard to keep everything on their property in pristine, immaculate condition, so that almost seems like a maid who wasn't doing her job! I can understand if you get there at noon, the room might not be ready, but if you get there at 3 or 4, there is no excuse except for the maid just skipped the room. And for me, it would not be sufficient to just have the maid come in later, once we are ready to settle in for a bit, and we have to leave again to let her clean when we might have planned to rest in the room for a while! That would not be enough compensation for me. In fact, that is an inconvenience, and I am quite shocked that the poster who told us of this experience was not offered an extra night's stay for free or something comparable. Simply telling the guest that they will send the maid right up to clean is not enough for me! I would want a freebie if the room was as dirty as previously stated, but fortunately I have not had that experience in any of the three resort hotels there.

 

[nunzia]

I love the GCH. I'm such a Disney freak I'd probably love the DLH, but the location is the winning point for GC for me. I stayed in the DLH a long time ago, like the 60's, and I do remember the towers, which I don't really like. I like less high hotels, and the GC is great for that. I don't find the rooms small at all, or dark. I love the balconies and haven't had a bad view (we'll see what I get in May when we go and I didn't spring for a view). One time we saw GRR for our view and it was fantastic, watching people and seeing the park gear up for the day. Last time we had DD view and it was just fine, lovely lights and mood. The location cannot be beat by any resort. Amazing access to DCA and super close to DL.
That said: our last trip we got NO housekeeping the last two days..I don't know why and I don't know why I didn't call the front office to complain. This after I left a nice tip the previous night. I hope this doesn't happen again.
Napa Rose: IMO I thought it was awful. So many loved it, but I really didn't enjoy the food at all. It was very highbrow, but that didn't make it flavorful. Most dissapointing IMO only.
Storytellers, OK, but horrifically expensive for what you get. Whitewater Snacks much better value and nice food. La brea cafe in DDT is much better as well, and with so many choices in DDT I'd only eat at Storytellers if I had to (like our last trip when the Marathoners blocked our access to La Brea).
I will never stay anywhere at DLR than the Grand Californian, even with the occasional bumps.

 

[4_Churros_Please]

You will LOVE it! The proximity to the park is awesome and soooooo worth it. I mean come on, we're talking about 3 to five days of straight walking here, you want a hotel that's close. The rooms are great with nice big HD TV's, DVD players and such. Don't expect a great big room though, their standard size if not a little smaller than usual. Room service is great, sometimes we'll order from the Story Teller (great food) for breakfast to get an early start before the restaurant opens.

Watch out for rooms near the lobby or elevators though, as you can hear lobby noise and the SUPER loud piano player. We had to move rooms once because of this, it made nap time not so nappy.

It's worth it if you ask me, you wont regret it.

 

[Krismutt]

We love to stay there. Been there about 5 times now and have stayed at both of the other resort hotels and I prefer GC. Although I use my DVC timeshare usually, so I don't see the cost right up front. I let my daughter pick which place she wanted to stay at for our night on the 4th of March and even she wanted the GC (she is going to be 8). I love the lobby, the huge fireplace. The little bar next to it is nice because the kids can sit there while you relax and have a drink or they can have a shirley temple. I love just walking around the place. First time we stayed there was not long after DCA opened. My mom got two rooms - one for my husband, daughter and me and one for her and my brother and his son. It was my daughter's 1st b-day. Our room looked out at Downtown Disney while their room the monorail rode by. It was cool. But because its cost so many points to stay there we don't get the rooms with a view there because I don't get enough points. Oh well. Just staying there is cool. Love being able to go to Grizzly Mountain at DCA and if I get soaked I can go back to my room and change without walking through the whole park.

As far as parking we always just pull get our bags out and my daughter and I will wait while my husband takes the car to the lot. That way we don't lug our bags across the street. I'd rather save that money for a souvnier I know I will have to buy.

Hope you enjoy your trip. I am looking forward to our stay on the 4th.

 

[tyandbash]

Can anyone tell me the size difference of the two hotels?? Is the G.C. comparable to say the WL at DW or the Poly or is it more like a moderate or value resort size?? Is the DLH like the CR at DW??

Thanks!!!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Can anyone tell me the size difference of the two hotels?? Is the G.C. comparable to say the WL at DW or the Poly or is it more like a moderate or value resort size?? Is the DLH like the CR at DW??

Thanks!!!

I have stayed at the GC and DLH at DL as well as the value, moderate and deluxe resorts at WDW including the Poly and the CR.

GC reminds me very much of the WL, and with good reason, it was designed by the same architect. Size and decor are very similar. I think it's nice, but maybe that's why I'm not as blown away by the GC as some are, when I think of a Disney deluxe I'm thinking more along the lines of the YC, Poly, or GF at WDW as far as room sizes, grounds, and service. GC did not measure up, though I only stayed there once, could have just been a bad couple of days. Service wasn't really poor, it just wasn't anything special, and at the prices they charge along with my expectations from WDW deluxe resorts, it seemed lacking.

The DLH definitely has larger rooms than the GC, comparable to the CR or the Poly.

 

[toocherie]

Nice to hear that about Napa Rose. It would make a great anniversary dinner! We've done Storyteller's already. Good, but not Wow, kwim?

Okay--can someone explain to me what the acronym "kwim" means? I can't figure it out!

Cheryl

 

[Tink208]

kwim = know what I mean

 

[Katink]

kwim = know what I mean?

Katink

 

[toocherie]

Duhnhhhhh (slapping forehead!)

Thanks!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I wanted to add one more thing about distance to the parks, as this may be helpful to those who have never been there. I hope I am not being argumentative--I just wanted to give my opinion on the distance, and that doesn't always line up with those of others. But we all love Disneyland, so on that we can all agree

The Disneyland Hotel is a "little" further from the monorail than the GC. But "little" is the key word. Our family of five can walk it in under 3 minutes, easily. And I am the type who was always bringing up the rear in gym class on running day! I have never been the exercising type, as much as I plan that on Jan. 1. So for me to say the walk isn't much, believe me--it isn't much!

Basically you step out of your "tower" (we pretty much always stay in either Dreams or Wishes) and then walk through Downtown Disney (which isn't really a downtown, there are no cars allowed) and pass by some fountains and shrubbery and stores. You walk what may be one small block (if even that) and you are at the Grand Californian entrence. You walk just a little further, and you are at the entrance of the monorail. If you want to, you can skip the monorail all together, and just walk to the entrance gates of Disneyland. This only will take an additional 4-5 mins to get there from monorail station, and it is a straight shot.

So for me the walk difference between GC and DLH is so small that it is almost splitting hairs to bring it up. If you had to cross major streets with traffic and stoplights and watch for cars, that would be another thing, but both are connected to the Downtown Disney walkway, which is very wide open and no cars in sight.

I will say that if you are put in the Wishes tower at the Disneyland Hotel, your walk will be a bit longer--because you walk by the Peter Pan Pool and by the water falls to get to your tower. Again, this walk isn't a big deal--but if you want a shorter walk that just puts you right out to DTD, then go for the Dreams Tower. I know some people don't like the Wishes Tower, but I have found that the really high rooms over looking the pool and the falls to be the quietest rooms there--and they have extra space in the bathroom and dressing areas that the Dreams Tower didn't seem to have.

As always YMMV (your milage may vary ) but I don't think it makes sense to quibble over such a small distance between the two hotels. Believe me, if they were really far apart, I would be the first one to complain about it--because my poor feet bark at the end of a Disneyland day.

I loved reading everyone's replies. Because of this thread, I talked to my husband and we are thinking of doing the Grand Californian for our annual (I hope!) Christmas trip next December! You guys planted a bug in my ear. My issue is maybe getting a better room if we can, and maybe there is part of the hotel that has a little bigger rooms? We can't do a suite, but maybe the room we picked with the bunk beds was just tiny in comparison to the other rooms? The ceiling was very low too--making it seem kind of cramped. I will have to do some investigation into this matter.

Take care,
Lisa

 

[disney-super-mom]

I wanted to add one more thing about distance to the parks, as this may be helpful to those who have never been there. I hope I am not being argumentative--I just wanted to give my opinion on the distance, and that doesn't always line up with those of others. But we all love Disneyland, so on that we can all agree

The Disneyland Hotel is a "little" further from the monorail than the GC. But "little" is the key word. Our family of five can walk it in under 3 minutes, easily. And I am the type who was always bringing up the rear in gym class on running day! I have never been the exercising type, as much as I plan that on Jan. 1. So for me to say the walk isn't much, believe me--it isn't much!

Basically you step out of your "tower" (we pretty much always stay in either Dreams or Wishes) and then walk through Downtown Disney (which isn't really a downtown, there are no cars allowed) and pass by some fountains and shrubbery and stores. You walk what may be one small block (if even that) and you are at the Grand Californian entrence. You walk just a little further, and you are at the entrance of the monorail. If you want to, you can skip the monorail all together, and just walk to the entrance gates of Disneyland. This only will take an additional 4-5 mins to get there from monorail station, and it is a straight shot.

So for me the walk difference between GC and DLH is so small that it is almost splitting hairs to bring it up. If you had to cross major streets with traffic and stoplights and watch for cars, that would be another thing, but both are connected to the Downtown Disney walkway, which is very wide open and no cars in sight.

I will say that if you are put in the Wishes tower at the Disneyland Hotel, your walk will be a bit longer--because you walk by the Peter Pan Pool and by the water falls to get to your tower. Again, this walk isn't a big deal--but if you want a shorter walk that just puts you right out to DTD, then go for the Dreams Tower. I know some people don't like the Wishes Tower, but I have found that the really high rooms over looking the pool and the falls to be the quietest rooms there--and they have extra space in the bathroom and dressing areas that the Dreams Tower didn't seem to have.

As always YMMV (your milage may vary ) but I don't think it makes sense to quibble over such a small distance between the two hotels. Believe me, if they were really far apart, I would be the first one to complain about it--because my poor feet bark at the end of a Disneyland day.

I loved reading everyone's replies. Because of this thread, I talked to my husband and we are thinking of doing the Grand Californian for our annual (I hope!) Christmas trip next December! You guys planted a bug in my ear. My issue is maybe getting a better room if we can, and maybe there is part of the hotel that has a little bigger rooms? We can't do a suite, but maybe the room we picked with the bunk beds was just tiny in comparison to the other rooms? The ceiling was very low too--making it seem kind of cramped. I will have to do some investigation into this matter.

Take care,
Lisa

I'm not quite sure where you're walking, but the DLH is definately closer to the DTD monorail station than the GCH. If you get to the entrance to the GCH, then you bypassed the monorail station long ago.

The only things you pass by when walking from the DLH to the DTD monorail station is ESPN and the Rainforest Cafe (on your left).

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Oh, you are right! I forgot the at the GC overshoots the monorail. But when we stayed their we did it both ways, and they seemed so close to either option--the entrance or the monorail.

We only stayed at the GC once, though. All other times at the Disneyland Hotel, so that is the walk I am use to. Most of the time I don't mind taking the Monorail, but sometimes it can be annoying to wait for it, and that is where getting in closer to the front gate can be a benefit.

Take care,
Lisa

 

[brergnat]

Guess I'll keep better track of AP rates this year and see if I can squeeze in a romantic getaway. Everything everyone has said, is pretty much what I thought it might be like.

We scored a superb AP rate last October (Tues-Friday stay) of $279 for a CONCIERGE room. It was a courtyard view, and it was SO nice and peaceful, with the monorail gliding by every 10 min. We LOVED it...our best Disney hotel experience ever...

Overhyped? No way! Its hype is well deserved.

 

[Dobie]

I don't think the GCH is overrated at all. It is absolutely beautiful, and the staff and service are wonderful. The rooms are a bit small for a family of more than 2 or 3, but I think a family with several kids would probably be happier at the more Fantasyland oriented DLH anyway. The pool area is wonderful, you can get drinks by the bar, and you are just a snail's spit from the parks. It is so very very very cool to walk right out of the hotel, across a little path, and into the queue of GRR!

I think people have issues with GCH because of the price. It is god awful expensive. We justify it because (1) we work hard and we really like this hotel (2) we don't go very often, and we stay in so many other hotels for points that over the long run it evens out and (3) we only stay for four nights. The difference between 4 nights at the GCH and 4 nights at another on site hotel is something we can accommodate in our budget. We are not interested in staying off site.