Grand Californian Concierge Lounge NEW Carving Station!

[Fivers]

Just got back from an amazing trip, and first ever time staying at the GC! We hadn't planned on doing concierge level, but they offered us an upgrade for only $59/night for the whole room, so how could we say no??

It was an absolutely amazing experience, the food was fantastic, and I don't know how I'll be able to stay anywhere else now, lol! One of the most exciting food experiences was a new carving station that they started on January 31! It's during the 4pm-7pm cheese platter/happy hour, and features different meats. The first night they had roasted pork belly with crispy crackling and a chimichurri sauce, and the next night was a roasted NY striploin (or possibly sirloin), with creamed horseradish. They also might have a dessert demonstration during the afternoon tea, but we weren't at the hotel during tea time to confirm.

The carving station is run by a chef from Storyteller's, and usually starts around 5, possibly a bit later.

Here's a picture of the pork belly:


And the steak:


And for anyone wondering, concierge/club level is 100% worth it! It made our trip so memorable, before we left we were plotting how much we'd have to save up to stay there once a year! The food was amazing and the service was unparalleled, we literally felt like being in Disneyland was the cherry on top of the concierge experience, instead of the other way around! If anyone has any questions feel free to ask! We also have more pictures and videos of the food from breakfast, happy hour, and dessert (and one picture from the only day we were there for tea time) if anyone's interested!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did they just offer it out of no where or did you ask at check-in?

 

[Fivers]

Did they just offer it out of no where or did you ask at check-in?

They offered it when we checked in, we didn't ask. We initially just said no without even hearing the price, figuring it would be crazy expensive. Given the price (plus the fact that we had gotten a 25% room discount when we booked), we're guessing that they were trying to fill it up, and we just had very lucky timing. We had also booked a premium view room because of the discount, so that might have made it a bit cheaper too (although we gave up our view for the upgrade). I certainly plan on asking every time I'm at a Disney hotel though!

 

[hippiechicken]

I would love to see more photos!! We're headed for our first GC stay this week.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Dis they have anything a vegetarian could eat?

 

[sherilaine]

That looks awesome - I am glad you had such a great stay!!

 

[azdisneylover]

I would love to see more photos!! We're headed for our first GC stay this week.

Me too!

 

[jenniferrose]

Me too!

Me too! More pictures please!

 

[Fivers]

Sorry for the delay on pictures everyone, they're currently on my girlfriend's phone and she's at work right now, but I'll get some posted tonight (or earlier if she gets a chance to message them to me)! She has videos of some of the spreads too, I'll see if I can post a link to them as well!

Dis they have anything a vegetarian could eat?

There were lots of veggie options! I don't eat much meat, don't think I ate any while I was there. There's tons of non-meat breakfast options, oatmeal, pastries/muffins, there was a doughnut bar every second day, toast and bagels, avocado deviled eggs if you eat eggs, and lots of fruit. Breakfast is a little light on protein if you don't eat meat, no scrambled eggs or anything like that, but there was cheese if you eat dairy! They always had a fruit tray out, plus a veggie tray in the afternoons, there was also a potato bar most of the afternoons we were there with tater tots, mashed potatoes and super delicious veggie samosas, and tons of toppings. They had spring rolls one afternoon (not sure if they were vegetarian as I wasn't there that day, but I can check), also nachos and salsa. Definitely lots of options!

 

[Nonsuch]

Just got back from an amazing trip, and first ever time staying at the GC! We hadn't planned on doing concierge level, but they offered us an upgrade for only $59/night for the whole room, so how could we say no??

That is a very low price, so perhaps Club Level was under-booked.
CL is usually several hundred dollars additional per night.

I would love to see more photos!! We're headed for our first GC stay this week.

DIS review of the lounge

Carving station photo from January 31, I did not know this was the first day.


I hope they keep the carving station, it's a nice addition.
A couple years ago, I was excited to read about a carving station in the Grand Floridian Club Level -- sadly it was no longer available during my visit.

The same counter also used during breakfast:

It's a rolling cart, and removed when not in use.

 

[Fivers]

That is a very low price, so perhaps Club Level was under-booked.
CL is usually several hundred dollars additional per night.

That was our guess too, we figured we were very lucky, and it was a bit of birthday magic for my food-obsessed girlfriend! I hope they keep the carving station too, it was a really nice touch! So cool that we were probably in there at the same time, such a small world (we were the three women playing games at one of the square tables that night)!

Here are some more of our photos in totally random order, you can also check out my girlfriend's instagram if you're on there (@jojobuhnee), she posts only food, and I think she's posted some pictures that I might have missed!

I believe this was from afternoon cheese and wine, I know for sure one of them's duck prosciutto (which my GF was in LOVE with).


Cheesecake at one of the evening's desserts:


Afternoon veggie tray:


Afternoon (I think) meat and pickles:


Really delicious peanut butter bars, so much so that we tried to recreate them the day after we got home:


Another dessert, if I remember correctly, it was a dark chocolate mouse bar:


Avocado deviled eggs at breakfast (not my favourite, TBH, but was decent for some morning protein):


Beautiful evening/dessert (I think) fruit tray:


Mojito panna cotta:


Breakfast pastries:

 

[Fivers]

Last few photos, starting with another dessert, which I don't even remember, lol!


Afternoon cheese:


Fruit "bowl" that was always out, had some different choices, even saw persimmon one day!


They always had some sort of macarons every day, these were raspberry. I also remember s'mores macarons. Not my favourite macarons, but they were still good, and gorgeous!


Summary of unpictured food:

Breakfast:
-how did I forget the cold smoked salmon??? that was actually the highlight of my girlfriend's morning, and made it ridiculously easy to get her out of bed
-pots of yogurt with blackberries and granola on top
-little glasses of smoothies
-bagel selection
-oatmeal/toast station nonsuch pictured above
-deli meat and cheese
-cheese biscuits, which were delicious!
-cereal and milk, plus orange juice and cranberry juice
-the fanciest computerized coffee machine I've ever seen (which is out all day)!

Tea time:
We only saw this once on the first day, but I remember seeing little sandwiches, cookies, and fruits and veggie platters for sure.

Afternoon cheese:
-potato bar with mashed potatoes, tater tots, and samosas, plus topping station including ketchup, cheese, green onions, sour cream I think, etc.
-spring rolls one day

Dessert:
-cookies, cycled through three while we were there: salted chocolate chip (okay, but not my favourite), dark chocolate espresso (very yummy!), and a pecan butterscotch chip that we were absolutely addicted too!
-probably some others that I'm forgetting, but I think we got most of them!

We did do a couple walk-through videos as well, but I'm struggling with my internet connection and youtube at the moment, I'll see if I can get a link up for them later!

 

[DizMe]

That's awesome!!! You got some disney magic for sure!!

 

[Nonsuch]

They always had some sort of macarons every day, these were raspberry...

This were similar to the Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron sold at Jolly Holliday (~$5)

 

[Spintopbeach]

Well I told my husband about carving station and we just added another night.

 

[Fivers]

That's awesome!!! You got some disney magic for sure!!

Absolutely! It made for such a special, memorable week! Not to mention upping our standards!

Well I told my husband about carving station and we just added another night.

That is so awesome! It sounded like they were planning on making the carving station permanent, so fingers crossed for you! I hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

[Fivers]

Finally got videos to work!

Here's the pork belly carving station:

Sirloin carving station:

And a breakfast walk-through:

I think I'm done with the photo and video spam now!