Grand Californian Pool and Check-in Q

[Girlstar30]

What is the situation with the lounge chairs at the pool, they look very nice and comfortable which has me thinking am I going to have to be there at 9 am to get one? Or are they generally available later in the afternoon? I'm assuming they don't enforce the no saving seats rule.

Also would like to know what are the chances of early check in? Is it safe to assume they won't be ready until 4 because there's hardly any rooms and they're always taken or has anyone had any luck getting in early?

On a side note, the Disney nerd in me is super excited that the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures is beig held in the Trillium room, somewhere different in the hotel to have a dining experience

 

[ClaraOswald]

I can't answer your questions but I'm following. Curious about the pool chair situation during the summer. We only used the pool during a February trip and there was almost no one there since it was a bit chilly out.

I hope they DO enforce a no-chair-saving rule though.

 

[Girlstar30]

I can't answer your questions but I'm following. Curious about the pool chair situation during the summer. We only used the pool during a February trip and there was almost no one there since it was a bit chilly out.

I hope they DO enforce a no-chair-saving rule though.

I will let you know what i see next week!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Or are they generally available later in the afternoon?

While I haven't spent time at the pool, I do frequently eat/drink at the Craftsman, which is next to the pool area. I have never seen the chairs/loungers full.

Also would like to know what are the chances of early check in?

My room is ready early more often than not. 1:00-2:00pm is usually when the room is ready. Of course, that is going to be based on what time the previous family left and how much of a mess they left. I've had the outlier where the room wasn't ready until 5:00pm, but that only happened once.

 

[Girlstar30]

While I haven't spent time at the pool, I do frequently eat/drink at the Craftsman, which is next to the pool area. I have never seen the chairs/loungers full.

My room is ready early more often than not. 1:00-2:00pm is usually when the room is ready. Of course, that is going to be based on what time the previous family left and how much of a mess they left. I've had the outlier where the room wasn't ready until 5:00pm, but that only happened once.

Thank you, very helpful I dont want to sacrifice a potentially good view for an earlier check in was that your experience?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thank you, very helpful I dont want to sacrifice a potentially good view for an earlier check in was that your experience?

No. I've had good and not so good views with early check-in. There just aren't enough rooms in any category to plan for enough people to be checking out on the same day to try for a specific view.

 

[juxtapose]

We haven't been since 2021 but in July that year we didn't have an issue finding 2 pool lounge chairs together.

 

[gsdweller]

There are generally never any issues with pool loungers. If you are dead set on one in 100% sun, or 100% shade, you may have to make it a priority, but over a decade of visits at all times of the year I have never experienced not finding chairs.
Same is true for Aulani actually. If you want the unicorn 'perfect' spot, you will have to get up early. If not, there are always chairs.

 

[Girlstar30]

There are generally never any issues with pool loungers. If you are dead set on one in 100% sun, or 100% shade, you may have to make it a priority, but over a decade of visits at all times of the year I have never experienced not finding chairs.
Same is true for Aulani actually. If you want the unicorn 'perfect' spot, you will have to get up early. If not, there are always chairs.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[LilyJC]

What is the situation with the lounge chairs at the pool, they look very nice and comfortable which has me thinking am I going to have to be there at 9 am to get one?

I haven’t stopped by the pool in the past couple weeks, but about a month ago the construction around the pool area made this a bit rough as they had removed a decent portion of the loungers. The teens in my party wanted to do a pool day after checkout, so they did get down there around 11. They were able to grab 4 loungers together but pretty quickly after that everything was full. A couple hours later they opened another section of the pool which helped free up a few more loungers.

It’s really been a mess around there the past couple months, and this weekend is going to be crazy hot so the pool will be much more popular. If it were me, I’d probably call to see if a cabana is available/check for cancellations… We love cabana days!

 

[Girlstar30]

I haven’t stopped by the pool in the past couple weeks, but about a month ago the construction around the pool area made this a bit rough as they had removed a decent portion of the loungers. The teens in my party wanted to do a pool day after checkout, so they did get down there around 11. They were able to grab 4 loungers together but pretty quickly after that everything was full. A couple hours later they opened another section of the pool which helped free up a few more loungers.

It’s really been a mess around there the past couple months, and this weekend is going to be crazy hot so the pool will be much more popular. If it were me, I’d probably call to see if a cabana is available/check for cancellations… We love cabana days!

That's a great idea actually, I'm going to look into that! So you think the cost is worth it?