Grand Californian question

[scotthart]

I am sure this will be the first of many posts from me in this forum. I have just booked our first trip to DL for next summer. We are WDW vets (me, DW, DS 8YO, DD4YO, and DD2YO) but the lure of the West Coast cruise was too much. Before our 7 day cruise, we will spend three nights at the GC. A couple of questions for those of you who have stayed here before.

We usually stay at DVC resorts when at WDW (we need the extra room with ther being 5 of us), does the GC have any suites? We will probably need either two connecting rooms or a suite, has anyone stayed in a suite before? Price difference between suites and two rooms?

View preferences? Should we request a certain view? Can you fax room requests like at WDW?

Any restaraunts to stuffy for the little ones? I don't feel comfortable taking our kids to the California Grill or Citricos at WDW are there any similar restaraunts at the GC or DL as a whole?

Thanks in advance. We are very excited to finally be seeing Walts original park.

 

[year2late]

Grand Californian is fabulous. It is absolutely my taste in hotels. You cannot beat it for convinience. My son prefers Disneyland Hotel because of the great Peter Pan pool. GC must have suites, I do not have info on pricing.

At Grand Ca, the theme park view (view of DCA not DL) is incredible.

Napa Rose at GC and Granvilles at DLH are the two that come to mind as not terrbly lid friendly.

At Grand Ca, there is a little out of the way place near the pool called "White Water Snacks" that is a lifesaver for a quick meal when the parks are crowded. You can eat there or bring back to your room. Storytellers Cafe at GC has a character breakfast and lunch/dinner and it is a nice place for adults while still being ok for kids.

 

[Amberle3]

Can't comment on staying at the GC as I've only toured it. Very nice property though. But on restaurants...

If you're looking to avoid places that might make the kids uncomfortable, I'd stay away from Napa Rose at the GC. Very fine dining, 5-star chef and award-winnng sommelier.

The Vinyard room (DCA) is described as "elegant" and "gourmet"

Depending on how old/fidgety your kids are, the Blue Bayou (DL)might be a little much for them. It's not fine dining or exactly gourmet, but it is a quiet atmosphere and a lengthier dining experience than at other restaurants in DL itself.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

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We will probably need either two connecting rooms or a suite, has anyone stayed in a suite before? Price difference between suites and two rooms?

** Typically, suites tend to cost more than two rooms. You can request connecting or adjacent rooms, but the Disneyland Resort won't guarantee that. Rooms with two queens and a daybed typically are a bit bigger than the standard rooms, but by a little.

View preferences? Should we request a certain view? Can you fax room requests like at WDW?

** I haven't heard of faxing requests to the Disneyland Resort hotels. We just call them with our requests, or set them up when we first make the reservation, and they put those notes in the hotel request. I wouldn't encourage anyone to do that. Views include:
* Theme Park - overlooking the California Adventure Park
Pool/Themepark view - overlooking both pool & theme park
* Downtown Disney - overlooks Downtown Disney, and you'd see the DL fireworks from these rooms
* City Standard - look out towards the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier hotel, or look out over a courtyard that the monorail runs through - courtyard is quiet w/pine trees

Any restaraunts to stuffy for the little ones? I don't feel comfortable taking our kids to the California Grill or Citricos at WDW are there any similar restaraunts at the GC or DL as a whole?

** These were named

Thanks in advance. We are very excited to finally be seeing Walts original park.

** You're going to have a wonderful time!!

 

[justmestace]

Unless you booked one of the really huge, Presidential Suites, which are really expensive, you won't find any much more sleeping room in the other suites than what you would get in a standard room at the GC.
You can request a room with one queen bed, and bunk beds. There is a trundle underneath the bunk beds, twin size. All three kids would have their own bed.
The standard rooms at the Disneyland Hotel offer 2 queens and a couch that makes into a small bed.
Standard (expensive, but not outrageous) suites at the GC, such as the Artisan Suite, would give you two queen beds in the bedroom, and a double size fold-out couch in the living room. So, two kids would be sharing no matter what. And the Artisan suites still have only one bathroom.
For a three night stay in a suite at GC you would be looking at a minimum of $3500.00, even more since it will be the 50th Anniversary. At this time, they are not booking suites for next summer, nor taking requests for the type of view. I booked 3 nights, also...and they did at least take my request for the room with the bunkbeds.
Hope this helps!
Stacey

 

[goofyfordisney]

I think that the GC has some rooms with daybeds. Does anyone know how many rooms have the daybeds and what the view is?

We have stayed at GC and DLH. We thought our room at DLH with a daybed was much larger than the bunkbed room that we had at GC. The bathroom was much nicer/larger also. We are a family of 4 (1 teen, 1 10-year old) and we were kind of cramped at GC.

We liked our location at both hotels. We were in the Sierra Tower (DTD view) at DLH. At GC we had a theme park view (over the pool area too.)

I liked both hotels a lot. I think the GC has an edge over DLH because of it's proximity to the parks. The DLH has an edge over GC because of the room size, cost (less expensive than GC), and Disney theme--the pool, grounds, and rooms are much more themed at DLH.

Have fun!

 

[justmestace]

I think what makes the Disnyland Hotel's rooms bigger is the little kitchenette area. (An "L" shaped counter & sink, and small fridge).

GC has the small fridge, too. The bunkbeds are what take up the space in the bedroom area....but that was okay with us, because it gave the kids their own beds, and no fighting over who had to sleep on the daybed. The balconies are larger at GC.

The Standard rooms at the Grand Californian have either one king bed and a sofa bed, one king bed and the bunk beds, or two queen beds and a sofa bed.

 

[Firefly777]

and Disney theme--the pool, grounds, and rooms are much more themed at DLH.

Yes, but the actual hotel is themed more at GCH, IMO.

 

[justmestace]

Originally posted by Firefly777
Yes, but the actual hotel is themed more at GCH, IMO.

MOST definitely!!! You can't beat the beauty of the Grand Californian....and I've been in hotels all over the globe!
It just has so much more of a relaxed, resort feel.

 

[5infam]

You mentioned that you usually stay at DVC resorts in WDW, so I am assuming you are members. We have a fam of 5 as well and stay at the GC for a night or 2 every year on points. For us, the standard view is fine (but we live here so view is no big deal for us) and we always go with the bunk bed option, which works great!! Everyone gets their own bed in this situation. Although it is not mentioned in the DVC member books, you can book a suite on points as well as all other standard rooms,even concierge. Just call DVC Member Services and ask. As with most hotel options outside of the 6 (well I guess its 7 now) DVC resorts, the points may not be as economical as paying cash, but you get some nice options by using points like no additional resort fee and free parking. Understand that the GC is very nice, but is also very kid friendly. The rooms are similar to a DVC studio, but without the micro, toaster, etc. In our room at GC last time we had a mini bar fridge that did hold a couple bottles of water, but that was it. Have fun and let us know what you decide, especially if you use points for a suite (curious as to what the points are).

 

[Elk34]

We booked a Park View room with bunkbeds at GC for our August trip. We have an 8 year old and a 5 year old daughter.

I was told that the bunk beds have a trundle bed under the bottom bunk that would slide out to accomodate another child. That seems like it would work for you. You could have the older kids in the bunk beds and the 2 year old in the trundle bed.

I may be wrong about the trundles but I seem to remember seeing that somewhere. I remember that he bunkbeds there are different then the ones that we had at WL in WDW.

 

[justmestace]

The trundle pulls out from under the lower bunk, but it doesn't pop up like some trundles do....a plus for a small child. It is the same size as the bunk beds, maybe a hair smaller.
As for the bunk beds, they held my teenager just fine!

 

[scotthart]

WOW! Thanks for all of the great advice. I have to say that I am feeling like a deer in the headlights planning this trip. It took us 3 years to get WDW figured out and I feel like I am starting from scratch again. I can't believe that DL is so different than WDW. Apparently it will be a while until we can request a specific room or even get rates, as they are only taking basic reservation info right now. They are probably estimating just how much we are willing to pay to visit during the 50th birthday party. Oh well, at least we know we are going! Thanks again everyone I will give an update when we get closer.