Grand Californian Questions

[mattnday]

We have been to Disneyland a bunch of times but this is our first time staying onsite. Thank You DVC. we want to amke the most out of our experience.

1)Is there a charge to have a fridge brought up?

2)What is the best chance of getting an upgrade to a view room from a standard room? Check in early, late ......

3)we will be going to the park the morning of our check in - Will they check us in prior to our room being ready ?

4)Any suggestions for inexpensive meal's as we usually only eat Counter Service for Lunch and have always been outside the park for dinner. We still intend to get a fridge and have muffins and cereal in the mornings before we leave. We will definitely do Goofy's Kitchen once. but beyond that the world is our oasis.

5)Will all Disney restraunts including those in Downtown Disney take Disney Dollars or the Disney Rewards Card?

6)Is there anything real special about staying onsite that we shouldn't miss with our 5 year old?

Thanks in advance

 

[dizzyami]

We have been to Disneyland a bunch of times but this is our first time staying onsite. Thank You DVC. we want to amke the most out of our experience.

1)Is there a charge to have a fridge brought up?

No - but be warned there is not really a great deal of room to put a fridge. Hopefully someone else will respond to this one - I swear I heard that they emptied the mini-fridges and made them available automatically in all rooms - but it was not that way in October.

2)What is the best chance of getting an upgrade to a view room from a standard room? Check in early, late ......

Can't help you there - never upgraded

3)we will be going to the park the morning of our check in - Will they check us in prior to our room being ready ?

They will check you in and check your bags - and then your bags will usually be in your room waiting for you when you return.

4)Any suggestions for inexpensive meal's as we usually only eat Counter Service for Lunch and have always been outside the park for dinner. We still intend to get a fridge and have muffins and cereal in the mornings before we leave. We will definitely do Goofy's Kitchen once. but beyond that the world is our oasis.

I love white water snacks - in the GCH to the right - by the entrance to DCA. Huge portions - decently priced food and yummy. You can get premade stuff or order a small selection of hot sandwiches/nachos - most sized to share.

5)Will all Disney restraunts including those in Downtown Disney take Disney Dollars or the Disney Rewards Card?

I don't believe so.

6)Is there anything real special about staying onsite that we shouldn't miss with our 5 year old?

Early entry every day it is offered - bring your room charge slip. I believe there might be more - but we have not done any of them
Thanks in advance

 

[boscoj]

I'm not sure if the check-in time matters but the last two times that we've stayed at the GC (once on points) we were lucky enough to have a DD view and then a park view. IMO we preferred the DD view because of the fireworks. In both cases we checked in after 4:30pm.

One thing your 5 yo may enjoy at the hotel is the nightly storytelling by the fireplace...

 

[victorandbellasmom]

1)Is there a charge to have a fridge brought up?
- No, there is no charge. Have them note it in your reservation and remind them again at check in.

2)What is the best chance of getting an upgrade to a view room from a standard room? Check in early, late ......
- We've paid for standard/city view room 3 times (once at each PPH, DLH, & GCH). We were only upgraded once and that was at PPH when we had concierge. We have always checked in before noon and only once was pur room ready earlier than 3pm.

3)we will be going to the park the morning of our check in - Will they check us in prior to our room being ready ?
-Yes, they will take an imprint of your credit card, give you a key card and thw white charge slip. Bellhop can hold your lugage and give you a ticket. Just call the phone # on it when you get your room and they will deliver your lugage.

4)Any suggestions for inexpensive meal's as we usually only eat Counter Service for Lunch and have always been outside the park for dinner. We still intend to get a fridge and have muffins and cereal in the mornings before we leave. We will definitely do Goofy's Kitchen once. but beyond that the world is our oasis.
-We love Whitewater Snacks. Their prices are reasonable and the food large portioned.

5)Will all Disney restraunts including those in Downtown Disney take Disney Dollars or the Disney Rewards Card?
-Not toos ure aout this as we usually blow our rewards card on charater meals.

6)Is there anything real special about staying onsite that we shouldn't miss with our 5 year old?
-GCH has a scavenger hunt called the "Grand Quest". I believe it starts at 3 or 4pm and the first person to turn in their answer sheet becomes the grand family for the day which gets them access to the concierge lounge. Even if you're not the first person to turn in the answer sheet, it's great fun for kids. Every answer sheet that gets turned in gets a coupon for a character cookie at White Water Snacks. My kids have done this twice on 2 seperate trips and had a great time. There's also EE for build a bear that you need to sign up with guest services for as well as storytelling by the hearth in the early evening. You'll get a sheet of activites for the following day during turn down service an dit should have list of all activities availabel to you. Don't forget about the pool and slide. there's a big slide and a little slide. You can wear life jackets on the little slide, but not the big slide. If you 5 yo wants to go down the big slide she must be able to pass a swim test.

Have a wonderful trip and enjoy your stay at GCH. My 6yo doesn't understand why we can't stay here every trip.