Grand Californian Questions

[surfer_ed]

Making my way through the awesome (if not daunting) information on the Grand Californian. Have a 5 day trip planned in Feb.

I am a wdw veteran, by no experience at DL.

A few questions:

1. What room should I request for a good view of the theme park...I know this is always hit or miss. Any room number suggestions?
2. Is there a rental Car location close by?
3. Best way to get there form LAX?

Thanks, I am sure I can find some of the info out on the DL Thread but there is allot to wade through.

Surfer_Ed

 

[taaren]

There are room number suggestions on the VGC Owners and Lovers Thread, but about 2/3 of the room face DCA and 1/3 face the pool, so your odds are good that if you request "theme park view", you'll get it. We've owned since before it opened, and out of 4 stays we've gotten a room looking directly at Paradise Pier 3x out of 4 (not including the person I swapped point reservations with who got one of the best views in the building on his October trip, 6500 [2 bedroom]).

I believe there's a rental car location in Downtown Disney, but I've never used it. I want to say its Budget or Hertz?

There's no Magical Express. There is a bus called the Disneyland Resort Express, which is owned and operated by Greyhound. Its a nice bus, I've used it a few times on solo trips, no need for reservations. Last time I rode the Round Trip cost was $36 per person. There's also SuperShuttle and PrimeTime Shuttle, I liked the service from the latter, it was around the same price, but a shared van service instead of a bus, and reservations are recommended. A little faster since you're making less stops. If you have 3+ people a cab might be worth it, as that should run about $50. Also renting a car for your whole stay might be cheaper considering self parking is included with a villa reservation and there's so many fun things to see and do nearby to DLR that you'd use your rental car for.

 

[sechelt]

Making my way through the awesome (if not daunting) information on the Grand Californian. Have a 5 day trip planned in Feb.

I am a wdw veteran, by no experience at DL.

A few questions:

1. What room should I request for a good view of the theme park...I know this is always hit or miss. Any room number suggestions?
2. Is there a rental Car location close by?
3. Best way to get there form LAX?

Thanks, I am sure I can find some of the info out on the DL Thread but there is allot to wade through.

Surfer_Ed

Here's a direct link showing the room views of VGC. You can request specific rooms via MS or by calling the hotel directly. No guarantees but they'll note the request in your reservation.

Sorry, can't help with the other questions. We usually drive from here or rent a car at SNA.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44522663

 

[abdgeek]

Making my way through the awesome (if not daunting) information on the Grand Californian. Have a 5 day trip planned in Feb.

I am a wdw veteran, by no experience at DL.

A few questions:

1. What room should I request for a good view of the theme park...I know this is always hit or miss. Any room number suggestions?
2. Is there a rental Car location close by?
3. Best way to get there form LAX?

Thanks, I am sure I can find some of the info out on the DL Thread but there is allot to wade through.

Surfer_Ed

1. If you request theme park view, you will have some sort of view of the parks. I have had the following views when I have requested TPV: view of the tower of terror, view of paradise pier ferris wheel and view of silly swings area.
2. There is a National/Alamo rental car location in DTD. Go out the front of Grand Californian and cross the street to the parking lot. Cut diagonally through the parking lot to the building on the right and the rental car location is on the corner of the building. The rental cars are actually parked in the GC parking lot towards the back right hand side. If you go through DTD, go to ESPN and turn left to go beside the buildings on that side.

3. As a PP said, you can take the Disneyland Express or Super Shuttle. The DE runs on the hour and you might want to check the schedule to make sure it will work with your flights. SS will pick you up whenever you need them to, but DE doesn't start picking up from the resorts until 5:45am or so.

 

[DebbieB]

1. If you request theme park view, you will have some sort of view of the parks. I have had the following views when I have requested TPV: view of the tower of terror, view of paradise pier ferris wheel and view of silly swings area.

As always, requests are just requests. I've stayed there twice. Requested park view both times. First time we got the perfect park view, 6504. Second time we faced the rapids with a view of mostly trees, 3516. If we stretched out and looked to the right, we could see the top of California Screamin. You could end up facing the pool.

 

[zavandor]

There is an Advantage office inside the Anaheim Plaza hotel, it's 10 minutes walk from Disneyland.

 

[Meggysmum]

We requested a TP view but were told at check-in that there were none available. However I ended up loving the pool view, it was relaxing and I had a good view of the fireworks from our balcony and I went up to the viewing platform to see World of Color so I ended up happy!

 

[Starr W.]

Just got back yesterday from VGC, only requested a high floor. Ended up with a full theme park view on the 4th floor.