Grand Californian- should we stay there?

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We are planning our first DL trip this fall. DH will be there for business and we will stay at the Sheraton Anaheim for 4 nights. I would like to move to a Disney owned property for 3 or 4 nights after that to get the full experience.

For those that have stayed there, is it really worth the extra $$? From pricing it out on the computer there is not a huge difference between GC and the Disneyland hotel, the other hotel we are considering.

Opinions and advice are appreciated!

 

[ttds17]

I am normally one of thoses super saver types that looks for a way to save a buck whenever I can...HOWEVER...I would totally drop the cash to stay at GC if I had it. It's STUNNING!! Everyone I know who has stayed there has been highly impressed. The DLH is nothing special in my opinion. It's farther away and not nearly as nice or new as the GC. If it's not much of a price difference (which surprises me to be honest) I'd totally go with GC. We've stayed at PPH before and walked through GC each day to go to and from the parks. Just walking through the lobby made me happy. Haha!

Allyson

 

[disney4metoo]

We are planning our first DL trip this fall. DH will be there for business and we will stay at the Sheraton Anaheim for 4 nights. I would like to move to a Disney owned property for 3 or 4 nights after that to get the full experience.

For those that have stayed there, is it really worth the extra $$? From pricing it out on the computer there is not a huge difference between GC and the Disneyland hotel, the other hotel we are considering.

Opinions and advice are appreciated!

I love the Grand Californian. I have stayed at the DLH before and although we had a great view, the room looked very tired and worn. I really regretted that stay, because I felt it was not worth it for me because of the condition of the room. However, this was before the new renovation that is going on right now and the new rooms look amazing.

My personal preference in the Grand and we just recently stayed in one of the new hotel rooms that was recently added to the Grand. I loved the view and the room. I love walking through Downtown Disney to go to our room. I love the lobby and the whole atmosphere of the Grand. This is just my opinion. I am sure you will get a contrast of different opinions.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've spent at least one night at each of the 3 DLR hotels ~ GCH is my least favorite ~ DLH is my favorite, it feels the most "Disney" ~ GCH is to $$$, the rooms are small and dark, everyone should check out the Grand, but no need to stay there IMO.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Stayed there In for a week and loved it. New room, very close to everything. Did it on a special, the only way we could.

Jack

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

We stayed at the GCH over the summer. It was really nice and we really enjoyed it. However, it is a lot of $$$ and the room is definitely small. It was just DBF and me and we felt rather cramped. Personally, I would stay at the DLH and just go to the lobby and bar of the GCH. I just feel more immersed in Disney at the DLH (Full disclosure - that could also be because of sentimental reasons - staying there as a kid with the family!).

Either way, both hotels are great and you're guaranteed to have a great time!

 

[bumbershoot]

For those that have stayed there, is it really worth the extra $$?

No.

For me, the nicest bits of the hotels are the public spaces. Comfy chairs, nice lobby (as long as the light-sucking xmas tree isn't there! I can't see in the lobby when the tree is there), pretty passageways. But the rooms are small, our experience with housekeeping was pretty sad (watched a housekeeper with nothing in her hands walk right past a fork in the middle of the floor of a hallway, and that fork was there ALL day until someone picked it up and...put it on a table in the hallway), and if you get the wrong room, you might as well stay at HoJo or Anabella b/c the walk can get so long. (guess if we stayed in a good room or not!)

I personally would rather stay at PPH (nice big rooms), if I need to stay onsite, and hang out in the public spaces of the Grand. Best of both worlds. The only issue with that is if you're wanting to swim in a lovely pool area. Pool at PPH is stark in appearance while the grounds of the Grand's pools are lovely. I'm sure the swimming is just the same in both, LOL, though we didn't step foot in the water at the Grand (sigh).

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Does anyone know if you can change the hotels once you made the reservations? I o back and forth EVERYDAY!!!

 

[godalejunior]

I have stayed at all three resort hotels as well. Loved DLH for the nostalgia factor and our first two trips with DS were there. We moved to the GC last year for our week long trip when we found out the DLH pool was going to be closed for refurb. After the trip we asked DS which hotel he liked better.......he chose GC. He liked the pool better, being able to go to Pinnochios, hear the storyteller and musician in the lobby and walk outside the hotel and be on Grizzly in minutes. As long as they there is a deal out there on GC that is the only place I stay.

 

[aussietravellers]

For us it was worth every penny!

We stayed there last month for two weeks and just loved it. Very friendly CM's, mousekeeping was great, had a room in the new wing that was just great. It was so close to DTD and the parks. For us it was just perfect and we would stay there again in a flash.

 

[nunzia]

You'll get opinions all over the map, but as you can see by my sig, I'm a big Grand Californian fan. We stayed there first in 2001 and I just can't imagine a DLR trip anymore without staying there. I don't find the rooms small or dark or negative in any way. We have had housekeeping issues, but the last times we've gone all has been great. I can't wait to stay in the villas. We are normally very cheap...eh frugal..but the Grand is my big slurge. I think you should try it once and decide if it's the style you like.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I have stayed at all three resort hotels as well. Loved DLH for the nostalgia factor and our first two trips with DS were there. We moved to the GC last year for our week long trip when we found out the DLH pool was going to be closed for refurb. After the trip we asked DS which hotel he liked better.......he chose GC. He liked the pool better, being able to go to Pinnochios, hear the storyteller and musician in the lobby and walk outside the hotel and be on Grizzly in minutes. As long as they there is a deal out there on GC that is the only place I stay.

I definitely think that being able to go on Grizzly River Rapids and then run back to your room and change into nice, dry clothes is huge plus. The only time I ever wanted to go on GRR was when we stayed there and went from the pool, to the ride, and up to the room and changed for the evening.

 

[Niele]

Stayed at DLH the first time back in '98 and then GCH after it opened in 2002 and since then it's been GCH three more times. Every time has been wonderful, especially the last two during the holiday season (awesome decorations everywhere). Have had a room at the very end of the hallway towards Soarin' and World of Disney store, another facing downtown and the last two overlooking the pools. Didn't care about the "long walk down the hallway" or the "noise" from downtown. Love everything about this hotel, from the close proximity to the parks, to the great food at Storytellers, Napa and Whitewater, to the game room for the kids, the concierge lounge, to the pool with the slide and jacuzzi's, ... yes, I could go on. I did like the rooms overlooking the pools the best because they were right between the laundry room on 2nd floor and the lounge down the hall; made it easy to throw a load in the laundry, run up for a snack and drink at the lounge then go back to the laundry to finish up!!!

As nunzia said, you'll just have to go and find out for yourself if it is worth it to you. To me and mine we say DEFINITELY!!!

 

[godalejunior]

I definitely think that being able to go on Grizzly River Rapids and then run back to your room and change into nice, dry clothes is huge plus. The only time I ever wanted to go on GRR was when we stayed there and went from the pool, to the ride, and up to the room and changed for the evening.

DH and I went in September and rode it 8 times in a row.....talk about soaked.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Of course you should stay there! It's the nicest hotel, it's the closest hotel (no matter where your room is), and it's the only themed hotel in town. If you can afford it, do it! If not, don't!

~CD

 

[JennHales]

We are booked for our first stay next month. Any advice on which room/wings to request?
Jen

 

[VallCopen]

Jen if you have the $$$ request a pier/theme park view, we stayed in our DVC in Nov and had a beautiful view of the park on the 4th floor, be sure to ask for a high floor.

Everyone does have a different opinion but for the most part everyone seems to agree that the Grand is an awesome hotel. If you have never been than I think it is worth a try. The rooms are a bit smaller than the Pier but are not much different than Disneyland Hotel. I can't remember exact numbers but the Grand and Disneyland Hotel are 350-396 sq ft and the Pier is about 450 (can't remember this one exactly). Everyone says that the Grand is much smaller than the Disneyland but our room was not, however that being said we had a room with 2 queens and a sofa bed which are a bit larger (395) than the kings. We use to stay at the Pier all the time, then tried the Grand once, loved it, so we bought into the DVC and now will be staying at the Grand for the next 50 years, which we absolutely love.

 

[ACDSNY]

We've stayed in all three resorts and the Grand CA is our favorite by far. We love the location and the views.

 

[clb79]

We are booked for our first stay next month. Any advice on which room/wings to request?
Jen

We are staying for our 7th Anniversary this weekend. I will post how are trip goes when we get back. Hopefully I will have some good first hand and recent info based on where our room ends up being, etc....

 

[nunzia]

We are booked for our first stay next month. Any advice on which room/wings to request?
Jen

When the hotel was first open we had theme park view which was GREAT, but as the trees filled in the view was not so hot. Lately I just love the DD view..very nice at night. Now, with the new wing, I don't know how the views are there. The DVC portion of the wing has some great views with Mickey's Wheel of Death right in your face, but don't know how the hotel part is situated. I have never been disappointed. Our worst view by far was when we stayed on the Concierge Level (Developer Points or that never would have happened) We looked out on the parking lot at the entrance to the hotel..maybe the valet section.