Grand Californian - Standard Room Locations and Vacation Planning?

[AnnaTink]

Hi Everyone,

Our trip is creeping slowly closer (47 days ).

We are going to be staying in a Standard Room in GCH and were wondering what to expect? Are there different locations for Standard Rooms and are some better than others?

Also how long before we go should we be contacting Vacation Planning for Fantasic Premium seats etc?

Many thanks

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Hi Everyone,

Our trip is creeping slowly closer (47 days ).

Also how long before we go should we be contacting Vacation Planning for Fantasic Premium seats etc?

Many thanks

I think you are able to do this 90 days in advance and I'm pretty sure these seats go VERY fast. You may be too late for this...

 

[nunzia]

You can only buy Fantasmic Tickets 30 days out..I don't know how early you need to contact vacation Services if they do it.
I will also have a Standard View this trip..so interested to see how that is.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I can't answer the Fastamic question, but it wouldn't hurt to email/call them and find out when to do it.

We've booked standard rooms 3 times and twice were upgraded (free of charge) to DTD views. This last time, we had the standard view which was of a courtyard that the monorail travels through. Not as exciting as the DTD view, but still pretty. As for location, I would try to get one close to elevators because it can be a pretty long walk from some of the back rooms.

 

[avalon451]

Fantasmic, don't bother calling vacation planning, just do it yourself direct 30 days out. Call the same line you call for Disney dining. If you are going June 15th, then you call on May 15th; the phone lines open at 8 a.m. I got tickets for Spring Break (record breaking attendance week) 27 days out with no problems. So I doubt the "call exactly at 8 a.m. or they'll be sold out" is still real valid. They're not as hard to obtain as a few years ago when the number of seats were much more limited. That said, I'd still call on the day, 30 days before.

GCH, we stayed there in March in a standard room. I heard on the boards here that it never hurts to call Guest Services at the hotel and ask for a free upgrade. So I did. I was very polite and enthusiastic about it being our first trip, and asked very sweetly if they could consider us for a free upgrade. The person on the phone was really nice and helpful. She explained that they block out rooms and room assignments like 2 days before, but that she could put down that I had requested an upgrade. She explained that because we had 3 kids with us and wanted a bunkbed room, "upgrade" meant basically a better view. We did get the upgrade! We had a courtyard view with the monorail running through, and it was wonderful because we could see most of the fireworks over the roof of the opposite wing. We were in room 4022, and we were just 3 doors away from the elevators, so getting to the DTD entrance was very easy. Loved it!

Hope that helps! Have fun!

 

[beansf]

When I stayed at GCH (also standard) last year I called VP a few months in advance and got the Fantasmic seating set up. When the 30 day window opened up, they purchased tickets for me and I didn't have to worry about missing the deadline or sitting on hold for hours. Worked like a charm! I highly recommend it.

 

[avalon451]

When the 30 day window opened up, they purchased tickets for me and I didn't have to worry about missing the deadline or sitting on hold for hours.

when I called myself, I waited on hold for 10 minutes.

 

[beansf]

when I called myself, I waited on hold for 10 minutes.

That's not bad. I know I waited 45 minutes for tour tickets once and over an hour the other day for an off-site hotel.

For me, the bigger issue was that I am on the train prior to the phones opening up, so I can't get cell reception and you can never tell if the train might stop. I couldn't risk it!

 

[audrey2580]

Don't forget a standard view also includes the Bris Courtyard with a view on the monorail. So when you check in ask what type of view you have. If they answer Disney Drive ask for the courtyard. Or better yet, ask for DTD or Theme Park.

 

[Dory'sMom]

We had courtyard view in April. I think our room was 6420 or something. Definitely 64-something. Anyway, it was very close to the elevators right by Napa Rose. Took us less than 3 minutes from our door to the private entrance to CA park. We couldn't see the fireworks though. Basically where we were the monorail ran right underneath our room into the courtyard.

 

[AnnaTink]

Thanks for all the advice!

I think I will still ring Vacation Planning for the Fantasmic tickets, purely because of the time difference, I'm at work when they go on sale as it's 4pm English time!

The room info is great - thank you! I'd feel a bit cheeky asking for an upgrade as we've booked using DVC points, but I quite like the idea of the courtyard and being near the park entrance.

Just have to plan the day by day stuff now - thanks again!!!

 

[lisadoll93]

Our standard room was over looking the entrance to DCA and Grizzley Rapids. We were on the second floor. I dont know if it was because we had a bunkbed room. Another time, it over looked the courtyard and DTD, on the sixth floor, again a bunkbed room.