Grand Californian Super Thread

[hlsperring]

Unfortunately, no 1 bedroom suites have a Paradise Pier view (several villas have that view).
You might want to request to be near the elevators adjacent to Napa Rose.
x329/x331 would have a great park view and very convenient access to the DCA entrance.
6329 is the El Capitan Presidential suite, so this is a good area.
6412 is also a 1 bedroom suite.

This map shows most suites:
View attachment 125545

Ahhhh…Thanks for that!!! Can you see WOC/PP from the lounge if you do Concierge Level? That's my next thought! Thanks so much!

 

[Nonsuch]

...Can you see WOC/PP from the lounge if you do Concierge Level?

The concierge lounge has a partial view of fireworks.
There is a 6th floor patio for WOC viewing, available to all GCH (and VGC) guests.

I highly recommend seeing both WOC and Fireworks from inside the parks, but these locations are a nice option.

 

[hlsperring]

The concierge lounge has a partial view of fireworks.
There is a 6th floor patio for WOC viewing, available to all GCH (and VGC) guests.

I highly recommend seeing both WOC and Fireworks from inside the parks, but these locations are a nice option.

Thanks for the further info. I'll be happy when they release the schedule so I'll know when we have the options for seeing everything. We always do a VIP tour, so hoping that will help us knock out at least one WOC, Parade & Fireworks. I tend to like to see the shows every night though!

 

[kailuagirl]

New washers/dryers!!! Not sure if it's been mentioned, about a week ago we were there and in the 2nd floor laundry (above Napa Rose) had what appeared to be pretty new washers and dryers. They were awesome and so much better than the old ones. Super clean and the wash cycle was fast - 30 minutes. It's still $2.50 per load and dryer cycle. They no longer have tokens, and now you have to pay with a credit/debit card only. So be prepared for that. I had to go back to the room to get one. So love they offer this to their guests.

 

[Cats2]

New washers/dryers!!! Not sure if it's been mentioned, about a week ago we were there and in the 2nd floor laundry (above Napa Rose) had what appeared to be pretty new washers and dryers. They were awesome and so much better than the old ones. Super clean and the wash cycle was fast - 30 minutes. It's still $2.50 per load and dryer cycle. They no longer have tokens, and now you have to pay with a credit/debit card only. So be prepared for that. I had to go back to the room to get one. So love they offer this to their guests.

Did you notice that they are using Laundryview? http://classic.laundryview.com/disneyland/ a website that allows monitoring of washers and dryers and is apparently used a lot on college campuses. You can check on line to see how many washers are available or when your load is done. I know that was a recent thing at WDW earlier this year, didn't realize it was here at DLR til I went to do a wash. So glad they got rid of tokens at GCH! One odd thing about the Laundryview website--I can't get the hotel's Laundryview page to load when using my iPad (Air 2), but am able to do so on my phone (iPhone 6). Not sure why.
But, they really need to do something about the lack of WiFi in the laundry room (I was using the one near the NR elevators). What's the point of posting a sign with a QR code to get to Laundryview, if you can't access internet there??

 

[Nonsuch]

...they really need to do something about the lack of WiFi in the laundry room (I was using the one near the NR elevators)...

A few weeks ago I had a room in that area on the 3rd floor, and initially had no internet access. Multiple different CMs attempted to fix the issue, mostly by swapping cables and the hardware located under the table. WiFi and wired internet never worked in my room, but WiFi from other rooms was adequate for our needs.

I was told that upgrades to internet support will be part of the renovation work starting early next year.

 

[Cats2]

A few weeks ago I had a room in that area on the 3rd floor, and initially had no internet access. Multiple different CMs attempted to fix the issue, mostly by swapping cables and the hardware located under the table. WiFi and wired internet never worked in my room, but WiFi from other rooms was adequate for our needs.

I was told that upgrades to internet support will be part of the renovation work starting early next year.

I figured that might be the case. Glad we didn't have WiFi issues in our room! (We were there a couple of weeks ago on the 3rd floor too, overlooking the hotel's DCA entrance). It will be nice to have renovated rooms. Wonder if they'll put in USB charging ports into the night stands? When we were at WDW this spring, the newly renovated lobby of the Polynesian had charging ports at the base of the lamps in the lobby which came in handy.

 

[Mividadisney]

Do the rooms at the GCH have a blow dryer? I did check website ( forum and GCH website) and searched and there is no detail if it does or not. Sorry, in advanced if this has been asked before. Thanks

 

[sgrap]

Do the rooms at the GCH have a blow dryer? I did check website ( forum and GCH website) and searched and there is no detail if it does or not. Sorry, in advanced if this has been asked before. Thanks

Yes, they do. Nice one .

 

[Mividadisney]

Yes, they do. Nice one .

Thank you. Do the all rooms have a fridge or is that something you must request?

 

[sgrap]

Thank you. Do the all rooms have a fridge or is that something you must request?

In recent years, we have always had the mini fridge without asking. I think they are standard now.

 

[Mividadisney]

In recent years, we have always had the mini fridge without asking. I think they are standard now.

Okay, thank you. I was seeing conflicting stories online and we have a standard room with courtyard view and I need to make sure we have a fridge for medication. I'm going to call and make sure just in case but I wanted to ask here first because sometimes when we call it takes 30 minutes to be on hold.

 

[sgrap]

Okay, thank you. I was seeing conflicting stories online and we have a standard room with courtyard view and I need to make sure we have a fridge for medication. I'm going to call and make sure just in case but I wanted to ask here first because sometimes when we call it takes 30 minutes to be on hold.

We used to have to request one for milk and such when our children were really young, but we haven't had to do that in probably 10 plus years. But I think double checking is good since you have medication. They now fit right into the stand with the TV, so it seems to be a very standard place if they have them.

 

[Berlioz70]

Okay, thank you. I was seeing conflicting stories online and we have a standard room with courtyard view and I need to make sure we have a fridge for medication. I'm going to call and make sure just in case but I wanted to ask here first because sometimes when we call it takes 30 minutes to be on hold.

Please let me know what you learn, I need a fridge for my child as well.

 

[crazycatlady]

Would the renovations next year be a reason to avoid staying here in 2016? I have never stayed anywhere with renovations going on, but I wouldn't want to pay all the money to stay here and have there be noisy construction going on. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Cats2]

Okay, thank you. I was seeing conflicting stories online and we have a standard room with courtyard view and I need to make sure we have a fridge for medication. I'm going to call and make sure just in case but I wanted to ask here first because sometimes when we call it takes 30 minutes to be on hold.

I think there was a time a yr or two ago when there had been issues with the mini Fridges? I seem to recall there had been a room fire? Currently though, the rooms do have a mini fridge, but no freezer shelf. And IIRC, no visible means of adjusting the fridge temp. They're taller than the cube fridges. We were there just over 2wks ago, in a standard room/courtyard-woods view. We've always stayed in a regular non-suite room, and have always had a fridge in our room at GCH.

 

[Nonsuch]

I think there was a time a yr or two ago when there had been issues with the mini Fridges? I seem to recall there had been a room fire?

A refrigerator in a room at GCH did catch fire, or at least generated smoke. This prompted the replacement of refrigerators in all 3 DLR hotels. A large number were replaced, but might have just been specific models.

I recently (within the last year) adjusted a refrigerator at GCH to maximum cold, and my can sodas froze and exploded.

 

[Mividadisney]

Please let me know what you learn, I need a fridge for my child as well.

I just called and every standard room does have a mini dorm fridge. You do NOT have to request one.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Would the renovations next year be a reason to avoid staying here in 2016? I have never stayed anywhere with renovations going on, but I wouldn't want to pay all the money to stay here and have there be noisy construction going on. Does anyone have any experience with this?

No experience but if they handle it like many other hotels you could definitely be impacted somehow. There is just no way to know for sure how construction noise will impact your stay. Maybe you're placed on the other side of the hotel and can't even tell construction is occurring, maybe you're the unlucky soul put in the closest open room to the construction zone. Personally I would either book now and change if construction is confirmed during my stay or go straight to booking DLH. (No official announcements at this point but Nonsuch on the DIS is on top of GCH info so I'm sure a refurb announcement is coming!) If construction is confirmed I'd rebook at DLH. Although, if you are going over a busy period maybe just book DLH right off the bat, wouldn't want to lose it.

 

[azdisneylover]

Would the renovations next year be a reason to avoid staying here in 2016? I have never stayed anywhere with renovations going on, but I wouldn't want to pay all the money to stay here and have there be noisy construction going on. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I have not stayed at the GCH while construction was going on. With that said, I am married to a construction worker (finishing trade) that has done many hotel remodels. The workers are limited as to when they can do their work (think bankers hours or less). Usually, a wing or a floor, depending on the size of the hotel/motel, would be shut down and the trades would be in there, sometimes on top of each other, to get their work done.
Once the work is finished, including the new furniture, the wing is turned over and the next is closed until the hotel is done. Doing work in the public area is the hardest because you have people out and about at all hours during the day and night. Some parents do not watch their children as well as they should, which slows the workers down.
I hope you have a great time when you go to Disneyland.