Grand Californian Super Thread

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks so much MVF! I'll look for the GCH entrance next to Studio 365.

Yea, you go through the DTD walkway into the GCH entrance, than you go into the hotel, than there will be signs to tell you where to go to the DCA park entrance inside the hotel.

This is the DTD entrance to the GCH. When you look at the picture, Studio 365 will be on the right side.

This is Studio 365 and the GCH entrance is on the left side on this pic.
http://*******************.com/wp-content/uploads/06_09_DLR_7116-600x419.jpg

 

[23bw]

Just returned from our week's stay at the GCH. All the praise given to this hotel is true. It truely is worth the money if you can afford to do it.

We booked a standard room but were given an upgrade to a theme park room without me ever asking for it. I was a bit hesitant accepting the theme park room because of the extra noise for WOC. That worry quickly disappeared after noticing how quiet it was in the room with the patio door closed. Noise was never a problem for a light sleeper like me.

The food at Story Teller was consistently good as we remembered.

GCH guest are allowed to enter DCA early to get WOC FPs and ride Soaring.
One morning we entered DCA at 9:15am and there were other hotel guests already in the parks at the WOC FP machines. At about 9:45am, the front gates opens up and hundreds of people stampede over to the WOC FP machines. The rest of the park is still closed until 10am.

 

[BunnieGene]

I have to say, I think the whole "here's a sleeping bag, enjoy your time on the floor" is pretty cheesy for a hotel of this price. I mean, come on people, I think even the cheapest of motels have cots. Please tell me that they at least give the person with a sleeping bag a floor mat for a little cushioning?

A mat does does come with the sleeping bag...and the sleeping bags are nice and heavy from Lands End.

 

[fidoprincess]

BunnieGene, Did you get a sleeping bag and mat? If so, what type of room did you book, ie. what view?

If you wanted to bring your own air mattress instead, is there room to move the furniture like the table and chair to set it up? Where was there room for the sleeping bag? Any chance you could fit a queen sized air mattress anywhere, even in front of the bathroom sinks or walkway?

We have 2 10 year olds and a 15 year old and the 10 year olds would be happy to be on the queen air mattress but no one really wants the floor or the cot unless we can do 2 cots side by side. It just doesn't seem possible but I have not been in a room.

We are scheduled for August and although reservations assured us that 99% chance we could get a 2 queen + daybed room as long as we booked a standard view, I know there are only a few of these rooms so we are planning for the most likely scene of getting a sleeping bag-ugh!

Thanks for any help.

 

[DianaSparrow]

Yea, you go through the DTD walkway into the GCH entrance, than you go into the hotel, than there will be signs to tell you where to go to the DCA park entrance inside the hotel.

This is the DTD entrance to the GCH. When you look at the picture, Studio 365 will be on the right side.

This is Studio 365 and the GCH entrance is on the left side on this pic.
http://*******************.com/wp-content/uploads/06_09_DLR_7116-600x419.jpg

Thanks again MVF! I couldn't have asked for a better visual to the entrance! Thanks for taking the time!

 

[BunnieGene]

BunnieGene, Did you get a sleeping bag and mat? If so, what type of room did you book, ie. what view?

If you wanted to bring your own air mattress instead, is there room to move the furniture like the table and chair to set it up? Where was there room for the sleeping bag? Any chance you could fit a queen sized air mattress anywhere, even in front of the bathroom sinks or walkway?

We have 2 10 year olds and a 15 year old and the 10 year olds would be happy to be on the queen air mattress but no one really wants the floor or the cot unless we can do 2 cots side by side. It just doesn't seem possible but I have not been in a room.

We are scheduled for August and although reservations assured us that 99% chance we could get a 2 queen + daybed room as long as we booked a standard view, I know there are only a few of these rooms so we are planning for the most likely scene of getting a sleeping bag-ugh!

Thanks for any help.

In front of the bathroom sinks is actually where we put the sleeping bag... and I think there would be room for 2 of them there...don't think there would be room for a queen air mattress, though. I also don't think there would be room for one by moving the table, either. We had standard view rooms with 2 queens and no daybed, connecting with each other. The sleeping bags were for my then 7 year old nieces in case they wanted to sleep in our room instead of their own...we only used one of the sleeping bags but I do think that 2 would fit next to each other in the sink area...and definitely one could easily fit in the walkway if you wanted to keep the sink area clear...

 

[Nonsuch]

We are scheduled for August and although reservations assured us that 99% chance we could get a 2 queen + daybed room as long as we booked a standard view, I know there are only a few of these rooms so we are planning for the most likely scene of getting a sleeping bag-ugh!

Another alternative is a queen with bunk beds.
There is a pullout bed under the lower bunk

 

[blackjackdelta]

In front of the bathroom sinks is actually where we put the sleeping bag... and I think there would be room for 2 of them there...don't think there would be room for a queen air mattress, though. I also don't think there would be room for one by moving the table, either. We had standard view rooms with 2 queens and no daybed, connecting with each other. The sleeping bags were for my then 7 year old nieces in case they wanted to sleep in our room instead of their own...we only used one of the sleeping bags but I do think that 2 would fit next to each other in the sink area...and definitely one could easily fit in the walkway if you wanted to keep the sink area clear...

That is going to be real tight no matter how you position things.

Jack

 

[fidoprincess]

Thanks BunnieGene. It's nice of you to take the time to answer my questions. Had you requested the daybed and didn't get it? You didn't have 5 in the room on your reservation though?

Looking at the photos, I think that is the only real "space" by the sink. I think I will take both the cots and the airbed and see what I can squeeze in. The girls are easy but oh boy, we are so used to the DLH and I think their rooms are much larger. Even if we just had 2 kids with us, we always got the 2 queen beds with the sofa bed and they would bring us a rollaway too so the boy and girl each had their own bed and DH and I would hog a queen each. Still, DLH would not guarantee us that we would not get near the construction, no matter what rate we paid, so I would rather squish up than hear hammers.

Anyone have a photo of the 2Queen+daybed room? I have not found one yet! Just goes to show how rare they are.

Nonsuch, That pic is adorable. Yes, I know about the bunkbeds with the trundle but my ds is almost 6' and the girls are both close to or over the 5' "guideline" and certainly over the weigh limit for the trundle. Still, if we get that, we will manage but apparently people who request those don't get them either since they are also in small supply as well.

blackjackdelta, I hear you! I know it will be tight. I was happy being across the street-lol but DH really wants to lounge around and use the pool and spa. I am just happy to be going but isn't ironic to be paying so much and hauling along our own bedding?! Did you ever get the sleeping bag?

I told him we should just book another room and he just about fainted because we are already spending so much on extras like riverside seating, blue bayou, club 365 for the girls, etc.. Luckily our package came with Goofys but now they want to do the Plaza too since that is where Pooh and Friend are. I think I should add all the "extras" up and see if the price approaches having another room. Then I would be on here asking what the chances are of NOT getting the connecting room you requested-lol!

Thanks again everyone.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks BunnieGene. It's nice of you to take the time to answer my questions. Had you requested the daybed and didn't get it? You didn't have 5 in the room on your reservation though?

Looking at the photos, I think that is the only real "space" by the sink. I think I will take both the cots and the airbed and see what I can squeeze in. The girls are easy but oh boy, we are so used to the DLH and I think their rooms are much larger. Even if we just had 2 kids with us, we always got the 2 queen beds with the sofa bed and they would bring us a rollaway too so the boy and girl each had their own bed and DH and I would hog a queen each. Still, DLH would not guarantee us that we would not get near the construction, no matter what rate we paid, so I would rather squish up than hear hammers.

Anyone have a photo of the 2Queen+daybed room? I have not found one yet! Just goes to show how rare they are.

Nonsuch, That pic is adorable. Yes, I know about the bunkbeds with the trundle but my ds is almost 6' and the girls are both close to or over the 5' "guideline" and certainly over the weigh limit for the trundle. Still, if we get that, we will manage but apparently people who request those don't get them either since they are also in small supply as well.

blackjackdelta, I hear you! I know it will be tight. I was happy being across the street-lol but DH really wants to lounge around and use the pool and spa. I am just happy to be going but isn't ironic to be paying so much and hauling along our own bedding?! Did you ever get the sleeping bag?

I told him we should just book another room and he just about fainted because we are already spending so much on extras like riverside seating, blue bayou, club 365 for the girls, etc.. Luckily our package came with Goofys but now they want to do the Plaza too since that is where Pooh and Friend are. I think I should add all the "extras" up and see if the price approaches having another room. Then I would be on here asking what the chances are of NOT getting the connecting room you requested-lol!

Thanks again everyone.

No, there were 4 of us, two girls(16,18) shared a queen and we thought it was tight with that arrangement but we could not beat the DTD view. Have a 1 bedroom villa this year so the ladies will be more comfortable, I hope.

Jack

 

[fidoprincess]

Oh, lucky you! I would love to get into a villa but after just coming back from Alaska, it was out of the question for us. Once at DLH, we got upgraded for free to a beautiful suite and I was so thrilled. We had 2 queen beds in the bedroom. a giant bathroom with a separate glass shower and separate tub and a giant vanity. It was beautiful! Then the living room was huge and had a sofa bed and there was another 1/2 bathroom. Too bad DH had to work and missed it but ds got sick and threw up the entire night in the 1/2 bath. How nice to have an extra bathroom for that!

When do you go? I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the villa!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Oh, lucky you! I would love to get into a villa but after just coming back from Alaska, it was out of the question for us. Once at DLH, we got upgraded for free to a beautiful suite and I was so thrilled. We had 2 queen beds in the bedroom. a giant bathroom with a separate glass shower and separate tub and a giant vanity. It was beautiful! Then the living room was huge and had a sofa bed and there was another 1/2 bathroom. Too bad DH had to work and missed it but ds got sick and threw up the entire night in the 1/2 bath. How nice to have an extra bathroom for that!

When do you go? I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the villa!

We will be there 8/15-8/21, about 5 weeks. About 100 degree's here today so spent most of the day by the pool or in it. Have much to do before we head on down.

Jack

 

[ipdenc]

Oh, lucky you! I would love to get into a villa but after just coming back from Alaska, it was out of the question for us. Once at DLH, we got upgraded for free to a beautiful suite and I was so thrilled. We had 2 queen beds in the bedroom. a giant bathroom with a separate glass shower and separate tub and a giant vanity. It was beautiful! Then the living room was huge and had a sofa bed and there was another 1/2 bathroom. Too bad DH had to work and missed it but ds got sick and threw up the entire night in the 1/2 bath. How nice to have an extra bathroom for that!

When do you go? I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the villa!

SOOOOO cool! It seems the more I read, the more and more FREE UPGRADES from the DLR hotels!!!!!! I wonder how often this really happens. I would love my luck to change when I go in Sept. and just get a view other than a parking lot!!

 

[fidoprincess]

Oh, how funny, we get there the 16th and leave the 21st. Someone just said that OC kids go back to school on the 18th so hopefully the crowds will die down a bit. My kids always went back before this too, the 11th last year but because of budget cuts, we have some extra summer and they don't start until the 23.

You and I have plenty of time in Disneyland though so the crowds won't bother us too much but I hope it's not 100 degrees! We have been socked in on the coast with fog and haven't had any hot days at the beach since early June. I would just like a happy medium, some sun but not too hot.

I remember being in DL about the same time in the past and we were pretty hot, maybe upper 80's, low 90s so we just plan on doing early morning and taking a pool break in the afternoon and back to DL at night.

Off topic, how do you plan to do WOC? I was thinking of just sending DH down to get fastpasses in the am but then realized that each of our tickets need to be activated to work the fastpass machine which means we all have to be up and dressed at least by 9:15 when they let the hotel guests in early. I guess we'll do that and then TSMM while the lines are light on one day but I'd rather do DL in the am and then when it starts to get crowded, head over to DCA. Then I read that FP and picnics get the same colors so I am wondering if it is worth doing the Tratoria or Ariel Dinner for the better color.

Since we just booked, I am trying to get it all planned out asap instead of my usual research for months mode but things are so different since we were last there.

 

[fidoprincess]

ipdenc, not to be mean but don't get your hopes up. It was about 5 years ago and we stayed there about 10 times in that one year, once for 10 whole days, and that was the only upgrade we ever got. Before that year, we would go maybe 3 times a year for 10 years.

We usually booked that upper level park view room so I guess there wasn't much to upgrade us to but a suite and I think the hotel was just packed that time so someone had to move somewhere. I was so glad it was us especially since we spent so much time in the room with sick ds!

When we first started going, we booked a standard and hoped so much for an upgrade and never got it so after that, we'd just pay the extra and "request" that tower and that view and always got it. I am a firm believer in book what you want and don't hope for upgrades or you will probably be disappointed but in my case, we really don't have a choice to pay extra for what we want. I might just be tempted to slip a tip in like we do in vegas and see if that works-lol!

 

[BunnieGene]

Thanks BunnieGene. It's nice of you to take the time to answer my questions. Had you requested the daybed and didn't get it? You didn't have 5 in the room on your reservation though?

No, we didn't request the 2 queen/daybed room...we had parties of 2 & 3 and our priority request was connecting rooms.

And to echo a later sentiment of yours, don't expect an upgrade...in all of our Disney travels (dating back to 1996) to both Florida and California we have had exactly 1 upgrade...we, too, always reserve the room/view that we want

 

[ipdenc]

No, we didn't request the 2 queen/daybed room...we had parties of 2 & 3 and our priority request was connecting rooms.

And to echo a later sentiment of yours, don't expect an upgrade...in all of our Disney travels (dating back to 1996) to both Florida and California we have had exactly 1 upgrade...we, too, always reserve the room/view that we want

Ok! I am going to call and pay for an upgrade. At this point we have a Standard Room. Now I need to pick which view I should upgrade to. I wish it was time to leave.........................I can't wait!

 

[carolinamama]

We were upgraded this time, and it's the second time in 4 Disney (1 DLR and 3 WDW) trips (I was with my parents all the other times, so I don't know if we got upped on those). Maybe we're just lucky, I don't know, and we didn't ask for these, either. We booked standard back in March and expected standard. To our pleasant surprise, when we checked in, we were told our room was 4th floor with a pool view. Our room wasn't ready, so she offered to check and see if there were any other rooms available that were ready, but I turned her down because I loved the sound of this room, and we didn't need the room that second. We were near the end of our wing and also got good views of Paradise Pier. Thanks GCH!!

But your best bet is always to book what you want/can afford/can live with. Don't depend on the upgrade!

As an aside, I do wonder if it ever has to do with how long you've had the ressie booked. Our two upgrades came after we booked 4 - 5 months out. The other two trips were booked like 3 - 6 weeks in advance. I don't know, maybe just coincidence, but it does make me wonder.

 

[KCmike]

Do they have someone that comes around when your poolside and can take orders for drinks/snacks/food? Is that allowed in the pool area?

 

[BunnieGene]

Do they have someone that comes around when your poolside and can take orders for drinks/snacks/food? Is that allowed in the pool area?

Yes, they do...had the chili-cheese fries in May when we were there...