Grand Californian Super Thread

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

How about for a partial view room? What's a good request for that? We're staying 3 nights next week!

 

[DizMe]

Piggybacking off of ^, is there any place that shows what rooms are in which category? I don't think I've seen it in this thread - if so, I apologize!

I think Nonsuch posted maps showing that but the links don't seem to work for the ones I tried. You might try doing a search of Nonsuch's postings (put the username in the search bar at the top of the homepage) and see if you can find it.

 

[DizMe]

How about for a partial view room? What's a good request for that? We're staying 3 nights next week!

What is most important to you? View? Easy access to the lobby? Close to elevators? Closer to DCA or DTD? Decide the main 'wants' and that's what to request.

For example, I don't care about the view, so I just ask for a room closest to the lobby and elevators.

 

[wallawallakids]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone knew about the laundry rooms at GCH. Do I need to bring quarters or is it a phone/app payment system. Also, does anyone know where the laundry rooms are located? I tried to do a search and didn't find any information, so I apologize if this is a duplicate question. Thank you

 

[Nonsuch]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone knew about the laundry rooms at GCH. Do I need to bring quarters or is it a phone/app payment system. Also, does anyone know where the laundry rooms are located? I tried to do a search and didn't find any information, so I apologize if this is a duplicate question. Thank you

https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-californian-super-thread.2396588/page-276#post-59882108

 

[wallawallakids]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-californian-super-thread.2396588/page-276#post-59882108

Thank you. Does anyone know if these take quarters? Thanks

ETA: Sorry, Just found this on Disney.

Please note that credit and debit cards are now the only methods of payment accepted at all laundry locations for washers, dryers and soap vending machines

Thank you for your help!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Hopefully the machines are all working when you're there. When we were there in June, there was literally ONE washing machine that worked. And 2 dryers. I heard the same thing happened a few weeks back as well, apparently.

 

[wallawallakids]

Hopefully the machines are all working when you're there. When we were there in June, there was literally ONE washing machine that worked. And 2 dryers. I heard the same thing happened a few weeks back as well, apparently.

Oh wow! That’s terrible! I hope they have repaired them!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah, it wasn't that the machines, themselves, were broken. I guess the electronic thing where you have to purchase/select the machine wasn't working. So when that happens, all machines in the room go down.

 

[Jane VanTassel]

Hey all, what's the likelihood that "Pool view" will be a decent park view? The phone rep/CM called it "premium view" and that it could be park or pool view, but the reservation online is labeled "pool view." I assume they just combine the two into one category.

I also have a separate reservation that is "Downtown Disney view" that was a total of $68.8 less expensive for the 4 nights we'll be there. I'm torn on which one to keep. I wonder if Downtown Disney will be loud, but I like that it saves a little. Also, the one time I stayed here we had a view of the pool so looking into Downtown Disney could be something different--unless I'm able to get an actual park view and that would be awesome and totally worth the extra!

I've just happened to get a Downtown Dis room one time; take home message was noise. Not horrible but markedly more noticeable. I always just get standard room: I never care what my view is because I'm never there or sleeping for the most part: and any $$ I can "save" ie spend elsewhere:

 

[VicgirlBC]

We arrive on Monday I am getting so excited! My “kids” (age 19 and 21) don’t know which hotel we are staying at, so it will be a great surprise when we pull up out front.

Can anyone provide insight into how well the gym is stocked with things like very heavy free weights, weight machines, barbells etc? Son is very into lifting and nervous about missing gym days while we are away.

 

[OneThree]

We arrive on Monday I am getting so excited! My “kids” (age 19 and 21) don’t know which hotel we are staying at, so it will be a great surprise when we pull up out front.

Can anyone provide insight into how well the gym is stocked with things like very heavy free weights, weight machines, barbells etc? Son is very into lifting and nervous about missing gym days while we are away.

You can find photos/reviews of the gym here

 

[wallawallakids]

We arrive on Monday I am getting so excited! My “kids” (age 19 and 21) don’t know which hotel we are staying at, so it will be a great surprise when we pull up out front.

Can anyone provide insight into how well the gym is stocked with things like very heavy free weights, weight machines, barbells etc? Son is very into lifting and nervous about missing gym days while we are away.

My husband and I worked out there three days this week. It’s pretty good. Lots of dumbbells. I only used up to 40lbs but there were much heavier ones. There are several machines. No barbells. Peloton bikes, great treadmills, rower, and elliptical. Lots of mats, box for cross fit jumping. Headphones to use, water and snacks. If your son wants something specific I can let you know if we saw it there.

 

[VicgirlBC]

My husband and I worked out there three days this week. It’s pretty good. Lots of dumbbells. I only used up to 40lbs but there were much heavier ones. There are several machines. No barbells. Peloton bikes, great treadmills, rower, and elliptical. Lots of mats, box for cross fit jumping. Headphones to use, water and snacks. If your son wants something specific I can let you know if we saw it there.

Thank you so much! Really he just wants to lift weights. He’ll have to make due to free weights and machines. That is, if he has the energy after hitting the parks for EE every day. Haha.

 

[VicgirlBC]

You can find photos/reviews of the gym here

Thanks for those pictures!

 

[maleficent55]

Verifying that the ultimate best way to request a specific room is

10 days out via phone?

And also if I know the room I want I can give a range of up to 6 room numbers with that room included?

Also, YES, I know there are never any guarantees

Thanks!

 

[Chili327]

Verifying that the ultimate best way to request a specific room is

10 days out via phone?

And also if I know the room I want I can give a range of up to 6 room numbers with that room included?

Also, YES, I know there are never any guarantees

Thanks!

I made some room requests yesterday via chat, but it definitely didn’t feel like it was going to help. I gave them a list of about 7 room numbers.

 

[Huskyfan860]

We just wrapped up a four night stay and I wanted to share some info in case it’s helpful for anybody!

Overall, it’s obviously a very nice hotel. Definitely a large, sprawling hotel but for us the location was fantastic. We were in 5403 (courtyard view) and we were extremely close to the Napa Rose elevators which was ideal since it’s so close to the dedicated entrance to DCA.

The staff were all very nice and if you’re coming from WDW, we definitely felt like we were in the “Disney Bubble” the entire time.

As far as early entry goes - we did EE on Saturday (DL), Sunday (DCA on an Oogie Boogie day), and Monday (DCA). All three days we used the Downtown Disney security gate which opens up at 6:45am. You can then go to the front gates of whatever park you’re going to. On Saturday we got to the security gate around 6:35 and there was already a bit of a line. Not sure if this is normal or just because of the size of the line but they also opened up a security gate to go to Downtown Disney over by Starbucks. We got through security in about 10-15 minutes and then headed over to DL, and Early Entry was a breeze at that point. We did a total of 11 rides between 7:30 and 11:30 (4 Fantasyland rides, Space Mountain just before regular Rope Drop, Matterhorn, Indy, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Millennium Falcon, and Rise) using a combo of EE and lightning lanes.

On Sunday we were also down in line at around 6:35am, and there was already a decent line at the dedicated DCA entrance but we were much closer to the front of the line at the Downtown Disney entrance. We breezed through security and we were the first ones through the gate at DCA.

On Monday we headed down to the Downtown Disney entrance around 6:45am, breezed right through, and we were still able to be right at the front gates for DCA.

All in all, if you’re okay with being up and ready to go early in the morning, Early Entry is a fantastic perk and it makes the rest of your day all the more manageable.

All in all we had a fantastic stay and it’s going to be hard to stay anywhere else the next time we come out. It’s pricey but we were able to use the summer discount that got us 25% off stays of 4 days or longer, so that helped quite a bit.

 

[LKing]

they also opened up a security gate to go to Downtown Disney over by Starbucks.

This is interesting. Has anyone else been through security by Starbucks? I wonder if they are testing adding a third security station.

 

[wallawallakids]

This is interesting. Has anyone else been through security by Starbucks? I wonder if they are testing adding a third security station.

Yes. We did this in August one morning. However, that entrance opened later than the other DTD entrance. We lined up most mornings at 6 am and the DTD line was the only one that was open at 7. The Starbucks entrance line opened around 7:20 ish. Our last day we didn’t get up as early on purpose and we hit the Starbucks entry line at 7:30. There was no line and it was very fast. We went to Starbucks and still made it into the park and on a ride by 7:45.