Grand Californian Super Thread

[Jojo Cat Lady]

Acorn Gifts has minimal non-perishables, but Craftsman Grill has some small refrigerated options .

There is a snack bar on the first floor, close to the pool, called "White Water Snacks." They have many grab and go options and a few fast-food type items you can order. The last time we were there, they had yogurt and some wonderful fruit plates we could take back to your room.

 

[ClaraOswald]

There is a snack bar on the first floor, close to the pool, called "White Water Snacks." They have many grab and go options and a few fast-food type items you can order. The last time we were there, they had yogurt and some wonderful fruit plates we could take back to your room.

I love their fruit plates. We'd get one at breakfast and share it.

 

[LKing]

According to the website, they don't have the fruit plate anymore. It might be seasonal because it was on the menu in July.

They have a Kids' Power Pack with: A Cuties® Mandarin Orange, a Yogurt Smoothie, Carrots and Whole-Grain "Fish" Crackers served with choice of small DASANI® Water or small Lowfat Milk.

 

[Pluto468]

We've bought yogurt at Craftsman Grill.

 

[DizMe]

Kind of OT, but I really wish they'd left the name as Whitewater Snacks. It seems like a stupid idea to me to call it Craftsman Grill when they also have Craftsman Bar. The names are too similar and I have to stop and think which is which. At least the word 'Bar' helps me remember

 

[LKing]

Kind of OT, but I really wish they'd left the name as Whitewater Snacks. It seems like a stupid idea to me to call it Craftsman Grill when they also have Craftsman Bar. The names are too similar and I have to stop and think which is which. At least the word 'Bar' helps me remember

I agree. I think it causes a lot of confusion.

 

[crazycatlady]

I am pretty sad that the gingerbread house isn't opening until the 22nd. I definitely would have planned our first holiday trip for the week after Thanksgiving had I known that not everything would be ready for the holiday season on the 15th. Does anyone know if the tree will be up earlier than the 22nd?

 

[BlueGreen5]

We are staying at VGC during a peak weekend. Realistically, a) what time do we need to be in the security line to take *some* advantage of EE, b) how long is it going to be between the time we get into line for security and when we are in the park, and c) does the answer differ slightly between Disneyland and DCA?

We clearly understand these answers for WDW, but we've never been to DLR. Sorry!

For context, we are not overly mad rope droppers. We do not line up at the ropes or run to rides like RoR. But, we do like to use EE to get settled before the crowds, enjoy the park for a minute in a bit quieter of a setting, maybe get the quintessential group castle pic before main street is jam packed, and maybe at least be in line for one must-do, but slightly less in-demand ride (something like PotC, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Toy Story Mania, Buzz, etc. - rides that will build a line, but usually not hours-long ones) before the park opens. We'll also be there for a few days and buy the LLMP and all of the ILLs, so like maximizing every minute of EE time is not a big priority.

For additional context, if we are at WDW, staying at VGF, and MK opens at 8:00 for EE, we'll leave our room at 7:15 (knowing it'll take about 30 minutes, if we're unlucky, to get through monorail security, wait for the monorail and ride it over), and then we get through the gate line and to our selected ride whenever we get there, usually around 10-15 minutes after rope drop, knowing that there were people who were already in MK and at the ropes when we left our room. Would it be a reasonable plan to leave our room 45 minutes before rope drop for VGC too? From former posts, it sounds like it takes quite a bit more time in California which is confusing me because it sounds like there is a lot smaller of a potential EE crowd.

Looking forward to hearing all of the input!

 

[StarlitNight05]

Just got back from a wonderful stay at GCH. Even though we love the location and the overall vibe of the hotel, we did notice that GCH was starting to show a bit of wear this trip. We had a two queen room with a small loveseat, and the loveseat had a large chunk of fabric missing from the arm. Also, one of the wood headboards had a stain on it...my theory was someone had some sort of product in their hair and it didn't jive with the wood so well. The carpet portion of the bedroom had a visible stain and some of the corners of furniture had scuffs and knicks. It wasn't anything that was too shocking, or that I felt warranted a call to the front desk, but it was just slightly disappointing. We were staying on a discounted Dapper Day rate, so I may have felt differently if we payed rack rates.

Oh and another thing I noticed is that you cannot run the rainfall shower head and the wand at the same time anymore. I noticed this when we stayed in a VDH room in January, but thought it was maybe a new water saving feature. Sounds like it was a resort wide change, unless we were just unlucky.

 

[Pluto468]

Kind of OT, but I really wish they'd left the name as Whitewater Snacks. It seems like a stupid idea to me to call it Craftsman Grill when they also have Craftsman Bar. The names are too similar and I have to stop and think which is which. At least the word 'Bar' helps me remember

Me too! I still call it Whitewater Snacks

 

[irlandaise]

We've bought yogurt at Craftsman Grill.

Thanks to all. They do indeed have two types of yogurt parfaits, one with berries and granola and one with chia seeds.

 

[torchlight]

We are staying at VGC during a peak weekend. Realistically, a) what time do we need to be in the security line to take *some* advantage of EE, b) how long is it going to be between the time we get into line for security and when we are in the park, and c) does the answer differ slightly between Disneyland and DCA?

We clearly understand these answers for WDW, but we've never been to DLR. Sorry!

For context, we are not overly mad rope droppers. We do not line up at the ropes or run to rides like RoR. But, we do like to use EE to get settled before the crowds, enjoy the park for a minute in a bit quieter of a setting, maybe get the quintessential group castle pic before main street is jam packed, and maybe at least be in line for one must-do, but slightly less in-demand ride (something like PotC, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Toy Story Mania, Buzz, etc. - rides that will build a line, but usually not hours-long ones) before the park opens. We'll also be there for a few days and buy the LLMP and all of the ILLs, so like maximizing every minute of EE time is not a big priority.

For additional context, if we are at WDW, staying at VGF, and MK opens at 8:00 for EE, we'll leave our room at 7:15 (knowing it'll take about 30 minutes, if we're unlucky, to get through monorail security, wait for the monorail and ride it over), and then we get through the gate line and to our selected ride whenever we get there, usually around 10-15 minutes after rope drop, knowing that there were people who were already in MK and at the ropes when we left our room. Would it be a reasonable plan to leave our room 45 minutes before rope drop for VGC too? From former posts, it sounds like it takes quite a bit more time in California which is confusing me because it sounds like there is a lot smaller of a potential EE crowd.

Looking forward to hearing all of the input!

Pasting most of a comment I had left to a similar question in a different thread recently:

Here was my experience a few weeks ago using EE for Disneyland as a Grand Californian (GCH) guest.

6:30, got in line for the GCH security gate into DTD. About 30 people deep in line. Probably mostly GCH guests but it is true anyone can use this line if they want to.

6:46, security gate opened. Probably 60 people behind me in line at this time. Single line splits into two and moves pretty quick. I’ve read that they might be running 4 security gates now instead of 2.

6:55, I have made it through security, walked at moderate (not run-walk) pace through DTD and have made it to the Disneyland turnstiles (ticket gate). I am the 8th person in line for the turnstile I chose. There were people walking up to the turnstiles from the Harbor security entrance at this time, so they must have opened Harbor before 7 also, and some Harbor people are beating the first hotel guests to the turnstiles.

7:20, turnstiles open. Again moderate walk direct to the EE checkpoint on Tomorrowland side of Hub and then to the EE rope that is gating the path to Fantasyland. I am very close to the front here, maybe 1 person back from the rope. I reach this point at 7:25.

7:30, EE rope drops and I head straight for Peter Pan. Huge line behind me at this point. I choose not to run and just walk normally, so I do lose some ground here, but I’m still off Peter Pan with a big smile on my face by 7:45.

Given the size of that line that ended up at the EE rope at 7:30, my experience would be that you want to be close to the front of that line to maximize the benefit of EE. To do that, you need to be near the front of the turnstiles line, and to do that you need to be near the front of whatever security line you are going to use.

 

[maleficent55]

Just got back from a wonderful stay at GCH. Even though we love the location and the overall vibe of the hotel, we did notice that GCH was starting to show a bit of wear this trip. We had a two queen room with a small loveseat, and the loveseat had a large chunk of fabric missing from the arm. Also, one of the wood headboards had a stain on it...my theory was someone had some sort of product in their hair and it didn't jive with the wood so well. The carpet portion of the bedroom had a visible stain and some of the corners of furniture had scuffs and knicks. It wasn't anything that was too shocking, or that I felt warranted a call to the front desk, but it was just slightly disappointing. We were staying on a discounted Dapper Day rate, so I may have felt differently if we payed rack rates.

Oh and another thing I noticed is that you cannot run the rainfall shower head and the wand at the same time anymore. I noticed this when we stayed in a VDH room in January, but thought it was maybe a new water saving feature. Sounds like it was a resort wide change, unless we were just unlucky.

Our rooms carpet was frayed where it meets the “wood” floor
Also a small patch of fabric was missing from a part of the carpet.

Oh! And some black ink pen marks in the seam above the sink, weird spot! Like someone threw a pen at the wall

 

[maleficent55]

I was bummed to see a post on a GCH Facebook group suggesting that the Holiday gingerbread house for the lobby will not be installed until Nov. 22. Our trip was scheduled with an understanding that Holidays at DL started on Nov. 15, so we'll miss that unfortunately.

We checked in last November on the 17th and the tree and gingerbread house were in place

The 22nd seems so late!

 

[DizMe]

Just got back from a wonderful stay at GCH. Even though we love the location and the overall vibe of the hotel, we did notice that GCH was starting to show a bit of wear this trip. We had a two queen room with a small loveseat, and the loveseat had a large chunk of fabric missing from the arm. Also, one of the wood headboards had a stain on it...my theory was someone had some sort of product in their hair and it didn't jive with the wood so well. The carpet portion of the bedroom had a visible stain and some of the corners of furniture had scuffs and knicks. It wasn't anything that was too shocking, or that I felt warranted a call to the front desk, but it was just slightly disappointing. We were staying on a discounted Dapper Day rate, so I may have felt differently if we payed rack rates.

Oh and another thing I noticed is that you cannot run the rainfall shower head and the wand at the same time anymore. I noticed this when we stayed in a VDH room in January, but thought it was maybe a new water saving feature. Sounds like it was a resort wide change, unless we were just unlucky.

I'm glad you had a wonderful stay! It's interesting how quickly the rooms go from newly refurbished to showing definite signs of wear! Seems like they were redone not that long ago, but I suppose it doesn't take long for rooms that are seldom vacant to deteriorate with all of the people who go in and out of them. I also have a poor sense of 'recent' ha ha. What seems like a couple of years ago to me could be 10.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Our rooms carpet was frayed where it meets the “wood” floor
Also a small patch of fabric was missing from a part of the carpet.

Oh! And some black ink pen marks in the seam above the sink, weird spot! Like someone threw a pen at the wall

Yikes! Sounds like our situation wasn't necessarily unique. I still love the hotel and the CMs, but I was shocked to notice the wear. Seems like they just did the refurb!

 

[StarlitNight05]

I'm glad you had a wonderful stay! It's interesting how quickly the rooms go from newly refurbished to showing definite signs of wear! Seems like they were redone not that long ago, but I suppose it doesn't take long for rooms that are seldom vacant to deteriorate with all of the people who go in and out of them. I also have a poor sense of 'recent' ha ha. What seems like a couple of years ago to me could be 10.

Thanks! I had so much fun I ended up buying a magic key just to lock in a few extra trips

That's part of why I was shocked because it didn't seem like that long ago they did the refurb, but then I was thinking more, and I think it was 2017 or 2018, so it could be overdue. I think the DVC side has a refurb scheduled in the next year or so, so maybe the hotel rooms are next.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Pasting most of a comment I had left to a similar question in a different thread recently:

Here was my experience a few weeks ago using EE for Disneyland as a Grand Californian (GCH) guest.

6:30, got in line for the GCH security gate into DTD. About 30 people deep in line. Probably mostly GCH guests but it is true anyone can use this line if they want to.

6:46, security gate opened. Probably 60 people behind me in line at this time. Single line splits into two and moves pretty quick. I’ve read that they might be running 4 security gates now instead of 2.

6:55, I have made it through security, walked at moderate (not run-walk) pace through DTD and have made it to the Disneyland turnstiles (ticket gate). I am the 8th person in line for the turnstile I chose. There were people walking up to the turnstiles from the Harbor security entrance at this time, so they must have opened Harbor before 7 also, and some Harbor people are beating the first hotel guests to the turnstiles.

7:20, turnstiles open. Again moderate walk direct to the EE checkpoint on Tomorrowland side of Hub and then to the EE rope that is gating the path to Fantasyland. I am very close to the front here, maybe 1 person back from the rope. I reach this point at 7:25.

7:30, EE rope drops and I head straight for Peter Pan. Huge line behind me at this point. I choose not to run and just walk normally, so I do lose some ground here, but I’m still off Peter Pan with a big smile on my face by 7:45.

Given the size of that line that ended up at the EE rope at 7:30, my experience would be that you want to be close to the front of that line to maximize the benefit of EE. To do that, you need to be near the front of the turnstiles line, and to do that you need to be near the front of whatever security line you are going to use.

Thanks for repeating! I didn't see this. But, admittingly, I didn't look hard because this thread is 400+ pages.

I'm confused about your comment re the Harbor turnstiles though. At what point do they cut off non-hotel guests for EE? Can non-hotel guests get all the way into the park during EE hours? If not, why would there be people walking from Harbor to the turnstiles before 7 (assuming anyone coming in from Harbor is not eligible for EE)? At WDW they only let EE guests into the park during EE hours; there's a separate ticket gate or two for them while the rest of the crowd waits at the main gates - is that not true at DLR?

 

[torchlight]

Thanks for repeating! I didn't see this. But, admittingly, I didn't look hard because this thread is 400+ pages.

I'm confused about your comment re the Harbor turnstiles though. At what point do they cut off non-hotel guests for EE? Can non-hotel guests get all the way into the park during EE hours? If not, why would there be people walking from Harbor to the turnstiles before 7 (assuming anyone coming in from Harbor is not eligible for EE)? At WDW they only let EE guests into the park during EE hours; there's a separate ticket gate or two for them while the rest of the crowd waits at the main gates - is that not true at DLR?

Yes, all guests (EE or not) can get into the park during EE time - as soon as the turnstiles open (~7:20am). Non-EE guests are held at the end of Main Street in the Central Plaza (Hub) area. These guests will be allowed further once the park officially opens at 8:00am - this is the traditional "rope drop".

EE guests are allowed to go further, past the end of Main Street to a different holding area, which opens at 7:30am for EE.

 

[BlueGreen5]

Yes, all guests (EE or not) can get into the park during EE time - as soon as the turnstiles open (~7:20am). Non-EE guests are held at the end of Main Street in the Central Plaza (Hub) area. These guests will be allowed further once the park officially opens at 8:00am - this is the traditional "rope drop".

EE guests are allowed to go further, past the end of Main Street to a different holding area, which opens at 7:30am for EE.

Wow - what a bummer for guests paying a premium to stay at the Disney hotels! I definitely expected to be in a relatively empty park for 30 minutes. We don't care as much about getting to the front of the lines for the rides as we do just being able to appreciate the parks and their history in a more serene setting for just a moment. You miss so much detail when folks are on top of each other.