Grand Californian Super Thread

[mrswh]

Standard view rooms are limited to either Disneyland Drive/valet or Courtyard/monorail. The latter of the 2 is preferable!

Thanks! I will give a call with that request. The concierge rooms are all together, though, right?

 

[mrswh]

Thanks! I will give a call with that request. The concierge rooms are all together, though, right?

Sorry for the monologue, but wanted to say I got the answer to that question - the GCH called me right after I typed that so I got all my questions answered.

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the answer is yes - all the concierge rooms are on the 6th floor - there is no 6th floor in the "wings" so they are all lumped together in the middle part of the building.

 

[Nonsuch]

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the answer is yes - all the concierge rooms are on the 6th floor - there is no 6th floor in the "wings" so they are all lumped together in the middle part of the building.

I have only done concierge twice and both times the room was on the 6th floor, not far from the lounge. There is nothing different about the concierge rooms, so theoretically any room could be upgraded to concierge. The lounge is a major feature of concierge, so it makes sense for the rooms to be nearby.

Another cool feature of concierge is the checkin process. A CM will meet you at your car, and take you up to the dedicated concierge registration/services desk on the 6th floor
This particularly nice on Sundays, when registration can be very busy.

 

[caimakale]

I have only done concierge twice and both times the room was on the 6th floor, not far from the lounge. There is nothing different about the concierge rooms, so theoretically any room could be upgraded to concierge. The lounge is a major feature of concierge, so it makes sense for the rooms to be nearby.

Another cool feature of concierge is the checkin process. A CM will meet you at your car, and take you up to the dedicated concierge registration/services desk on the 6th floor
This particularly nice on Sundays, when registration can be very busy.

So calling in to pre-register is pretty much pointless if you're staying at the concierge level?

How many concierge rooms are there total?

 

[Nonsuch]

So calling in to pre-register is pretty much pointless if you're staying at the concierge level?

I've never called to pre-register, so I don't know.

How many concierge rooms are there total

There can't very many, since the lounge is not very large.

 

[Michelle2]

I love the Grand! I have stayed there a few times, but the last time was 5 years ago back in 2005. Yikes!
We are planning to stay there in August for our upcoming DL trip, but I was wondering about the standard view rooms.

Do all of the rooms have the flat screen TVs now, not just the villas? Do the standard view rooms still have the bedspreads, or have all of the rooms been upgraded to the white duvets? Are there any other changes to the regular rooms since 2005?
TIA

Ok, I just had to answer my own question just in case anyone was wondering. I am checking in to GCH tomorrow, but checked my mom in (next door to our soon to be room) and the standard view rooms off of the lobby have been refurbished to have the better duvets, beds, flat screen TVs and DVD players too! She is in room #3003 and its a great location, great room!
VERY excited for tomorrow!

 

[KCmike]

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

Hi everyone ... I have just spent the last 2 days reading most of this thread, but yet I still have questions (how is that possible???). We are planning our "maybe once in a lifetime" trip to California and have decided on 6 nights in Anaheim. Originally we thought of staying at Disneyland Hotel, but with all their renovations and a bunch of bad reviews we have decided to look at the GCH. We are a party of 7 (2 parents, 3 kids under 10 and 2 grandparents). We would like 2 rooms, preferably connecting, with one room having 1 queen bed and bunks or 2 queens and a day bed. From my reading I understand that rooms for 5 are quite rare. So my questions are:
1. What is the best way to ensure that we get the room configurations that we want - should we pay extra for 'view' rooms or just go with standard ones? I am not hung up on having a view, beds for all of us is more important!
2. We are planning on arriving March 27th 2011 and whilst I know that this might coincide with some spring breaks, is it likely that the hotel will be full then?
3. Is the GCH likely to have specials on accommodation at this time, eg stay5 pay 3?
4. Coming from Australia are we better to book with an Australian travel agent or directly with the hotel?

Thank you for taking the time to read my many questions and hopefully helping me with an answer or two! from : (down under!)

 

[zaccy]

Hi everyone ... I have just spent the last 2 days reading most of this thread, but yet I still have questions (how is that possible???). We are planning our "maybe once in a lifetime" trip to California and have decided on 6 nights in Anaheim. Originally we thought of staying at Disneyland Hotel, but with all their renovations and a bunch of bad reviews we have decided to look at the GCH. We are a party of 7 (2 parents, 3 kids under 10 and 2 grandparents). We would like 2 rooms, preferably connecting, with one room having 1 queen bed and bunks or 2 queens and a day bed. From my reading I understand that rooms for 5 are quite rare. So my questions are:
1. What is the best way to ensure that we get the room configurations that we want - should we pay extra for 'view' rooms or just go with standard ones? I am not hung up on having a view, beds for all of us is more important!
2. We are planning on arriving March 27th 2011 and whilst I know that this might coincide with some spring breaks, is it likely that the hotel will be full then?
3. Is the GCH likely to have specials on accommodation at this time, eg stay5 pay 3?
4. Coming from Australia are we better to book with an Australian travel agent or directly with the hotel?

Thank you for taking the time to read my many questions and hopefully helping me with an answer or two! from : (down under!)

Hi AussieDisneyNut Welcome to the boards I don't have any specific answers to your questions 1-3 but do urge you NOT to book through an Australian Travel agent, you will pay far more than you need to. There a disney specific travel agants in the US who will be able to help you.

Come on over to the other lands section where you will find an Australian thread of like minded Aussies who are a really helpful bunch when it comes to planning a trip from afar

 

[blackjackdelta]

Checked in late this afternoo. We are in room 3508 and here is the view out our window.

I could not be happier. Not much of a view of WOC, but we have tomorrow night at AG, we will see how it goes. Here is a night shot prior to WOC which starts in 6 minutes.

Have a great night, we are.

Jack

 

[bigAWL]

It looks like there are kids riding in the front of the monorail? Or is this the back? In WDW, I believe they stopped allowing guests to ride in front... after the fatal crash a few months ago when a driver was killed.

 

[franandaj]

So glad you are finally on your trip and you have an awesome view. Can't wait to hear more, you are so much into this trip and experience. I hope you make the most of it!

 

[BunnieGene]

Checked in late this afternoo. We are in room 3508 and here is the view out our window.

Have a great night, we are.

Jack

What a great view!

 

[panthergirl]

Hi all! I just booked my stay at the GCH for the D23 Expo next August. I'm wondering if the Anaheim Convention Center is walking distance from the hotel or if I should plan on having a car. I am so excited to finally get back to Disneyland. My first time there was in 1963 and I haven't been back in 25 years!

 

[DmaxHawk]

Checked in late this afternoo. We are in room 3508 and here is the view out our window.



I could not be happier. Not much of a view of WOC, but we have tomorrow night at AG, we will see how it goes. Here is a night shot prior to WOC which starts in 6 minutes.



Have a great night, we are.

Jack

Glad to hear you made it!
Enjoy your time there Jack!

 

[franandaj]

Hi all! I just booked my stay at the GCH for the D23 Expo next August. I'm wondering if the Anaheim Convention Center is walking distance from the hotel or if I should plan on having a car. I am so excited to finally get back to Disneyland. My first time there was in 1963 and I haven't been back in 25 years!

If the picture in your signature is of you, it appears that you are quite fit, so it's totally walkable. For myself and my spouse who are slightly and extremely disabled, we are going to stay at the Hilton right next to the Convention Center to be absolutely as close as possible.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We are planning our "maybe once in a lifetime" trip to California and have decided on 6 nights in Anaheim.
...We are a party of 7 (2 parents, 3 kids under 10 and 2 grandparents). We would like 2 rooms, preferably connecting, with one room having 1 queen bed and bunks or 2 queens and a day bed.
1. What is the best way to ensure that we get the room configurations that we want - should we pay extra for 'view' rooms or just go with standard ones?

Paying more for 'view' rooms will not help you get the bed configuration you want.
2 queen and day bed is rare, but a 1 queen with bunk connected to a 2 queen room should be possible. Most rooms are connected to an adjacent room and the majority of rooms are 2 queens. Bunks also have a third pullout bed.

You might consider renting a 2-bedroom villa. These are DVC timeshare rooms at the Grand Californian. Cash reservations directly from Disney are very limited, but there are companies that rent DVC -- search for "DVC rentals" (I do not have any experience with any of them).

A 2-bedroom can sleep 9, and has 3 full bathrooms
If a villa can be booked through a third party, the cost should be similar to 2 standard hotel rooms (without discounts).

 

[panthergirl]

If the picture in your signature is of you, it appears that you are quite fit, so it's totally walkable. For myself and my spouse who are slightly and extremely disabled, we are going to stay at the Hilton right next to the Convention Center to be absolutely as close as possible.

Thanks! The pic is when I was training for the WDW Half Marathon so I was in pretty good shape then. I am hoping to change over my reservation to a DVC studio and use my points at the 7 month mark. Is there much difference in the hotel rooms vs the villas?

 

[Nonsuch]

Is there much difference in the hotel rooms vs the villas?

A studio villa has a better layout for a couple, since in has one bed -- leaving more space for a sofa and table. This is similar to the rare hotel room with a king bed.

The studio has a wet bar with microwave and small refrigerator (which is larger than the refrigerator in hotel rooms).

More details from earlier in this thread

 

[funatdisney]

You might consider renting a 2-bedroom villa. These are DVC timeshare rooms at the Grand Californian. Cash reservations directly from Disney are very limited, but there are companies that rent DVC -- search for "DVC rentals" (I do not have any experience with any of them).

There a Rent/Trade Forum here at Disboards for renting DVC points. Just go to the Forum Jump section at the bottom of this page. Use the pull down to find the DVC Rent/Trade forum.