Grand Californian Super Thread

[KCmike]

Just outside the front doors

 

[franandaj]

I've stayed at the GCH many times, so I can't believe that I'm asking this question, but I saw the menu for the Hearthstone Lounge on allears and I'm curious:

1) Where is the Hearthstone Lounge located?

2) Would anyone recommend it for a light meal if we're not hungry enough to go out for a full dinner?

In all the times we've stayed there, I've never even noticed that this place exists! Thanks in advance!

I've had the sliders there and they are yummy

It's located across the lobby from the gift shop... And I think it would work for a light meal...

I had no idea that they served anything other than drinks and breakfast pastries!

 

[jasy]

I'm sorry things weren't up to par. Just out of curiosity, what WERE you expecting?

I don't know to be honest, I was going in with an open mind. The hotel is beautiful looking and the rooms are nice (we stayed in a 1 king room with pullout) but they aren't anything exceptional and I think I was expecting exceptional. I've stayed in many, many hotels and I think I was just expecting more. I told my DH that I think another reason is the Grand isn't really "Disney" and when I do to DL I want "Disney".

But like I said in my previous post the main thing that ruined it for me was how dirty the fitness center was, it's important to me to be able to use this daily and I wasn't able to. Also, the pack n play in our room was disgusting as well so that didn't help (thank god for my coverplay).

I wouldn't tell anyone I know not to stay there, I personally would just book somewhere else first... unless there was a killer deal on the room, then I might be swayed.

 

[farmfresh]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. We have not had an experience like that - in fact, I really like this hotel. It is an expensive hotel, and perhaps not quite as 'deluxe' as similarly priced hotels in other places. But I think the earlier OP is right - the pricing reflects its location. That's not an excuse for poor cleaning (nothing is!) but I hope your experience with that is singular.

Not sure the DLH is necessarily the solution for you though. Whilst it's a good hotel too,(and we've always enjoyed our stays here) the gap between price and expectation might come into play here too (although the new room renovations will help.)

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have also traveled alot and have stayed in the Mandarin Oriental Hotels(where offered and payed by the company) and a king single runs about $850-$1000/night and I find the grand better in many aspects. I do jog everynight and have never used the exercise facilities because most are disgusting.
I am sorry that you had a bad experience. I hope you did go down to the lobby and complain so they could follow up so it does not ever happen again.
I can tell you most the places I have stayed do not sit next to Disneyland.

Jack

 

[Golfing Goofy]

I should add though that all my good feelings for the place went out the window when I used the fitness center on our first morning there, it was filthy, and they had no cleaning supplies available for the machines. I spoke with a CM about this and was told there were no cleaning supplies available, I asked when there would be some they just shrugged... By the time we checked out (7 days later) they had provided guests with a container of lysol wipes which I assume is because I complained. To their credit though Guest Services did provide me with access to the fitness centers at both the DLH and PPH, which were much better than the one at the GCH.

Wow! That is terrible! My experience in the gym was much different; however I went during the peak summer season. Of course, I find all gyms a little yucky, but they had a cleaning crew finishing up one morning. I arrived right as it was opening and the crew was leaving. Also, there were wipes available on the stand.

Normally I go to the gym first thing in the morning, but the one time I went mid day, a lady was in there picking up the dirty towel and wiping down the machines. Again, this was during a peak season. Maybe they do not have as many CM cleaning during different times of the year???

One observation, I think there were more people working in the hotel and around the grounds in past years than this summer....I am not sure, but that was my impression this year.

We primarily stay at the GCH now and I have found that they seem to be sensitive to my requests. That is really too bad about your experience. It is hard to look past that, especially when you are paying premier rates!

 

[mrswh]

I don't know to be honest, I was going in with an open mind. The hotel is beautiful looking and the rooms are nice (we stayed in a 1 king room with pullout) but they aren't anything exceptional and I think I was expecting exceptional. I've stayed in many, many hotels and I think I was just expecting more. I told my DH that I think another reason is the Grand isn't really "Disney" and when I do to DL I want "Disney".

But like I said in my previous post the main thing that ruined it for me was how dirty the fitness center was, it's important to me to be able to use this daily and I wasn't able to. Also, the pack n play in our room was disgusting as well so that didn't help (thank god for my coverplay).

I wouldn't tell anyone I know not to stay there, I personally would just book somewhere else first... unless there was a killer deal on the room, then I might be swayed.

I totally understand being disappointed if you had the GCH built up in your mind. I had looked at the photos and read the reviews on Trip Advisor, and had been to the lobby and restaurants many times . . . so I certainly wasn't expecting it to be as nice as other $400 a night hotels. As others have mentioned, it really is the location that allows the GCH to charge what they do. We have stayed at the Hyatt up Harbor many times and I can say unequivocally it is a MUCH nicer hotel than the GCH, and we can get three times as much space for 1/3rd of the price . . . but there is just something so wonderful about being on the doorstep of Disney! It's just a matter of what's important to you. I'm sorry you didn't have a great experience!

I did want to say that it sounds like you managed to get very unlucky with CMs during your stay. I have found that, as in the real world, throughout Disney there are some CMs (from hotel employees to characters, ride operators, etc.) that are amazing, and others that just aren't. Maybe someone had a bad day . . . maybe they're just not that friendly. I find that usually at Disney I run into someone not so helpful, but another CM somewhere else is over the top fantastic, and it makes up for it. It sounds like you never got the good end of the spectrum, and that's a bummer.

By the way, I always wondered who would use the gym there - after hoofing it around Disney (with two small children) all day, I'm way too tired to go to the gym!!

 

[pearl12970]

We will probably arrive at GCH around 1:30pm and since we don't expect to get the room until 3 pm; will grab some lunch while waiting for the room. We will have a toddler with us . Could you suggest a restaurant in DTD that's closest to GCH and also kid friendly ? I am already aware about WWS but would rather just stroll out to DTD

 

[pearl12970]

We may just get some takeout food on our way back from the Parks.

 

[VallCopen]

The mexican restaurant in DTD is fairly inexpensive and kid friendly and the food isn't to bad, I wouldn't say great but it is a great place for some chips and salsa, a taco, and a drink.

 

[mmmears]

We may just get some takeout food on our way back from the Parks.

There's also La Brea Bakery and Naples Pizza, pretty much on your way back, too. And Whitewater Snacks out by the pool. Honestly, there are lots of choices! Enjoy!

 

[soaringirl]

Hi guys!!! I'm just a few days off I'm so excited, can't wait!!!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! to everyone here that helped me and others (I loved to read all other questions!), and thanks too to RCMIKE (hope I put it right) for his wonderful pics!!

SOOO HAPPY!!

 

[DmaxHawk]

Hi guys!!! I'm just a few days off I'm so excited, can't wait!!!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! to everyone here that helped me and others (I loved to read all other questions!), and thanks too to RCMIKE (hope I put it right) for his wonderful pics!!

SOOO HAPPY!!

Glad to hear you are very close to your trip and hope you enjoy it!

It's KCmike.

 

[pearl12970]

Thanks mmmears. What time does WWS close at night ?

There's also La Brea Bakery and Naples Pizza, pretty much on your way back, too. And Whitewater Snacks out by the pool. Honestly, there are lots of choices! Enjoy!

 

[mmmears]

Thanks mmmears. What time does WWS close at night ?

Gosh, I can't remember. We usually grab a light lunch or a snack there when we spend the afternoon out by the pool...

Hopefully someone else here will know the answer!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Gosh, I can't remember. We usually grab a light lunch or a snack there when we spend the afternoon out by the pool...

Hopefully someone else here will know the answer!

It was 2100 when we were there, but, they were still fixing food long after that.

Jack

 

[jennym68]

Hi, i have just returned from a 9 night stay at the GCH. I read here many times over so wanted to thank everyone for the information and great pics, it really helped me plan my holiday.
We were in room 2254 which was SO far away...we were almost at the PPH! We booked a standard non-view room and ended up with a bit of a view of Paradise Pier, side on view of the funwheel and could see some of WOC. We did ask for a change of rooms as the hike back to the lobby etc was just so long, the next day they told us we could move to the inner courtyard where the monorail runs. We actually ended up staying where we were because we at least had a partial view of DCA.
I loved the room..very clean and so quiet and the beds really comfortable. Our room had 2 queens. I travelled with my DH and DS (4). Everyday he would have a afternoon nap so being close to the park was great and i guess after a while we just got used to the walk back to the room.
I'm not sure if the $$$ are warranted but i did really enjoy my stay at the GCH. I am new to posting here so can't yet put any pics on but will do as soon as i am allowed if anyone is interested in the view from that room.

 

[bigAWL]

Hi, i have just returned from a 9 night stay at the GCH. I read here many times over so wanted to thank everyone for the information and great pics, it really helped me plan my holiday.
We were in room 2254 which was SO far away...we were almost at the PPH! We booked a standard non-view room and ended up with a bit of a view of Paradise Pier, side on view of the funwheel and could see some of WOC. We did ask for a change of rooms as the hike back to the lobby etc was just so long, the next day they told us we could move to the inner courtyard where the monorail runs. We actually ended up staying where we were because we at least had a partial view of DCA.
I loved the room..very clean and so quiet and the beds really comfortable. Our room had 2 queens. I travelled with my DH and DS (4). Everyday he would have a afternoon nap so being close to the park was great and i guess after a while we just got used to the walk back to the room.
I'm not sure if the $$$ are warranted but i did really enjoy my stay at the GCH. I am new to posting here so can't yet put any pics on but will do as soon as i am allowed if anyone is interested in the view from that room.

I believe that room is one of the new rooms built as bart of the DVC expansion. Was it a regular hotel room with 2 queen beds? Or was it like a studio villa with a small kitchenette, one bed and foldout sofa?

 

[nunzia]

I believe that room is one of the new rooms built as bart of the DVC expansion. Was it a regular hotel room with 2 queen beds? Or was it like a studio villa with a small kitchenette, one bed and foldout sofa?

It sounds like they got a hotel room in the DVC wing since there are alot of those there.
I guess the long hikes to the lobby don't bug me..just too pretty a view .

 

[KCmike]

Here is a sign of WWS but I don't see a closing time