Grand Californian Super Thread

[lffam]

I'll repeat the sentiments of many - WOW great thread, so much info. thanks for starting it and to all those who have contributed.

We are traveling from Australia to DL in Sept and staying at GC. We have booked a standard room but I am now considering upgrading to at least a DTD view. Would love to get views of the fireworks, so any suggested best rooms/areas would be appreciated. I would love to upgrade to a even better room, but price for that was a little too much.

i have been looking for a thread which explains some of the acronyms used on this and other threads, but to no avail! What exactly is VGC? I am guessing its some sort of vacation club, but not really sure. Does it give you discounts or special access to rooms or??

 

[DmaxHawk]

I'll repeat the sentiments of many - WOW great thread, so much info. thanks for starting it and to all those who have contributed.

We are traveling from Australia to DL in Sept and staying at GC. We have booked a standard room but I am now considering upgrading to at least a DTD view. Would love to get views of the fireworks, so any suggested best rooms/areas would be appreciated. I would love to upgrade to a even better room, but price for that was a little too much.

i have been looking for a thread which explains some of the acronyms used on this and other threads, but to no avail! What exactly is VGC? I am guessing its some sort of vacation club, but not really sure. Does it give you discounts or special access to rooms or??

I'm glad you find it helpful.

As for specific rooms to view fireworks, I'm not sure about that. My guess would be the odd-numbered rooms X419-X449 on the highest floor you can get.

VGC stands for Villas at the Grand Californian. There is a vacation club called DVC, Disney vacation club.
A common list of acronyms can be found here..

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

 

[DmaxHawk]

Thanks so much for this thread! I'm still a bit overwhelmed, but appreciate all of the info.!

Thanks for the kind words

 

[nunzia]

This is according to Disney's website for the time period you indicated (2 adults) for 6 nights. Base price is $1978.04
Standard View Room Included
Downtown Disney® District View +$300.00
Theme Park View +$460.00
Concierge Standard View +$1,331.96
Concierge Theme Park View +$1,656.00
Parlor Suite One Bedroom +$4,441.96
Parlor Suite Two Bedroom +$6,068.08
Parlor Suite Three Bedroom +$7,615.96

Hope this helps

Holy cow...glad I have DVC...

 

[DmaxHawk]

Holy cow...glad I have DVC...

No kidding. I need to get into it.

 

[HydroGuy]

VGC stands for Villas at the Grand Californian. There is a vacation club called DVC, Disney vacation club.
A common list of acronyms can be found here..

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

That list is for WDW and does not even have VGC. But mine does.

"DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

 

[DmaxHawk]

That list is for WDW and does not even have VGC. But mine does.

"DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

Very nice!
Thanks Hydro

 

[aussietravellers]

We will be at the GCH for 8 nights soon, we have a theme park view but our last stay resulted in changing rooms three times to get a view worth paying for. (first room given was occupied, next room looked over the monorail and roof of something, next room trees only and then finally a nice view). Anyways, I can't get a straight answer from a CM through Disney booking, but I was told a few years back at the front desk that you could call a few hours before arriving to check in/reserve your actual room. When I did that last August I spent 10 minutes on the phone with the check-in desk while driving and when we arrived we started from scratch and then the three room drama. Anyone know anything about prechecking-in????

Don't know about prechecking-in sorry but if you were wanting to request a room with a great view. This is the view from 4250. You will see it on the maps on page 22 as it is in the new wing with the Villas (although it's not a villa, its just a regular hotel room, theme park view). We absolutely loved the view and the location of this room.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Don't know about prechecking-in sorry but if you were wanting to request a room with a great view. This is the view from 4250. You will see it on the maps on page 22 as it is in the new wing with the Villas (although it's not a villa, its just a regular hotel room, theme park view). We absolutely loved the view and the location of this room.

Great view.

Jack

 

[DmaxHawk]

Don't know about prechecking-in sorry but if you were wanting to request a room with a great view. This is the view from 4250. You will see it on the maps on page 22 as it is in the new wing with the Villas (although it's not a villa, its just a regular hotel room, theme park view). We absolutely loved the view and the location of this room.

How was the noise level?

 

[Nonsuch]

How was the noise level?

I'm sure it was very loud
Mulholland Madness is very close to the new hotel expansion, I doubt there are any other hotel rooms located closer to a Disney attraction (or non-Disney)
The roller coaster at New York, New York in Las Vegas runs through the hotel, so that is closer to rooms (but no balconies).

I stayed in room 5502 and with door to the balcony open it sounded like I was still inside the park. This is a VGC room, which is slightly setback compared to the hotel rooms. Sound isolation was very good with the door closed

 

[DmaxHawk]

I'm sure it was very loud
Mulholland Madness is very close to the new hotel expansion, I doubt there are any other hotel rooms located closer to a Disney attraction (or non-Disney)
The roller coaster at New York, New York in Las Vegas runs through the hotel, so that is closer to rooms (but no balconies).

I stayed in room 5502 and with door to the balcony open it sounded like I was still inside the park. This is a VGC room, which is slightly setback compared to the hotel rooms. Sound isolation was very good with the door closed

Thats what I was wondering. I was impressed with the sound proofing of the doors.

 

[MommiePrincess]

I wonder what "they" would do if I sent the front desk a fax one week before we arrive (which would be sending it in a few days!!!) - requesting the actual room that Aussietravellers had with the fantastic theme park view in the new non-villa rooms. I guess the worst they could say is they couldn't book it, or didn't get the fax. Any comments or suggestions on how to wordsmith a request like that and how to get the fax number (do I call the reservation desk and ask for the fax number?).

It'd be a good experiment or do you think it'd be taken badly and we'd get the old "spitting in our soup"????????????

 

[DmaxHawk]

I wonder what "they" would do if I sent the front desk a fax one week before we arrive (which would be sending it in a few days!!!) - requesting the actual room that Aussietravellers had with the fantastic theme park view in the new non-villa rooms. I guess the worst they could say is they couldn't book it, or didn't get the fax. Any comments or suggestions on how to wordsmith a request like that and how to get the fax number (do I call the reservation desk and ask for the fax number?).

It'd be a good experiment or do you think it'd be taken badly and we'd get the old "spitting in our soup"????????????

Like I said before, I sent them a fax and they didn't seem to have a problem with it. I asked if it would be possible to get a theme park view on the highest floor possible and they did their best to fill my request. Just explain your situation and be polite and you should be fine.
The Grand CA fax is (714) 300-7300

 

[blackjackdelta]

I wonder what "they" would do if I sent the front desk a fax one week before we arrive (which would be sending it in a few days!!!) - requesting the actual room that Aussietravellers had with the fantastic theme park view in the new non-villa rooms. I guess the worst they could say is they couldn't book it, or didn't get the fax. Any comments or suggestions on how to wordsmith a request like that and how to get the fax number (do I call the reservation desk and ask for the fax number?).

It'd be a good experiment or do you think it'd be taken badly and we'd get the old "spitting in our soup"????????????

Would be an interesting experiment, I do not think it would taken negatively.

Jack

 

[MommiePrincess]

Aussietravellers - did your room have bunkbeds????? If not, any idea if any of those in that strip of rooms does? We have 2 little ones

 

[MommiePrincess]

Wow, thanks for the fax number and replies.....I only tend to post closer to a trip - but I read all the time, and I feel like I "know" you "guys". I'll wait to see if I get a reply on the bunkbeds, then I'll send a fax and keep you updated.

 

[DmaxHawk]

Wow, thanks for the fax number and replies.....I only tend to post closer to a trip - but I read all the time, and I feel like I "know" you "guys". I'll wait to see if I get a reply on the bunkbeds, then I'll send a fax and keep you updated.

Let us know what happens, we are eager to hear.

 

[nonzerosum]

So I understand that all rooms have balconies, but are any of them those tiny things that are only big enough for one person to stand, not even sit. We got stuck with one of those at WDW Beach Club....big bummer. Is there patio furniture on the balconies? What about ground floor rooms? Walk out patios?

 

[DmaxHawk]

So I understand that all rooms have balconies, but are any of them those tiny things that are only big enough for one person to stand, not even sit. We got stuck with one of those at WDW Beach Club....big bummer. Is there patio furniture on the balconies? What about ground floor rooms? Walk out patios?

There is. They are big enough for people to go out and enjoy the view. Our room had 2 chairs and a coffee table and was big enough to fit all 4 of us comfortably. Ground floors do have walk out patios IIRC.

I've started on a video to show the room and the view also.