Grand Californian Super Thread

[aussietravellers]

I've heard a lot of people say that they were able to hear people in the other rooms. I don't know if we had good walls or if we just had quiet neighbors but we never had any problems on either side.

When we were there in August we never heard the neighbors, really never saw anyone on our floor the times we were in the building.

Jack

We were there for 14 nights and really the only noise was one afternoon and two nights and one morning.

I was sitting at the desk and the person in the room beside must have been at their desk and had the phone on loud speaker. I could hear the messages clear as day as if it was my phone.

Then two nights towards the end of our stay (close to Christmas, the resort was filling up) we were awoken about 11pm by the people in the room next door (behind our beds), both nights. It was so loud it was as if they were in the room with us. I could make out that they were Australian by their accents, I could hear the fight that the husband was "taking back control of this family" We heard what their first ride was the next morning, after they had been to breakfast at the Plaza, we heard them asking their child to put their jumper (sweater) in the suitcase, telling the child to go to bed, we heard EVERY word they were saying. But then we didn't hear anybody else in that room except one morning, we were up and we could hear snoring from the room next door It was really quite funny.

So we didn't hear things every day, but when we did, it was loud!

 

[rentayenta]

Yes there is a kids club at GCH, Pinoccios Workshop (spelling )

We 4 adults might be going to Club 33 so I will need to have a place for the kids under 13.

 

[nunzia]

I've heard a lot of people say that they were able to hear people in the other rooms. I don't know if we had good walls or if we just had quiet neighbors but we never had any problems on either side.

Neither have we and we've been all over the hotel. Maybe I'm just hard of hearing...

 

[DmaxHawk]

We were there for 14 nights and really the only noise was one afternoon and two nights and one morning.

I was sitting at the desk and the person in the room beside must have been at their desk and had the phone on loud speaker. I could hear the messages clear as day as if it was my phone.

Then two nights towards the end of our stay (close to Christmas, the resort was filling up) we were awoken about 11pm by the people in the room next door (behind our beds), both nights. It was so loud it was as if they were in the room with us. I could make out that they were Australian by their accents, I could hear the fight that the husband was "taking back control of this family" We heard what their first ride was the next morning, after they had been to breakfast at the Plaza, we heard them asking their child to put their jumper (sweater) in the suitcase, telling the child to go to bed, we heard EVERY word they were saying. But then we didn't hear anybody else in that room except one morning, we were up and we could hear snoring from the room next door It was really quite funny.

So we didn't hear things every day, but when we did, it was loud!

Wow! either they were really loud or the walls were actual paper. What part of the hotel did you stay?

 

[cooniez]

I've read every post in this thread & can't remember if parking was mentioned. I read on Mousesavers that for self-parking you'd have to cross a busy street & that it was pretty far. For those of you who've stayed at the GCH do you think it's worth it to pay the $17 valet parking fee? I'm guessing if we stayed 5 days we'd be charged $17/day or can we do it only on the day we arrive & the day we check out (we might dine outside of the DL area)?

 

[DmaxHawk]

I've read every post in this thread & can't remember if parking was mentioned. I read on Mousesavers that for self-parking you'd have to cross a busy street & that it was pretty far. For those of you who've stayed at the GCH do you think it's worth it to pay the $17 valet parking fee? I'm guessing if we stayed 5 days we'd be charged $17/day or can we do it only on the day we arrive & the day we check out (we might dine outside of the DL area)?

For us at least, it wasn't a big deal. The parking lot is just right across the street and didn't take long at all. I contemplated getting valet but decided on self-parking and didn't have any regrets. As for the charge, IIRC, it is 17 per day. I'm not 100% sure though.

 

[cooniez]

For us at least, it wasn't a big deal. The parking lot is just right across the street and didn't take long at all. I contemplated getting valet but decided on self-parking and didn't have any regrets. As for the charge, IIRC, it is 17 per day. I'm not 100% sure though.

Thanks for the info. I read some reviews where people said they had to cross a busy street which made me nervous since we'll have our 2 year old. Also, if it was very far I didn't want DH to spend his vacation fetching the car for us If we do end up staying there 5 days that $17/day would add up!

 

[DmaxHawk]

Thanks for the info. I read some reviews where people said they had to cross a busy street which made me nervous since we'll have our 2 year old. Also, if it was very far I didn't want DH to spend his vacation fetching the car for us If we do end up staying there 5 days that $17/day would add up!

You do have to cross the street but I wouldn't be worried about it. I suppose you could always change to valet if you needed to but we didn't see the need.

 

[sierranevada]

Thanks for the info. I read some reviews where people said they had to cross a busy street which made me nervous since we'll have our 2 year old. Also, if it was very far I didn't want DH to spend his vacation fetching the car for us If we do end up staying there 5 days that $17/day would add up!

On self parking, yes, it is across the street but not bad. If you need to get the car during your stay, just have one of you go get it while the other waits with your daughter. When we drive, we rarely use the car during our stay - maybe once to meet up with friends.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I've read every post in this thread & can't remember if parking was mentioned. I read on Mousesavers that for self-parking you'd have to cross a busy street & that it was pretty far. For those of you who've stayed at the GCH do you think it's worth it to pay the $17 valet parking fee? I'm guessing if we stayed 5 days we'd be charged $17/day or can we do it only on the day we arrive & the day we check out (we might dine outside of the DL area)?

NO on the valet parking. The crosswalks have lights and it is not far from the hotel. Last year construction was going on where they changed the sidewalk a bit but that is all over with.

Jack

 

[lffam]

Can anyone comment about DTD view vs Theme park view? I was going to upgrade to DTD, but theme park is only $160 more so wondering if thats worth it?
thanks

 

[cooniez]

NO on the valet parking. The crosswalks have lights and it is not far from the hotel. Last year construction was going on where they changed the sidewalk a bit but that is all over with.

Jack

Thanks Jack & everyone else who helped answer my question! More $ in my pocket if we don't do valet and more exercise for DH

 

[DmaxHawk]

Can anyone comment about DTD view vs Theme park view? I was going to upgrade to DTD, but theme park is only $160 more so wondering if thats worth it?
thanks

If you look back at the previous pages of the thread you will see a lot of people's opinion on this.

Starting here..
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2396588&page=20

It really comes down to what your preference is. DTD is good for people watching, hearing the music of the performers, smelling the scent of the food. Theme park view is also good for people watching and is fun to watch people go by on the rides. It comes down to whats more important to you.

 

[aussietravellers]

Wow! either they were really loud or the walls were actual paper. What part of the hotel did you stay?

We were in the new wing, in a theme park view just along the hallway from the Villas.

They weren't being loud, just talking. Then the telephone in the next room on loudspeaker, I could hear everything in their messages and I was just sitting at the desk, I didn't have my ear to the wall or anything

 

[DmaxHawk]

We were in the new wing, in a theme park view just along the hallway from the Villas.

They weren't being loud, just talking. Then the telephone in the next room on loudspeaker, I could hear everything in their messages and I was just sitting at the desk, I didn't have my ear to the wall or anything

Walls must be cheezy then

 

[lffam]

If you look back at the previous pages of the thread you will see a lot of people's opinion on this.

Starting here..
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2396588&page=20

It really comes down to what your preference is. DTD is good for people watching, hearing the music of the performers, smelling the scent of the food. Theme park view is also good for people watching and is fun to watch people go by on the rides. It comes down to whats more important to you.

Thanks DnaxHawk for that. Now i'm even considering a concierge level upgrade...oh my!!

Would it be likely that the hotel would upgrade from a non concierge level to a concierge level room? i know free upgrades are not guaranteed or anything, more curious really.

 

[sierranevada]

Thanks DnaxHawk for that. Now i'm even considering a concierge level upgrade...oh my!!

Would it be likely that the hotel would upgrade from a non concierge level to a concierge level room? i know free upgrades are not guaranteed or anything, more curious really.

I have stayed numerous times concierge at GCH (it is called Craftsman there) and absolutely love it and take full advantage of all the food and drinks offered.

I hate to say never because there are always rare exception, but I have never heard of a free upgrade to concierge level.

 

[sierranevada]

The OP might be improved if you add some info about perks for the GCH. The special entrance is one. Also, I have heard about people being admitted to DCA earlier than everyone else at 9:15 for first ride on Soarin. Any confirmation of that would be interesting.

I use the "early entry" to DCA quite often when I stay at the GCH. 30 minutes before DCA opens, you can go in through the special entrance and ride Soarin'. Or, what we did last time, was one person went and got fastpasses for Soarin', the FP machines were turned on when the ride opens) and the rest got in line for TSMM so we could do that ride before the lines got crazy.

Now I have also heard people mention that you can get an informal "tour of Condor Flats" which is usually about 45 minutes before DCA opens. I have never been able to personally confirm that one.

 

[lffam]

I've convinced myself between booking concierge level and not, backwards and forward for the last few hours that my head feels likes it's doing spins!!

Certainly see it as a splurge, and not looking to justify the extra cost based on just the food, but more the experience and having a little few extra somethings....

 

[JosieGirl71]

Where are the DVC villas? Are they closer or further away? What kind of view do they have? TIA!