Grand Californian Super Thread

[ipdenc]

Thanks! Cool view! I love to people watch..........any idea when they will post the Park Hours for Sept. We read that HM and Space will be closed when we are there. But we also read they may open back on the
17th? Any idea about this? Any suggestions when we check-in to get a DTD view with balcolny? At this point we have just booked a Standard room. Is there a better view I should ask for? THANKS!!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks! Cool view! I love to people watch..........any idea when they will post the Park Hours for Sept. We read that HM and Space will be closed when we are there. But we also read they may open back on the
17th? Any idea about this? Any suggestions when we check-in to get a DTD view with balcolny? At this point we have just booked a Standard room. Is there a better view I should ask for? THANKS!!!!

You could ask for a park view but we like the night music and people watching. There are 3 views standard, DTD and park as you change the view so goes the price. You are paying for the view!! Hours are up for most of August, Sept should be soon.

Jack

 

[Janell]

We love Grizzly Peak park view. Its very fitting for the hotel, gives you the feeling your in the mountains. There is plenty of people watching during the park hours. Its fun to watch people run and see the excitement when they get to their first ride. With this view you see people lining up for FP for WOC.

We have also stayed with a view of PP. Which is very nice at night, seeing all the lights. Although we haven't stayed with a PP view since DVC came in. I hear the views are better now, just not as many reg. rooms for that view. If you ask for this ask for a reg room in the DVC building.

We have also had a DtD view. It was nice, but not my fav. I like a park view. But I take DtD view over a parking lot view any day. Sometimes cost can stop guest from getting a park view.

Sorry that your dates are when HM and SM are closed. They are down getting ready for the holiday season. Happens every year. If your dates are flexible, maybe you can push your trip back a few weeks. I haven't seen the halloween over lay for SM. But I have for HM and its really good.

I hope you have a great trip and enjoy DGC. I love that hotel.

 

[ipdenc]

Thanks for the great info! I think we will just wait and see what room they give us............I feel lucky that we get to go and stay at GC! I know we will have a blast, even if we miss HM and SM. Our dates are not flexible.....my DH is a fireman and will be teaching until Jan. So, the 15th-20th will be the only time he can get off. I dont think it will be to busy, so maybe they will have some rooms avail. with a view....................

Any other tips for us.......................we have never gone at this time.

thanks! Love the help!

 

[Disney-Kim]

Thanks for the great info! I think we will just wait and see what room they give us............I feel lucky that we get to go and stay at GC! I know we will have a blast, even if we miss HM and SM. Our dates are not flexible.....my DH is a fireman and will be teaching until Jan. So, the 15th-20th will be the only time he can get off. I dont think it will be to busy, so maybe they will have some rooms avail. with a view....................

Any other tips for us.......................we have never gone at this time.

thanks! Love the help!

Remember that Downtown Disney views and Park views are bookable categories. If you booked standard view...99% you will get standard view (for us has always been gardens) and once we had a corner view of DD.
Just don't count on an upgrade so your not disappointed

Have a fantastic time...we are there the week before you

 

[wendypooh22]

We arrive on 7/12 and are getting very excited!! When I checked my mail this morning and I found a really cute planing package from Disney Travel. It's Monorail Orange and it says "Keeping Your Disney vacation on track". I have stayed on property many times and I have never received something like this before... Maybe it's a GCH thing Inside was a DVD, resort map and a hotel guide. On the hotel guide it says as a guest of a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you will enjoy Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness. I thought that was only offered when you booked a package deal (where you get the luggage tags, priority seating to shows, MTTMM etc). Anyone used this without a package? If so, did you use your key to the magic?
Thanks in advance

 

[Janell]

Thanks for the great info! I think we will just wait and see what room they give us............I feel lucky that we get to go and stay at GC! I know we will have a blast, even if we miss HM and SM. Our dates are not flexible.....my DH is a fireman and will be teaching until Jan. So, the 15th-20th will be the only time he can get off. I dont think it will be to busy, so maybe they will have some rooms avail. with a view....................

Any other tips for us.......................we have never gone at this time.

thanks! Love the help!

I hope your dates are going to be less crowded. You never know these days. IMO since the 50th ann of DL, there hasn't been much of a slow season. We have seen a little this year, but I think that is due to the economy. Typically Labor Day till the first day of the Halloween season, its slower in the parks. School is back in for most kids, so my guess is Sunday could be your busiest day. Its when non of the AP are blocked out.

What we like to do is, get up and be at the parks when they open, do what we want to do, gather FP for the afternoon evening. Eat lunch, go back to the hotel in the afternoon, to swim, relax. Have dinner about 5:00 and then back into the parks. Park hours aren't posted from what I can find. So you may want to adjust the timing of things. But the relaxing midday helps. And if the break doesn't work for your group. I would recommend lunches that get you away from the crowds. In DL, I love going to Hungery Bear and sitting along the water. They have great burgers, chicken nuggets, salads and I saw they have wraps now, but haven't tried them yet. They open at 11:00 or 11:30. Last time we were there, we showed up at 1:00, not much of a line and got to sit in the way back, where there weren't a ton of people. It was nice. Golden Horse Shoe is a nice place to get away from the crowds and heat. If Im in DCA, I love to go to DGCH for lunch at Storytellers(flat bread pizza is good) or Snack Waters. Im not a big fan of the food at DCA, so I just go to the hotel. It is amazing how getting out of the heat, sitting where your not getting bumped into can make you feel better and ready for more fun. Our group is always less grumpy when we do this.

Im not sure where you live or how often you have been in So Cal in Sept. It will still be rather warm. Our summer is starting later then normal. So Im wondering how long summer will stick around. Sept evening will be really nice and the mornings too. But it could get pretty warm. So pack the things that help you when its hot.

I have heard rumors that WOC may be a seasonal show. If you are wanting to see the show, I would try to see it on your first day. Why? They just had a water main break the other day and canceled a show. I hate to see guest wait till the last day to see the show and something happens. Its a new show, so there is a lot that could go wrong. And by seeing it the first day, if something happens you can try the next day.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We arrive on 7/12 and are getting very excited!! When I checked my mail this morning and I found a really cute planing package from Disney Travel. It's Monorail Orange and it says "Keeping Your Disney vacation on track". I have stayed on property many times and I have never received something like this before... Maybe it's a GCH thing Inside was a DVD, resort map and a hotel guide. On the hotel guide it says as a guest of a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you will enjoy Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness. I thought that was only offered when you booked a package deal (where you get the luggage tags, priority seating to shows, MTTMM etc). Anyone used this without a package? If so, did you use your key to the magic?
Thanks in advance

We also received on yesterday and I am sure it is related to the one night we will be staying at the GCH since it recommends a 2 day park hopper. The TTMM chit is interesting. Is it for a family or just one person. We won't use ours. Key to the Magic we use all the time, a character call? An ESPN burger special and free shipping on the photo CD.

Must be a new promotion?

Jack

 

[caimakale]

We also received on yesterday and I am sure it is related to the one night we will be staying at the GCH since it recommends a 2 day park hopper. The TTMM chit is interesting. Is it for a family or just one person. We won't use ours. Key to the Magic we use all the time, a character call? An ESPN burger special and free shipping on the photo CD.

Must be a new oromotion?

Jack

We received this same thing on Wednesday for our upcoming stay in September.

Every time we visit DL, we stay at the GCH and have experienced each view. The DTD view is my favorite so far, people watching is the best and you can't beat the view for the fireworks (the music was piped in to our room over the tv for the full experience). Our theme park view was more of a swimming pool view than anything, you had to poke your head out around the balcony to be able to see anything that resembled the park.

During our September trip, we will be staying there with a theme park view and concierge...hopefully we'll get a little better view of the park this time.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

We received this same thing on Wednesday for our upcoming stay in September.

Every time we visit DL, we stay at the GCH and have experienced each view. The DTD view is my favorite so far, people watching is the best and you can't beat the view for the fireworks (the music was piped in to our room over the tv for the full experience). Our theme park view was more of a swimming pool view than anything, you had to poke your head out around the balcony to be able to see anything that resembled the park.

During our September trip, we will be staying there with a theme park view and concierge...hopefully we'll get a little better view of the park this time.

Hmmm...we are also booked at the GCH for September, but haven't received anything in the mail. If we do, I'll definitely report back. I wonder if it's a random offer (like a PIN offer) or if it's going to people who have booked a non-standard room. It could also be an after-Labor Day weekend offer when the resort might typically slow down a little.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hmmm...we are also booked at the GCH for September, but haven't received anything in the mail. If we do, I'll definitely report back. I wonder if it's a random offer (like a PIN offer) or if it's going to people who have booked a non-standard room. It could also be an after-Labor Day weekend offer when the resort might typically slow down a little.

We have a standard room booked. 1 night at the Grand.

Jack

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

We have a standard room booked. 1 night at the Grand.

Jack

So it's not the type of room! It still could be the date of the trip or just random luck of the draw, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that we get one of the packs!

 

[Homemom]

We arrive on 7/12 and are getting very excited!! When I checked my mail this morning and I found a really cute planing package from Disney Travel. It's Monorail Orange and it says "Keeping Your Disney vacation on track". I have stayed on property many times and I have never received something like this before... Maybe it's a GCH thing Inside was a DVD, resort map and a hotel guide. On the hotel guide it says as a guest of a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you will enjoy Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness. I thought that was only offered when you booked a package deal (where you get the luggage tags, priority seating to shows, MTTMM etc). Anyone used this without a package? If so, did you use your key to the magic?
Thanks in advance

We received the same thing a month ago for our Sept. trip staying at the Grand. We bought a package, "it says good move, you've already got your tickets". It says, "special offers picked just for you", one is for free shipping from photopass and one is for ESPN: a burger, drink, and $15 game card for $20. It aslo says we'll receive a free character call and MTMM.

 

[wendypooh22]

It's not really an offer of anykind, more of a welcome pack from Disney Vacations for guests of the GCH. We just got back from a stay at the DLH and we did not get this packet in the mail. My scanner isn't working so I will just type it in..

Taken from the front cover:

Welcome! Thanks for booking a Disneyland Resort Getaway, It's a great way to make the most of your Annual Passport and adds even more magic to your experience in the Parks. No doubt about it, your visit in July is going to be a getaway to remember!

Inside it says as a guest of a Disneyland Resort hotel, you'll also enjoy
Disney Character Calls - Recieve a phone call from Mikey, Minney or Goofy!
Key To the magic - Charge meals and merchandise to your room at select locations around the resort
Mikey's Toontown Morning Madness - Meet Mickey and his pals in Mickey's Toontown before they open the gates to the rest of their guests.

Last page of the booklet has Special offers picked just for you:
ESPN Zone - voucher for a burger, nonalcoholic beverage and a $15 game card for $20
Free shipping from DisneyPhotoPass.com


I am still curious about the MTTMM! I have only received that when we booked a package. I looks to me like it's an added perk to hotel guests like Magic Mornings.

 

[nemofans]

What are the standard room views? Parking lot? Paradise Pier?
Is it the same price for a DTD view & a theme park view?

 

[Nonsuch]

What are the standard room views? Parking lot? Paradise Pier?
Is it the same price for a DTD view & a theme park view?

Standard View rooms have a view of the inner courtyard (that the Monorail passes through), or are on the front of the hotel toward the parking lot. Parking lot view might sound bad, but there are lots of trees, and view of the sunset.

Downtown Disney View rooms are literally above the stores.

Pool View looks at the pools.

Theme Park View look toward either Grizzly Run (the older part of the hotel) or Paradise Pier (new rooms part of the DVC expansion).

Looking at pricing online in December (non-discounted).
Standard View $360
Downtown Disney View $420
Pool View $450
Theme Park View $450

No matter what the room type, I always request a high floor

 

[KCmike]

So thankful for this thread.
For a breakfast buffet do you recommend Storytellers or Goofy's Kitchen? Hate to have to walk to DL hotel grounds unless theres a major difference in quality and price.

 

[nunzia]

When we went on our ABD trip we had the breakfast buffet at the Grand, DL Hotel and also at the Plaza Inn. If you don't care about the characters, I really enjoy the atmosphere and food at Storytellers. Alot of people seem to be Goofy's kitchen fans, and it was fine, but was really our least favorite of the three. If you just want a quick breakfast, White Water Snacks has a great breakfast burrito for a pretty low price.

 

[kikiq]

So thankful for this thread.
For a breakfast buffet do you recommend Storytellers or Goofy's Kitchen? Hate to have to walk to DL hotel grounds unless theres a major difference in quality and price.

Personally we prefer Storyteller's. We're Storyteller fans, the food has been good whenever we've eaten there.

Do you want the breakfast buffet for the characters? They have different characters. Storytellers has Chip and Dale, Turk, Brother Bear and some others that I can't remember, maybe Donald dressed in outdoor gear? I don't remember the characters at Goofy's Kitchen, it's been awhile for breakfast. We usually do dinner.

 

[Sherry E]

So thankful for this thread.
For a breakfast buffet do you recommend Storytellers or Goofy's Kitchen? Hate to have to walk to DL hotel grounds unless theres a major difference in quality and price.

Mike -

I really prefer Goofy's Kitchen - the buffet is much larger and more varied than the Storytellers Buffet. Goofy's is actually my favorite place to eat in all of DLR. Chip and Dale are also at Goofy's, along with Goofy, Baloo, Pluto, some Princesses, some rotating guest stars like Alice and the Mad Hatter, Captain Hook, the Genie, the Fairy Godmother, Minnie, Max, etc.

BUT, that said, a lot of people enjoy Storytellers (the food was not good the last time I ate there for the Critter Breakfast, but it has been much better on other occasions, so it was just an 'off day'). It's not my thing, but that's just me. I like Storytellers as a regular, non-character meal restaurant much more. It's cozy and earthy. The character meal aspect of it bores me because I don't care about Koda and Kenai or Terk, and the buffet doesn't have many choices. Plus, the menu orders are too expensive for what they are. The buffet is actually a better 'bargain,' believe it or not.

Still, because you will be staying at GCH and you don't really want to have to mosey over to DLH if you can help it, I think Storytellers will be fine for a character meal. You'll probably enjoy it. I don't hate it. I've just done it enough times to esxtablish I don't need to do it again unless someone who would be with me has a great urge to do it (but they all like Goofy's, so that's unlikely). It IS quite a bit cheaper than Goofy's, which many folks find to be one of the main selling points, so if you want the character meal experience at a lower cost, in a nice, cozy restaurant that is located in your hotel, might as well do Storytellers!!

Oh - and I can't wait to hear how it goes with Catalina! There have been great white shark sightings in the ocean lately (not too close to Catalina, but still - keep your eyes peeled!!)! I would love to see a giant shark (from a distance, that is)!! I hope you can spend as much time as possible in Avalon on your day trip there - I want you to get the most bang for your buck after spending the money on the boat tickets!!