Grand Californian Super Thread

[mrypg]

The villias are just awsome.

I know I guy who wants to rent his 3 bedroom in January for 3 nights not sure of the exact dates but I know it cost him a ton of points.

 

[franandaj]

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?

If you can do a Half Marathon you can walk to the Convention Center!

There is a HUGE difference between the hotel rooms and the villas. With the Villas you have a pretty good chance at a theme park view, plus the rooms are definitely larger. The only thing is there are no king beds in the studios, and there are some King hotel rooms, but there are more with two queens.

If you're used to staying DVC, then you would definitely rather be in a studio. Try at 7 months and get on the wait list if you can't get in. I would imagine a lot of people are going to be trying to get in for D23. We're going to stay at the Hilton (as we've used up all our 2010 points (or allotted them))and it's tons closer.

 

[Nonsuch]

If you can do a Half Marathon you walk to the Convention Center!

Looking at a satellite view on Google maps, the distance from VGC to the Convention Center is very similar to the distance to the Disneyland main gate

I would imagine a lot of people are going to be trying to get in for D23.

I am one of those people booking a villa for D23, even though August is not when I like to visit the parks.

 

[PoohNFriends]

Awesome pics so far, Jack! Can't wait to see more and read about the trip!

 

[nunzia]

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!

You can walk it, but it's a little hike. It took us about 20 minutes from DTD to get to the convention center...now, I think you could go the other way, outside the GV door..that might be closer, but I didn't try it that way.

 

[nunzia]

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

Hey Jack,
I just checked our vacation pictures from May and that is the same room we had! Very nice, eh?? and I promise we didn't ding anything up. Have fun.

 

[tdashgirl]

Hey Jack,
I just checked our vacation pictures from May and that is the same room we had! Very nice, eh?? and I promise we didn't ding anything up. Have fun.

That is too funny! Small world ...

 

[panthergirl]

Thanks everyone for your input on my D23 trip. I hope I can get at least a couple of nights in a studio but with the expo it could be tough. I can't wait to see the GCH - it looks just stunning!

 

[pearl12970]

Hi Everyone !
Ia m a Newbie here. So glad to have found the DIS boards. So much info and everyone so helpful !

This is our first trip to DL ( DH , me and 3.5 year old ). We booked a 5 day package at the Grand Californian hotel after reading the numerous raves in reviews. We booked a standard view room.
Would appreciate suggestions about what view to request the hotel for a standard room; other tips / tricks about GCH and DL specially with a 3.5 year old. About going back and forth from theme parks to hotel etc.
The sheer size of the hotel makes me nervous Does the front desk provide of map to help get around the hotel and Disney Downtown / Theme Parks ?

TIA !

 

[Vala]

I've got a question for those who have stayed in a room with bunk beds before.

We have a kid with us and she really wants a bunk bed room - it's her and me including two adults.

Can an adult sleep in a bunk bed? My friend won't fit, she's a lot taller than me. But I'm on the smaller side, 5'5". So we were hoping we might be lucky.

 

[Nonsuch]

Would appreciate suggestions about what view to request the hotel for a standard room

Even with a standard room, I would request a high floor. A courtyard view would be better than the front of the hotel. A 3 year old might like a bunk bed, a bunk and queen has more open floor space than a room with 2 queens.

The sheer size of the hotel makes me nervous Does the front desk provide of map to help get around the hotel and Disney Downtown / Theme Parks ?

Registration will give you a map and will give your directions to your room. If your room is not ready, you will receive a text or phone call when it is available.
The Grand is much smaller than any of the newer hotels in Vegas, and the architecture keeps it from looking like a big box

 

[caimakale]

If we check in at 11:00, but our room isn't ready until 3:00, will we have access to the concierge lounge the entire time or do our cards not get activated until the room is ready?

 

[BunnieGene]

If we check in at 11:00, but our room isn't ready until 3:00, will we have access to the concierge lounge the entire time or do our cards not get activated until the room is ready?

Good question! I would think you would have access to the lounge, and that you won't know your actual room number until it is ready so it won't matter if your room key is already activated...

 

[KCmike]

Ever notice the GC Clock?

See the hidden mickey?

 

[mrswh]

We are on the 6th floor (concierge) in a standard room overlooking the front entrance and monorail. I would recommend asking for a view other than this one. The view (or lack of) doesn't really bother me, but it is quite loud. The valet guys seem to find the car they are looking for by intentionally setting off the alarm (either that or they are very incompetent at using remote keys), traffic and monorail are loud, people outside are loud and we have heard many sirens wailing. I swear I'm not usually a whiner about noise - we used to live downtown! - but next time I will know to ask for a room on the other side.

Also, to the person who asked about bunk beds - if you decide you want them, you need to make sure to put in a request in your reservation. When I reserved this room, I was told that it would have bunk beds, and that there was no other option - giving me the impression that we were reserving a particular room. We planned for bunk beds and wound up with two doubles instead, with no way to change other than moving off the concierge floor and very far away from the lounge. It has worked out fine but just wanted to point out that if the bed configuration is important to you, don't take the word of the person on the phone (Disney Travel is a completely different entity than the hotel itself) - put in a request!

By the way, it takes us about 90 seconds to get from our room to DCA. Worth every last penny!

 

[KCmike]

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.

This was the front of the monorail. They still allow it at DL. I caught this shot as they were coming through the garden view area of Grand Californian. I was out walking around in that area just exploring.

 

[nunzia]

If we check in at 11:00, but our room isn't ready until 3:00, will we have access to the concierge lounge the entire time or do our cards not get activated until the room is ready?

We checked in at 7:00 am and we had immediate access to the Concierge Lounge.. stowed our bags with bell services and had breakfast in the lounge then headed to the parks until our room was ready.

 

[pearl12970]

Thanks Nonsuch. Are the standard rooms limited to a particular floor ? I mean they dont go any higher than 5th floor ?

Even with a standard room, I would request a high floor. A courtyard view would be better than the front of the hotel. A 3 year old might like a bunk bed, a bunk and queen has more open floor space than a room with 2 queens.

 

[pearl12970]

I am glad you posted your experience . DS is a very light sleeper and all those alarms going off would definitely wake him up. A tired preschooler is not Fun specially on vacation at DL Thank you for the heads up !
A question about your room -you mentioned you had a standard level room on 6th floor ? DO you mean it was a Concierge level room ( so different room rates than a Standard room ? ) I was under the impression that Standard rooms dont go beyond the 5th floor .

We are on the 6th floor (concierge) in a standard room overlooking the front entrance and monorail. I would recommend asking for a view other than this one. The view (or lack of) doesn't really bother me, but it is quite loud. The valet guys seem to find the car they are looking for by intentionally setting off the alarm (either that or they are very incompetent at using remote keys), traffic and monorail are loud, people outside are loud and we have heard many sirens wailing. I swear I'm not usually a whiner about noise - we used to live downtown! - but next time I will know to ask for a room on the other side.

Also, to the person who asked about bunk beds - if you decide you want them, you need to make sure to put in a request in your reservation. When I reserved this room, I was told that it would have bunk beds, and that there was no other option - giving me the impression that we were reserving a particular room. We planned for bunk beds and wound up with two doubles instead, with no way to change other than moving off the concierge floor and very far away from the lounge. It has worked out fine but just wanted to point out that if the bed configuration is important to you, don't take the word of the person on the phone (Disney Travel is a completely different entity than the hotel itself) - put in a request!

By the way, it takes us about 90 seconds to get from our room to DCA. Worth every last penny!

 

[pearl12970]

OK so I called Reservations # and you can add the Concierge service to a standard room.
We are 2 adults and a 3.5 year old. If I add the Concierge service to the Standard room then the 5 day package is costing me an additional $ 1000 . Would you say its worth the extra cost ?
What exactly does the breakfast include ? WHat are the other benefits ?

Please let me know.

TIA !