We just returned last night. I fell in love with GCH! We drove down last Sunday and spent the night at Embassy Suites so we could do the earliest possible check-in to get a daybed room. We checked in around 9 and got the last daybed room and it was wonderful. It was on the second floor and at first, I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't higher but it was great, right off of the lobby and the shortest walk possible. Many times we just took the stairs right up and down since the room was right around the corner from the staircase.
The room was plenty big enough for the 5 of us! It was bigger than the DLH and PP rooms. We pushed the daybed down toward the tv and there was so much room that the little girls put the queen aerobed on top of the cots and made a comfy bed for themselves. We brought a complete bedding set with sheets. comforter, shams and even a dust ruffle and it looked adorable and even matched the GCH's colors. There was still plenty of room at the foot of the bed to still use the table and chairs easily and walk through to the balcony.
All of the staff was just wonderful and so sweet to us and especially the girls. We asked for their pictures and balloons at check in and the CM reminded us that since our room wasn't ready, we would have to carry it around so we said we'd come and get them later. We went back to ES to get our luggage (and the still sleeping son) and on the drive back to park at the GCH, we got a text that our room was ready. It was so early and we were just thrilled with the timing. We had all rolling luggage so we took it up to the room ourselves and got somewhat settle but rushed into the park. The next day, we remembered to pick up the pics and balloons. That night they brought more balloons and pics and then next day, MORE balloons and the next day, still MORE balloons and another different set of pictures! The girls were so happy and it was funny but I knew somewhere along the line it was a mistake so when we got another call asking if they could bring up MORE balloons, I told them we had enough. We had about 30 balloons in the room!
One afternoon, we came back for a quick rest and our mousekeeper was in our room so we went to the lobby where there was a CM with a coloring activity that the girls did. The CM remembered the girls NAMES from check-in and they were just so tickled. That is the personal touch we have only experienced at the GCH! They colored the pics and put them in the mailbox for Mickey and got letters that night thanking them along with still more signed pics.
Our Mousekeeper was stellar-there were 2 actually and they did a super job working around our schedule. My 15 year old ds just wanted to sleep really late each day so our room was last to be made up and they were very very nice about it. Once or twice, I just had the girls go out on the balcony and she worked around the rest of us. We had turn down service every single night and by the end of the week, we had so many chocolate coins it was funny!
Each and every staff member was so nice. One night, I stopped in the store and went to charge something to our room but realized that I had DH's key and no ID. They were closing but patient enough to let me call DH in the room to come down with his ID. How nice is that?!
We did ask for a burned out lightbulb to be changed and it never was the entire stay even when housekeeping called right from the room in front of me but it was the light above the daybed and we didn't really miss it. There was an awful smell coming from the sink area. It was like the smell of a perm for hair and even housekeeping couldn't figure it out and also called for maint to check it out but we never did hear what it was and it was never resolved but how long do you spend in that spot? Not a big deal to me.
The only real sour note of our whole stay was at check out. We went to Goofy's for breakfast at 9 and then planned to check out and be on the road by around 10:30 to be home in time for my son's friend's bday party. We got back to the room to pick up our luggage and finish up packing the last little bit and our door would not open because of some defect in the lock. Throughout our stay, we periodically had issues with the door and a few times we could not get it closed when leaving and had to get new keys 2 or 3 times when we couldn't get in. We went and got new keys and they didn't work. Then housekeeping tired and then maintenance tried and no keys would work. They they said only security would be able to open the door when that happened but no one could find security and we were now standing in the hall for over 45 minutes. DH was furious and I was getting mad so I went down and found a security man standing in the lobby and he came and opened the door then. It was really frustrating and unfortunate that it happened at the only time we were on a time schedule and they were so inefficient getting security to come. He said he never even got a call so it was a good thing that I went and found him myself. If we were flying out, it could have been a disaster!
We did go up to the terrace one night to watch the WOC after we had already seen it from below. There are no chairs up there and we didn't know where to stand and by the time we realized the "good spot" it was full. So as soon as you go out the door, stand to your left at the very back edge of the railing and you can see the screens somewhat from there but no other place on the terrace. It was pleasant for a change to be away from the crowds but I would not make that your only viewing. DH and ds were at the pool so we had come to meet them and realized it was the same time as the start of WOC so just wandered up there. We loved WOC by the way. We saw it the night after we paid the $300 for Fantasmic dessert seating and the girls liked WOC more and that was free! We went in with the hotel group to get the FP in the am and got blue so we cancelled Ariel's Grotto dinner and were really happy with our spot along the wet area of the railing. We didn't get wet at all. The girls wanted to get wet but I was glad to stay dry!
All in all, it was a great hotel stay! We loved it and enjoyed the pool and all the atmosphere. If you are heading there, you will LOVE it and find that it is well worth the money. We ate at Storytellers for lunch once and it was great and we had lunch by the pool one day that is from White Water Snacks and was very good too. Pool staff is great and drink service was wonderful poolside. Our server was there every 5 minutes or less. We never waited for a thing!
The pool area is very crowded and we didn't know that people go down in the am and save their seats all day long so when we went the first day around 12:30, we had to sit way far away from the pool with the slide. I was a bit worried not being able to watch the girls doing the slide but there was a guard at the top and one at the bottom and one directly across so for the first time in my life, I just relaxed! Ahhhh, it was great but then again, my girl is 10. If you have little ones, go early and put a towel on the chair you want by the slide. There were only 1/3-1/2 of the people on the chairs, the rest were empty and I did ask the lifeguards if we could take the towels off (like on a cruise ship) but she said no, that it was fine to save chairs here.
So, 2 pieces of advice-save your pool chairs in the am and if at the terrace, sit at the railing closest to the door on the left as you go out! HTHs someone, ENJOY!
I don't remember seeing it the last time we stayed at GCH!
Thank you fidoprincess for your great trip report. I love reading about all of the different experiences. Sounds like you had a GRAND trip indeed!
