Grand Californian Super Thread

[monami7]

We Just returned Tuesday night from our trip. To say we fell in love with DLR would be an understatement! LOL
We don't even want to go back to WDW anymore. My DH said we can go to DLR every 2 years and go to WDW every 4 or so. LOL
Upon checking in for our standard room I was told we were upgraded to a Pool view room. (she asked if that was OK with me! LOL)
The room was room 3212. It overlooked the pools and we could watch the boats going up Grizly river run and watch people on the redwood trail. TOT was in the background behind the bear. It was amazing!
I am fine staying at CCI (it is a really nice off property choice) however I think I know what I will be using my DVC points for from now on! LOL
The whole trip really was perfect.

 

[monami7]

Does anyone have a photo of a room with bunk beds, or know their location? Thanks!!

3212 has the bun k beds. My girls loved them. My 13 yr old slept on the trundle and the little ones took turns on the bunks. They thought they would magically have them at home when we returned! LOL

 

[Nonsuch]

...If I'm reading the map correct those are the rooms I was asking about(240-260).

You are correct, the hotel rooms part of the DVC expansion are even number rooms x240-x260. There are 5 floors in this area, so the park view rooms will be on floors 2-5. The higher floors will have a better view.

Have you or anyone else stayed in those particular rooms? Are the views of the park nice? Does anyone have pictures of the views from those particular room, by any chance?

I have not stayed in those rooms, but have stayed in the adjacent 5502 villa.
The hotel rooms are very close to Mulholland Madness. I took this video showing a 360 view of the area between the Grand Californian and Paradise Pier.
The first few seconds pans from Mulholland Madness to the Hotel rooms, showing how close the rooms are to the park.
The view from the upper floors (3-5) should be very good.

 

[Yukonjack]

I am planning a three night getaway with my lovely wife for February (9th through 16th), and would like to stay at the GCH. We took our three kids with us lastyear and stayed at the GCH and LOVED it. Its hard to go back and settle for anything less anymore, especially for a rare trip/treat away without our lovely children. This will be our first trip to DL without kids, and our third trip total. I want to make it really special for my wife and have started planning so I can get it all set.

At any rate, I was on thet Disney website and their rate for the GCH std view room for our dates plus parkhopper tickets for three days is 1,660. I hear about folks getting closer to $230 per nite, and wondered whether this is just the rate for that time period or whether there is a way to get a better deal. I am likely going to splurge anyway, but would like to get the best deal possible. Any tips for Napa Rose would be helpful too. I also plan to have dinner at riverside in the Blue Bayou restaurant as well. I am really looking forward to some time without kids with my wife to be kids ourselves!

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Hi Yukonjack- I am a little confused- you said your quote of 1660 is for your dates- thats 7 nights and about $300 of that would go to 3 day parkhoppers? That averages out to less then $200 a night. Sounds like a good deal to me! Unless you meant 3 nights at the GCH.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

sorry- I just re read your post- it starts off by saying 3 nights... but your dates indicated 7 nights.

 

[Yukonjack]

sorry- I just re read your post- it starts off by saying 3 nights... but your dates indicated 7 nights.

Sorry. I meant February 6th through the 9th. I guess I could wait another month or so and see what the new packages are going for?

 

[Nonsuch]

Sorry. I meant February 6th through the 9th. I guess I could wait another month or so and see what the new packages are going for?

AP rates are $320/night, which is only a small discount ($355/night without discount).
It's very likely some better rates will appear in the coming months

 

[Yukonjack]

AP rates are $320/night, which is only a small discount ($355/night without discount).
It's very likely some better rates will appear in the coming months

I will likely wait. What I do not understand is that the DL website for GCH rooms only provides me a quote of $1,065.00 for three nights, but if I add three day parkhopper tickets for two, it jacks up to a bit over $1,600. If I buy the tickets alone from the DL website (with a discount for advanced purchase), the two parkhopper tickets for the same time are like $372.00, so if I buy the hotel and the tickets separately, I save about $200.00. Weird, or am I missing something?

 

[nunzia]

I will likely wait. What I do not understand is that the DL website for GCH rooms only provides me a quote of $1,065.00 for three nights, but if I add three day parkhopper tickets for two, it jacks up to a bit over $1,600. If I buy the tickets alone from the DL website (with a discount for advanced purchase), the two parkhopper tickets for the same time are like $372.00, so if I buy the hotel and the tickets separately, I save about $200.00. Weird, or am I missing something?

No..you are not weird..you are smart. I discovered a long time ago that buying the components of the trip sepeerately is generally cheaper than the package deals. Check out hotels.com also for hotel rates. I recently got nights at Disneyland Hotel for $179 when the site and AP rates were way above that.

 

[lffam]

6 days till LA, 10 days till DL..can't wait. To increase the anticipation , this past week The Today Show ( Aussie morning news and current affairs show) was doing the weather segment from CA all week. They were at DCA, DL, Hollywood. Son was up at 6:30 each morning waiting for each of the weather segments!!

 

[Jenna319]

I cannot wait for our 1st stay at GC next weekend! 4 days!!

 

[VallCopen]

Yukonjack just wanted to let you know I sent you a private message with a few ideas. Have a great trip.

 

[funatdisney]

I cannot wait for our 1st stay at GC next weekend! 4 days!!

You will love it! Post a TR and let us know how it goes.

 

[mrswh]

Sorry. I meant February 6th through the 9th. I guess I could wait another month or so and see what the new packages are going for?

If you are OK with the price you are getting but hoping for something better, go ahead and book it now - that way you have a room reserved. Keep checking back and if the price goes down you can either make a new reservation and cancel the old one (they will refund your deposit as long as you cancel more than 5 days before your arrival date) or call and ask them to modify your reservation - then they will transfer your deposit to the new room. At least then you can't get shut out!

 

[KCmike]

 

[Yukonjack]

If you are OK with the price you are getting but hoping for something better, go ahead and book it now - that way you have a room reserved. Keep checking back and if the price goes down you can either make a new reservation and cancel the old one (they will refund your deposit as long as you cancel more than 5 days before your arrival date) or call and ask them to modify your reservation - then they will transfer your deposit to the new room. At least then you can't get shut out!

Thats a great tip. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Yukonjack]

Yukonjack just wanted to let you know I sent you a private message with a few ideas. Have a great trip.

Thanks for the information. That is a really great option, and one that I intend to explore. That whole process looks super confusing and crazy, but in the end it may be worth it.

 

[Yukonjack]

You will love it! Post a TR and let us know how it goes.

Hey Funatdisney, thanks for the informative message. I appreciate it and would like to talk with you more, but cannot PM anyone yet because I am a few posts shy of 10 If you PM me with your email addr, I will drop you a note so we can keep talking.

Thanks again!

Greg

 

[ipdenc]

Our family will be arriving on Sept. 15th. (DH, DS4, and DS12) We were ALL supposed to arrive at 10am, but my husband has to work. I will still be taking the boys and arriving at 10am. We will be taking ALL of luggage so it will be easier for my DH, since he has to rush after work to make his flight. Any suggestions for transportation? We will be arriving at John Wayne and staying at GC. I am worried being alone with the boys and all of our luggage for 6 days. I would like a good shuttle service. Thanks in advance.................