Grand Californian Super Thread

[BARBARAL26]

Hi ... just wondering what bedding configeration your standard rooms were? Were you happy with the DTD view? We are still trying to decide if we should go for a 'view room' for our trip next year, but we really need a room with bunks. TIA

We had 2 queen beds, room was just right. DTD view was a nice touch, we were surprised with the upgrade.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

Hi ... just wondering what bedding configeration your standard rooms were? Were you happy with the DTD view? We are still trying to decide if we should go for a 'view room' for our trip next year, but we really need a room with bunks. TIA

Hi there....we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Grand. We've always had a pool/park view room and also always get bunkbeds. I've never requested bunkbeds that I didn't get them. Sometimes we pay for the upgrade to the view and other times we've just been offered the upgrade for free at check in. I don't like to risk not having the view room anymore so we generally just pay for it upfront. When I booked our room for early December, the DTD view was actually quite bit more than the park/pool view. Hope this helps you some.
~mm

 

[Spark]

There is a ton of information on the DVC portion of the DIS boards...A great place to research and ask questions before you buy...

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

We had 2 queen beds, room was just right. DTD view was a nice touch, we were surprised with the upgrade.

Thanks

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

Hi there....we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Grand. We've always had a pool/park view room and also always get bunkbeds. I've never requested bunkbeds that I didn't get them. Sometimes we pay for the upgrade to the view and other times we've just been offered the upgrade for free at check in. I don't like to risk not having the view room anymore so we generally just pay for it upfront. When I booked our room for early December, the DTD view was actually quite bit more than the park/pool view. Hope this helps you some.
~mm

Thanks I am so excited about staying at the Grand ... it will be our first time staying on-property and our first visit since 1995! And so much has changed since then! And of course our children have never been to DL before, so it is incredibly exciting for them too! Anyway it is a beautiful spring day here in Australia, so I had better get back to reality

 

[pearl12970]

Thanks

There is a ton of information on the DVC portion of the DIS boards...A great place to research and ask questions before you buy...

 

[mrswh]

We just made our resses for 11/29-12/2. So excited!!! We are getting a costco package so I'm hesitant about the whole package deal, but it should be fine. DH really wants to stay here, me too, I just didn't wanna spend the extra $ LOL! Crossing my fingers we don't get a room down one of those long hallways I keep reading about.

If you want (or don't want) a specific room location or bed configuration, you should put in a request on your reservation, because they assign the request rooms first and then the rest get whatever is left. If you are not sure where your room type is located you can call the hotel and speak with someone at the front desk who can tell you, or just ask to be in the main building or as close to it as possible.

Have a great time!!

 

[mrswh]

Nobody has any opinion on how loud the fireworks were in the rooms? Nobody at all?

We were in the front of the hotel, overlooking the valet circle, and the fireworks were pretty loud. My kids were out cold after a big day at the parks so it didn't bother us, but they are loud, even with the door closed. It's just something you have to deal with - we have stayed at the Hyatt a mile up Harbor and can hear the fireworks just fine there, too!

 

[Spixydust]

So excited we have our girl's trip planned November 18 - 20. First time EVER going without a LOT of family but it will be just as magical with super good friends!

It's also my first trip in years that I am NOT going concierge! Guess I'll have to find something to do with myself during cocktail hour!

We did book a dinner at Wine Country Trattoria to get premium viewing for WOC.

I'm wondering now if it is worth it with the early entrance into DCA.

Any thoughts? The dinner is 40 bucks a piece, that I could easily spend at Blue Bayou, but wanted to make sure we got a good view of WOC.

TIA!!!

 

[mrswh]

I'm wondering now if it is worth it with the early entrance into DCA.

Any thoughts? The dinner is 40 bucks a piece, that I could easily spend at Blue Bayou, but wanted to make sure we got a good view of WOC.

TIA!!!

We went back and forth on this issue and decided to cancel our res at WCT. It was so easy to get a FP, and if you arrive reasonably early, you will have a great view of the show. Then again, we were taking two small children, so we'd never have eaten at WCT otherwise. With a bunch of friends it might be a fun dinner!

 

[nunzia]

So excited we have our girl's trip planned November 18 - 20. First time EVER going without a LOT of family but it will be just as magical with super good friends!

It's also my first trip in years that I am NOT going concierge! Guess I'll have to find something to do with myself during cocktail hour!

We did book a dinner at Wine Country Trattoria to get premium viewing for WOC.

I'm wondering now if it is worth it with the early entrance into DCA.

Any thoughts? The dinner is 40 bucks a piece, that I could easily spend at Blue Bayou, but wanted to make sure we got a good view of WOC.

TIA!!!

We thought it was worth it..food and service were great at WCT and we were right up against the rail for the view of WOC..really excellent night.

 

[soaringirl]

Boy, was I glad to upgrade to the Grand Californian!! It is lovely! We had a room in the 3rd room, very far from the Lobby, but I didn't mind. When we first saw the view from our balcony, I thougth it was a lousy one. The next day I realized we were over Downtown, just a little bit at the right of World of Disney. Then I saw it was a better view than we should have (we paid standard), and I enjoyed so much opening the balcony in the mornings to hear the Downtown music and the sounds of people. If I stretched my neck,I could see the entrance to Disneyland!
Thanks to these forums and the bellboy, we found the emergency exit stairs right next to our door. My husband was complaning when I took him there that how come we get to stay in such a fancy hotel and we were using those awful stairs! But for my kids it was the "secret exit" and they were fascinated! And so was I when I saw how close we were to the entrance!! Just one minute from our room and bang! there we were in Dowtown next to La Brea! Fantastic!
The lobby, OMG!! it's soo beautiful, though I was prepared, since we enjoyed the Animal Kingdom Lodge & the Wilderness Lodge lobbies in WDW, so it reminded me a lot of those hotels!
We used the business center to buy tickets to the Angels game, it was so convenient. I was surprise though to see how many people was in the hotel! We arrived Tuesday 21st at 8am, I almost cried in happiness when the entrance secury guy gave us a very warm welcome, and the bellboy took our luggage! The doors are so beautiful!! We did took a picture of them, and we were lucky since I wanted to took another afterwards, and never could due to the long stream of people coming in and out.
I'll tell you more afterwards, but let me tell you this: I did cry when we checked out. Yes I did and I am not ashemed. DH and DD were astounded that I cried, but I didn't mind!

 

[DmaxHawk]

Boy, was I glad to upgrade to the Grand Californian!! It is lovely! We had a room in the 3rd room, very far from the Lobby, but I didn't mind. When we first saw the view from our balcony, I thougth it was a lousy one. The next day I realized we were over Downtown, just a little bit at the right of World of Disney. Then I saw it was a better view than we should have (we paid standard), and I enjoyed so much opening the balcony in the mornings to hear the Downtown music and the sounds of people. If I stretched my neck,I could see the entrance to Disneyland!
Thanks to these forums and the bellboy, we found the emergency exit stairs right next to our door. My husband was complaning when I took him there that how come we get to stay in such a fancy hotel and we were using those awful stairs! But for my kids it was the "secret exit" and they were fascinated! And so was I when I saw how close we were to the entrance!! Just one minute from our room and bang! there we were in Dowtown next to La Brea! Fantastic!
The lobby, OMG!! it's soo beautiful, though I was prepared, since we enjoyed the Animal Kingdom Lodge & the Wilderness Lodge lobbies in WDW, so it reminded me a lot of those hotels!
We used the business center to buy tickets to the Angels game, it was so convenient. I was surprise though to see how many people was in the hotel! We arrived Tuesday 21st at 8am, I almost cried in happiness when the entrance secury guy gave us a very warm welcome, and the bellboy took our luggage! The doors are so beautiful!! We did took a picture of them, and we were lucky since I wanted to took another afterwards, and never could due to the long stream of people coming in and out.
I'll tell you more afterwards, but let me tell you this: I did cry when we checked out. Yes I did and I am not ashemed. DH and DD were astounded that I cried, but I didn't mind!

Sounds like you really enjoyed the hotel! it certainly is a wonderful place. The first time we walked through the door, it took all of our breath away. I understand how you were able to cry both going in and checking out, we all felt the same way. The CMs there really do try to make you feel like it is your second home.

 

[brergnat]

Nobody has any opinion on how loud the fireworks were in the rooms? Nobody at all?

I can hear the fireworks nightly from my living room. I live 12 miles away from DLR...

When we stay at the Grand, we stay CL in a courtyard view room. Even with sliders closed, the fireworks are LOUD. Probably not loud enough to wake up sleeping kids, but loud enough that they make my DH nervous (he is military, and after two tours to Iraq during wartime, the sound of random explosions puts him on edge...) He has to SEE the fireworks while he can hear them, just to reassure himself.

 

[jessicaerv]

I can hear the fireworks nightly from my living room. I live 12 miles away from DLR...

When we stay at the Grand, we stay CL in a courtyard view room. Even with sliders closed, the fireworks are LOUD. Probably not loud enough to wake up sleeping kids, but loud enough that they make my DH nervous (he is military, and after two tours to Iraq during wartime, the sound of random explosions puts him on edge...) He has to SEE the fireworks while he can hear them, just to reassure himself.

I grew up a little further away than you are now (Fullerton), and we could hear the fireworks at night. Sometimes we could even see them, if the night was clear enough.

So sorry to hear about your DH's PTSD, I can only imagine. Thank him for his service and thank you for your sacrifices, as well.

 

[jessicaerv]

Also, thank you to everyone for chiming in on the Fireworks noise question. My DH is a very light sleeper so I think I'll just have him wear earplugs (if we manage to go to bed that early).

 

[KCmike]

Here's to wishing I was back there...

 

[funatdisney]

Thanks KCmike for posting your pics of the Grand. Your pictures are awesome and I am excited to see them when you post them. It kinda of works like therapy for me when it is a long wait between visits. I don't have long to wait now. Just a day over three weeks now. The packing has begun!

 

[KCmike]

Thanks KCmike for posting your pics of the Grand. Your pictures are awesome and I am excited to see them when you post them. It kinda of works like therapy for me when it is a long wait between visits. I don't have long to wait now. Just a day over three weeks now. The packing has begun!

Congrats that your so close! Enjoy it for all of us!

 

[funatdisney]

I will!, KCmike