Grand Californian Super Thread

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Mike, your pictures are so fantastic. You get some really unique shots. The abundance of shots is also impressive! Have you taken classes or are you self-taught?

 

[Nonsuch]

...going to GHC for 11 days (which is actually better since we are from Hawaii). We have four-year-old twin boys.

11 days

1) What are the chances that we will not get the bunk beds we requested?

If possible, try to check in early in the day. Make it clear at registration that bunk beds are very important, and you are willing to wait for the room to be ready. If no bunks are available, request a room change after one night.

2) Can we push the bunk beds up against the wall? Or do the sconces prevent that?

I've never tried to move the bunk bed, but it might be possible.

3) Is there a trundle in every bunk bed?

Yes.

4) Do I need to bring portable blow up rails (that we already own) for the bottom bunk? I really want to conserve luggage space, but can't really tell if it's high enough to matter if one of them falls off the bottom bunk.

The bottom bunk is lower than the queen bed, so I don't think rails are needed.

Have a magical trip

 

[KCmike]

Mike, your pictures are so fantastic. You get some really unique shots. The abundance of shots is also impressive! Have you taken classes or are you self-taught?

Just a beginner who likes to take pictures. Thanks for the nice comments.

 

[CrazyDuck]

4) Do I need to bring portable blow up rails (that we already own) for the bottom bunk? I really want to conserve luggage space, but can't really tell if it's high enough to matter if one of them falls off the bottom bunk.

We already have the Vons delivery scheduled. We bought tix for Mickey's party on Halloween and APs. WOC dinner at AG.

Rather than bringing rails for the bottom bunk just pull out the trundle so that the mobile sleeper has something to bounce off of, or better yet just make em sleep on the trundle.

Don't order too much perishable stuff from Vons, the refrigerators in the regular rooms are quite small!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Thank you, nonsuch! I will thankfully leave those rails at home. More room for costumes!

Unfortunately, the only choices for arrival are either 5am, about 4pm, or 10pm on my preferred airlines. We picked the 4:25, so we can't check in early, or even call. But I will pick up the phone as soon as we land. And ask for a change the next day if we don't get bunks.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Rather than bringing rails for the bottom bunk just pull out the trundle so that the mobile sleeper has something to bounce off of, or better yet just make em sleep on the trundle.

Don't order too much perishable stuff from Vons, the refrigerators in the regular rooms are quite small!

Good idea! Maybe they will even want to sleep in the trundle (for novelty!) My thought actually was that they will want to sleep on the top bunk together. That's what they have done in the past. Either way, no rails needed!

Got in on the Vons purchase. Mostly fruits that don't have to be cold (bananas, oranges, grapes), Horizon UHT milk, water, snacks, etc.

Where are you on O'ahu? I live in town. Went to Kalani!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Where are you on O'ahu? I live in town. Went to Kalani!

Live in Ewa work in town (Uhh!). Went to Waimea on Kauai!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Live in Ewa work in town (Uhh!). Went to Waimea on Kauai!

Long drive! Kaua'i is my fave -- just went to Outrigger Waipouli at the end of August. Small world (and small island we live on!) Thanks for the help!

 

[allieoop]

Are the safes in the rooms large enough for a laptop?
Thanks

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Are the safes in the rooms large enough for a laptop?
Thanks

We were able to store DH's laptop inside the room safe. HTH!

 

[funatdisney]

Are the safes in the rooms large enough for a laptop?
Thanks

We were not able to fit my DH's laptop into the safe. I guess it depends on the size.

 

[duck_widow]

We were not able to fit my DH's laptop into the safe. I guess it depends on the size.

I have a 17" laptop and it fit in the safe. That was in a VGC room. I wonder if all the safes in the hotel are the same size?

 

[funatdisney]

We have stayed in the hotel side and the villa side, and we were not able to fit his laptop into either side. Now I must admit that his laptop is an old one, and is 20". Newer ones might be smaller and therefore, have no issues. We are planning on getting a new one, but not until next year.

We will be dragging the old laptop with us when we stay in a one bedroom next week. I should measure the safe when I am there to get an accurate size of the safe.

 

[allieoop]

Thanks everybody! My daughter wants to bring her laptop so she can stay caught up on school work while we're at DLR. Stupid question - if the laptop doesn't fit in the safe, where's a safe place to keep it when we're not in the room?

 

[bluecruiser]

Thanks everybody! My daughter wants to bring her laptop so she can stay caught up on school work while we're at DLR. Stupid question - if the laptop doesn't fit in the safe, where's a safe place to keep it when we're not in the room?

I have a large laptop that never fits in the safe, so I put it in one of my suitcases when I'm not in the room and just lock the suitcase. Seems to work well, never had a suitcase disappear from the room.

 

[KCmike]

 

[CrazyDuck]

where's a safe place to keep it when we're not in the room?

A safe place to put it would be on the desk next to the telephone. I have stayed at the GCH many times and have brought everything including laptops, cameras, MP3 players, dvd players, portablble video games players... you name it... I brought it! I always leave all my stuff on the desk in the room and (knock on wood) not once has anything disappeared!

 

[DmaxHawk]

A safe place to put it would be on the desk next to the telephone. I have stayed at the GCH many times and have brought everything including laptops, cameras, MP3 players, dvd players, portablble video games players... you name it... I brought it! I always leave all my stuff on the desk in the room and (knock on wood) not once has anything disappeared!

X2 here. I kept my alienware laptop sitting on the desk as well as a mouse and several cables and never had any problems.

 

[Nonsuch]

I have a 17" laptop and it fit in the safe. That was in a VGC room. I wonder if all the safes in the hotel are the same size?

They are not all the same size.
I had a split stay last month, both VGC and hotel. The 1-bedroom villa had a safe with a electronic lock (set your own 4 digit code), which easily held a 15" macbook. The regular hotel room had a smaller safe with a key lock, and a 15" macbook would not fit.

 

[allieoop]

A safe place to put it would be on the desk next to the telephone. I have stayed at the GCH many times and have brought everything including laptops, cameras, MP3 players, dvd players, portablble video games players... you name it... I brought it! I always leave all my stuff on the desk in the room and (knock on wood) not once has anything disappeared!

I don't usually worry about our stuff when we stay on Disney property. I forgot my purse with cash, credit cards, etc. on the desk in the room at Wilderness Lodge once while we were gone to breakfast. I was about sick with worry when I realized what I had done and hurried back to get it. Housekeeping had already been to the room to clean, but the purse and everything in it was still there. But I've never brought anything as expensive as a laptop before, so I didn't want to unnecessarily leave a temptation in plain sight.