Grand Californian Super Thread

[kailuagirl]

We'll be there in 3 weeks. Can you tell me what time the pool is open until right now.

When we there there at the beginning of December the pool was open until 10 I believe. There was always people at night in the pool hot tub and they really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I so wanted to join them but was worried about DD3 and it being too cold upon exit.

Have fun! We loved the Grand. Oh my!!! Have a great time

 

[funatdisney]

 

[ykmom]

When we there there at the beginning of December the pool was open until 10 I believe. There was always people at night in the pool hot tub and they really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I so wanted to join them but was worried about DD3 and it being too cold upon exit.

Have fun! We loved the Grand. Oh my!!! Have a great time

Thanks Kailugirl - It's -30 here today. I can't wait to go be there!

 

[Disney Princess]

Thanks Kailugirl - It's -30 here today. I can't wait to go be there!

NEGATIVE 30???? My goodness I feel for you. Forgive my ignorance, but is that with wind chill or before? How long can you stand to be outside for? I was getting antsy for our trip in May to the Grand, but in your case, you deserve to go soon!!!

 

[ykmom]

NEGATIVE 30???? My goodness I feel for you. Forgive my ignorance, but is that with wind chill or before? How long can you stand to be outside for? I was getting antsy for our trip in May to the Grand, but in your case, you deserve to go soon!!!

That's with wind but not much wind and Celsius (-22 F) If the wind isn't bad and you bundle up it's bearable. -30 is actaully the cut off for indoor recess until then they go out! My husband actually walks to work about 20 minutes but thankfully I have to take DD to school first so I get to drive!

 

[Disney Princess]

That's with wind but not much wind and Celsius (-22 F) If the wind isn't bad and you bundle up it's bearable. -30 is actaully the cut off for indoor recess until then they go out! My husband actually walks to work about 20 minutes but thankfully I have to take DD to school first so I get to drive!

My gracious! Thanks for clarifying about F/C - I always forget to convert. Still, you are WAY tougher than we are; our indoor recess is cancelled at 32 I think - and if there is rain and cold - forget it. We are wimpy here in TX!

 

[disneyfan67]

Wanted to subscribe to this great looking thread. I'm hoping for another stay in August at the GC and I'm calling dvc member services in the morning.

 

[disneyfan67]

I thought I would share my good news and I'm very excited, Just got off the phone with DVC member services and was able to snag a 1 bedroom for 5 nights in August.

My wife who wasn't able to go with me last August when I took my two sons to DL for a dad and boys trip, is very happy that I got this reservation. She's just as excited about going. The funny thing was, I was going to stay at the HOJO for this upcoming trip, but since I have the points and the room was available, why not? We now have something to look forward to and have the time to save up for the special things we want to do. Getting this 1 bedroom at the GC made my day.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I thought I would share my good news and I'm very excited, Just got off the phone with DVC member services and was able to snag a 1 bedroom for 5 nights in August.

My wife who wasn't able to go with me last August when I took my two sons to DL for a dad and boys trip, is very happy that I got this reservation. She's just as excited about going. The funny thing was, I was going to stay at the HOJO for this upcoming trip, but since I have the points and the room was available, why not? We now have something to look forward to and have the time to save up for the special things we want to do. Getting this 1 bedroom at the GC made my day.

Sounds great. We stayed there last August by renting points and as far as I am concerned, it was over the top. Had groceries delivered by Vons. What are your dates for this year.

Jack

 

[disneyfan67]

Sounds great. We stayed there last August by renting points and as far as I am concerned, it was over the top. Had groceries delivered by Vons. What are your dates for this year.

Jack

I was reading this thread in it's entirety last night looking for pics and tips and noticed your posts about staying in a 1 bedroom and using Vons. I plan on doing the same. I got a 5 night stay August 8th through the 13th. This gives me plenty of time to not only do the parks, enjoy the GC and all it has to offer, but drive around and see some sights. I never saw the ocean, Pacific or Atlantic and plan on checking out a nice beach or two while there. I just got to figure out my airfare and what airport I'm going to fly out of. I did SNA last year, but we will see who gives the best deals. As you can probably tell, I'm excited about this trip and have a ton of things on my mind.

Do you mind me asking what you ordered from Vons last year and did you do any cooking in the villa or just snack stuff?

 

[blackjackdelta]

I was reading this thread in it's entirety last night looking for pics and tips and noticed your posts about staying in a 1 bedroom and using Vons. I plan on doing the same. I got a 5 night stay August 8th through the 13th. This gives me plenty of time to not only do the parks, enjoy the GC and all it has to offer, but drive around and see some sights. I never saw the ocean, Pacific or Atlantic and plan on checking out a nice beach or two while there. I just got to figure out my airfare and what airport I'm going to fly out of. I did SNA last year, but we will see who gives the best deals. As you can probably tell, I'm excited about this trip and have a ton of things on my mind.

Do you mind me asking what you ordered from Vons last year and did you do any cooking in the villa or just snack stuff?

Not a problem, ask away. We ordered evrything from breakfast fixin, fruit, milk, juice, ice cream, etc. We had about $75.00 of food and actually ran out of a few items. We like Huntington Beach which is about 20 minutes but there are many others I went to college in SoCal at USC and use to live in Manhatten Beach, Santa Monica, Culver City, etc. You will love the ocean. LAX is a pain as far as I am concerned, much rather do SNA. Anything else let me know. There are a number of folks we know the area well here on the boards.

Jack

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Any tips on how to get a complimentary room upgrade (besides just a wink and a smile)? [/QUOTE]

No one has tips for me?

Also, have we been able to figure out the accomodations codes? Ours says CH S5/1.

 

[Nonsuch]

Any tips on how to get a complimentary room upgrade (besides just a wink and a smile)?

No one has tips for me?

Actually, a smile goes a long way
Of course, I'm always smiling when checking into the Grand
Check in early, but make it clear that you are willing to wait for a better room.
On the other hand, if you check in late all the standard rooms might be gone and you will get a view upgrade -- it's often just luck.
A specific bed request might help or hurt. I always request a king and seldom get one. In December 2009, I received an upgrade to a queen/bunk pool view.

Always check all the travel sites when booking. Last September, it was cheaper to book a view room through Travelocity than a standard room direct from Disney.

 

[Nonsuch]

I thought I would share my good news and I'm very excited, Just got off the phone with DVC member services and was able to snag a 1 bedroom for 5 nights in August.

I was reading this thread in it's entirety last night looking for pics and tips...

Now read this thread (235 pages)
The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners Group

The thread continues
The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0

 

[wbl2745]

This gives me plenty of time to not only do the parks, enjoy the GC and all it has to offer, but drive around and see some sights.

Depending on the types of things that you like to do, there are tours of the Grand Californian. I took one that talked about all of the art work and architecture. I really enjoyed it. It was about an hour and there are so many things that you just walk by without noticing. We also got to see the biggest suite. (I think it is called the Walt Disney Suite.) Quite impressive.

 

[funatdisney]

Do you mind me asking what you ordered from Vons last year and did you do any cooking in the villa or just snack stuff?

I just wanted to suggest a dinner menu that will be easy and fun to make. I have actually done this dinner three times and it works very nicely.

We pack in our food, since we live close enough to do so. One night I always make a London Broil. I serve it with steamed or boiled potatoes (it takes too long to cook them on the grill) and a salad. We BBQ the meat in the nice BBQs located on the side of the hotel facing DCA. I don't know if you have had London Broil before or if you are familiar with this cut of beef, but it is a very lean cut of meat with a small strip of fat on the one side of the cut. It is best cooked med-rare to rare. I usually go down and BBQ it myself, since the other items on this menu are easy to prepare. I have had some funny looks in the elevator when I enter with a slab of a nice cut of raw meat in a platter. Everything I have needed to prepare this dinner I have found in the unit. You can check out BBQ tools at Guest Services.

After doing this dinner for the second time, I have started to BBQ two cuts of London Broil. The second one I cook rare and save it for breakfast the next day. Since it is rare, I can pan fry it and serve it with scrambled eggs (with toasted sour dough bread from DCA, of course) and makes for an easy breakfast with enough protein to start the day right. Sometimes, I have some potatoes left over which I cut into cubes and cook on the stove with butter and olive oil. Can be served for breakfast or lunch.

Just a suggestion. We have always enjoyed cooking and eating in our room. It makes it feel like we are at truly at home in our DVC room.

 

[disneyfan67]

Thanks for the replies so far, especially about the cooking on the BBQ grills. Last August when it was just me and my two boys, we didn't have anyway to get off property and ate at both the GC, DLH, and around the parks. Not only was it super crazy expensive, it got tiring fast. I plan on getting a car this time and trying different things offsite. I saw Jack mention Mama Cozzas and went to the website, which I recommend everyone clicking on the video. Wow! I definitely be eating there and might bring back that great looking pizza to eat in the room one night. That video of Guy Fieri From Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, was just awesome. I'm sold!

http://www.mamacozzas.com/

I do plan on do some cooking in the villa and I'll have breakfast type stuff, snacks, ice cream. One night I might go some place to get some decent steaks and cook on the BBQ grills. I'm at the point where I'm tired of Disney dining and the great thing about having a kitchen in the villa, I can make myself feel at home, not in a hotel room for a week. The funny thing is that I stayed in a standard room for one night at the GC and didn't think it was all that. It was nice, but I felt cramped and had more space in my room at the DLH. The pictures of the 1 bedroom looks great though and plenty of room for me. I feel great about getting this reservation and I wish it was August already. It's going to be a good trip.

 

[funatdisney]

Thanks for the replies so far, especially about the cooking on the BBQ grills. Last August when it was just me and my two boys, we didn't have anyway to get off property and ate at both the GC, DLH, and around the parks. Not only was it super crazy expensive, it got tiring fast.

Isn't that the truth. I love to at DLR restaurants, but eating in your room is a welcome break.

May I also make some another suggestions? I have gone on a few trips to WDW for a week at a time, and cooked in my room there as well. To save on expenses, I have brought my own cooking oil (or olive oil). I buy a four pack of small juices that are found in the baby food aisle. The juice is packed in a small plastic bottles. I use the juice in smoothies, and save the bottles to put the cooking oil in for travel. To be on the safe side, I also put it in a ziploc bag just in case it leaks. (It never has.) Another thing to note: the units do not have salt and pepper, so remember to bring those as well. I also bring a small container of steak seasoning with me, too.

Sorry to have taken so much liberty if you already have lots of experience with cooking in a DVC unit. It just might help others to know some tidbits and tricks for cooking in their DVC room.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

I thought I would share my good news and I'm very excited, Just got off the phone with DVC member services and was able to snag a 1 bedroom for 5 nights in August.

My wife who wasn't able to go with me last August when I took my two sons to DL for a dad and boys trip, is very happy that I got this reservation. She's just as excited about going. The funny thing was, I was going to stay at the HOJO for this upcoming trip, but since I have the points and the room was available, why not? We now have something to look forward to and have the time to save up for the special things we want to do. Getting this 1 bedroom at the GC made my day.

Congratulations! We have had good results with Vons. The only downside is that you have to be present if you order alcohol. We cook most of our meals in the villas since it is such a short walk back, nothing like WDW. To make life easy, we usually do the large Stouffers lasagna and chicken enchiladas. We did burgers on the grill in December, too. We never saw anyone else using the grills during our stay.

 

[franandaj]

I have cooked in the room at both WDW and DLR. We live about 1/2 an hour away from DLR so it's much easier to bring things from home that we will need, but even before joining DVC we would stay in studio effiencies. The first thing that I always bring on a trip with a kitchen is my travel spice kit.

One of my favorites that you can also cook on the grill or in the oven is Balsamic Chicken. I just sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder and then drizzle it with oil and Balsamic Vinegar. Let it marinate for about 15-30 minutes and cook for about 45 minutes on the grill or in the oven. When cooking on the grill I like to also cook some sliced zucchini, just put a little oil, salt and pepper and grill. Here is a pic from when we did this in our THV a year ago.

I tend to be a little more ambitious in the kitchen on vacation but tasty meals can be cooked with ease, it's healthier and saves money too!