Grand Californian Super Thread

[momjkm]

So funny, this is how we felt about WL and what made us stay at YC instead! GCH is our favorite at DLR.

YC is a great choice- probably would be my 2nd

 

[disneyfan67]

Here was the view I had from my room on my 2010 trip.

 

[blackjackdelta]

YC is a great choice- probably would be my 2nd

Since I am a DLR person not a WDW person, what is YC and secondly where is the most expensive place to stay at WDW.

Jack

 

[Nonsuch]

I am a WDW nut and the Wilderness Lodge is my 1st choice resort. Has anyone stayed at both the WL and the GC and how do they compare? Going in July... feel like I would be cheating on WL if I stayed at GC lol...

I have not stayed at the WL, but the same architect designed both the WL and GC.

 

[disneyfan67]

Since I am a DLR person not a WDW person, what is YC and secondly where is the most expensive place to stay at WDW.

Jack

I'll try and help out, sir.


YC stands for the Yacht Club and has the best pool in all of WDW, Storm Along Bay.
Check out Allears for pictures.

I would guess the most expensive DVC point wise would be the Bay Lake Towers. (The sandwich as some call it). (BLT)

For cash out of your pocket (non DVC) the most expensive deluxe resort can be a toss up between the Grand Floridian club level, MK view in club level at the Polynesian, and the some rooms at the Yacht and Beach Club aren't cheap either. It depends on the views and if you want club level or not. At the Grand Floridian they have two levels of club service and insane pricing.

Jack, with all WDW deluxe hotels, the word "expensive" is heavily implied.

 

[franandaj]

I am a WDW nut and the Wilderness Lodge is my 1st choice resort. Has anyone stayed at both the WL and the GC and how do they compare? Going in July... feel like I would be cheating on WL if I stayed at GC lol...
Jill

The lobby at the Grand is smaller, but you will definitely have a feeling of Deja vu. It's been 13 years since I stayed at the WL, but that will change this year! I just put in an offer on a batch of resale points and it went to Disney for ROFR today!

I love them both!

 

[aristocat65]

I am a WDW nut and the Wilderness Lodge is my 1st choice resort. Has anyone stayed at both the WL and the GC and how do they compare? Going in July... feel like I would be cheating on WL if I stayed at GC lol...
Jill

We also LOVE WL and we are staying at GCH for the first time in a month. I have visited the GCH before though and I can tell you they are very similar. As another poster pointed out they were designed by the same architect (along with AKL). I would say the WL is more "rustic" where as the GCH is a little more polished with beautiful craftsman style architecture. We always "visited" the GCH during past trips because it reminded us so much of WL, and I'm so excited to finally stay there.

 

[nunzia]

I'll try and help out, sir.


YC stands for the Yacht Club and has the best pool in all of WDW, Storm Along Bay.
Check out Allears for pictures.

I would guess the most expensive DVC point wise would be the Bay Lake Towers. (The sandwich as some call it). (BLT)

For cash out of your pocket (non DVC) the most expensive deluxe resort can be a toss up between the Grand Floridian club level, MK view in club level at the Polynesian, and the some rooms at the Yacht and Beach Club aren't cheap either. It depends on the views and if you want club level or not. At the Grand Floridian they have two levels of club service and insane pricing.

Jack, with all WDW deluxe hotels, the word "expensive" is heavily implied.

On my one WDW trip I stayed at Beach Club which is a combo resort to Yacht Club,. Really loved it..and Stormalong Bay is great..so is the Yachtsman's Steakhouse. If I ever bought points at WDW again, it would be at Beach Club.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Since I am a DLR person not a WDW person, what is YC and secondly where is the most expensive place to stay at WDW.

Jack

YC is the Yacht Club, and the most expensive hotel at WDW is definitely the Grand Floridian, but it really is something else, especially if you have a concierge room overlooking the marina and can watch the fireworks from your balcony. Have done that once, not sure if I am willing to pay for it again or not.

 

[two*little*birds]

Does DGV ever offer PIN's or discounts? I know I get them all the time for WDW, but this would be our first trip to DL.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks for the advice, I know a lot about DVC, nothing about what would be first or second choice to buy into at DVD, also the cash aspect of what, not being a member, would probably cost to stay there for 6 people. So I am sourcing the WDW boards to get some education. I really do love GCH/DVC villas.

Jack

 

[aristocat65]

Does anyone know if there is a business centre at GCH where I can print boarding passes and check my flights? I may try to change our return flight to a later one (I can do this NC on the departure day apparently). I know there is WiFi in the lobby, but I didn't want to bring my laptop down, and I really don't want to attempt it on my iphone. Most hotels we've stayed have had one with a few computers for this purpose.

 

[funatdisney]

I have used their business center before, but it has been years. It is near the sliding door exit that takes you to Downtown Disney. Just past the convention rooms. I would call the hotel to see if there is any charge and hours of operation. You can call the hotel operator for the GCHr: (714) 635-2300.

 

[sierranevada]

Does anyone know if there is a business centre at GCH where I can print boarding passes and check my flights? I may try to change our return flight to a later one (I can do this NC on the departure day apparently). I know there is WiFi in the lobby, but I didn't want to bring my laptop down, and I really don't want to attempt it on my iphone. Most hotels we've stayed have had one with a few computers for this purpose.

I have used their business center before, but it has been years. It is near the sliding door exit that takes you to Downtown Disney. Just past the convention rooms. I would call the hotel to see if there is any charge and hours of operation. You can call the hotel operator for the GCHr: (714) 635-2300.

Yes, they do have a business center that I have used for years to print boarding passes with no problems. But in Dec, when I went to do it, they have now outsourced it (Kinko's maybe???) and it is no longer staff with Disney CM's. They now charge for printing boarding passes and the staff was very rude. When my friend and I asked why they were charging, they said we should expect it since we are staying at an expensive hotel!! I wrote a long complaint to the hotel manager. The CM's at the Guest Services desk said they are been other complaints and encouraged me to write - apparently this took hours away from the guest services CM's.

What you can do is check in online and just print your boarding pass at the airport from a kiosk. This is what I will be doing to avoid the business center.

BTW, I have check in online with my iPhone with no problems - printed boarding pass at the airport.

 

[funatdisney]

Obviously not hired by Disney, judging by their remark. How insultingand disappointing! Glad you wrote a compliant to the manager. Things don't change if no one says anything.

 

[aristocat65]

Thanks for everyone's replies. It's disappointing when Disney contracts out services. I wonder if the concierge/guest services would print boarding passes like they do at WDW?

 

[sierranevada]

Thanks for everyone's replies. It's disappointing when Disney contracts out services. I wonder if the concierge/guest services would print boarding passes like they do at WDW?

I know for sure that concierge in the craftsman lounge would do it. I did not think to ask guest services - by that time I was just irritated at the business center.

 

[Praise2Him]

Yes I went to Guest Services yesterday and asked them to print out my boarding passes and they were more than happy to!

 

[Aust]

I'm just back from an 8 night stay at GCH with my sister and neice - wanted to say we loved it! I want a house that looks like the lobby. And we had a great surprise at check-in - we had booked a standard view room (on the 35% off deal) and my sister asked if there were any other views available - at first the CM said no, no problem we said, and asked if there were any rooms available straight away (it was about 12pm). We'd just got off a 13 hour flight from Sydney and hadn't slept. She checked and found us a room available straight away - when we entered we were blown away by the pool and theme park view (5th floor), it was fantastic!

Only problem is now when I go to DLR again I won't be satisfied with any other hotel! I stayed at the DLH about 3 years ago and was not overly impressed, but I loved GCH.

 

[Dobie]

Since I am a DLR person not a WDW person, what is YC and secondly where is the most expensive place to stay at WDW.

Jack

Hey Jack, hope you enjoyed the sunny skies and 65 degrees today!

Yacht Club is about a 10 minute walk from World Showcase at Epcot. I found it to be similar in "feel," if not in decor, to GCH. Including a hallway that I swear was a mile long. I think the cost was similar, too. You would really like it. I think you should kidnap your family and take them! But not in the summer. They would hate you.