Grand Californian Super Thread

[DmaxHawk]

The exit is between X448 and X450 on the park side of the hotel, not the DTD side.

It must zig zag between floors because It was on the DTD side when we stayed in that wing on the 3rd floor.

Interesting. I'll have to check how it is in March.

 

[emum]

Just thought I'd swing by this thread... we've been home from our month long vacation with Disney for just over a week now. So many highpoints (with a few less than stellar moments, primarily relating to crowd numbers).

We LOVED the GCH, tho'. I was a little disappointed with our suite position at first - we were overlooking the monorail. That was until our first night in..... we had a teriffic view of the fireworks. We were offered a concierge upgrade which we snaffled - a bargain for a family of six.

We ended up buying into DVC on the cruise, so I'm thrilled we'll be able to stay in the villas (having been to both WDW and DL now, I can say that we love DL - we'll always return there).

I'll have some photos to post over the following days (when I get the time - jsut started a new job yesterday).

Cheers,
Sally

 

[DmaxHawk]

Just thought I'd swing by this thread... we've been home from our month long vacation with Disney for just over a week now. So many highpoints (with a few less than stellar moments, primarily relating to crowd numbers).

We LOVED the GCH, tho'. I was a little disappointed with our suite position at first - we were overlooking the monorail. That was until our first night in..... we had a teriffic view of the fireworks. We were offered a concierge upgrade which we snaffled - a bargain for a family of six.

We ended up buying into DVC on the cruise, so I'm thrilled we'll be able to stay in the villas (having been to both WDW and DL now, I can say that we love DL - we'll always return there).

I'll have some photos to post over the following days (when I get the time - jsut started a new job yesterday).

Cheers,
Sally

Glad the room worked out for you and congrats on the DVC purchase!

Looking forward to pics you have! Good luck on the job

 

[Aust]

Here's the view from our room in January - 5302 (free upgrade from standard room booked at the 35% off rate!)

 

[funatdisney]

I love this view, Aust. What a great view to have while sipping my morning coffee.

 

[DmaxHawk]

Here's the view from our room in January - 5302 (free upgrade from standard room booked at the 35% off rate!)

Thanks Aust added! Do you remember under what view this is classified?

 

[Renee70]

Hi everyone - what a great thread - I've learned SO much!

We just booked our first trip (EVER to a Disney resort!) to Disneyland, staying at the Grand Californian Hotel - concierge level the last week of March! We're SO excited!

If anyone could help - please tell me how to maximize our stay at this level (we've never stayed concierge before) and not sure what we should be asking for, expecting, wanting! Especially since we've never even been to Disney before. There will be 3 adults and 1 child who is 6 yrs old.

Does the concierge level rooms (I believe it's the 6th floor??) automatically come with a view? I've read conflicting reports...??

The resort looks beautiful and we look forward to some down time at the pool. Is it true we could use all 3 resort pools because we're staying at one of them?

I promise to take lots of pictures and will start a pre trip report soon. We're driving 30 plus hrs to get to DL - and hope to do lots of journalling! (Yes, we love and prefer road trips over flying - we're an odd sort! LOL)

Thanks in advance for any replies... now off to find out how to create a nice signature!

Renee D

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hi everyone - what a great thread - I've learned SO much!

We just booked our first trip (EVER to a Disney resort!) to Disneyland, staying at the Grand Californian Hotel - concierge level the last week of March! We're SO excited!

If anyone could help - please tell me how to maximize our stay at this level (we've never stayed concierge before) and not sure what we should be asking for, expecting, wanting! Especially since we've never even been to Disney before. There will be 3 adults and 1 child who is 6 yrs old.

Does the concierge level rooms (I believe it's the 6th floor??) automatically come with a view? I've read conflicting reports...??

The resort looks beautiful and we look forward to some down time at the pool. Is it true we could use all 3 resort pools because we're staying at one of them?

I promise to take lots of pictures and will start a pre trip report soon. We're driving 30 plus hrs to get to DL - and hope to do lots of journalling! (Yes, we love and prefer road trips over flying - we're an odd sort! LOL)

Thanks in advance for any replies... now off to find out how to create a nice signature!

Renee D

We have talked numerous times about flying down but everyone else prefers the drive. It is their down time for the vacation. For us it is only 18 hours.

Jack

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Leaving tomorrow for our first stay at GCH! I'll be sure to post lots of pics when I get back.

 

[franandaj]

Renee,
Make sure you take advantage of the Club for breakfast and snacks. When I was there they had strawberries at every meal and from 11-4 they were covered in chocolate! You can make a great breakfast from the offerings and enhance your meals throughout the day (while I wouldn't recommend planning on the Club for all your dining).

You can take the water bottles from the Club into the parks, but they won't let you bring the glass soda bottles. Enjoy! It's a lovely way to stay at the GCH!

 

[nunzia]

We really did eat alotof our meals in the Club..and so nice to have beer and wine at night!

 

[Nonsuch]

Does the concierge level rooms (I believe it's the 6th floor??) automatically come with a view? I've read conflicting reports...??

I do not think a view is included. I paid for a park view on my last concierge visit. Call the concierge and ask, a view upgrade should not be too expensive.

The resort looks beautiful and we look forward to some down time at the pool. Is it true we could use all 3 resort pools because we're staying at one of them?

The Grand has several pools, but pool hopping to the other Disney hotels is not allowed.

...We're driving 30 plus hrs to get to DL - and hope to do lots of journalling! (Yes, we love and prefer road trips over flying - we're an odd sort! LOL)

Road trips are fun Where are you driving from?

 

[Aust]

DmaxHawk - I'm not sure what it's classified as, because we booked a standard view - my sister asked the CM at checkin if there were any nicer views available and this is what she gave us - very lucky. I couldn't decide if it was a pool view or theme park view as we could see both.

 

[DmaxHawk]

DmaxHawk - I'm not sure what it's classified as, because we booked a standard view - my sister asked the CM at checkin if there were any nicer views available and this is what she gave us - very lucky. I couldn't decide if it was a pool view or theme park view as we could see both.

No worries
Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[AudreyII]

I love GCH! I've been lucky enough to stay there a few times when my husband and I went with my family. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of budget but my family is still going to go to the Storyteller Cafe for breakfast one day because it's so wonderful and fun!

Also, you really can't beat the easy access to Downtown and California Adventure! I've been spoiled!

 

[aristocat65]

I love GCH! I've been lucky enough to stay there a few times when my husband and I went with my family. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of budget but my family is still going to go to the Storyteller Cafe for breakfast one day because it's so wonderful and fun!

Also, you really can't beat the easy access to Downtown and California Adventure! I've been spoiled!

I agree. Storytellers Cafe is one of our favorites and we always visited when we weren't even staying at GCH. This year we're finally splurging and get to actually stay at the hotel and I can't wait!

 

[Disneyadore]

I was looking at all the beautiful pictures and was wondering if the pools are behind gates? Do you need your KTWC to aces the pools?

 

[DmaxHawk]

I was looking at all the beautiful pictures and was wondering if the pools are behind gates? Do you need your KTWC to aces the pools?

They are behind gates and you do need your key to get in

 

[Disneyadore]

They are behind gates and you do need your key to get in

Thank you. That is one of my big pet peeves in WDW. I always have to "fight" to get a chair at the pool staying onside.
Seems there will be less problems if people just have to use a valid key.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thank you. That is one of my big pet peeves in WDW. I always have to "fight" to get a chair at the pool staying onside.
Seems there will be less problems if people just have to use a valid key.

You may find this the same at DLR. This last year we decided to hit the GCH pool in the afternoon, just might as well forget it. It was body to body in the pool and no loungers available. Not unsettleing, since we normally do not do the pools when we go to DLR, just a very busy area.

Jack