Grand Californian Super Thread

[DmaxHawk]

Does anyone know if the lot across from the GCH will be open this year. When we stayed last year the lot was closed all week and we had to park in the structure under the PP hotel.

Jack

It was open when we went in March.

 

[nana50]

Just a post to brag a bit. My daughter has a bookcase she made while working for a craftsman in San Francisco in the Grand lobby. If you are in the lobby and facing the check-in desk, it is the bookcase on the right, behind a pillar. There are bears carved on it. Her initials are carved on the inside. I'm at her house and not using my computer. I'll upload a picture tonight when I get home. We are "visiting" her bookcase on Sunday.

 

[nunzia]

Just a post to brag a bit. My daughter has a bookcase she made while working for a craftsman in San Francisco in the Grand lobby. If you are in the lobby and facing the check-in desk, it is the bookcase on the right, behind a pillar. There are bears carved on it. Her initials are carved on the inside. I'm at her house and not using my computer. I'll upload a picture tonight when I get home. We are "visiting" her bookcase on Sunday.

How very cool! What a special thing to have on your resume.

 

[Disney Princess]

Just a post to brag a bit. My daughter has a bookcase she made while working for a craftsman in San Francisco in the Grand lobby. If you are in the lobby and facing the check-in desk, it is the bookcase on the right, behind a pillar. There are bears carved on it. Her initials are carved on the inside. I'm at her house and not using my computer. I'll upload a picture tonight when I get home. We are "visiting" her bookcase on Sunday.

How cool! I'm sure it is fun to see a little piece of her when you visit the Grand.

 

[DmaxHawk]

Just a post to brag a bit. My daughter has a bookcase she made while working for a craftsman in San Francisco in the Grand lobby. If you are in the lobby and facing the check-in desk, it is the bookcase on the right, behind a pillar. There are bears carved on it. Her initials are carved on the inside. I'm at her house and not using my computer. I'll upload a picture tonight when I get home. We are "visiting" her bookcase on Sunday.

That is amazing! When did it go in? I took the hotel tour in March and we spent some time talking about the bookcases. Are they the same ones?

 

[nana50]

yes, they are the same ones. They've been there since it opened. They were made either in the late 90's.

 

[DmaxHawk]

yes, they are the same ones. They've been there since it opened. They were made either in the late 90's.

That's great! I'll try to get that video up once I finish with finals.

 

[Nonsuch]

Do all GC standard rooms have balconies

No, we have stayed there 3 times in a standard room, and have never had a balcony. They always seem to put us in the same view--it is of the front entrance/cars parking lot. No balcony.

I'm surprised there are any rooms without a balcony, they are a feature of the hotel. I have stayed in rooms with various views and bed configurations and all had balconies. This includes the front of the hotel, but not a daybed room.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I'm surprised there are any rooms without a balcony, they are a feature of the hotel. I have stayed in rooms with various views and bed configurations and all had balconies. This includes the front of the hotel, but not a daybed room.

We did not have a balcony on the daybed room we stayed in last year for 1 night. I am not sure why anyone would want to sit on a balcony overlooking the front entrance.

Jack

 

[DmaxHawk]

We did not have a balcony on the daybed room we stayed in last year for 1 night. I am not sure why anyone would want to sit on a balcony overlooking the front entrance.

Jack

I think the day bed rooms are larger than the average. Perhaps they "eat" what would have been the balcony to accommodate the space for the day bed?

 

[nana50]

Here is a picture of my other daughter with her kids "visiting" my daughters bookcase at GCH

 

[pajamasam21]

A huge WDW fan and just came back from a DL trip (1st time in 8 years) and was pleasantly surprised. I laughed when I heard & saw signs for the Disneyland Resort. But it is fast becoming one indeed.

Okay...now for the question. We always stay at the Poly and book a ground floor room in Tahiti that opens up to the beach. This is great for the kids in the morning. It completely expands the living space and really makes a day at the resort enjoyable for all. Are there any rooms at DGC that might have this feature?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

 

[blackjackdelta]

A huge WDW fan and just came back from a DL trip (1st time in 8 years) and was pleasantly surprised. I laughed when I heard & saw signs for the Disneyland Resort. But it is fast becoming one indeed.

Okay...now for the question. We always stay at the Poly and book a ground floor room in Tahiti that opens up to the beach. This is great for the kids in the morning. It completely expands the living space and really makes a day at the resort enjoyable for all. Are there any rooms at DGC that might have this feature?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

First of all, welcome. There are no rooms like you describe that I have seen. You can get ground floor at the Villas but they open on to a walkway surround by a fence. Good luck.

Jack

 

[Nonsuch]

We always stay at the Poly and book a ground floor room in Tahiti that opens up to the beach. This is great for the kids in the morning. It completely expands the living space and really makes a day at the resort enjoyable for all. Are there any rooms at DGC that might have this feature?

There were no ground floor rooms before the VGC expansion. A few ground floor hotel rooms were added along with the VGC.

Rooms 1240-1260 (even numbers) face the paradise pier area of DCA with small patios. The patios are separated from a small sidewalk by landscaping.
This video shows the area.

On the pool side of the VGC there are 3 hotel rooms (1503, 1511, 1513) with small patios. There is landscaping around the patios, and a fence prevents direct access to the pools.

 

[franandaj]

A huge WDW fan and just came back from a DL trip (1st time in 8 years) and was pleasantly surprised. I laughed when I heard & saw signs for the Disneyland Resort. But it is fast becoming one indeed.

Okay...now for the question. We always stay at the Poly and book a ground floor room in Tahiti that opens up to the beach. This is great for the kids in the morning. It completely expands the living space and really makes a day at the resort enjoyable for all. Are there any rooms at DGC that might have this feature?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

We were in the HA 1 Br which is on the 1st floor. It had a patio and was right next to one of the pool entrances. I don't think it would really make a good "expanded play area" there was just a walkway and some trees. Noise back there would probably just annoy other guests. It's no where's near the area you would have at the Poly.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I'm surprised there are any rooms without a balcony, they are a feature of the hotel. I have stayed in rooms with various views and bed configurations and all had balconies. This includes the front of the hotel, but not a daybed room.

Our rooms had the daybed twice, and one time bunkbed--but no balcony. They all had the same view of the car parking area. We had always booked a "standard" room with the hopes of being upgraded (we did all the usual things trying to get an upgrade--calling ahead with a request, asking politely at the desk, etc...) but were always told there was no upgrade available, as the hotel was fully booked. I think we were placed in the daybed rooms because we are a family of 5.

This trip we are not leaving it to chance, and have booked a downtown disney view, which will gaurantee a balcony for us. I think one reason we have never "loved" the GC (we tend to be more DL Hotel types) is this view thing mixed with the no balcony. I am looking forward to this next trip changing my opinion of this hotel. It will be just me and my girls, so just 3 of us--making the daybed issue something we won't have deal with.

When I looked it up online, it said that 90% of the rooms at the GC have a balcony. We just always seemed to fall into that *lucky* 10 percent that did not.

 

[nemofans]

So then DTD & theme park views definitely have balconies?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Our rooms had the daybed twice, and one time bunkbed--but no balcony. They all had the same view of the car parking area. We had always booked a "standard" room with the hopes of being upgraded (we did all the usual things trying to get an upgrade--calling ahead with a request, asking politely at the desk, etc...) but were always told there was no upgrade available, as the hotel was fully booked. I think we were placed in the daybed rooms because we are a family of 5.

This trip we are not leaving it to chance, and have booked a downtown disney view, which will gaurantee a balcony for us. I think one reason we have never "loved" the GC (we tend to be more DL Hotel types) is this view thing mixed with the no balcony. I am looking forward to this next trip changing my opinion of this hotel. It will be just me and my girls, so just 3 of us--making the daybed issue something we won't have deal with.

When I looked it up online, it said that 90% of the rooms at the GC have a balcony. We just always seemed to fall into that *lucky* 10 percent that did not.

I am sure you are right about the family size for a daybed. We have stayed at the DLH a few years back and it did not suit us, Residence Inn Maingate a few years(I really like this place for off site) GCH standard room and DTD view which I think I posted a photo of and now renting a 1 bedroom villa which can not be beat for comfort and the wife loves the w & d. The villas can not be beat but I absolutely loved the DTD view. I love watching the fireworks, the people and the night music. May have to do that again if I can rent points are a reasonable rate. Hope you have a great time.

Jack

 

[IUTBAM]

Do the standard rooms have fridges? Thanks.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Do the standard rooms have fridges? Thanks.

Yes they do and a small coffee pot. No microwaves.

Jack