Grand Californian Super Thread

[MrsMac218]

Hi everyone...
This is my first time posting on these boards...
my family & I live in Southern California, only about an hour away from Disneyland, and we have been AP holders for about 6 years now.
We have an annual Disneyland Christmas trip every year, where we drive down and stay in a hotel for a couple of days, and this year is the Grand Californian.

We booked the "Partial deluxe downtown disney district view"...can anyone tell me the difference between this room and the "Premium downtown disney district view"? I know the premium room is on a higher floor, but I am wondering if I really will get a view of DTD or if it will be completely obstructed by trees?

 

[rentayenta]

60 days until the GCV!!!!

 

[DizMe]

Hi everyone...
This is my first time posting on these boards...
my family & I live in Southern California, only about an hour away from Disneyland, and we have been AP holders for about 6 years now.
We have an annual Disneyland Christmas trip every year, where we drive down and stay in a hotel for a couple of days, and this year is the Grand Californian.

We booked the "Partial deluxe downtown disney district view"...can anyone tell me the difference between this room and the "Premium downtown disney district view"? I know the premium room is on a higher floor, but I am wondering if I really will get a view of DTD or if it will be completely obstructed by trees?

I can't say for sure how blocked it will be, but I asked a CM yesterday this very question and she told me that the partial deluxe DTD rooms are not in a "worse" spot (as in 'partial standard') but will have some amount of obstruction from trees. She put me on hold to find out the difference between the various room categories, which have expanded since I last booked.

 

[Toraliina]

checking in on Dec 5-10th, i will be asking for an upgrade and I hope we get it...! also hoping for a bunk bed/q bed config as there will be 5 of us in the room.....

 

[bleeps]

Has anyone here ever done the "Get Up and Go Power Walk," or know if it is still offered?

On the very first post of this thread, when I click on "misc. hotel info.," I see it mentioned on the printed hotel info sheet that guests get at check in.

Thanks!

 

[Nonsuch]

checking in on Dec 5-10th, i will be asking for an upgrade and I hope we get it...! also hoping for a bunk bed/q bed config as there will be 5 of us in the room.....

We had a standard room upgraded to a bunk and queen with a pool view in early December 2009
This turned out to be an expensive upgrade
Along with the pools, we had an excellent view of the newly completed DVC villas
A month later we bought points at the Villas at the Grand Californian

 

[gabeoak]

My ? is: What is the difference between a PREMIUM DTD view and a DTD view?

I'm new around here. This is such a helpful thread. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years. I have tried searching for the answer to this using all sorts of word combos/booleans. Either I'm no good or just don't know the lingo yet!

I am bringing my 7yo daughter and my mom for their first visits to DL Oct 8-13.
When I booked the GCH, the only room options available were a Premium DTD view or a standard. The cast member on the phone couldn't really explain what this room was to make it "premium" in type. Interestingly, the "standard" room was a +100 per night! I thought that was weird. Anyway I booked the premium DTD view and now I am trying to figure out what exactly this means.

 

[specialks]

My ? is: What is the difference between a PREMIUM DTD view and a DTD view?

I'm new around here. This is such a helpful thread. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years. I have tried searching for the answer to this using all sorts of word combos/booleans. Either I'm no good or just don't know the lingo yet!

I am bringing my 7yo daughter and my mom for their first visits to DL Oct 8-13.
When I booked the GCH, the only room options available were a Premium DTD view or a standard. The cast member on the phone couldn't really explain what this room was to make it "premium" in type. Interestingly, the "standard" room was a +100 per night! I thought that was weird. Anyway I booked the premium DTD view and now I am trying to figure out what exactly this means.

So, I recommended you post here, and I just found a bit one page back. . Check out page 167. It sounds like a partial DTD will have some view obatuctions (ie, trees) and so a premium would thereby be unobstructed... I also was looking for a thread I recently read about GCH changing all their room categorizing. That might be why some people don't know the answer to your question and also perhaps unknowledgable CMs.

 

[DizMe]

So, I recommended you post here, and I just found a bit one page back. . Check out page 167. It sounds like a partial DTD will have some view obatuctions (ie, trees) and so a premium would thereby be unobstructed... I also was looking for a thread I recently read about GCH changing all their room categorizing. That might be why some people don't know the answer to your question and also perhaps unknowledgable CMs.

This is correct! So basically, a premium DTD view will be on the higher floors, I think (that's what the CM told me was most likely). She also told me that it has only been 1 week since they added that category and a few others, like courtyard/woods view. The categories used to be just standard, deluxe, premium and maybe DTD but I think that was included in deluxe.

 

[gabeoak]

First-- thanks for the help with the question.
Now I feel like a fool. I swear... I just totally missed that post on 167 and I don't even know how... It was essentially the same question.

 

[MrsMac218]

My ? is: What is the difference between a PREMIUM DTD view and a DTD view?

I'm new around here. This is such a helpful thread. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years. I have tried searching for the answer to this using all sorts of word combos/booleans. Either I'm no good or just don't know the lingo yet!

I am bringing my 7yo daughter and my mom for their first visits to DL Oct 8-13.
When I booked the GCH, the only room options available were a Premium DTD view or a standard. The cast member on the phone couldn't really explain what this room was to make it "premium" in type. Interestingly, the "standard" room was a +100 per night! I thought that was weird. Anyway I booked the premium DTD view and now I am trying to figure out what exactly this means.

I originally asked the question, and I've also made a couple phone calls to find out what the difference is. My understanding is that there used to be a DTD view room, and they have separated it into 2... "Premium DTD view" and "Deluze Partial DTD view" because the trees have grown in and now the rooms on the 3rd & 4th floors are partially obstructed by those trees. So a premium view room would be above the 4th floor and a deluxe view room would be on the 3rd or 4th floor.

 

[gabeoak]

Thanks so much MrsMac218 for the helpful information.

I do feel a little bit vindicated knowing now that these room type designations are fairly new. I thought it was weird as I scoured the internet for the terminology "premium DTD view" and couldn't find a thing-- until your post.

Makes sense if it is a new term.

We will have to see how "premium" it really is.

I still wonder if anyone has ever been presented with the scenario I was when I called: the standard room was 100+ more a night than the premium DTD view!! Surely that's a result of capacity but even the CM on the phone said she had not seen that before.

 

[rentayenta]

58 days !!!!​

DH said today: I didn't know we were staying there. I said: why would we stay anywhere else? DVC duh!

 

[DmaxHawk]

Woah woah hold on! I see we have another Disney hotel superthread! And on the first page no less?! Well we can't have that can we fellow Granders?? Let's push this thread to the top!

Just encouraging friendly competition

And rentayenta...those 58 days will go by so fast!!

 

[dsneygirl]

We had an amazing stay at the VGC. Had fantastic meals at Storyteller's with the character breakfast and at the Napa Rose. My DS also had a great time at Pinocchios. The pool was gorgeous and I loved the plush loungers.

 

[aristocat65]

Woah woah hold on! I see we have another Disney hotel superthread! And on the first page no less?! Well we can't have that can we fellow Granders?? Let's push this thread to the top!

Just encouraging friendly competition

And rentayenta...those 58 days will go by so fast!!

Double the fun

 

[WendyWhy]

Can anyone give me details about Santa at GCH for the holiday? We'll be there the beginning of Thanksgiving week (check in on Sunday, leaving Tuesday). I would love to get a pic of the kids with Santa. Will there be a long queue? Best time to get a photo without a long wait? Thanks!

 

[Nonsuch]

Can anyone give me details about Santa at GCH for the holiday? We'll be there the beginning of Thanksgiving week (check in on Sunday, leaving Tuesday). I would love to get a pic of the kids with Santa. Will there be a long queue? Best time to get a photo without a long wait? Thanks!

Santa has been in the GCH lobby during my visits the first week of December, but I don't know if he is there earlier. Decorations convert quickly from Halloween to Xmas in early November.

I have not seen a long line for pictures

 

[merrrydeath]

So I have read through this entire thread. I've been sick and had nothing better to do, don't judge me

My mom and I will be staying at GCH(for our first time!) from December 10-14. We just booked a standard view room. I see so many people getting really particular about room requests. Am I weird for not being concerned at all about this? Are there really "bad" rooms in the bunch to be weary of?

Secondly, does anyone have experience with a late check-in? By late, I mean sometime around 10 or 11pm. We will be driving down from the bay area after I get off work so there is no way of getting there any earlier. Anything about this scenario that should worry me? I had already planned on calling the hotel in advance to let them know of our late arrival(so they don't assume we aren't coming). Has anyone been able to pre-check-in recently?

Lastly, will we be able to leave our car outside, check-in, unpack the car/take stuff up to the room, and then park? Or is there a limit to how long we can leave the car in the front of the hotel?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nonsuch]

Are there really "bad" rooms in the bunch to be weary of?

Don't worry about it
Although some rooms have better views or shorter walks, I have not experienced a bad room.

Secondly, does anyone have experience with a late check-in? By late, I mean sometime around 10 or 11pm.

It is a good idea to inform the hotel during the day about your late arrival

Lastly, will we be able to leave our car outside, check-in, unpack the car/take stuff up to the room, and then park? Or is there a limit to how long we can leave the car in the front of the hotel?

If you arrive at 10PM, there should be few cars in front of the hotel and no wait at registration. You could leave the car in front while taking your bags to your room, but this could be a long walk (depending on your room location). It would be more efficient to check-in, unload the car (leaving someone with the bags), park the car, then carry the bags to the room. Of course, bell services are available