Grand Californian Super Thread

[Nonsuch]

...Do all the courtyard view rooms have a balcony?? We requested a king bed. We're celebrating our anniversary and I have arranged for a romance in-room celebration. Really hoping for a "romantic" room. I think double beds might kind of kill the vibe, lol....

Almost every room at GCH has a balcony (including the parking lot )
A few balconies are missing on rooms in the courtyard directly above the monorail (it is possible those are not guest rooms, but storage space used by housekeeping/maintenance).

 

[aboveH20]

Nonsuch, you are very generous with your time answering so many questions. Here's mine . I will be staying at the Grand Californian the first week in June. My son who lives in California is thinking of joining me for a couple nights, but probably won't arrive until the second night. How should he handle parking?

I called to see about adding him to my reservation and I could "hear the CM winking" when she said not to add him to my reservation because then he would have to have the same five day ticket I have which he does not need. I understand you need a key to park in the self parking lot.

I'm hoping I can get a second key when I check in, but I wouldn't have it to give to him when he arrives. I think I read a post somewhere about what someone did when they had a guest but I don't remember.

Hopefully you have some thoughts.

 

[Nonsuch]

Nonsuch, you are very generous with your time answering so many questions...

Thanks for the compliment

...My son who lives in California is thinking of joining me for a couple nights, but probably won't arrive until the second night. How should he handle parking?
I called to see about adding him to my reservation and I could "hear the CM winking" when she said not to add him to my reservation because then he would have to have the same five day ticket I have which he does not need...

I have not been in your situation (room and tickets booked together), but there should not be any issue. Unlike WDW, room keys and tickets are completely independent. When you check in, simply add your son's name to the hotel registration -- I have added (or changed) names at check in quite often.

Your son can leave his car at the GCH entrance while getting his key from registration, then move his car to self-parking (directly across the street). Your son needs to tell registration about parking, so his key will have "self-parking" printed on it -- this is needed to exit the parking lot.

 

[misst0270]

I'm needing some help. We check in on the concierge level in 13 days. We have a premium park view but am wondering if there is a specific room number I should request. Does anyone know the room number ranges for the concierge level?

 

[aboveH20]

Thanks for the compliment


I have not been in your situation (room and tickets booked together), but there should not be any issue. Unlike WDW, room keys and tickets are completely independent. When you check in, simply add your son's name to the hotel registration -- I have added (or changed) names at check in quite often.

Your son can leave his car at the GCH entrance while getting his key from registration, then move his car to self-parking (directly across the street). Your son needs to tell registration about parking, so his key will have "self-parking" printed on it -- this is needed to exit the parking lot.

Thank you. That makes sense and sounds painless. He moved to West Hollywood about a year ago and finally made it to DL in January. He stayed at the Annabelle (or Bella?) so his money saving recommendation was to stay there, leave the parks at night through the Grand Californian savoring the sights of the lobby and then keep your eyes closed until you get to the Annabella. Open your eyes once you get to your room and you'll think you're still at the Grand Californian! :

After a brief consideration of his idea I went with Plan B.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We check in on the concierge level in 13 days. We have a premium park view but am wondering if there is a specific room number I should request.

You have booked the most expensive room type, so you should expect a great view
Concierge rooms are generally on the 5th and 6th floors, but I have not found an exact map. Concierge rooms have a few extra bath amenities (foot lotion...), but are otherwise the same as "regular" rooms.

You should be met downstairs at the hotel entrance and escorted to the dedicated 6th floor concierge registration (and guest services) just outside the concierge lounge (shown in red).

The most convenient rooms are on the 6th floor (shown in green), which are pool view with the park in the background. It's nice to be on the same floor and close to the lounge.

My favorite rooms are on the 5th floor (shown in yellow, no 6th floor in this area), which are park view. A longer walk to the lounge, but there is staircase to the 6th floor (just outside the lounge, avoiding the elevator).

 

[Nonsuch]

I was excited to receive an email from Disney Destinations titled "Make a GRAND getaway!"
Unfortunately it did not include any special rates

The email contained some amusing photos (I'm easily amused)

The Mickey Wheel and Zephyr are no longer visible from the front of the hotel, blocked by the VGC expansion.

Empty registration, must be the middle of the night. Another old photo, since there is now additional registration at the far end.

Kids playing pool. The only pool table is in the Grand Villa

Chef arranging food with chopsticks.

 

[misst0270]

You have booked the most expensive room type, so you should expect a great view Concierge rooms are generally on the 5th and 6th floors, but I have not found an exact map. Concierge rooms have a few extra bath amenities (foot lotion...), but are otherwise the same as "regular" rooms. You should be met downstairs at the hotel entrance and escorted to the dedicated 6th floor concierge registration (and guest services) just outside the concierge lounge (shown in red). The most convenient rooms are on the 6th floor (shown in green), which are pool view with the park in the background. It's nice to be on the same floor and close to the lounge. My favorite rooms are on the 5th floor (shown in yellow, no 6th floor in this area), which are park view. A longer walk to the lounge, but there is staircase to the 6th floor (just outside the lounge, avoiding the elevator).

Thanks for all the great information!

 

[XMom]

I was excited to receive an email from Disney Destinations titled "Make a GRAND getaway!" Unfortunately it did not include any special rates The email contained some amusing photos (I'm easily amused) The Mickey Wheel and Zephyr are no longer visible from the front of the hotel, blocked by the VGC expansion. Empty registration, must be the middle of the night. Another old photo, since there is now additional registration at the far end. Kids playing pool. The only pool table is in the Grand Villa Chef arranging food with chopsticks.

Ahhhhhhhh.......the good old days! Wish I could play pool!

 

[XMom]

I was excited to receive an email from Disney Destinations titled "Make a GRAND getaway!" Unfortunately it did not include any special rates The email contained some amusing photos (I'm easily amused) The Mickey Wheel and Zephyr are no longer visible from the front of the hotel, blocked by the VGC expansion. Empty registration, must be the middle of the night. Another old photo, since there is now additional registration at the far end. Kids playing pool. The only pool table is in the Grand Villa Chef arranging food with chopsticks.

Where would the chef be arranging food with chopsticks?

 

[rentayenta]

The GCV are expanding?

 

[Nonsuch]

Where would the chef be arranging food with chopsticks?

That's why the photo is funny
The photo is from Napa Rose, and the dish appears to be Spring Rolls (or similar). Although it's an Asian dish, a chef would not use chopsticks to arrange the plate after making the spring roll by hand.

 

[Nonsuch]

The GCV are expanding?

I only wish

 

[Sandan77]

Hi I am a little confused, I have booked direct via Disneyland.com a prem view room at The Grand Californian. I am seeing all these pics of Villas? Are they something different or that that what they call the rooms. Sorry I am not up to speed on this. My husband want a view of grizzly peak direct into the park is this something you can get with my booking type? Cheers - we will be there 29 Aug to 1 Sept for the Disneyland half

 

[Nonsuch]

...I am seeing all these pics of Villas? Are they something different or that that what they call the rooms...

"Villa" refers to a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) room. DVC is a timeshare. Villas at Grand Californian (VGC) were opened in 2009, part of an expansion of the Grand Californian Hotel (GCH) which added 200 "regular" hotel rooms.
The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group

...I have booked direct via Disneyland.com a prem view room at The Grand Californian...
...My husband want a view of grizzly peak direct into the park is this something you can get with my booking type?

The relationship between "view types" and specific rooms is somewhat mysterious at GCH, but many rooms have a very good view of Grizzly Peak
You have paid extra for a Premium view, so you might want to call the hotel in advance with your request.

 

[LSUDis]

I have struggled with deciphering the room view classifications at GC, so I finally just called. I gave the lady blocks of rooms and asked what views they are. Here are the answers: 304-322=pool view, 013-018=pool view, 210-216=pool, 335-357=theme park, 400-458=theme park. I also asked which rooms are considered to be woods, courtyard, and garden. She replied, "The 100 wing and the 300 wing--basically the La Brisa courtyard."
I know that by looking at the map, these seem to be obvious, but, with room classifications, you never seem to know when a sliver of tree becomes a garden view. Hope this helps!

 

[rentayenta]

I only wish

I was so happy.

 

[Sandan77]

Thank you , I will call them

 

[Nonsuch]

Can someone let me know if the DVC villas at Grand Californian are accessible by only the stairs (without taking elevators)?

The VGC wing is directly connected to the hotel on all floors, so any stairwell will avoid the elevators.
If you want to avoid both elevators and stairs, there are villas and a few hotel rooms on the ground floor.

 

[Nonsuch]

...So the stairwells at GC are open to go up and down? I've been to some hotels where they are locked off and you can only go down, but not up.

While I can't fully confirm, the exterior doors which exit the hotel will be exit-only and doors within the hotel are unlocked.

A few stairs I have used:
The doors to the stairs in the VGC wing (near the GV) are unlocked on all floors.
The door which leads to DTD (near LaBrea Bakery) is exit-only.