Grand Californian Super Thread

[Nonsuch]

Can we checkin early, say 10am & still be able to get in via california adventure, we are AP holders?

Yes, and ticket type does not matter.
I have checked in at 6AM and taken advantage of 7AM Extra Magic Hour

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Can we checkin early, say 10am & still be able to get in via california adventure, we are AP holders?

Yes. They'll call you later to let you know your room number.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I should be able to remember this but I do not, after my open heart surgery if seem to have lost a few brain cell.
We will be staying at the GCH if DD and some where In the back of my brain I remember something about checking in early, the day of arrival by phoning in before our flight leaves...or have I just lost it.?

Thanks for the help,

Jack

 

[Cheshirecatty]

You haven't "lost it" Jack! You can call in, morning of arrival, and pre-register/check in!

 

[blackjackdelta]

You haven't "lost it" Jack! You can call in, morning of arrival, and pre-register/check in!

Thanks, I will call before we fly out that morning.

Jack

 

[sleepymouse]

We called to preregister last year, but I am not sure why. It didn't seem to achieve anything. Am I missing something?

 

[blackjackdelta]

We called to preregister last year, but I am not sure why. It didn't seem to achieve anything. Am I missing something?

The theory is that the inventory of available rooms comes open in the morning based on people that will be checking out that day. The earlier that you can check in gives an advantage to "maybe" be able to secure a better room based on the type of room you have a reservation for.
We will be there for Dapper Day "week", leading up to the actually Dapper Day and a better chance for a "Pixie Dust" upgrade or just a better standard room other than a parking lot view which we have had before.
I guess we will just see how things go. Just a simple plan.
My biggest problem is that I really do not know exactly where the best view standard rooms are located, (room numbers, physical location). Also , we land at 1135 at SNA, so with luck there might be a room available when we get to the hotel.

Any thoughts would be appreciated,

Jack

 

[BriannaRuth]

The theory is that the inventory of available rooms comes open in the morning based on people that will be checking out that day. The earlier that you can check in gives an advantage to "maybe" be able to secure a better room based on the type of room you have a reservation for.

This is true. When we were there last week, we stayed one night at the PPH before transferring to the GCH the next day. I stopped by the desk at the GCH the evening we arrived just to see if they could tell me if my room requests had been honored. They told me that "as of now" I had been assigned a particular room with all my requests, but that could always change as guests checked in the next morning and they might need the room I had already been pre-assigned. DH headed over the next AM while we were in the park and checked us in about 9 am, just to be sure. We did get our requests.

 

[Nonsuch]

Repeating another tip (it's somewhere in this thread):

The registration form guests sign shows the room number. Even though the room number is clearly printed, the registration CM will not tell you the room number. This is very valuable information, since during initial registration is the best opportunity to change assigned rooms (particularly early in the day).

 

[blackjackdelta]

This is true. When we were there last week, we stayed one night at the PPH before transferring to the GCH the next day. I stopped by the desk at the GCH the evening we arrived just to see if they could tell me if my room requests had been honored. They told me that "as of now" I had been assigned a particular room with all my requests, but that could always change as guests checked in the next morning and they might need the room I had already been pre-assigned. DH headed over the next AM while we were in the park and checked us in about 9 am, just to be sure. We did get our requests.

Thank you for validating and sharing your experience.

Jack

 

[sleepymouse]

Repeating another tip (it's somewhere in this thread): The registration form guests sign shows the room number. Even though the room number is clearly printed, the registration CM will not tell you the room number. This is very valuable information, since during initial registration is the best opportunity to change assigned rooms (particularly early in the day).

Thanks for the tip! I've read posts where you have mentioned this for DVC rooms but did not realize it applied to all GCH hotel rooms. Makes complete sense.

 

[sleepymouse]

The theory is that the inventory of available rooms comes open in the morning based on people that will be checking out that day. The earlier that you can check in gives an advantage to "maybe" be able to secure a better room based on the type of room you have a reservation for.

I completely agree with this and find it to be true. The problem is that calling in to preregister is not the same as checking in. Nothing is secure until you actually step up to the hotel front desk. We will be arriving at the GCH tomorrow, and I will call in the morning before our flight departs, just in case. I think it will be a futile call, but figure why not.

 

[XMom]

I completely agree with this and find it to be true. The problem is that calling in to preregister is not the same as checking in. Nothing is secure until you actually step up to the hotel front desk. We will be arriving at the GCH tomorrow, and I will call in the morning before our flight departs, just in case. I think it will be a futile call, but figure why not.

Let us know how it works out. We are due to arrive on Friday and of course have our requests. Was hoping to have my Hubby stop by on Thursday evening after he picks up his bib from the expo. He will come home that night and then we will all head back down after the kids get out of school on Friday. Fingers crossed!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Let us know how it works out. We are due to arrive on Friday and of course have our requests. Was hoping to have my Hubby stop by on Thursday evening after he picks up his bib from the expo. He will come home that night and then we will all head back down after the kids get out of school on Friday. Fingers crossed!!

Please let all of know how it works. Still very unsure of what room numbers to request for a standard room if no pixie dust is available. Two weeks to go


Jack

 

[blackjackdelta]

I am also very interested if this works out, but still curious about what standard room may have a better view than the parking lot so I may request if no pixie dust is available.

Thanks

Jack

 

[dnamertz]

On the day of check-in, how early can we begin using the pool, and on the day of check-out how late can we use the pool?

Also, would we be able to bring another child to the pool with us (a family friend who will be staying at another hotel)...or do they only allow the registered guests to use the pool?

 

[Amilo]

On the day of check-in, how early can we begin using the pool, and on the day of check-out how late can we use the pool?

Also, would we be able to bring another child to the pool with us (a family friend who will be staying at another hotel)...or do they only allow the registered guests to use the pool?

It is my understanding that it's only registered guests. However, if you have not filled your room to capacity (5) you should be able to register the child to your room

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

On the day of check-in, how early can we begin using the pool, and on the day of check-out how late can we use the pool?

You can use the pool immediately upon check-in. Your room doesn't need to be ready either. The moment you have your room key, you have pool access. (You need to swipe your room key to access the pool gates.)

On check-out day, your pool and room access would both end at check-out time (11 a.m.), at which time your key cards should stop working.

 

[BriannaRuth]

In practice, you could exit the pool later as long as you entered before your key stopped working. Just be sure you don't physically check out by going to the front desk before you go to the pool because your key will stop working as soon as you do that. Just let them check you out automatically.

 

[sleepymouse]

Let us know how it works out. We are due to arrive on Friday and of course have our requests. Was hoping to have my Hubby stop by on Thursday evening after he picks up his bib from the expo. He will come home that night and then we will all head back down after the kids get out of school on Friday. Fingers crossed!!

I called this morning about an hour before arriving to check on something else and asked if I should/why preregister. The front desk person told me that the only purpose was to verify contact info and such. So, I didn't bother with preregistration.

I booked a brisa/courtyard view room and previously requested bunk beds, high floor and a specific block of rooms. I was only given the bunk beds. I wasn't too concerned because I wanted to find out about getting a room not facing the courtyard and knew that I would have to deal with this in person. It turned out that I was assigned such a room and am very happy with it. Though my room is classified as woods view, it faces the pools. When I sit on the balcony, I can see the pools as well as the Wheel of Death and the Zephyr in the distance. Such a happy surprise! I will attempt to post some photos and the room info later.