Grand Californian Super Thread

[jeanico2000]

Can I have a parcel sent to the GCH ahead of my stay? If yes, it will probably arrive 3 to 4 weeks before me, so would that still be acceptable?
Thank you!
Nicole

 

[kailuagirl]

Can hotel guests use the toaster and microwave that's in White Water Snacks? I've always wondered. Thanks!

 

[chrisaman]

Can I have a parcel sent to the GCH ahead of my stay? If yes, it will probably arrive 3 to 4 weeks before me, so would that still be acceptable?
Thank you!
Nicole

They probably would hold it for you but you will want to call and let them know anyway so it would probably best to call them and ask this question so u get an answer straight from the horses mouth

 

[sgrap]

Can hotel guests use the toaster and microwave that's in White Water Snacks? I've always wondered. Thanks!

I think so . . . . years ago I would go down there and heat up water for my tea in the morning. Now I have one of those old fashioned metal things that goes in the cup of water and heats up.

 

[goooof1]

Can hotel guests use the toaster and microwave that's in White Water Snacks? I've always wondered. Thanks!

Yes, no problem.... we used it in Feb.

 

[shoes99]

We had a standard room booked pre-cruise in October at 25% friends & family discount.
I called back and asked if the 40% F&F was available. CM said yes only for the premium
room. Yup, we changed to the premium room for 2 nights pre-cruise. Its still very expensive
but the cost difference was only $11 per night to upgrade.

 

[eandesmom]

Does anyone know, if you book a CL room on collection points (which yes, I know is ridiculous point wise but it's my 50th birthday) what view category it is? The point chart does not specify and cash CL has 2 booking categories. The idea of using that many points and ending up in a standard view gives me hives thinking about it.

Thanks!

 

[misskari]

Anyone familiar with their room classification codes? I pulled up my reservation and for room accommodations it says "CH S4". Any info is appreciated!

 

[Penitentmama]

We are so excited to be staying at GCH starting 5 weeks from today! Yippee! We haven't stayed there before and have a standard view booked for my daughter, husband and me. It sounds like the king rooms have a pullout bed that could work for us (always nice to have a king if we can!), but I wanted to ensure that all the king rooms do have a pullout bed so our daughter has a place to sleep!

How do I go about requesting that and by when should I make the request? Figured I'd ask for the king bed and close to Napa rose elevator.

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

[Cats2]

We are so excited to be staying at GCH starting 5 weeks from today! Yippee! We haven't stayed there before and have a standard view booked for my daughter, husband and me. It sounds like the king rooms have a pullout bed that could work for us (always nice to have a king if we can!), but I wanted to ensure that all the king rooms do have a pullout bed so our daughter has a place to sleep!

How do I go about requesting that and by when should I make the request? Figured I'd ask for the king bed and close to Napa rose elevator.

Thanks in advance for the input!

If you have a "standard view" room, then it likely won't be by the Napa Rose elevator. This is the official description of a standard view room: "Views of Disneyland Drive, Rooftop or Parking Area". What that means is its along the front of the hotel, and not all the rooms have balconies. But, I think it may be the only location where they offer daybeds in the room?
The bedding options for the standard view room are: 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Bunk Bed and 1 Trundle Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed

 

[meggles]

I thought the various room types were scattered through the hotel?

Any chance if asking for a standard room near the Napa rose elevators will lead to a free upgrade?

If you have a "standard view" room, then it likely won't be by the Napa Rose elevator. This is the official description of a standard view room: "Views of Disneyland Drive, Rooftop or Parking Area". What that means is its along the front of the hotel, and not all the rooms have balconies. But, I think it may be the only location where they offer daybeds in the room?
The bedding options for the standard view room are: 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Bunk Bed and 1 Trundle Bed or 2 Queen Beds or 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed

 

[Nonsuch]

I thought the various room types were scattered through the hotel?
Any chance if asking for a standard room near the Napa rose elevators will lead to a free upgrade?

All the rooms at the front of the hotel are Standard View, so most of the Standard View rooms are located in that area. Although there is no official map, it is quite likely that some Standard View rooms exist in other areas.

Upgrades are possible, particularly from Standard to Courtyard/Woods (which are often only slightly more expensive than Standard). There are certainly Courtyard/Woods View rooms near the Napa Rose elevators.

 

[Penitentmama]

While it would certainly be nice to be upgraded from standard, I have a feeling that's unlikely since it sounds like the resort is booked solid while we are there end of September through first weekend in October.

Even though they are rare, still hopeful that maybe we can get a king room if we request it. Fingers crossed for some pixie dust!

Can anyone confirm if king rooms always have a sleeper sofa? Our daughter will need a place to sleep if we can acquire the comfy king. If so, will they make up the sofa bed during turndown each night? That would certainly be nice to not have to wrestle with a sofa bed when not used to it.

Thanks!

 

[shoes99]

Anyone familiar with their room classification codes? I pulled up my reservation and for room accommodations it says "CH S4". Any info is appreciated!

Mine says CH NB. Don't know what that stands for. We have an accessible premium view king..
We previously had a standard accessible and the code was. CH S2

 

[cavepig]

Anyone have a TV channel guide? Sometimes it's nice to have a printed one and not have to go the the channel they scroll thru. Oh & do they play the Timon & Pumbaa Safety cartoons, they do at WDW resorts? Thanks!

 

[Bud Ice]

GCH is a nice experience to have a time or two. Is it worth $400 or $500 a night? well.... Most of the hotel features are open to the public including WhiteWater snacks, Mandara Spa, Storyteller Cafe and Napa Rose are good. There's cartoons playing all the time on a TV in the main hall for the kids. The fireplace is a wonderful place to hangout during the winter months, they even have an Adventure Scout come by to tell a tale or two. Hearthstone Lounge is not bad either, tucked away in a corner of the hotel. There's also a possibility of being invited to an event or two, was able to catch the movie "Up" in a conference room even though I was not staying there at the time.

Christmas is where GCH really shines. With a huge tree in the Main Hall, classic-era Carollers singing Christmas Carols, and a huge Gingerbread house.

WiFi there is spotty most of the time. Generally can catch good reception around the Fireplace or the Main Hall.

 

[DebbieB]

I had a king room with a sleeper sofa. It was "park view" and ended up over the park entrance on the 3rd or 4th floor. So my view was basically trees and if you looked left you could see the Soarin building and the monorail. Wasn't work the extra money. I had a room one time that was in the courtyard where the monorail runs, it was DVC points (Disney Collection), not sure how that was classified.

I love GCH/VGC. It is such a beautiful hotel and has easy access to everything. All the DL hotels are great, I've stayed at all 3.

 

[sgrap]

GCH is a nice experience to have a time or two. Is it worth $400 or $500 a night? well.... Most of the hotel features are open to the public including WhiteWater snacks, Mandara Spa, Storyteller Cafe and Napa Rose are good. There's cartoons playing all the time on a TV in the main hall for the kids. The fireplace is a wonderful place to hangout during the winter months, they even have an Adventure Scout come by to tell a tale or two. Hearthstone Lounge is not bad either, tucked away in a corner of the hotel. There's also a possibility of being invited to an event or two, was able to catch the movie "Up" in a conference room even though I was not staying there at the time.

Christmas is where GCH really shines. With a huge tree in the Main Hall, classic-era Carollers singing Christmas Carols, and a huge Gingerbread house.

WiFi there is spotty most of the time. Generally can catch good reception around the Fireplace or the Main Hall.

I agree it is ridiculously expensive. You are paying for location along with the lovely features and feel of the hotel. We just bought 2 DVC contracts with GCH (VGC technically for the DVC portion) as our home resort because we love it so much!

 

[hlsperring]

I'm sure this is somewhere in these 200 pages but….have a 1 BR suite booked and would love to have a PP view. Is that the best option? And what do I ask for to request that? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Nonsuch]

...have a 1 BR suite booked and would love to have a PP view...

Unfortunately, no 1 bedroom suites have a Paradise Pier view (several villas have that view).
You might want to request to be near the elevators adjacent to Napa Rose.
x329/x331 would have a great park view and very convenient access to the DCA entrance.
6329 is the El Capitan Presidential suite, so this is a good area.
6412 is also a 1 bedroom suite.

This map shows most suites: