Grand Californian Super Thread

[Pamela M]

So glad I found this thread! I’m splurging on GC club level (never stayed at the GC) in May and have some questions.

Did I read on here that we can check in on a different floor?

Do you know when we can access the veranda on our check in day? I think our plan will be to check in around 1-2pm if I can get late check out at our other hotel.

When we use the GC entrance to DCA how early can we enter DCA? I know the regular gates let people in a 1/2 hour early and get held at Buena Vista street.

 

[franandaj]

Do you know when we can access the veranda on our check in day? I think our plan will be to check in around 1-2pm if I can get late check out at our other hotel.

When I have stayed concierge and the room wasn't ready yet, they took us to the Verandah (Craftsman Club at the time) to check in and let us stay as long as we liked.

 

[manicmonkey]

Do all rooms have mini fridges or just the DVC ones?

 

[Astylla]

So I have a random question - Going to GCH from April 20th to April 24th Splurging since I got the Dapper Day rate and shocked rooms still available actually, anyone ever successfully upgrade to Club level from a convention rate like this ?
I am aware typically it depends if there is availability at the hotel itself.
Co worker I am going with has never been and she got some bad news so has to leave a day early so was thinking of surprising her.

 

[Astylla]

Do all rooms have mini fridges or just the DVC ones?

All hotel side and DVC side I've stayed in have a small refrigerator.
Larger villas like DVC 1 bedroom have a fullsize I believe.

 

[sgrap]

All hotel side and DVC side I've stayed in have a small refrigerator.
Larger villas like DVC 1 bedroom have a fullsize I believe.

Yes, DVC 1, 2 and grand villas have full kitchens--full size frig/freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher, plus stackable washer and dryer. DVC studios have a mini frig/freezer and microwave.

 

[Pluto468]

I know there's a map of where the rooms are located somewhere on this thread and I can't find it.
Which room type should I request to be as close as possible to the entrance to DCA and/or the lobby area?
Rooms available for my dates are Courtyard view or partial view. (I know I asked this a few months ago but I can't find that, either!)

Thanks!

 

[Malcon10t]

So glad I found this thread! I’m splurging on GC club level (never stayed at the GC) in May and have some questions.

Did I read on here that we can check in on a different floor?

Club level check in is on the 6th floor, at the desk as you come off the elevator. Just outside the Veranda.

Do you know when we can access the veranda on our check in day? I think our plan will be to check in around 1-2pm if I can get late check out at our other hotel.

As early as 630am.

When we use the GC entrance to DCA how early can we enter DCA? I know the regular gates let people in a 1/2 hour early and get held at Buena Vista street.

Both gates open at the same time. We usually prefer to use the main gates as there are more than 2 gates to get people thru. We've had some pretty major back ups at the GC gate.

 

[Pamela M]

Club level check in is on the 6th floor, at the desk as you come off the elevator. Just outside the Veranda.

As early as 630am.

Both gates open at the same time. We usually prefer to use the main gates as there are more than 2 gates to get people thru. We've had some pretty major back ups at the GC gate.

Thanks for the info!

 

[ISpyMickeyMouse]

So I have a random question - Going to GCH from April 20th to April 24th Splurging since I got the Dapper Day rate and shocked rooms still available actually, anyone ever successfully upgrade to Club level from a convention rate like this ?
I am aware typically it depends if there is availability at the hotel itself.
Co worker I am going with has never been and she got some bad news so has to leave a day early so was thinking of surprising her.

Yes - you can upgrade to Club level with a convention/Dapper Day rate. That's what we are doing for the same dates you are going too. It was an extra $200 per night when I booked about two months ago. Hope there is still room for you and your friend!

 

[Astylla]

Yes - you can upgrade to Club level with a convention/Dapper Day rate. That's what we are doing for the same dates you are going too. It was an extra $200 per night when I booked about two months ago. Hope there is still room for you and your friend!

Thank you ! I'll call today and see if I can change it , I should have just done that anyway haha.
I appreciate the feedback and if it doesn't work out this time there's always the fall

 

[Pluto468]

I've read in a few places that the rooms at Grand Californian are very small. Is this true for all of them, or does it depend on the room type? We're in a courtyard view and it's supposed to have 2 queens and a day bed. Are the bathrooms small, too?

 

[DLgal]

I've read in a few places that the rooms at Grand Californian are very small. Is this true for all of them, or does it depend on the room type? We're in a courtyard view and it's supposed to have 2 queens and a day bed. Are the bathrooms small, too?

I find them more than large enough for our family of 4 (2 teen boys).

 

[Malcon10t]

I've read in a few places that the rooms at Grand Californian are very small. Is this true for all of them, or does it depend on the room type? We're in a courtyard view and it's supposed to have 2 queens and a day bed. Are the bathrooms small, too?

For us (3 adults and service dog) the rooms at the Grand feel very small. I think it depends on each family. There is space for the 2 beds and the couch/daybed (folds down to a twin) and your luggage can be stored under the beds. The bathrooms have the sink area outside the shower/toilet area.

 

[DizMe]

I've read in a few places that the rooms at Grand Californian are very small. Is this true for all of them, or does it depend on the room type? We're in a courtyard view and it's supposed to have 2 queens and a day bed. Are the bathrooms small, too?

My family of 5 often stayed in one room at GCH. It was fine with us. We stayed at DLH for the first several years, when the girls were younger, but we all preferred GCH by the time they were pre-teen/teen. What I WON'T do ever again is take a family vacation in a small, rented RV

 

[Pluto468]

My family of 5 often stayed in one room at GCH. It was fine with us. We stayed at DLH for the first several years, when the girls were younger, but we all preferred GCH by the time they were pre-teen/teen. What I WON'T do ever again is take a family vacation in a small, rented RV

Thanks! My 11 year old wants to rent an RV SO bad! You have reaffirmed my decision to say no

 

[blabbermouth]

My family of 5 often stayed in one room at GCH. It was fine with us. We stayed at DLH for the first several years, when the girls were younger, but we all preferred GCH by the time they were pre-teen/teen. What I WON'T do ever again is take a family vacation in a small, rented RV

Careful, this is how rumors get started that GCH rooms are worse than a small rental RV

 

[DizMe]

Careful, this is how rumors get started that GCH rooms are worse than a small rental RV

This made me laugh so hard! But honestly, if you think the GCH rooms are small for a family, try taking a week-long trip with 5 people in an RV that purportedly sleeps 6. Two people get to sleep in a small double over the cab with about a foot of head clearance. Two get to flip down the table top and convert the benches into a double bed, and two get the deluxe sleeper in the back that requires some acrobatics to get into. I guess we were fortunate to be a family of 5 and not 6 in that arrangement.

 

[Malcon10t]

This made me laugh so hard! But honestly, if you think the GCH rooms are small for a family, try taking a week-long trip with 5 people in an RV that purportedly sleeps 6. Two people get to sleep in a small double over the cab with about a foot of head clearance. Two get to flip down the table top and convert the benches into a double bed, and two get the deluxe sleeper in the back that requires some acrobatics to get into. I guess we were fortunate to be a family of 5 and not 6 in that arrangement.

We contemplated this with family friends, but only to drive to WDW from LA area. It was when WDW was open, DL wasn't, and we were jonesing, but no one was willing to fly. We had 4 drivers and 2 servers (teenage girls), but then DL opened!!

 

[Version 6]

We are a family of 4, but I wouldn't describe the GCH rooms as "small"...

Although it's entirely possible that I've just stayed in some ****holes in my time.