Grand Californian Super Thread

[DLgal]

I like the idea of discouraging loitering by non-guests, but it seems like this method also negatively impacts those guests they're trying to please.

If this is what they're really doing, couldn't that possibly encourage more people to go there?

It's not to discourage loitering by NON GUESTS, but loitering in general. I guess the new manager of the GCH just came over from the Ritz Carlton and is trying to "elevate" the GCH experience.

 

[DLgal]

Who posted on twitter?trying to find it.

I can't remember. The post was a discourse on the $18 fries on the menu. Some people pointed out they are truffle fries and those are expensive everywhere. The post included a photo of the menu. There were various "lounge snacks" type items on it, like a charcuterie platter and a snack mix and these fries.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I don't get how people munching on cold cuts in the lobby is elevating the experience though.

Micechat on Twitter posted a menu a few days ago.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I can't remember. The post was a discourse on the $18 fries on the menu. Some people pointed out they are truffle fries and those are expensive everywhere. The post included a photo of the menu. There were various "lounge snacks" type items on it, like a charcuterie platter and a snack mix and these fries.

I think this is the one you are referring to (Micechat's tweet):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1634718367658692609

 

[AZMermaid]

I don't get how people munching on cold cuts in the lobby is elevating the experience though.

Micechat on Twitter posted a menu a few days ago.

Maybe they don't care if anyone actually orders it but if you do sit in the lobby.... you need to order food/drinks?

If there are NO loungy spots, that's kinda lame though. I said either up thread or on another that before owning DVC we would rest for 1-2 hours in the lobby on a long park day.... so we were for sure the riff raff they don't like, haha. But now.... my DH/son might sit for a few while DD and I shop. So that would be unfortunate to have that option go away. I wonder if you will have to order to sit by the fire?

 

[AZMermaid]

I was like $18 for truffle fries isn't that crazy. Then I looked up my local trendy burger place which serves a huge bowl of really good ones for...... $8.75. Hahaha! Apparently I am Disney price blind.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Maybe they don't care if anyone actually orders it but if you do sit in the lobby.... you need to order food/drinks?

If there are NO loungy spots, that's kinda lame though. I said either up thread or on another that before owning DVC we would rest for 1-2 hours in the lobby on a long park day.... so we were for sure the riff raff they don't like, haha. But now.... my DH/son might sit for a few while DD and I shop. So that would be unfortunate to have that option go away. I wonder if you will have to order to sit by the fire?

Last month, most people in the lobby were NOT eating. It's still mostly just people hanging out. My son and I sat and rested for quite some time while waiting for my husband to shop.

 

[RoseColored97]

I like that they're trying to cut down on the loitering, it's gotten kind of ridiculous how many people camp out for extended periods of time. But I don't think monetizing the lobby space is the correct way to go about it. They should require a room key for the seated areas of the lobby. Non GCH guests can still come in and look around, but the lounging areas should be reserved for those staying at the GCH only.

 

[DLgal]

I like that they're trying to cut down on the loitering, it's gotten kind of ridiculous how many people camp out for extended periods of time. But I don't think monetizing the lobby space is the correct way to go about it. They should require a room key for the seated areas of the lobby. Non GCH guests can still come in and look around, but the lounging areas should be reserved for those staying at the GCH only.

What about people waiting to check in who don't have room keys yet?

This seems overly controlling, TBH. It's a lobby. And they WANT people to come in and shop, dine, etc. Doing something like this would backfire.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I doubt they want to pay someone to constantly wander the lobby and ask for room keys. I never had trouble finding a place to sit when I needed/wanted to on our last trip so I'm not too bothered by it, I guess. I can't imagine most people are hanging out for extended periods of time. When we weren't guests in the past, we would sometimes wander over, look around, listen to the piano player, snap a few pics. But we certainly didn't spend hours there.

 

[RoseColored97]

What about people waiting to check in who don't have room keys yet?

This seems overly controlling, TBH. It's a lobby. And they WANT people to come in and shop, dine, etc. Doing something like this would backfire.

Sure they WANT people to come in to shop and dine but....do they want people to camp and loiter for extended periods of time and dimmish the value for guests paying $1000-$1200+/night? Maybe they do and that's why nothing has been done about it.

The last time we were there we saw someone laying down on one of the couches, taking up the majority of the space, and a family having a picnic on the couches. People with their bare feet up on the ledge close to the fireplace, a stroller and a kid laying down on the ground right in front of the rocking chairs. Sure, they might have been guests but I'm unsure of why someone would want to lay their head on a couch that hundreds of others have sat in when they had a clean bed upstairs or have a meal when, again, they had a perfectly fine room just an elevator away where they could unpack the lunch and eat rather than juggle their packed lunch and drinks on the chairs. This was on different days of our stay when we went down mid-day to walk around the lobby or get hot chocolate at the stand, but still.

If the GCH increased their prices (which are already pretty steep) and made the amenities of the hotel exclusive to guests, we would probably stay there again. It's just not worth paying $1200/night if the lobby is overrun with people who are probably not staying there based on what we saw.

Disneyland Paris had a good setup at their hotels when I last visited. Upon entering the hotel, you have to go through security and show proof of reservation before being able to proceed further into the hotel. Safe, secure, and no loitering. No fuss, no burden on guests or employees. Not sure if they still do this, but I liked it.

 

[DLgal]

Sure they WANT people to come in to shop and dine but....do they want people to camp and loiter for extended periods of time and dimmish the value for guests paying $1000-$1200+/night? Maybe they do and that's why nothing has been done about it.

The last time we were there we saw someone laying down on one of the couches, taking up the majority of the space, and a family having a picnic on the couches. People with their bare feet up on the ledge close to the fireplace, a stroller and a kid laying down on the ground right in front of the rocking chairs. Sure, they might have been guests but I'm unsure of why someone would want to lay their head on a couch that hundreds of others have sat in when they had a clean bed upstairs or have a meal when, again, they had a perfectly fine room just an elevator away where they could unpack the lunch and eat rather than juggle their packed lunch and drinks on the chairs. This was on different days of our stay when we went down mid-day to walk around the lobby or get hot chocolate at the stand, but still.

If the GCH increased their prices (which are already pretty steep) and made the amenities of the hotel exclusive to guests, we would probably stay there again. It's just not worth paying $1200/night if the lobby is overrun with people who are probably not staying there based on what we saw.

Disneyland Paris had a good setup at their hotels when I last visited. Upon entering the hotel, you have to go through security and show proof of reservation before being able to proceed further into the hotel. Safe, secure, and no loitering. No fuss, no burden on guests or employees. Not sure if they still do this, but I liked it.

I mean, when we stay at the Grand, we never actually hang out in the lobby since we have a nice room to be in. So, I really don't mind. We have ONLY hung out in the lobby on check in day because our room wasn't ready yet.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I mean, it's a lobby...not an amenity though. And I would be willing to bet a lot of paying guests enjoy hanging out in the lobby from time to time. No one can tell if someone is a guest just like looking....even if they are acting in a way some don't see as fitting of a paying guest.

If Disney didn't want people there...they wouldn't sometimes have live entertainment. They wouldn't have a coffee cart. Or, as some of us have recently learned, a menu to order food. The lively atmosphere of the lobby is fairly well known so I guess if people are bothered by it, they should find a different place to stay. I know I avoid staying in hotels that don't have an atmosphere that I enjoy.

 

[RoseColored97]

I mean, a lobby by definition is an amenity as it is a feature of the hotel.

We'll agree to disagree, I would just much prefer GCH amenities being accessible to paying GCH guests.

 

[DLgal]

I mean, a lobby by definition is an amenity as it is a feature of the hotel.

We'll agree to disagree, I would just much prefer GCH amenities being accessible to paying GCH guests.

It is accessible. That doesn't mean there will always be a space for you when you need it. The hotel has something like 750 rooms. Conservatively, there are on average 1000-1500 guests there at any given time. They can't all use the lobby at once.

And again, there is no way to know who is a guest and who isn't. I dress the same way as a day guest at Disneyland and a GCH resort guest. I've been both, several times.

Not to mention, all the restaurants are open to the public and where else are you supposed to hang out while waiting for your table at Napa Rose, Hearthstone, or Storytellers?

 

[RoseColored97]

It is accessible. That doesn't mean there will always be a space for you when you need it. The hotel has something like 750 rooms. Conservatively, there are on average 1000-1500 guests there at any given time. They can't all use the lobby at once.

And again, there is no way to know who is a guest and who isn't. I dress the same way as a day guest at Disneyland and a GCH resort guest. I've been both, several times.

Not to mention, all the restaurants are open to the public and where else are you supposed to hang out while waiting for your table at Napa Rose, Hearthstone, or Storytellers?

Ok.

 

[Living42Day]

For those in favor of lobby loitering, do you also go to other hotels that you are not staying at/paying for and hang out in their lobby? I'm surprised there are those that think hanging around a property that you are not a guest of is fine.

Like, do you go to the Westin on Katella and lay down on their couch and hang out in their chairs? Maybe have the kid take a nap before heading back to the park. They also have a beautiful lobby. It's the same concept and if you don't why? They don't know if you're not staying there is the excuse I've seen here. Just because you can do something doesn't always mean it's polite.

Why not go to Trader Sam's or Blue Bayou and just order water so you can get the experience the ambiance and band playing without paying for anything? Is it also fine to take up a table that people who are actually going to pay for a meal/drinks cannot use? Other guests don't know that you're not buying anything. By the same logic - there are plenty of other tables so no harm/no foul right?

 

[ClaraOswald]

Apples to oranges.

 

[Living42Day]

Apples to oranges.

How so?

 

[AZMermaid]

I’ve sat on the floor of ballroom hallways and hung in the lobby while my daughter was at dance conventions in the hotel. We weren’t staying there…. But home is an hour away. But yeah, that’s pretty typical for moms to be there for 8 hours with a packed lunch.