Grand Californian Super Thread

[Obi-J Kenobi]

My DW and I are staying at the GCH later this summer. Do they open the tap-stiles at 7:00 ish for EE and allow hotel guests to enter the Grizzly coast area before rope drop at 7:30 a.m. early entry? Jeepers I hope I got my timing right. I am trying to better understand where EE guests are held coming from GCH inside DCA and if that has changed at all since they reopened the tap-stiles and direct entry point between DCA and GCH (i.e. since the refurbishment).

Bottom line is that my DW loves Soarin' and it is one of her top-5 rides and I'd like to rope drop it for EE to get her on early and then maybe LL it later in the day.

FYI - I am fully aware that Soarin' may not be the "correct" EE strategy according to Disney Influencers (or whatever these Youtubers call themselves) but it is the "correct" strategy for us.

 

[twodogs]

Thank you! This is very helpful I like the idea of the King+Sleeper chair and daybed. Are sleeper chairs small or could they hold a teenager? (5'6" girl)

My older DD is 5'10" and a college rower, and she fits great on the sleeper chair!

 

[lucydachs]

My DW and I are staying at the GCH later this summer. Do they open the tap-stiles at 7:00 ish for EE and allow hotel guests to enter the Grizzly coast area before rope drop at 7:30 a.m. early entry? Jeepers I hope I got my timing right. Bottom line is I am trying to better understand where EE guests are held coming from GCH inside DCA and if that has changed at all since they reopened the tap-stiles and direct entry point between DCA and GCH (i.e. since the refurbishment).

I was there a couple weeks ago. They let us through security and turn styles around 6:45 AM. Before they let you go through security, they checked that you had a room key or reservation. Once through the tap-stiles, they had two rope drop spots, one at the Grizzly Bear and one over towards Soarin'.

We did the one near Soarin to go to Guardians. At about 7:20 they let us go where we got in another line to check hotel reservations again near Animation Academy. We were joined here by guests that came in through the regular park tap-stiles. They had a line for hotel guests and a regular rope for non-hotel guests.

We didn't do the Grizzly Bear one, but the lady said that one would be let go at 7:30.

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

We’ve tried rope-dropping Soarin’ for EE before but they couldn’t get the ride up and running even by 8am.

Also note that Soarin’ is down to a single theater until at least this Fall.

 

[BGinCali]

We didn't do the Grizzly Bear one, but the lady said that one would be let go at 7:30.

Can confirm with our 2 days, 7:30 was the time they released us for rope drop. Worked well since we head to Incredicoaster-was no wait at security, so getting down to that entrance around 7:10am still left us with more time than we needed.

 

[MonocularVision]

My mini-Grand review:

Stay away. Stay far away.

If you don’t want to ruin every other hotel in the area, I highly recommend you do not stay at the Grand.

We had a lovely time. While I am not big on the idea of a “Disney Bubble” that is referring to “not seeing the outside world”, there is something to the feeling that you are at a resort that includes an attached theme park. It was a wonderful feeling to be so close. We didn’t experience this feeling at all at WDW even though we didn’t “see the outside world”.

We did two days in the parks, one day off at the pool and then two more days in the parks. Next time I could see us doing three days interspersed with two days off. It was so nice to take it slowly and we have had plenty of time in the parks in the last 20 years.

We are considering reducing trips to the park and instead staying at the Grand each time.

We’re ruined.

 

[ClaraOswald]

My mini-Grand review:

Stay away. Stay far away.

If you don’t want to ruin every other hotel in the area, I highly recommend you do not stay at the Grand.

We had a lovely time. While I am not big on the idea of a “Disney Bubble” that is referring to “not seeing the outside world”, there is something to the feeling that you are at a resort that includes an attached theme park. It was a wonderful feeling to be so close. We didn’t experience this feeling at all at WDW even though we didn’t “see the outside world”.

We did two days in the parks, one day off at the pool and then two more days in the parks. Next time I could see us doing three days interspersed with two days off. It was so nice to take it slowly and we have had plenty of time in the parks in the last 20 years.

We are considering reducing trips to the park and instead staying at the Grand each time.

We’re ruined.

This was us. We stayed on Harbor for decades. Then in 2023 we had a good deal on a room at the Grand Californian. Two months later....we were owners of our very first DVC contract with points at the Villas at the Grand Californian. It's been amazing! A hefty up front cost with not-too-terrible yearly dues. Now we can keep staying at the Grand until 2060 (or until we get too old and sell the contract. Ha!)

 

[MonocularVision]

This was us. We stayed on Harbor for decades. Then in 2023 we had a good deal on a room at the Grand Californian. Two months later....we were owners of our very first DVC contract with points at the Villas at the Grand Californian. It's been amazing! A hefty up front cost with not-too-terrible yearly dues. Now we can keep staying at the Grand until 2060 (or until we get too old and sell the contract. Ha!)

Was I searching for DCV @ the Grand on our last day? Perhaps…

 

[ClaraOswald]

Was I searching for DCV @ the Grand on our last day? Perhaps…

We bought 160 points resale back in 2023. (Then we bought resale at Boulder Ridge Villas for WDW trips.)

 

[maleficent55]

It’s additive
The best addiction

The Grand Californian has such an overpowering feeling of magic and comfort to me

 

[sgrap]

My mini-Grand review:

Stay away. Stay far away.

If you don’t want to ruin every other hotel in the area, I highly recommend you do not stay at the Grand.

We had a lovely time. While I am not big on the idea of a “Disney Bubble” that is referring to “not seeing the outside world”, there is something to the feeling that you are at a resort that includes an attached theme park. It was a wonderful feeling to be so close. We didn’t experience this feeling at all at WDW even though we didn’t “see the outside world”.

We did two days in the parks, one day off at the pool and then two more days in the parks. Next time I could see us doing three days interspersed with two days off. It was so nice to take it slowly and we have had plenty of time in the parks in the last 20 years.

We are considering reducing trips to the park and instead staying at the Grand each time.

We’re ruined.

Haha, same! We stayed there for an incredible deal when it first opened in 2001, and after that everywhere else was a let down. Tried the Paradise Pier (when it was still named that once) and hated it. We were sad every time we crossed the street. So we bought VGC resale, and were kicking ourselves for not buying into it when it first opened there. But we absolutely love owning there!!! Just got home on Thursday!

 

[lily_belle]

Does anyone know of the room refreshes have begun? I’ve got a trip the first week in September and was hoping for new rooms!

I’m Grand Californian loyal and stay every time I visit (2-3x per year!). I was there in early June for the pin event and decided to stay at Disneyland hotel in a deluxe studio villa since the event was there. While it was nice I will be going back to GCH for every future trip!

 

[Pluto468]

My mini-Grand review:

Stay away. Stay far away.

If you don’t want to ruin every other hotel in the area, I highly recommend you do not stay at the Grand.

We had a lovely time. While I am not big on the idea of a “Disney Bubble” that is referring to “not seeing the outside world”, there is something to the feeling that you are at a resort that includes an attached theme park. It was a wonderful feeling to be so close. We didn’t experience this feeling at all at WDW even though we didn’t “see the outside world”.

We did two days in the parks, one day off at the pool and then two more days in the parks. Next time I could see us doing three days interspersed with two days off. It was so nice to take it slowly and we have had plenty of time in the parks in the last 20 years.

We are considering reducing trips to the park and instead staying at the Grand each time.

We’re ruined.

The Grand ruined every other hotel for me, too. We stayed at Candy Cane Inn this time because it made sense financially, but in future I'll plan trips around Dapper Days so I can get a great rate at the Grand.

I'm so glad you liked it! I bet your family loved the surprise

 

[Pluto468]

Does anyone know of the room refreshes have begun? I’ve got a trip the first week in September and was hoping for new rooms!

I’m Grand Californian loyal and stay every time I visit (2-3x per year!). I was there in early June for the pin event and decided to stay at Disneyland hotel in a deluxe studio villa since the event was there. While it was nice I will be going back to GCH for every future trip!

I've heard they've started and the CM I spoke to said I could request a refreshed room but it wasn't guaranteed.

 

[irlandaise]

I've heard they've started and the CM I spoke to said I could request a refreshed room but it wasn't guaranteed.

What are the doing to the rooms, do you know?

 

[Pluto468]

I heard it's new bedding, carpeting, decor etc.

 

[catloaves]

What are the doing to the rooms, do you know?

It's a "soft goods refurbishment" — very minimal. New carpet, sofa upholstery, sofa cushions, and, for some inexplicable reason, they removed the adorable Chip & Dale art from the bathroom and replaced it with more generic orange grove art. We stayed in a renovated room a month ago and if we hadn't known ahead of time about the refresh, we wouldn't have noticed it.

You can see the new carpet and cushions in this tour:

 

[sgrap]

Refurbed DVC rooms got cool new couches that turn into murphy beds instead of the hide-a-bed couches.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

they removed the adorable Chip & Dale art from the bathroom

That's sad. I am growing increasingly more disappointed with Disney owned hotel refurbishments. It feels like Disney is eliminating a lot of the old Disney touches to style, colors, and theming that made the hotel story telling so whimsical and fun.

 

[Pluto468]

they removed the adorable Chip & Dale art from the bathroom and replaced it with more generic orange grove art.

That's too bad! I love the Chip & Dale art. And it's one of the only aspects of the room that feels Disneyish, especially compared to DLH. I hope they kept the Bambi art on the daybeds.