Grand Californian - What am I missing?

[AuntieKels]

Room service and daily housekeeping are the only real things missing specifically at the hotel. But to make up for room service being gone, you can mobile order and have delivered food from several downtown Disney restaurants. They will bring your food to the lobby.

Nothing else is restricted or cut back at the hotel. Go for it!

No Extra Magic Hours (EMH). We originally started staying at the Disneyland Hotel because our trip schedule really benefitted from the EMH. Now I don't know if I'm more disappointed about missing out on that perk or that no one is going to make my bed for me #firstworldproblems

With the Good Neighbor hotels almost just as close to the park entrance as the resort hotels, once you take away the EMH perk, and the luxury level mouse keeping, it's hard to justify the price anymore. I wish they would offer a discount for not getting mouse keeping and/or some other perk to replace EMH so I can trick myself into thinking it's still worth it.

 

[Wesley815]

....I wish they would offer a discount for not getting mouse keeping and/or some other perk to replace EMH so I can trick myself into thinking it's still worth it.

I agree, appears 'Supply & Demand' winning again. I assume companies are trying to make up for over a year of lost revenue, sadly they'll continue cutbacks even with high rates. I think rates will only go down if occupancy goes down (city wide).

As others have mentioned though you can still find a great luxury property at the new Westin south of DCA (building across street behind Incredicoaster). Literally half the cost of Grand, yet still a 4-star style. Not to sound like an advertisement- just glad there's finally another nicer property opened in Anaheim vs. the value or convention style hotels/motels along Harbor.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I agree, appears 'Supply & Demand' winning again. I assume companies are trying to make up for over a year of lost revenue, sadly they'll continue cutbacks even with high rates. I think rates will only go down if occupancy goes down (city wide).

As others have mentioned though you can still find a great luxury property at the new Westin south of DCA (building across street behind Incredicoaster). Literally half the cost of Grand, yet still a 4-star style. Not to sound like an advertisement- just glad there's finally another nicer property opened in Anaheim vs. the value or convention style hotels/motels along Harbor.

What route do you take to the park? Through DTD?

 

[Wesley815]

What route do you take to the park? Through DTD?

Yep, I walked up/north on Disneyland Drive (street between Paradise Pier Hotel and Grand), then through DTD entry behind Paradise Pier/in front of Disneyland Hotel. Although we were visiting DTD so you may be able to cut through Grand itself into DTD. Check out Google Maps for Disneyland Drive & Katella intersection view.

Honestly didn't seem like that bad of walk as the little path is under trees along Disneyland Drive (just be careful crossing Katella, it's a major street with no speed limit laws in CA).

 

[smartlabelprint]

Yep, I walked up/north on Disneyland Drive (street between Paradise Pier Hotel and Grand), then through DTD entry behind Paradise Pier/in front of Disneyland Hotel. Although we were visiting DTD so you may be able to cut through Grand itself into DTD. Check out Google Maps for Disneyland Drive & Katella intersection view.

Honestly didn't seem like that bad of walk as the little path is under trees along Disneyland Drive (just be careful crossing Katella, it's a major street with no speed limit laws in CA).

Thanks. I don’t think you can cut through the Grand toward the parks anymore.

 

[Wesley815]

Thanks. I don’t think you can cut through the Grand toward the parks anymore.

Thank you! Good point, I was just about to edit my post that it might be blocked now to non-hotel guests. So yeah, the best way is DTD entry near Disneyland Hotel (and you can cut through Paradise Pier with no issues when walking north on Disneyland Drive, we just did that). Main entry through front of hotel and then out the back into PP self parking garage area.

Side note- you actually walk in a inside a hidden Mickey that can only be seen from the air



You can see Westin in lower right corner of screenshot, for Anaheim history fans it used to be older Annabella Hotel before it was demolished for new Westin building:

 

[DLgal]

No Extra Magic Hours (EMH). We originally started staying at the Disneyland Hotel because our trip schedule really benefitted from the EMH. Now I don't know if I'm more disappointed about missing out on that perk or that no one is going to make my bed for me #firstworldproblems

With the Good Neighbor hotels almost just as close to the park entrance as the resort hotels, once you take away the EMH perk, and the luxury level mouse keeping, it's hard to justify the price anymore. I wish they would offer a discount for not getting mouse keeping and/or some other perk to replace EMH so I can trick myself into thinking it's still worth it.

I've never used EMH. We prefer to show up later and stay until closing. At this point, you can get a LOT more done in the last 2-3 hours in the parks than in one hour in the morning. A LOT of people ditch out around 6pm now and don't come back. With park hours extending until 11pm/10pm soon, EMH not happening isn't a huge deal at all. I've certainly never even considered that a perk since we never used it.

 

[DLgal]

Thanks. I don’t think you can cut through the Grand toward the parks anymore.

You definitely can't. There is a key card door manned by a security guard on the sidewalk that leads to the Grand front entrance. Only GCH guests allowed in that door.

 

[Wesley815]

You definitely can't. There is a key card door manned by a security guard on the sidewalk that leads to the Grand front entrance. Only GCH guests allowed in that door.

It's interesting how that is so locked down now, yet you can (as a non-guest) easily enter Grand through DTD entry next to Sephora. Although I assume easier to control outside guests who've already gone through DTD security check point.

 

[DLgal]

It's interesting how that is so locked down now, yet you can (as a non-guest) easily enter Grand through DTD entry next to Sephora. Although I assume easier to control outside guests who've already gone through DTD security check point.

Its definitely a security issue.

 

[kappyfamily]

Does anyone know if you check into the Grand at 7am and leave bags with the Bell Desk, can we still go thru the side entrance to CA? I know, or assume we wont have a room assigned yet/room key so not sure if we can get thru security and that side way in without.

thank you!

 

[SherylLC]

Does anyone know if you check into the Grand at 7am and leave bags with the Bell Desk, can we still go thru the side entrance to CA? I know, or assume we wont have a room assigned yet/room key so not sure if we can get thru security and that side way in without.

thank you!

Did this last week! Definitely you can do! You won't have a room but they'll give you a key and text you with room number when it's ready.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I have stayed there before, but my 14 yo has not. I am open to spending the money for him to experience it at least once, but I am not sure about all the current restrictions and how they'd impact the overall experience. All of my stays were before early 2020 when things closed.

What, specifically, is different or not available now that was available in the "before times"?

No room service, at least not when we were there two weeks ago.

 

[juxtapose]

We’re here now. Love the proximity to the parks, pool, and restaurants have been really good.

My only complaint is no cleaning of the rooms which has been unfortunate as we’re on night 5 of 7 and with 2 young kids it’s getting really dirty and I’d love new sheets.

 

[Wesley815]

We’re here now. Love the proximity to the parks, pool, and restaurants have been really good.

My only complaint is no cleaning of the rooms which has been unfortunate as we’re on night 5 of 7 and with 2 young kids it’s getting really dirty and I’d love new sheets.

I understand they may not provide normal daily full room cleaning, but seems like they would do something upon request. I've stayed at other much cheaper properties during this pandemic time, and they still provided basic trash pickup/towels/sheets if requested.

I find it hard to believe Disney refuses to replace dirty sheets as your "I'd love new sheets" comment makes it sound. Especially for $700+ per night.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I've never used EMH. We prefer to show up later and stay until closing. At this point, you can get a LOT more done in the last 2-3 hours in the parks than in one hour in the morning. A LOT of people ditch out around 6pm now and don't come back. With park hours extending until 11pm/10pm soon, EMH not happening isn't a huge deal at all. I've certainly never even considered that a perk since we never used it.

Same here, in the before times, we wouldn’t even bother coming into parks until 11am. We still stayed at GCH/VGC…more time sleeping in!

I miss the midnight/1am closing times…my 7yo is a night owl and we would low key throw some shade (in our heads, of course) watching all the tuckered out kids + parents leaving the parks by 9pm.

Everything in Fantasyland (except PP) is a walk-on at 11:30pm

Sadly, we had to convert to being early risers I’m this reopening period. Hope to getting back to midnight normal by the holidays!

 

[juxtapose]

I understand they may not provide normal daily full room cleaning, but seems like they would upon request. I've stayed at other much cheaper properties during this pandemic time, and they will still provide basic trash pickup/towels/sheets if requested.

I find it hard to believe Disney refuses to replace dirty sheets as you make it sound.

So my kid did have an accident and they gave us new sheets (and took the dirty ones) but the sheets don’t fit the queen bed lol, they’re for a pull out.

(They do remove trash and replace towels every other day).

 

[Wesley815]

So my kid did have an accident and they gave us new sheets (and took the dirty ones) but the sheets don’t fit the queen bed lol, they’re for a pull out.

(They do remove trash and replace towels every other day).

Dang.... not really level of service they should be providing. Glad other things are going well though for your stay!

I'm just surprised that Disney cut back their luxury property so much. I know, I know- sadly they don't care as long as guests continue to pay. Meanwhile Marriot and Hilton at least have correct size sheets.

 

[whoever]

Because it's the best, that's why. Proximity, amenities, ambiance, and the balconies are great. DLH a close second. We refuse to stay anywhere else unless we are only using the room for a few hours on a turn and burn.

 

[ParkHopper1]

It's interesting how that is so locked down now, yet you can (as a non-guest) easily enter Grand through DTD entry next to Sephora. Although I assume easier to control outside guests who've already gone through DTD security check point.

Its definitely a security issue.

It is not so much a security issue but rather when they encompassed DTD into the security bubble there are now limited number of checkpoints for GCH guests to enter through security. The prohibition of using the front entrance is so that other non GCH park guests do not use the GCH lobby as a shortcut into the parks backing up the security lines for actual GCH paying guests. That is why there is only a restriction on the front door and not the DCA or DTD entrances...as well as why any anyone can LEAVE through the GCH lobby.


The want the foot traffic but it is balance of keeping the guest that are paying for the proximity happier.