Grand Californian

[Terk-1]

Called Disney reservations and was able to get the Grand Californian for our upcoming trip. Did request a room with 2 beds and a day bed, as well as a request to be somewhat close to the elevators and the CM was very friendly and added these into the requests. It's about $100 more a night versus the Disneyland Hotel. Do you think it's worth it? Is there a room or floor you would recommend? How close is this resort to DTD & the monorail? Is it faster to walk? Do you cut through CA to get to DL?

 

[daannzzz]

The Grand Californian is, essentially part od Downtown Disney. Some of the rooms are directly above the shops and the balconies look down on all the people. To get to the monorail station you would actually walk away from the gates of the parks. It is much quicker to walk to Disneyland than to go over and catch the monorail. There is an entrance directly from the hotel into DCA. From our room to into DCA took a minute to a mnute and a half...depending on the elkevator wait.

 

[Terk-1]

Do all rooms have day beds?

 

[Terk-1]

I know that the GC has a private entrance into California Adventure, but how do you get to Disneyland from there? Do you have to cut through CA or is there another entrance to DL from the GC?

 

[daannzzz]

To the best of my knowledge there are not very many or no daybeds.

To get to Disneyland from the GC you walk through part od Downtown Disney.

Here is an arial view of Disneyland. You can see how things relate to eachother.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

 

[tlovesdis]

I don't think the Grand has day beds.

 

[DLovinFam]

I know that the GC has a private entrance into California Adventure, but how do you get to Disneyland from there? Do you have to cut through CA or is there another entrance to DL from the GC?

There is an entrance/exit that goes directly into Downtown Disney. You'd hang a right, go through security check and on to the main entrance.

 

[damo]

Yes there are daybeds. However, the rooms with CA view do not have daybeds. We tried to get that this summer and got a phone call from a CM saying that those rooms didn't exist. You can request a view over Downtown Disney with a daybed though.

 

[jencav5]

Called Disney reservations and was able to get the Grand Californian for our upcoming trip. Did request a room with 2 beds and a day bed, as well as a request to be somewhat close to the elevators and the CM was very friendly and added these into the requests. It's about $100 more a night versus the Disneyland Hotel. Do you think it's worth it? Is there a room or floor you would recommend? How close is this resort to DTD & the monorail? Is it faster to walk? Do you cut through CA to get to DL?

The Grand Californian is worth the price if you're looking to be close to everything-you can't get any closer! There is a private entrance into the middle of Disney's CA Adventure from the hotel, and there is also an entrance into Downtown Disney from the hotel. Disneyland is a very short walk from the Downtown Disney entrance of the hotel. The monorail takes you from Tomorrowland in Disneyland to the very end of Downtown Disney. Depending on what you're planned destination is, it can be worth it to use the monorail to/from Disneyland, as well. The rooms either have daybeds or bunkbeds. I'm guessing you're getting a standard room near the elevator. The Downtown Disney View rooms are great, but they are not near any elevators! They are a bit of a walk to get to. I'm not sure about the theme park views, as we haven't done that. The hotel itself is also beautiful, I think you will enjoy it. There's also a waterslide for kids & adults. Have fun!

 

[Terk-1]

I need to get another room, as 2 more people are coming. As I wait for DL to open, can I add another room to my current reservation or do I need to book it separately? If I can add it, do I need to pay for both rooms at the same time or just one? Can I request that the rooms be near each other and if so, do they usually honor that?

 

[m4travel]

My partner and I have stayed at the GC several times, always in a park view room (there's something special about waking in the early morning hours and watching Grizzly Rapids being refilled while the mist clears).

In our experience a room with a king has a small convertible sofa; rooms with two queen-sized beds do not. The rooms are nicely decorated and comfy, but they are not overly large.

 

[CaliforniaSunshine]

Do they stamp your hand or do you get some-sort of card when you stay at GC? I'm just wondering about how you get into CA from GC. Do you just show them your tickets?

We will be staying at GC for our 2006 trip! We just got back from out 2005 trip on Monday, I posted a long detailed summary of our trip but when I tried to post it it didn't show-up :0(

 

[jencav5]

Do they stamp your hand or do you get some-sort of card when you stay at GC? I'm just wondering about how you get into CA from GC. Do you just show them your tickets?

We will be staying at GC for our 2006 trip! We just got back from out 2005 trip on Monday, I posted a long detailed summary of our trip but when I tried to post it it didn't show-up :0(

The entrance is supposed to be for DGCH and PP guests, but, actually, anyone can go thru the entrance/exit, as long it's not their initial entrance. In other words, if you're staying offsite and you go to DL and then head over to DD, and decide to go to CA thru the hotel, you can. You just show your hand stamp and ticket. For guests of the hotel, they may ask you for your room key if its your initial entrance. I have found, though, that they are not consistent with this. I don't find any of this to be a problem, though, there is usually little to no wait at this entrance. If you're staying at the hotel, you need your room key anyway to get to your room, so you always should have proof just in case they ask you.

 

[Terk-1]

Thanks everyone. I was able to get another room reservation, so having a day bed is no big deal. Would really love to have a room with a view towards Disneyland, but if not, no big deal.

How is the dining inside the hotel? How is Storytellers for dinner?

 

[Shelebeen]

We enjoyed the food at Storytellers. For dinner you can eat off the menu or the buffet. Lots of options.. very large portions!