Grizbuzz's Holiday Family Vacation at GCH (11/25-11/28)

[grizbuzz]

I think we've finally recovered from our much anticipated trip to Disneyland. No, I haven't finished unpacking, but I think (hope!) we have all recovered from the flu bug we picked up there Soon the work/hardships of the trip will fade and all that will remain are the great times we had...

PRE-TRIP PLANNING
Trip planning started when I began looking into and reading about DVC this summer. We had just finished a spectacular Mediterranean cruise, and after watching many many informercials on DVC in our stateroom, I was starting to convince myself that DVC might a good idea for our family. After all, in the last 4 years we'd been to Disneyland 3 times, Disneyworld 2 times and went on one cruise. Hmmm...maybe we could save some money with this Disney Vacation Club? Or maybe this would just fuel my growing Disney obsession?

DVC had the double developer incentive points offer when I was considering...which meant I got 320 "free" points to use in the next 7 months if I bought 160 points. Wow, I thought, I could use these points to fulfill a dream of bringing my family to Grand California at Disneyland! We took the plunge, bought in and reserved 4 rooms at GCH for a post Thanksgiving holiday trip with my parents, my brother and his kids, my god daughter and her parents, and us (DH, DS 4, DS 2 and me).

So I've been working the last three months to get everyone on board for the family trip. Took a little cajoling and much planning to get us all to Anaheim. My god parents decided to join us as well. So it was 14 people going to Disneyland to celebrate the holidays, as well as to celebrate my niece's 16th birthday.

AN EARLY START
My husband and I were eager to get there, so we decided to come down a day early and stay at the Sheraton. We could get to Anaheim Saturday night, check in early at GCH Sunday morning, and have a room of our own to stay in for the day for kid's afternoon nap - with Sheraton's late check-out (4pm) for Preferred Corporate members. (I was preparing for a late check in at GCH). We drove in from SF Bay Area arriving about 8pm on Saturday, got an upgraded room with a view of the parks and relaxed in room watching fireworks. Here's a couple pics of view we had from room (sorry they're so small...I'm having the darndest time figuring out how to post pics ):

DAY 1
We were up and out of the room by around 8am Sunday morning. The walk from Sheraton to GCH was about 15 minutes…at a brisk-ish pace. When they say that Sheraton Park is a block to Disneyland, they are talking a looooong block.

We were happy to find that my godparents had already arrived to the hotel and were waiting for us in the lobby. As always, GCH looked FABULOUS for the holiday season with a gorgeous Christmas tree. We checked in sometime around 9am and made our requests for a bunk bed room, for good measure. Reading all the recent posts on GCH, I was expecting that we wouldn’t be able to check in until late afternoon/early evening and didn’t know what room we’d get. You can imagine my surprise when both godparents and we got our rooms BEFORE 11am. And we got our bunkbeds, plus view rooms of California Adventure (not to mention a flat screen tv and refrigerator .

Here’s a small picture of our view…we could see Grizzly mountain, Tower of Tower, plus the monorail…very cool.

We were very mellow the first day. We went to the stores in Downtown Disney, or should I say store….it’s all about LEGO store for my boys. And then we just waited for the rest of the group to arrive. We made an official meeting time of 4pm at the Hearthstone Lounge where we all gathered, had a drink and I handed out the little gifts from Disney.com I’d gotten everyone for the trip (mostly t-shirts that no one seemed to appreciate, save my boys who LOVED them). After our brief stay at the lounge, we went to California Adventure for the Block Party Bash and the boys did some dancing with Woody and Buzz.

Then we moved on to Small World in Disneyland for the Christmas parade. Small World looked its best in its holiday splendor (not sure this small picture does it justice).

We went on Smallworld (10 minute line) and then stood waiting for the parade to start. My god daughter loved it, but my son was “bored,” saying he’d seen it before (2 years ago). I thought it was lovely. After the parade, we decided to take the train back to Main Street and then headed back to the hotel.

So first day, two parades and just two rides…but lots of holiday magic.

 

[Dolce27]

Off to a great start!
Waiting for more.

 

[grizbuzz]

Well I have 1 DISboarder who wants more of this trip report, so I guess I'll continue on...

DAY 2
Let me begin by saying that I am very impressed with guides who are able to keep large groups of people together. While at Disneyland, I saw a Japanese tour guide leading about 8 people through the park. I asked my husband what was the key to his success...was it that baton creatively made out of a park map that he used to guide the way? DH said no, he had a "motivated group". Needless to say, I did not have a group that was motivated to stay together

So the 14 of us met at 7:50am Monday morning for breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe. Of course, I was poked by a few in my group for planning our time minute by minute. Why 7:50 and not 7:52? Truth be told, I tried to make reservations at 8am, but 7:50 was the time I was given. Anyways, we all get there, have a nice buffet (yummy eggs benedict), good service and enjoy the storytime critters. Plus we're done in time to make EE! Or so I thought...uh oh...I forgot to schedule in post breakfast (post coffee) back to the hotel room bathroom break. Ugh...Right off the bat we loose 2 people. So now 12 of us are fed and ready to hit the parks.

The reason to stay at GCH is because it's so easy to get from the hotel to the park turnstiles. Well not for this group. Our 1 group of 12 people turns into 4 groups within seconds. And while everyone had cell phones, some forgot to turn them on and others didn't bring their batteries to keep them functioning. I'm busy trying to locate people, keep others from wondering off and trying to do it all in time to get to EE. If we don't hurry we'll never make Peter Pan and Dumbo! And I've already crossed Nemo off the list of possibilities. DH is mad because I'm focused on the rest of the group and not my own kids and him and he goes forth through security checkpoint with the double stroller. So I've got to make a call. Continue herding this group of cats who could care less about which Fantasyland rides we've got to hit in which order before the crowds arrive, or tend to my DH who is going to be crabby all day if I don't put some focus on kids and him. Easy call. I leave the cats to wonder, go through security and tend to my family.

Six more in the group find DH and me in line before we get to the front of the line for the park. It had already opened and Peter Pan was too busy by the time we made it to Fantasyland, but there was no line to Dumbo! So we had a lovely early morning Dumbo ride, hit Pinocchio, did Alice in Wonderland, tea cups and those 4 missing people somehow, someway find us in time for a group ride on Matterhorn. So we make it to Matterhorn with a 15 minute line (which is the longest line I waited in this trip) and everyone wants to ride including my 2 and 1/2 year old who is tall enough to go! (although I must say...after the ride he told me he NEVER wants to go again )

All in all, turned out to be a great morning. I'd go into more detail, but the kids have woken up and are climbing all over me and will be erasing this post within seconds if I don't hit send now...
More later...

 

[Dolce27]

Still here.

Glad for the update.

I don't know how you did it with that many people - it would have driven me insane!! ( ... not that I'm already there... )

My last two trips were to Walt Disney World solo. That's right - all. by. myself.

It was a bit hard on me a few weeks ago to go to Disneyland with one other person - especially when that person didn't care to keep with my schedule - I'm a bit of a planner myself.

Kuddos to you.

Waiting for the next installment.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

You have 2 of us waiting. I just didn't post that I was reading.

We were there at the same time. I feel your frustration with the "others".

I had some of the same ones with our group.

 

[grizbuzz]

Oh it is taking me longer to finish up this report than I had intended. I promise this will be the last installment.

DAY 2
So back to day two…

After a challenging morning of herding cats, the rest of the afternoon went perfectly. Weather was beautiful, crowds were low and we had a great time. From our Matterhorn adventure (Note to self: Do not bring two year old on roller coaster again! ), we headed to the boys’ favorite ride – Buzz Lightyear. We had maybe a five minute line, enjoyed the ride and then headed over to Jedi Training as a group. My 4 year old got picked! (without signs, t-shirts or props…though I do think he used a Jedi mind trick My god daughter didn’t get picked, though she didn’t seem to mind just watching and perhaps was a bit relieved not to have to fight Darth Maul or Darth Vader. Clearly, there weren’t going to be many princess adventures in store this Disneyland trip, since she was outnumbered by the boys. But she didn’t seem to mind at all.

At this point, we went to Pirates…which was basically a walk on. Then to the Haunted Mansion (less than 5 minute wait) and on to Splash Mountain, which may have been 15 minute wait. And that was enough rides for us…we were ready for lunch and nap and went back to the hotel.

Late afternoon, I got my niece a pedicure at the Mandara Spa at GCH for her 16th birthday. While she was getting her pedicure and my kids were sleeping, I enjoyed the pool and hot tub with my nephew. After we finished and dressed, we still had about 20 minutes until dinner, so we bopped down to GC and went on Soarin’ – with about a 5 minute wait. Very fun to be able to zip in and out of a park in 20 minutes

Birthday dinner was at Rainforest Café – for all 14 of us. The food was ok, and the kids LOVED the atmosphere. After dinner we took the monorail in to the park and did Buzz and Star Tours and then waited for the fireworks and snow. There were winds (supposedly, though we couldn’t feel or see them) so fireworks were potentially going to be canceled. Fortunately, we waited it out and glad we did, as they were beautiful and the kids LOVED the snow.

At the end of the evening when we returned to the hotel, I checked in with the concierge/guest services to find out why the complementary birthday balloons and signed photo were never delivered to my niece in her room. Turns out they had been, but my niece just never thought to mention it or thank anyone. Teenagers. A nice touch from the hotel, nonetheless.

DAY 3
Determined to get to the park earlier this morning, we ate breakfast at White Water Snacks in a quick fashion. And we were all together in line for DL before the park opened! Per my instructions, we went straight to Nemo. My brother and his teenage son were assigned to get there as fast as they could and hold our place in line. When I reached them, I found that a CM had talked them OUT OF staying in line, claiming that the line from that point was 1 hour and 15 minutes. No doubt true at mid day when the line was compact, but I don’t think it could have been more than 30 minutes. Anyway, we lost our place in line and Nemo was out, but nobody (except my husband) seemed to care.

So we made a quick change of plans and went to Fantasyland and made it to Peter Pan, Toad’s Ride and Alice and Wonderland. Then about half our group left the park for their journey back to Northern California. The rest of us went over to California Adventure. And had a great day there. Almost no people, lots of rides and I even got dreamed while purchasing lunch – a little Tinkerbell pin

It was this late afternoon that my husband came down ill with fever and chills. So we left him in the room and the boys and I ventured back to Disneyland after dinner. Took the monorail in and went on the car ride (what is that called?) There was almost no line, but it still took 25 minutes to get our car. That was the longest ride we waited in the whole trip. But my boys definitely thought it was worth it (not sure I agreed, but I sure enjoyed seeing them so thrilled). Then Buzz and back to the monorail to exit park while the crowds were waiting for the fireworks.

DAY 4
And then day four we packed up and went home. Made it back to the SF East Bay in 5 and ½ hours.

So all in all… a fabulous trip! I fulfilled my dream of having a larger family vacation at Disneyland, enjoyed the park in its Christmas splendor without the crowds, got a great room with great service at GCH and save for my husband catching a flu (which he then passed on to us), the trip met all of my expectations.

Rather than try to post any more of these pictures, I’ll just post our link for those interested…

 

[Dolce27]

I'm sorry that your husband came down with the flu.

But I'm glad that you guys had a wonderful trip! The GCH seems to be really nice. I spent a little time there, while on my trip, curled up in one of the comfortable chairs reading a book - but I was staying off property.

Nemo is a tough one to ride if you want a short wait time in line. I did manage to do it one morning while there but I made certain to be there well before park opening so that I could be at the front of the gate - I think that I was on the first sub out that morning. I can't believe a CM talked them out of the line.

So, kuddos to you for surviving going to DL with 14 people!!!

 

[grizbuzz]

I'm sorry that your husband came down with the flu.

But I'm glad that you guys had a wonderful trip! The GCH seems to be really nice. I spent a little time there, while on my trip, curled up in one of the comfortable chairs reading a book - but I was staying off property.

Nemo is a tough one to ride if you want a short wait time in line. I did manage to do it one morning while there but I made certain to be there well before park opening so that I could be at the front of the gate - I think that I was on the first sub out that morning. I can't believe a CM talked them out of the line.

So, kuddos to you for surviving going to DL with 14 people!!!

Thanks for reading to the end

I could use a solo trip to GCH now...curling up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa in one of those big chairs by the fireplace sounds awfully good

Happy Holidays!

 

[momshadow]

PRE-TRIP PLANNING
Trip planning started when I began looking into and reading about DVC this summer. We had just finished a spectacular Mediterranean cruise, and after watching many many informercials on DVC in our stateroom, I was starting to convince myself that DVC might a good idea for our family. After all, in the last 4 years we'd been to Disneyland 3 times, Disneyworld 2 times and went on one cruise. Hmmm...maybe we could save some money with this Disney Vacation Club? Or maybe this would just fuel my growing Disney obsession?

DVC had the double developer incentive points offer when I was considering...which meant I got 320 "free" points to use in the next 7 months if I bought 160 points. Wow, I thought, I could use these points to fulfill a dream of bringing my family to Grand California at Disneyland! We took the plunge, bought in and reserved 4 rooms at GCH for a post Thanksgiving holiday trip with my parents, my brother and his kids, my god daughter and her parents, and us (DH, DS 4, DS 2 and me).

So I've been working the last three months to get everyone on board for the family trip. Took a little cajoling and much planning to get us all to Anaheim. My god parents decided to join us as well. So it was 14 people going to Disneyland to celebrate the holidays, as well as to celebrate my niece's 16th birthday.

AN EARLY START
My husband and I were eager to get there, so we decided to come down a day early and stay at the Sheraton. We could get to Anaheim Saturday night, check in early at GCH Sunday morning, and have a room of our own to stay in for the day for kid's afternoon nap - with Sheraton's late check-out (4pm) for Preferred Corporate members. (I was preparing for a late check in at GCH). We drove in from SF Bay Area arriving about 8pm on Saturday, got an upgraded room with a view of the parks and relaxed in room watching fireworks. Here's a couple pics of view we had from room (sorry they're so small...I'm having the darndest time figuring out how to post pics ):

DAY 1
We were up and out of the room by around 8am Sunday morning. The walk from Sheraton to GCH was about 15 minutes…at a brisk-ish pace. When they say that Sheraton Park is a block to Disneyland, they are talking a looooong block.

We were happy to find that my godparents had already arrived to the hotel and were waiting for us in the lobby. As always, GCH looked FABULOUS for the holiday season with a gorgeous Christmas tree. We checked in sometime around 9am and made our requests for a bunk bed room, for good measure. Reading all the recent posts on GCH, I was expecting that we wouldn’t be able to check in until late afternoon/early evening and didn’t know what room we’d get. You can imagine my surprise when both godparents and we got our rooms BEFORE 11am. And we got our bunkbeds, plus view rooms of California Adventure (not to mention a flat screen tv and refrigerator .

Hi,
Glad to hear your all recovered. Was wondering if I could get your honest opinion on DVC and GC. We just got back from our second stay at PPH that was suppose to make up for the first stay in Oct. VIP, HK, and Disney customer service where all going to make up for the first trip. Well what a joke again. The room that was suppose to be the upgrade surprise was ready, oops we went up they are still cleaning it , after getting that all settled , we went back up to the room and it was one of those half wall bathrooms that the wall to the bath was half walled off. So we say we would like even a normal room so that we can bath in "open" environment. Mean while maintenance keeps coming up to fix things in the room. Long story short , dirty rooms again maintenance needed in every room and management not wanting to take responsibility for anything ,but willing to place the blame on everyone else. So with DVC we are suppose to feel welcomed home. Kind of scared to buy into something that lets one of there property's fall that low. So Ive alway said I didnt need to stay at GC Its just for the elite But if this is the only that one does the upkeep on there resort then we definitely want to stay there. We even stay on the concierge level at PPH. I'm so sorry to go on and on with this but I'm so frustrated right now I dont even want to go to my beloved DL. So Im sorry, for going on and on and hope that you will be able to give me a few suggestions.

 

[grizbuzz]

Hi momshadow,

Sorry you had such a bad stay at PPH. For what they charge, they really need to provide consistently good service. Sounds like you're getting consistently bad service.

I'd definitely give GCH a try! We love it -- love the craftman style, the location and the general atmosphere. And for the most part, we've had good service there. We much prefer GCH over PPH and DLH (though reading from the boards it really seems to vary by personal taste which hotel individuals prefer). And I don't find any sort of "elitist" attitude. But, judging from your preference for concierge, I'm thinking you like nice things and special treatment

Can't say too much about DVC, since I've only been a member for less than 6 months, but I think overall it will save us money and hopefully Disney will continue to provide good accommodations and service. We own at Animal Kingdom Villas, but if I were looking now, I'd just wait until GCV opens...we'd LOVE to own there.

I'm a Grand Californian fan, so I definitely encourage you to stay. You just have to try! But definitely go at low season, to give yourself a better chance for a good experience.

 

[momshadow]

Hi momshadow,

Sorry you had such a bad stay at PPH. For what they charge, they really need to provide consistently good service. Sounds like you're getting consistently bad service.

I'd definitely give GCH a try! We love it -- love the craftman style, the location and the general atmosphere. And for the most part, we've had good service there. We much prefer GCH over PPH and DLH (though reading from the boards it really seems to vary by personal taste which hotel individuals prefer). And I don't find any sort of "elitist" attitude. But, judging from your preference for concierge, I'm thinking you like nice things and special treatment

Can't say too much about DVC, since I've only been a member for less than 6 months, but I think overall it will save us money and hopefully Disney will continue to provide good accommodations and service. We own at Animal Kingdom Villas, but if I were looking now, I'd just wait until GCV opens...we'd LOVE to own there.

I'm a Grand Californian fan, so I definitely encourage you to stay. You just have to try! But definitely go at low season, to give yourself a better chance for a good experience.

Thanks for all your suggestions! Its not so much that I want special treatment , it saves on the food bill since I have teenagers. We payed for the concierge level to keep us fueled up for the day. Water and snacks can break the bank in a heart beat. As far as buying into DVC GCV you need to be a DVC member and then put your name on a list to buy into this second resort, or so we where told. Im just hoping that they will clean up there act and there resorts.