Hotel Closest to Grand Californian

[Happy2BMommy0812]

My family and I were lucky enough to waitlist and get 2 nights at the Grand Californian using our DVC points For our June trip. We are east coast, so the few times we have been we have stayed at the Tropicana or Park Vue and aren’t familiar with the entire area. My father-in-law has decided to make the trek with us, but staying at the Grand is definitely out of the price range. What hotel is super close to Grand Californian that is reasonably clean and nice?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

My family and I were lucky enough to waitlist and get 2 nights at the Grand Californian using our DVC points For our June trip. We are east coast, so the few times we have been we have stayed at the Tropicana or Park Vue and aren’t familiar with the entire area. My father-in-law has decided to make the trek with us, but staying at the Grand is definitely out of the price range. What hotel is super close to Grand Californian that is reasonably clean and nice?

The PPH is right across the street (Disneyland Dr.) from the GCH. If that is out of the price range, then look on Google Maps at hotels south of the PPH in the area of Disneyland Dr. and Katells. BW Stovall's gets good reviews here. That is walking distance to the GCH. If you want hotels on the Harbor side of the parks, Tropicana and PVI are fine, as you already know. Or is that too far in the other direction?

 

[ballonewb]

My family and I were lucky enough to waitlist and get 2 nights at the Grand Californian using our DVC points For our June trip. We are east coast, so the few times we have been we have stayed at the Tropicana or Park Vue and aren’t familiar with the entire area. My father-in-law has decided to make the trek with us, but staying at the Grand is definitely out of the price range. What hotel is super close to Grand Californian that is reasonably clean and nice?

We stayed at the best western Stovall. It’s about a 15-20 min walk to the front gate of either park. We both really enjoyed it. They have free breakfast.

 

[Aurora0427]

Courtyard Marriott Theme Park view is pretty nice.... it’s maybe a 2 minute or less walk to the left of the Tropicana if you’re facing the Tropicana. Check the rates at Paradise Pier Hotel... they may come out with a summer discount???

Our go to if we don’t stay on property is the Park Vue Inn double queen.

 

[maleficent55]

To me, the closest hotel to the GC (physically) would be the ones on Harbor Blvd at the crosswalk. So: Best Western Park Place Inn, Park Vue Inn, Camelot Inn, Tropicana, Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn, Dessert Inn

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree, the Harbor Blvd hotels are the way to go. So the OP's previous experience at Tropicana and Park Vue are a good guide.

See http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.809212&lon=-117.918813&z=17&m=bs

 

[teruterubouzu]

If you are more interested in distance from your dad's hotel to the Grand Californian instead of distance from your dad's hotel to the entrance, I'd take a look at the hotels on Katella. People seem to speak highly of Stovall's Inn. You also have the hotels by the convention center.

 

[mouschievous]

We have a similar situation happening in September. Our family not staying at GCH opted for Stovall's because it appears to be the shortest walk from that hotel to GCH.

 

[wench]

Just know that your family member won’t be able to walk over to GCH to come inside & meet up with you. Only hotel guests showing a room key can enter through the front entrance. Unless perhaps you walk out to meet them somewhere like PPH & then they come back in with you. Otherwise they would have to walk all the way around to the DD entrance to GCH. The added walk involved there would completely defeat the purpose of getting a room close to GCH, rather than getting one on Harbor.

 

[mouschievous]

Just know that your family member won’t be able to walk over to GCH to come inside & meet up with you. Only hotel guests showing a room key can enter through the front entrance. Unless perhaps you walk out to meet them somewhere like PPH & then they come back in with you. Otherwise they would have to walk all the way around to the DD entrance to GCH. The added walk involved there would completely defeat the purpose of getting a room close to GCH, rather than getting one on Harbor.

Interesting. So if they were to walk over to hang out with us in our room, they can't get in except through downtown Disney? I didn't realize that.

It's not really an issue for us. We are staying VGC and we'll put them on our room so they have access to it for easy breaks during the day if they want. Doing that means they will have a room key and we'll be able to get in from the closer entrance, if I'm understanding everything correctly.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Interesting. So if they were to walk over to hang out with us in our room, they can't get in except through downtown Disney? I didn't realize that.

Correct, only GCH guests and confirmed restaurant reservation holders can enter through the front doors off the street. Non GCH guests can only enter GCH from DTD or DCA.

This is to prevent off site and PPH guests from using the GCH lobby as a shortcut and jamming up the limited security checkpoints for actual GCH guests.

If they are added to your reservation with a room key, that solves that issue.

 

[mouschievous]

Makes sense. We are fortunate that we can add people to our reservation, but I know not everyone would be able to do that so this is great information to have.

 

[ninergrl6]

Just know that your family member won’t be able to walk over to GCH to come inside & meet up with you. Only hotel guests showing a room key can enter through the front entrance.

Hmmmm really? I've been dropped off at the main GCH entrance saying I'm meeting someone there. No questions asked. Got in just fine. This was in November.

 

[wench]

Hmmmm really? I've been dropped off at the main GCH entrance saying I'm meeting someone there. No questions asked. Got in just fine. This was in November.

It’s a well known fact that they screen everyone entering through the front entrance for the last couple of years. I can’t say for sure how often they make an exception & let someone else through, but the rule is hotel guests & those with dining reservations only.

 

[Vala]

I was dropped off twice during my last stay, once to meet a friend and once for breakfast. When the Uber dropped me off there was a bit of discussion, but they let me in after asking my friend's name and at least pretending to check a list. When my friend dropped me off I had already pulled up the restaurant booking on my phone to show them, but they just opened the gate.

 

[montreid]

If it's busy at the top they will check and turn traffic around. If not they will let you in. It gets really congested up at he entrance.

Room key is all your dad needs if coming from the pp pier side and staying there.

Imho, really depends on how much going to vgc for you Dad during the trip and how much doin dtd. If little, would suggest harbor side. If a lot, then pp side for a lot better rates and easybwalk to vgc

 

[Happy2BMommy0812]

Thanks everyone. I think we may to Stovall or Paradise Pier. We do not feel comfortable meeting him at the parks, and we'd be willing to meet him outside the GCH gates if it's an issue. We'll look into a room key, but we have 4 people staying in a room for 4 people. So I'm unsure we could get another one.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks everyone. I think we may to Stovall or Paradise Pier. We do not feel comfortable meeting him at the parks, and we'd be willing to meet him outside the GCH gates if it's an issue. We'll look into a room key, but we have 4 people staying in a room for 4 people. So I'm unsure we could get another one.

In my experience at GCH, they are pretty liberal with room keys. Like you can get more keys than you have people allowed in the room. Just say you have other people at different hotels who may use the room for breaks. Which is what you actually have. I have never had anyone at GCH say "no" to that.