Is Grand Californian Resort worth it?

[vjc715]

Ok...I'm booked for the Paradise Pier for the 2nd week of December. Now i'm thinking maybe I should entertain the idea of staying at the Grand Californian.

I have heard the rooms at the GC are small and often noisey! I have to wonder then if it's worth staying there for an extra $100 per night! I think the theming would be great to be at the GC in December (colder). I'm worried the Beachy theme at Paradise Pier would feel "weird" in December when it would be more appropriate in the summer months.

What is everyone's opinions? Pros and Cons??? Anyone stay at GC? What was your experience?

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Judging by the type of hotels you stay at in DW, I would say you would prefer the Grand. Paradise Pier is more on par with one of the moderates like Carribean Beach, although it's all in one building. I thougt we would never pay to stay at GC until we ate there one day and loved the place. Especially at Christmas, it would seem so cozy! Paradise Pier was too far (for us) at the end of a long day. I know some people say it's close but it's one of those things where you pass it to get back to PP and go "I wish we were staying here!!!" Good luck and let us know what you decide!


Andrea

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

I stayed at the GC just once and loved it! The rooms are on the smaller side, but are very nice. We had three adults in a room with two double beds and weren't too crowded. I didn't find it noisy at all and we had a park view room. When the door was closed, you hardly heard the park noise. At night I found the room to be very quiet.

The GC lobby at Christmas time is beautiful! They have a huge tree decorated in a nature theme. I think Santa might visit the lobby as well because there's a big chair under the tree.

 

[disneycrazzzy]

My thoughts: If you are staying at any Disney hotel, book through AAA so you get the unlimited fast pass option. We've stayed at the Grand Californian twice (once in 2003 and once this year) and can't imagine staying at either other Disney hotel since GC has a private entrance to DCA and DTD. Paradise Pier has a private entrance too, but it across the street from the hotel. Our AAA agent has recently quoted me prices for 2005 and has confirmed that only packages purchased with AAA including a stay at a Disney resort will qualify for the unlimited fastpass perk. We also love the Storyteller and White Water Snacks dining options.

 

[vjc715]

I already have my room booked at Paradise Pier....I checked at it will be an additional $558 to go the the Grand Californian for 5 nights. So....for 5 nights it would be approx $230 per night for a room I'm not even sure how much I will be in. But I just love the looks of the pictures I've seen of the Grand Californian.

So....now the question is put the $558 towards a room or keep it for SPENDING money $$$$$!!!!!

Decisions...decisions....decisions!!!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Well I always fight with myself over this, and when I used to say that I'd rather spend it there than on the room, after I get there I always wished I had spent it on the room, so now I do. You may want to check into an annual pass for that, you could save probably about $50 a night, which would make it worth it! We paid $159 a night last December (beginning of the month). Good Luck!


Andrea

 

[only1mouse]

I have stayed at both PP and GC and will in the future stay at only at the GC. To me being right in the middle of the parks is such a great advantage! The GC hotel is beautiful and although they have recently updated the PP we found that the upgrades weren't worth the "savings" compared to the "cost" at GC!

We had a DTD view at GC and some say it's noisy, but we found that closing the door solved that problem. At PP we were on the 8th floor and could hear the cars downstairs like we were on the first floor right next to the street (I don't think the windows have been updated since the hotel was built).

Another advantage - at GC you have a balcony with chairs if you like to people watch, take in some fresh air, eat breakfast whatever. At PP you can barely get the windows to open an inch.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your time at Disney where ever you stay!

 

[lap3]

I've stayed at both the Disneyland Hotel as well as DCA. Mind you, when we go, it's my wife and my 2 kids as well(3 & 6 years old). We've had a very good time at both locations but to us, staying at the DCA is worth the extra money. Since it's closer to the parks, we didn't have to lug around extra stuff like food, jackets, etc... We were close enough where we can just walk right up to our room and pick them up. Plus, after a whole day of walking, the last thing we wanted to do is walk even more just to get back to the hotel. The monorail does drop you off at Downtown Disney. But you still have to walk just a little bit. Just my 2 cents...

 

[TravelingJen24]

I have been going to disneyland for as long as I can remember and have stayed at all three hotels. Although the GC is nice, I think that the bathrooms are cramped and only have one sink. If you book at the DH with two beds then you will have two sinks. Whether you choose GC or DH, do not stay at the paradise Pier. Don't get me wrong the rooms are nice, but the problem is that the walk to Disneyland park is long. There is a private entrance to GC but not to Disneyland. There used to be a tram, but it only works now when the parking lots are full. Another nice thing at the DH is that they have a nice pool and Goofy's kitchen in my opinion is better for character breakfast then the char. breakfast at GC.
I agree that you may be better off getting an annual passport, especially if you eat out a lot. It basically gets you 10% off at all restraunts and most places that you may buy gifts. It does decrease the amount per a room also. If you stay at the DH then go for the pool view. It's cheaper and has a nice view. If you like the fireworks then you can go for a downtown disney view. If staying at the GC then I wouldn't pay the extra money for the park view, the price is too high for what you get. The other posters were right about location of GC. It is defintely the most convient. Good luck and find the location that will suit your family.

 

[Michelle2]

For me, I vote GC! I have stayed at all three as well, and NOTHING compares to the convenience of proximity of the parks. Just a short walk to Disneyland, and your own entrance into DCA, and I loved walking right into DTD...great place!

 

[vjc715]

Ok....now I went to the extreme. Because I couldn't decide which hotel to stay at....I just changed our entire reservations to go to WDW in Decemeber instead!

I will take everyone's advice and stay at the GC next year!
Thanks so much!!!!

 

[Firefly777]

Although the GC is nice, I think that the bathrooms are cramped and only have one sink.

Actually there are 2 sinks at the GCH. I've actually found the bathrooms to be perfect for our family of 4. Having the sinks seperate from the shower is a God-send.

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

I just stayed at the GC this summer and I will NEVER stay anywhere else in the future.

I think I had a handycap room because my bathroom was huge!!! And my sink was inside the bathroom. That was the one thing I didn't like b/c my coffee was in on the bathroom counter and when I wanted another cup I had to wait until someone came out!!
I absolutely loved the place from decor to location to staff to everything!!!

I live in New England so If I'm going to fly all the way to CA to go to DL...I'm already spending a fortune so what difference does it make

 

[disneykins]

Just back from GCH and loved it. Had park view room, it was great to sit on the balcony at night or early morning and watch the CMs scurrying about preparing the park. One great perk with the private entrance--We wore bathing suits and sandals to the park and went straight to the White Water ride (forgot the name already). After two rides and being completely soaked, it was just a 2 minute walk to our room and a quick change of clothes and back to the parks. Soarin over California (great ride!) is also just inside the door so we did that first one morning to avoid the lines later in the day. Room was plenty big enough for us and DS17 and DD14.
Found the snack bar near the pool on last day for reasonable priced food and cheapest mouse bars we could find.
Definitely worth the money (about $250 a night). We had been told you could walk from any of the nearby hotels (off Disney property) but it seemed to me it would take a half an hour from any of them.
Decor and service is excellent. Check out the sliding glass doors leading into the hotel, great stained glass scene.
Tony.

 

[jiminyfan]

on all our future trips. we stayed at both DLH and GC and there was NO comparison. The GC had the feel of a WDW deluxe hotel, extremely friendly and helpful staff and just an overall WOW feeling. We felt the price we paid was well worth it. In fact, my wife went down to see if she could extend our stay be a day as she fell in love with the place. Much to my surprised she pulled off the extra night and I had to re-arrange the rest of our vacation. It cost us $200 plus more for that night, but I would not change a thing. We all loved the place. And for a GREAT meal go to NAPA ROSE, 5 star all the way - fantastic service and food.

 

[Elk34]

We just got back from GC and had a great experience. They even fixed a reservation mistake that I had made which had us checking out 1 day early. Even though they were full they moved things around so that we could keep our room an extra day. Thanks Linda and Barbara.

We would always take an afternoon break at the hotel. But, on the way back to the room we would get a fastpass for Soarin or the river ride and then rest in the room or at the GC pool until it was time for the fastpass and then go back to the park. It worked great.

GC is a great hotel. If there is any way to do it stay there.

 

[minniecarousel]

DH & I are planning to go the week before Christmas. hmmm....our DS has an AP, maybe we'll invite him to come along and reserve us a room (of course, we'll pay!) I better get on this! We love the GC - we also like staying at the Boardwalk at WDW (so close to the Studios & Epcot)

 

[madcoco]

Everyone is different It may be a ripoff to some and a bargain to others. We just returned from a nice stay there and payed about triple over what we would have payed offsite for larger rooms. The hotel is beautiful. It is worth it to us but we also like to stay offsite too. The hotel is so convenient to the parks and DTD. It is nice to be able to walk to everything and have your own entrances to DTD and DCA. If you need a bit of break from the parks you can head back and take a break even for a short period as everything is so close.

 

[Firefly777]

We also love the GCH. It's definitely worth it to us, but we only stay there every 1 or 2 trips as it is a little on the expensive side.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Does GC have concierge level/ and rooms that accomodate 5?