Is Grand Californian Worth it?

[DisneyJamieCA]

I absolutely love the G.C. But the D.L.H. has more Disney theming so you can't go wrong either way. I think the G.C. Has a more upscale feel to it and it is certainly convienant. The prices can widely fluctuate and I never book G. C. Unless I get a really good rate and it's not more than say $50 over D.L.H. I agree that it is not as important to stay at a Disney hotel in CA. There are plenty of cheaper hotels that are just as nice and just as close. Still there is a more immersed feel staying on property.

I understand this all subjective and I admit to being a hotel snob, but which cheaper hotels are just as nice and just as close as the on property ones. I understand that onsite isn't for everybody, and I agree it's not as important as WDW, so I'm not debating that part, but I've always felt to get just as nice meant having to go much further (driving distance) out. To me there is always a trade off - not a nice/motel style close in distance, or nice hotel further away in distance. It would be nice if they could get some nicer offsite hotels (as opposed to motels) within walking distance.

FWIW, I've stayed at the Hilton and while it's nice, I wouldn't say as nice as onsite. It's also bordering close walking distance for me

 

[chabelita545]

Not for us. We stayed at the GCH once and it was nice, but not worth $400+ a night.

Room was small, windows faced monorail courtyard which was dark and not attractive, noise from upstairs woke us every day at 6am. No microwave in room. Pool was nice but nothing special.

Pros: Closest hotel to the main entrances. EMH access every day. Easy to change into dry clothes and get back to the park after getting drenched. Nice big lobby to hang out in.

If we were to cough up the bucks to stay onsite, I'd like to try the DH (mostly for the pools), but I don't know if we'll ever do that. I'd rather stay at a nice offsite hotel and spend the savings on more days in the park or on another trip.

A nice alternative to onsite hotels is the HOJO. Great pools, including the kids' pirate themed splash playground. Deluxe rooms are large and comfy with 2 queens, balconies overlooking lovely gardens and pool. Parking, small fridge and microwave in room included at no extra charge. Room rates have gone up a lot in the last 2-3 years (yuck), but are still at least half the price of the GCH or less. It's an 8 minute walk to the main gate. You can walk on the park side of Harbor, which is peaceful and less crowded than the hotel side of Harbor.

 

[elaw]

.. If anyone has been to both, how does GC compare to WDW Deluxe hotels?

It was designed by the same architect (Peter Dominick )that designed the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge at WDW so IMO, it has a similar feel.

 

[GatorChris]

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This is my vey first time ever going to DL. I have been to WDW 13 times and am going again in Sep for seven days. So I was thinking I wanted to see DL since I haven't ever and to change things up. If anyone has been to both, how does GC compare to WDW Deluxe hotels?

I've been to WDW 7 times since 2002, so I'm a vet.

It's just like the deluxe at WDW. In fact, if you've been to Wilderness Lodge, it'll be almost the same but without the geyser and the lake. WL is actually a better place as it has views of water and huge forests from the rooms. The cost is less than the Grand Cali. The prices of GC are more in line with the Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Saratoga (and at busy times, the Grand Floridian) - places I'd never spend that much to visit.

For prices more in line with a moderate, hit the Paradise Pier. It's a little more expensive than say POFQ or Coronado, but the rooms are bigger. The downside is the hotel really isn't themed like a WDW moderate. There is no real escape-feeling. To me, it's a tall Hilton with a Goofy statue in the lobby. We had a good time there, and the water slide is great for the kids, but there's plenty of other places for less that give you the same amenities or more. Feel free to PM me if you have any more WDW/DL comparison questions.

 

[MermaidMommy]

I've been to WDW 7 times since 2002, so I'm a vet. It's just like the deluxe at WDW. In fact, if you've been to Wilderness Lodge, it'll be almost the same but without the geyser and the lake. WL is actually a better place as it has views of water and huge forests from the rooms. The cost is less than the Grand Cali. The prices of GC are more in line with the Beach Club, Boardwalk, and Saratoga (and at busy times, the Grand Floridian) - places I'd never spend that much to visit. For prices more in line with a moderate, hit the Paradise Pier. It's a little more expensive than say POFQ or Coronado, but the rooms are bigger. The downside is the hotel really isn't themed like a WDW moderate. There is no real escape-feeling. To me, it's a tall Hilton with a Goofy statue in the lobby. We had a good time there, and the water slide is great for the kids, but there's plenty of other places for less that give you the same amenities or more. Feel free to PM me if you have any more WDW/DL comparison questions.

Paradise Pier is the cheapest of the DLR hotels, but its pricing is still more in line with a WDW deluxe (like Wilderness or Animal Kingdom Lodge )than a moderate. During my trip in early August, for example, PP is $330 a night, but at WDW, I could stay at Coronado Springs for $233. All of the DLR hotels have "deluxe" prices -- it's a shame there's not a moderate or value option.

 

[Dolf]

I see it in 2 ways.

Fact: No. $400-$600 per night does not literally nor numerically equal what you get with the stay at that hotel.

Opinion: Maybe. Only way you're going to know is for yourself to actually pay the money and experience it yourself.

I have stayed there 3 times. I had a great time at the hotel. Once was a deeply discounted room rate. They other 2 times were because I used DVC Points for the Villas. I have had no buyers remorse, I enjoyed it, and in my opinion, I thought it was "worth it".

Now one thing I might suggest is if you really want "worth it" and still stay at the Grand Californian, you could rent out the Villas at Grand Californian. Rooms start at 17pts per night and if you can rent them from someone at $14 per night, you're potentially looking at around $238 per night.

 

[Dolf]

Paradise Pier is the cheapest of the DLR hotels, but its pricing is still more in line with a WDW deluxe (like Wilderness or Animal Kingdom Lodge )than a moderate. During my trip in early August, for example, PP is $330 a night, but at WDW, I could stay at Coronado Springs for $233. All of the DLR hotels have "deluxe" prices -- it's a shame there's not a moderate or value option.

Comparing pricing between WDW to DL has the factors of Florida vs. California. Florida is always cheaper. Let's look at annual pass pricing. You can get a WDW AP for 4 parks for a little more that $400, no block outs. In order to get an AP at DL with no blockouts, it cost $700, and that's only 2 parks. Lets look at cost of living. 1 bedroom apartment in OC CA = $1000. 1 bedroom apartment in OC FL = $500. Like it or not, the Paradise Pier is considered a deluxe hotel, relative to CA standards. Being a native Californian, I wish our pricing and standards were not what they were. But what can you do?

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

It is basically personal preference. What is important to you and your family?

For my family, we prefer the DLH because we enjoy the Walt Disney theming, the pool complex, the elbow room and the option to either take the monorail or walk via DTD.

The GCH has smaller rooms, is dark, crowded but is located right next to DCA and within five minutes of DL.

If $$ is no object, and you preferences match my family's, upgrade to a better room/ view at DLH.

 

[whoever]

I still say its worth it.

I love our Disney home.

 

[goooof1]

Be aware that many hotels and motels advertise themselves as "across the street" or "walking distance", etc. to the parks are NOT . They may be "close" in the sense that you can see the park, but in reality you have to walk long distances to get to the park entrances. Aside from the Disney hotels, the closest places....motels, for the most part, are along one stretch of S. Harbor Blvd. This area reaches from the "Hojo" (across Harbor from the park), with about a 10 minute walk to the gates, south to the Candy Cane Inn which is on the Disneyland side of Harbor (right behind TOT and CarsLand), which is about a 10 minute walk also. There are threads with links to maps of accommodations in the DLR area that you can search for, that may help you.
Again, the GCH is right there at DCA which makes it so easy! And, the DLH is a straight walk through DTD (5 - 7 minutes) with an option of taking the monorail....station is maybe 2 minutes from DLH.

 

[Malcon10t]

My family's preference is DLH. The kids (young adults) don't care for the GCH, rooms are too small for their taste. It is a 7 min walk from the DLH near the pool to the front gate. Not a big deal. (BTW - It is 15 min walk from Hilton, we stay there frequently also.)

People have their personal preferences. Mine is the DLH.

 

[becd]

Truly I think it depends on the ages of your girls. My guys love the DLH because of the theming and the fantastic monorail pools (which are heated so of course our Christmas trip included a dip). We absolutely love staying there, but as an exhausted Mom at the end of a very long day I have to say that staying at the GCH and not having to walk back through DTD would be worth it's weight in gold to me.

 

[Disneyhappy]

This thread is a great resource. We are WDW vets and will be visiting DL for the first time the last week of March 2015. It will just be DH and I (both in our 50's). This is likely the only time we will visit DL so we want to make sure we have no regrets but I'm not sure we want to pay $500 for a room. Are discounts offered in March and how do we find out about them. Looking forward to the planning!

 

[Angrose]

This thread is a great resource. We are WDW vets and will be visiting DL for the first time the last week of March 2015. It will just be DH and I (both in our 50's). This is likely the only time we will visit DL so we want to make sure we have no regrets but I'm not sure we want to pay $500 for a room. Are discounts offered in March and how do we find out about them. Looking forward to the planning!

You should definitely keep an eye out for spring discounts. I think they ran a pretty good promotion this year, but sadly I was not able to take advantage. If Disney runs a promotion then it would pop up on other booking sites too so you may also be able to stack it with an Orbitz discount which is typically 15%. Also, going mid-week and avoiding Spring Break will equal less expensive rooms.

 

[algae]

Being "worth it" is pretty vague. It will depend on a lot of things including how much time you plan to actually spend in the room/hotel.

If you are planning to be in the parks from open to close, then GCH can be a bit of overkill since you won't get to enjoy a lot of what the property offers (and what you pay for.)

PPH gives us good bang for the buck. PPH is not that far from a park entrance since you can go through the GCH and its great hall to get to DCA. I think it's closer than the Hilton...

We used to opt for PPH more than GCH and DLH when the prices for those started taking off. The water slide at PPH and the sandwiches from the grill added icing to that cake. Plus, you get to see WOC from an interesting angle if you get a theme park view on a floor above the palm trees. Parking is also kind of attached to the PPH. Not so with GCH. You have to walk across the street there.

But, now we are DVC and stay in the villas and spend more time using the room (jacuzzi!) so GCH is more "worth it" for us now.

 

[whoever]

Parking is also kind of attached to the PPH. Not so with GCH. You have to walk across the street there..

My vehicle gets parked in the Grand's basement.

 

[Gisele]

My vehicle gets parked in the Grand's basement.

I would imagine that is possibly due to valet parking and or concierge services. I don't know, it's just a thought.

 

[gottalovepluto]

My vehicle gets parked in the Grand's basement.

There's a basement to the Grand?

 

[bzh]

Would I stay at GC if money were no object? In a word, no. I have stayed in all three on-site hotels. My favorite is DLH due to theming, larger rooms and the awesome pool. Yes, it is a longer walk to DLH than GC, but it is a very pleasant walk through DTD. I did not care for PP since you have to walk across the street and then through the GC -- kind of takes away the magic. One caveat is that I am going to rent points to stay at the GC villas later this year. That may change my mind about the GC.

 

[whoever]

There's a basement to the Grand?

Sure is.