Just back from a wonderful trip!!!!

[mlshields]

Hi everyone!

Just back from a wonderful trip to California and Mexico that included a visit to Disneyland. Had a wonderful room (via our DVC points) at the Grand Californian and I was able to suprise my family with four Balcony tickets to view Fantasmic!

If you are ever able to get the tickets it truly is worth it!

If anyone has any questions, let me know.

P.S. We also stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego on our points if you have any questions regarding that.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[grinningghost]

Tell me all about the GC. We'll be staying there in about a month.

 

[LOVE2VACATION]

We will be staying at the Grand Californian and the Hotel Del Cornado in August. I don't know what specific quesitons I want to ask ~ just give us some details on what you liked best about these resorts. I can not wait for this vacation!
Michelle

 

[Blackunicorn]

We're DVC members, too, and we would love to hear what you thought of staying at the Hotel del Coronado on points!

 

[mlshields]

We booked a standard room at each hotel. At the Hotel Del Coronado we were Upgraded to an Ocean Front room in the Towers. The Towers is a building right next to the Original structure. The room was pretty basic but nice with a balcony facing the Pacific. I think I would have liked to have stayed in the Main Building just to really experience the "Del". It is VERY EXPENSIVE to eat there but it is really beautiful. The only down side to staying at the Del is that the naval base is on the same island and the jets go overhead ALL DAY and into the night (it can get very loud at times). Staying at the Del is a once in a lifetime experience (I don't think I would go there again and I definitely would never pay cash!!!). Almost forgot - you have to pay a $20.00 per day resort fee (USA Today, coffee in room, local/long distance calls - very overpriced) as well as either $16.00 per day to self park or $22.00 per day for Valet. Make sure you budget this money in.

As far as the Grand Californian!!!!!! We stayed on the third floor room 3001. It was a LOVELY room - bigger than the Dels with two Queen size bed. A huge closet! Nice bathroom area and a lovely balcony overlooking the monorail courtyard (This is a courtyard that the monorail passes through). I loved everything about staying at the GC and would do it again in a second! While staying at the GC you can either Self Park - across the street from the hotel for $8.00 per day or $16.00 for Valet. You do not have to pay the resort fee if you are staying on your points.

Out of the two - I prefer the GC.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks for the review of the GC.

 

[boscoj]

Mlshields, concerning the valet at GC, I was under the impression that if you showed your DVC card, the valet fee would be waived. Am I mistaken?

Other than that, I'm glad you had a great time! We will be staying there in May...

 

[Califgirl]

Boscoj,
When staying at GCH on points, the resort fee is waived. This fee includes the newspaper, health club access, self parking (local calls?). However, if you want to valet park, you are charged a fee. We valet parked once because of the weather, but the short walk across the street from the self parking lot is no big deal in our usually beautiful California weather.

Enjoy life and great vacations!
Chris

 

[dan and scott]

We booked a standard room at each hotel. At the Hotel Del Coronado we were Upgraded to an Ocean Front room in the Towers. The Towers is a building right next to the Original structure. The room was pretty basic but nice with a balcony facing the Pacific. I think I would have liked to have stayed in the Main Building just to really experience the "Del". It is VERY EXPENSIVE to eat there but it is really beautiful. The only down side to staying at the Del is that the naval base is on the same island and the jets go overhead ALL DAY and into the night (it can get very loud at times). Staying at the Del is a once in a lifetime experience (I don't think I would go there again and I definitely would never pay cash!!!). Almost forgot - you have to pay a $20.00 per day resort fee (USA Today, coffee in room, local/long distance calls - very overpriced) as well as either $16.00 per day to self park or $22.00 per day for Valet. Make sure you budget this money in.

As far as the Grand Californian!!!!!! We stayed on the third floor room 3001. It was a LOVELY room - bigger than the Dels with two Queen size bed. A huge closet! Nice bathroom area and a lovely balcony overlooking the monorail courtyard (This is a courtyard that the monorail passes through). I loved everything about staying at the GC and would do it again in a second! While staying at the GC you can either Self Park - across the street from the hotel for $8.00 per day or $16.00 for Valet. You do not have to pay the resort fee if you are staying on your points.

Out of the two - I prefer the GC.

Waht kind of room did you book at GC? I was under the assumption that the Standard would overlook the roadways-is that incorrect?

Dan

 

[mlshields]

We booked a standard. They can overlook the roadway or the courtyard. I guess we just got lucky!!

Caligirl is correct regarding the fees - No resort fee on points, but you do pay to Valet park.