Just visiting hotel

siouxi31

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 30, 2000
Messages
1,374
On October 9th I'll be arriving at LAX airport at 8:30 PM and heading down to Disneyland. I'm only in LA area for two nights (business near DL) and really want to soak up some Disney atmosphere. Since I can't visit the parks, I would like to see the Grand Californian and Downtown Disney. Most likely I won't arrive in the area until around 10PM on the night of my arrival and the second day will be full of business meetings which will probably conclude in the evening. None of the websites I've visited have hours of operation for the restaurants and lounges in this hotel. Here are my questions:
1) How late are the restaurants/lounges open in Grand Californian on a Wednesday/Thursday evening?
2) Do the shops at Downtown Disney actually stay open until 10PM during the slower season?
3) Is there any chance to hop on the monorail which goes through Disneyland Park and do a complete round trip? Or do you have to have a ticket to enter DL before boarding the monorail.
4) Will the Disney hotels allow me to park for free since I'm visiting their resort or is there a charge for parking and if so do you know what the charge is?
5) Is it easy to walk from Grand Californian to Downtown Disney?
Appreciate any advice with this since I'm not a Disneyland expert (have only been there twice and the last time was 3 years ago).

Thanks!
 
I'll try to help. :)

1) The restaurants and lounges are open late, I've been at the lounge at the Grand Californian at 11:00 before. Storyteller's Cafe probably closes earlier, I'm not sure how late Napa Rose is open.

2) The shops do close a little earlier in the off-season but the restaurants are open late in Downtown Disney. The official closing time is 2:00 am.

3) No, in order to get on the monorail at Downtown Disney you first must pass through a turnstile with a park pass, so you would not be allowed to ride.

4) No, parking is not free. Valet parking is $12, I'm not sure what self-parking is now.

5) The Grand Californian is right next to Dowtown Disney, when you exit the GC you can go right into DD.

Hope that helps a little! :)
 
Thanks Michelle! You've been a great help. Too bad about the monorail ride--I was hoping to be able to do that just like at WDW where you can swing through EPCOT.
 
You're not missing much, it's about a minute ride at Disneyland. :)

At Downtown Disney I would recommend Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen for good food and good music, and if you're in the mood for some games the whole upstairs at ESPN Zone is an arcade area, complete with a rock climbing wall.

Have fun! :)
 

By the way, they charge you for parking even if you are a hotel guest. Not like WDW where you get some guest parking privelages.

I second the meal at Ralph Brennan's. Very good food.
 
If you choose to self park and shop/eat in Downtown Disney or the hotels, ask them the validate your parking. I remember reading somewhere that you can get 6 (???) hours free. May be less, but for some reason 6 is standing out in my mind.
 
Thanks both for the mentioning of Ralph Brennan's. I think I'll just have eat there and have my parking validated!
I can't wait to get there.
 
Sonya in Boise is right about having your parking validated. We decided to drive to DL from the hotel instead of taking the shuttle one evening. We had dinner at the Storyteller's Cafe, had them validate our parking, and received 5 hours (which is the maximum) free! After 5 hours, they charge you something like $6 per hour.
 
Thanks C&M. My husband just told me 6 hours is our parking garage downtown. At least I was close.

Sonya
 
<font color=navy>More on the parking...

There is a parking lot that services Downtown Disney, the Disneyland Hotel, and Grand Californian, with a little longer walk to Paradise Pier Hotel.

Parking is free for the first three hours - for everyone. After that, it is $6 an hour, broken up in 20 minute increments, so figure on $2 per 20 minutes.

If you eat at one of the restaurants or see a movie at the AMC theater, you can have them validate your parking stub for an additional 2 hours free, or 5 hours total. If you intend on staying more than 5 hours (and I have friends who did do that), then you have the option of parking in the Disneyland Resort parking structure, for a cost of $7 (unless it's gone up to $8). You can then take a tram that will drop you off at a location central to Downtown Disney, Disneyland Park, and Disney's California Adventure Park. You can also park in one of the hotel parking lots and have your ticket validated for up to 5 hours, if you eat in one of the restaurants or watch a movie.

You can walk to all three hotels from Downtown Disney. The Grand Californian has its own entrance in the middle of the shops, I think next to "Petals," and Disneyland Hotel is at the oppposite end of the themeparks. Paradise Pier is more south than Disneyland Hotel, but still within walking distance.
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. I was booked for my business stay at Courtyard Marriott in Cypress but that has changed now. Called Disney this morning and got Paradise Pier at the 99.00/night rate by paying with AMEX. The last two weeks this deal wasn't available but something must have opened up! At least I'll have some Disney magic during my business trip--I suppose I have some explaining to do on my expense report even though I'm saving the company 25.00/night.
I'm leaving tomorrow and can't wait to see DD--hopefully my flight will be on time.
 








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