Justifying the price of GCH

[WonkaKid]

Each visit though we have spent a lot of time at GCH and absolutely love it at Christmas-time. (We go to Napa Rose, get hot chocolate and sit by the fireplace, take in the lobby entertainment etc). It's always been on our "bucket-list" to stay there. Well, this year we are actually in a position to afford the stay and I am thrilled. I'm having a very hard time though justifying the price! It's $765 a night for a room and our usual Hyatt 700sq foot suite is $247!

I've only stayed there once. My opinion is that the common areas that you've seen -- the lobby, etc -- are the best part of the GCH. Our room was fine but simply not worth the inflated price. If it were me, I'd choose the Hyatt again and then visit the GCH lobby; perhaps have a drink in the bar. I suggest strongly that you save your money.

 

[whoever]

We probably started off on the wrong foot which is why we can't stay offsite. Our first 5-6 trips were all at the Grand. We tried offsite once... While it was probably 3 times the size of a room at the Grand, it left us completely disappointed overall. Across Harbor was no fun. The cleanliness of the room... NOT Grand standards. Parking situation... less than ideal compared to valet. We headed back onsite after (alternating between Grand and DLH as the whim strikes us) and have never looked back. I would rather wait a little longer and stay onsite than ever go offsite again.

 

[GeneralTso]

I'm one of those people who think it's worth every penny. We love it there. Nothing beats it. The location is the very best. Sure, the rooms are smaller than most but it makes up for it in ambiance and Disney magic.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We do not seem to have the same type(mental) experience that we do with the grand. We make our plans and save the $$$$ and try to make it twice a year if possible. If we cant, then we dont go. LIFE

 

[TheBigErn]

We're renting DVC points this December and saving 50% off of rack rates.

 

[gerilyne]

For me staying on site is worth waiting longer to be able to stay on site. My first trip as an adult we stayed at the Fairfield Inn and I loved it. But nothing compares for me, to being onsite and getting the EHM every morning. This year I am staying at the DLH for the first time because I couldn't afford the GCH rates and there are no discounts for when I am going. I like the atmosphere, the customer service, the everything about staying on site. If I am going to spend the money to go to Disney (either DL or WDW) then I want to have the experience I want even if it means not going as often as I would like. That said, if I was in need of a fix and a quick trip I would stay across the street at one of the habor hotels.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Well I've stayed at HoJo, Sheraton Park, CCI, PPH, and we usually stay at the DLH ... but LOVE the GCH! We've only stayed there once ... got a room overlooking the park which was awesome. (We've also had a theme park view from the PPH, but the view of the park from the GCH was closer. Like you can lean over your balcony and feel like you're right in the park.) The lobby area is just so relaxing that it makes a great end to a busy day in the parks to walk through it.

My teens prefer the DLH, but DH and I prefer the Grand. Would definitely go there instead of the DLH if I was there without the kids. It's a great hotel for adults because of the lounge and Napa Rose. We enjoyed having a drink in the lounge or dinner at the Chef's Table at NR, then just walking back to the room. And of course the convenience of being so close can't be beat. We rarely used the dedicated entrance into the park in the morning because the lines were always too long, but the entrance back into the GCH from DCA is super convenient. And even the entrance from DTD is close.

Overall, I'd say it's just the feeling of the hotel that does it for me. Just makes me feel like "I've arrived."

 

[Brancaneve]

i hope I´m accurate in this statement but the recent construction due to the building of the new hotel(and subsequent closures of other DD locations) makes the GCH the only DLR hotel not affected. The proximity to both parks is fantastic!

Another option might be to see if renting DVC points will make your stay less expensive. I also wonder if the construction is the reason why the GCH is over $700 a night!!

 

[gardengirl2790]

We booked the GCH with a promotion on
Expedia, and received 15% off the rack rate. This was awhile ago, but it might be worth looking into.

We love staying there too, as others have mentioned. Our trips are so much more relaxed and enjoyable. We’re willing to pay for convenience and stress-reducing accommodations. This year we’re able to use a military discount, which is awesome!

 

[crystal1313]

Have you considered maybe starting at the Hyatt at the beginning of the trip, then moving to the Grand? I know packing up and moving hotels would be less than ideal, but that way you still get to experience the Grand and not have to pay the crazy rate the entire duration of your trip. Plus end your vacation at the nicest hotel... Just a thought....

I have stayed at the Grand once, way back when the rates weren't insane. Was it nice, of course! Was I thrilled to be there, yes! We could never justify the cost again after that...that being said, it's because we are rope drop to close kinda people! We don't go on long trips anymore (usually 1-2 or 3 days) and we want to spend as much time in the parks as possible. To us, paying that much money for a room we are hardly in, makes no sense. To other families who take breaks and enjoy the pools and other amenities, it makes much more sense! And I see why people stay there for those reasons. Even when we did take longer trips, we would stay at the PPH (again, before insane rates) because that room worked better for us (2 queens and a fold out bed for 3 adults and 2 kids). Just going in the lobby makes me happy now and I don't feel we are missing out. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a fabulous vacation!

 

[jbh275]

Keep in mind renting points from DVC members. For VGC it's about 55% the going rate. Just a suggestion.

 

[Patty2005]

I guess "worth it" depends on how much you can afford. 2 nights equal more than one month of a house payment for me. So, not worth it. Even if I save up. I have stayed at the GC and yes, it is nice being so close. But the rooms are TINY and TO ME not worth the cost.

 

[Little E]

I'm a WDW vet, but I just got back from our first DL trip a couple weeks ago. We stayed at the DLH, but had a meal in the GCH and we thought the hotel was amazing. I cannot speak to what it would be like staying at the GCH because we stayed at DLH, and I can't speak to what it's like to stay in a good neighbor hotel, but I can speak to the value of staying in the Disney bubble. We always stay on property at WDW, and we felt that we had an equally wonderful Disney bubble experience when staying on property in DL. We went back and forth to our hotel multiple times during each day, which was awesome. We went back and enjoyed the pool in the afternoon each day as well. Because we were so close, we were able to rope drop with ease too. Additionally, I really loved being able to charge just about everything to our room, and then I used Disney cards I purchased at Target and at Sam's Club at a discount to pay off the balance each day. That was terrific! If you can swing it in the budget, I would say, without question, DO IT!

For what it's worth, we thought the GCH was so beautiful, that we plan to stay there whenever we return to DL in the future. Whatever you decide, have a magical vacation!!

 

[DizMe]

I stay every December with my sister, the first or second week. We won't stay anywhere else at Christmas time because of the incredible holiday atmosphere. We've tried DLH for Christmas and it was very nice but not the same for us. In the past, we've taken advantage of the annual fall discount but it didn't happen this year, sadly. We booked a standard room several months ago and I think it was $565 or something like that, and I'd planned to switch over when the fall rate or the Disney visa rate opened up, but it never did. The one thing we don't really care about is which type of room we get; it's the location of the room within the hotel that matters to us. We hate being very far from an elevator and our preferred area is the wing over Napa Rose. One way I afford it is that I split the cost; I always go with my sister, my adult DD or my friends.

My dh (who doesn't much care for DLR) calls it my therapy and I'm happy to go with that. He renews my AP every year so he must consider it money well spent because he's not one to spend money

 

[tarheelalum]

To me its just not worth the price. The rooms are nice but in no way do they justify the price in my opinion. The lobby really is great but you don't have to pay 700+ per night to spend time in the lobby. You can go there and sit for free. But different people value different things so if you really want to go then go.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We've stayed there once out of the maybe 100 trips. It was wonderful and I would love to stay there again but honestly just cannot justify the cost. Even with a "discount" it's still crazy expensive. For our next trip it's $904 per night. NO WAY! I would rather take multiple trips and stay somewhere far less expensive, but still clean and comfortable than blow our whole vacation budget on one trip. For 7 nights at that rate, we could take a Caribbean cruise on DCL.

 

[TinkerTay]

Like most have said, the VALUE is dependent on what YOU value. Personally, I think vacations are a time to do things you normally wouldn’t or couldn’t do the rest of the year. It’s a time to have a nice experience, and not necessarily have to sacrifice a lot just for one thing.
That said, I’ve stayed at the Grand the last 2 times, and will again in about a week. To me, it is so worth it to stay in a beautiful hotel, and have it SO close that it isn’t a hassle to run up to the room if we forgot something, or just for a rest. We are very fortunate to be able to get the military rates on rooms and multi-day tickets, so it is a little easier for us. I might have a harder time paying a high price if I wasn’t going to be in the room hardly, but again, if you like to take mid-day breaks, it is very convenient.
I second the idea of splitting your stay, if you’d really like to experience the GCH, without spending your entire budget just on the room, or maybe even compromise by staying at the DLH, still a very nice hotel, but usually a little cheaper... I’ll say again how much I absolutely love the Grand, and I couldn’t possibly think you would regret it if that was your choice... good luck!

 

[julesann]

I stay every December with my sister, the first or second week. We won't stay anywhere else at Christmas time because of the incredible holiday atmosphere. We've tried DLH for Christmas and it was very nice but not the same for us. In the past, we've taken advantage of the annual fall discount but it didn't happen this year, sadly. We booked a standard room several months ago and I think it was $565 or something like that, and I'd planned to switch over when the fall rate or the Disney visa rate opened up, but it never did. The one thing we don't really care about is which type of room we get; it's the location of the room within the hotel that matters to us. We hate being very far from an elevator and our preferred area is the wing over Napa Rose. One way I afford it is that I split the cost; I always go with my sister, my adult DD or my friends.

My dh (who doesn't much care for DLR) calls it my therapy and I'm happy to go with that. He renews my AP every year so he must consider it money well spent because he's not one to spend money

I think we must be sisters in Disney spirit and we live in the same town! When we go I stay at the Grand and split the cost with my db. Our husbands are the same--mine loves that I go to DLR (with anyone other than him) but he's yet to get me an AP. Hmmm.

 

[hjgaus]

Hmm . . . I couldn't justify the cost. If you go to Disneyland a lot, consider DVC. We bought Grand Californian points on the second hand market, and they've made staying on site in a 2-bedroom affordable. My kids (adults) far prefer it to a hotel--we get a kitchen, have food delivered to stock it, and they can come and go. We only go every 2-3 years, so a small contract was enough. Depending on your travel habits, and especially if your kids are young, it's worth a look. My kids are 20, 25, and 28, and they STILL love going to Disney as a family.

Another DVC Family here and I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS !!! Although we are locals & we use along with our AP's and stay at the villas at least 1 weekend almost every OTHER month !!! IF NOT GOING TO WDW !! ALWAYS USING EXTRA MAGIC HOURS and the 15% AP discounts for dining or 20% AP discount for buying snacks such as candy apples or bag of chocolate covered pretzels and bottle water in gift shops!!!
Funny... my kids are 25 & 21 but would much rather go with their friends than my husband & I .... OH WELL.... MORE TIME for just the 2 of us!!!
450 DVC points for originally Beach Club Villas @ WDW BUT 160 DVC points for the Villas at Grand Californian !!! I
It's been a total of 10 wonderful years of DVC !!

STILL not ready to rent out our points but perhaps other DVCer's are ready. Check with David's DVC Rentals .....I think that is the name.

 

[tzeitel]

As you can see from the previous posts it is a very personal choice. You have to decide if it is worth it to you and your family. We are rope drop to close people (maybe a quick break at the hotel for showers/change our shoes/grab a jacket) so the amenities would be wasted on us. If we were resort people then the Grand would definitely have more value to us.

If you have always wanted to stay there and money is no issue I would do it. If you don't like it, then you know for next time. If you love it...then you're in trouble and will never go back off-property