Location of Grand Californian park view rooms?

[Hawleys]

We just booked a GC park view room.

Can folks who have stayed in these rooms before give us an idea of where in the hotel they are located? I'm debating if we should change to a DTD view where we could see the fireworks? If we stay in the park view room, are they any floors or wings we should request? Advice would be appreciated.

Room numbers and pictures would of course be a bonus.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Here is a map... The park is to the east/south east of the hotel so The x400's even numbers and the x329-x369 odd numbers are all Theme Park rooms. Not sure if they count the rooms south of the Great Hall Theme Park rooms as well. There is a nice shortcut (fire escape) near x447 that will lead you to Downtown Disney near LaBrea Bakery. From those rooms it is only 600 feet to the entrance of DL. Although going back to the room afterwards is near 2000 feet because the fire escape is only 1 way.

 

[Hawleys]

Here is a map... The park is to the east/south east of the hotel so The x400's even numbers and the x329-x369 odd numbers are all Theme Park rooms. Not sure if they count the rooms south of the Great Hall Theme Park rooms as well. There is a nice shortcut (fire escape) near x447 that will lead you to Downtown Disney near LaBrea Bakery. From those rooms it is only 600 feet to the entrance of DL. Although going back to the room afterwards is near 2000 feet because the fire escape is only 1 way.

Hey CrazyDuck, thanks for the map! Very helpful to see exactly where the rooms are. Will we be able to see the Mickey Wheel from all the rooms you listed? Any advantage over the DTD view rooms?

And a big thank you for the tip on where to find the shortcut fire escape exit.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Last time I was there I was not able to see the Fun Wheel from my room which was like 4436. I did have a good view of the Soaring queue, GRR Mountain and the Tower of Terror. Also the monorail passes by every 4 or 5 minutes from east to west. You may have a good view of the Fun Wheel from the rooms near the lobby or the new DVC Villas!

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Here is a map... The park is to the east/south east of the hotel so The x400's even numbers and the x329-x369 odd numbers are all Theme Park rooms. Not sure if they count the rooms south of the Great Hall Theme Park rooms as well. There is a nice shortcut (fire escape) near x447 that will lead you to Downtown Disney near LaBrea Bakery. From those rooms it is only 600 feet to the entrance of DL. Although going back to the room afterwards is near 2000 feet because the fire escape is only 1 way.

I am trying to figure this hotel out, tell me, if I was coming back to the hotel from DL, does one enter into the Great Hall and where is that entrance from the outside, in DTD and if so where about? I have read about various exits, but are there other entrances as well?

 

[CrazyDuck]

OK here is the lobby level map... You have to lay the 2 on top of eachother for it to make sense.... There is a little arrow pointing to downtown disney. That is the only entrance to downtown disney in the hotel, other than going out the main entrance and turning right. So when you go to the park you can use the fire escape but when you come back you have to go through that downtown disney entrance walk to the main lobby, past Acorns gifts and goods, past Storytellers Cafe, and go up the elevators near Napa Rose "E".

 

[bluecruiser]

Regarding the DTD view rooms (odd-numbered rooms ending in 135 - around 169, and 419 - around 451) - yes, you will have a good view of the fireworks. However, if anyone in your group is a light sleeper, I would not recommend these rooms. Music is broadcast/played in DTD throughout the day and late into the evening. Although the sound is muffled when the balcony door is closed, you can still hear it in the room.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

CrazyDuck- thank you

 

[Hawleys]

Regarding the DTD view rooms (odd-numbered rooms ending in 135 - around 169, and 419 - around 451) - yes, you will have a good view of the fireworks. However, if anyone in your group is a light sleeper, I would not recommend these rooms. Music is broadcast/played in DTD throughout the day and late into the evening. Although the sound is muffled when the balcony door is closed, you can still hear it in the room.

The light sleeper of the group would be me. Seems to only be at Disneyland too. I just get so excited and I don't want to miss a minute. I think I'll stick to the park view. Fingers crossed that we can see the Mickey Fun Wheel. Our friend saws a log with his snoring every night and I will need something beautiful off the balcony if I'm going to be up.

 

[Hawleys]

Last time I was there I was not able to see the Fun Wheel from my room which was like 4436. I did have a good view of the Soaring queue, GRR Mountain and the Tower of Terror. Also the monorail passes by every 4 or 5 minutes from east to west. You may have a good view of the Fun Wheel from the rooms near the lobby or the new DVC Villas!

Was the monorail noisy?
I think I'm still confused about the orientation of the hotel and DCA. What was blocking your view of the Fun Wheel?

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Was the monorail noisy?
I think I'm still confused about the orientation of the hotel and DCA. What was blocking your view of the Fun Wheel?

Thanks for sharing!!

Monorail was not noisy if you had the balcony door closed. I pulled up google earth of the area to figure out why I couldn't see the Fun Wheel. It was just behind the south wing. I guess if you get one of those south facing rooms near the great hall you should be able to see them. Not certain though. I don't know if the DVC Grand Villas are obstructing the view. This image was taken before they were built:

 

[aussietravellers]

We were there last month. We had two rooms (theme park view) The first was just terrible. I overlooked the soarin line area and we could see the monorail, but our main view was the other wing of the hotel, we would not have thought the view was that bad (although the view into the other rooms wasn't the best) until we moved to another room with a view over the pier.

The reason we moved was because of the unbearable construction noise that was occuring on the 3rd floor in the room below us (we were 4414!!!! The drilling hammering etc was a nightmare. When I called down to say I'm sorry we can not stand this noise anymore, I couldn't hear the CM on the phone talking the drilling was so loud. When it stopped briefly I apologised that I could not hear her if she was speaking because of the noise. She was horrified as she said it was loud for her through the phone. Honestly if we were talking in our room, we had to shout to hear each other over the noise.

None of those maps above have the new wing.

Anyway we moved to another 4th floor room, way on the other side of the hotel in the NEW wing. The view was AMAZING!!!!!! When we go again, we will be requesting a room in the new wing. The glass is really thick so once you close the doors you can't hear anything from the outside. Pity they didn't put the same thing in the walls as the glass, whilst we couldn't hear anything below or above us, we could hear EVERY word the people in the room beside us were saying at night (put that on the case, we'll do the teacups first up in the morning, I'm taking back control of this family " etc If only they knew we could hear everything they were saying. The walls were so thin I could even make out that they were Australian by the accent.

Now aside from that, and that was only for two nights we couldnt' hear a thing. On that photo above, the new wing is where the J or backwards L shaped car park is Our room was in the middle of the row of cars closest to the Mullhulland Madness ride

But I would request the new wing and a high floor. Our view was just amazing!!!!

 

[Hawleys]

Monorail was not noisy if you had the balcony door closed. I pulled up google earth of the area to figure out why I couldn't see the Fun Wheel. It was just behind the south wing. I guess if you get one of those south facing rooms near the great hall you should be able to see them. Not certain though. I don't know if the DVC Grand Villas are obstructing the view. This image was taken before they were built:

Aaahhh...now I understand the line of sight. It looks like we're going to have to be VERY lucky to get a Mickey Wheel view. Smile at check-in, ask nicely and hope for some Disney magic.

Thanks for making things clear.

 

[aussietravellers]

Aaahhh...now I understand the line of sight. It looks like we're going to have to be VERY lucky to get a Mickey Wheel view. Smile at check-in, ask nicely and hope for some Disney magic.

Thanks for making things clear.

If you ask for the new wing you will have an AMAZING and very close view of the sunwheel. We would see after the park closed, them testing the fire displays too, so cool. I'll see if I can post a photo of some of our view.

 

[Hawleys]

We were there last month. We had two rooms (theme park view) The first was just terrible. I overlooked the soarin line area and we could see the monorail, but our main view was the other wing of the hotel, we would not have thought the view was that bad (although the view into the other rooms wasn't the best) until we moved to another room with a view over the pier.

The reason we moved was because of the unbearable construction noise that was occuring on the 3rd floor in the room below us (we were 4414!!!! The drilling hammering etc was a nightmare. When I called down to say I'm sorry we can not stand this noise anymore, I couldn't hear the CM on the phone talking the drilling was so loud. When it stopped briefly I apologised that I could not hear her if she was speaking because of the noise. She was horrified as she said it was loud for her through the phone. Honestly if we were talking in our room, we had to shout to hear each other over the noise.

None of those maps above have the new wing.

Anyway we moved to another 4th floor room, way on the other side of the hotel in the NEW wing. The view was AMAZING!!!!!! When we go again, we will be requesting a room in the new wing. The glass is really thick so once you close the doors you can't hear anything from the outside. Pity they didn't put the same thing in the walls as the glass, whilst we couldn't hear anything below or above us, we could hear EVERY word the people in the room beside us were saying at night (put that on the case, we'll do the teacups first up in the morning, I'm taking back control of this family " etc If only they knew we could hear everything they were saying. The walls were so thin I could even make out that they were Australian by the accent.

Now aside from that, and that was only for two nights we couldnt' hear a thing. On that photo above, the new wing is where the J or backwards L shaped car park is Our room was in the middle of the row of cars closest to the Mullhulland Madness ride

But I would request the new wing and a high floor. Our view was just amazing!!!!

Yuck, the construction noise sounds just awful. I'm glad you were moved to another room. I was under the impression that the rooms in the new wing were all for DVC. I will definitely request the new wing and a high floor.
Thanks!

 

[aussietravellers]

.

 

[aussietravellers]

Yuck, the construction noise sounds just awful. I'm glad you were moved to another room. I was under the impression that the rooms in the new wing were all for DVC. I will definitely request the new wing and a high floor.
Thanks!

No they are not all DVC, there are quite a few theme park view rooms over there. It is GREAT!

 

[Hawleys]

I think our room was 4250.

Incredible!! Trying not to get my hopes up....it's the Grand Californian, it's going to be awesome no matter what. A view like this would just be icing on the cake. We are taking our friends for their first ever trip and I want them to be wowed.

I found this link in the Grand Californian DVC owners thread. http://files.me.com/clyde1138/wbxyix This map shows the room numbers in the new wing. 4250 looks just about right for the location you describe.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I think our room was 4250.

Wow, that is a great view... So if you jump off the balcony can you jump into one of the mulholland madness cars!!!

 

[aussietravellers]

Incredible!! Trying not to get my hopes up....it's the Grand Californian, it's going to be awesome no matter what. A view like this would just be icing on the cake. We are taking our friends for their first ever trip and I want them to be wowed.

I found this link in the Grand Californian DVC owners thread. http://files.me.com/clyde1138/wbxyix This map shows the room numbers in the new wing. 4250 looks just about right for the location you describe.

Yes, thats it, seeing the map, it was 4250. We didn't think 4414 was all that bad, we were at GCH for 14 nights and moved after night 2 so we had 12 nights with that amazing view. When we moved to 4250 and saw that view we just kept saying OMG, now THATTTTT is a theme park view. People would sometimes wave from Mullhulland Madness ride we were so close. I really hope you get that view. Once you have had that view it would be very hard to move back over the other side to that theme park view. to getting the new wing. Here is another photo of them fire testing one night The fire was so hot we could feel the heat from our balcony. We even loved being out on the balcony after and before park opening.