My first stay at the Grand.....hmmmmn

[DisneyMomma81]

My visit was fine, but I won't stay at the Grand again. The rooms are small and nothing special. I've stayed in the reno rooms at DLH and loved them. We stayed at the Grand because of the pools. DLH were not all up and running. Yes the lobby is fantastic, yes the beauty is great, but you don't really get to enjoy when you do such a quickie visit. I also think the little ones would enjoy PP or DLH better. Oh well, live and learn.

I completely agree. DD & I loved our DLH reno room last July

 

[jdb in AZ]

That is exactly what I did. I requested fifth floor to have a better view (we had theme park view). When I checked in I had a hotel map and desired room numbers and requested that again at check-in. It seems that most people do not want to be on that wing and room requests are easier to get.

Does theme park view cost extra, and can you see WOC from your room?

 

[perlster]

"I just didn't expect it to be sooo crowded."

I wonder what Disney expected when they shut down all RoA attractions, given that Space Mountain and Splash Mountain were already closed. (Gadget's Go Coaster was also down for several days.)

The bad news : I read that a script for POTC 5 has been submitted.

Disneyland = theme park
theater = place to show movies

 

[HydroGuy]

Does theme park view cost extra, and can you see WOC from your room?

Yes, extra. For those who can see WOC from their rooms, it is a poor angle.

 

[Nonsuch]

Yes, extra. For those who can see WOC from their rooms, it is a poor angle.

There is also a 6th floor WOC viewing patio, available to all guests of the Grand.

 

[HydroGuy]

There is also a 6th floor WOC viewing patio, available to all guests of the Grand.

I have not been there but I have never heard of anyone at the GCH having a good view of WOC. WOC was designed to be viewed from Paradise Park - not the GCH.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

The bad news : I read that a script for POTC 5 has been submitted.

Disneyland = theme park
theater = place to show movies

"Pirates of the Caribbean 5: The Final Mutiny (We Mean It Too)"

 

[TravelingJen24]

I wish I would have known about the viewing area. Our family would have definitely took advantage of that. Next time I guess.

 

[CrazyDuck]

The viewing area is the best way to see WOC without having to use one of the days on your park hopper.

 

[toocherie]

I have had the "best" villa rooms for viewing WOC and even that wasn't very good (you can see all of the fountains but almost none of the projections). The viewing area is a joke--it is at the end of the building. I wouldn't waste my time.

Like someone said--you need to see it from where it was intended to be seen.

And just to clarify, there are two sections to the Grand--the hotel and the DVC villas. The DVC VILLAS have a view of Woc--None of the hotel rooms do because the villa building was built in front of it!

 

[nunzia]

"I just didn't expect it to be sooo crowded."

I wonder what Disney expected when they shut down all RoA attractions, given that Space Mountain and Splash Mountain were already closed. (Gadget's Go Coaster was also down for several days.)

The bad news : I read that a script for POTC 5 has been submitted.

Disneyland = theme park
theater = place to show movies

the 'good news" Johnny Depp says to 'wait awhile". I love the Pirates movies, so hope 'awhile' isn't 'never'. yes,, poor timing with everything else going on to need to close so much, but they will do what they need to do, so don't really blame them.
I'd be disappointed by the crowds too..we usually go in January or Sept and do fine, and have gone in early May with no crowds, but not in May with a Pirates premiere...

 

[Tommy_B]

sorry to hear that your trip wasn't as magical as it could have been.

on another note....what is considered early check-in? We will be arriving on June 11th at around at Orange County airport at 1:30pm. Probably arrive at the hotel around 2:15-2:30 or so.

If you land at John Wayne at 1:30PM, by the time you get your luggage (if you check any) and rental car and then drive to the GC I am thinking it will be between 2:30 and 3:00 and closer to 3.

You can leave the luggage with the bell hops and grab a late lunch, early dinner or just snacks or shop until you can check in.

I wish the rooms were bigger at the GC, but with the limited footprint they had to work with they either had to have the smaller rooms or fewer rooms that were bigger, but that would have meant even more expensive rooms, or gone higher and I like the size of the hotel height-wise now. Any taller and I think it would lose the lodge feel.