Saturday at Grand Cal without a park ticket?

[jimmymc]

I'll be adding two days on at Grand Cal after an ABD trip this summer. The first day is covered by the end of my ABD ticket, but to get the second day would cost at least $170 plus having to deal with Saturday crowds. My tentative plan now is to go to Knott's Berry Farm, which would only cost the ride there and back thanks to my Cedar Fair annual pass. But this also has the problem of Saturday crowds in the summer (I'll probably still go just go get on Ghostrider and Xcelerator, but that would just be the morning). Aside from the pool, what would you recommend doing around the resort without a car?

Thank you!

 

[bwvBound]

1. Downtown Disney .... shopping and eating ... ?
2. Sitting in the lobby listening to the piano?
3. Sitting "in" the fireplace listening to the piano?
4. Walk the DLR grounds admiring the plants?
5. Take photos of the landscaping, architecture, artwork, hidden Disney touches, etc?
6. Pack ... slowly ... enjoying both the time and place?

 

[Pluto468]

You could shop at Downtown Disney, have lunch somewhere nice or do a character meal. The Grand Californian seems like it would have alot of nice places to explore. Enjoy relaxing in your hotel room. Maybe a nice meal at Napa Rose. You could look into some spa time.

Would it be possible to go into the park that day without a hopper? That might cost less.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Consider getting a pool cabana for 1/2 or full day and joying the GCH pool area. You would call the hotel directly to reserve one, 714-635-2300, option 5. They are available 60 days out and do usually book up quickly.

 

[DizMe]

Trader Sam's/Tangaroa at DLH. Ballast Point--maybe a beer flight and people watching in DTD from the upstairs patio (they have good food, too, and reasonably priced). Maybe bowling at the bowling alley? I've never been, but many really like it. GCH may have some guest-only experiences, like walking in DCA before hours, Art of the Craft Tour, etc. Not sure what they've brought back.

 

[jimmymc]

You could shop at Downtown Disney, have lunch somewhere nice or do a character meal. The Grand Californian seems like it would have alot of nice places to explore. Enjoy relaxing in your hotel room. Maybe a nice meal at Napa Rose. You could look into some spa time.

Would it be possible to go into the park that day without a hopper? That might cost less.

That's the non hopper, most basic option unfortunately. Saturdays in July are the highest price bracket for tickets.

 

[StormyCA]

Grab a coffee and take a 'stroll and shop' in DTD in the morning, go for a swim and lounge at the pool for a few hours around noon with poolside drinks & snacks, then go for a spa treatment or a mani/pedi in the late afternoon. Grab a cocktail afterwards and listen to the piano in the lobby for a bit, then up to the room to order room service for dinner, and lounge around in bed watching Disney+ (what else?) or reading a good book. All the better if you can do it in a Courtyard view so you can leave the slider open to catch the sound of the monorail as it zooms by and the faint sounds of DTD and the parks, but is still quiet later on when things start closing.

 

[twodogs]

I always dream about going to that spa. I would do a spa day for sure! And then cocktails at Hearthstone!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Grab a coffee and take a 'stroll and shop' in DTD in the morning, go for a swim and lounge at the pool for a few hours around noon with poolside drinks & snacks, then go for a spa treatment or a mani/pedi in the late afternoon. Grab a cocktail afterwards and listen to the piano in the lobby for a bit, then up to the room to order room service for dinner, and lounge around in bed watching Disney+ (what else?) or reading a good book. All the better if you can do it in a Courtyard view so you can leave the slider open to catch the sound of the monorail as it zooms by and the faint sounds of DTD and the parks, but is still quiet later on when things start closing.

Now I want a day to do just this itinerary, lol. Maybe after my teens are no longer traveling with DH and me.

 

[maleficent55]

plant yourself at Trader Sams!!!!

 

[mouschievous]

Not quite the same, but our flight on check out day isn't until late in the evening, and we're flying out of SNA so no need to leave super early for the airport. So, we're going to sleep in, pack up leisurely, then drop our things at bell services and head to Storytellers for brunch. We are thinking we may do DTD, or the pool, or both, before we leave. But just the idea of it being leisurely after so much on the go time sounds heavenly.

 

[Laura K]

They have fitness classes that are supposedly only for hotel guests, including usually a 6:30am class that takes place in DCA and sometimes a free core class at 12:30 that takes place on the terrace overlooking DCA. They give you snacks and water for all fitness classes and the instructor is super nice. I would also go to the terrace to try to watch World of Color at night, though I think people generally recommend showing up at least 30 minutes in advance to get a good spot along the railing. All the above suggestions for food, drink, shopping, and lobby piano listening all sound perfect too There may also be some nice shows at night in downtown Disney and then you can walk to the esplanade for fireworks viewing at night.

 

[DizMe]

The one thing about doing a thing like the spa or cabana or some of the pricier eating is that you'll spend as much as you would on a ticket to go to the park, so just something to think about.

 

[shosh1530]

Check the spa activities closer to the day you are going. You could do one of the early morning power walks at DCA if the timing is right or a yoga class overlooking the park, if either of those appeal to you.

Now sure how tickets work with ABD, but would it be possible to upgrade your ticket portion and add a day? You might luck out with the resort bucket for park reservations.

 

[jimmymc]

Check the spa activities closer to the day you are going. You could do one of the early morning power walks at DCA if the timing is right or a yoga class overlooking the park, if either of those appeal to you.

Now sure how tickets work with ABD, but would it be possible to upgrade your ticket portion and add a day? You might luck out with the resort bucket for park reservations.

ABD doesn't allow you to upgrade tickets unfortunately. I could get a reservation, but the one park, one day ticket is $170, and that's a lot to add a 5th day.

 

[jimmymc]

The one thing about doing a thing like the spa or cabana or some of the pricier eating is that you'll spend as much as you would on a ticket to go to the park, so just something to think about.

I thought about the Spa but had this exact realization, so I decided not to. The massages are about the same cost as a ticket with Genie+.

 

[jimmymc]

Not quite the same, but our flight on check out day isn't until late in the evening, and we're flying out of SNA so no need to leave super early for the airport. So, we're going to sleep in, pack up leisurely, then drop our things at bell services and head to Storytellers for brunch. We are thinking we may do DTD, or the pool, or both, before we leave. But just the idea of it being leisurely after so much on the go time sounds heavenly.

That's another idea. Just enjoy the pool, a meal reservation, and do some resort or DTD exploration. It will be at the end of a long trip.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

That's another idea. Just enjoy the pool, a meal reservation, and do some resort or DTD exploration. It will be at the end of a long trip.

If you are into character meals, it can be a great time to do Storyteller's and see Mickey and some friends. (breakfast/brunch only I believe).