Some strange Disneyland Questions

[dolphingirl47]

I hope that you can help me with some questions that may be a little bit strange. Just for some background, we have been to Disneyland 3 times previously, but this was always part of a bigger vacation to Southern California and when we last came in spring 2006 it was port of road trip that covered Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Phoenix and San Diego as well. We have always stayed offsite as far afield as Fullerton. We are now DVC members and will spend a total of 10 nights at Grand Californian Villas (6 before our cruise on the Disney Wonder and 4 after). Even though I am really looking forward to staying onsite, it also freaks me out a little. So here are some questions:

I have noticed that the parking charges at Grand Californian are quite high. As DVC members staying on points, do we still have to pay them?

Does Disneyland have the refillable resort mugs that you can get at Walt Disney World?

Can you pre-order a special cake for a meal at one of the table services restaurants like you can at Disney World?

We are hoping to do a vow renewal at Crystal Cathedral while we are there. Does the spa at Grand Californian offer hair services?

Corinna

 

[HydroGuy]

I hope that you can help me with some questions that may be a little bit strange. Just for some background, we have been to Disneyland 3 times previously, but this was always part of a bigger vacation to Southern California and when we last came in spring 2006 it was port of road trip that covered Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Phoenix and San Diego as well. We have always stayed offsite as far afield as Fullerton. We are now DVC members and will spend a total of 10 nights at Grand Californian Villas (6 before our cruise on the Disney Wonder and 4 after). Even though I am really looking forward to staying onsite, it also freaks me out a little. So here are some questions:

I have noticed that the parking charges at Grand Californian are quite high. As DVC members staying on points, do we still have to pay them?

Does Disneyland have the refillable resort mugs that you can get at Walt Disney World?

Can you pre-order a special cake for a meal at one of the table services restaurants like you can at Disney World?

We are hoping to do a vow renewal at Crystal Cathedral while we are there. Does the spa at Grand Californian offer hair services?

Corinna

I will answer the ones I know. No refillable mugs. My DW did the spa at GCH last summer but not hair - ust massage and facial. You may need to e-mail the GCH. Have a magical trip!

 

[Snurk71]

I have noticed that the parking charges at Grand Californian are quite high. As DVC members staying on points, do we still have to pay them?

According to some recent stayers on the VGC thread on the DVC board, no charge for DVC members on points (up to 2 cars).

 

[momrek06]

We are hoping to do a vow renewal at Crystal Cathedral while we are there.

Hmmm, better look into this as the CC has fallen on some hard times. The family all seems to be feuding with each other. There was talk in the News of 'bankruptcy'. I think its all very sad, that is a beautiful cathedral.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/18/crystal-cathedral-bankrup_n_767219.html

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-09/after-public-family-feud-another-schuller-steps

 

[Funball]

Can you pre-order a special cake for a meal at one of the table services restaurants like you can at Disney World?

YES!!

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/special-occasions/birthdays/

 

[Funball]

We are hoping to do a vow renewal at Crystal Cathedral while we are there. Does the spa at Grand Californian offer hair services?

amen to you, i hope i get to that point for a vow renewal some day!

but why not use the rose garden at DLH for vow renewal...??

 

[christine*]

You can order a cake through Disney Dining to get a cake from a resturant inside the the park. There's limited customization from pictures i've seen. The cakes I've seen ordered from Grand Californian (they can be delivered to any of the resturants there or to your hotel room) look much better. I've had a cake delivered twice to our room while staying at the Grand and they were amazing both times and always looked better than anticipated.

Here's the a link to an old DLR cake thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1536554

And here's a link to a newer one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2674738&highlight=disneyland+cake

If you're interested in getting a cake from the hotel, I have an e-mail from Vacation Planning I can forward you and it has the current options and prices.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I will answer the ones I know. No refillable mugs. My DW did the spa at GCH last summer but not hair - ust massage and facial. You may need to e-mail the GCH. Have a magical trip!

Thanks, I will do that.

According to some recent stayers on the VGC thread on the DVC board, no charge for DVC members on points (up to 2 cars).

Thanks for the information. There will definitely be only one car as I don't drive.

Hmmm, better look into this as the CC has fallen on some hard times. The family all seems to be feuding with each other. There was talk in the News of 'bankruptcy'. I think its all very sad, that is a beautiful cathedral.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/18/crystal-cathedral-bankrup_n_767219.html

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-09/after-public-family-feud-another-schuller-steps

I have followed what is going on at Crystal Cathedral for many years. I knew about the Chapter 11 and also about the family feud. I still appreciate the heads up. I think their financial situation might well have something to do with how open and helpful they have been regarding looking into a very small and intimate ceremony. I seem to remember that I contacted them in 2006 and it was kind of all or nothing. They most certainly changed their attitude.

As we are in the UK, we have to pay everything by credit card anyway so we are protected if we pay for our ceremony and they go under. Originally we had booked a vow renewal on the Disney Wonder, but then all the people I wanted there ended up cancelling the cruise and all over sudden the package seemed completely over the top. It was actually DH who suggested that maybe we should reconsider Crystal Cathedral. I had completely given up on the vow renewal. It looks like I might be getting exactly the ceremony there that I want.

YES!!

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/special-occasions/birthdays/

Thanks, I had spotted this when I was browsing the Disneyland website, but I am looking for something a bit more formal.

You can order a cake through Disney Dining to get a cake from a resturant inside the the park. There's limited customization from pictures i've seen. The cakes I've seen ordered from Grand Californian (they can be delivered to any of the resturants there or to your hotel room) look much better. I've had a cake delivered twice to our room while staying at the Grand and they were amazing both times and always looked better than anticipated.

Here's the a link to an old DLR cake thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1536554

And here's a link to a newer one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2674738&highlight=disneyland+cake

If you're interested in getting a cake from the hotel, I have an e-mail from Vacation Planning I can forward you and it has the current options and prices.

Thanks for the information. That is exactly what I was looking for. I just looked through both the threads. There are some gorgeous cakes on them. I love the anniversary cake that was posted on the newer thread. I am probably going to go for a silk bouquet with pink, ivory and lilac roses so a cake with flowers in those colours would be perfect. I would really appreciate it if you could forward me the email. I will PM you my email address.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

amen to you, i hope i get to that point for a vow renewal some day!

but why not use the rose garden at DLH for vow renewal...??

Oops, I thought I had forgotten to multi-quote something. When I realized that my Disney Cruise Line Vow Renewal would not happen, I checked what my options would be at Disneyland. I was very disappointed that they just offer the Wishes and Couture weddings. Most likely it will be just DH and myself. We have friends in Los Angeles that might be able to attend, but at an absolute maximum there will be 6 of us. So there is no way we would reach the minimum spend especially as we are staying on DVC points.

Now, if they offered the Memories Collection that they are currently offering at WDW, that would be a different matter.

Corinna

 

[Funball]

the cakes--they can do formal, i saw an anniversary cake done..i saw it in a thread on here before i left for my doctors appointment..it was white and stuff..looked way to good to eat.. im sure if u called them you could get a formal one

 

[Minuet888]

I just want to know what you (or your husband) do for a living I want to be able to afford that! LOL

 

[been2marceline]

According to some recent stayers on the VGC thread on the DVC board, no charge for DVC members on points (up to 2 cars).

This is news to me - we got charged full price last stay. We are VGC owners too.

Anyone know if/when this changed?

It would be nice to not pay those fees....

 

[dolphingirl47]

I just want to know what you (or your husband) do for a living I want to be able to afford that! LOL

I am a supervisor with a big international airline and DH is a lawyer. However, this is not as expensive as it sounds. We are DVC members and bought in when the Pound was extremely strong against the Dollar so we have broken even on the initial outlay by now and just pay our annual dues, which is not that much for 160 points. As far as the actual vow renewal goes, I have been saving up for the past 4 years. I am hoping that with this being a very low key ceremony that the final cost will be less than $1000.

This is news to me - we got charged full price last stay. We are VGC owners too.

Anyone know if/when this changed?

It would be nice to not pay those fees....

Well, when I asked Member Services this question, I was told that parking would be free as I am staying on points. I was told that parking charges only apply for cash reservations. However, I am taking the information that I was given with a pinch of salt as the agent I spoke with also told me that I could do online check in, which I know is not correct. I have sent a message to Member Services and I will report back when I have a reply. I figure even if the information is incorrect then at least I have it in writing.

Corinna

 

[Caseystigger]

Mandera Spa has a wedding day makeup and styling service. Here is the link to their menu and price list.

http://www.mandaraspa.com/files/MA9010_11_MS_DGC_WEB_FINAL.pdf

 

[dolphingirl47]

Mandera Spa has a wedding day makeup and styling service. Here is the link to their menu and price list.

http://www.mandaraspa.com/files/MA9010_11_MS_DGC_WEB_FINAL.pdf

Thanks for this. I really appreciate it. Somehow I managed to miss this when I looked yesterday. Looks like I am going to have to do my own hair and make up after all. I heard back from Crystal Cathedral and they offered me 1:00 PM on October 9th. I am delighted, but we only get off the Disney Wonder that morning so it is going to be a bit of a rush. I don't think I can fit a hair appointment in. Oh well, I will have plenty of time to practise between now and then. No cornrows for me on that cruise.

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

This is news to me - we got charged full price last stay. We are VGC owners too.

Anyone know if/when this changed?

It would be nice to not pay those fees....

I had an email back from Member Services and they confirmed that self-parking is free for up to two cars for members staying on points.

Corinna

 

[Minuet888]

I am a supervisor with a big international airline and DH is a lawyer. However, this is not as expensive as it sounds. We are DVC members and bought in when the Pound was extremely strong against the Dollar so we have broken even on the initial outlay by now and just pay our annual dues, which is not that much for 160 points. As far as the actual vow renewal goes, I have been saving up for the past 4 years. I am hoping that with this being a very low key ceremony that the final cost will be less than $1000.


Corinna

God bless ya, my hubby and I wanted to do a vow renewal as its our 10th anniversary (not necessarily at DL) but I got a pink slip at work (I'm a high school music teacher) I'm only part time as it is. It's my first time working part time. But this is my 3rd pink slip at my third school in 3 years. It's getting exhausting, my hubby is an retail manager and I make more them him even working part time. But as they say..all ya need is love!

 

[Funball]

all this vow renewal..i am lucky if i ever get to the vow's and the the renewal..BUT i am sure that no matter how it turns out your vow Renewal will be stellar! mandara spa also does nails FYI!

 

[Funball]

OP did u know that you can have a vow renewal or small wedding uptop the GCH!?

yep ..check out this link http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/california/design-studio/ceremony/detail

it's more then just the rose garden

and u can get custom cakes!

http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/california/design-studio/cakes/detail

there is a TON of cakes to look at!

 

[dolphingirl47]

OP did u know that you can have a vow renewal or small wedding uptop the GCH!?

yep ..check out this link http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/california/design-studio/ceremony/detail

it's more then just the rose garden

and u can get custom cakes!

http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/weddings/california/design-studio/cakes/detail

there is a TON of cakes to look at!

I did have a look at this when I decided to cancel my DCL vow renewal. Unfortunately even a small ceremony at DL starts with a minimum spend of $10,000. That is much to heavy for my pocket book.

Corinna