Split between DLH and GCH - where in GCH?

[DisneyWithTot]

Hi all, have been reading the threads and this community seems very knowledgeable and helpful. Hoping you can help me a little bit. Will be staying at the Grand Californian next week and we have friends who we plan on exploring the parks with who are staying at the Disneyland Hotel. We booked a standard vew room. At this point have requested a room near the lobby with bunk beds based on the info I've seen on the Grand Californian threads I've read. Is this the right way to go or should I be requesting a room closer to DTD? Since between us we have two 4 year olds, we will probably be spending more time at the Disneyland Park than we will at the California Adventure this time around (that's my guess at least). I will likely be lugging a stroller around most places because DD is not used to the the kind of walking we'll be doing or the kind of excitement I'm sure the park will generate in her. I know the first night we will be meeting up and probably eating in DTD with our friends also.

Also, any other tips you might have for us re: coordinating our two families? We would've stayed at the same hotel, but at the time I booked the GCH was cheaper by more than $200 than DLH. Since then the prices have changed a bit but given what we've read about the two, we want to stick with GCH.

Any guidance would be appreciated as this will be our first time at DLR. Thanks!

 

[Dobie]

You booked correctly. The GCH is spread out, but there are only two elevators. The rooms closer to DTD are a looooong way from the elevator. You would have to walk down a very long hallway to the elevator, down to the lobby, and then backtrack back toward Disneyland.

We stayed in a standard view room toward the lobby in 2006 and overlooked the portico and the parking lot. There was no view, but it was very very close.

As far as meeting your friends, I would choose a store or restaurant between GCH and Disneyland and meet them there. They will have a slightly longer (5 minute?) walk than you.

Make sure you are in line before the gates open. Make a beeline for Fantasyland. Take advantage of magic morning. You might want to book a character meal at Goofy's at the DLH: it is a good way to see characters without standing in line. Spend your afternoons at the pool. Have fun!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The lobby is the place you go to split off either towards DTD (which leads to DL) or to the DCA entrance. So you want to be close to the lobby.

There is one wing that is actually furthest from your lobby but has a door that *exits* to DTD near La Brea (which is really close to bag check to get into the esplanade) but it has stairs, and you cannot go back in through that door. since you'll have a stroller, etc, I doubt you would want that one.

So yes, requesting a room near the lobby is going to be the way to go, as it lowers the walking you have to do to get to either park.



And hey, with 4 year olds, they are PERFECT ages for DCA's bug's land! Not the "tough to be a bug" show, but the rest of bug's land is so awesome! Fantasyland has dark lines like Peter Pan that can freak a kid out, their rides in many cases are inside buildings where you can't see what is happening. Pinocchio is freaky, Snow White is "scary" and it says so in the name, Alice is weird especially if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, and the Peter Pan ride is awesome, but nearly created a meltdown b/c the line itself is kind of dark, and DS was tired and hated the line more than he loved the ride... Whereas the rides in bug's land are bright, open, and airy, and you can see all or most (the "most" ride being Heimlich's Chew Chew Train) of the ride from the outside.

Bug's land is awesome, and don't ignore it just b/c Fantasyland has a reputation of being for kids. If I could take one thing back about our trips since DS's first trip at 17 months, it would be ignoring DCA for so long. bug's land would have been FAR better for him in so many ways. Though I will admit that Casey Junior's train is very cool, and with the Teacups you can spin them in an extra way that the Ladybug Boogie (aka ladybug painted teacups, LOL) does not, which is a bonus for DS and DH (and a punishment for me).

And don't forget the fabulous Toy Story Midway Mania!!!! And King Triton's carousel. My son loves that one just as much as he loves the Carrousel in Fantasyland.


The Grand doesn't have a door that lets you right out into DTD, rather you go from the lobby, walk down a hallway (ramp for wheeled conveyances is over to the side), go out sliding glass doors, walk along a pathway outdoors, then finally you'll see DTD.

The other family can walk through DTD and meet you guys at the exit from the Grand...the landmark is Sephora on one side, Studio 365 (I think that's what it's called) on the other, and Haagen Dasz on the other side of the DTD walkway. Then you can walk towards Disneyland.

They can also use the DCA entrance, though that puts you at Grizzly River Run...go to the right towards Toy Story Midway Mania...left towards Soarin' and the front of the park. If you could somehow walk through Grizzly you'd come out right near bug's land, LOL.

Oh, and do not miss Monsters Inc, b/c it's a GREAT ride!

 

[DisneyWithTot]

Thank you Dobie and Bumbershoot, that helps a lot! I will definitely check out DCA's bug's land and Toy Story mania (she just saw Toy Story recently) and DD says she has to do the Monster's Inc ride so I'm set there. We have a 3 day park hopper pass so we were planning on going to DL on Sunday during the early time. Tell me if you think this will work: I was thinking we could hop on the Disney Railroad to Fantasyland, then go immediately to Peter Pan's Flight (should be a short line then right?), maybe do the Mad Party Teacups and Dumbo, then walk over to the Finding Nemo subs. Maybe follow up with Astro Blasters (or at least get a Fastpass for it?). DD's been saying she wants to ride the teacups and has to go on the Nemo ride (we saw some videos of both on youtube and the Disneyland web channel). She wants to do Peter Pan too after she saw the movie last week. Do you think that will be tame enough for the first 3 or 4 rides? I figure we can backtrack to Fantasyland and Toontown later.

Dobie, I also already reserved priority seating for Goofy's Kitchen that Monday for breakfast, so I'm so glad you confirmed my choice! Great idea to meet up at a store - I hadn't thought of that. I think that's what we'll do that first evening.

Does the Monorail do multiple stops? I'm thinking our friends staying at the DLH will want to jump on the monorail instead of walking to Disneyland.

 

[Dobie]

It is a lot quicker to walk up mainstreet than to ride the train. And you really want to hit the fantasyland rides EARLY to miss the worst lineage. I would save the train for a ride around the park when you become tired and cranky.

It will also probably be quicker for your friends to walk to DL than to take the monorail. Again, I would save it for later in the day when feetsies are sore.

There are some threads on this page about the order in which to tackle Fantasyland.

And I agree with Bumbershoot that Bugsland in DCA is not to be missed!

 

[DisneyWithTot]

Good to know re: the train(s). I'll take a look at those threads - thanks!

 

[BlueBayou]

And hey, with 4 year olds, they are PERFECT ages for DCA's bug's land! Not the "tough to be a bug" show, but the rest of bug's land is so awesome! Fantasyland has dark lines like Peter Pan that can freak a kid out, their rides in many cases are inside buildings where you can't see what is happening. Pinocchio is freaky, Snow White is "scary" and it says so in the name, Alice is weird especially if you haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, and the Peter Pan ride is awesome, but nearly created a meltdown b/c the line itself is kind of dark, and DS was tired and hated the line more than he loved the ride... Whereas the rides in bug's land are bright, open, and airy, and you can see all or most (the "most" ride being Heimlich's Chew Chew Train) of the ride from the outside.

Bug's land is awesome, and don't ignore it just b/c Fantasyland has a reputation of being for kids. If I could take one thing back about our trips since DS's first trip at 17 months, it would be ignoring DCA for so long. bug's land would have been FAR better for him in so many ways. Though I will admit that Casey Junior's train is very cool, and with the Teacups you can spin them in an extra way that the Ladybug Boogie (aka ladybug painted teacups, LOL) does not, which is a bonus for DS and DH (and a punishment for me).

And don't forget the fabulous Toy Story Midway Mania!!!! And King Triton's carousel. My son loves that one just as much as he loves the Carrousel in Fantasyland.

My kids - now 9 and 7 have ALWAYS loved DCA. We always end up spending way more time in that park than I would expect.

Bumbershoot is right on about Bugs Land. Muppetvision 3D and the Redwood Creek challenge area are also great. My kids also liked the animation area where Ursula steals your voice and Beast's library changes and you find out what character you are like.

I would say all of our trips we spend equal time in both DCA and DL.

 

[Huff]

Nemo Subs usually has a very long line mid morning through early evening. Most times I have been there the lines are short only late at night in the last few hours before closing.

Astro Blasters generally does not get a long line. Maybe 30 minutes mid day, shorter earlier or later.

Tea Cups rarely has a long line.

DCA is great for kids as noted with Bugs Land, Muppets, Monsters Inc, Turtle Talk, Playhouse Live. Kids often like Aladdin show too. Pixar Parade is fun.

 

[DisneyWithTot]

My kids - now 9 and 7 have ALWAYS loved DCA. We always end up spending way more time in that park than I would expect.

Bumbershoot is right on about Bugs Land. Muppetvision 3D and the Redwood Creek challenge area are also great. My kids also liked the animation area where Ursula steals your voice and Beast's library changes and you find out what character you are like.

I would say all of our trips we spend equal time in both DCA and DL.

Unfortunately Redwood Creek's not going to be open while we're there. Neither is the Pirate Lair in DL. Was really bummed when I realized it.

Will have to check out that Animation area too - we're trying to do one day DL, one day DCA, then third day based on the rides the kids liked best.


Now I'm thinking on MM this Sunday I want to get there early then do Peter Pan, Dumbo, then Nemo. I've heard the Nemo rides aren't as long a wait as they were before and it might not be as difficult to get in to them closer to regular park opening. Do you think that might work or am I fooling myself? I really don't want to blow most of our MM on Nemo (which is what it sounds like might happen given the length of the ride, etc. if I start with it).

 

[Huff]

Will have to check out that Animation area too - we're trying to do one day DL, one day DCA, then third day based on the rides the kids liked best.

We tend to spend most of a day at one park or the other but always park hop between them every day. One day we'll start out at DCA then head to DL for the night, the next we'll start out at DL, head to DCA for a few hours then back to DL for the night.

Reason for this is that you can collect fast passes for both parks at the same time. That means you can go to DL in the morning, collect FP's while return times and lines are short, hold onto those FP's, go to DCA for awhile then return to DL later and begin using your saved FP's. While at DCA you can collect and use FP's as needed. The two parks are only 5 minutes walk between at most.

 

[DisneyWithTot]

We tend to spend most of a day at one park or the other but always park hop between them every day. One day we'll start out at DCA then head to DL for the night, the next we'll start out at DL, head to DCA for a few hours then back to DL for the night.

Reason for this is that you can collect fast passes for both parks at the same time. That means you can go to DL in the morning, collect FP's while return times and lines are short, hold onto those FP's, go to DCA for awhile then return to DL later and begin using your saved FP's. While at DCA you can collect and use FP's as needed. The two parks are only 5 minutes walk between at most.

We may try to do that on the third day. This is our first time at Disneyland since my husband and I were very small (around three or four years old), so I think we're gonna spend the first two days getting acquainted with the two parks. The two preschoolers between us have also never been to a theme park before, so we're also trying to figure out how to manage that. If this were a return trip, we might do it that way the whole way through but I'm thinking baby steps for us for now with big nap/rest times each day

 

[DisneyWithTot]

Nemo Subs usually has a very long line mid morning through early evening. Most times I have been there the lines are short only late at night in the last few hours before closing.

Astro Blasters generally does not get a long line. Maybe 30 minutes mid day, shorter earlier or later.

Tea Cups rarely has a long line.

DCA is great for kids as noted with Bugs Land, Muppets, Monsters Inc, Turtle Talk, Playhouse Live. Kids often like Aladdin show too. Pixar Parade is fun.

Huff, when you say mid-morning, what time are you talking about where you've seen this? On Sun MM we plan on getting into the park first thing at 7am (by lining up by 6:30), then getting into see Nemo probably before the MM hour is up. I'm hoping that's early enough to avoid a really long line. I can't imagine it's going to take that long to get through Peter Pan and Dumbo once.

 

[jenpace]

At this point have requested a room near the lobby with bunk beds...

If you really want to get a room over the lobby, I wouldn't advise requesting a bunk bed room. The rooms directly over the reception desk in the lobby are the only ones at the GCH that have 2 queen beds and a daybed. We made the mistake last summer after having stayed at the GCH many times in the 2Q/daybed rooms to request a bunk bed room. I never even knew that the corridors were so long and confusing back in the bowels of that hotel where they keep the bunk bed rooms. Have you seen "The Shining"? That's what that part of the hotel reminded me of After 1 night we were switched to a 2Q/daybed room over the the reception desk in the lobby......

 

[DisneyWithTot]

If you really want to get a room over the lobby, I wouldn't advise requesting a bunk bed room. The rooms directly over the reception desk in the lobby are the only ones at the GCH that have 2 queen beds and a daybed. We made the mistake last summer after having stayed at the GCH many times in the 2Q/daybed rooms to request a bunk bed room. I never even knew that the corridors were so long and confusing back in the bowels of that hotel where they keep the bunk bed rooms. Have you seen "The Shining"? That's what that part of the hotel reminded me of After 1 night we were switched to a 2Q/daybed room over the the reception desk in the lobby......

Hmmm. I really wanted the bunk bed for my four year old - she still sleeps in a toddler bed and I don't want her falling out of a big bed. We also thought it might work better as we could put a sheet or two down as a "tent" to keep her bed darker if we decided to watch some TV before bed. How low to the ground are the day beds and alternatively does Grand Californian have any guardrails we can put on the bed? Are all the bunk beds that far out? We don't have to be "in" the lobby, just near it and/or the elevators so we can go where we need to go to quickly. We are going more off-season so maybe that won't be much of a problem? I really don't want to be off in the boonies if possible.

 

[jenpace]

Hmmm. I really wanted the bunk bed for my four year old - she still sleeps in a toddler bed and I don't want her falling out of a big bed. We also thought it might work better as we could put a sheet or two down as a "tent" to keep her bed darker if we decided to watch some TV before bed. How low to the ground are the day beds and alternatively does Grand Californian have any guardrails we can put on the bed? Are all the bunk beds that far out? We don't have to be "in" the lobby, just near it and/or the elevators so we can go where we need to go to quickly. We are going more off-season so maybe that won't be much of a problem? I really don't want to be off in the boonies if possible.

Like I mentioned before, we only stayed in a bunk bed room once. The room we stayed in had a strange furniture arrangement/set up....the only person who had a decent view of the TV was my 7 y/o DD but only when she was in the top bunk. The rest of us had obstructions (the bunk bed frame from the lower bunk) or a wonky angle from the queen sized bed because the TV is placed directly in front of the bunk beds. As far as watching some TV while the kids slept...I don't know if that would work since the TV is closest to the kids in their bunks.

The hotel has bedrails available for the queen beds and they work on the daybed/sofa as well to keep little ones from falling out of bed at night.

One plus to think about is that while the rooms at the GCH are small in comparison to the DLH and PPH rooms, the 2Q/daybed rooms are the largest GCH standard rooms available.

 

[DisneyWithTot]

Like I mentioned before, we only stayed in a bunk bed room once. The room we stayed in had a strange furniture arrangement/set up....the only person who had a decent view of the TV was my 7 y/o DD but only when she was in the top bunk. The rest of us had obstructions (the bunk bed frame from the lower bunk) or a wonky angle from the queen sized bed because the TV is placed directly in front of the bunk beds. As far as watching some TV while the kids slept...I don't know if that would work since the TV is closest to the kids in their bunks.

The hotel has bedrails available for the queen beds and they work on the daybed/sofa as well to keep little ones from falling out of bed at night.

One plus to think about is that while the rooms at the GCH are small in comparison to the DLH and PPH rooms, the 2Q/daybed rooms are the largest GCH standard rooms available.

Good to know, thank you. I re-looked at Mary Jo's thread as I remembered she had bunk bed pics and it looks exactly as you describe, with TV right in front of the bunks. Since they have bedrails available, I think I may just change my request. Appreciate it!

 

[DisneyWithTot]

Update: We ultimately decided not to change the room request because we felt it was too important that our daughter get to sleep in a bunkbed and we figured we'd try our luck. It worked out well - the hotel placed us right near the elevator by the Napa Rose and we have a side view of the pool and if we lean a little forward on our balcony we've got a view of DCA and the Mickey Ferris Wheel. We do have to deal with the placement of the TV (it is in no way adjustable) but it's worth it. Our daughter loves the bunk and we would not change a thing!