The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Owners & Lovers Group - 2.0

[ajiuo]

In answer to your question, yes, all guest self-parking is across the street in the on-grade parking lot. All of the underground parking is dedicated to valet parking and is inaccessible to hotel/DVC guests. There is some on-grade parking in front of the hotel, but that is also exclusively for valet use.

How much is valet parking for DVC members? I just did a trip there and spent quite a bit on ubering to universal and various beaches… I’m thinking next year I’ll just rent a car. I’m pretty sure self parking is free, not sure how much Valet is though… if you use self parking can you park there for a minute to put your luggage with bel service?

I still may end up just Ubering or doing tours… it’s kind of nice to be able to not worry about driving when you’re on vacation… but I might think about a rental.

 

[Mathmagicland]

… if you use self parking can you park there for a minute to put your luggage with bel service?

You can continue through the portico and start heading out, in front of the convention center on the left there is a small section of lot with a few spaces where you can park to drop luggage or to load up luggage when you are ready to leave.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We Uber from airport, but rent a car (agency is inside Paradise Pier) for the block of days we want to go off campus. We keep the rental in the free lot overnight if we are renting for multiple days.

 

[nalababybear]

You can continue through the portico and start heading out, in front of the convention center on the left there is a small section of lot with a few spaces where you can park to drop luggage or to load up luggage when you are ready to leave.

View attachment 863521

That's 20min parking. About four spots. Handicap there's two spots. Rest is valet space.


For dvc. Valet is valet. No discount. If handicap and valet you get charged self parking rates. Since self parking is free for Dvc, valet supposedly is free too in those circumstances.

We don't valet though, so even with handicap we park across the street most often

 

[ClaraOswald]

Anyone know if it's common for vehicles to get broken into or anything across the street? I'm always paranoid about that so that's why I'm wondering if we should valet instead.

 

[sparkhill]

Anyone know if it's common for vehicles to get broken into or anything across the street? I'm always paranoid about that so that's why I'm wondering if we should valet instead.

You can never be 100% certain, but we have used in self-parking during more than 30 multiple day trips over the past decade without issue. Access is limited by a monitored gate and there is lots of nearby foot traffic. Just be smart and take valuables with you.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Anyone know if it's common for vehicles to get broken into or anything across the street? I'm always paranoid about that so that's why I'm wondering if we should valet instead.

It’s not “common” for vehicles to be vandalized or broken into anywhere on Disneyland property. Every parking lot is extremely well-lit, monitored with cameras, patrolled by security, and has parking lot cast members moving through it almost 24 hours a day. That lot is centered on Disney property, is very well lit, well-trafficked, and is surrounded by the three hotels and Downtown Disney.

Yes, you do hear of the occasional vehicle break-in, but that’s usually in one of the more remote lots (like Toy Story or Simba) or in the parking structures. I grew up in Anaheim and have gone as a visitor hundreds of times (and was a CM for ten years adding a couple thousand more times I parked in Disneyland lots), and my sister has worked at DL for 35 years, and neither of us knows anyone, guest or CM, who’s had their car broken into. l’ve heard of it happening, but it is ridiculously rare.

 

[nalababybear]

We've left luggage in car multiple time there without incident. It's pretty central with single entry/exit and if they break in and run
.....to where? The dtd paid.lot?

 

[nalababybear]

Vgc. Unlock doors now work via phone. Both iPhone and Android. Magic band still no work. Getting there

 

[MagicDVC]

Vgc. Unlock doors now work via phone. Both iPhone and Android. Magic band still no work. Getting there

Sweet! It’s getting there.

 

[ajiuo]

Pretty sure it’s worked on the iPhone for a while. I know it was last October for sure.

Of course we are talking about with the app. I don’t think Magic Mobil works at Disneyland.

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

Anyone know if it's common for vehicles to get broken into or anything across the street? I'm always paranoid about that so that's why I'm wondering if we should valet instead.

I wouldn't leave a laptop out in the open but the GCH lot is about as safe as it gets in Anaheim. The organized crews that does most of the break-ins tend to drive and target areas that are easy to get in and out of with their stolen cars, and the restricted nature of the GCH lot (and DLH/PPH lots for that matter) is anything but that.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Thanks, all! I tend to be paranoid since I actually had my car stolen a couple decades ago.

 

[ClaraOswald]

When we were at the Grand Californian in February 2023, we had breakfast at Craftsman Grill every morning. I looked at the menu on the app and it doesn't mention sides of things like bacon and sausage. It also doesn't mention cereal/milk and sides of fruit. If anyone has been recently, can you confirm if those things are still available or not? We always cobble together a breakfast for our son with various a la carte things and now I'm worried we won't be able to now. We especially liked this large mixed fruit plate that had oranges, grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and berries.

 

[PortlandFan]

Yup, still there! The non-warm stuff is part of the grab & go fare that isn't on the static menu, but it's still around. And you can get the ala cart hot stuff in person as well, you just can't order ahead on the app.

 

[nalababybear]

Yup, still there! The non-warm stuff is part of the grab & go fare that isn't on the static menu, but it's still around. And you can get the ala cart hot stuff in person as well, you just can't order ahead on the app.

Yep in the right side across from the refrigerated stuff

 

[ClaraOswald]

Phew! That's good to hear. I tend to just end up getting fruit/pastries for breakfast there. And my son really liked their sausage last time.

 

[crazycatlady]

Do any of the studios have the non-see through balcony walls? We had one of these in a regular room a few years
ago (didn't like it) and I am making my room request for November soon and am unsure what to ask for. We like the Pixar Pier view and a high floor, but am unsure if I need to specify that we want a balcony (do they all have one?) or that it has open slats. I have written down that I like the views from 6504, 5504, 5506 and 4506 from the pics I have seen. What would y'all put for a request?

 

[itr452]

Do any of the studios have the non-see through balcony walls? We had one of these in a regular room a few years
ago (didn't like it) and I am making my room request for November soon and am unsure what to ask for. We like the Pixar Pier view and a high floor, but am unsure if I need to specify that we want a balcony (do they all have one?) or that it has open slats. I have written down that I like the views from 6504, 5504, 5506 and 4506 from the pics I have seen. What would y'all put for a request?

I always ask for 04 or 10 rooms…last stay got a high floor but a 15 room overlooking nothing but it was that or a pool view on 2nd floor…

 

[ajiuo]

Do any of the studios have the non-see through balcony walls? We had one of these in a regular room a few years
ago (didn't like it) and I am making my room request for November soon and am unsure what to ask for. We like the Pixar Pier view and a high floor, but am unsure if I need to specify that we want a balcony (do they all have one?) or that it has open slats. I have written down that I like the views from 6504, 5504, 5506 and 4506 from the pics I have seen. What would y'all put for a request?

I just stayed in 4504 a few weeks ago. I quite liked the view in that room.