Which building/view should I request at the Grand Californian?

[LisainCalifornia]

Hello all,
I wondered if anyone has any advice for me. We usually stay at the Disneyland Hotel and always call ahead to ask for our favorite tower/view. We have only stayed at the Grand Californian once before, and we had a downtown disney view. I am wondering if there is a better one to request? It was a little noisy with the dtd view--but we were on a very low floor. They don't call the different buildings by different names at the Grand like they do at the Disneyland Hotel, do they?

We leave in 20 days.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I dont believe they do. I usually have a park view but out DTD view was fine also, we didn't find it to be noisy at all unless we were out on the balcony.

 

[DizMe]

Well, the next time I stay there I plan to request something closer to the elevators!! It was a looooooooooong haul to our room. The courtyard view we had was nice, but it was way too far from everything. I think that is a planning faux pas about the GCH. We were on the 5th floor and had to go up the elevators, turn right and walk to the end of the hall, turn right and walk alllll the way dooooooown the whole wing, turn right and walk allllll the way doooooooown the next wing. Our room was near the end of the last wing. If you happen to get a room in that area, my tip is to take the stairs when you're going down. It saves a lot of twists and turns and gets you there much faster.

Someone who used to work there told me that if you can get a room with 2 queens and a daybed, those rooms are all close to the lobby so you'd avoid the big walk.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Someone who used to work there told me that if you can get a room with 2 queens and a daybed, those rooms are all close to the lobby so you'd avoid the big walk.

thank you! This is what I meant to do. I had this nagging feeling that I needed to call them to request something--and that is what I wanted to request. We need the 2 queens and daybed option because I have older kids (the bunkbeds are too small).

I just now called and put in my request.

Thanks!
Lisa

 

[lisah0711]

A word of warning about staying close to the lobby -- it is very noisy, especially during the day. One year our room was off the lobby during the holidays and we heard the piano and singing and it was very loud -- not a good thing when you are trying to get your kid to nap! You know that all hallways at all Disney hotels get longer as the day goes on, by the end of the day they are twice as long as they started . . .

Enjoy your trip no matter what room you get!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

The best one we've had was a view over GRR! We could sit out on our balcony and watch people on the ride. We were right where the last big drop was. Beautiful view, and cool to see them open and close the park too. We also could see fireworks from there as well.

 

[Whidbey5]

The best one we've had was a view over GRR! We could sit out on our balcony and watch people on the ride. We were right where the last big drop was. Beautiful view, and cool to see them open and close the park too. We also could see fireworks from there as well.

This is the view I requested and hope to get for our December trip. I LOVE that part of California Adventure!

ETA**Even with the request I made with DVC booking, does anyone think I should call ahead of time to re-request? Or do I wait until we arrive?

 

[avalon451]

We were in room 4122, which was just 3 doors down from the main lobby elevators. We had a queen/bunkbed room, which fit for our 3 kids-- 2 bunks and the trundle underneath. We hopped on the elevators and were right next to the hallway that leads to the DTD entrance.

The other good thing about it was that we were overlooking the courtyard, but we were able to see fireworks. We could see nearly all of them, especially the high ones, over the roof of the wing opposite us. It was good for the nights we got the kids to bed early, then sat out on the balcony with a glass of wine and watched the fireworks. The monorail went right by our room, too, but it was very quiet.

BTW, we were overlooking the lobby, but the room seemed very well soundproofed and the piano and lobby noise never bothered us. That could be due to the fact that we use a white noise machine while sleeping, though.

Another alternative would be to ask for a room on a higher floor of the far northeast wing. Then you could take the fire exit stairs down and use the "secret door" into DTD. The only problem with that is, of course, it's locked from the outside, so you can only use it to exit. And it's quite a hike to come all the way around and get back in, unless you send one person to do that, or call a person who's already back in the room to come open the door for you. Here's an article which details the "secret door" in GCH, and the path to get there-- read the fourth paragraph from the bottom and click the link to see the map: http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as