Has anyone stayed at the Grand Californian recently, and if so, can you give any particular recommendations regarding preferable rooms? We are staying there June 2009 on DVC points with a Downtown Disney view, and we wondering if anyone had any rooms with great views to take advantage of the DD view!
Also, any other information or tips about the Grand Californian in general would be appreciated, like how to manage your way through the resort, etc.
Thanks to everyone for your tips!
Hi! We love the GCH -- we stay there every year when we go down to
Disneyland! We've stayed in standard, theme park, and concierge rooms, so I dont have a recommendation for a DTD view. I think one of our concierge rooms was facing DTD and we could see the really high fireworks over the castle from that room. If your primary concern is the view, ask for a nice one. Like the YC/BC at WDW, the walk to your room can be either short or really really long, so if you dont want to be at the end of many hallways, ask to be closer to the lobby elevators.
The resort is one building (unless you stay in the DVC rooms they are building in the back) with a gorgeous lobby with music, a huge fireplace, and craftsman architecture. It's a little maze-like at first, so follow the signs if you want to get to DTD/Disneyland (one exit), or the pool area / CA (a second exit).
The pools are really nice -- there are lots of umbrellas for shade and lots of lounge chairs with these soft, comfy pads on them. Towels are provided at the pools. There is a pool with a redwood tree big slide and a little kids' slide. Nearby there is a kiddie pool for the little ones. On the other side of that is another pool that is nice but doesn't have any slides. The pool area is very relaxing. You can order food/drinks poolside, too!
Whitewater Snacks is a quick-service place at GCH. It's great for a fast breakfast, but we like it for a lunch around the pool. Their nachos are great and large enough to share! My DD really likes the buffet breakfast at Storyteller's with Chip & Dale. IMO it has the best food of any character meal we've ever had, but it's still a character buffet.
There are so many dining choices at DTD, too, which is right outside the exit from the GCH. Literally, you walk out and you're in the middle of DTD. The other exit, into CA, leads right into the park. Grizzly River Rapids is right there by the exit (great since you can ride and ride, get drenched, run to the room to change and be back at the park in 10 mins or so). Soarin is also very close to the GCH entrance.
The location of this hotel is the #1 reason we stay there. There is no other hotel so conveniently located at Disneyland. It's also the nicest hotel there, and the only Disney hotel that has great architecture, ambiance, etc.
You'll probably be surprised at how close everything is when you stay there. It's a 10 foot walk into CA, a short walk to Disneyland, and right in the heart of DTD. There are no transportation options offerred since it's all so close. You can take the monorail from Tomorrowland to DTD, but the walk is about the same since the station is by the Rainforest Cafe, not the hotel. The monorail goes through the inner courtyards at the GCH, but it doesn't stop there.
Hope this wasn't too much information! It's really a great hotel! I hope you enjoy it!
or 2) tell those dang Zamfir wannabes to shut up and go home! 
