Grand Californian Super Thread

[Princess Clayre]

Porte cochere construction starts Monday, continuing through the end of August.
Please post photos

Is this at the actual hotel or is this linked with the Downtown Disney construction.

 

[gortman65]

Posted on another board:
View attachment 335788
A large part of the lot is no longer available.
The GCH self-parking lot is usually almost full, so additional parking is needed elsewhere. It likely means a longer walk for some guests.

Yikes! Do they have additional parking set up somewhere else? I don't mind walking, but want to make sure we will be able to park.
Thanks for the photo.

 

[Nonsuch]

Is this at the actual hotel or is this linked with the Downtown Disney construction.

Porte cochere is the vehicle unloading area directly outside the front door, so this is hotel construction.
I don’t have any details, but would like to see photos from current guests.

 

[Princess Clayre]

Porte cochere is the vehicle unloading area directly outside the front door, so this is hotel construction.
I don’t have any details, but would like to see photos from current guests.

Oh ok. We're there towards the end of August so will try and remember to take a photo.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We will take pics and post them when the family gets there on the 22nd.

Jack

 

[stickeymouse]

We are booked in a 3-bedroom suite this September. I think I will request Room 4014 or 5014 (as the 1-bedroom part of the suite) based on their proximity to the Great Hall and exits to DTD/DL. @Nonsuch Any reason I should avoid these rooms?

 

[stickeymouse]

We just checked in today for 6 days. We are in a refurbed room, 5014.

Would you recommend this room? How was the view from the balcony?

 

[Glitterbelle]

Has anyone stayed in a room with a King, a daybed and a fold out chair? I really want this configuration but didn’t get it last time. We go again soon and I’ve again made it my only request. So is it really uncommon as a room type?

I was wondering abt this configuration too - am wondering how comfy the fold out chair would be to sleep on for best part of a week? And how much space is left in the room when it is set up?

 

[Innerchaos]

First time poster and visitor to gch. I grew up in Garden Grove and used to watch the fireworks every day from our backyard. The last time i went i think it was less than 20 bucks for a book of various tickets and there was no gch or dca or pph. Fast forward 35 years and now we have to travel to Disneyland from another state.
We purchased a costco package for a 1 bedroom suite for the 5 of us next week. Is it necessary to call and request a certain room and how would i know what room to ask for? We are registered for 3 adults and 2 kids.

 

[StormyCA]

First time poster and visitor to gch. I grew up in Garden Grove and used to watch the fireworks every day from our backyard. The last time i went i think it was less than 20 bucks for a book of various tickets and there was no gch or dca or pph. Fast forward 35 years and now we have to travel to Disneyland from another state.
We purchased a costco package for a 1 bedroom suite for the 5 of us next week. Is it necessary to call and request a certain room and how would i know what room to ask for? We are registered for 3 adults and 2 kids.

If you want a specific room number, yes, you need to call and request it. Bear in mind that they will not guarantee a specific room, but will do their best to accommodate .

 

[StormyCA]

Speaking of room requests, does anyone know if they keep a record of the rooms you've stayed in? We had a Wood's View room a couple of years ago that was a really good location for us but we can't remember the number!

 

[Innerchaos]

Are the 1-bedroom suites actually Villas. We are not dvc members and just trying to figure out what we actually reserved.
I think the info online is a mix of pre-upgrade threads that have mostly old photos and room maps
The photos on disney website all look exactly the same no matter what room you click on.

At the beginning of this thread there is a link to suites, but i believe that the suites mentioned here are actually now called signature suites.
I searched youtube and all the videos show full size refrigerators in the villas that i am guessing are old videos.
I guess i will just have to wait and see what i actually get and post pics for future users

 

[Nonsuch]

Are the 1-bedroom suites actually Villas...

Suites and Villas are different. Villas at the Grand Californian are seldom (if ever) available for cash reservations.

1-bedroom suites will have 1 bathroom and a wet bar, villas will have 2 bathrooms and a full kitchen.

 

[stickeymouse]

Are the 1-bedroom suites actually Villas. We are not dvc members and just trying to figure out what we actually reserved.
I think the info online is a mix of pre-upgrade threads that have mostly old photos and room maps
The photos on disney website all look exactly the same no matter what room you click on.

At the beginning of this thread there is a link to suites, but i believe that the suites mentioned here are actually now called signature suites.
I searched youtube and all the videos show full size refrigerators in the villas that i am guessing are old videos.
I guess i will just have to wait and see what i actually get and post pics for future users

If you booked a 1-bedroom suite through Disney's website (as you would any hotel room), you will get the standard 1-bedroom units. Not a villa and not a signature suite. The standard 1-bedroom suites are usually on the corners of each floor and feature a bedroom and living room area. A 2-bedroom suite adds an adjoining room to this, and a 3-bedroom adds another adjoining room on the opposite side.

 

[AliciaS]

Hello! Can I get your insight?

I am trying to make reservations for a Woods/Courtyard view for December 3 - 9, but that view is taken for the Friday night (the 7th). What do you suggest we do? Should I make the reservation for the 3rd - 7th Woods view and then switch to Premium View or DTD View for the 7th - 9th? Or just the higher view the one night and back to Woods? I don't want to end up switching rooms twice! What are the odds I call every few days and eventually get that one night...or two...with the Woods View? I don't want to end up with the higher view, but I'm not sure what to do. Or should I say,, heck, we are flying across the country and will only go to Disneyland once every 10 years, go for the Premium View. A view of the pool vs. theme park seems like a wide range for a Premium View., though.

Also, do you think they will extend the 30% sale to include early December? That would be nice! I am hoping others are staying away, waiting for Galaxy's Edge, but maybe Disney is full anyway.

Thank you for any insight you can throw my way!

Alicia

 

[stickeymouse]

Hello! Can I get your insight?

I am trying to make reservations for a Woods/Courtyard view for December 3 - 9, but that view is taken for the Friday night (the 7th). What do you suggest we do? Should I make the reservation for the 3rd - 7th Woods view and then switch to Premium View or DTD View for the 7th - 9th? Or just the higher view the one night and back to Woods? I don't want to end up switching rooms twice! What are the odds I call every few days and eventually get that one night...or two...with the Woods View? I don't want to end up with the higher view, but I'm not sure what to do. Or should I say,, heck, we are flying across the country and will only go to Disneyland once every 10 years, go for the Premium View. A view of the pool vs. theme park seems like a wide range for a Premium View., though.

Also, do you think they will extend the 30% sale to include early December? That would be nice! I am hoping others are staying away, waiting for Galaxy's Edge, but maybe Disney is full anyway.

Thank you for any insight you can throw my way!

Alicia

Personally, I would keep one consistent booking, because the thought of having to change rooms seems like a hassle and is just more time keeping me away from the parks, pools, etc. Any view you opt for (heck, even standard!) will be just fine, as you get to stay at the Grand Californian! As a travel agent, what I do for my clients is to have the request for the next higher view category noted on the reservation. You never know, some special pixie dust might be thrown your way! And another perk of having a good travel agent is that they will always make sure any newly released discount is retroactively applied to your reservation (provided you are within the appropriate timeframe). Long story short: use travel agents! They do great work, at NO cost to you!

And as for people staying away, that might be generally true of the DL resort until Star Wars open, but I know just as many who are eager to get there BEFORE the mayhem begins as those who want to see Star Wars. Regardless, with the new hotel construction about to commence in the western section of Downtown Disney, the Grand Californian will maintain demand, as it will be the only (of the three) onsite hotel with minimal impact from the construction. Hope this helps. Shoot me a message if you have any other questions, and have a great trip!

 

[AliciaS]

Personally, I would keep one consistent booking, because the thought of having to change rooms seems like a hassle and is just more time keeping me away from the parks, pools, etc. Any view you opt for (heck, even standard!) will be just fine, as you get to stay at the Grand Californian! As a travel agent, what I do for my clients is to have the request for the next higher view category noted on the reservation. You never know, some special pixie dust might be thrown your way! And another perk of having a good travel agent is that they will always make sure any newly released discount is retroactively applied to your reservation (provided you are within the appropriate timeframe). Long story short: use travel agents! They do great work, at NO cost to you!

And as for people staying away, that might be generally true of the DL resort until Star Wars open, but I know just as many who are eager to get there BEFORE the mayhem begins as those who want to see Star Wars. Regardless, with the new hotel construction about to commence in the western section of Downtown Disney, the Grand Californian will maintain demand, as it will be the only (of the three) onsite hotel with minimal impact from the construction. Hope this helps. Shoot me a message if you have any other questions, and have a great trip!

Thank you, Stickeymouse!

With DTD construction, do you think the DTD View at GCH will be unsightly and noisy? Is the Premium View worth $25ish dollars more per night than the DTD View?

I can't get the Woods View for the whole 6 nights. The least choppy I could be, and not spend an even more obscene amount, is Woods for 4 nights and Premium or DTD for 2 nights. Maybe some Pixie Dust will upgrade the first four nights, though I absolutely know not to expect it. They don't even have Standard View for all 6 nights.

 

[stickeymouse]

Thank you, Stickeymouse!

With DTD construction, do you think the DTD View at GCH will be unsightly and noisy? Is the Premium View worth $25ish dollars more per night than the DTD View?

I can't get the Woods View for the whole 6 nights. The least choppy I could be, and not spend an even more obscene amount, is Woods for 4 nights and Premium or DTD for 2 nights. Maybe some Pixie Dust will upgrade the first four nights, though I absolutely know not to expect it. They don't even have Standard View for all 6 nights.

I think the impact of the DTD construction will be minimal on GCH and any of its views, as it's toward the end of DTD. I'm not sure it will be much of a factor, at all. As for if anything is worth the price, that is entirely up to you. For me, personally, just being at GCH is a win, so I take any view I can get! But, to each their own, of course!

 

[Innerchaos]

If you booked a 1-bedroom suite through Disney's website (as you would any hotel room), you will get the standard 1-bedroom units. Not a villa and not a signature suite. The standard 1-bedroom suites are usually on the corners of each floor and feature a bedroom and living room area. A 2-bedroom suite adds an adjoining room to this, and a 3-bedroom adds another adjoining room on the opposite side.

Thanks, Yes booked it through the disney website. ( Its strange i cant add concierge or club level service to the 1bdm suite....)
Any recommendations on what floor and or side for a decent suite with a view ?

I will definitely have to post pictures because there really is little info that i could find on these types of suites

 

[Malcon10t]

Any recent GCH guests notice new larger bath amenities?

I stayed in VGC last month and the amenities are larger, and I hope this change is for the entire hotel not just the villas.
The products are the same but changed from 1.25oz bottles to 2.0oz tubes

What I have noticed is Concierge and premium rooms have the larger size, below premium has the smaller size.