Grand Californian Super Thread

Hi all, I read a couple of pages but I had some additional questions I didn't see answers to. This is my first trip with my family (Me-DH , DW, DS 8, DD 5, DD 3) and we booked 5 nights from May 12th - May 17th - standard room directly through Disneyland website. When is a good time to call and ask to see if an upgrade is available or request to see if a certain view is available? At check-in? A week before arriving?

Any room # recommendations too? Thanks =)
Are you looking for a paid upgrade or? If you want an upgrade for free they usually won't happen. I'd just be super nice when checking in and you may just get lucky. They won't honor any requests really if you call them ahead, most likely they will say we don't allow room # reservations and will do their best to accommodate.
 
I was wondering about using the pool on our check out day. I’m assuming the pool has a locked gate for access. Will the room key still work for pool access after the 11am check out time?

Thanks!
 
I was wondering about using the pool on our check out day. I’m assuming the pool has a locked gate for access. Will the room key still work for pool access after the 11am check out time?

Thanks!

Yes. You get full resort privileges including parking and EMH for the full day of both check in and check out. You just don't have access to your room before 3pm (officially) and have to be out on checkout day by 11am...but not off property. Bell services will store your bags.
 


Did you need a keycard for the pool on your check out day? Debating if we should take off from the parks one day or do this on the last day.
 


Any update on the pool bar construction? We’re coming soon and I wanted to request a room by the Napa rose elevators but don’t want to have a balcony over that area if construction is going on. We had a room there earlier this month but it was raining so there wasn’t any construction actually happening during our stay.
 
What does requesting a room by Napa rose elevator get you? I notice everyone mentioning this but not to sure what you would end up with or why its special
 
What does requesting a room by Napa rose elevator get you? I notice everyone mentioning this but not to sure what you would end up with or why its special

Getting a room by the Napa Rose elevators means an easy exit back into DCA, as well as not walking down long corridors back to the main elevator. I really liked our location just around the corner from that set of elevators!
 
I think standard view rooms are available by the NR elevators. We usually book standard and request that area. We usually get a view of a rooftop, lol. Pretty sure those are standard rooms. Love the location tho!
 
Thanks for the update.
I checked in yesterday and it appears that they are making progress on the pool bar. Here is a picture from the 6th floor...
Another good spot to take photos is the 5th floor patio at the East end of the lobby.
 
We are looking forward to our first ever visit to Disneyland and the Grand Californian in a little under 3 weeks. Question- are all club level rooms on the same floor? I would like to get a room as close to the lounge as possible. Thanks!
 
...Question- are all club level rooms on the same floor? I would like to get a room as close to the lounge as possible.
There is no dedicated Club Level floor at GCH, unlike many hotels at WDW (and elsewhere). Club Level guests tend to be assigned rooms on the 6th and 5th floors near the Veranda (club lounge), some of these rooms are likely only assigned to Club Level guests -- although Club Level can be added to rooms anywhere in the hotel (not VGC). There are stairs just outside the Veranda between the 5th and 6th floor.

The rooms nearest the Veranda are Courtyard View (Club Level Standard) and Pool View (Premium View).
 
We are arriving in 2 weeks. I am considering placing an order with Vons, but was wondering if they sell cases of water in the gift shop?
 

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