Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<is there a family style restaurant on property?>> That would be the Storytellers Café. You can order off the menu, and they also have a character breakfast and dinner buffet. The GCH also has a counter service restaurant, White Water Snacks. <<Is there a coffee maker or a fridge in the room? What about a microwave?>> Yes, yes, and no. <<I think I read in a previous post that there is a pool?>> Three pools (all small, one for kids), and two hot tubs.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Thanks for the info^^^ You guys are fast! What about room locations? What's good, what isn't, what should we request?
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Lisann, how many times have you guys stayed at the Grand? It sounds like you really enjoy it there. Are the rooms 2 queens or 1 king configuration?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I've only stayed in a pool/Paradise Pier view room. It opened onto the Great Hall, so not too far from the elevators. I liked having the balcony to relax.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 : ) I was being a bit tongue in cheek, (although there was one Christmas where after a tasting menu with wine at Napa Rose I literally was staggering, ha ha) but I really think there is something special about staying at the GCH. I stayed offsite at the newly redone retro-chic Motel 6 on my last trip for Halloween, and my husband and I had a great time. But the immersive feeling of staying in the Grand makes a big difference to me. I asked my husband what he thought, and he said "You know 24 hours a day that you are staying at Disneyland." And for us that means all we are thinking about is having fun together, with enough distractions that the stresses of our work can't creep in around the edges and distract us. I love only having to head downstairs to be in an elegant lobby where I could sit by the fire and listen to music. Walking through the huge stain glass door to check in makes me feel like my vacation has started. I love it that the walk to my room from the elevator takes me by the grandfather clock with a hidden mickey, let's me enjoy a beautiful view of the lobby from an elegant staircase, and makes me feel surrounded by sights that make me feel a bit spoiled, lucky, and delighted to be away from my everyday grind. I love having the option of room service. I know that you can order pizza or heat something up in a microwave elsewhere, but room service takes the dirty dishes away when you are done! I love getting up before the sun rises, watching it get light over Grizzly Peak and getting ready to enjoy my Early Entry as a resort guest. And while I'm at it, Early Entry!!! Early Entry rules. I can get all my manic riding done before the parks get crowded, and then spend the afternoons and evenings enjoying the kickass hotel! I love having Early Entry for every day it's offered during my stay. The entrance to DCA from the hotel if fabulous. It makes heading back to DCA in the afternoon/evening with a fistful of FP's so easy and fun. You can pop over and ride all your favorite rides without a huge hassle of getting in and out of the parks, or a long walk to get there. I always really appreciate are being able to send packages back to my hotel from anywhere in the park (you can do that at any resort hotel though). To me the Grand feels the most relaxed out of all the Resort Hotels, and I feel more relaxed there than at the only offsite hotel I have stayed at in the area, the redone Motel 6. I like the muted colors and the "craftsman" architecture and design. When I stay at the GCH I feel like I am at a resort, staying somewhere special, whereas when I stayed at Motel 6, it was the place where I went to try to rest up for more fun, not an extension of the fun, if that makes sense. The Grand isn't the Intercontinental in Sydney or the Wynn in Las Vegas (my top two hotels I've stayed at in the last five years). The rooms aren't super lux, the bed linens aren't amazing, the amenities aren't first class. But there is something about staying within the gates of the resort that is pure escapism for me. I like the meandering paths in DtD, even when crowded, and even more in the early morning heading for Early Entry. (Did I mention how much I love Early Entry?) I like feeling like something fun is happening behind every door I pass on my way to the parks. I like not having to see any street traffic. And I love the feeling of peace I get when I walk into the lobby of the GCH. To me it captures a bit of the beauty of a lodge in the Rocky Mountains, reminding me a little of the Jasper Park Lodge, but with the fun touches of Disney waiting to be discovered. And if you really want to splurge, or if you have a big group in your room, the concierge lounge at the GCH is a HUGE step up from the one at the DLH. Afternoon tea serves enough food for a great lunch, with three types of yummy finger sandwiches (six of those make a full sandwich, ha ha), and incredible scones. The GCH seems the most "adult" of the onsite hotels, which I like too. I like feeling like I can dress up and have glass of wine in the lobby, or at Napa Rose, wearing totally ridiculous high heels, and not have to worry about walking back through DtD to get to my room. For a splurge, the GCH hasn't yet disappointed me. My husband and I don't get to go on vacation often, and the feeling of being spoiled and taken care of that you get at a nice hotel is one of the things we enjoy the most when we do get away. The fact that we can get enough of that at Disneyland, with Disney touches added in, rounds out a stay at the DLR for us so that we feel like we're having a bit of an elegant, romantic, sophisticated, adult vacation, mixed in with our tennis shoe wearing, backpack toting, Indiana Jones riding fun.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 Ha ha, it took me so long to type that monster post that you made up your mind! Don't forget to make use of Vacation Planning if you would like to make any dining plans (do I call them reservations now?) or plan any other special things during your stay, I've gotten really lucky a few times and they've made our trips really special. I'm excited for you!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 We have only stayed in the standard view with the Brisa Courtyard (where the monorail runs through) and the DTD view with the rooms over The World of Disney store. There are different prices for different views. Prices will also vary with how you book, AP special rate, regular AP rate, buy 3 get 2 free, Disney travel, AAA, there always seems to be a special someplace. We usually ask for a room with a King bed in the 300's if we have a standard view or a King bed in the 400's if we have a DTD view. Do you have kids going with you? If so their ages/sizes will matter as to what room type you want to ask for. I read someplace recently that the main pool was under refurb. If it still is, you are allowed to go to PPH ro DLH and use theirs. There is now also a smaller pool at GCH that was built during the DVC expansion. The coffee pot is a 4 cup Mr. coffee type, fyi if you want to take your own coffee and filters. Have fun with your planning and congrats on your refund!
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Thanks amazed!! We have our son who's 2 1/2 and he's really excited to see micka mouw again. (our last trip was aug at the DL hotel) What I'm liking so far is it sounds like the convenience of staying at the grand and popping over to DCA is really easy. How far of a walk is it to the main entrance of DL?
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 If you've stayed at the DLH, it does feel a bit closer to be at the Grand. There is one wing at the hotel you can stay in where there is a "secret" staircase that lets you out right by La Brea Bakery, making the walk to Disneyland really quick and easy. Unfortunately, the way back is still longer. If you remember where Sephora is in DtD, the entrance to the main lobby is there. I'm pretty sure on this chart: <a href="http://www.go2mickey.com/images/maps/gcroomlocalmap.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.go2mickey.com/image...lmap.jpg</a> the staircase is located between room 458 and 450. The numbering of the rooms is a bit confusing, but I believe the last two numbers of the room remain the same. I'm not sure how you would refer to the "wing" of the hotel where that staircase is located, but it is a pretty cool shortcut for the walk to Disneyland.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 That wing is the 400's. Sometimes the CM acts like we are nuts when we request it but whoever makes the actual room assignments understands it The only bad thing about the staircase is if you have a large stroller. Dalia3001 gave you a perfect example in Sephora as to where the entrance is as the entrance isn't really "screaming" at you as you walk by. Sephora is hard to miss You'll be walking past La Brea, WOD, a couple of other stores, Jamba Juice and make a left after Sephora. I think you'll really like White Water Snacks The nachos are GREAT! It's a great place to grab a light lunch/dinner or snack and head to the room if your son needs a rest.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 MouseForLess.com gave these tips for the Grand with kids, I was searching to find out if they still had the story telling at the fireplace for kids. Maybe your two year old will be too young for that, but it looks so cute! They have tiny little rocking chairs at the fireplace with kids. Tips from Mouseforless: You can request bunk beds for the kids. Our daughter loved them. She thought it was a real treat. For travel parties that have 2 adults and three children, you can even request a sleeping bag Very cool! They have lots of unique activates for children including storytelling times near the fireplace. Check your resort guide for times and locations.
Originally Posted By Mickeysbestfan Check booking through Costco.com if you have a costco membership. They often have deals with a free character meal or gift cards. You start on the costco.com site and if you decide to book it takes you to the Disney Travel site with the costco code.
Originally Posted By oredisneyfan If you request a resort view room that looks out over GRR you will be next to that secret staircase. the elevator is also not far and it takes you right down almost in front of the DCA entrance. very convenient. I didnt see it on here but there is another bed configuration you can get the queen bed and a set of twin bunkbeds. they are on the short side. We enjoyed this hotel but it is not our favorite....best location though
Originally Posted By Jenn31 We do have AP'S and we also have a costco membership. I think I'll start looking for the best rate tomorrow. We're going to be there in may for 6 nights. (MAY 9-16) oredisney- which hotel do you like the best?
Originally Posted By oredisneyfan We really liked the disneyland hotel, but we find that pph we get the most for our $$$. basically you can stay concierge theme park view at the pph for the same price as a view room no concierge at DLH or a standard room at GCH. We dont mind the walk from from PPh because you can jus cut through the GCH and it is about the same distance as the DLH. There was something about DLH though, the grounds were amazing for the kids to explore and it seemed the most disney of the three. We have three children and they all thought the GCH was the least kid friendly, not that it was unfriendly just more adult. PPH has always gone above and beyond when we have stayed there and the view rooms really do give you a great view of DCA.
Originally Posted By jbkuchon last time I went to the Storytellers cafe for the character breakfast it was themed with mostly animal characters, the gorilla from Tarzan, chip and dale, some raccoon, I'm not sure who he was, lol.
