Grand Californian Super Thread

[PiratesOfTheSea]

How far is the walk to the GCH parking lot? Also, does it still cost $35?

It's the small surface lot across Disneyland Dr opposite the hotel entrance. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to walk to and from there.

 

[Pluto468]

We got here on Wednesday and quickly realized we had gotten to security wayyyyy too late (6:45am). The line was massive, but it moved fairly quickly and we managed to just make it for the magic morning rope drop. So for others who are staying soon, get there early like @RoseColored97 suggested! Our second day was much less stressful when we got there about 6:25am.

Do you line up at that exit near Disney Dress Shop? I was planning on getting there for 7am, but I'll take your advice and try for 6:30 ish.

 

[Pluto468]

It's the small surface lot across Disneyland Dr opposite the hotel entrance. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to walk to and from there.

Thanks! When I heard it was across the street I thought it might be 10 or so.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I believe you just go to the crosswalk at the bottom here and walk over. Doesn't look too bad.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Do you line up at that exit near Disney Dress Shop? I was planning on getting there for 7am, but I'll take your advice and try for 6:30 ish.

Yes, that's where we were all lined up. The nice thing was that the line was monitored by several cast members that helped to direct folks to the end of the line. Once security opened at 7 it was super efficient. I think that aiming for 6:30 would be good, and even if you get there when we did our first day, it was still enough time to use all of the early entry time! I hope you have a fantastic time. Feel free to ask any other GCH questions as I'm still here now (until tomorrow morning )

 

[Pluto468]

Yes, that's where we were all lined up. The nice thing was that the line was monitored by several cast members that helped to direct folks to the end of the line. Once security opened at 7 it was super efficient. I think that aiming for 6:30 would be good, and even if you get there when we did our first day, it was still enough time to use all of the early entry time! I hope you have a fantastic time. Feel free to ask any other GCH questions as I'm still here now (until tomorrow morning )

Thanks! I was worried we might spend all our early entry time in line if we didn't get there at the right time.

Did they still have H2O products in the bathrooms? Were your beds comfortable?

I hope your stay there was great!

 

[StarlitNight05]

Thanks! I was worried we might spend all our early entry time in love if we didn't get there at the right time.

Did they still have H2O products in the bathrooms? Were your beds comfortable?

I hope your stay there was great!

The showers now have the dispensers filled with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. It doesn't have a brand listed, but it does smell like the H20 products I recall. They do still have a small bottle of H20 lotion, so that was nice!

The beds were super comfortable, but the pillows were pretty awful. My neck is in so much pain now! It was the soft lumpy type of pillow. I probably should have brought my own from home!

 

[Indie7]

Ah! Well...that would explain why I didn't notice it in February! (Though, to be fair, I also didn't notice the 2nd hot tub. Unless that's gone now too!)

It’s absolutely there. I was just there April 16-22. Small kiddie pool between the slide pool and fountain pool.

 

[Indie7]

We were there April 16-22 and it was absolutely fabulous! Mousekeeping came twice a day and early entry was wonderful. Five park days, two rest days that included Storytellers breakfast and Tenaya Stone Spa.
Our in room phone was broken and it did take them a couple days to get to, but we luckily didn’t need it until the end of week any way. We ordered room service breakfast our last day and it was wonderful, truly a special experience. We did order some groceries through Whole Foods Amazon early in the week.
We are a family of four, stayed in a standard room.
Happy to answer any questions.

 

[ClaraOswald]

It’s absolutely there. I was just there April 16-22. Small kiddie pool between the slide pool and fountain pool.

Wait....so the kiddie pool isn't gone?!

We were there April 16-22 and it was absolutely fabulous! Mousekeeping came twice a day and early entry was wonderful. Five park days, two rest days that included Storytellers breakfast and Tenaya Stone Spa.
Our in room phone was broken and it did take them a couple days to get to, but we luckily didn’t need it until the end of week any way. We ordered room service breakfast our last day and it was wonderful, truly a special experience. We did order some groceries through Whole Foods Amazon early in the week.
We are a family of four, stayed in a standard room.
Happy to answer any questions.

How did the Whole Foods Amazon delivery go? Were you there for delivery or did they leave it with the desk or what?

 

[Indie7]

Wait....so the kiddie pool isn't gone?!



How did the Whole Foods Amazon delivery go? Were you there for delivery or did they leave it with the desk or what?

The kiddie pool is there. Not sure why folks were saying otherwise. It’s small and shallow. My kids are 9 & 11 so they used slide (redwood pool) mostly but it’s there for sure.

I place Whole Foods Amazon orders in the Amazon app all the time at home (Seattle area) so I changed location to the Grand address and it worked just fine. You can choose 1 hour or 2 hour window. It’s $9.95 for delivery, plus tip just FYI. It’s worth it to us because of food issues in my fam. I could see on the app when the driver was near-ish and hubby waited on a bench near the front doors/drop off valet area. The driver had a little cart and asked to deliver up to our room so hubby let him come up. He was a young guy and super stoked to see the hotel. It was a win-win. You can have them drop at bell services but we just did it on a rest day.

 

[Pluto468]

We were there April 16-22 and it was absolutely fabulous! Mousekeeping came twice a day and early entry was wonderful. Five park days, two rest days that included Storytellers breakfast and Tenaya Stone Spa.
Our in room phone was broken and it did take them a couple days to get to, but we luckily didn’t need it until the end of week any way. We ordered room service breakfast our last day and it was wonderful, truly a special experience. We did order some groceries through Whole Foods Amazon early in the week.
We are a family of four, stayed in a standard room.
Happy to answer any questions.

How did your room feel space wise for a family of 4? That's been one of my only hesitations with the Grand. I've heard some of the rooms are very small.

 

[Indie7]

How did your room feel space wise for a family of 4? That's been one of my only hesitations with the Grand. I've heard some of the rooms are very small.

It felt fine for us. However, I have 8 siblings and grew up sharing space so I realize that may skew my opinion. My boys (9 and 11) are also on the small side. We pack using packing cubes so everyone had a drawer (plus two extra) to immediately unpack into and I had closet space to hang a dress and a couple button up shirts. We stored suitcases under the tall beds. Sink area is separate from the toilet/shower and had two sinks, so that was great for getting ready.
It was decent weather, so we utilized our balcony space as well. With bigger kids and bad weather (not using balcony) I can see folks feeling cramped. We stayed at Fairfield on harbor last summer and that felt more cramped and like a bad layout although it’s probably similar square footage. The Grand does a good job with the layout in my opinion.

 

[Indie7]

Here’s some pics of room service breakfast

 

[Indie7]

The kiddie pool is there. Not sure why folks were saying otherwise. It’s small and shallow. My kids are 9 & 11 so they used slide (redwood pool) mostly but it’s there for sure.

I place Whole Foods Amazon orders in the Amazon app all the time at home (Seattle area) so I changed location to the Grand address and it worked just fine. You can choose 1 hour or 2 hour window. It’s $9.95 for delivery, plus tip just FYI. It’s worth it to us because of food issues in my fam. I could see on the app when the driver was near-ish and hubby waited on a bench near the front doors/drop off valet area. The driver had a little cart and asked to deliver up to our room so hubby let him come up. He was a young guy and super stoked to see the hotel. It was a win-win. You can have them drop at bell services but we just did it on a rest day.

My apologies. I just looked back on my receipt and it was Amazon Fresh that we ended up ordering from, because they have Uncrustables (it’s on the same Amazon App as the Whole Foods option).
Here’s a pick of our very full fridge at The Grand. We were able to fit a lot!

 

[roctavia]

The rooms at the Grand don't have microwaves, correct? It's so weird to me to have a hotel without a microwave now adays...

Can you put in room requests in the online check in through the app, or is there a different way you have to do requests?

 

[Indie7]

The rooms at the Grand don't have microwaves, correct? It's so weird to me to have a hotel without a microwave now adays...

Can you put in room requests in the online check in through the app, or is there a different way you have to do requests?

We did not have a microwave in the room but there was one for us to use in the ice/vending machine room. We heated up egg bites in the morning and leftovers there.
We didn’t put in any room requests beforehand so I can’t help there, sorry. But we never had to wait long at front desk except when we went at 11am because it’s checkout time.

 

[ClaraOswald]

My apologies. I just looked back on my receipt and it was Amazon Fresh that we ended up ordering from, because they have Uncrustables (it’s on the same Amazon App as the Whole Foods option).
Here’s a pick of our very full fridge at The Grand. We were able to fit a lot!

Did you have an actual fridge or a beverage fridge? When we were there in February, our room had a beverage fridge and I was worried about whether or not it would keep food in the "safe zone", temp-wise.

 

[Indie7]

Did you have an actual fridge or a beverage fridge? When we were there in February, our room had a beverage fridge and I was worried about whether or not it would keep food in the "safe zone", temp-wise.

It was the mini one, I guess beverage? We had carrot sticks, string cheese, uncrustbles, precooked egg bites, and leftover pizza. It felt cold to me and we never got sick. The milk and fruit we bought nightly at GCH grill and used the next morning.
I didn’t realize the fridge could be not safe temp.

 

[DLgal]

It was the mini one, I guess beverage? We had carrot sticks, string cheese, uncrustbles, precooked egg bites, and leftover pizza. It felt cold to me and we never got sick. The milk and fruit we bought nightly at GCH grill and used the next morning.
I didn’t realize the fridge could be not safe temp.

Yikes, you got lucky your food didn't spoil. Our "beverage cooler" that we had last summer at the Grand kept our drinks BARELY cooler than room temperature. We had to put our alcoholic beverages on ice in one of the sinks before drinking, after taking them out of the cooler. They do allegedly go down to 41, but once you open them, they very quickly go up to room temperature. We keep our home fridge at 35 degrees so this one felt very warm to me and I wouldn't put anything perishable in it. It's a real bummer Disney switched to these.