Self Parking before Check in at Grand Californian DVC

[Deb & Bill]

When was that trip? I've been going to VGC since it opened and never had to wait to do the check in. The key card is required if you got there early enough for morning entry.

It was a year or two before they built the villas. A long time ago.

 

[jbh275]

Just bring a copy of the reservation when parking. You'll also need it once you cross the street to enter Grand California. There is a security guard right at the light that will want to see your reservation to prove you are staying at that property.

 

[XMom]

They have changed that since our trip out West. They wouldn't even let us do the check in process until after 3PM.

We were there last month. We pulled in to the Grand at 7am. We had the bellman take our bags and went inside to check in. We signed and were given our key cards and told we would receive a text by 4pm with our room number. We then went back out front and drove our car to the self parking and walked over to Disneyland and were there by 7:30. We received a text around 2:30pm with our room number and went back to swim and get unpacked. I’m pretty sure it hasn’t changed since last month.

Also, it’s advisable to drive straight to the Grand and check-in because you are not allowed to enter the property from the street unless you have a room key. There is security set up checking everyone. If you check-in first, you get your key and window sign for your car, it will make the self parking entrance easy and then you can walk back across the street from the lot with your key card and not have to hassle with security.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Also, it’s advisable to drive straight to the Grand and check-in because you are not allowed to enter the property from the street unless you have a room key. There is security set up checking everyone. If you check-in first, you get your key and window sign for your car, it will make the self parking entrance easy and then you can walk back across the street from the lot with your key card and not have to hassle with security.

They would not prevent you from walking over to check in. You would have to state you are an arriving guest and checking in but you'd also have to show your key card to security. One won't take much if any more time than the other.

 

[DLgal]

Just bring a copy of the reservation when parking. You'll also need it once you cross the street to enter Grand California. There is a security guard right at the light that will want to see your reservation to prove you are staying at that property.

You don't need a copy of the reservation. They have a list of guests checking in each day.

OP, don't over think this. When you pull up at the Grand, the gate guard will tell you exactly what to do. They will literally walk you through every step. They will ask you if you are checking in. You say yes and give them your name (they might ask for an ID card). They will ask you if you want valet or self park. If you say self park, they will hand you a slip of paper to put in your dashboard. They will tell you where the lot is and how to enter it. They will show you where to pull up to unload your bags. You will unload and then either hand bags off to bell services or leave them with a traveling companion while you park the car. You walk back across the street, and show your photo ID to the security guard, letting them know you just arrived to check in. Then you check in at the desk. Your parking charge will be reversed since you are DVC on points. When it's time to leave, all you do is show your room key to exit the lot. You can stay parked there until midnight on your check out day.

FYI, when we arrived 2 weeks ago, they were not allowing people to park in the port cochere while checking in. It was load/unload only due to the construction work they are doing. Plan to park BEFORE checking in if you are arriving in the near future.

 

[LAX]

You don't need a copy of the reservation. They have a list of guests checking in each day.

OP, don't over think this. When you pull up at the Grand, the gate guard will tell you exactly what to do. They will literally walk you through every step. They will ask you if you are checking in. You say yes and give them your name (they might ask for an ID card). They will ask you if you want valet or self park. If you say self park, they will hand you a slip of paper to put in your dashboard. They will tell you where the lot is and how to enter it. They will show you where to pull up to unload your bags. You will unload and then either hand bags off to bell services or leave them with a traveling companion while you park the car. You walk back across the street, and show your photo ID to the security guard, letting them know you just arrived to check in. Then you check in at the desk. Your parking charge will be reversed since you are DVC on points. When it's time to leave, all you do is show your room key to exit the lot. You can stay parked there until midnight on your check out day.

FYI, when we arrived 2 weeks ago, they were not allowing people to park in the port cochere while checking in. It was load/unload only due to the construction work they are doing. Plan to park BEFORE checking in if you are arriving in the near future.

Not the OP, but I did ask a similar follow up question. Thanks for the latest update from your recent experience.

LAX

 

[finchy3]

We checked in at 6am 3 weeks ago.

 

[kismetnglen]

We personally always do valet. It is a bit extra but it is just so awesome to pull up have the valets say "Welcome home" and literally unload everything and you just hand them the keys and grab your purse. It is more, but well worth it when your on vacation!

 

[DLgal]

We personally always do valet. It is a bit extra but it is just so awesome to pull up have the valets say "Welcome home" and literally unload everything and you just hand them the keys and grab your purse. It is more, but well worth it when your on vacation!

We did valet rather than deal with the hassle of self parking, since it was only $10 more per day than the self parking. We were not DVC so the charge for self park was $20/day. Valet is $30/day. Totally worth it.

 

[kismetnglen]

We did valet rather than deal with the hassle of self parking, since it was only $10 more per day than the self parking. We were not DVC so the charge for self park was $20/day. Valet is $30/day. Totally worth it.

I agree! and then when you need your car to check out you just call down to get it and they pull it up, no shlepping across the street. (although it's not far).

 

[miksicnarf]

Adding some updated info: There is no longer a human guard posted at the street entrance to the GC. Instead they've installed a gate that requires an active GC room key card to open. Therefore, you can no longer self-park first before checking in, as you'd have no key to open the gate. You must drive to the entrance first, tell the valet you're checking in, check in and get your key card, then move your car to self-parking across the street.

 

[harmon54]

Adding some updated info: There is no longer a human guard posted at the street entrance to the GC. Instead they've installed a gate that requires an active GC room key card to open. Therefore, you can no longer self-park first before checking in, as you'd have no key to open the gate. You must drive to the entrance first, tell the valet you're checking in, check in and get your key card, then move your car to self-parking across the street.

Do you know if you can still leave your car there until midnight in the day you checkout - and would you have in and out privledges that day as well?

 

[heapmaster]

Do you know if you can still leave your car there until midnight in the day you checkout - and would you have in and out privledges that day as well?

Yes, you can leave your car there on the day you checkout.