Grand Californian Super Thread

[austinalexander]

Across the street (Disneyland Drive).

Thank you! Does self parking typically sell out? Google maps view makes it look small.

 

[DLgal]

Thank you! Does self parking typically sell out? Google maps view makes it look small.

No, it doesn't. It's actually a lot faster to do self park than to valet these days. The wait to get your car from valet averages 20-30 minutes almost all the time. It's ridiculous.

 

[DizMe]

Just got back from an awesome birthday trip Jan 23-25. I went with my daughter and 6-year-old grandson. We had so...much...fun!

Had a bit of a glitch getting our room. I don't do mobile check-in because I like to talk to them face to face. I'm not picky about view but I'm kind of picky about location--don't like a room too far from the elevator banks, and right above the lobby is a big plus. Anyway, the desk CM, Andy, was super friendly and found us a room on the 5th floor, next to the elevators and right above the lobby. He locked it in, told us it was almost ready and that we'd be getting a text soon to let us know it was done.

We left our bags with bell service and headed to the parks. We were having so much fun and lines were not bad at all (we didn't have Genie+). I kept glancing at my phone but nope, no text.

Finally headed back to the hotel around 5 because I figured they just forgot to text us and we had a reservation at Trader Sam's at 7. Went to the front desk and the CM tried looking up our hotel reservation, but she couldn't find it. Then Andy walked out from the back room and came over to us smiling. I told him what was going on and he took over from there. He looked at the screen, frowning, and told us to wait. He went back through the door and was gone for a long time. Came back and let us know that someone had "unlocked" our room reservation and reassigned our room and we didn't have one. He said that's not supposed to happen--if it's locked and assigned to someone, no one else is supposed to be able to unlock and take it, but apparently they did.

So...he tried to find another room for us and said sort of doubtfully that there was one ready on the ground floor down in what I think was the DVC wing (I said, "You have ground floor rooms?" and apparently, there are some). I told him no, that wasn't going to work. He nodded as if he expected that and excused himself to go in the back again. It was probably 30 minutes or so before he came back out (thank goodness for the kid rocking chairs in front of the Disney cartoon TV, which kept my grandson quite happy). CM Andy was smiling so that seemed hopeful. I don't know what he did but we ended up with a nice room on the 5th floor, just around the corner from the main elevators and with a nice view. By the time we got our bags and were ready for Trader Sam's, it was 5 min until our TS's res! We hurried down to DLH and were able to go right in. FUN!!!

Anyway, that was a strange hotel check-in experience.

 

[Jerryp49]

I have self parked in the Paradise Pier garage after checking into the GCH.... keeps the car out of the sun

 

[LWcalif]

Where are the woods view rooms located with the daybed for a family of 5? I would like to be near the lobby elevators. Are there any categories other than standard view that are close to it?

 

[austinalexander]

Is it common to make room requests and for them to not show up on the reservation on my side? I’ve called two or three times putting a request in for a king bed and they said they’ve added it, but on my end it shows “no room reservation requests made”

 

[DizMe]

Is it common to make room requests and for them to not show up on the reservation on my side? I’ve called two or three times putting a request in for a king bed and they said they’ve added it, but on my end it shows “no room reservation requests made”

I'm not sure. I, too, called a couple of times to note my preference for a room close to elevators. But when we got to the front desk to check in (I like to do this in person so I know my requests were noted), there was nothing about my request.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Just got back from an awesome birthday trip Jan 23-25. I went with my daughter and 6-year-old grandson. We had so...much...fun!

Had a bit of a glitch getting our room. I don't do mobile check-in because I like to talk to them face to face. I'm not picky about view but I'm kind of picky about location--don't like a room too far from the elevator banks, and right above the lobby is a big plus. Anyway, the desk CM, Andy, was super friendly and found us a room on the 5th floor, next to the elevators and right above the lobby. He locked it in, told us it was almost ready and that we'd be getting a text soon to let us know it was done.

We left our bags with bell service and headed to the parks. We were having so much fun and lines were not bad at all (we didn't have Genie+). I kept glancing at my phone but nope, no text.

Finally headed back to the hotel around 5 because I figured they just forgot to text us and we had a reservation at Trader Sam's at 7. Went to the front desk and the CM tried looking up our hotel reservation, but she couldn't find it. Then Andy walked out from the back room and came over to us smiling. I told him what was going on and he took over from there. He looked at the screen, frowning, and told us to wait. He went back through the door and was gone for a long time. Came back and let us know that someone had "unlocked" our room reservation and reassigned our room and we didn't have one. He said that's not supposed to happen--if it's locked and assigned to someone, no one else is supposed to be able to unlock and take it, but apparently they did.

So...he tried to find another room for us and said sort of doubtfully that there was one ready on the ground floor down in what I think was the DVC wing (I said, "You have ground floor rooms?" and apparently, there are some). I told him no, that wasn't going to work. He nodded as if he expected that and excused himself to go in the back again. It was probably 30 minutes or so before he came back out (thank goodness for the kid rocking chairs in front of the Disney cartoon TV, which kept my grandson quite happy). CM Andy was smiling so that seemed hopeful. I don't know what he did but we ended up with a nice room on the 5th floor, just around the corner from the main elevators and with a nice view. By the time we got our bags and were ready for Trader Sam's, it was 5 min until our TS's res! We hurried down to DLH and were able to go right in. FUN!!!

Anyway, that was a strange hotel check-in experience.

Something similar happened to me at the Disneyland Hotel, except we were checking in at 1am after flying in to LAX.

Fun fun.

 

[cmph]

Is it common to make room requests and for them to not show up on the reservation on my side? I’ve called two or three times putting a request in for a king bed and they said they’ve added it, but on my end it shows “no room reservation requests made”

I'm not sure if it's common, but it happened to me in December. We were staying club level, and the hosts confirmed that they could see the request, but it never did show up on my end. That was only after I specifically asked if they could see my room request, although one said that they are supposed to confirm your requests when you arrive, so the first person I encountered should have proactively brought it up apparently.

 

[drenha]

When we checked into our 2-bedroom suite, we were offered the chance to add club level for an extra $300/night. We ended up not doing that, but I was surprised it was an option. Does anyone know if this is something that is also offered at DLH, or just the Grand?

 

[kristensideaoffun]

When we checked into our 2-bedroom suite, we were offered the chance to add club level for an extra $300/night. We ended up not doing that, but I was surprised it was an option. Does anyone know if this is something that is also offered at DLH, or just the Grand?

It’s an option at all three of the hotels if there is space available. You can add it to your room whether you have a suite or not.

 

[twodogs]

Is it common to make room requests and for them to not show up on the reservation on my side? I’ve called two or three times putting a request in for a king bed and they said they’ve added it, but on my end it shows “no room reservation requests made”

We ALWAYS request a King room but rarely get it. They don’t have many of these at the GCH unfortunately. I am baffled why a hotel that charges $900/night won’t let me book a specific bedding configuration, even though my $99 Hyatt Place will. I put this in every single survey Disney sends me because I think it is crazy. We have seriously considered moving off site due to this. It is so frustrating. All you can do is what you have done, and then ask again nicely at check in (and hope there are no conventions in the hotel, because apparently they save the King rooms for them…).

 

[ParkHopper1]

No, it doesn't. It's actually a lot faster to do self park than to valet these days. The wait to get your car from valet averages 20-30 minutes almost all the time. It's ridiculous.

Same experience.

If I know we will want in and out access during the stay I put the car in self park vs valet...often quicker to get it and be rolling and don't have to worry about continual tipping.

If we are parking and staying...then I valet but self park is easy peasy.

 

[austinalexander]

Staying at the grand today and house keeping came in and removed the alarm clock. Another party we’re traveling with who’s on a different floor also had their alarm clock removed today. I’m guessing the Alexa device they’re rolling out is coming very shortly.

 

[princess_jamie]

Does anyone know the current pool hours?

 

[glocon]

I have self parked in the Paradise Pier garage after checking into the GCH.... keeps the car out of the sun

That sounds like a clever idea!
Is it a far walk?
Can anyone park there or only Disneyland resort guests?
We are considering DLH or GC for our first trip!

 

[kristensideaoffun]

That sounds like a clever idea!
Is it a far walk?
Can anyone park there or only Disneyland resort guests?
We are considering DLH or GC for our first trip!

There is a parking garage at DLH too.

 

[DLgal]

There is a parking garage at DLH too.

They use that for Valet. I've never been able to park in there.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

They use that for Valet. I've never been able to park in there.

Weird. That’s always been the self-parking parking lot. One entrance is for valet and the other is for self parking. I’ve only used valet since the hotel reopened but my husband always parked our car there while I checked in pre-COViD. But I think I remember still seeing the self-park sign because I considered parking there for a second but the logistics of unloading the baby and luggage felt more overwhelming than the new $65 valet fee.

ETA: Now that I think of it, there is the flat lot behind the structure, too. It must depend on how full the hotel is because I know my husband has parked in the structure before but it might have been because the flat lot was full.

 

[KPeterso]

They use that for Valet. I've never been able to park in there.

Last week when we stayed at DLH, I was directed up the ramp and to park on the roof (of what I assume was a parking garage of some type). It ended up being a great location to park.