Grand Californian and Room Location

[Bound4DisneyWorld]

So last year, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We were in Adventure Tower and even so, we were really disappointed with how far the hotel was from the parks.

We’re considering Grand Californian. I know some rooms can be quite a hike.

Would booking a Downtown Disney view put us at least somewhat close to the hotel’s Downtown Disney entrance?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[cruisehopeful]

It's been many years since I've had a downtown Disney view room, but it was just steps away from the DCA entrance.

I primarily stay in the villas now which are the furthest away from the entrance and I will say that while the rooms are the furthest, it's still reasonably close. I have no problem going back to the room for a little bit, whereas, I generally don't go to my room at the Disneyland Hotel midday at all because of the distance.

 

[DizMe]

So last year, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We were in Adventure Tower and even so, we were really disappointed with how far the hotel was from the parks.

We’re considering Grand Californian. I know some rooms can be quite a hike.

Would booking a Downtown Disney view put us at least somewhat close to the hotel’s Downtown Disney entrance?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I would stay away from DTD view rooms. They are about the farthest from everything. The exception is if you can use the exit at the very end of the hall. Even so, you can only use it to go out of the hotel, not back in to your room.

The other downside is that they can be very noisy. That may or may not be an issue for you but it's something to consider.

Personally, I like to request a room closest to the lobby and elevators. I don't care about the view, though. The wing above Napa Rose is also really nice as it has its own little elevator bank and the views are nice (either woods/park or pool, mostly). You can go down the smaller elevator bank near those rooms and come out right next to Napa Rose, which is nice for going in and out of DCA. Those are more expensive rooms, generally.

 

[DizMe]

Please forgive my amateur labeling, but here is the room map of GCH. The rooms I highlighted in yellow are the DTD rooms. The blue circle is where the main lobby elevators are located, and the red circle is where the Napa Rose elevators are. My room recommendations are in purple (Courtyard View) or any of those rooms directly around the Great Hall (the ones on the Entry side only have views of the GCH entry drive and distant DLH views; the others have pool or courtyard views). The ones in green are really nice IMO since they have their own elevator bank and views of woods, park, or pool. I didn't circle the opposite arm but it's probably ok if you're in the part closest to the elevator.

But as you can see, the DTD view rooms are the farthest from the elevators

 

[Geemo]

Here's a map of the hotel. The room numbers will have a number relating to the floor level in front of the three digit room number on this map.
It might give you an idea of what to request for a room location.

 

[wallawallakids]

I will say we just came back from room 3325 and I don’t recommend it. It’s great for access to the elevators but it was very loud. So many people returning at midnight from the parks and we go to bed before that. It woke me up every night. There is also a small sitting area next to it and people would be out there at night and loud too. It was my first stay in a courtyard view and I preferred the standard view for the quietness. I think further down the hall might be less of an issue though.

 

[jordan13402]

choose the green rooms

 

[Bound4DisneyWorld]

Thanks for all the feedback. Appreciate it!

 

[Pluto468]

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[irlandaise]

I will say we just came back from room 3325 and I don’t recommend it. It’s great for access to the elevators but it was very loud. So many people returning at midnight from the parks and we go to bed before that. It woke me up every night. There is also a small sitting area next to it and people would be out there at night and loud too. It was my first stay in a courtyard view and I preferred the standard view for the quietness. I think further down the hall might be less of an issue though.

Drat, that's too bad that what should have been a relaxing Courtyard View wasn't.

I stayed on the north wing of the Brisa Courtyard a few months ago and it was wonderful. I didn't hear people going by much, just the occasional gentle swoosh of the monorail. Perhaps because it was a less busy time of year, that wing wasn't fully booked, whereas yours closer to the elevators might be booked up first. Still, I have the impression that the GCH has generally good soundproofing in the rooms.

 

[wallawallakids]

Drat, that's too bad that what should have been a relaxing Courtyard View wasn't.

I stayed on the north wing of the Brisa Courtyard a few months ago and it was wonderful. I didn't hear people going by much, just the occasional gentle swoosh of the monorail. Perhaps because it was a less busy time of year, that wing wasn't fully booked, whereas yours closer to the elevators might be booked up first. Still, I have the impression that the GCH has generally good soundproofing in the rooms.

We still had a great time and are looking forward to being back in sept! This was the only time I have ever heard disruptive noise from the halls. You are correct, the soundproofing is very good as a whole at GC.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

So last year, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We were in Adventure Tower and even so, we were really disappointed with how far the hotel was from the parks.

We’re considering Grand Californian. I know some rooms can be quite a hike.

Would booking a Downtown Disney view put us at least somewhat close to the hotel’s Downtown Disney entrance?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

My DW and I are headed to DGC after staying previously at DH (Adventure Tower too).

I was not disappointed with the walk but for context my DW and I prefer BC/YC & BWI for walking to EP and HS. So, it is a similar approximate walk (although EP seems closer to BC/YC and BWI than DH to the Esp) and my DW and I are used to walking about 10-15 minutes to a park gate.

I have never stayed at DGC. But, based upon the location of the building, I really don't care which room they put us in. Its going to be a short walk no matter where you are located. There are some walking videos on Youtube that demonstrate that the walk from security to the Esp) is 7 minutes or less. I get that walking through the hallways of a hotel are a pain. I feel that pain too. I have meandered through the labyrinth of the BC hallways. But, in the end you are going to be close and frankly there is no where closer than DGC.

Enjoy your trip! It sounds spectular!

 

[ClaraOswald]

We have only stayed at the Grand Californian twice so far. Last time we were in the DVC wing. And the time before, we were down that same hallway, but to the west. So basically the farthest rooms from the DTD entrance.

But, honestly, I didn't think it was that bad. Probably because a lot of the walk is just through the building and hotel grounds. I don't mind a walk through the lobby or down the walkways by the courtyards. And then once you hit DTD, it's a short walk to the park entrance.

So I think no matter which room you end up in, you'll think it's a better walk than the Disneyland hotel.

Posts above gave good recommendations. You will just need to decide if proximity to elevators to quietness is more of a priority for you.