Grand Californian Super Thread

[LilyJC]

Just a quick heads up… we have a stay coming up at VGC soonish and just received this email:

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[wallawallakids]

Just a quick heads up… we have a stay coming up at VGC soonish and just received this email:

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I wonder what the "enhanced entry gates" are. Do you think they are cracking down on guests from other resorts using the Grand entrance? It is interesting.

 

[bluecruiser]

I wonder what the "enhanced entry gates" are. Do you think they are cracking down on guests from other resorts using the Grand entrance? It is interesting.

It might be similar to the new gates/scanners installed last week at the DTD monorail station entrance. For pictures see this post from Fresh Baked Disney on Twitter/X.

 

[LKing]

Yes, they are changing all of the entrance turnstiles into the new walk through gates.

 

[wallawallakids]

It might be similar to the new gates/scanners installed last week at the DTD monorail station entrance. For pictures see this post from Fresh Baked Disney on Twitter/X.

Thank you for the link!!

 

[tankgirl!]

I'm very curious about this alternative entrance to DCA during construction. Any details on where it will be? It sounds like it started today...

 

[mrandmrsthomas0618]

Not sure the brand…but check out this set up! View attachment 946209

This is tremendous, can't wait to order some.

 

[bluecruiser]

I'm very curious about this alternative entrance to DCA during construction. Any details on where it will be? It sounds like it started today...

Looks like it will be the Pixar Pier entrance:

They do mean Pixar Pier. Similar notes were left on our door yesterday and today there’s a bunch of signs and even a CM or two directing people through the halls.

 

[tankgirl!]

Thanks! I'm disappointed we won't be able to enter through the other entrance. It was great to hop over to Smokejumpers and that area so easily.

 

[LKing]

Thanks! I'm disappointed we won't be able to enter through the other entrance. It was great to hop over to Smokejumpers and that area so easily.

Have you been to Paradise Garden Grill and Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta? They are very close to the PP entrance.

 

[tankgirl!]

Yes, we've used the PP entrance and it is very convenient for Pixar Pier, but we generally prefer to hang out in the Grizzly area and Main Street so not having that entrance available is disappointing.

 

[Disneysince82]

Is people sleeping in the lobby a real thing?

I know anyone can come into the lobby & even more so during holidays. I have always heard that it is pretty popular to hang out there & that there is lots of people taking pics/videos. This might sound strange, but it never really dawned on my to go into a lobby of a hotel I wasn't staying at. I seen lots of videos & never thought too much of it, but tonight when I was aimless scrolling I fell down kind of a rabbit hole of people complaining about it. Saying it was out of control/people sleeping & camped out on all the sofas/chairs/really loud. Is this really an issue?? I am not sure if it will really sway me from booking there unless it is really that out of control of ruining our trip. Which I don't think it could but would like to mentally prepare for.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Is people sleeping in the lobby a real thing?

I know anyone can come into the lobby & even more so during holidays. I have always heard that it is pretty popular to hang out there & that there is lots of people taking pics/videos. This might sound strange, but it never really dawned on my to go into a lobby of a hotel I wasn't staying at. I seen lots of videos & never thought too much of it, but tonight when I was aimless scrolling I fell down kind of a rabbit hole of people complaining about it. Saying it was out of control/people sleeping & camped out on all the sofas/chairs/really loud. Is this really an issue?? I am not sure if it will really sway me from booking there unless it is really that out of control of ruining our trip. Which I don't think it could but would like to mentally prepare for.

I see one person posting this on TA, and when you look their review history you’ll notice they posted this same complaint multiple times. Yet they keep coming back…

 

[LKing]

Is people sleeping in the lobby a real thing?

I know anyone can come into the lobby & even more so during holidays. I have always heard that it is pretty popular to hang out there & that there is lots of people taking pics/videos. This might sound strange, but it never really dawned on my to go into a lobby of a hotel I wasn't staying at. I seen lots of videos & never thought too much of it, but tonight when I was aimless scrolling I fell down kind of a rabbit hole of people complaining about it. Saying it was out of control/people sleeping & camped out on all the sofas/chairs/really loud. Is this really an issue?? I am not sure if it will really sway me from booking there unless it is really that out of control of ruining our trip. Which I don't think it could but would like to mentally prepare for.

I am planning a trip to WDW and, interestingly, on the WDW boards people keep telling me to make sure I plan time to visit the different resorts. There is something called resort hopping which I didn't know existed. People also do resort bar crawls at WDW, so I guess it is a thing.

I am a MK holder who visits DLR weekly. I haven't stayed in a Disney owned hotel in years. I visit GCH 2-3 times a month. Most of the time it is because of proximity. It is easy to pop in and eat at one of the restaurants. If I'm doing walk up at Hearthstone and there is a wait, I'll sit in one of the chairs in the lobby. I've seen people who look tired from a long day at the parks, but I have never noticed anyone sleeping. When they have displays in the GCH lobby (Christmas tree, gingerbread house, Lunar New Year displays, etc.) you'll see a lot of people taking pictures.

 

[Philsfan77]

Just a quick heads up… we have a stay coming up at VGC soonish and just received this email:

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when is your stay by chance?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I am planning a trip to WDW and, interestingly, on the WDW boards people keep telling me to make sure I plan time to visit the different resorts. There is something called resort hopping which I didn't know existed. People also do resort bar crawls at WDW, so I guess it is a thing.

Definitely a thing! Many of the resorts are beautiful and have great food, better even than at the parks. Monorail bar crawl is a thing as well, though we haven't done it. We've been so many times that we no longer spend full days at the parks. We go in the morning then maybe head back to our resort to the pool or go to another resort and have lunch, go back to the parks in the evenings.

To me, it's fun to stroll around the resorts and check out the theming or food options. AKL has the largest collection of African Art outside of Africa plus the savanna... WL does free tours, I think 9AM on Saturdays, that take a look at the design of the place and are pretty fun... the Boardwalk area is an nice stroll at night... etc

 

[cruisehopeful]

"Is people sleeping in the lobby a real thing?"
It is, but I usually only see it when the entire resort is packed. I've been on both sides. I've stayed at the Grand and couldn't find a place to sit and have a drink in the lobby or the outside tables. I've also stayed off site and needed a quiet break and sat in the rocking chairs in the lobby while having a drink from Hearthstone. I don't sleep in public, but there were people sleeping in the rocking chairs.

I'll say that for as many times as I have seen people napping in the lobby, it's never looked weird. It is just annoying when I want to sit and have a drink and can't or when I'm waiting for the rest of my party to arrive when we're taking separate cars.

 

[AZMermaid]

I got the email and my stay is May 9-11.

 

[AZMermaid]

We’ve seen the resting in the lobby. This past trip we explored the resort more and went to the second or third floor. There was seating and it was totally empty! You could still hear the piano. We rested in the lobby years ago and I thought man I wish I knew this was here!

 

[LilyJC]

when is your stay by chance?

The one I posted ended up being for our stay in early September, and then the next day I received another one for our March dates.