Grand Californian Super Thread

[irlandaise]

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!

I spent several hours in the main lobby a few months ago between my checkout time and my ride to the airport. One of my achilles tendons had gone bad, so spending that time in the parks wasn't an option. It didn't occur to me to look for the smaller seating areas on other floors, but it was a slow time of the year so I had no problem finding a seat in the main lobby.

 

[Disneysince82]

Thank you all for responding! I figured this would be a good place to post about the lobby, because everyone on here seems to not only love the Grand -- but also be really knowledge about it. I notice that the GCH or just onsite in general seem to trigger a lot of very strong emotions....which I still have a hard time really understanding why

If you don't mind me asking another question. How important is a view to you? This is the one thing that has always had me go back and forth on.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think there are very few rooms now that get any sort of park view, in my experience it's mostly just the tops of Grizzly peak and Guardians. So while I enjoyed having that during my last visit, I don't think it's worth paying extra for it. I've also had pool view a lot and kind of like the energy from the activities at the pool. But next I' want to try woods view and see if I like the quiet.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thank you all for responding! I figured this would be a good place to post about the lobby, because everyone on here seems to not only love the Grand -- but also be really knowledge about it. I notice that the GCH or just onsite in general seem to trigger a lot of very strong emotions....which I still have a hard time really understanding why

If you don't mind me asking another question. How important is a view to you? This is the one thing that has always had me go back and forth on.

It really does trigger people! I love it and I will say emphatically that the best food anywhere in the resort is here. The price to stay here is absolutely insane and ridiculous. The rooms are not special. You're paying for it proximity to the park, the overall service and the atmosphere. The spa is actually excellent. I'm very picky about spa treatments and massages and I have had excellent treatments in the spa. Even the classes that they offer are amazing.

I don't think room view is very important. I've never had a bad view. The only room is disliked a lot was overlooking the lobby. It was incredibly LOUD in the room all day and up until 10pm. The lobby music, the piano player, the people in the lobby - were all heard very loud in the room. We hardly were in the room and didn't need to move, but if we needed a nap or needed some quiet time, we wouldn't have been able to have that in the room.

 

[DizMe]

It really does trigger people! I love it and I will say emphatically that the best food anywhere in the resort is here. The price to stay here is absolutely insane and ridiculous. The rooms are not special. You're paying for it proximity to the park, the overall service and the atmosphere. The spa is actually excellent. I'm very picky about spa treatments and massages and I have had excellent treatments in the spa. Even the classes that they offer are amazing.

I don't think room view is very important. I've never had a bad view. The only room is disliked a lot was overlooking the lobby. It was incredibly LOUD in the room all day and up until 10pm. The lobby music, the piano player, the people in the lobby - were all heard very loud in the room. We hardly were in the room and didn't need to move, but if we needed a nap or needed some quiet time, we wouldn't have been able to have that in the room.

Agree with all of this, but will add that I love being right above the lobby. However, I don't have young children and we rarely get back to the room until most of the lobby noise is gone. I've never even noticed noise from the lobby from my room. In Dec, our room was directly next to the main elevators, on the 3rd floor, and we did hear the elevators but it wasn't loud. It might bother some people, though, and there would likely be noise from people getting on and off the elevators if you were in the room but we spend very little time there until we go to bed. We go back to the hotel after park closing. If you had younger kids and were in your room earlier, it might be an issue.

 

[maleficent55]

It really does trigger people! I love it and I will say emphatically that the best food anywhere in the resort is here. The price to stay here is absolutely insane and ridiculous. The rooms are not special. You're paying for it proximity to the park, the overall service and the atmosphere. The spa is actually excellent. I'm very picky about spa treatments and massages and I have had excellent treatments in the spa. Even the classes that they offer are amazing.

I don't think room view is very important. I've never had a bad view. The only room is disliked a lot was overlooking the lobby. It was incredibly LOUD in the room all day and up until 10pm. The lobby music, the piano player, the people in the lobby - were all heard very loud in the room. We hardly were in the room and didn't need to move, but if we needed a nap or needed some quiet time, we wouldn't have been able to have that in the room.

I’m the opposite. I LOVE being over the lobby and I’ve never had a noise issue but we close the parks down
Usually when we return it’s close to 1am and no one is around

But having a peaceful quiet room and then opening the door and suddenly hearing the buzz of people and the piano sounds coming up from the lobby, I love it!
We had a woods view last time and overlooked the Grizzly River run, with many trees in between.. and it was nice but nothing like the lobby

 

[Disneysince82]

It really does trigger people! I love it and I will say emphatically that the best food anywhere in the resort is here. The price to stay here is absolutely insane and ridiculous. The rooms are not special. You're paying for it proximity to the park, the overall service and the atmosphere. The spa is actually excellent. I'm very picky about spa treatments and massages and I have had excellent treatments in the spa. Even the classes that they offer are amazing.

I don't think room view is very important. I've never had a bad view. The only room is disliked a lot was overlooking the lobby. It was incredibly LOUD in the room all day and up until 10pm. The lobby music, the piano player, the people in the lobby - were all heard very loud in the room. We hardly were in the room and didn't need to move, but if we needed a nap or needed some quiet time, we wouldn't have been able to have that in the room.

A few months ago I saw one of the most intense(entertaining) interactions in regards to GCH. I looked for it & couldnt find it which makes me think it might of been deleted on another site. Someone was asking for for peoples opinions about GCH, Westin, & Candy Cane Inn.....which seemed like a strange thing to compare those 3. I mean Westin/GCH OK... but even then & I am someone who loves Westin price wise you might as well stay at the GCH! This guy starts going off(in back to back posts) about how GCH is everything that is wrong with Disneyland. He mentioned about the free breakfast at Candy Cane & they will deliver to room... which is cool they seem to really have a loyal fan base. Then this other person was like 'Nothing beats sitting at the Craftsman Grill & taking it all in while eating (insert breakfast food I cant remember...it might of been burrito)' The guy was like WHAT IS EVEN THAT!!!! I almost posted the Daddy Chill clip but I realize this guy was wond really tight & wouldn't of thought I was being funny If you don't know what I am talking about google Chill Daddy meme and its like a 40 sec clip.


I've heard that a lot about those rooms. Do you happen to know what view that usually is?

 

[Transplanter]

We just booked a room for the end of March. Super excited as I’ve never stayed at the grand before