Disney's Grand Californian Hotel

Honestly the most disappointing hotel stay of the year. We travel a lot and have stayed at many off property hotels, everyone had told us about Grand Californian so we thought we should try it. What a complete joke of a hotel. Noise so bad it shook the headboards of our beds for almost 8 straight hours… front desk solution? Try ear plugs. We went to storybook cafe for character dining, waited over 75 mins and hadn’t seen half the characters, were told “too bad it can take up to 90 mins” (btw by the time we got our check and left it was past 90 mins and they still hadn’t show up. The hotel is super packed with people in every nook and cranny, it’s less a tranquil retreat as it is an extension of the park chaos. Do yourself a favor, save $300+ a night and stay across the way at the Westin. It’s a nicer property, with nicer amenities and less than 10 mins extra walk.

I want to give my complete unsponsored opinion about my stay and experience. Keeping in mind, this stay had been a bucket list item for me ever since the hotel opened. The Good: Convenience. Truthfully its about the only true benefit. Sure the lobby is beautiful, and the staff are A++. But just about everything falls flat when paying 600+ a night on a weeknight. The convenience of being able to walk straight in and out of Disney California Adventure is a HUGE benefit for families. The bad: The rooms are in desperate need for a renovation. If I'm paying 600+ a night the fixtures in the shower should be clean of grime and scaling and not have the water shoot in 50 different directions. While the bedding and entertainment are nice the bathroom and mini fridge need help. The mini fridge hardly keeps items cold so don't plan on keeping that can of beer or bottle of wine cold for a treat after a long day in the park. The "What the heck": Pricing. I get it, you're at Disney and they have you in a chokehold but come on. 14 bucks for a bottle of beer? I live 30 mins from New York City and have never seen that expensive of a bottle. Also, $70 per person for a breakfast buffet? Just because there are some characters walking around that is completely insane. Positive suggestions: reevaluate the menu and food options. This extends into Disneyland as well. Most kids have basic taste buds. Pasta, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggs/grilled chicken, cheese pizza, etc. Sometimes as parents we don't want to fight another battle and just want a basic selection to choose from to get our kids some quick food. Also, what would it cost to have a bottle or two of complimentary water in the rooms. Most competitors do. Its a small gesture. Show a little value. Also, find a way to add a monorail stop. This would only add to the convenience level and drive more people to stay at this property. After a long 10+ hour marathon in the park it would be incredible to just hitch a ride to get back to the hotel.

This is outright one of Disney’s best resorts. Located next to Disney California Adventure, it’s a quant yet expansive resort with a large pool area, several dining options (Hearthstone Lounge, GCH Craftsman Grill, Storytellers Cafe, and Napa Rose) on top of room service, a three-pool pool area, fitness center, and spa. It also features access into Downtown Disney with Disneyland Park just a short walk away. Tips - Takeout is available at Hearthstone Lounge (bar drinks) and Craftsman Grill, which also features quick servicing dining. - You can many times join the walk-up list for GCH Craftsman Grill (table service), otherwise try to secure a reservation for other locations - Lounging in the lobby is a great rest option from the parks, which features a dessert and coffee bar (with some adult beverages)

I have stayed here a few times. And others should know. It’s only appeal is it’s connected to downtown Disney. Staff are great…but that’s it! Rooms are very dated even on the club level. Room service takes an hour. Club level Veranda Room for breakfast has no hot food except for bagels. Even a holiday inn does better than that. Security check to get into Downtown and into park from the hotel has a massive line in the mornings. It should be three times the size. Breakfast downstairs takes reservations only for the most part. They are not setup at all for the amount of people that come here. It’s that’s not a new situation.

The hotel staff were very accommodating. We asked for a microwave and they brought us one before we had even finished unpacking. Additionally, they went above and beyond to decorate our room during turn down because they knew that it was our daughter’s 6th birthday. Really fantastic effort. Park was super convenient for California adventure and also to Disney downtown and Disneyland. Pay attention to which days you get early admission as it’s different for each park. Only downside is the cost. Restaurants onsite, specifically the character breakfast was extremely overpriced. Breakfast for our family of 4 was over $250.