Disney's Grand Californian Hotel

This review is for the Tenaya Stone Spa. I was staying at a neighboring hotel for a business trip and on my day off wanted a spa experience. I visited the spa at the Grand Californian twice over my stay. I received a 50 minute foot treatment and a 80 minute deep tissue massage. Overall the staff was professional, the facilities were impeccably clean, and the treatments were top notch. After visiting spas in Vegas and Northern California- I would say that I wish this spa was bigger in general. The locker room was tiny, and although had amenities like showers and a very enjoyable steam room- each time they brought a new guest in there was no privacy- because it was a slow day while I was visiting this did not take away from my experience, but if I can see that it would be an issue on a busier day. I would recommend this spa for treatments and their impeccable customer service and professionalism.

If you plan to power through as much of both parks as possible, this is the way to go. Also good if you have kids who need naps, multiple kids with varying energy levels, or adults who don't have the stamina to walk 20,000 steps in a day. And for us, it was good when we made the mistake of getting in a swinging gondola on the Mickey Mouse ferris wheel. Let's just say there's a reason they include barf bags for that ride. Yes, it's on the expensive side, and yes, it's not as spacious or modern as an Airbnb. But this is like paying for business class on a domestic flight. You know you don't need it, but if you're already splurging to take the family to Disney, why not splurge some more to make sure everyone doesn't have to walk so far?

An all time iconic hotel! The value for money isn’t quite up to par, but the rooms are clean, if not a bit outdated. You’re paying for the access, right on Downtown Disney and a private entrance to DCA makes this value feel a lot better. It’s a bit of an industrial sized operation, with a daunting reception but everything runs smoothly, and there were no hiccups. A trip to Disneyland with the Grand is the way to go.

First of all the staff are mostly all very friendly and I applaud them since they deal with a lot of people in a day. We paid about 1600usd per night in early January for a standard club level room. A few notes. You will never be recognized for staying many times, they always ask if it is your first time so they really do not care if you are a return guest or not nor do they check. You will never be upgraded, don't even bother hoping. The club level is nice but... it was severely crowded, they clearly needed more staff to help in the busy holiday season. Our room was not thoroughly cleaned. There was dust, finger prints and hair in a few areas that grossed me right out. I pulled out a tissue and it was wet, in fact the whole box was soaking wet, gross. I moved the couch a bit to fit my luggage and there was garbage under it. There used to be bottles of water for the coffee machine, nope no more. There used to be lots of amenities in the room including hand soaps and a loofah etc, no more. It is the most minimal now. The shower was not scrubbed properly, there was a lot of grime on the tile and hair all over. Club level appies need to change more often, for years it has been the same thing, this time around was the same two fried appies and the usual veggies, chips and dip, cold meats and cheese. It just needs more variety. My husband and I went out shopping during the day and came back, self parked and came up to the gate where there were about 15 people walking through, the guy at the gate was not checking keys but I pulled mine out anyway to be on it. The key reader wouldn't work and he gave me a hard time, made me stand there in the rain to try to get it to work while a bunch more people just walked on through. This guy was someone I almost made a formal complaint about. He was working Saturday, January 3rd, 2026 at about 3pm. This was ridiculous. The amount you pay at this hotel is really too much for what you get. The location is what sets it aside from others. I do enjoy Disney and coming to stay here for the ease of getting into the park but I am wondering if the price is worth it. To boot, our room was at the very end of the hall. Far away. This time around the magic was not there. Maybe everyone was exhausted from Christmas? I would say $1600 per night warrants top notch service. I would also say the club level needs more staff. They are building a new veranda but the front desk team could not tell me when it will be ready. All in all, this stay we were disappointed with the overall experience. I have stayed at the Westin down the road and for a quarter of the price you get a large room, new and clean with lots of amenities.

As if staying at the Grand California Hotel is not expensive already, the hotel now charges its overnight guests both a 15% Valet Parking Transient Tax equal to 15% of the valet parking charge of $75 or $11.25 and a Valet Tourism Improvement Tax equal to 2% or $1.50. So, to park your car overnight in valet at the hotel, you will pay a total of $88. The charge last year during November 2025 was simply a overnight valet charge of $75. No other taxes...