Grand Californian... is it really worth $240 a night?

[lilypad]

I'm an AP and I've never stayed at a Disney hotel so I was thinking about staying at the Grand Californian this month but I've heard very different reviews about the hotel, some love it and some have had some bad experiences there... so before I spend $240 for one night do you think the Grand Californina is really worth that much? Or should I save my money and stay at the Disneyland hotel with the AP discount for this month?

[clara]

I haven't stayed at GCH but have stayed at PPH and loved it there. I heard from a close friend who has stayed at both that PPH is better for your money. I'm still going to try GCH some day.

[LlamaLover]

One of our friends (who is an AP holder with his family) stayed at the Grand Californian this past week and said it was amazing. He loved his view and said the accommodations were really nice. His family had a blast and highly recommended it to us for our next trip out there. Now I am not sure that is to say it is worth $240 a night for YOU but according to him it was a really great place to stay.

[Disneyland Daddy]

Well.........the GC is awfully expensive, I think. Any time my wife and I have stayed at the resort, we end up staying at the Disneyland Hotel.......usually in the Sierra Tower with and 'either side view' or in the Marina or Bonita towers with 'lagoon' views.

Our 5th Wedding anniversary is next March 2 and we've been tossing around the idea of just splurging and staying there that night. What do you think?

I know that GC is pricey, but it might be worth it just to say you did it once. It won't get out of your system until you do it at least once.

[TDR_Fan]

It's actually rather cheap when compared to the prices of other Disney hotels. This summer, I stayed at the Hotel MiraCosta in Tokyo DisneySea which cost me $620/night! Worth every penny though, and so is the Grand Californian!

[Goofster]

It really depends what your looking for. I feel its the best place to stay, its close, magical, and downright comfortable. If your going to stay, get a theme park view, next to the GRR is the best. Anything on the 5th floor 5335-5357 are great! I request these when I go. You wake up to the waterfalls at GRR and trains pulling into Main St station. Its great and definitly worth the money plus you walk out your room, down the elevator and into DCA.

[LlamaLover]

Originally Posted by Goofster

Its great and definitly worth the money plus you walk out your room, down the elevator and into DCA.

That is something that I thought was really cool when I read about it!

[belleariel412]

iv stayed at the disneyland hotel and its very nice...and recently i stayed at pp to save a lil money but still have that disney experience...it was nice and i had a great view of paradise pier and even watched the electrical parade from my room (views r definately worth the price...). in dca i discovered the entrance to gc and realized what a mistake i had made...it is truly a beautiful hotel and i wrongfully deamed it not my style. everything is much nicer...the pool, the decor, and even the choices of what to do there. i think u cant really go wrong with any of the hotel at the resort but gc is definately the nicest...it also has an entrace to downtown disney....its just very nice...

[Captain Rex]

You are pretty much paying extra for the location and view. If these are important for you, then it is totally worth it.

[Angelica Gracey]

Goofster is 100% correct! Wow, that description brought back memories... The GCH is the ONLY hotel I choose to stay at. It seems to have a very calm vibe, that isn't found at the DLH. It's nice and relaxing after being bombarded by sensory overload from the parks.

Wotan and I discussed the calm vibe at GCH vs. DLH, in another thread once. It seems the children are more sedate at GCH than the DLH. I believe we agreed it was because the Disney theme of the GCH is more subtle than at DLH.

Anyway I love the GCH, my favorite views are:

1. Theme park view, which Goofster so wonderfully described, I also love seeing the fog over DCA in the am in wintertime...

2. Downtown Disney view. The Downtown Disney view is great because you can see the fireworks, and people watch from your balcony. Yes it be a little noisy, but I like the noise. You can hear the live musicians that play, the tram, and the DLRR. I love it!

I think $240 is worth it, you should try the GCH at least once. I say go for it!

[Goofster]

Yah you can pretty much hang out in the GC where as the DLH doesnt have that feeling! Its an experiance in its self.

Angelica Gracey, the fog is really cool over DCA in the morning. Im glad you mentioned this!

[TDR_Fan]

Originally Posted by Captain Rex

You are pretty much paying extra for the location and view. If these are important for you, then it is totally worth it.

That was exactly the case for the Hotel MiraCosta, in which the hotel is situated in the park itself. Takes you less than a minute to get from your room to the park.

[mycroft16]

We stayed there last year and we loved it. Worth the $240 is really up to you and how much you feel a hotel is worth. The service however was stellar. We asked for a fridge to be brought up and some extra pillows and 5 minutes later it was at our door. We had room service one night (great ice cream btw) and it only took them 10 minutes to be at our room. Our room was overlooking Downtown Disney and it was fun to watch the trams pull in and the monorail go by, however, it was a goodish walk through the hotel and back out to the park. The place is huge, so be ready to walk some depending on where your room is. It was also nice to have a private entrance to California Adventure.

[fkurucz]

Originally Posted by TDR_Fan

It's actually rather cheap when compared to the prices of other Disney hotels. This summer, I stayed at the Hotel MiraCosta in Tokyo DisneySea which cost me $620/night! Worth every penny though, and so is the Grand Californian!

Jeepers, that's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous material.

[clara]

This is MY question. Are any of the hotels/inns on the street any good? Like on Harbor or Ball? Where the eateries are and such.