Thursday, April 24, 2025

Luxurious at Disneyland: Grand Californian Lodge Overview


While you go to Disneyland on a household trip, you will have loads of choices for lodging. Whether or not you select to remain at one of many three on-property resorts or keep someplace off-property (at an excellent neighbor lodge), you might be positive to seek out one thing that fits your loved ones and your funds.

The worth ranges of those choices do differ, and the grandest of all is Disney’s Grand Californian Resort, positioned proper on the property sandwiched between Disney’s California Journey and Downtown Disney. This beautiful resort is a splurge however could be a nice deal with and extremely handy.

If you’re contemplating splurging for a keep on the Grand California, right here is every thing it is advisable to know. Any questions? Depart us a remark.

This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order/click on by means of certainly one of these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us for gratis to you. All opinions are my very own. We paid for our Disneyland trip, together with our lodge keep, on our personal.

Lower your expenses in your Disneyland tickets and your Southern California trip by reserving by means of Get Away Immediately. It’s also possible to save $10 in your Southern California trip of two days or extra with the code FTM10. We booked our most up-to-date 4 journeys to Disneyland by means of Get Away Immediately together with our current keep on the Grand Californian.

Entrance sign of Grand Californian with flowers

Overview of Disney’s Grand Californian

For our most up-to-date Disney trip, we spent 4 nights on the Grand Californian and had three-day park hoppers for the 2 Disneyland parks. We arrived simply at check-in time, and since I’d already accomplished on-line check-in, I simply needed to go to the important thing pick-up window. We had been in our room just some minutes after arrival.

Though the Grand California does have a reputation (and luxurious status) just like the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World in Florida, the decor is kind of completely different. Whereas the Grand Floridian has a turn-of-the-century magnificence, the Grand Californian has a extra rustic decor, just like the Wilderness Lodge.

Two queen beds with orange tree mural above beds Two queen beds with orange tree mural above beds

Room and Room Sorts at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge

There are lots of completely different room sorts at Disney’s Grand Californian. We booked a two queen mattress room with a normal view and had a view of the car parking zone. We didn’t spend a lot time within the room, so it wasn’t value paying extra for a greater view.

Our room had a closet (with luxurious robes, a steamer, and a protected), a big TV, drawers, a settee, a balcony, a mini fridge, and two queen beds. These had been a few of the most snug beds I’ve ever slept in – they felt like full luxurious.

I used to be impressed that the visitor rooms provide a lot of house for our clothes, in addition to many shops for charging our a number of gadgets and MagicBands. WiFi is obtainable without cost by means of the resort (in addition to the Disney parks).

There are many different room sorts supplied on the resort. These embrace:

  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Twin-Measurement Sleeper Chair
  • 1 King Mattress with 1 Day Mattress and 1 Twin-Measurement Sleeper Chair
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Mattress
  • 1 King Mattress and 1 Twin-Measurement Sleeper Chair

It’s also possible to select the view. Along with the usual view room we had, choices embrace:

  • Partial view (of Downtown Disney or theme park)
  • Theme park view
  • Downtown Disney view
  • Pool view
  • Woods/Courtyard view

The Grand Californian additionally presents club-level rooms in addition to suites along with normal rooms.

Dragon figure in lobbyDragon figure in lobby

Advantages of Staying On Property

Disneyland presents three on-property motels they usually all provide nice advantages to friends. These embrace:

  • Personal entrance to Disney’s California Journey Park and Downtown Disney
  • Early entry into one particular theme park per day half-hour earlier than the official park opening.
  • The power to cost purchases to your room

Location of the Grand Californian

The Grand Californian is essentially the most handy of all the motels at and close to Disneyland. It’s tucked in between Downtown Disney and the Grizzly Peak land at Disney’s California Journey.

Lodge friends can benefit from non-public entrances to each Downtown Disney and Disney’s California Journey. When reducing by means of the lodge, you’ll want to indicate your room key on the resort entrance to make sure you’re a visitor of the Disneyland resort motels – the Grand Californian, Pixar Place Lodge (previously the Paradise Pier Lodge), or the Disneyland Lodge.

Pool area with cabanas at the Grand CalifornianPool area with cabanas at the Grand Californian

Facilities on the Grand Californian

Along with the placement and the luxurious rooms, there are many different facilities on the Grand Californian.

Pool Space

If you are prone to spend a lot of your time on the Disney theme parks throughout your trip, I’d advocate that you just additionally plan to spend a while on the lovely pool space. The Grand Californian presents a pool space with three swimming pools – the Redwood Pool (with a 90-foot-long waterslide), the Mariposa Pool, and the Fountain Pool. There’s additionally a jacuzzi spa and many seating.

While you arrive on the pool space, you’ll need to test in to get a wristband for the day, which reveals that you’re a lodge visitor. You’re additionally in a position to get towels.

Cabanas within the pool space are additionally obtainable to hire. If you are on the pool, you’ll be able to order drinks and meals from the pool bar.

Parking on the Grand Californian Lodge

If you’re flying into the Los Angeles space and are simply visiting Disneyland, you received’t must have a automotive. However if you’re arriving in a automotive, each valet and self-parking can be found.

There’s a big porte-cochère as you enter, with a number of valets obtainable to help together with your baggage. A separate space is out there for these ready for ride-share automobiles.

For those who aren’t staying on the lodge, however are visiting the spa or eating at Napa Rose or the Storytellers Cafe, you’ll be able to park for a set variety of hours for gratis. Examine with the lodge for the specifics of this provide.

Self-Laundry

I by no means wish to do laundry on trip, however typically it’s inevitable. The Grand Californian presents two laundry rooms which are obtainable for visitor laundry.

Eureka Health Heart

I usually don’t work out on my Disneyland holidays, as a result of I stroll a lot. However, in the event you do wish to work out, you’ll have 24-hour entry to the Eureka Health Heart.

Along with normal cardio and energy tools, some courses are supplied by means of the health middle. Most of those value additional, and also you’ll get a schedule of choices once you test into the lodge.

Present Store

Friends on the Grand Californian have direct entry to the retailers at Downtown Disney. However, there’s additionally a handy reward store, the Acorns Presents & Items, positioned proper within the foyer.

There, you’ll discover Grand Californian-themed presents (together with the cozy robes from the lodge rooms), snacks, necessities, MagicBands, and different Disney souvenirs. Purchases could be charged to your room.

Tenaya Stone Spa

Need to get pleasure from some enjoyable time whereas on the Grand Californian? The Tenaya Stone Spa is positioned on the property and is the right place to recharge and calm down throughout your Disneyland trip.

This 6,000-square-foot house presents the next:

  • A retail store
  • A leisure room
  • Massages
  • Facials
  • Physique therapies
  • Steam rooms and showers
  • Salon companies, together with hair, nails, and make-up

You may view their web site instantly right here to view companies and make an appointment.

Poke bowl on a bar topPoke bowl on a bar top

Meals on the Grand Californian

There are many eating choices all through the resort, and you may also take a fast stroll over to the eating places of Downtown Disney.

Napa Rose (Word that Napa Rose can be closing for refurbishment in April 2025.

From famed Chef Andrew Sutton (from Napa’s Auberge Du Soleil in Napa Valley is the Grand Californian’s most luxurious restaurant, Napa Rose.

This signature restaurant presents each an a la carte menu and a Vintner’s Desk Menu for dinner. The delicacies right here is wine-country impressed, and the restaurant recommends that you just dedicate at the least two hours to the expertise.

Within the mornings, Napa Rose is residence to the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. This luxury breakfast is a giant splurge – $142 per individual. Whereas Napa Rose is closed, the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures can be held on the Trillium Room at Disney’s California Journey.

Reservations are extremely really helpful at Napa Rose.

Storytellers Cafe

Positioned adjoining to the Napa Rose restaurant is the Storyteller’s Cafe, which presents buffet breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Throughout breakfast and brunch (Mickey’s Tales of Journey Breakfast Buffet and Mickey’s Tales of Journey Brunch Buffet), fashionable Disney characters seem.

Like different Disney lodge eating places, you’ll be able to dine at these eating places even in the event you aren’t staying on the lodge. Superior reservations are really helpful for Storytellers Cafe, no matter whether or not you might be staying on the Grand Californian.

Hearthstone Lounge

This cozy foyer lounge tucked into the nook of the Grand Californian foyer presents small plates and light-weight bites till midnight every day. There’s a full drinks menu, in addition to some nice meals together with salads, rooster wings, and shrimp and grits.

GCH Craftsman Pool Bar

My favourite place to eat on the Grand Californian is the informal pool bar, referred to as the GCH Craftsman Pool Bar. This space consists of each an outside bar (you have to be 21+ to sit down there) and a few tables across the pool.

This informal eatery is ideal for a calming meal exterior of the parks. The menu options pizzas, poke bowls, and quesadillas. It presents breakfast (on some days), lunch, and dinner.

GCH Craftsman Grill

The GCH Craftsman Grill presents the identical menu because the pool bar, together with another treats. This quick-service restaurant is generally indoors, though there are additionally some outside tables.

For those who love peanut butter, I like to recommend getting one of many Peanut Butter Blondies from the GCH Craftsman Grill. It’s a scrumptious deal with that you’ll in all probability wish to share (or avoid wasting for later).

Room Service

The resort presents in-room eating, which could be particularly handy for breakfast. You may name room service or place a door hanger together with your order, and it’ll arrive at your specified time.

We discovered it to be a lot simpler to get breakfast delivered, so we may prepare as we ate. Then, we had been able to arrive on the parks with loads of time for the early theme park entry. As a bonus, our room service order all the time arrived with a small bowl of oranges which had been an ideal deal with to begin the day with.

Check in area of the lobby at the Grand Californian Check in area of the lobby at the Grand Californian

Execs and Cons

When selecting the Grand Californian, there are some professionals and cons you’ll want to contemplate.

Cons: That is an costly lodge which is a splurge. As well as, you might discover that different close by motels provide bigger rooms (though the rooms on the Grand Californian aren’t small). The theme is gorgeous however is much less thrilling for youths than the Pixar Place Lodge throughout the road.

Execs: There are quite a lot of advantages to staying on the Grand Californian. It’s a lodge with nice service, luxurious facilities, and cozy beds. The placement can also be extraordinarily handy, and you may benefit from early park entry in addition to non-public entrances to Downtown Disney and Disney’s California Journey.

To e book a keep at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa, we advocate going by means of Get Away Immediately.

Visiting Disneyland CA? Click on to see all of our Disneyland posts with critiques, suggestions, overviews of the most effective rides, and extra. Need to know extra about Disney World rides? Click on right here to learn all of our posts about Disney rides and sights.

the sign for the Grand Californian Hotel, the pool at Disney's Grand Californian in Disneyland, California, a long hallway in the lobbythe sign for the Grand Californian Hotel, the pool at Disney's Grand Californian in Disneyland, California, a long hallway in the lobby

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