The Grand Californian - A Grand Experience
Staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel keeps you in the “Disney bubble” even after you have left the parks. The Disney magic continues into the hotels. The decor, ambiance, cast members, and perks are what make The Disneyland Resort hotels exceptional.
Lobby
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is my personal favorite Disneyland Resort hotel. When you walk into the lobby you feel like you have entered into a rustic lodge. The woodsy feel is all throughout the hotel. While in the larger than life lobby, you can enjoy sitting by a fireplace inside a giant facade fireplace. How many places can you do that? The entire lobby is a tranquil place to relax, especially after being at the parks for the day. The lobby is home to Acorns Gifts & Goods, a store that carries Disney merchandise, snacks, and other trip necessities.
Pools
The Grand Californian has a wonderful pool area. There are 3, The Fountain Pool, Redwood Pool, and Mariposa Pool. Each will provide you will a different experience. If you are looking for a pool for your kiddos, check out the Mickey Mouse shaped kiddie pool near the Redwood Pool. This pool also has a water slide for your adventurers. If you are looking to upgrade your pool experience, you can rent cabanas near the pools for an additional fee.
Spa and Fitness Classes
If you are looking for ultimate relaxation while on vacation, you can visit Tenaya Stone Spa located at The Grand Californian. This spa has massages, body treatments and skincare. There is also a salon where you can have your hair or nails done. They also have foot treatments. All of the services come at an extra cost, but you can have a wonderful spa day without having to leave your hotel. If you are wanting to book a spa or salon treatment visit Disneyland’s website.
The Disneyland Resort also offers different fitness classes for anyone who is staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels. Click here to learn more about these classes.
World of Color Viewing
For guests staying at The Grand Californian there is a special viewing area for World of Color in the hotel. On the 6th floor there is a balcony with a magnificent view of World of Color. You will need your room key to be able to access the balcony, as it is only for hotel guests. The balcony gives a unique view for World of Color. The view is not straight on and it is a little bit obstructed but it is still a fun way to spend your evening. As an added bonus, the sound from the show is piped into the balcony to add to the enjoyment. There is also a wonderful view of California Adventure from this balcony. It’s fun being able to see so much of the park from above. I recommend being up at the balcony about 30 minutes before the show is supposed to start. The crowds on the balcony vary. We were able to be up against the railing when we got there 30 minutes before. If the balcony is crowded at the first showing, you can always come back for the second showing.
Rooms
The rooms at The Grand Californian are spectacular. There are many different room options for your family’s needs. The room I stayed in was a Standard Room with 2 Queen beds. The room was decorated very cute with some orange grove decor but with a sprinkle of Chip and Dale. Of course, there were some hidden Mickeys throughout the room as well. The room was very spacious. After we unpacked our suitcases they fit perfectly under the raised beds. The beds were very comfortable. The bathroom had a good size shower but no bathtub. There were 2 sinks. These sinks were outside of the bathroom which made getting ready to go to the park so easy. Above the sinks was a nice size mirror that was well lit. While someone was in the shower others were able to be doing their hair and getting ready by the sinks and mirror. We had a wonderful view down into the Brisa Courtyard. There were pine trees outside of our windows which added to the feeling of being in the woods not in the middle of a city. We could also see the monorail from our room which was extra magical. The room also had a beverage cooler which was wonderful to keep our drinks cold. This room was perfect to crash in after a long day at the parks.
Restaurants
The Grand Californian has 5 restaurants and in-room dining.
GCH Craftsman Grill
Type of Restaurant: Quick Service
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hours: 6:45 AM – 10:00 PM
Grab ’n’ go items available purchase.
The GCH Craftsman Bar
Type of Restaurant: Table Service
Meals Offered: Lunch, and dinner
Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Alcoholic drinks available
Storytellers Cafe
Type of Restaurant: Buffet
Meals Offered: Breakfast, brunch, and dinner
Hours: Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Brunch: 11:00 AM – 1:15 PM
Dinner: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Reservations: Required for all meals
Alcoholic drinks available
Character dining at all times
Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet
Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Brunch Buffet
Donald’s Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet
Napa Rose
Type of Restaurant: Table Service
Meals Offered: Breakfast and dinner
Reservations: Required for all meals
Alcoholic drinks available
Character dining at breakfast
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures
Currently Closed for Refurbishment
Hearthstone Lounge
Type of Restaurant: Table Service
Meals Offered: Lunch and Dinner
Hours: Lunch: 12:00 PM – 3:55 PM
Dinner: 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Reservations: Required
Alcoholic drinks available
In-Room Dining
Meals Offered: Breakfast and dinner
Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
In-Room Dining has delicious breakfast and dinner options. They have a wide variety of options to choose from. The best part about it is you can enjoy wonderful food without having to leave your hotel room.
Entrances into California Adventure and Downtown Disney
One of the biggest perks for staying at The Grand Californian is the location. The hotel is located near Downtown Disney and California Adventure. Both are only a short walk away and have their own private entrances. The hotel’s California Adventure entrance is by the Napa Rose and Craftsman Bar & Grill restaurants. This entrance leads you into California Adventure right in front of Grizzly River Run. I love the convenience of this entrance. It makes going to and from the park a “piece of cake”. One of my favorite things to do, is ride Grizzly River Run and pop back to my hotel room to change into a pair of dry clothes, then head back into the park without missing a beat.
The Grand Californian is also located near Downtown Disney. The Downtown Disney entrance for the hotel lets you out next to The Disney Dress Shop. From here you can either stay in Downtown Disney or head to your right to get to the entrances for Disneyland and California Adventure. Being located so close to Downtown Disney you have even more options of restaurants and shopping.
A stay at The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a luxurious and magical experience. If you would like to stay here or a different hotel near Disneyland or Disney World check out my preferred travel partners, Get Away Today. You will get the very best deals and customer service when you book with them. CLICK HERE or call 1-855-GET-AWAY and tell them Magical Trip Tips and Tricks sent you.