Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

I had a dream come true and was given the opportunity to stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. We make frequent stops at the hotel on park visits for dining or to hang out in the lobby, but I haven’t stayed overnight, so I was super excited.

: Photo Courtesy of Disney Vacation Club

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel has newly refurbished rooms. The rooms have details like the mural above the headboards of a blossoming orange tree, with Chip ‘n Dale playing in the branches.

All rooms include soft and fluffy robes to use during your stay, 55-inch smart TVs, Keurig coffee makers, mini fridge and USB connections to charge your electronic devices. Our room also had a desk, dresser, and a love seat that folded out into a sleeper.

The double sink and vanity in the bathroom, separated toilet and shower allow for multiple people to get ready at the same time. Perfect for our family of four!

I really enjoyed the view from our room, which also has a balcony with two chairs and a table to sit at and take in all of the sights and sounds. The grounds are so woodsy and tranquil, I nearly forgot that we were in the midst of Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure. We had a courtyard view, which included views of the hotel’s three pools; Fountain Pool, Children’s Pool, and Mariposa Pool. Not to mention a great view of the 110-foot Grizzly Peak from DCA.

There are a lot of great dining options at Disney’s Grand Californian, Napa Rose, Storytellers Cafe, Hearthstone Lounge, White Water Snacks, and In-Room Dining.

During our visit, we thought it would be fun to do a little room service in the morning. There were a lot of breakfast items to choose from, both sweet & savory. But of course, we had to go with the iconic Mickey waffles. The options for the waffles are sausage or bacon and butter & syrup, bananas foster, or warm berries. It was so fun to get the room service cart rolled in and have a fancy little set-up, all while still in our jammies! The food arrived within 20-30 minutes, which wasn’t bad at all. If we wanted, we had the option of placing our order the night before to be delivered at a specific time in the morning, which is great if you are trying to get to Extra Magic Hour and save on time. We charged the meals & tip to our room. And the meal was great!!

As for the other dining option, Napa Rose is an upscale restaurant, perfect date night spot. Storytellers Cafe is great for families! In the morning, they offer a buffet style Chip ’n Dale Critter Breakfast, and an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner. Hearthstone Lounge has a lodge cabin feel, you can cozy up at the fireplace for a cocktail, snack or continental breakfast. I have ate at White Water Snacks several times and always enjoy their quick service options. They serve breakfast, lunch & dinner, I have even stopped by just for a soda, water, or Mickey ice cream.

If you are looking for a spa treatment during your stay, you will find the Mandara Spa located inside the hotel. Mandara is a full-service spa that offers massages and skin treatments.

I can never get enough of the hotel lobby. It is the perfect retreat on busy park days, or to escape chilly or scorching temps. My family likes to sit by the piano and listen to the Disney tunes being played. You really do get swept up in the lodge feel!!

My youngest son enjoys the little corner of the lobby where they have kids sized rocking chairs and classic Disney shows & movies being played on the TV.

As far as parking options, self-parking and valet services are available to registered hotel guests for an additional fee. The cost per vehicle for self-parking is $20 per night; valet service is $30 per night.

Disney’s Grand Californian has a special park entrance from the hotel grounds into Disney California Adventure Park, as well as access to the Downtown Disney District. These entrances can be used not only by guests of the hotel, but anyone with valid park admission. Registered Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests get to enjoy Extra Magic Hour, an early admission option, during every day of hotel stay. On select days you get admission to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park for one full hour before the parks open to the general public. I like taking advantage of this hour to get a jump on things and enjoy a somewhat empty park!

The current schedule for Extra Magic Hour:
Disneyland Park: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Disney California Adventure Park: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

I really hope I get back to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa SOON! Don’t forget before you leave, you have to snap a shoefie with the Disneyland Hotel doormats.