How to stay at Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

The whole thing happened so quickly. It all happened so quickly. Alex, my husband with his long legs, and razor-sharp resolve to be the first to Cars Land, was also among them. In the Mickey gear that he chose for me, I was falling behind, trying not to trip over any kids, and almost missing him if it wasn’t for his Goofy Hawaiian shirt.

The Southern California sun had not yet reached a height high enough to warm the streets. Disneyland’s California Adventure park—but knowing I’d better not be the reason we’d have to wait in line for Radiator Springs RacersI was trying to accelerate as fast as possible on one of our favourite rides.

We are only an hour away from Anaheim but we usually make it to Disneyland twice a year. Alex is a bit different when we are there. He treats the day as an extreme, open to close challenge. While I am always eager to go on an adventure with Alex, I was raised herding around my three younger siblings in Disneyland and had never heard of “rope drops” until I met him. He, on his part, flew to Orlando, Florida, from the UK, for two weeks of non-stop action in the theme parks.

It’s safe to say that we enjoy a little sleepover every now and then at the Happiest Place On Earth. It’s reassuring to me that I can go to sleep as soon as the park shuts down (because you already know we will squeeze in one last spin on the rides). Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance I can go back to my hotel room and change into a new pair of shoes or grab a sweater before the gates close for the evening. Alex’s immersive experience means that we can get early access to Disney and make the most of our time there.

Our Disneyland hotel of choice is the Yosemite National Park—themed Grand Californian Hotel & SpaThere are many perks that we both enjoy. Hot stone massages with Disney songs playing softly on the background. Yes, please. How about pairing a bottle of premium wine with filet mignon or a rack lamb? Sign us up. What about pools with a water slide and floating classes? We will stay for a while in the sun. Veranda has the best food and drinks all day long, and offers indoor-outdoor dining. It’s so tempting that we left the park an hour early one night in order to have a glass or two of wine while enjoying a VIP view. It was Alex who came up with the idea.

The Rooms

There are more than 900 guest rooms in the hotel, including 44 suites. All of them have been designed for families. The suites are large and have 3 bedrooms, sleeping between 10 to 13 adults. Standard rooms are available in sizes up to five. You can choose between rooms with a view of the park, pool, courtyard or Downtown Disney. Our one-bedroom suite’s balcony looked out over the forest beyond the trees. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! (formerly known as the Tower of Terror). Some suites have fireplaces, stained-glass windows, and wood and stone accents that carry the theme of a national park. El Capitan has been a guest favorite. The Veranda Lounge is available to Club Level rooms. More information below.

Food and Drink

Napa Rose The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant is ideal for Disney date nights or special occasions. You can enjoy seasonal California flavors with dishes such as charred Pacific tuna crudo and wild boar ragout. Other options include agnolotti with braised greens or maple leaf duck breast. The menu is fixed and there are multiple options for wine pairing. Editor’s Note: Naparose is undergoing renovations. The restaurant will reopen its doors in the fall of 2025.

Storytellers Cafe The buffet is known for its character breakfasts but you can go there every meal. Donald’s Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet is hosting a character dinner starting on May 16. You can enjoy prime rib, chicken fried, bread pudding with s’mores, and more.

Hearthstone Lounge It’s like being in an upscale lodge with a fireplace, hearty dishes such as short rib lasagne and truffle mac and chees.

GCH Craftsman Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks poolside—and usually with sports on TV. This is the place to go for morning cocktails. Choose from a bloody Mary or mimosa. Or try a Grand Candied Orange Coffee, which is a popular cocktail with brandy and Kahlua. GCH Craftsman Grill Grab-and-go breakfasts like burritos and sandwiches are available at this location.

Activities and Experiences

There are three pools at the resort, each with its own unique features. From the waterslide, which twists around an exact replica of a redwood stump, to fitness classes on floating boards and the cabanas, there’s plenty to do. There’s also Eureka Fitness Center Disney California Adventure is equipped with yoga classes, gym equipment (in Disney Ears Yoga character accessories are important) and bootcamp classes before it opens. Monthly events There are many events that take place in the Great Hall. Star Wars Music Night in May Disney Princess Breakfast AdventuresThe Trillium Room hosts a royal activity, with Mickey waffles and other treats. Of course, taking pictures with the princesses is encouraged.

The Spa

Enjoy a relaxing stay at this full-service hotel Tenaya Stone Spa The massage room is a world away from the theme parks. Your masseuse might ask you if they can play Disney music while working their magic. The gemstone sparkle facial or Tenaya stone massage, both with a diamond colloidal mask, are great options. Take some time in the relaxation room to sip tea and enjoy the fact that this is Disneyland Resort instead of a spa retreat in the mountains.

Accessibility

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has both wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms, bookable on request. Accessible travel paths are available to access the hotel’s lobby, parking area, restaurants, shops and meetings rooms. Guests with speech or hearing disabilities can request Teletypewriters (TTY) at check-in. Disney recommends using ScooterBug Pre-order and have delivered to hotel, wheelchairs and scooters for mobility.

Location

It is conveniently located within the grounds of Disneyland Resort and provides easy access to Downtown Disney, including its dining, shopping and entertainment. The hotel has its own entry to Disney California Adventure Park which is currently under construction until mid-May. Guests are able to use the alternative gate located next to hotel during this time. The Grand Californian is also equipped with its own parking lotThe cost of parking is $40 for self-parking, and $70 for valet. For those who are only visiting the spa or restaurants, they can park for up to three hours.

What to Expect from Your Stay

Booking a Veranda Lounge room with a Club Level Room will be more expensive, but it is worth the extra cost. Disney clearly indicates which rooms are Club Level on their website. hotel’s website. On the website, when I selected multiple dates in spring, the club level increased the price by about $500 per night. However, it can go higher.

The maximum occupancy is five to thirteen people, depending on your room. Veranda is located on the 6th floor and serves food and beverages from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm every day. This includes breakfast, afternoon tea, appetizers, and desserts. Included are alcoholic beverages. Imagine how much you would spend on a meal with the family, and some beers for adults in the park over a couple of days. Add in some snacks, late night dessert cravings and perhaps a few glasses of wine …). In some cases, depending on availability, you can add access to the club at check-in.

The hotel guests with park passes will get an early entrance of 30 minutes to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park depending on which park they choose. day of the week.

Nightly rates at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start from $597.

Each T+L Hotel Review is written by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotel chosen must also align with our standards. core values.