Grand Californian Super Thread

[dieumeye]

There seemed to be a lot of people there not hotel guests who brought in all kinds of food/accessories.

How can you tell if someone is a hotel guest or not by the food or other stuff they bring to the pool area?

The GCH pool area does get crowded. If there are people with lots of stuff with them, they might be guests who are still waiting for their room to be ready, or who checked out earlier in the day.

 

[vicarrieous]

How can you tell if someone is a hotel guest or not by the food or other stuff they bring to the pool area?

The GCH pool area does get crowded. If there are people with lots of stuff with them, they might be guests who are still waiting for their room to be ready, or who checked out earlier in the day.

This is true. There are many people who come and enjoy the pool pre and post check out.

My statement was broad and unfair. I should have clarified. I saw two large groups of families who were openly talking about that they were just spending the day at the GCH pool and not staying on property while talking to each other and on the phone. One of the couples spoke to my husband and I in the hot tub and they wondered if we were staying at the Grand Californian and if the parks had been busy. My brother in law who is local, said it is something people often do to go and hang at the Grand Californian lobby or pool/bar.

We always entered at the gated entrance where we had to use our key. One of the times the CM at the towel cart right at the gate asked to see our key and gave us wristbands. It seemed weird because two other groups came in after us and none were checked or banded. We also noticed no other bands.

The other two days, no one was checking.

The entrance by the bar was open and people came and went often.

 

[HappyThoughtsTees]

This is true. There are many people who come and enjoy the pool pre and post check out.

My statement was broad and unfair. I should have clarified. I saw two large groups of families who were openly talking about that they were just spending the day at the GCH pool and not staying on property while talking to each other and on the phone. One of the couples spoke to my husband and I in the hot tub and they wondered if we were staying at the Grand Californian and if the parks had been busy. My brother in law who is local, said it is something people often do to go and hang at the Grand Californian lobby or pool/bar.

We always entered at the gated entrance where we had to use our key. One of the times the CM at the towel cart right at the gate asked to see our key and gave us wristbands. It seemed weird because two other groups came in after us and none were checked or banded. We also noticed no other bands.

The other two days, no one was checking.

The entrance by the bar was open and people came and went often.

Twice in the last month and a half there has been a group that brings 1-3 service dogs...one being a Great Dane..and the dogs were taking up lounge chairs. I appreciate Disney being 'service dog friendly' but dogs taking up loungers is pushing it a little. They were there for hours, while hotel guests roamed around looking for a place to sit. Someone said they heard them asking for the cast member discount on food by the pool. Not sure if they had rooms or not. I wonder if cast members have pool privileges if they aren't staying at the hotel.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We were there the past 5 days and it was impossible to find a pool chair. They never checked room keys nor did wrist bands. There seemed to be a lot of people there not hotel guests who brought in all kinds of food/accessories.

We had the same experience with pool chairs when we were there. The Cabanas take up a fair amount of space and it really impacts the number of chairs available. It was really disappointing and left a bad taste in our mouth.

 

[DLgal]

We had the same experience with pool chairs when we were there. The Cabanas take up a fair amount of space and it really impacts the number of chairs available. It was really disappointing and left a bad taste in our mouth.

Tell them that when you get a survey. I did. It is annoying. I don't understand why cabanas need an actual cabana and ALSO additional lounge chairs in front of them.

The survey I took specifically asked what I did not like about the pool area and there were several options that were about lack of chairs, too crowded, etc.

 

[vicarrieous]

Tell them that when you get a survey. I did. It is annoying. I don't understand why cabanas need an actual cabana and ALSO additional lounge chairs in front of them.

The survey I took specifically asked what I did not like about the pool area and there were several options that were about lack of chairs, too crowded, etc.

I got this survey as well and tried to be as specific as possible about the issues at the pool.

 

[DLgal]

I got this survey as well and tried to be as specific as possible about the issues at the pool.

Yeah, we were there July 2 and 3 and were able to get chairs, although it was much later in the afternoon, around 5:30. However, they were absolutely NOT enforcing the wristbands. We got one but had to hunt down cast members to get one. They usually require a band to get a towel, but the towel stands were all unmanned.

Last July 4 weekend, in 2021, they were being EXTREMELY vigilant and walking around frequently to check for wristbands and escorting people out. We saw 3 groups being asked to leave by security in a short period of time. We asked our poolside server about it and she said they had kicked out about 100 people the day before.

I don't know why they suddenly got so lax with this enforcement.

 

[RoseColored97]

Yeah, we were there July 2 and 3 and were able to get chairs, although it was much later in the afternoon, around 5:30. However, they were absolutely NOT enforcing the wristbands. We got one but had to hunt down cast members to get one. They usually require a band to get a towel, but the towel stands were all unmanned.

Last July 4 weekend, in 2021, they were being EXTREMELY vigilant and walking around frequently to check for wristbands and escorting people out. We saw 3 groups being asked to leave by security in a short period of time. We asked our poolside server about it and she said they had kicked out about 100 people the day before.

I don't know why they suddenly got so lax with this enforcement.

Is this just at the Grand pool? I would think since all are on property they would have the same policies but when we've stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in the past, they did not give out wristbands.

Also...that is messed up that so many people take advantage when they are not staying there. 100 people???

 

[DisneylandFan22]

Would they allow you to bring your own folding chairs just in case?

 

[DLgal]

Is this just at the Grand pool? I would think since all are on property they would have the same policies but when we've stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in the past, they did not give out wristbands.

Also...that is messed up that so many people take advantage when they are not staying there. 100 people???

It's only the Grand because it's attached to a park and much easier for non guests to get access to (most people wouldn't want to be inconvenienced by a walk ALL the way to DLH).

 

[DLgal]

Would they allow you to bring your own folding chairs just in case?

Nope

 

[jason417]

If we arrive at 5am, would we be able to check in at the counter that early? (I know our room wouldn’t be ready yet). Also, would there be any issue using the hotel’s self-parking that early?

 

[DLgal]

If we arrive at 5am, would we be able to check in at the counter that early? (I know our room wouldn’t be ready yet). Also, would there be any issue using the hotel’s self-parking that early?

Yes, you can do both. No problem. Your room won't be ready, but they will try and get you one as early as possible. On our last visit a couple weeks ago, they switched our originally assigned room to give us one early (and we arrived at 11:30am). Our room was ready by 1:15.

 

[StormyCA]

We normally check in around 6 am. They've even had a room available (IIRC) a few times and we were able to go straight up. Of course this was in the now non-existent 'off season' so YMMV.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Tell them that when you get a survey. I did. It is annoying. I don't understand why cabanas need an actual cabana and ALSO additional lounge chairs in front of them.

The survey I took specifically asked what I did not like about the pool area and there were several options that were about lack of chairs, too crowded, etc.

I definitely mentioned it in my survey. So did my husband.

 

[drmoore1976]

Are the Disneyland Hotels similar to WDW where you can send over room requests via Fax or does it make sense to call? Does anyone know of the best rooms to request, we have Pool View rooms (5 person rooms). thx

 

[DLgal]

Are the Disneyland Hotels similar to WDW where you can send over room requests via Fax or does it make sense to call? Does anyone know of the best rooms to request, we have Pool View rooms (5 person rooms). thx

Call in to add requests. They will appear on your reservation screen on the app.

 

[drmoore1976]

Call in to add requests. They will appear on your reservation screen on the app.

Thank you so much!

 

[Aurora0427]

I took my youngest daughter to the princess breakfast at Napa Rose on July 7. Afterwards we walked over to the pool at the GCH, and we just walked right in through the bar. I wondered how easy it would be for someone to just come in and use the pool. We would never do this. I did see some people with wristbands. But if they aren’t checking them, I guess it would be pretty easy to sneak in. That’s unreal considering how much they are charging for that hotel. It should be locked down and chairs for all guests.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I took my youngest daughter to the princess breakfast at Napa Rose on July 7. Afterwards we walked over to the pool at the GCH, and we just walked right in through the bar. I wondered how easy it would be for someone to just come in and use the pool. We would never do this. I did see some people with wristbands. But if they aren’t checking them, I guess it would be pretty easy to sneak in. That’s unreal considering how much they are charging for that hotel. It should be locked down and chairs for all guests.

We were never issued wristbands during our stay. I didn't even know that was a thing there.