We had so much fun coming up with impossible Disney choices that we’re at it again! Join us as we make some really tough decisions between one Disney related choice and another, including where to stay, deluxe dining, and choosing between Walt Disney World and Disneyland!
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So continuing with our own Jamie and Tara’s latest trip to Disneyland, this week we focus on the on-property hotels of the Disneyland Resort. There are three different hotels, Disney’s Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier. We take an in depth look at each while Jamie and Tara give us feedback on their own experiences.
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Our very own Jamie and Tara had the opportunity to visit Disneyland recently and we are excited to share all this new and great info with you! In this part 1 of 2, we talk about how they got this opportunity, what attractions they loved and of course all the great things they ate while they were there!
And remember to stay tuned for part 2 where they’ll discuss hotel, ticket, and different upgrading options!
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During my recent visit to the Disneyland Resort, I had the opportunity to stay in all three of their onsite hotels. In this post, I’ll be giving you my thoughts on the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
Let me just start by saying this is quite possibly the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure to stay in. The lobby alone is incredibly impressive and gorgeous. If you’ve ever visited Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge over at Walt Disney World, the design will look familiar to you as all three were designed by the same architect.
Though not quite as sprawling as some of the Walt Disney World resorts, this is the biggest resort on Disneyland property. It’s home to Storyteller’s Cafe, the character meal location, as well as Napa Rose, considered one of the best restaurants in the city. I did have breakfast at Storyteller’s and it was delicious. Characters there included Chip and Dale, Pluto, and Koda from Brother Bear.
The rooms were fairly standard size, though I felt they could use a bit of a refresh. The rooms were not quite as luxurious as I thought they should be for as much as they cost per night, however, the beds were comfortable and the rooms were clean. The nightly turn down service with chocolates on the pillows was a nice touch.
For me, the main draw of this hotel is the gate to California Adventure located within. In fact, my room was located just a minute’s walk from the gate so I could be inside California Adventure park within 5 minutes. The gate location is right near Grizzly River Run Rapids and steps away from Soarin. In the mornings, only hotel guests are allowed to use the gate, so if you’re trying to beat the morning rush, this is a fantastic perk. It’s also very convenient for a midday break if you’re so inclined.
The hotel also opens up to Downtown Disney so it’s very conveniently located for shopping. From there, it’s just a couple more minutes walk to Disneyland Park. This is the closest onsite property so if location is worth more to you than price, this is where you want to stay.
Overall, it’s a great resort but I don’t think it has as much charm and personality as Disneyland Hotel. I think this hotel would be fantastic for adults only trips or couples just due to the sophisticated decor, however, the location makes it perfect for families with small kids.
A few weeks ago, Shannon attended an agent education program at Disneyland in California. She’s back to tell us all about what she learned and how Disneyland differs from Walt Disney World in Florida!
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As Disneyland’s premium hotel, The Grand Californian Resort and Spa is a fantastic place to stay at Disneyland. I know opinions on this vary, and we have stayed both on and off property, but we prefer to stay on property. The hotel itself is beautiful. It’s built as a craftsman era hotel, with a great deal of detail in all the woodworking and stone that surround you in the hotel. The lobby is fantastic and is six stories high. You can look down from each floor into the massive lobby. The lobby is well-appointed with plenty of seating and a giant fireplace. There is even a TV with little chairs so the kids can have their own spot to watch Disney shows. And at Christmas time (which is when we usually go) it is even more magical, but Christmas at Disney is its own post all together! There are plenty of restaurant choices as well. The Grand Californian houses one of Disneyland’s fine dining restaurants, 
Napa Rose. We got to enjoy Napa Rose on our last trip! There is also a great family restaurant, Storytellers, as well as some quick service places like White Water Snacks. If you’ve been to Disney World the Grand Californian is similar in theme to the Wilderness Lodge. We will always choose the Grand when visiting Disneyland and we also always select Club Level. Here are few reasons why.
Pros:
enjoy time alone and maybe go to the full service Spa or Napa Rose. We utilized this on our last trip and the kids (ages 10 and 8) had a good time. They ate dinner, played games, did crafts and didn’t complain! This is open to all guest staying on property but it’s located in the Grand.What about Club/Concierge Level? We really like the Club level. It offers its own check in area on the 6th floor and a lounge which has food and drinks throughout the day and evening. I’m sure there are plenty of articles out there that debate if the Club level is worth it and it’s probably not for everyone. This is my experience with it and why we like it. The lounge is only available to guests on the Club Level floor and a valid room key is required to enter the lounge. There are three “meals” throughout the day and drinks are always available.
The breakfast is a nice option for us because the kids are antsy to the get the park and don’t want to sit down for a full meal and I am not the traveler who keeps milk in the fridge so the kids can have cereal in the room. The breakfast choices are usually assorted pastries and muffins, fruit, cereals and milk, bagels with cream cheese, assorted meats and cheese (we usually make a bagel sandwich). And of course juice, coffee, tea and pop. This year they added an espresso machine so you can really get moving! You can also request bottles of water which are great to take into the park with you if you’re bringing a bag since you can refill them at any restaurant for free.
The afternoon tea option has assorted tea sandwiches, cookies, and fruit. There are also goldfish crackers and a party mix (think Chex mix). We usually fill a lidded to-go cup with the snacks and either bring them into the park or back to the room with us. And again all the drinks are available anytime throughout the day.
The evening reception offers beer and wine, assorted cookies, scones, chocolate dipped strawberries, nuts and dried fruit. This is a nice option if you’re taking a quick break from the park and want to spend a few minutes relaxing.
You can also view the fireworks from the balcony, and they broadcast the music along with it. So it’s a great option if you have smaller kids that will be going to bed earlier than others.
The last thing they have is story time with cookies and milk. The kids can sit on the floor with their cookies while a cast member reads them a few stories. You can sit at a table and enjoy a glass of wine and relax right along with them! It’s a nice way to end the day.
An ending note about the Club level is the personalized service you receive. They will call you to touch base before your trip to make sure of your plans and any additional needs. They will also help you make dining reservations and offer dining suggestions. We were there when it was raining and they helped us repair rips in our rain gear by sharing their duct tape! They really up the magic factor in my opinion.
Cons:
I had a difficult time coming up with cons, but finally had one.
Sometimes the line to get into California Adventure on Magic Morning can be huge and it’s faster to go to the main entrance. However, I will note that on my last trip they seemed to improve the logistics of this so it wasn’t as bad.
Like I said at the beginning this is our preferred hotel on the Disneyland Resort, so of course we would recommend it. I hope you get a chance to enjoy some time there too.
Dole Whipped 