Tour a Pool View Room at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
You probably didn’t expect us to be visiting Disneyland at the start of Walt Disney World’s holiday season. But with the weather putting a bit of a damper on things, I thought we’d hop over to California and preview a pool-view room at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
Unfortunately, because our Adventures by Disney trip was so busy, I couldn’t focus on a full resort review. However, I wrote several blog posts from the balcony of our pool-view room and enjoyed that time immensely. So pack your suitcase and hop on a plane. We’re doing things West Coast style today.
Grand Californian Pool View Room
We arrived at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel late on a Tuesday afternoon. Thankfully, our room was ready when we arrived. Most of us were eager for a brief break after a full morning touring Walt Disney Studios, followed by a trip to Walt Disney Imagineering.
Little did we know, we’d visit Walt’s apartment later that evening after entering Disneyland Park. But I’ll share that in an upcoming trip report via email when time allows. On this visit, I was with my friends Kristen and Anna from Firefly Travels. Our tour group included about 25 new friends. My first impression of the room was that it was cheerful. But on closer inspection, I noticed more high-end details.
Our room had an Arts and Crafts style, like the rest of the resort. We had two queen-size beds.
The wall behind the bed had a mural featuring Chip and Dale, busy at work in an orange tree. I liked how the mural transitioned from wood tones to a painting.
Some of the artwork paid tribute to California’s orange history. I remember visiting Walt Disney World with my family as a child and staying at Orange Lake Resort. Orange groves were abundant in Florida back then. Until this trip, I didn’t realize California produced such a large orange crop.
When we first met with our Adventure by Disney tour guides, they asked us where we hoped to go on the trip. I immediately mentioned that I hoped we would stop at Griffith Park to see the carousel where Walt Disney took his children on the weekends. It is said that this setting was what first inspired him to create a theme park where families could enjoy time together. Unfortunately, given the last few years, the carousel is now boarded up. Anyway, I found this artwork in our room at the Grand Californian, a beautiful representation of a time when one dreamer dreamed.
I also found another ancient relic in our room—a room service menu. Okay, I’m partially joking, but I was shocked that full room service was available all day. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen it return to Walt Disney World.
Not only that, but the halls were lined with carts of leftover room service during our stay. Had the majority of our meals not been included, we would also have regularly had a cart of leftovers sitting outside our room. Here in Orlando, you would have to visit the JW Marriott Orlando at Bonnet Creek to get a decent meal delivered to your room. Technically, you could order DoorDash to your Walt Disney World Resort, but that’s not special.
A dresser sat immediately under the television, and a sofa was in the corner.
Standard amenities included a Keurig coffee maker.
A drawer beneath it had the accompaniments.
We see the same beverage cooler available in most standard resort rooms.
Our guest bath was also impressive. It has a walk-in tile shower with a small triangular bench, with plenty of room to store personal items and shave your legs. This should be the standard for every future remodel.
That overhead rain shower was another first-class touch.
The bath area also had a decorative basket-weave tile floor, a double vanity with plenty of storage, and a split layout so multiple guests could get ready at once. It even had a small step stool for children, a makeup mirror, and a laundry basket. We ended up using the laundry room during our stay, but you might want someone to help you find it. The Grand Californian is a tremendous hotel with a unique layout. We were nowhere near a laundry room and had difficulty finding it on our first try.
Lastly, we’ll take a look at our hotel balcony. I was pleased to find a table for two. We also had a lovely view of the pool.
I would have gladly spent several days out here working on Resorts Gal. Few places (or jobs) let you say that.
We could see the top of the Pixar Pal-a-Round over the adjoining building’s roof. That’s how close we were to Disney’s California Adventure Park.
If you’ve never visited Disneyland, the biggest benefit of staying at the Grand Californian is its proximity to the theme parks. One exit leads to Downtown Disney and is just a short walk from the Disneyland Park entrance. Another exit leads directly inside Disney’s California Adventure Park. You can be out of your room, down the elevator, and through the turnstiles in less than 10 minutes.
Ultimately, our room and stay at the Grand Californian ended up being one of my favorite things about our Adventures by Disney trip. So, if you are planning a trip to Disneyland, I think it’s worth the splurge to spend a few days at Disney’s finest hotel. You might consider a split stay, where you can plan a full resort day at the Grand Californian. Just remember to order room service! For other locations we’ve covered on the site, you might enjoy one of the following:
For more of our non-Disney hotel coverage, see our guide to off-site hotels near Disney World. To learn more about Disney World, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation options at Disney World is one of our top resources.
For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.
In the Comments
What do you think about our pool-view room at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel? Have you ever visited? Do you have any questions about staying here? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
