The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the premier hotel at the Disneyland resort. This was my fifth visit to the luxurious resort and our stay was simply wonderful.
The elegant craftsman style hotel is the flagship of the Disneyland Resort, with premium accommodations, impeccable Disney service, a private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, signature dining experiences and a world-class spa.
Stepping inside the Grand Hall for the first time, well, every time, is a remarkable experience! If you’ve visited Wilderness Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort, the similarities are unmistakable. Grand Californian is a stunning blend of the rustic Wilderness Lodge and elegant Grand Floridian resorts.
Walking the immaculate grounds is a joy! I loved all of the stunning rose bushes and lush foliage.
There is a wonderful heated porch off of the lobby with rocking chairs and a huge fireplace. A second fireplace in the lobby is a popular spot to relax with a cocktail after a day in the parks.
Accommodations
The Grand Californian Hotel offers a variety of accommodations, from regular hotel rooms to 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom suites to signature suites like the Arroyo, El Capitan, Arcadia, Mount Whitney.
Resort Rooms
The updated guest rooms are bright and elegant, while keeping with the theme and craftsman style of the resort.
Most feature a “fifth sleeper” bed to accommodate families.
The orange trees and subtle additions of Chip n Dale are darling.
The bathroom is bright and updated with plenty of room for multiple people to get ready at the same time.
A balcony is a lovely, quiet spot to start the day with a cup of coffee.
Mt. Whintey Presidential Suite
The Mt. Whitney is one of two presidential suites at the Grand Californian. The spacious suite is decorated in the Craftsman style with a large living room and dining area to seat ten.
A service kitchen includes a fridge, sink and microwave, located just off of the living area.
The master bedroom has a king bed, walk in closet and bathroom. The second bedroom has two queen beds.
One of the real stars of the suite, and the place I wouldn’t want to leave, are the outdoor balconies. You have absolutely stunning views of California Adventure right from your balcony while warming up by the fire!
Guests in this suite also get special perks and benefits!
Concierge Lounge
The Veranda concierge lounge features food and beverage service throughout the day. I particularly love the long balcony with monorail courtyard views all day, and fireworks into the night.
Amenities
We leave time to swim in every vacation itinerary. The Grand pool is never over-crowded, which we love. The wonderful thing about being so close to the park is that you can easily pop in the resort for a swim.
Cabanas offer premium seating, shade and other amenities to make any pool day a relaxing time!
Location
As noted, one of the biggest perks of calling the Grand Californian home is that you are just steps away from Disney California Adventure Park via a gate designated just for hotel guests!
Dining
There are a variety of casual, character and fine dining experiences at the Grand Californian. We indulged in all of them over our stay! And, being just steps away from Downtown Disney and the theme parks, you literally have more places to choose from than you could ever need.
Storytellers Cafe
Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Buffet is offered at breakfast and brunch, while dinner does not have characters. It is a buffet, but the food is outstanding!!! I also feel like the character interactions throughout Disneyland are great.
Read a full review here:
www.dixiedelightsonline.com/2023/04/storytellers-cafe-at-disneys-grand-californian-resort.html
Napa Rose
Napa Rose is the signature dining experience at Grand Californian where Chef Andrew Sutton has been telling the story of the Napa Valley through his food for a decade. Honey and I made a “date night” of it on one trip, and my bestie and I had a marvelous time on our visit last summer!
Craftsman Bar & Grill
Craftsman Bar & Grill is located right off of the pool area and is such a great spot to sit and enjoy a bite or sip on a gorgeous Southern California night!
Hearthstone Lounge
On every stay here, we leave time to enjoy this serene spot with a glass of wine and a few bites to eat. Designed to evoke Arts and Crafts era, the lounge offers a relaxing retreat for soaking up the hotel’s historic ambience.
We love to end our day with a cocktail and dessert at Hearthstone.
The dinner menu is also quite good, with our favorites being the cobb salad and burger.
Let’s Travel & My Services
As a Premier Level Advisor with Glass Slipper Concierge, I am recognized for providing the highest level of customer service, experience, and knowledge in the industry. I use my personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke Disney trips for the most discerning clients. On top of that, Disney vacations are expensive and I know how to get the best value for your time and money. If you’re looking to travel to Disney any time in 2023, NOW is the time to plan!
Most aspects of planning a Disney vacation look different and now, more than ever, it is crucial to have the most current, up to date information based on personal experience to plan your vacation. I travel to the theme parks monthly and have stayed in every single resort from coast to coast! I tour the parks the way you will be touring the parks – whether it is a “best day ever” on VIP Tour, strategizing on Genie+, or waltzing onto attractions with Express Pass, you won’t find a travel advisor with more passion or first hand experience. Let’s go there!
