Come along with me, your Story Guide, as I take you through one of the favorite Disney hotels, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, located at the Disneyland Resort. The Grand Californian elicits jaw-dropping awe as you enter through its doors into the main lobby. Immediately you are immersed into the comfort of a warm lodge with rich wood, stained glass landscapes, a comforting fireplace, and spacious ceilings. The 20th-century Northwestern Pacific artistry paired with inspiration from Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn and the Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotels take you out of the city and into the great northwestern U.S. National Parks. In this lobby, you can enjoy the comfort of the crackling fire in a rocking chair as you observe the rich, hand-made details that surround you in the posts, the beams, and the windows. The natural colors, the mission-inspired light fixtures, the attention to every detail will leave you mesmerized.
Beyond the pure comfort that you feel and the beauty that surrounds you when you are within its walls, the best feature of Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa is the ease of access to the Disney parks. You literally can walk out of the hotel and into Disney’s California Adventure Park. And notably, your entrance is right up from a Disney Park favorite, “Soarin’ Around the World.” Get drenched on the Grizzly River Run? No problem! Your room is a 5-minute walk away! For families with young children, or if you like a good mid-day nap, you can easily do so when you stay here. Also close to the resort is Downtown Disney, where you can shop, dine, enjoy countless entertainment options, or cut across to Disneyland Park. Right now, Disneyland is offering an extra magic hour for Disney hotel guests to Disneyland Park (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) and Disney’s California Adventure Park (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), getting you access to the park one hour before park opening! This is a great way to get in rides without any lines before the parks start busy mid-morning.
Another great feature at the Grand Californian Resort is the dining options. Of note, Storyteller’s Café (a character breakfast) and Napa Rose. Napa Rose is notably one of the best restaurants in Orange County, California, receiving recognition county-wide year-over-year and is a go-to for any special occasion. Storyteller’s Café features “Mickey’s Tales of Adventure'' character breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, and Dale dressed in hiking/tourist attire. This isn’t a character breakfast that you go to just for the characters! With a modified buffet featuring items like eggs benedict, chilaquiles, French toast casserole with macerated berries, and of course, the classic Mickey waffles, your taste buds will delight! The brunch and dinner menu options are similarly delectable with classic California-inspired salads, chicken and fish, prime rib, and even some avocado toast.
Other great features of the Disney Grand Californian Resort & Spa are the pools, the luxurious rooms (with great views), the newly reopened Tenaya Stone Spa, and the overall immersion in the Disney bubble. On property, there are three pools, with the main pool featuring a 100-foot water slide around a giant redwood tree stump! The overall theme of the pool is rustic woodlands which continues the immersive feeling of the lodge and Northwestern adventure. The rooms are beautiful and spacious, with standard rooms starting at 353 square feet of space! They all feature luxurious furnishings, supremely comfortable beds, bedding and pillows, comfortable bathrobes, and beautiful bathrooms. What’s best is that most of these rooms have great views! The rooms overlook Disney’s California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, or a courtyard or pool. Some rooms have great views of the “World of Color” show (when it returns). Looking to relax, or maybe get your nails done while at Disneyland? Yes, you can find that on-site, too, at the newly reopened Tenaya Stone Spa. You truly can be within the Disney bubble the entire length of your stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa!
As Disney’s flagship Disneyland resort hotel, with abundant features and amenities, Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa comes with a higher price tag than the other Disneyland Resort hotels. For those Disney fans that want the luxury, the full Disney bubble experience, and the convenience of being able to enter and exit Disney’s California Adventure Park after a short 5-minute walk, the price is worth it- even if just for one night or as a bucket list item to check off!
I’d love to plan your bucket list trip to Disneyland with a stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa! As a Your Story travel affiliate specializing in Disney Destinations, I offer full-service concierge vacation planning complimentary with any Disney vacation package.
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Jessica Lysy
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