Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Done in the American Craftsman style, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa always reminds me of a posh ski lodge. With entrances in Downtown Disney and an exclusive entrance into Disney’s California Adventure park, this hotel is the most centrally located of the three Disney hotels in Anaheim.
This is also the only Disney Vacation Club property on site. DVC is Disney’s timeshare program; see our other articles for more information on this wonderful program. We have points at both this location and Bay Lake Towers in Florida and we love them both.
At the Grand Californian Hotel there are several pools at the hotel, including 1 with a hot tub and 1 with a big water slide. Warning to parents with little ones who love water slides: unless your kid can swim, they can’t go on this slide. Unlike other Disney hotels the lifeguards here will NOT let you wait at the bottom of the slide to catch them. But there is a smaller slide at this same pool. Unfortunately by smaller I mean REALLY small, for any kid over about 4 it probably won’t be much fun.
For those who want to relax by the Grand Californian hotel pool, but still want some of the creature comforts, you can rent a private cabana with Wi-Fi, a flat screen tv, and a Cast Member to offer personal assistance.
Tip: You can also access the hotel’s Wi-Fi for free inside the California Adventure park if you’re near the entrance from the hotel.
The Grand Californian Hotel also boasts a fitness center, arcade, child care/activity center for ages 5-12, and exclusive guest-only tours and events. The Mandara Spa offers services ranging from manicures to massages, to a Zen Buddhist tea ceremony performed at its Tea Pavilion.
Dining options inside the Grand Californian Hotel are the Napa Rose and Storytellers Café restaurants, a snack shop called White Water Snacks and the relaxing lodge-like Hearthstone Lounge. Hearthstone Lounge offers a full bar, specialty coffees, and in the mornings, a continental breakfast.
Amenities at The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa include:
• 24-hour room service
• Turn-down service
• Complimentary wireless and wired internet (most hotels charge for this, even at Disney)
• Comfy robes
• Refrigerators
• Dual-line phones with voicemail
• Clock radio with audio input (think iHome)
• Complimentary weekday newspaper
