The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Information: Rooms, Pools, Dining, and More

The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Overview

With only 71 possible rooms, this is the smallest Disney Vacation Club resort. Shares all amenities with Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

The Grand Californian, built in the rustic stone-and-timber style of the grand national-park lodges, is the flagship property. Newer, more elaborately themed, and closer to the theme parks and Downtown Disney than the other two on-property hotels, the Grand Californian is without a doubt the best place to stay.

The Grand Californian hotel is the crown jewel of Disneyland Resort’s three hotels. With its shingle siding, rock foundations, cavernous hewnbeam lobby, polished hardwood floors, and cozy hearths, the hotel is a stately combination of elements from Western national park lodges. Designed by architect Peter Dominick (who also designed the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World), the Grand Californian is rendered in the Arts and Crafts style of the early 20th century, with such classic features as “flying” roofs, projecting beams, massive buttresses, and an earth-tone color palette. We strongly encourage visitors with an interest in architecture to take the fascinating (and free) hour-long Art of the Craft walking tour of the resort, offered several times each week through the Guest Services desk. Most reminiscent of the Ahwahnee hotel at Yosemite National Park, the Grand Californian combines rugged craftsmanship and grand scale with functional design and intimate spaces. Pull up a vintage rocker in front of a blazing fire, and the bustling lobby instantly becomes a snug cabin.

The hotel's main entrance off Disneyland Drive is primarily for vehicular traffic. Two pedestrian-only entrances open into Downtown Disney and DCA; this last makes it a cinch to return to the hotel from DCA for a nap, a swim, or lunch. Walking time to Disneyland Park is about 4 minutes.

Ranging $475–$980 per night, guest rooms are the most expensive at Disneyland Resort. The Grand Californian, like the other two Disney-owned hotels, charges guests $20 a day for self-parking (up to two vehicles, free for Disney Vacation Club members) or $30 for valet (714-635-2300). On the plus side, none of the hotels charge a resort fee, and all provide safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi in rooms and public areas.

Grand Californian Villas

Disney’s time-share condo enterprise, the Disney Vacation Club, premiered its first West Coast property as part of the 2009 expansion of the Grand Californian. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian consist of 48 two- bedroom equivalent villas and two Grand Villas. Equivalent is the term used to describe single units that can be sold (or rented) as studio suites or combined to make two- and three-bedroom villas. All villas except studio suites include kitchens, living rooms, and dining areas, as well as washers and dryers. Master bedrooms offer a king bed, while other bedrooms provide two queen beds. Studio suites come with a single queen bed. All bedrooms have a flat-panel TV, private bath, and private balcony. Though studio suites don’t have full kitchens, they do include a small fridge, a microwave, and a coffeemaker. Two-bedroom villas consist of a one-bedroom villa joined to a studio suite. Three-bedroom Grand Villas are two-story affairs with the living area, kitchen, and master bedroom on the lower level and two bedrooms on the upper level. Rates for various villas range from $400 for a studio suite during the off-season to $6,000 for a three-bedroom Grand Villa on New Year’s weekend. Other elements of the Grand Californian include a swimming pool for the villas and an underground parking garage.

Inspired by Napa Valley cuisine, the Napa Rose restaurant is the Disneyland Resort's premier fine-dining venue. Situated in a stunning room overlooking DCA, Napa Rose is very expensive but still a very good value . Just a notch down in price and formality, but likewise located in an exceptionally lovely (albeit more rustic) room, is the Storytellers Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant's name is drawn from period murals depicting tall tales set in early California. The fare consists of house-specialty wood-fired pizza and hearty home-style comfort food.

The resort's pool complex, beautifully landscaped with rocks and conifers in a High Sierra theme, includes a 90-foot-long twisting slide. The on-site Mandara Spa is one of Disney's best, offering a wide selection of treatments and a state-of-the-art fitness facility.

How The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Compares to Other Disneyland Resort Hotels

Each Disney-owned hotel has a nice theme but Grand Californian's theme national-park lodge theme is unmatched in terms of beauty and scope. Yes, you will pay a high premium to stay here but having a direct entrance in to Disney California Adventure is a nice perk. Also, Grand Californian has some of the best dining available in Disneyland Resort.

Early Entry for Grand Californian Hotel Guests

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure offers Early Entry access every day of the week. Early Entry allows Disneyland Resort hotel guests staying at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, or Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel in to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure 30 minutes before the parks open to the public. So if a park officially opens at 8:00 a.m., some people will be able to enter at 7:30 a.m.

See our Disneyland Resort Early Entry page for a full list of attractions open during Early Entry.

Where To Check-In, Get Theme Park Tickets, and Make Dining Reservations

A security gate guards the entrance to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel's grounds. If you arrive by car, you'll need to provide photo ID at the gate; it's not necessary to provide your reservation number or paperwork. A dedicated parking lot across from the lobby serves as temporary parking for those who need it while checking in.

Check-in time at Grand Californian Hotel is 3:00 PM, and check-out time is 11:00 AM. You'll need to provide a government-issued photo ID and credit/debit card when you register.

Get theme park tickets and dining reservations at the Concierge Desk. If you need to check in and obtain theme park tickets, you can save some time in line if one adult gets in line for tickets just after another adult starts the registration process. The Concierge Desk can also make Disney dining reservations, and you can avoid a wait there by making them online prior to arrival.

Pools at The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Grand Californian Hotel's Fountain Pool, Redwood Pool, and Mariposa Pool range in depth from around 3 feet 6 inches/1.1m to 4 feet 9 inches/1.4m. Grand Californian Hotel's pools are open every day, including during winter. Pools are heated to 82°F/28°C throughout the year. We've swum in temperatures as cold as 40°F/4°C; the water was fine, but getting out was a shock. Grand Californian Hotel also has a hot tub near each pool. The Redwood Pool also features a waterslide.

Pool hours are at least 9AM to 9 PM, extending to as much as 8 AM to 12 AM during busy times. Lifeguards are on duty during the pools' operating hours.

Infants and children in diapers are welcome the Grand Californian Hotel pools, as long as they're wearing swim diapers. Water wings are allowed at all Disney pools, and every pool has free life vests in a variety of sizes:

• Infant/child: Weight less than 30 lbs.
• Child: Weight 30-50 lbs.
• Youth: Weight 50-90 lbs.
• Adult XS: Weight more than 90 lbs., Chest size 31-34 in.
• Adult S: Weight more than 90 lbs., Chest size 34-37 in.
• Adult M: Weight more than 90 lbs., Chest size 37-40 in.
• Adult L: Weight more than 90 lbs. Chest size 40-43 in.
• Adult XL: Weight more than 90 lbs., Chest size 43-46 in.
• Adult XXL: Weight more than 90 lbs., Chest size 46-48 in.
• Additionally, there may be a small supply of even larger vests. Inquire at your resort.

Wheelchair Accessibility at Grand Californian Hotel's Pools

Grand Californian Hotel's Fountain Pool and Redwood Pool each have a chair-lift device that can lower guests in wheelchairs into the shallow end of the pool. Check with any lifeguard for assistance on using the lift.

Restaurants and Dining at Grand Californian Hotel

Grand Californian Hotel has one full-service restaurant, one character dining restaurant, two bars and lounges, and two counter service restaurants. If none of these establishments meet your needs you can take a short walk to Downtown Disney and eat at any one of its restaurants of varying quality and price range.

Napa Rose

Napa Rose is Disneyland resort's flagship fine-dining experience. The Grand Californian's Craftsman theme is carried into this premier room with sweeping views of Disney California adventure from virtually every table. A large, open demonstration kitchen lets you watch the magic happen, and wine, in all of its glory, is displayed at every turn. Fine linens, china, and flatware are the norm. This is an absolutely gorgeous room with food and service to match.

Napa Rose may be the best restaurant in Orange County and has been at the top of most critics' lists since its debut. Top talent in the kitchen and in the dining room, beautiful space with panoramic views and a wine cellar second to none, make this an incomparable gustatory experience. Every server has earned sommelier status, a designation that takes years of study and practical experience with wine and wine-making. Look for unusual ingredients (tahitian vanilla, smoked sturgeon, truffled quail eggs, lemongrass, almond oil) married to top-notch staples (Colorado lamb, Berkshire pork, pheasant breast), all deftly handled by a world-class kitchen crew. and although staff are very accommodating in the usual Disney manner, this is definitely not an adventure for the kids. Napa Rose should be on every adult's Disney bucket list, a must-do at least once. If the full menu is too rich for your blood sit in the cozy lounge and order appetizers.

The menu, rotated seasonally, focuses on the cuisine of California's wine region, ranchlands, farm belts, and coastline. Wine finds its way onto most of the menu in sauces, reductions, infusions, and dressings.

Napa Rose also has an attached lounge with a variety of fancy cocktails and wine. Napa Rose Lounge has its own menu but guests can also order off of the main Napa Rose menu.

Storytellers Cafe

The Storytellers Cafe carries the grand Californian's arts and Crafts theme throughout with large, open beams; natural wood and wood carvings; milled stone; and stained glass. the walls are adorned with impressive murals depicting the state's rich literary history, from Mark twain's the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County to Scott Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins.

You may experience a little sticker shock at first, but there's real value here. It's not quite on par with Napa Rose across the way, but the same dedication to quality and originality is evident in everything from the menu to the service. Kids will find lots to like about the menu, along with enough distractions between the colorful menus, murals, and character visits to let the adults enjoy a wide range of menu options (from pastas to steaks to fresh fish) and a leisurely cocktail or glass of wine. You'll want to save some room for dessert, too who could pass up warm seasonal-fruit cobbler heaped with vanilla ice cream or a warm chocolate brownie?

Children under age 10 will love the character breakfast. Chip & Dale, goofy, and other Disney celebrities visit the tables, sign autographs, and pose for photos between bites of omelets, waffles, and hotcakes. At dinner, braised chicken and lemon prawns.

Craftsman Grill and Bar

Craftsman is a great place to eat. It has lots of choices to make everyone happy and is easy to get to when you need a break from the parks. Craftsman is a bit off the beaten path, because of this it rarely seems to be crowded. We’ve been on the most packed of summer days and found the whole place fairly deserted. Yet, Craftsman is so close you can see DCA right through the windows.

Hearthstone Lounge

Hearthstone Lounge is Grand Californian's main lounge. Located just off of the hotel's lobby, Hearthstone has indoor seating and a full drink menu with several beer selections, wines, and a selection of spirits.

Transportation to and from Grand Californian Hotel

Driving Your Own Car Grand Californian Hotel is just off of the 5 freeway in Anaheim. Take I-5 South Exit on Disneyland Drive and turn left on Disneyland Drive. Go about 0.6 miles and Grand Californian Hotel will be on your left.

Grand Californian Hotel's GPS address and location are:

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel
1600 S Disneyland Dr
Anaheim, CA 92803

Latitude: 33.807035 North, Longitude: 117.923946 West

Getting to the theme parks and Downtown Disney: All Disneyland Resort theme parks, hotels, and Downtown Disney can be accessed with a short walk from any Grand Californian Hotel room. The walk from Disneyland Hotel to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure usually takes about 15 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. Another option is to take the Disneyland Monorail. Guests who catch the monorail at Downtown Disney will be dropped off at the Tomorrowland Monorail Station.

Shopping at Disney's Grand Californian Resort

Grand Californian Hotel's gift shop is Acorns Gifts & Goods and sits just off the lobby. As you'd expect from a Disney gift shop, Acorns has a decent collection of souvenirs ranging from small trinkets such as keychains and pens, to embroidered jackets and Disney princess dresses. Prices for these items are about what you'd pay in the theme parks or Downtown Disney.

Acorns also sells basic pharmacy items such as sunscreen, aspirin, allergy and cold medicine, baby diapers and formula, shampoo, and the like. Disney-branded cookies, chocolate, coffee tins, and similar items are also available. Prices for these items are considerably higher - about double - than what you'd probably pay at home.

Miscellaneous Grand Californian

Coin-operated washers and dryers are in laundry facilities located near the Fountain Pool. Cost is around $2 per wash, and another $2 per dry cycle. The machines take quarters, and a change machine is provided. A small selection of soap, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are also sold, for around $1 each. A typical wash cycle takes 20 to 30 minutes, and a typical dry cycle takes 40 to 50.

If you lose something during your stay, contact Grand Californian Hotel's Lost and Found department by calling (714) 635-2300.

The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Dining

• GCH Craftsman Bar (Table Service)
• GCH Craftsman Grill (Quick Service)
• Hearthstone Lounge (Bar or Lounge)
• Napa Rose (Table Service)
• Napa Rose Bar (Bar or Lounge)
• Storytellers Cafe (Table Service)

Commuting Times to the Parks

Park	Walk
Disneyland	5.0 min
California Adventure	2.0 min