Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #161: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa Review
Ready to indulge in the ultimate Disney retreat? This episode promises to whisk you away to the enchanting world of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. We recount our personal experiences in this Craftsman-style marvel and compare its laid-back vibe to its regal sister resort, the Grand Floridian. From the joy of Zach's latest Disney merch to our transition to a more casual, magic-filled lifestyle, we share how Disney vacations keep us grounded amidst the chaos of everyday life. Listen as we discuss the luxurious accommodations, seamless check-in process, and a tiny hiccup with our luggage delivery—all part of the unforgettable Disney experience.
Our culinary journey at the Grand Californian is nothing short of spectacular, and we're here to spill the beans on everything from mouth-watering pizzas to the opulent dining at Napa Rose. We review their four-course $150 menu and the pricey yet enchanting Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures. And that's not all—get the scoop on the Tenaya Stone Spa's wellness offerings, the fitness center, and the exclusive park entrance that makes every Disney visit a breeze. Tune in for our honest thoughts and tips on making the most of your stay at this incredible resort!
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Hello and welcome to Circula Parks Podcast, episode number 161. Today we are doing our resort review on Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that, we must talk Disney merch. So this week on Disney merch, you're just gonna have to stay tuned for pictures on a Disney's Grand Californian shirt that Zach purchased while on our trip. So look for more information and pictures on that later this week on social media. And while we're talking about merch, we have merch. If you go to our website, circleofparkscom, click on merch takes you directly to Tee Public and from there you can get stickers, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, t-shirts and more. So please go check that out, and I believe a few of you have, uh, checked that out here recently, so if you are one of those listeners.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much yeah, thank you, we appreciate that. And the shirt I'm wearing it right now. I'm a t-shirt guy. Yes, I, I have getting out of politics wearing suits and ties and all that stuff all the time.
Speaker 2:I have become a shirt and shorts and flip-flop guy he has, which is okay you don't like it, oh no I like, every once in a while, getting dressed up would still be nice and I I like I don't like very in your face busy t-shirts, so when I see one, I like I have to get it right.
Speaker 1:Yes, so this was a good one.
Speaker 2:I kind of went back and forth on this, though you did, but I think it's because of the the sleeves on it, the cut of it, it's like a, a baseball tee like quarter length. It's a three quarter length, yeah, but I like it.
Speaker 1:I do alright, so we're talking everything about Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. If you're just joining us, I'm Zach, I'm Brittany and we do this show every single week and our goal is just to help you have a better Disney vacation. Not only that bring a little Disney joy to your week.
Speaker 2:We need it yes.
Speaker 1:And we're actually having to record a little bit earlier than we normally do due to soccer starting back up for us.
Speaker 2:So our life's about to get crazy. Going back into working a lot so yes, darn back to work.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that's what we do. We just have to bring some disney joy to your day and kind of cure your disney blues a little bit.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and I, you know, I feel like I've been experiencing the disney blues this past week a little um, you know just even though, like it was time to get home and back to our own beds and that kind of thing after our last trip, at the same time just missing, you know, the extra little pixie dust here and there, like they did in our rooms, which we're going to talk about both for this Grand Californian review and our Yacht Club review in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, the best way to cure the Disney blues, besides listening to our podcast, is to book another vacation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But we just don't have any. A lot of stuff's up in the air right now with our kids soccer schedule, maybe some big national tournaments coming up, and we just don't know how that's going to play out right now.
Speaker 2:So we just don't have anything booked besides me going down for research trips right now. Once we know a little bit more, like, I have some dates like kind of in my head. It's just a matter of, okay, is this going to work out or not, and I have an idea of like three different resorts that we may stay at.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and we may be doing something else next year. Maybe, May look forward to that.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:All right. So let's talk about the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. And we got to Take you there too, right? We can't just talk about it. So we're going to play the lobby music in the background and it's just so peaceful, but the music is elegant but grand at the same time. It is so what does Disney say about Disney's Grand California Hotel and Spa, Brittany it?
Speaker 2:says, escape reality at a hotel that defines grandeur at every turn, from premium accommodations and craftsman style elegance to disney's impeccable service in renowned attention renowned renowned attention to detail. Hotel guests can enjoy impressive amenities and rich dining experiences, as well as utilize the convenient proximity to Disney California Adventure Park. It's the ultimate way to enjoy thrill-filled days at the parks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, I think they did a pretty good job of explaining it right there.
Speaker 2:Yes, I would agree.
Speaker 1:I did not. So the sister resort is the Grand Floridian right. Yes, and we stayed at the Grand Floridian.
Speaker 2:This did not feel as what's what well like you didn't feel like you had to dress up here. I guess, yeah, grand, grand floridian, if you don't have something a little bit nicer than a t-shirt on, even though you're there for the parks and stuff, you feel out of place I felt like I had to have at the grand floridian like a collared shirt on at all times and like khakis and nice shoes on right and you don't know it makes you feel that way a little yeah, I just it's more fancy than we are.
Speaker 1:We're not. We're not that fancy. This was but subdued and very relaxed and peaceful.
Speaker 2:Yes, and we'll talk a little bit more throughout this episode of some other resorts that are Disney that it reminds us of. Yeah, but it definitely wasn't on the same scale with how it makes you feel while you're walking around like Grand Floridian. This one was definitely more laid back.
Speaker 1:The Grand Floridian feels like a museum, like I can't touch anything.
Speaker 2:Right Like don't touch. The Grand Californian was relaxing.
Speaker 1:It was. I did not have that impression there, so we've got to talk about a little bit of history first. Right, we're talking about the resort. Opened on January 2, 2001 as part of the Disney California Adventure expansion, it expanded in 2007 and was finished in 2009 to accommodate the growing demand and included the first DVC accommodations on the West Coast. It increased capacity by 200 rooms, with a new capacity of almost 1,000 rooms, and they added some two and three-bedroom DVC villas as well that they did not have prior to that. It is built and operated by the Walt Disney Company and designed by famous architect Peter Dominick of the Urban Design Group. We're going to talk a lot more about him a little bit later. Yes, all right, so continue.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so the design inspiration came from the early 1900s arts and crafts movement, with the craftsman style Very prominent. The reception hall is based on the interior of. I'm going to let you say this no, you go for it. Sweden Borgian church in San Francisco.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:The main lobby is a craftsman style living room, massively and we mean massively scaled up with large wooden beams, exposed, with a high ceiling and massive fireplace. So I'm going to pause here. I'm going to go ahead and make a tie-in real quick. When you hear that if you've been to some resorts in Walt Disney World you might say, oh, massive fireplaces. We've seen that in a resort such as Wilderness Lodge.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And it does definitely remind you of that when you're in there, and we're going to talk about that a little bit more a little later, but I wanted to go ahead and say that it really, truly did remind me a lot of Wilderness Lodge in the lobby, the decorative items throughout the resort are handcrafted using traditional arts and crafts techniques, and the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a AAA four diamond hotel.
Speaker 1:Which the Grand Floridian is as well. Yes, so if you would like to book a vacation and stay at the Grand Californian, reach out to the official sponsor of this podcast, main Street Travel. We use them for all of our Disney and non-Disney vacation needs. We used them to book this trip.
Speaker 2:We did.
Speaker 1:They can plan your Walt Disney World, disneyland, disney Cruise Line Adventures by Disney, alani Disneyland, paris, hilton Head, disney and Vero Beach Disney Resorts vacations Exclusively for our listeners. Only If you tell them we sent you you'll get up to a thousand dollars on board credit with disney cruise line, which several of y'all have, and thank you so much. Yes, thank you. If you book an adventures by disney which I think our next socal trip will be the socal abd get up to a thousand dollars cash back and for your walt disney world trip you'll get a gift card based on the value of that trip. And if you book your Walt Disney World trip with our travel planner, travel Planner Erica, she's going to throw an additional $20 gift card on top of that. Now, if you book Disneyland with our Travel Planner, travel Planner, erica, you'll get a $100 gift card for Disneyland. She loves that park.
Speaker 2:It's her home park.
Speaker 1:They're going're going back soon yes, we were just on their podcast once upon a park podcast and we're talking about all that yes so go check them out.
Speaker 1:Wwwmain street travel cocom. They're on instagram, facebook and youtube and, my favorite thing about them, you can call them 1-800-593-1262, monday through friday, 10 amm, central Time. These are full-time agents that are willing to help you. These are not part-time agents that are going to get back to you at the end of their day job Right. And that's what's so great about Main Street Travel. Everything about them is so awesome.
Speaker 2:Yes, and we were talking with Erica a few days ago and everything, and I told her I said everything that I I and I told her I said everything that I say. You know, I mean it like I really don't keep up when with when we need to make dining reservations and everything, and like she does such a great job of keeping up with that for us and reaching out, you know, a few weeks to a week prior and just making sure what we discussed previously is what we still want to do and the time of day to try to get these dining reservations. You know, so that's just a lot off of our own plate yeah, all right.
Speaker 1:So, moving on with the grand californian, we're going to talk about dining, and now we did not experience a lot of the dining options here because we were here for the parks correct now.
Speaker 2:You know we did experience like on last year's trip. We did what eat. What I'm jumping ahead.
Speaker 1:Goofy's Kitchen.
Speaker 2:No, I'm not talking about that.
Speaker 1:That wasn't at this resort. No, it was not, sorry, my apologies.
Speaker 2:I was talking about the GCH Grand California Hotel, craftsman Grill.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:We did eat there last year that it was really good and you know you savor the flavors. Drop by for mouth-watering meals, refreshing sips and authentic craftsman style ambiance. We're going to talk a little bit about what's on their menu, but on this trip we really only experienced the, the bar, the poolside lounge area of of that restaurant. But the, the food and the beverages were delicious. Okay, yeah, sorry you threw me off the road, skip it ahead.
Speaker 1:Okay, uh, so first, well, so we're gonna while of that restaurant, but the food and the beverages were delicious, okay, yeah, sorry you threw me off there, I know, skip it ahead, okay, so first.
Speaker 2:Well, so we're going to, while we're there, even though I skipped ahead, let's talk about that one.
Speaker 1:Okay, go for it.
Speaker 2:I love throwing you off. I'm confused. Now Go for it.
Speaker 1:So since we, I well go ahead.
Speaker 2:Okay, so last year, when we ate at the Craftsman Grill, you know you had, let's see, they do have breakfast. Now we ate dinner there. Now, if you want to know what their breakfast menu is like, they have breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, smoked salmon, bagel sandwiches, egg white omelets. You have the traditional scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, fruit, breakfast potatoes. You have brioche, French toast, breakfast burrito, Belgian waffle. Why are you doing that to me?
Speaker 1:What.
Speaker 2:Anyway, they can't see, so I will just ignore. But then for lunch and dinner they have, and I'm trying to get my See, that's what happens when you skip ahead. No, so they have baked nachos, fish and chips, sticky chicken wings, a Wagyu Gouda burger. Did you get that last year?
Speaker 1:I can't remember.
Speaker 2:Okay, and a seared salmon salad, flat iron steak salad, carne asada, quesadilla. They have different pizzas from margarita pizza, classic pepperoni pizza, charcuterie pizza and a forest mushroom and possible sausage pizza, as well as sundaes for desserts For kids. They have hamburgers, those classic chicken tenders you can get at all the Disney resorts, and grilled cheese. So on this trip we did from the bar. Well, on our pool day we did try the pizzas and they were delicious.
Speaker 1:The charcuterie pizza was really good. I would not recommend eating it all by yourself. It did not go well for me that night.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was a really big pizza, but yes, I mean, they did an excellent job. I wasn't sure what to expect by these pizzas. I had the margarita pizza and so good. Wasn't sure what to expect by these pizzas I had the margarita pizza and so good. So I definitely recommend, if you have like, if you don't have time to eat there and sit down in the restaurant, but you are maybe having a resort day and spending a day at the pool, definitely ordering some food from here yeah, all right so, moving back to where we were supposed to start, at Napa Rose, yes, savor upscale California fare and an extensive wine list in an elegant setting.
Speaker 1:So I looked at this when we first booked it and then I saw it was a prefixed four-course menu and I'm like I'm out.
Speaker 2:Yeah $150.
Speaker 1:You'll get a first, second round entree and then a dessert and with our boys and what all we were doing. This was not for us right but I could see if you were staying there, if we were staying here for like a week then maybe, maybe maybe, but when you look at the menu there it looks pretty good, but you can get everything.
Speaker 1:Um, I think you can get everything, uh, a la carte as well, because they have menus for they have prices for everything individual. But yeah, if you want to get a little more fancy, then nappa rose looks like a great place and it celebrates california like this resort really celebrates california. The sequoias are represented and just the northern california rustic feel is really celebrated here right so yeah, yeah, and like he said, you know you can get that four course meal.
Speaker 2:But then you know the a la carte and stuff. I mean they have things you know, starters such as salads and scallops, to pastas, gnocchi. You know, the main course is fish of the day, duck breast, ribeye, lemon roasted chicken filet, you know. And they have a variety of desserts as well, from cherry, cherry, cherry, cherry, pistachio, upside down buckle cake to a chocolate cloud which is made with caramel and toasted marshmallow and a few other desserts as well. And then for kids entrees they have a petite filet, noodles and cheese, simple green salad, and for their desserts a chocolate brownie, sundae, chocolate or vanilla ice cream and seasonal sorbet.
Speaker 1:All right, moving on, I'll let you talk about this next one, because I'm out.
Speaker 2:Which one Storytellers?
Speaker 1:You're skipping ahead Disney's Princess Breakfast Adventures, oh.
Speaker 2:For some reason that link didn't open up for me. Sorry.
Speaker 1:I am out on this.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Especially for the prices. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:I'm trying. Okay, so it starts at $100 and $135.
Speaker 1:$135. Yes, starting.
Speaker 2:So treat your child, are you? Wow yeah, we wouldn't be doing this, even if it was like just me, for that price. But treat your child to an unforgettable three course breakfast and enchanting encounters with some favorite Disney princesses. So it is located in the Grand Californian.
Speaker 1:At Napa Rose.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so this is like the breakfast, okay, gotcha. Yeah, so this is like the breakfast at Napa Rose Okay, gotcha.
Speaker 2:So dreams come true at Napa Rose Restaurant inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, where you'll be served a sumptuous three-course breakfast. Kids can let their imagination soar during one-of-a-kind princess-themed activities. Upon arrival, disney princesses are waiting to greet you and share in your hopes and dreams. Prior to taking a photo on a beautiful private patio, you may take part in story time with Belle or learn some fierce warrior poses with Mulan. Young adventurers are presented with a special keepsake to take back to your home kingdom to remember your magical morning.
Speaker 1:I can't get over that price. That's crazy that is a lot.
Speaker 2:Now, for starters, it says you'll be dazzled by three-tier towers of appetizers, which may include coconut cookies and cream, chia parfait, chef Louie's mini lobster roll, tiana's famous beignets, princess Jasmine's banana wrap and Pocahontas cornbread. And then your main courses are chicken and mickey waffles, mac and cheese, bacon. Adults can select from menu options such as scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, caramelized pears and figs, breakfast deviled eggs, braised short ribs and a lot more. So, um, it sounds like the food is. Some of it is a little on the higher end, and then the experience you're getting with the princesses, I think, is why it's priced where it's at. But that is something that we won't be doing.
Speaker 1:Never Ever. That's crazy. Yeah, I was in shock at the price. Now, we had the dining plan when we went to Walt Disney World, but for the character dinings that we did, I was we'll talk about those later Walt Disney World. But for the character dinings that we did, I was we'll talk about those later. I was shocked at some of the prices when we got, because they send you the bill at the end of what it would have been.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, I couldn't imagine three times that. Yeah, that's crazy. All right, moving on.
Speaker 2:Now this next one is one that, if we did go back to Grand Californian, I would like to experience.
Speaker 1:You have fun.
Speaker 2:It's called Storytellers Cafe. Celebrate California folklore over a bountiful buffet and meet some Disney characters during breakfast and brunch. They don't appear during dinner.
Speaker 1:So we'll go to dinner.
Speaker 2:But delicious food does.
Speaker 1:So dinner time it is.
Speaker 2:Well, either way, when we walked by Storytellers, each time the inside looked really nice and so it had my attention. So even if we don't do the character dining for breakfast, that's fine. If you did choose to, though, for breakfast it's $52 per adult and $31 per child. Again, child ages are three to nine and it includes, you know, like your yogurt, bar, cereals, pastries, you know, croissants, all of that smoked salmon, bar fruits and berries, and then you have your make your own omelet station, all the Mickey waffles, hash browns, bacon, scrambled eggs, you know, and a lot of other items as well that you will see on most of your breakfast buffets. So that's for breakfast and, again, that's when you get the character dining. Now they do brunch and they do dinner. Let's skip over to the dinner menu I'm in for dinner.
Speaker 1:It's reasonably priced 47 for adult, 26 per kid. Well, we're out of the kids now by the time we go back. Yeah, yeah, so that's not bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's really not bad and it looks like you know you have your salad selections roasted chicken, whatever. Their special of the day is potatoes, flatbreads, carved meats, fish, vegetables, mac and cheese, pasta of the day, different desserts. So yeah, for those prices and it being a buffet, I'd go for dinner.
Speaker 1:I'm out for breakfast.
Speaker 2:But you have to admit, every time we walked by, didn't the inside look nice? It does look very, very nice, and again keeping with that rustic theme.
Speaker 1:They did a very good job of keeping it rustic but elegant. Yes, but not stuffy. That's what I was looking for.
Speaker 2:Stuffy.
Speaker 1:Stuffy, you walk into Grand Floridian. It's a little stuffy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but not in the Grand Californian, not here. No.
Speaker 1:All right. Moving on to the Hearthstone Lounge, we did not go here. No, curl up by the crackling fireplace at this fine hotel lounge that offers a full bar and masterfully crafted culinary selections ranging from light bites to sandwiches, burgers, steak and other delectable entrees. Did not go here because we spent all of well. I did go over to Disneyland Hotel to Trader Sam's, but then I came back. We just spent our off time at the pool.
Speaker 2:We did Now if we had stayed a couple extra days. This is one that definitely has my attention and the inside looks very relaxing as well. Definitely has that California wilderness vibe to it. And you know, even if you just wanted to relax and nibble on cheese and charcuterie and other light bites, you can. But, as Zach was saying, you know lunch or dinner if you are more, other light bites you can. But, as zach was saying, you know lunch or dinner if you are more hungry, then you can get sandwich, burgers, pizza, you know steaks, all of that uh, the menu here looks pretty good too yeah, and it mentions a short rib lasagna, so that's interesting interesting.
Speaker 1:Yes, all right, so moving on, we've already talked about the craftsman bar yes, threw you off a little bit, sorry and so the craftsman grill we did not talk about that's, I tied it all in together, oh you did okay. So there's also a quick service place here that I did not know about until our last day because it's hidden okay and if I had known that that would have been a game changer for that first day. Instead of ordering from the bar right now real quick.
Speaker 2:During certain hours when you're at the pool, they do have some servers coming around. If you want to order drinks or order from that pool bar menu, you know you can do that too without having to get up, but you might be waiting a little while. This pool area is fabulous but it's very busy, so you may be waiting for your beverages and food for a little while, if you go.
Speaker 1:Let's go and talk about the pools, okay so, but what's the quick service place? It was.
Speaker 2:It's just the uh craftsman grill okay, just like on the other side. Yeah, okay, so is it still similar menu options?
Speaker 1:well, it's just your quick service, like chicken tenders and all that stuff, burgers, all that it's behind the bar. It's kind of hidden, okay, so I didn't you didn't realize I didn't realize that. Yeah, so it's, but in the very back.
Speaker 2:Yeah so they could have done a little bit better of a job of maybe placing it better right or having better signage so, or maybe that's why they're counting on you ordering from the servers from like what?
Speaker 1:10 to 6 or something time frame.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All right. So the pools at Disney's Grand Californian Discover the Art of Relaxation are dazzling pools provided tranquil oasis where the focus is pampering you. Now the first thing stuck out to me these lounge chairs. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Very nice.
Speaker 1:They're the most comfortable lounge chairs I think I've ever had in any hotel, not just Disney.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Any hotel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they are super cushiony, they're very I don't know. It's like the thickness of two or three put together.
Speaker 1:It's like a mattress.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So nice.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But they have a choice of three pools. They have the Fountain Pool, they have the Redwood Pool and the Mariposa Pool and they have a water slide.
Speaker 2:And I will say this the water slide is at the Redwood Pool At the Redwood Pool.
Speaker 1:For some reason, and I don't know why, here we go. California has a problem with GoPros on the floaty thing at the slides.
Speaker 2:But Walt Disney World does not.
Speaker 1:I went on the most intense slides in Walt Disney World and they could care less. Yeah, why? What's the problem?
Speaker 2:Right, because this happened last year, when we stayed at Disneyland Hotel as well. No, GoPros.
Speaker 1:I'm like, oh, after I climbed all the way to the top.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm like okay.
Speaker 2:And even when we were at um typhoon lagoon, no problem with gopros, yeah well, disney world's completely fine with it. Yeah, I I don't know. It's very interesting. There's a lot of things in uh, california, disneyland, that are different from walt disney world.
Speaker 1:That is very interesting and there's lifeguards at the top of the water slides in disneyland and walt disney world.
Speaker 2:No lifeguards, it's just the honor system yeah, at the top, but you have lifeguards everywhere around the pool and when you come out of the slide, but anyway, yeah, very relaxing.
Speaker 1:I did feel like we were in the disney bubble when we were in the pool area I agree, and, yes, very, very relaxing.
Speaker 2:You know, again, we we did the redwood pool, so you, you know that's the one, like we said, it has that 90 foot long water slide that curves around giant, a giant stump of a redwood tree. I thought that looked very interesting.
Speaker 1:It was cool.
Speaker 2:And there's a lot of little sectioned off pools throughout this area. You know, it's not all one huge giant pool, if that makes sense. So you know, if this one pool in that same area it looks a little too crowded, you can just walk like 15 feet and get in another one, you know. So I liked that. Uh, we didn't see the fountain pool or the mariposa pool, which is the other like leisure, relaxing, quieter pools, but I'm sure that they're beautiful as well. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:All right, so the spa. Brittany, we almost booked you a spot in the Tenaya. How do you say that Tenaya Stone Spa?
Speaker 2:Yes, I don't know what all you want me to say, since I didn't get to go to it.
Speaker 1:Well, so it's called the Tenaya Stone Spa, and when you first walked in, there was a facial treatment that you were yes.
Speaker 2:So it caught my attention, you know, because I'm like, oh well, maybe if they can squeeze me in last minute that afternoon I would go and get a facial. I forgot the exact description of it it was like a honey face facial of sorts and it just really caught my attention. And so we went to the concierge there and they tried their best to get me in and there just wasn't any availability. Now again, you know, doing it last minute I wasn't sure if there would be or not and I wasn't upset that they couldn't get me in. You know, it was just one of those like if it happened to have an opening, then I would have definitely taken an hour and done that oh, and I'm looking further down on their menu.
Speaker 1:They have so they call it wellness offerings. Sunrise yoga in Disneyland Park, in the park, in the park oh, that's pretty cool. Paddleboard yoga Now, I'm not on that, but power walking workout in Disney's California Adventure. Kick off your day with an energetic walk and active stretching throughout the park before it opens.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:That's actually kind of cool. Yeah, and that's one of the benefits to having its own entrance to the park yes, I thought that was yeah, that's pretty cool now it doesn't show the prices of that I don't think that would be. Doesn't show a price for that.
Speaker 2:Hopefully you wouldn't have to pay for that, yeah now I think the the facial that I wanted was the glowing gold honey facial for 50 minutes. Now the price isn't what it is here. I think they were having a special.
Speaker 1:That's why you couldn't get in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I can't remember what the price was the day that I was trying to get in. Now, on their regular menu it's $225. I think it was like 150 or something. Yeah, yeah On that day. And so you know that's why it caught my attention and everything. But you know, walking by the doors of it and everything, oh my gosh, like it does scream a total relaxing spa atmosphere to you.
Speaker 1:So you know, if it's relaxing, why would it scream at you?
Speaker 2:well, not scream, but like you, know what I mean. I'm kidding like it's like, oh, if only I could get in those doors, you know, and just kind of have a you know know, wellness, well-being experience.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and they also have a fitness center, which was quite large. We walked past it every day, leaving our room.
Speaker 2:Yes, and it was quite large and a lot of people were using it at all different hours. You know, we saw people in there in the morning, middle of the day, in the evening.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I mean this, this resort has pretty much everything you need, you know, and of course, just like all the disney resorts, it has a little you know shop on the inside as well. Uh, so if you, you know, forgot some items such as like, say, baby wipes or tylenol and things like that, you can get that. And of course, it has some disney merch as well as grand californian merch, as we talked about, and so I don't know, I just loved it from the moment that we got dropped off. Honestly, I just really truly loved the entrance. As you're walking in, I I don't know what about you like those. It was like stained glass doors that look like you were walking into the wilderness.
Speaker 1:Right. So again, the resort, the whole resort of Disneyland, is in the middle of a major city, in the middle of Anaheim, and when you walk in, when I first, when we first walked in, I was like wow, just the grandeur of it does hit you. Like it does when you're walking into the Woodward and Assaj or Animal Kingdom Lodge, like it does hit you. It has that same impact and there's a reason it does. We'll get into that in a little bit. But the Disney customer service we'd already checked in online. Our room was already ready. When we got there it was like 1030 in the morning and the people Because you can't use your Magic Band Pluses here to unlock the door, right, so you had to get room keys and they had hotel people already out in the lobby like oh, are you checking in, you doing this, you doing that, so you don't have to wait in that line at the check-in counter and she was like I can take care of it right here.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Got your cards, everything and she was very, very nice.
Speaker 1:Super nice. Yes, Took less than five minutes, Mm-hmm. I will say this about the luggage though. Mm. You know we arrived in a car and the luggage people are already out there. Do you need help with your bags? Like well, our room's already ready. Can you take it on up there? And they're like well, I'm not, but it was already on the luggage cart, Somebody else will, and I was like well. So we had to wait like 30 minutes for our bags to get to our room, which is not a big deal, but when we were ready to go eat lunch, because morning.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it kind of was like okay, right, like I could understand, like we should have maybe said just taking it with us at the time.
Speaker 2:It was a little confusing, like I think maybe they're used to rooms not being ready till a few hours oh no, they're hustling well, a little bit, but also a lot of times your room isn't ready no, we got very lucky so you know, we had kind of planned to let people take our luggage for the day so we could do things and get it later when the room was ready, but in this case it was already yeah, so initial impressions was just relaxing it's.
Speaker 1:It's like you're in a northern california spa in the middle of anaheim yes, that's what it felt like. And trying to compare it to disneyland much real Disneyland Hotel Right, I really liked at Disneyland Hotel the pictures of Walt in the opening day stuff and all of that, but it was crazy, it was. It was nuts.
Speaker 2:This didn't feel like it, even though tons of people were staying here it was very crowded. But it didn't feel that way.
Speaker 2:It kept that relaxing vibe and you know, from the minute you walk in you get that Disney Resort smell and you know, when you walk in, like we were saying, you know it really truly does remind you of Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. You know, you walk through like these stained glass doors, like I was saying earlier, that have like nature all over it. You know, and again, the lady just was so nice getting us, you know, checked in with the keys and all of that, and the lobby is just breathtaking really. And then, like we were saying earlier, we did see that sign for the spa and concierge was trying to go out of their way to get me in and it just didn't work out and it was fine, you know. And the walk to the room, very nice, the, the uh, the theming is just on par like you're in the woods yeah, it really, truly is so, uh, the stay was very nice.
Speaker 1:The rooms were very comfortable, very large they I don't think they were as big as the disneyland hotel rooms, but they were pretty big. They were big and the bathrooms were great. The beds were very comfortable.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then they had that pull out bed yes and when you pulled that out it had a scene of bambi and his mom behind it and you know the theming in the room. You know it had trees and acorns and oranges and all that and chip and dale. And then there was a really nice picture that looks more like cartoon art but it shows a father and daughter on a bench looking at a carousel that was really cool and that's a that's the nod to walt, yes, and the carousel where he had the idea of Disneyland.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and our view. Like it wasn't looking, it wasn't like a preferred room or anything like that, but it was still very woodsy looking from our balcony.
Speaker 1:They did a great job of keeping you. Try to keep you in the bubble, but when you're on the balcony, you could hear traffic. You still could hear people drag racing down Cotella Avenue, all that, so you know you're not in the Disney bubble then Right, but it was great.
Speaker 2:Your room does come with robes and house shoes. The bathroom, as you were saying, was nice. It was very spacious. The shower was huge. It was very, very, very, very nice. If we go back, I would love to stay here.
Speaker 1:I think this is where we would stay and I think if you do the Adventure by Disney to SoCal trip, this is where you stay.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay.
Speaker 1:So I think next time we do go back out, which will probably be a little bit. We're a Grand Californian family.
Speaker 2:We believe so, and if nothing else, we're the cheers at the pool.
Speaker 1:Yes, All right. So that brings us to Disney trivia. This week, the question was what three Disney resorts did. Architect Peter Dominic design. I told you we'd be talking about this again. Yes, yes. And if you have an idea of what the Grand California looks like and you've been to the resorts in Walt Disney World, it's very obvious. The Warden's Lodge, animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand California Hotel and Spa they're all very similar.
Speaker 2:Very much so.
Speaker 1:And he did an amazing job. They're just grand, but not stuffy.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:They're beautiful, relaxing, just amazing resorts, yes. So congratulations, peter Dominick, you did an amazing job designing these resorts. Yeah, and this week's winner from X is Sweeney, so congratulations to Sweeney for this week's trivia. Next week, we're talking about the yacht club review.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So the question will be about the yacht club or maybe storm along Bay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know, they go hand in hand.
Speaker 1:They go hand in hand, they go hand in hand.
Speaker 2:But yeah, so would we stay, as we already answered, at Grand California again. Yes, breathtaking, beautiful, love the extra benefits it has to entry to the parks and, just you know, next time we'd like to experience some other dining there. Yeah, yeah All right.
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Speaker 2:Going to be nice. It isn't the worst.
Speaker 1:Give us a couple of weeks you can go check us out on facebook, instagram and x all that circle of parks. And again, thank you so much for listening. We really do appreciate it. Hope you have a great week and we'll talk to you next week about the yacht club.
Speaker 2:Yes, talk to you soon, thank you.