Take a look inside the amazing Grand Californian rooms

I recently had an amazing opportunity to visit Disneyland and stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort. Take a peek inside the amazing accommodations!

Disney’s Grand Californian Resort

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It is a deluxe resort that boasts premium accommodations and Craftsman-style elegance. The hotel is the only Disney Vacation Club property at Disneyland until Disney completes the DVC Tower at the Disneyland Hotel.

Just like the Grand Floridian, the Grand Californian is designed after the state it resides in. The theming takes you to the woods of Northern California with the pine trees and natural details throughout the resort. Imagineers wanted to pay tribute to the Arts and Crafts Movement in the early 1900s. It really is like walking into a giant forest – it is beautiful! In my (Monica) opinion, it most closely resembles the Wilderness Lodge at Disney World.

The beautiful theming flows into the rooms as well with the hardwood floors, green carpet, and California art on the walls. For my full guide and thoughts on the resort as a whole, read this post HERE.

Types of Rooms

One thing I find really unique about Disneyland hotels is the sheer variety of room types offered. You will find standard rooms, club level rooms, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites, and other “signature suites.” They are exquisite and unlike anything else you will find on property. These signature suites include:

• Arcadia
• Arroyo
• El Capitan
• Mount Whitney

Pricing will vary, of course, depending on the type of room you select and your view. In addition to the above room types, there are also different views including pool, partial, standard, woods-courtyard, and Downtown Disney. I would have booked a standard room, but the only view available was Downtown Disney. We ended up loving it, and even though we paid a bit extra we had a bit more of the “Disney experience”! We were able to look outside the balcony and enjoy the music and views of people shopping and dining.

This review will focus on a standard room. Unfortunately, my photos do not do the room justice. We had pretty rough lighting coming from the balcony because of the time of day we entered the room for the first time. I am a real life mom with messy kids, and waiting until there was better lighting meant there would be socks and souvenirs everywhere along with unraveled sheets!

Closet and Bar Area

Upon entering the room, the first thing you will notice is that it is just like every other Disney deluxe room. It starts with a long hallway with a bathroom on the left and the wardrobe and bar area on the right. I do like that the deluxe rooms offer this instead of value and moderate resorts that just open up to the big room with a bathroom in the back. It definitely provides more of a homey space than just a one-room layout.

The little area directly behind the door provides plenty of space for your luggage or stroller. Then, you have the wardrobe with a clothes rack and hangers. There are also a couple robes and packs of slippers to provide a more comfortable stay. You will also find the ironing board stacked against the side and a luggage rack stacked against the back.

The in-room safe is on the other side of the wardrobe, and you can also find extra pillows and blankets at the very bottom. There is more dresser space in the main area, so do not worry if you have more clothes than room! A giant mirror the size of the wardrobe greets you as you close the doors.

Right next to the wardrobe is the little bar area. You will find a beverage cooler, but do note this is not an actual refrigerator. There is also a Keurig coffee maker, some coffee pods and cups, and an ice bucket. Since this is not a DVC studio it does not have the kitchenette with sink and microwave.

Bathroom

The bathroom is pretty standard for a Disney deluxe resort bathroom. You have a separate vanity area with two sinks, some under sink storage, and a trash can. There is also a small ledge above the counter to hold more of your things.

I also really liked that Disney provides a little step stool and a laundry basket under the sinks. I have never seen a step stool inside a Disney hotel!

A pocket door separates the vanity area from the tub/shower combo and toilet. There was very light theming in the bathroom, but the travel sized bottles of H2O made up for it! We love taking the leftovers home, which can’t be done with the rooms that have the big bottles connected to the wall.

Main Living Space

The main living space has a desk area with a chair and lamp along with another mirror. Next to the desk you will find the mounted television and dresser. There is plenty of room for your electronics and other things on top, and more storage for clothing in the six drawers.

Then, there is the sofa/bed combo. I just love the themed artwork that perfectly matches the resort you are staying in! For the Grand Californian, a mural from Bambi is revealed when you pull the bed down. There are three framed art pieces above the bed that reflect another item California is known for: oranges! Yes, you can find California oranges just like you can find Florida oranges.

The opposite side of the room holds two queen beds. Yes, there are two dedicated queen beds! No pull down bed here! Disney painted a beautiful tree in the middle of the wall with the leaves extending over each bed. I love the cream colored walls and wood trim and headboards. It looks clean and inviting but still pays homage to the woodsy atmosphere of the resort as a whole.

I also really like the carpet in here. I typically prefer hardwood floors in hotels because of germs, but the green carpet in here almost has a pattern like it is part of a forest. It gives it more color and character and less sterile feel than some of the other recently updated rooms. The green carpet and beige walls also help offset the plain white bedding in the room.

Finally, the balcony overlooks part of Downtown Disney. We were really happy with our view because we could people watch and listen to the fun music playing outside as we rested in the room. If you prefer a more serene view or less background noise during your stay, I recommend staying away from a Downtown Disney view. The pool was also very crowded when we visited, so I imagine pool views are also more noisy.

Overall Thoughts

I was only at the Grand Californian for two nights, and it was simply not enough. Since this was my first visit to Disneyland, my days were pretty jam-packed with park activities. I really wish I could have spent more time wandering around the resort and taking in the breathtaking views.

The room was fantastic in every way. Most importantly, it was clean and safe. There were plenty of room amenities like the extra storage space and the step stool to make our stay more comfortable. I love the artwork on the walls and the adorable Bambi mural. Disney really did a great job theming the resort, and they paid special attention to keep it flowing into the guest rooms. Oftentimes, the room can feel like an after-thought instead of a continuation of the resort (looking at you, Copper Creek).

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort? What did you think of your experience? What questions can I answer about the resort or room? I am happy to help! Let me know in the comments below and on Facebook.