The Great Room

Besides lovely, comfortable rooms and good room service (available 24 hours a day) the Grand Californian has so much to offer that it is almost an attraction unto itself. The Great Room is a towering room dominated by post and beam construction and the huge hand hammered copper chandeliers with branch motif shade (in keeping with the Arts and Crafts theme) hanging from the ceiling. Each of the floors look down into the great room and provide many cozy seating areas to curl up with a good book or have an intimate talk. The decoration is all based on a forest theme done in a William Morris style. The carpets are strewn with pine cones, leaves, and ferns. Even the hall lights cast a glow that resembles the tops of the trees. The furnishings all Arts and Crafts with some of it being actual Stickley pieces (a manufacturer of Mission-style furniture popular during the Arts and Crafts Movement. Old pieces are worth quite a bit. The Stickley Company is still in business today).

The pool area

The hotel provides three pools for guests, The Fountain Pool (featuring a spitting turtle), the Redwood Pool (with a slide that wraps around a redwood tree trunk), and a child’s wading pool. The entrance to the pool area is by room key through what is referred to as the Sun Gate. It’s a lovely handmade gate that features forest creatures and California poppies. If you look close, you can spot butterflies and even ants crawling along the gate. It was fashioned by an artist in the Disney Arts program and is a pretty amazing gate. When asked how he was able to create the creatures out of metal on the gate, the artist replied, "I just bang away till it looks like something."

The themeing here even goes so far as to carry over into California Adventure. The pool area backs up against the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. The bottom half of the fallen redwood that forms the pool slide matches up to the top half of the tree within the Redwood Challenge Trail. I’m sure very few guests ever notice something like this, but it’s this kind of detail that makes Disney, well... Disney.

Brisa Courtyard

One other area of the hotel worth mentioning before I move on to services is the Brisa Courtyard. This is the courtyard that the Monorail travels over. It can also be accessed from Downtown Disney via the Moon Gate. The Brisa Courtyard right now, is a quiet and tranquil place. It is planted with redwoods especially bred for growth in this area. In a few years when they grow up, this will be a magnificent spot. It’s pretty stunning now. The courtyard itself is laid out in a circular pattern of bricks supposed to resemble the swirling winds. When the Monorail travels through this area, if you close your eyes and just listen, it sounds like the wind is gently whooshing past you.

All of the outdoor lights in this part of the hotel are reflective of the design of the Moon Gate and the gentle breeze. Made by the same Disney artist who created the Sun Gate, the Moon Gate features a large azure colored glass moon peeking through the shadows of the forest trees. It’s very pretty, especially with the light shining through the blue glass moon.

There are several dining choices at the hotel plus a beautifully appointed bar.

Off the pool is White Water Snacks. It’s pretty amazing how much this little place has to offer. It reminded me of the food courts that accompany each resort at Walt Disney World, except on a very small scale. It’s mainly self serve with a big variety of snacks, sandwiches, salads, and beverages. There is a grill that will also prepare hot foods as well. White Water Snacks open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I had a sandwich there and bought some pastries to snack on and both were very good. The cast members working there were, as I found everywhere at the Grand Californian, practically falling over to help and about the friendliest folks around. And, like the resorts at WDW, White Water Snacks also offers a souvenir mug that costs $7.95 and comes with unlimited refills of coffee and soft drinks during the length of your stay.

Storytellers Café

The mid-priced restaurant is Storytellers Café. When I dined there with my friend Carroll and my two daughters, the first thing the hostess asked us was if we wanted to know why it was called Storytellers. "Of course," we replied, "Why?"

"Because back in the late 1800s there were no televisions or movies so people had to amuse themselves with stories."

When the Imagineers designed the restaurant they selected seven books representing California to decorate the interior of the room. These seven stories are reflected in every aspect of the room’s decoration, from carpeting, to lighting, to even the menus. Each menu has one of the seven stories on the inside of the front. Across the back of the room are seven very large paintings, one for each book. They represent The Curse of the Dazzler, The Mask of Zorro, Tortilla Flats, The Californians, Ahwahnee Tales, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and Island of the Blue Dolphins.

The room is also decorated with more of those famous epigrams. My favorite was a very nice tribute to Marty Dorf. Marty designed many rooms for Disney, his most famous being the California Grill atop the Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World. He also worked on Storytellers. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could see the completed restaurant. In a prominent spot in the waiting area of Storytellers is Marty’s favorite epigram, One Machine Can Do The Work Of 50 Ordinary Men. No Machine Can Do The Work Of One Extraordinary Man.

As for the food and the service, I thought the service was very good. Our waiter Brian was attentive, withstood our constant laughter (we were having a very good time), made great recommendations (the raspberry lemonade is so good you will swear it is the god’s nectar) and told us an amusing story when we asked where our story was. The food was good, but not as good as the prices they charge. Every effort was made to accommodate our requests (me, the picky and food allergy- laden problem child had no problems). I did think the lemon meringue tart we had from room service was lot better than the one served here though.

Napa Rose

The shining jewel of restaurants at the Grand Californian is the Napa Rose. Although I had reservations, I ended up canceling them so I cannot, Dear Readers, tell you what the food is like there, yet. I did pop in to see what the restaurant looks like though. As with everything else, it’s stunning in design. The name would suggest a rose theme and that would be correct. Everywhere there are roses, but they are very simply designed in an Arts and Crafts style. The dining room has a large glass window with a beautiful view of Grizzly River Run.

The first thing you see when you enter the restaurant is a large thing taking up the whole wall. I say thing because I am at a loss for words to describe just what it looks like. It is called a Cruvinet. That is pronounced crew-vin-a. The Cruvinet is a big fancy dispenser that holds all the house wines. It’s special because once the wines are placed in the Cruvinet, no oxygen gets into the wines. They can stay in there forever and still be as fresh as the day they were put in. What this means is that when you order a glass of wine at the Napa Rose, you get the freshest most optimum tasting glass of wine you will ever have.

For those of you who enjoy a fine cigar, you can get one at the Napa Rose. They have a good selection of the best cigars available and even though the hotel is a non-smoking hotel, offer a smoking porch to enjoy your selected cigar whilst you dine.

Hearthstone Lounge - See the hidden Mickeys?

Although the Hearthstone Lounge has a fully stocked bar, it’s more like a cozy old library (without the books) than a bar. Everything is wood paneled and gorgeous. Some of the wood used here was taken from a fallen redwood that the Disney folks purchased and had made into veneer. The walls are filled with Arts and Crafts inspired oil paintings in beautiful custom made carved wood frames. In the morning, the lounge is a great place to sip coffee and enjoy a freshly baked pastry. Later in the day, have a favorite glass of wine and some good conversation with a friend.

I think by now Dear Readers, you are beginning to understand what I meant when I said the Grand Californian is an attraction all by itself. As if all the above was not enough, there is still more to tell.

If you hate missing your workouts when you are on vacation, then you’re staying at the right place. Indulge in that delectable desert at Napa Rose and work it off the next morning. The Grand Californian offers to its guests the Eureka Springs Health Club. Although I left my workout togs at home, I did have a peek into the club and I was very impressed. It has everything in the way of the latest machinery and a good selection of free weights too. There are beautiful wood paneled lockers (who knew that a locker could look so pretty) and a steam room and sauna in the ladies room. I’m assuming the same setup is in the men’s room. Eureka Springs also offers full body massages and has trainers available to assist you if you don’t know how to use the machines.

For the children, there is Pinocchio’s Workshop. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 can play at the workshop (sans parents) from the hours of 5pm to 12am for the fee of $9.00 per hour. A snack is included and meals can be provided at an additional cost. Pinocchio’s Workshop is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Storytelling

Also, several times daily (subject to change so check with the hotel for the current times) a storyteller gathers kids by the fireplace in the Great Hall to tell stories and get the kids involved in the telling of the story. It’s free and the kids love it.

The hotel has a full Business Center that is open from 8am to 5pm. Available services are photocopies, faxes, personal computer workstations, internet access, typing, word processing, shipping and office supplies, and delivery service by Fed Ex.

The Convention Center at the hotel offers 20,000 square feet of meeting rooms and conference space and a separate entry from the hotel. I got to have a peek into one of the meeting rooms and couldn’t believe how completely stunning it was. The ceiling was barrel vaulted, providing lots of light and airiness. The room held a large conference table and was fully equipped for the latest technology.

In addition to the 751 guest rooms, the Grand Californian also offers several suites. The suites feature separate bedrooms and living quarters with kitchen facilities. They are decorated in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene and Greene.

Need money? Don’t we all. It’s a Disney vacation, so at some point Dear Readers, I assume you’ll be interested in banking, if for nothing other than an ATM to resupply after the souvenir shopping at the new World of Disney store in Downtown Disney. The Grand Californian offers every banking need from foreign currency exchange to check cashing. It is available at the Guest Services Desk. You’ll find ATMs (nicely themed to Arts and Crafts too), right off the lobby.

The gift shop

If you find you need a monogrammed Grand Californian bath robe to take home with you visit Acorns & Gifts, the hotel gift shop. It’s open from 7 am to 9 pm daily and has a nice array of merchandise including books on the Arts and Crafts movement and everyone in there is very nice and eager to help you with your every need.

My own personal favorite touches are things I think makes the Grand Californian a great place to stay. They are two very nice amenities the hotel probably could have omitted and no one would have ever known the difference. Bravo to Disney for not omitting them.

Piano in front of the hearth

The first is simple, music. There is a baby grand piano in the Great Hall. During the day from 12 pm to 8 pm a pianist provides music that is very nice. I liked it a lot and spent a good while relaxing in a Stickley chair in the Great Hall in the inglenook (a cozy corner by a fireplace) enjoying the fire and the soothing music. I plan to go back with a good book and do it again some afternoon in the near future. That is one of the pleasures of living near the Disneyland Resort. I can enjoy these amenities whenever I wish.

The second touch was a tour called The Art of the Craft. On the last day I stayed at the hotel, I really didn't have anything I had to do, so I decided to see what the tour was all about. It’s something, Dear Readers, that I cannot recommend highly enough. What an interesting and pleasurable hour I spent. And best of all, it’s absolutely free. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to take the tour either. Presently, the tour is offered at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. It’s best to call to confirm the time and make reservations as 15 people is the maximum allowed per tour. You can however, walk up and participate if there is room. On it you will learn all about the design of the hotel, what the Arts and Crafts movement was, some interesting facts about the hotel, and where a hidden Mickey or two are located (they are hard to find—here’s a hint... think check-in, art, and time). From inside the hotel, see the Guest Services Desk for reservations and information. From outside call (714) 635-2300.

Before I end my story and let you go to call and make your reservations, I have one last tidbit of information to impart. It’s a small thing, but I thought it was nice. One objection I have always had to the Disneyland hotel is that they charge their guests for parking, $10 a night. I was prepared for this during my stay at the Grand Californian. I got a surprise. Parking is free, self-parking that is. Across the street by the Paradise Pier hotel in a private lot accessible only by room key is the self-parking. At first I thought, "Hey, wait a minute. I have to park across the street?" But after I parked my car there, I realized it’s not very far. In fact, it’s closer than I was able to park my car at Dixie Landings the last time I stayed at Walt Disney World. If you don’t want to park you car yourself though, you can keep it in valet. There is a charge for that, but at $6.00 per night, it’s still less than the Disneyland Hotel. To me, it was a pretty good deal.

Now, that I have tempted you with the pleasures of Disney’s Grand Californian, let me just leave you with one more thought, a little something for you to try to find when you go there…

There is a hidden Tinker bell.

See if you can spot her!

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You can take MousePlanet's photo tour of the hotel, including room views

Interested in some of the influences behind the Grand Californian? Here are some links you may find of interest. (All of them open new windows so you won't lose your place on the site here.)

William Morris - a brief biography

The Web Page of the Roycrofters

A web listing of some of the Hubbard 1001 Epigrams

The Gamble House

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Western Pennsylvania Foundation - Fallingwater

PBS site on Fallingwater