Marci's Grand California Adventure Trip Report!!!!

[Margaret]

Great trip report, Marci! Love the idea of being at DTD before opening. I love store windows but usually have kids, husband and other shoppers distracting me!

I have Magical Mouse Radio playing in the back ground as I look at all the pictures!

[Marci]

Originally Posted by Danette

I'm loving the report! I can't wait to hear what you thought of Disneyland, man I miss it!

thanks Danette.. btw, I haven't mentioned it but your wedding was sooo beautiful! congrats!!

Originally Posted by dvcfamily41801

This is fantastic!!! I love all your pictures and that Grand Californian just looks incredible!!!

thanks Lisa!

Originally Posted by Ray

We had stayed at Paradise Pier because it was the cheapest of the 3, but was still more expensive. We had never stayed at a DL hotel before, we just would drive in for the day and leave. We thought staying there we would be in the magic like at a value resort. It was like staying at a hotel. It had a Goofy Statue in the lobby and a character breakfast, but really not the same. It is really different staying on property there as in WDW. If it wasn't for DVC, we would be staying off property. There are many hotels walking distance. The only benefit that we had that we liked was getting into DL 1 hour early on certain days. It will be interesting to here what you thought about benefits staying at GC. Love the pictures, but just purses.

I completely understand Ray.. I walked into the disneyland hotel later on in the day (and I will post pics of it later) and while it did have a bit of a disney feel ... I still didn't feel like I was in that "disney bubble" while there.... you will LOVE the grand californian though.. I think it felt totally disney!

Originally Posted by Steph-lovestheWL

Great trip report so far Marci! Okay, I know where I'm staying when I eventually go to Disneyland!

for sure Steph! It really reminded me of the wilderness lodge.

Originally Posted by zeusywoo

Marci, keep the tr coming & pictures. I just found some of my trip in 1990 boy does Disneyland look different. So wish we could go next year, but first..... The Grand Californian sort of reminds me of Wilderness Lodge. Hope your getting some sleep as I noticed the 2:34a.m. stamp.

yeah, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep.. so what better to do than continue my trip report?

Originally Posted by Dawnzy

Love the Tr so far, the Grand Californian is so beautiful! Cute purses Can't wait for more!

thanks!

Originally Posted by oakmanner

Awesome TR so far waiting for the rest...
-Dennis

comin' right up Dennis!

Originally Posted by Jackie

Marci, I'm loving your TR and pictures and can't wait for more!!!
It sounds like you had a fabulous trip!!

I did, thank you Jackie!

Originally Posted by Margaret

Great trip report, Marci! Love the idea of being at DTD before opening. I love store windows but usually have kids, husband and other shoppers distracting me!

I have Magical Mouse Radio playing in the back ground as I look at all the pictures!

I just loved being there and getting to experience it before the crowds while it's still peaceful and quiet.

[Rachel]

Marci, great tr. Can't wait to see more. BTW I loved the black and white purse that you thought was so cute! I can't wait to go to DL. Love the pics of the resort. They look so cool.

[Marci]

Day 2 continued...

(btw, I'm telling you I have a TON of pictures, I hope it's ok and I'm not boring any of you... if I do, let me know!... I feel like I'm dragging day 2 on and on, but I just have so many disney pictures from this day!)

so after looking through the gift shop I decided to walk around the resort some more... I found the area with the restaurants and the pool and took some photos:

the pool (it wasn't open yet):


the pool again (I stood on a chair haha! I'm crafty like that)


all of the pools from a different angle:


the gym:


pinocchio's workshop... I think this is the place you take your kids so they can be watched while you go out with your hubby/wife... it might also be fun for kids to just go and do activities there during the day if you are having a resort day:


another view of the resort:


I saw this sign as I was wandering around and followed it to see the terrace view, but it was closed unfortunately.. maybe when Ray goes in April he can get a shot from that vantage point:


doors into the storyteller's cafe.. this place was always crowded and it looked like it was a chip and dale character breakfast:




con't on next post.....

[Marci]

day 2 (still!)...

the Mandara Spa.. when you walk past the spa you can smell the yummy lotions and treatments... oh, I wanted to have a spa treatment so bad but never did!



this is the entrance to the actual spa itself.. sorry it's such a terrible picture.. the light was all wrong.. I never said I was a good photographer! the spa and the gym are right next to each other:



napa rose... one day I will eat here as well.. I've seen Samantha Brown on the disney specials talk about how this is her favorite place to eat.. I'm sure you all have seen that too though!



by this time, all the walking around the resort had me a little hungry so I got some fruit and a water from white water snacks... this place came in very handy later on as well as you could just pick up muffins or sandwiches there..



I wanted to show you guys.. one water and one small fruit cup was 6 bucks and change.. pshew!



and some more random grand californian pictures cause I'm starting to forget the exact order of everything!



the wallpaper in the hall:



an outdoor fireplace area:



a model of the disney cruise line ship in the lobby.. one day we will all be hanging out on this ship together!!!



when I zoomed in I could see the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Grizzly Rock thingie (don't know the official name for it, sorry!) over the roof of the resort.. THAT'S how close you are!



coming up tomorrow.. tour of the disneyland hotel....

[dinkybean758]

Thank you so much for sharing your great photos and TR with us, Marci. I'm so loving this,

Somehow the prices are more expensive in DLR than WDW, right? I always sigh about it when I go there.

[cassandra]

Originally Posted by Marci

lol cassandra! I keep trying durian in different ways .. .frozen, popcicles, smoothies, and each time I don't really like it... so I think I'm done with it. What is natto?

Natto = soy beans fermented with Bacillus subtilis... it is gooey, sticky and smells like dirty feet! (REALLY smells! I can smell that stuff from across the room!! YUCK!) High in protein and very good for you.
I will eat many things, but natto truly turns my stomach!

Thanks for the great report! I am really enjoying it! ...and the purple lettering, LOVE IT! Oh yeah! You rocked the purple!

[zeusywoo]

More wonderful pictures. Love the Grizzle sculpture & Tower of Terror. That is close. Hope you have more.

[zeusywoo]

[quote=Marci;34755]

yeah, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep.. so what better to do than continue my trip report?


That does make alot of sense. I wish I would have taken the netbook with me. Our phone was to small to do more updating then twitter & some facebook. LOL.

[Becca]

Cassandra, I agree with you about durian. Looks so cool, but smells so bad!