I recently stayed at club level at The Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort and it was worth the splurge.
By: Kari Becker, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Highlights:
As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels, picking the best resort for your family is the first step. Recently, I visited Disneyland Resort and had the privilege to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel in a Club Level room.
Club level rooms are all located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The hotel rooms are the same size as standard rooms but come with a variety of additional amenities. You pay extra per night for access to these services.
The biggest benefit to club level services is access to the club level lounge, the Verandah. This lounge is open 4 times daily for food and beverage service. Because the hotel is so close to the parks, we came back often throughout the day to take advantage of the amenities.
The Grand Beginnings service is offered between 6:30 am and 11:00 am. This includes coffee and tea, espresso, mimosas, juice and other beverages. There is a wide range of food options including fresh fruits, parfaits, hard boiled eggs, meats and cheeses, bagels and toast, cereal and ample sweet treats including pastries, donuts and scones. The food offered was plenty for all of us to leave feeling as though we had a full breakfast.
The lounge also offered take and go snacks and drinks for the parks including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, goldfish crackers, snack mix, bottled water and cans of soda. We all took water and soda for the road, saving those expenses in the park.
The Afternoon Tea, served between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm, offered small sandwiches such as tuna fish, chicken and egg salad, chips and dip, fruit and more sweet treats. The staff also served a selection of wine and beer, as well as tea, coffee, water and soda continued to be available. Mimosas were also served at this time. Again, filling enough for a meal, we never left hungry.
During The Grand Hours, in the late afternoon and evening from 4:00-7:00 pm, staff served a variety of themed appetizers. On one night, Asian delicacies were offered including egg rolls, bao buns and meat skewers. Fruit, sweets, chips and dip were also available. I have to admit that I might have had three servings this evening as my friend and I sat on the outside verandah sharing a glass of wine and enjoying each other’s company. It was delicious and we could have stayed for hours. The Verandah has an amazing view of the surrounding parks and it is a wonderful place to spend some time relaxing.
The Sweet Endings service, presented between 8:00pm and 10:00 pm, offered a variety of pastries, cookies and small sweet treats. Wine and beer continued to be served, as well as coffee, tea, soda and water. Evening cordials were available upon request. We enjoyed this service twice during our stay. Ending the day with a plate of delicious desserts and a coffee with Bailey’s sure hit the spot.
The lounge is open between formal service for those wanting to unwind. We sat to do work one afternoon and it was a great place to spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby. The lounge is comfortable and welcoming. The coffee was always flowing and the staff was happy to see you. The staff in the lounge were extremely attentive and kind. They replenished food quickly, offered refills on drinks and cleaned the lounge constantly.
On top of the amazing service in the lounge, club level guests also have access to the club level concierge. The concierge is available to secure most dining reservations and can also set up priority seating for the nighttime spectaculars. We acquired reservations for both Fantasmic and the World of Color. The views from these locations were superb and stress free. This was a wonderful experience and a great perk to club level services.
The club level service at the Grand Californian was definitely worth the extra cost. The food and drink service alone saved us hundreds of dollars. The lounge is inviting and a great place to relax. The close proximity to the parks makes it easy to come back to the lounge throughout the day. I highly recommend trying this service on your next trip to the Disneyland resort. The only problem is, once you go club level, it is hard to go back.
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