Guru Travel was invited to Disneyland to tour and share our experience. Our very own Karen, spent almost a week staying at all three onsite resorts. This is her review of Paradise Pier Hotel. You can reach out to Karen at karen@thewdwguru.com.
I was beyond fortunate to be invited to attend Disney California Adventure Park Lunar New Year Festival! This adventure included a two night stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The sprawling Craftsman-style hotel has an unmatched location on Disneyland property and is the closest hotel to any Disney Park in the United States. Spanning blocks of Downtown Disney and adjacent to Disney California Adventure Park, its location is the hotel’s best asset. It has its own entrance (with security stations) to both the Downtown Disney promenade and Disney California Adventure Park (DCA). Let’s talk more about the resort and its beautiful amenities!
When you enter the majestic lobby, you may hear a pianist playing “Hotel California”. I found myself gazing in awe at the grandness of the room. Craftsman details abound, wood finishing, natural sunlight, and giant glass chandeliers, along with welcoming mountainside colors of forest green and brown. Guests bustle to and from the parks, while staff greet you pleasantly to check you into your room. There is a gift shop, a treat cart, an alluring stone fireplace, a bar, and grouped seating all around to take a load off your weary feet. Restaurants are just a few steps away from the lobby, nestled around the perimeter of the pools and courtyard.
Hotel restaurants include:
Napa Rose – Breakfast or Dinner Reservations, recommended award-winning wine list, prix fixe Menu, and a la carte selections
Storytellers Cafe – Buffet/Family style Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Hearthstone Lounge – full bar and tasting bites
GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill – poolside lounge, appetizers, entrees, artisanal pizzas, grab and go bites, full bar; located across from Tenaya Stone Spa.
We enjoyed a late-night cocktail and artisanal pizza on the outdoor patio of GCH Craftsman Bar and Grill. The food and drinks were all expertly crafted and at a fair price. The service was also excellent.
Room Service is also available at this hotel.
Recreation:
- Various Pools, all in a centrally located courtyard:
- Redwood themed pool with a slide, and toddler slide, Mariposa pool and Fountain pool with a hot tub and private cabanas, even a shallow wading pool
- Fitness Center and Classes (reservations required for fitness classes)
Our stay was a two-queen room with a standard view:
2 queen beds (w/plenty of underbed storage and lighting on headboard)
Chip and Dale orange grove mural on the wall, made from beautiful inlaid woodwork
Loveseat
Dresser with 6 drawers
Wall mounted TV
Large desk/work area with lamp
Wet bar with Keurig Coffee maker with coffee/tea k-cups, small refrigerator underneath
Updated charging stations near desk, dresser, and nightstand
Bathroom amenities:
Tiled Rain shower with built in seat
Double vanity sinks with lighted mirror
Lighted magnifying mirror on wall
H20 Bath Amenities (travel size)
Hair dryer
Laundry basket
Small step stool to help little ones reach the sink
Lighted closet contains:
Ironing board and supplies
Safe (large enough to hold a standard laptop)
Extra pillows and blankets
Luggage rack
4 hook coat rack in hall
Our standard view was of the Disneyland Drive entrance to the hotel. Beautiful trees surrounded the area outside our patio. Other views available to guests are: Downtown Disney, pool/water view, or California Adventure Park. Our balcony had two sitting chairs and a small table.
Tenaya Stone Spa
An all new, full-service spa, available to all Disneyland Hotel Guests. The 6000 sq. ft. spa has recently opened to the public as well. Amenities include a relaxation lounge, steam room and boutique.
Spa hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Appointments are required and can be scheduled in advance. Guests can also stop in to make appointments and shop the boutique. Guests must be 18 years or older to book reservations. Teens ages 14 to 17 may enjoy certain treatments if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Younger guests, aged 10 to 13, may select Salon services, if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Upscale boutique offers products such as precious stones, gem soaps, hand-crafted jewelry, Coola products, Moroccan Oil products, and Barefoot Dreams textiles (pajamas, robes, socks, and throws).
Services offered:
Massage
Herbal Body Treatments
Facials
Skincare
Foot Treatments (highly sought after to soothe tired, achy feet after days in the parks)
Salon Services
On our spa tour we gathered in the entry boutique, and the story of inspiration for the spa began with choosing our own precious stone from a basket. “Would you like to come with me?”, I am asked as the spa manager leads me into the heart of the spa. We enter a room that is fashioned after a typical Native American ceremonial arbor, with the precious Tenaya Stone in its center. She explains that Guests are offered to choose a stone, hold the stone to their heart, and place the stone alongside the Tenaya Stone. The intention is for every stage of the journey to be at the guest’s own volition and allow for as much immersion in the spa story as the guest desires. (If one does not want to choose a stone, that is ok, too.) The Tenaya Stone was gifted to the spa by the descendants of Chief Tenaya, and came from Yosemite Valley, where it was for a millennia before. Native Americans believe the land has memory. The stone is very special and has been accumulating energy and memories for a very long time. The trees stationed around the Tenaya Stone represent California Redwoods. They are in a circular, but also irregular pattern. The floor is crafted of slices of wood, with a special nod to Mickey himself.
Next, we enter the “relaxation room” where guests relax and rejuvenate before their service. Guests are offered fruit infused water, hot tea, and fresh baked goods. This is where the therapist will greet them once it is time for their service. It is suggested that guests arrive 30 min. before their spa treatment so that they may enjoy this room. Use of the spa amenities is limited to those receiving spa treatments. A fun fact is that Grizzly Mountain, of the Grizzly River Run in DCA, is right outside the stained-glass window of this relaxation room. You would never guess this, as one can only hear tranquil music and nature sounds during a visit. Robes and slippers are provided upon check-in. A relaxing hot shower is also offered.
The spa has several massage rooms, including one for couples, a steam room, full dressing facilities with lockers, and showers. The full-service salon offers manicures, pedicures, foot massages, waxing, and hair services. Quartz is found throughout the spa, in lamps and stones, to offer a healing element. The spa offers color therapy in the foot baths, and a Barefoot Dreams throw to cozy up in while you receive your treatment.
It was tempting to abandon my planned day in the parks to remain in this healing and serene environment. My short tour provided me enough inspiration to plan a return trip for one of those much-needed foot treatments. I highly recommend anyone visiting the Disneyland resort, who enjoys the comfort of a spa service, set aside dedicated time to enjoy the Tenaya Stone Spa. It is also an excellent boutique, where you can find a thoughtful souvenir for yourself or a loved one back home.
Final thoughts on Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
The proximity to the parks and the grand scale of this hotel makes it the premier choice in luxury for any Disney guest. The fine dining, wine, spa services and upscale amenities are the best at Disneyland. Although my room had only the “standard view”, even that was palatable, as I could look out over the rest of the Disneyland Resort toward Disneyland Hotel and Downtown Disney. The additional security entrances to Downtown Disney and DCA offer the guest a simpler entry procedure and shorter lines. The grand lobby had enough hustle and bustle to feel energetic. It is easy to enjoy the California ambiance in the lobby and chat with family and friends in the cozy settings, while a pianist plays in the background. The pool area, hallways, and guest rooms were surprisingly calm and quiet during our visit. There was ample shopping for resort specific merchandise and spa products.
Reservations were suggested and often required for all Grand Californian Hotel restaurants. Several of the restaurants offer price fixe menus instead of a la carte, which makes it much more expensive to eat where you are staying. Character meals are currently suspended at Storyteller’s Café and would be a welcome return of a Disney element for families. The hotel is sophisticated and has subtle Disney theming that is great for adults but may be lacking in content for children. The pool was red wood themed, which again, lacks any special interest for children. All in all, the location is unbeatable, and the guest is paying top Disney dollar at this resort for that benefit.
Karen would be honored to help you plan your Disneyland Adventure. Contact Karen today by email at karen@thewdwguru.com.