Hi there, Richard! Welcome to planDisney. The parks are always a meeting point for my family and me. With my family spread across California, The Happiest Place on Earth seems to be the perfect spot to create wonderful family memories. What better way to do it than with an on-property stay at my favorite hotel, the
Grand Californian! Let’s take a look and see what can be done to ensure that you and your son are settled nicely.
With your son arriving about two hours before you, I recommend adding your son’s name to your hotel reservation ahead of your arrival. You can do so by calling 714-635-2300. That way, he can be listed as a registered guest on the reservation, and the Cast Members at the hotel can assist him when he arrives.
While you can certainly let the hotel know that he’ll be arriving before you, room readiness is not always guaranteed before the posted check-in time. However, if your room is ready when he arrives, having him listed on the reservation should allow him to check in and access the room without needing to wait for you to arrive.
If the room isn’t ready for your son’s arrival, fear not! He can always store his bag with Bell Services and relax around the hotel lobby. The Grand Hall is my favorite spot to unwind. With live music and comfy seating all around, it’ll be a great way to debrief after a day of traveling. If he’s hungry,
Hearthstone Lounge has a great menu with light bites and craft cocktails to choose from as he awaits your arrival! If he needs to walk and stretch his legs,
Downtown Disney is a perfect place to do so. There's so much to see and do with the ease of the Grand Californian entrance to Downtown Disney!
Richard, thank you so much for visiting planDisney. I hope you have a wonderful stay at the Grand Californian. I just know that you and your son will have a magical time! If you have any questions until then, planDisney is here to help!
With a Sprinkle of Pixie Dust,
Bev