Interesting Facts about the Grand Californian

Every Disney Vacation Club resort is steeped in a rich history. Disney Imagineers across the eras imbued all these hotels with a majestic presence. Many of them feature backstories that you may have never known. Today, we’ll go out west to learn more about one. Here are a few interesting facts about The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

The Hotel’s Part of Disneyland’s Biggest Expansion

One of my favorite pieces of Disney trivia is that Walt Disney nearly went broke building Disneyland Resort. ABC – yes, that ABC! – bought one-third of the theme park. Otherwise, Uncle Walt would have fallen short of his goal. 

Disney couldn’t even afford to build the hotel here, instead convincing another investor to construct the Disneyland Hotel. While Disney eventually acquired that property in 1988, the Disneyland campus faced systemic issues from the start. It lacked real estate. 

Here’s another fun fact: Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t entirely in Disneyland. When Imagineers designed the ride in the 1960s, they built part of it underground and technically outside the official theme park boundaries. 

In combination, all these tidbits paint a picture about Disney’s real estate woes. So, you can imagine what a big deal it was when then-CEO Michael Eisner confirmed a new theme park and hotel at Disneyland Resort. 

Disney gradually scraped together land through minor real estate transactions and zoning ordinances in the 1990s. It was the equivalent of DisneylandForward back then. Ultimately, Disney could add Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney entertainment district, and an adjoining hotel. 

Disney held grand ambitions for this development. Here’s a quote from the LA Times when it opened in 2001: “(The Grand Californian) is part of a $1.4-billion Disney expansion that the company hopes will make Anaheim a multi-day “base camp” for tourists visiting the area.” In the early days, the so-called Disneyland Center would have been slightly different, as would the Grand Californian.

The original plan called for the hotel inside the park. Technically, only one Disney hotel in the world can claim that, and it’s at Tokyo DisneySea. Instead, the Grand Californian shares a security entrance with DCA instead. Still, this is the closest a hotel entrance can be to a theme park without being inside. Disney had a vision here and saw it through by building a three-in-one expansion at The Happiest Place on Earth. The lines blur between the park, the hotel, and Downtown Disney for this reason. 

The Hotel Pays Tribute to Walt Disney’s First Home

When Walt Disney moved to California, he and his older brother, Roy, quickly started a business together. You know the one. Since money was tight, he moved into his uncle’s home at 4406 Kingswell Avenue. You can learn more about the home here, and you can even visit it because the Kingswell Bungalow is now a Historic-Cultural Monument. 

Built in 1914, this home embraced the popular style of the time, American Craftsman. Yes, when you’ve spent time at GCH Craftsman Grill, you were paying tribute to Walt, even if you didn’t know it.  

Grand Californian – Tenaya Stone Spa. Photo courtesy of WDW News Today

Disney Broke the Law Here

The Tenaya Stone Spa isn’t the first spa at the Grand Californian. Management closed the previous one in hopes of creating something more authentic. Imagineers worked together to construct a timeless, mystical boutique retreat.

Disney sought the most authentic yet soothing spa imaginable. Guests can luxuriate during spa sessions like the Wild Honey and Mud Body Renewal and the Mindful Traveler Foot Treatment. Every moment you spend here will cause time to stand still while you embrace the tranquility of your surroundings.

The spa’s signature, namesake piece is the Tenaya Stone. Management happily relayed the story that a Miwok elder gifted the stone to Disney. According to the oft-cited media reports, this individual’s family were direct descendants of Chief Tenaya. It’s a lovely historical tidbit, right?

Well, there’s just one problem. Disney officials working on the projects indicated that they retrieved the stone from Yosemite National Park. Did you know that nobody can just take things from national parks? Tenaya Valley is in Yosemite, which means Disney really shouldn’t have this stone. When you visit Tenaya Stone Spa, they’ll encourage you to touch the illicit goods. So, Disney clearly doesn’t believe it did anything wrong here, while others do.

Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.

If you’d like to make an offer or request a free consultation about buying or adding to your DVC contract, the DVC Resale Market team is here to help!