The Tenaya Stone Spa - Grand Californian Hotel

Written By Erinn Burke

Pros

  • Close to the Disneyland Resort Parks and easily accessible

  • Very clean

  • Very professional staff

  • Fantastic Treatment options

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Eucalyptus steam room is the only amenity other than showers

If you’re looking for a way to escape your in-laws for a couple of hours, I highly recommend taking a break at the Tenaya Stone Spa at the Grand Californian. 

There are many many good things about Tenaya, one of which is you don’t need to be a hotel guest to book a treatment. 

I can’t think of a better way to escape the Disney crowds than at a relaxing spa. 

The spa is located just past the entrance/exit for Disney California’s Adventure. The check in process is super easy and everyone that I’ve dealt with has been extremely nice. 

The next part, maybe, my one issue with the Tenaya stone spa, is the “ritual”. If you’ve been to the Laniwai spa, they have a ritual that feels authentic to the space. At the Tenaya stone spa, they mimic the same ritual, with choosing a stone and returning it to the “earth”. There’s been some controversy about where the Tenaya stone that stands as the centerpiece of the spa was sourced and cultural appropriation that goes with the ritual. I’ve been to the Tenaya stone spa three times and the ritual has changed. When I first visited soon after the new spa opened, they spoke about where the stone was sourced and it being a gift from descendants from the  Ahwahnechee-Miwok tribe and how the ritual comes from native tradition. I am pleased to report that this is no longer apart of the ritual. 

After the ritual, you’re given a short tour of the spa facilities, a small relaxation area and the locker room. In the locker room, are showers and a Eucalyptus steam room. In my three visits, the last was the first time the steam room was open because of covid. 

Like most spas, you’re provided a cozy robe and spa sandals and encouraged to hop in the steam room or shower to “open your pores’ for your treatment. 


I freaking loved the Eucalyptus steam room, admittedly I have sinus issues, so I was so excited to be able to breathe clearly because of the steam and Eucalyptus. You’re told to get to the spa a half hour before your treatment but I would suggest getting there around 45 minutes to an hour because after the ritual and the tour, you’re left with about 20 minutes to sauna, shower and relax. 


In the relaxation room, Disney provides two different spa waters, bottles of evan and pellegrino, and some different treats. The day I was there, it was a variety of muffins and chocolate covered blueberries (those were delicious). 


Your treatment provider will come and collect you from the relaxation room and they suggest that you arrive 5 minutes before your treatment time. 


I’ve had three different massages from The Tenaya Stone spa, a 50 minute deep tissue, a 80 minute river stone massage and a 80 minute signature massage. 

All three experiences were great but the Deep Tissue massage left me sore even with Arnica lotion, the stone massage was fantastic, however, it seemed that she had to switch out the stones every minute and for the price, the 80 minute signature massage was “just right”. 


I can’t give enough praise for the massage experience, the massage tables are excellent, they’re fully electronic, so there is no changing or manipulating of bolsters under your legs. You’re able to change from a variety of massage lotions, I’ve had the arnica, rosemary and the lavender. Each are wonderful. 


After your treatment, you’ll be given a cup of water and escorted back to the relaxation room. You’re able to hang around for as long as you want after your treatment. I hopped back in the steam room for another ten minutes before taking another shower and heading back into the Disneyland Resort chaos. 

Erinn Burke