First Trip To Disneyland

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We are currently planning our first trip to Disneyland next May and were wondering which of the "onsite" hotels anyone would reccomend.Not sure if they are all the same standard or wether they could be compared to any of the WDW hotels(i.e. Deluxe,moderate,etc.)Also can you reccomend a site were we can get directions to DL from LAX airport.
Many thanks.

Mick.

:smooth:

[tinagirl]

It really depends what you're looking for.
Here are my opinions:
Best Pool:
Advantage: Disneyland Hotel

Quietest Atmosphere:
Advantage: Paradise Pier

Best Lobby:
Advantage Grand Californian

Best Quick Service Restaurant:
Advantage Grand Californian's Whitewater snacks

Best DCA Paradise Pier View:
Paradise Pier Hotel

Best DCA view of the Condor Flats area & GRR
Grand Californian

Best View of DL fireworks:
Sierra tower of Disneyland Hotel

Best romantic spot at a hotel:
Disneyland Hotel's Waterfalls.

Best room interiors for adults:
Grand Californian or Paradise Pier

Best room interiors for wee ones:
Disneyland Hotel's new "Pixie Dust" rooms

Closest Proximity to parks:
Grand Californian

Great old disney art to see:
Disneyland Hotel (and a few things here and there at Paradise Pier)

Basically: The Grand Californian is our "deluxe" except that the pool has very poor theming. Think of the resort as a cross between WDW's Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. It really is gorgeous. The Paradise Pier hotel has a very relaxed "convention" type atmosphere, but they have added new disney touches. It is sort of like the Contemporary to me. They put in a disney bit here and there, but it is more of a typical hotel then the other two. The Disneyland Hotel definitely holds a ton of nostalgia to me (of course, most of my nostalgia left when the whole pool area was redone when Downtown Disney opened). My preference personally goes to the Disneyland Hotel. I love the theming of the Grand Californian, but it just isn't my thing...(I like my rustic to be rustic, not opulent - although I do love the car out front). Also, although there are some small rooms in all of the 3, the Grand Californian seems to have more than the others, and if you get a room above Downtown Disney, you may have some noise issues. I've never stayed at Paradise Pier, although it seems as though the rooms are larger than expected by most, when reading posts.

I hope this helps
Toodles
~Tina

[Mary Jo]

<font color=navy>I'll just add to Tina's post since she did such a great job....

We stayed in a Downtown Disney view room at the Gand Californian during Christmas season, and with the sliding glass door open could hear all the Christmas music and people down below. However, with the window closed we didn't hear a sound other than ourselves. :)

[cinderellakh20]

Hope you have a wonderful time...we can't wait until we go in October!!!! :bounce:

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice and good wishes.

Mick.

:smooth:

[WDW2002]

Just wanted to add that it is not as necessary to stay "on site" at DL like it is WDW. There are many many nice places to stay just a stone throw away from DLR. Some even close (walking distance) to the parks then the Disney Hotels.


Now for my choice of onsite, would have to be The Grand Californian. I hope some day to stay there.

[honeymom]

Actually, all three hotels would be considered deluxes according to WDW standards. I personally have picked DL Hotel for my upcoming trip because I think it is more geared towards my young children. Grand Californian seems a little more upscale and the rooms are actually supposed to be smaller. Paradise Pier is supposed to have good sized rooms, but a little less theming than the other two. Everybody seems happy with all of them.

A previous poster was correct. You do not need to stay in one of the three Disneyland hotels. If you are looking for a hotel that is comparable to one of the WDW moderates or values, many exist right on the perimiter of Disneyland. They are an easy walk and several are supposed to be quite nice and a lot less expensive.

[Snurk71]

What are the room categories at the DisneyLand Hotel?

Is DLH one main upright building, or are there wings like the Contemporary?

Are there preferred room types at DLH anyone can suggest?

We've never been to DisneyLand, but are looking to in mid-November after a conference - and are trying to figure out which hotel to stay at. We see PP for $156/nt, DLH for $162/nt, and GC for $225/nt (that's more than we're paying for GF in WDW in Dec!!!).

Thanks

[tink2dw]

:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

[DisneyAlly]

The next time we go, we plan to stay in GC. We want to be able to walk right into the park from the private entrance and do "Soaring Over California" first thing in the morning - our favorite ride (did it 6 times last year) and still wasn't tired of it.

DLH has 3 upright towers, not like CR. You want to request the tower with the Downtown Disney view. I can't remember the tower name. I think it's better to request specifically for the view of "Downtown Disney" rather than the tower itself. You can't see the Sleeping Beauty castle from DLH but you can see fireworks, and awesome views of DCA and Downtown Disney at night.

Have fun planning! :wave:

[Captain Crook]

Just back from the GC a couple of weeks agao and it is really nice. I would compare it to the WL...Just a step below AKL because, well...It doesn't have a zoo!

The DL Hotel looked great and was definately the choice of families with kids. Even though we had our two with us we were glad we picked the GC (it is most like a WDW hotel). The pools aren't themed (but Paradise Pier is right in the background!) but based on the throngs of kids I saw at the DL Hotel pool we were again happy to be at the GC.

We stayed right over the World of Disney store and although the sounds of DD were very loud with the door open. The noise level dropped by 10 and we never heard anything with the door shut.

We paid 169 per night + tax (thanks to DU) & found the easy walk to both parks just great...Although The Disneyland Hotel is just steps further & PP only steps more than that.
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[The Disney Family]

Wow Tina, you did a great job covering the hotels.

To add my two cents I love the Disneyland Hotel. DL Hotel has several main towers. We enjoy the Sierra tower, which looks out to DD and DCA. (I've heard some say they received a smaller room on the side that looks over the pool.) The pool is great with nice theming.

The perk I love about staying on property is the Monorail in the morning. We had a great time going to the station, and checking into the park there. Then having the monorail drop us off at the back of the park. By the time it gets crowded, we are done with many of the main attractions, and head back to the hotel for a swim.

Have a blast!!:earsgirl:

[jlima]

what is a Pixie Dust room at the Disneyland Hotel? And does the Neverland Pool area have a "wading pool" for little guys? Thanks!

Joan In Vegas

:Pinkbounc

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says................................Hope you have a great trip! Any of the on site choices would be good, we prefer newer the better! I don't have a map in front of me, but I can't think of any nice hotels within a short walking distance. Disneyland is not like WDW, three steps out of Disneyland puts you in the real world. Fast food, liqour shops, conveinence stores, gas stations, all places I go to, but not on vacation. There is a nice Marriot, a few blocks away,Hilton, many nice ones that if they have a good shuttle service they would be great. I would stongly suggest you make plans to enjoy more of Southern California. If you are in a hurry, you could do DL and DCA in two days. Try Knott's Berry Farm, or Universal Studios, or Seaworld. Younger children will love legoland, less than an hour from DL. Do the drive to San Diego, takes about 90 minutes, nice parks, great zoo, even greater Wildlife Park. And we didn't even mention the great beaches! If I can talk you into a three week trip, then you could enjoy Northern California. Monterrey and Carmel on the Ocean, 17 mile drive. World Class San Francisco, fishermans wharf, pier 39, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park. The wine country, home of the best wines on earth, and it's not Napa Valley, as the world thinks, but Sonoma!
Getting off track! Have a great trip.

[JenniBarra]

Before Disney bought the Pacific (which become Disney's Pacific Hotel and is now known as Paradise Pier) and the Grand Californian existed, my family stayed at the Disneyland Hotel a number of times. I have fond memories of the place and still see it as being the "classic" of the DLR hotels. However, this weekend, I stayed at the Grand Californian for the first time and really enjoyed it. It's done in the arts and crafts style and is very comfy. We also had a view from our balcony of the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area/Condor Flats.