Disneyland : Onsite vs. Offsite and general questions

[mbrittb00]

We leave in the southeast and have have been to Disney World several times. We are now considering a Disneyland / Southern California vacation in the next couple of years. I was starting to try to do some research and I've got a few questions.

1) What the advantages were of staying at one of the three Disney hotels, as opposed to staying at one of the Good Neighbor hotels?

2) How many days would we need to be able to do most (if not all) things at Disneyland/California Adventure? (we would probably be going in the October time frame.

3) What other things are there to fill up our vacation? We would probably take a couple of days and go down to San Diego to see the Zoo and Sea World. Six Flags Magic Mountain is also a possibility. Is Universal Studios different enough from the Florida Park(s) to make it worth our while?

Thanks.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Click on this link, go down and read all of hydroguys tips and all your questions will be answered.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

Click on this link, go down and read all of hydroguys tips and all your questions will be answered.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

Jack

Here is one the OP may want to start with:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[nannyz]

For me, the thrill of DLR is the moment I walk through the turnstiles, regardless of where I spent the night.
I've never been able to justify the high rates of the onsite hotels, so if I am missing something really wonderful, I don't know about it. And I plan to keep it that way. We stay at the HoJo and are always pleased with our rooms and the service.
We always do 6 days so we don't have to stress out trying to do everything we want to do.
If you have the time, the San Diego Zoo is a wonderful experience. And Balboa Park is lovely and has several very interesting museums.

 

[ValpoCory]

We leave in the southeast and have have been to Disney World several times. We are now considering a Disneyland / Southern California vacation in the next couple of years. I was starting to try to do some research and I've got a few questions.

1) What the advantages were of staying at one of the three Disney hotels, as opposed to staying at one of the Good Neighbor hotels?

2) How many days would we need to be able to do most (if not all) things at Disneyland/California Adventure? (we would probably be going in the October time frame.

3) What other things are there to fill up our vacation? We would probably take a couple of days and go down to San Diego to see the Zoo and Sea World. Six Flags Magic Mountain is also a possibility. Is Universal Studios different enough from the Florida Park(s) to make it worth our while?

Thanks.

If you weren't so close to your vacation, renting DVC points for the Grand Californian is a great option to stay onsite at about half price. But you usually have to be at least 7 months out to get availability. YMMV.

Also, with the new Extra Magic Hours (called Magic Mornings at Disneyland) being a daily thing starting next month, staying onsite is even nicer.

 

[mbrittb00]

If you weren't so close to your vacation, renting DVC points for the Grand Californian is a great option to stay onsite at about half price. But you usually have to be at least 7 months out to get availability. YMMV.

Also, with the new Extra Magic Hours (called Magic Mornings at Disneyland) being a daily thing starting next month, staying onsite is even nicer.

Our trip wouldn't be until NEXT October at the earliest, so I will defiantly consider the DVC idea.

 

[mbrittb00]

If you weren't so close to your vacation, renting DVC points for the Grand Californian is a great option to stay onsite at about half price. But you usually have to be at least 7 months out to get availability. YMMV.

Also, with the new Extra Magic Hours (called Magic Mornings at Disneyland) being a daily thing starting next month, staying onsite is even nicer.

From what I've read about the MM hours, you can get access once if you purchase a ticket of 3+ days. Anyone know if this will still be true once they go to everyday? Also, is this early entry for both parks or just the Magic Kingdom?

 

[rramstad]

From what I've read about the MM hours, you can get access once if you purchase a ticket of 3+ days. Anyone know if this will still be true once they go to everyday? Also, is this early entry for both parks or just the Magic Kingdom?

3+ day ticket with offsite stay gets you ONE Disneyland MM.

No access to early hours at DCA, and only the one Disneyland MM.

 

[mbrittb00]

3+ day ticket with offsite stay gets you ONE Disneyland MM.

No access to early hours at DCA, and only the one Disneyland MM.

With a family of 6 we would either have to have 2 rooms or a Suite. Either way we are looking at $700+ per night compared to $200 a night for the Good Neighbor hotels. Have to decide if $500+ per night is worth more than ones MM entrance (we'd probably do 3 or 4 days total).

Of course there is the option of renting points for a Grand Califorina DVC 1 or 2 bedroom. Any idea how much that would cost?

 

[ValpoCory]

With a family of 6 we would either have to have 2 rooms or a Suite. Either way we are looking at $700+ per night compared to $200 a night for the Good Neighbor hotels. Have to decide if $500+ per night is worth more than ones MM entrance (we'd probably do 3 or 4 days total).

Of course there is the option of renting points for a Grand Califorina DVC 1 or 2 bedroom. Any idea how much that would cost?

DVC 1-bedrooms have a maximum capacity of 5 adults/kids plus a toddler in a crib. So it sounds like a 2 bedroom is what you'd need, or two studios.

October 2013 DVC point chart at $10/point shows a 2-bedroom is $520 weekday/$650 weekend per night for 10/4-10/31/2013. That's one spicy meatball. Two separate Studio rooms would be better financially, if that is something your family is ok with (there are no adjoining Studios at the VGC). 2 Studios would be $400 weekday/$480 weekend per night.

But keep in mind it's not just the additional Extra Magic Hour mornings that you are buying. A lot of it is intangible though, like the Disney immersion and not being taken out of that Disney feeling. Sappy stuff I know. But there are some other onsite perks too.

 

[squirrel]

When going to WDW, I stay on property. I find there is a lot of value for the price.

When going to DL/DCA, I stay off property.

There are some places that have one large suite that will accomidate 6. At BWPPI they have a suite with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed. Depending on your children's ages / sex one room might work. Two rooms would give you more space and an extra bathroom, which will come in handy when getting ready to go to the parks. Most if not all include a breakfast, which I'm sure you know adds value with a large family.

 

[ValpoCory]

When going to WDW, I stay on property. I find there is a lot of value for the price.

When going to DL/DCA, I stay off property.

There are some places that have one large suite that will accomidate 6. At BWPPI they have a suite with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed. Depending on your children's ages / sex one room might work. Two rooms would give you more space and an extra bathroom, which will come in handy when getting ready to go to the parks. Most if not all include a breakfast, which I'm sure you know adds value with a large family.

In my opinion, the only value for the price in staying on property at DLR is renting DVC points. Definitely agree about on property at WDW.

 

[nunzia]

I stay on property and that is why I bought DVC. The off site hotels are fine, but to me it is just so much more special to leave the outside world behind once I arrive. The only time I stay off site now is for the Expo and then I stay at the Jolly Roger by the Convention Center. I had a couple nights booked at HoJo prior to Destination D, but a killer show deal came up at DLH so will now stay there 6 nights..I love the Grand Californian, but DLH..especially after the remodel (still miss the waterfall though) is a close second.

 

[mbrittb00]

Are there any tangable benefits other than total emersion and MM. Just not sure that is worth $500 extra a night. We are accustom to staying off site at WDW (although xPass may change that)

 

[hootey]

We have stayed off site 3 times and on site 6 times. We do prefer on site completely. The Grand is nice but, we prefer the DH. We use all the perks that come with being disney guests. Short of winning a trip to the DLR, we do not plan on ever traveling to the parks without staying on site.

 

[Butterfly123]

I think you'll find a split on these boards in regards to this question. I think that lots of people are on budgets, and staying on site is just not worth that extra money. I know we don't spend that much time in our room when we visit, and I would much rather use the money we save for an extra day! You might be able to accomplish a lot on a MM, but you can also accomplish a lot with an extra day, and still have saved money. If we had no budget would I like to stay on site? You bet I would. Would it be worth an extra few hundred dollars a night? Not for us. But people have different budgets, and different ways of enjoying their vacation, so for some people it's worth it. I think it is a personal decision on what is important to you. If you do stay off site, I would recommend staying close by on Harbor, not a hotel you have to use a shuttle for.

 

[ValpoCory]

Are there any tangable benefits other than total emersion and MM. Just not sure that is worth $500 extra a night. We are accustom to staying off site at WDW (although xPass may change that)

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

Nothing on this list is "worth $500 extra per night", in my opinion. But being onsite is worth some amount of money to every person. Once you decide that number, check out renting DVC points and see if you can get within it. I decided being onsite was worth $100 per night, and when I found $178.33 per night at the VGC, I bought it since it was well within the $100 difference between that and the HoJo ($158.73 after tax for 2 Double Beds Standard Room). So for $19.60 per night, would you stay onsite?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/resort-benefits/

Nothing on this list is "worth $500 extra per night", in my opinion. But being onsite is worth some amount of money to every person. Once you decide that number, check out renting DVC points and see if you can get within it. I decided being onsite was worth $100 per night, and when I found $178.33 per night at the VGC, I bought it since it was well within the $100 difference between that and the HoJo ($158.73 after tax for 2 Double Beds Standard Room). So for $19.60 per night, would you stay onsite?

Oy! That's high for HoJo, I'll admit I only stay there with the $59 retro rate *got it for late Oct otherwise I look for a place within walking distance that is no more than $70 per night - we have and will in the future spent/spend part of a visit on site, we've stayed at all 3 DLR hotels *DLH is my fave* I'd like to check out renting a studio @ the VGC sometime.

 

[ValpoCory]

Oy! That's high for HoJo, I'll admit I only stay there with the $59 retro rate *got it for late Oct otherwise I look for a place within walking distance that is no more than $70 per night - we have and will in the future spent/spend part of a visit on site, we've stayed at all 3 DLR hotels *DLH is my fave* I'd like to check out renting a studio @ the VGC sometime.

Yeah, that price is their best available rate on their website right now for 6 nights in January in their cheapest room. "Total Cost* 952.38 USD " But likely there are deals that will lower that price somewhat.

 

[mbrittb00]

We have stayed off site 3 times and on site 6 times. We do prefer on site completely. The Grand is nice but, we prefer the DH. We use all the perks that come with being disney guests. Short of winning a trip to the DLR, we do not plan on ever traveling to the parks without staying on site.

But what ARE the perks to staying inside aside from MM and being able to charge to your room?