1st time DL visitor - hotels?

[JoanneTK]

We are from NJ, have never been to DL. We will be in San Diego in November for business and will be bringing our ds (7). We would like to see the San Diego Zoo and Legoland while there.

We will have about 3- 4 days to spend in DL and have no information about hotels. Have been to WDW many times and we prefer to stay in a Disney hotel there. What is GC? It seems to be very popular.

Any suggestions for hotels and attractions in the San Diego and Anaheim area's would be very much appreciated. We will be renting a car.

 

[year2late]

What is your budget like? Grand Californian Hotel is the place to stay if it fits your budget. We stayed there once and were thrilled, but to us it is not worth the money to return on our regular Disneyland trips. But it was a very memorable trip.


http://www.laughingplace.com/Info-att-hotelm-dl-gchotel.asp

Disneyland Hotel is also nice at a slightly lower price.
Paradise Pier Hotel has many room with themepark view. I hear good things about this hotel and it is the cheapest of the three.

If budget is a concern....use priceline (anaheim disneyland area) 3 star will most likely give you a 3 star (hilton/marriott/hyatt regency) for about 35-40 dollars a night.

Another "sure bet" is a strip motel "Candy Cane Inn" that is very pleasent, excellent staff and decent value.

If you have stayed at WDW...being onsite is quite advantageous. It does not seem as such a "ned to" thing at Disneyland.

 

[JoanneTK]

Year2Late, Thanks for your reply. Since this will probably be our one and only trip to DL, we were willing to spend a bit more for nice accomodations.

Why is it not as much as a "need to" thing to stay on site at DL as compared to WDW? (just curious)

On the other hand, it would be nice to save a bit by staying in less expensive accomodations.

Is the Grand Californian Hotel on the same scale as the Grand Floridian in WDW? Is the Disneyland Hotel comparable to the moderately priced hotels at WDW (Carribbean Beach, Port Orleans, etc). We have stayed previously at Carribbean Beach and the Polynesian. We definitely enjoyed the Polynesian more.

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

Originally posted by JoanneTK
Is the Grand Californian Hotel on the same scale as the Grand Floridian in WDW? Is the Disneyland Hotel comparable to the moderately priced hotels at WDW (Carribbean Beach, Port Orleans, etc). We have stayed previously at Carribbean Beach and the Polynesian. We definitely enjoyed the Polynesian more.

I would compare the Grand Californian to the Wilderness Lodge. It's a beautiful hotel in the arts and crafts style. I've only stayed in a standard room. It was very nice, but on the small side. The GC is closest to both parks. You have your own entrance into DCA and it's a short walk to the DL main gate.

I think the DL Hotel is more like the Contemporary, but maybe less deluxe? There isn't a specific theme to the hotel like the moderates at WDW, but there are plenty of Disney touches all over the property. The rooms are bigger than at the GC since it's an older property. The rooms have cute theming such as character wallpaper and pictures of the rides in the bed spreads. Some of the rooms have a pixie dust wallpaper border. It glows in the dark after you turn the lights off.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip and you can afford it, I'd spring for the GC.

 

[daannzzz]

The Grand Californian Is like the WL except in the Arts and Crafts style. The architect for both is the same. The rooms are the same size as well and it's location is better than any at WDW.
http://www.travelhero.com/photos.cfm/id/127069/index.html
It took us only a minute or two to get from our room into the new park via the private entrance.
The Disneyland hotel is an older 3 tower hotel. It is not exciting looking but the rooms are really large, as big or bigger than the Grand Floridian and Polynesian and all are recently redone with a nice Disney style decore. The grounds are very nice and there is a fun themed pool and a regular pool too.
http://www.travelhero.com/photos.cfm/id/108988/index.html
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is a hotel built in the 70's that Disney Purchased. I find it least interesting. the rooms are average size. The decore is nice and less frilly than most and the views from one side are spectacular but in general it is not as exciting of a place.
http://www.travelhero.com/photos.cfm/id/86289/index.html
The reason you don;t have to stay on site here is shown in this link.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
Disneyland resort is located in the suburbs and as you can see the 3 Disney hotels are close to the two parks which are right next to eachother. At the bootom of the photo you can see a line of motels that are just as nicely located as the Disney hotels. A few of them are closer than the Disneyland and Paradise Pier Hotels. These are much less expensive but nothing like the Disney hotels.
I would pick the Grand California Hotel. It is very nice with a formal but rustic feel and some awesome views from the themepark view rooms.

 

[JoanneTK]

I think the Grand Californian is the way to go. The location seems to be great! I can't wait till November!!!

 

[LuvTigger]

Another thumbs up for GC! We stayed there last year and loved it!

I agree that it's not a "must" to stay "onsite" like it is with WDW. The reason is that DLR is basically a small property smack in the middle of a bunch of hotels. (Actually, DL was there first, then the hotels sprang up around it because they realized how much $$ they could make.) So basically, staying "offsite" is almost as close, and sometimes closer, in proximity as staying "onsite." They have really beautified the area surrounding DL, so the surroundings are pretty nice. It's just a matter of what your budget is, and finding a nice place to meet your needs and fit your budget.

That being said, IF I could afford to, I would stay at the GC every visit! If I can't afford to do that, I usually stay at the Howard Johnson's which is a short walk (and they also have a shuttle), and is usually less than $80 per night.

 

[JenniBarra]

I've heard people say that the DLR hotels are equivalent to WDW's Deluxe hotels. (However, I suspect that Paradise Pier is closer to a moderate, especially since Expedia or one of those similar sites gives it one less star than GC and DLH. Anyhow, I have now stayed at all three hotels and would definitely agree with others in saying that, if you can afford to it, the Grand is a wonderful hotel.