$381 per night at Disneyland Hotel, REALLY???

[Sherry E]

Try doing the "Saved Offers" tactic I spoke of in my post to oumagic above. Don't pay for anything or officially book it. Just Save it on the DLR website. Another DIS'er JUST received an offer/PIN code after trying that, and the rates are:

10/16/11-11/19/11 and 11/27/11-12/17/11
Paradise Pier $163
Disneyland Hotel $186
Grand Californian $247


You have to actually have the offer sent to you from DLR, but if you Save the hotel-only rates for the dates you want in the My Disneyland section of the DLR website, they will see you did not book at that rate and most likely send you something better.

That's what I did last year and that's what several other DIS'ers have done!

Thanks. Yes I have stayed at PPH as mentioned in my post and loved it. I am goint to move my dates. When would be a better time to go? The week after that like 12/9 - 12/12?

krash2501 -

If you get certain types of discounts, such as the PIN discount I showed above ^^^(that another DIS'er was just offered after doing the "Saved Offers" tactic I suggested), it will cover the Candlelight Processional weekend as you can see from those dates I posted. The rate will not be higher. It will be what is shown. (The Candlelight Processional is no longer a 'general public'/dinner package sort of event. It is mainly invitation-only now [as told to me by Cast Members], and the seats are reserved for groups of people. Disney then hands out tickets to random guests when there are no-shows.)

In fact, I'm using a different type of discount for the PPH this year - and it has block out dates when I can't use it - but part of my stay is going to be smack dab over the Candlelight Processional weekend, and my discount applies for those nights as well. It does not increase.

I go to DLR for the holiday season every year (and usually Halloween Time too). I never stay anywhere but onsite, and I always use discounts of some sort (whether they are PIN codes or AP rates or other special offers). I have not stayed onsite without a discount since the '80s! The hotel prices get higher once you hit mid-December-ish and close to Christmas. December 9 - 12 will be in the safe zone, still at lower rates overall as compared to the second half of the month. BUT it's a weekend, and weekends during the holiday season tend to have higher rates than weekdays anyway.

The AP rates (the good ones which are usually below $200 per night) will not appear on the AP hotel calendar until at least September, and probably much later than that if last year was any indication of how things are going. The current prices that are showing on the AP hotel calendar are not the "AP rates" as we know them. Those are the standard AP 10% discount rooms that can be obtained all year long. The good rates may not show up on the calendar until November, but hopefully before that.

As for PIN codes and other special offers, they could be released in July - I have had some of those offers myself. Sometimes they come out earlier than other times. Sometimes not until Fall, like late September.

Or, as in the case of the PIN code offer I posted above, they may be sent out now if Disney gets wind of the fact that you are looking at booking an offer and Saving it to your My Disneyland account!

Good luck with planning a great holiday trip!

 

[sonnyjane]

Ok I just did it for you...

roomrates are 415/415/315.

The Disney hotels no longer charge a resort fee, they do however now charge for parking (DLH is $15 plus tax (15%), and you can park two cars for that price). If you won't have a car, that's nice.

Remember anaheim hotel tax is 15%, except that now there is a temporary additional 2% city resort improvement tax.

If you had a discount equal to 25%, with tax it would be $1005. Parking add $52.

Have you ever stayed at the Paradise Pier? It might be more in your price range...

Thanks. Yes I have stayed at PPH as mentioned in my post and loved it. I am goint to move my dates. When would be a better time to go? The week after that like 12/9 - 12/12?

I'm not sure where TeddiBarra got those "AP rates", but the AP calendar online is only showing into September, nothing for December yet. If you call and ask for the AP rate now, it will just be the 10% off. There is the standard 10% AP rate, but then there is the "real" AP rate that comes out about 3 months in advance, which is the one that is reflected on the AP site's calendar and is a deeper discount. Out of all the dates showing on the current calendar through September, the highest AP rate at DLH is $333.

 

[TeddiBarra]

I'm not sure where TeddiBarra got those "AP rates", but the AP calendar online is only showing into September, nothing for December yet. If you call and ask for the AP rate now, it will just be the 10% off. There is the standard 10% AP rate, but then there is the "real" AP rate that comes out about 3 months in advance, which is the one that is reflected on the AP site's calendar and is a deeper discount. Out of all the dates showing on the current calendar through September, the highest AP rate at DLH is $333.

Those were the regular rack rates. Not AP rates. I was just listing them for a starting basis to figure out discounts.

 

[rbbs]

I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite. How could it not be?



I would have to disagree with this. I have stayed on and offsite and would never pay that much to stay onsite again. No real extra magic IMO. Just curious about what others think is soo much more magical about staying onsite? I just couldn't quantify it but maybe I missed something? You are basically at the park over 90% of the time so whats the deal?

 

[Sherry E]

I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite. How could it not be?

I would have to disagree with this. I have stayed on and offsite and would never pay that much to stay onsite again. No real extra magic IMO. Just curious about what others think is soo much more magical about staying onsite? I just couldn't quantify it but maybe I missed something? You are basically at the park over 90% of the time so whats the deal?

rbbs -

I can't speak for everyone here but I guess, for me, I love the extra Disney touches at the Disney hotels that you can't get at the non-Disney hotels. I like to feel immersed in Disney magic from the second I arrive to the second I leave, and staying onsite helps me do that. It's more of an overall Disney experience for me when I stay onsite. I like to scout for hidden Mickeys in the carpets and hallways. I like the Mickey ears bath products in the bathrooms (of the PPH and DLH). I like the rooms that have great views of DCA or of DTD. I like to go to sleep and wake up on Disney property - it just enhances/complements my trip 100%.

Staying onsite is certainly not something everyone needs to do to have fun at DLR - and the regular, non-discounted rack rates are crazy expensive (I think we all agree on that!), so that will keep many people away. But since you asked what we think is so magical about staying onsite, I thought I'd jump in with why it's more magical for me. Others may have different viewpoints.

 

[rentayenta]

three words..
Disney.......Vacation.....Club

Indeed! Booked the GCV today for a late Nov/early Dec trip. $381 for standard hotel room is crazy. I'd have probably paid it too before DVC.

 

[rosiep]

I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite. How could it not be?



I would have to disagree with this. I have stayed on and offsite and would never pay that much to stay onsite again. No real extra magic IMO. Just curious about what others think is soo much more magical about staying onsite? I just couldn't quantify it but maybe I missed something? You are basically at the park over 90% of the time so whats the deal?

I should know better than to speak for everyone!

While I think that staying onsite at DL is slightly less magical (simply because they don't have the ground space that the resorts in WDW do) If money were not an issue I would always choose to stay in a Disney run hotel than anywhere else. Why? Because I like the level of customer service, I like the themeing, I like being immersed in the Disney bubble.

Also, I have been to WDW several times now and I do spend more time at the resorts than I had when I first started visiting. I can actually envision staying at a Disney resort and NOT even going to a park.

Can I ask if your experience was at WDW or DL?

 

[rbbs]

It was at DL. I don't even think I would pay $150 a night at any of the resort options. It just isn't a priority to me I guess. I buy into much of what Disney has to offer but I still can't do the math to stay at the resort again. I do however like to keep things reasonable so I can afford to take my family on 3 week minimum holidays so it actually isn't even really an option for my family. We seek out deals and on our upcomming trip we are staying at Salt Lake for $80 a night, Vegas for $30 a night x 3, Anaheim for $102 x 5, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Santa Cruz $50 each x3 (camping) San Francisco (camping $50 x 3) Auburn $80 a night, Reno $40 a night and that is just for what I have booked so far and we will likely go to Yellowstone for 3-4 nights from there so I guess what I am saying is $381 per night would kill my budget For $381 per night I would need someone brushing my teeth and flushing my toilet for me

 

[joeyandangiesmom]

It was at DL. I don't even think I would pay $150 a night at any of the resort options. It just isn't a priority to me I guess. I buy into much of what Disney has to offer but I still can't do the math to stay at the resort again. I do however like to keep things reasonable so I can afford to take my family on 3 week minimum holidays so it actually isn't even really an option for my family. We seek out deals and on our upcomming trip we are staying at Salt Lake for $80 a night, Vegas for $30 a night x 3, Anaheim for $102 x 5, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Santa Cruz $50 each x3 (camping) San Francisco (camping $50 x 3) Auburn $80 a night, Reno $40 a night and that is just for what I have booked so far and we will likely go to Yellowstone for 3-4 nights from there so I guess what I am saying is $381 per night would kill my budget For $381 per night I would need someone brushing my teeth and flushing my toilet for me

IMO there is a HUGE difference between camping and staying at a resort hotel. You get what you pay for...and think about the surroundings and qualitly...you cannot compare Salt Lake, Big Sur etc with DL resort hotels....BTDT...wil stay at DGC anytime!!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite. How could it not be?



I would have to disagree with this. I have stayed on and offsite and would never pay that much to stay onsite again. No real extra magic IMO. Just curious about what others think is soo much more magical about staying onsite? I just couldn't quantify it but maybe I missed something? You are basically at the park over 90% of the time so whats the deal?

Most people sleep at least 6-8 hours, that is 75-66 % maybe in the park. Not considering transist time. For us we do not want to waste that travel time from other places. We also get 1, noted 1 vacation a year so we enjoy ourselves.

Jack

 

[DangerMouse]

Indeed! Booked the GCV today for a late Nov/early Dec trip. $381 for standard hotel room is crazy. I'd have probably paid it too before DVC.

Our family is planning that same time, Jenny! But, we're slummin' it at the HoJo.

 

[rbbs]

IMO there is a HUGE difference between camping and staying at a resort hotel. You get what you pay for...and think about the surroundings and qualitly...you cannot compare Salt Lake, Big Sur etc with DL resort hotels....BTDT...wil stay at DGC anytime!!!!

Sure is....but we aren't camping at Disney we are staying at Hojos so I think you are missing something As mentioned I have stayed onsite at Disneyland and I have also stayed at Hojos a couple of times and will again later this month so I know what I am getting. I just find it lame that someone would think that they are going to get more "magic" by staying onsite. Each to their own though and us peasants over at Hojos will try to make the most of our magic moments To tell you the truth though my kids prefer to camp over any resort or hotel and I go with the flow and some of my favorite memories come from beach camping in California. I wouldn't want to be cooped up in a hotel or resort for that matter. Try it sometime and you might just find that less is more

 

[dsny1mom]

I just find it lame that someone would think that they are going to get more "magic" by staying onsite. Each to their own though and us peasants over at Hojos will try to make the most of our magic moments

I grew up going to DL and staying off site. We'd spend a month in Anaheim every summer, and my parents would never pay the DLH prices. I fell in love with DL through those trips so the *magic* of DL is surely achieved when one stays off site.

When I had my own children I wanted them to experience DL in the best possible way. So we booked our first stay at the DLH with them back in 1987.
We have never considered staying off site since then.

So I too have experienced DL from on and off site. For *me* staying on site makes for a much more magical vacation. It doesn't change the magic *at* DL but does change the whole vacation experience for us.

At a DLR hotel we don't have to deal with shuttles or the parking structure. We don't have to settle for only one early entry. We don't have to lug our purchases with us, as we can have them sent back to our hotel. We don't have to worry about ressies for restaurants, F!, WOC. etc. as vacation planning or the conceirge takes of those things for us. As DLR guests we have never been turned away at the gates because of nearing capacity crowds, even for the 50th and NYE 1999, because resort guests are only denied admission when the fire marshal shuts down entries. We can walk through the lovely DTD area to get back to our hotel, free of traffic, people hawking time shares and the less than fortunate people that can be hanging out panhandling. If we are too tired to walk we just jump on the monorail for one last ride before calling it a day. This year we get to enter DCA and ride TLM, Soain, and get WOC passes before the park opens or use the DLR hotel special fastpasses to ride TLM and Star Tours with virtually no wait.

IMHO there is nothing *lame* about feeling that the above listed perks make my trips more magical for my family.

I don't look at those that stay off site as poor unfortunate souls that are deprived of the magic at DL, but for *me* my vacations are much more magical because of my choice to stay at a DLR hotel. But I'm also the type who orders a filet vs a nice strip steak.

dsny1mom

 

[Sherry E]

I agree with everything dsny1mom said above^^^.

Yesterday I explained my stance on why I prefer staying onsite and why it works for me. Staying onsite is not for everyone because everyone has different requirements and needs to make their own trips special, or sometimes they have only a certain dollar amount they can spend, and those elements are not going to be the same for everyone.

I'm not sure it's fair to label those of us who love staying onsite as "lame," or to label the concept of getting more magic from the trip as "lame" because that's what we like to do..... If we feel that it's more magical for us to stay onsite, then it is more magical...for us.

I've been going to Disneyland since 1972 - and when I was a kid the Disneyland Hotel was always (what seemed like) this far-off place in the distance that I knew I would eventually stay in. It had a certain mystique about it, and seemed like it was only for grown-ups. At the end of each trip to the park, we would simply drive an hour back home but I was always curious about what kinds of things could be found at the DLH. Finally, when I was able to book hotel rooms myself, I decided to try the DLH (in the '80s), and I was hooked on staying onsite (in any of the 3 hotels) ever since.

Now this doesn't mean that I always have the money to stay onsite - if I absolutely cannot swing it financially in a given year, I will just go home at the end of the night. Eventually I will probably try HoJo's or another off-property hotel just to have that comparison to be able to share. But my trips are infinitely more special (and not lame) when I stay onsite.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I agree with everything dsny1mom said above^^^.

Yesterday I explained my stance on why I prefer staying onsite and why it works for me. Staying onsite is not for everyone because everyone has different requirements and needs to make their own trips special, or sometimes they have only a certain dollar amount they can spend, and those elements are not going to be the same for everyone.

I'm not sure it's fair to label those of us who love staying onsite as "lame," or to label the concept of getting more magic from the trip as "lame" because that's what we like to do..... If we feel that it's more magical for us to stay onsite, then it is more magical...for us.

I've been going to Disneyland since 1972 - and when I was a kid the Disneyland Hotel was always (what seemed like) this far-off place in the distance that I knew I would eventually stay in. It had a certain mystique about it, and seemed like it was only for grown-ups. At the end of each trip to the park, we would simply drive an hour back home but I was always curious about what kinds of things could be found at the DLH. Finally, when I was able to book hotel rooms myself, I decided to try the DLH (in the '80s), and I was hooked on staying onsite (in any of the 3 hotels) ever since.

Now this doesn't mean that I always have the money to stay onsite - if I absolutely cannot swing it financially in a given year, I will just go home at the end of the night. Eventually I will probably try HoJo's or another off-property hotel just to have that comparison to be able to share. But my trips are infinitely more special (and not lame) when I stay onsite.

We have stayed offsite and on site(I agree with most of what Sherry posted) I do not care for the terms lame, peasant, and believe it or not magical. We all use our resources they way we want to. I have been going to Disneyland since 1955, I am older than 99.9% of the people who post here and for the most part(if you have read some of my past posts.) a bit different perspective than everyone else.
Like I have said before, it is the way our family likes to travel when we go to the parks and we are willing to work very hard to do what we want. I do agree with sometimes less is more but we have found at Disneyland that is not the case for us and we do enjoy the boonies now and then, just getting away from the hubbub. Nuf said.

Jack

 

[rbbs]

"I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite."



This was the referenced quote that I found to be lame. Just my opinion though and having experienced Disney both ways I feel compelled to point out that this is not something that we can all agree on. It has been my experience that money can't buy you love and money also can't buy you magic. You should also be teaching and modelling this to your kids if you want to pass along a message that is truly timeless. Call me arogant/cheap/jealous/magically challenged or whatever you want but my experiences and my opinion tell me that you don't need to pay $381 per night to get infinitely more magic at Disney. I realize that I am likely in the minority in saying this so I am going to leave it at that. Enjoy Disney no matter what way you choose to experience it and when you least expect it you will find magic. Don't try to manufacture it.....just let it happen naturally....

 

[nunzia]

I grew up going to DL and staying off site. We'd spend a month in Anaheim every summer, and my parents would never pay the DLH prices. I fell in love with DL through those trips so the *magic* of DL is surely achieved when one stays off site.

When I had my own children I wanted them to experience DL in the best possible way. So we booked our first stay at the DLH with them back in 1987.
We have never considered staying off site since then.

So I too have experienced DL from on and off site. For *me* staying on site makes for a much more magical vacation. It doesn't change the magic *at* DL but does change the whole vacation experience for us.

At a DLR hotel we don't have to deal with shuttles or the parking structure. We don't have to settle for only one early entry. We don't have to lug our purchases with us, as we can have them sent back to our hotel. We don't have to worry about ressies for restaurants, F!, WOC. etc. as vacation planning or the conceirge takes of those things for us. As DLR guests we have never been turned away at the gates because of nearing capacity crowds, even for the 50th and NYE 1999, because resort guests are only denied admission when the fire marshal shuts down entries. We can walk through the lovely DTD area to get back to our hotel, free of traffic, people hawking time shares and the less than fortunate people that can be hanging out panhandling. If we are too tired to walk we just jump on the monorail for one last ride before calling it a day. This year we get to enter DCA and ride TLM, Soain, and get WOC passes before the park opens or use the DLR hotel special fastpasses to ride TLM and Star Tours with virtually no wait.

IMHO there is nothing *lame* about feeling that the above listed perks make my trips more magical for my family.

I don't look at those that stay off site as poor unfortunate souls that are deprived of the magic at DL, but for *me* my vacations are much more magical because of my choice to stay at a DLR hotel. But I'm also the type who orders a filet vs a nice strip steak.

dsny1mom

Well said..these discussions always go this way and to each their own with no judgement from me for any opinion. Also grew up going to Disneyland and stayed off site except for when my parents splurged for the DLH (late 1960's) When our kids were little we always stayed off site..no way could we swing DLH and always had wondrous times. Stayed at GC in 2001 and that did it. Champed a the bit until VGC was built and I could buy. No regrets..But..it just all depends.. I'm staying at the Jolly Roger (really the dredge of the local hotels to many) for the Expo because it's close, them moving to VGC after (a study in contrast!) So it really has nothing to do with snobbery, but with life choices at different times of life.

 

[rentayenta]

Our family is planning that same time, Jenny! But, we're slummin' it at the HoJo.

I adore you! I love the HoJo and if it weren't for DVC, we'd be staying there. It's a great property with fabulous service. Waaaaay nicer than the PPH if you ask me.

 

[rosiep]

"I think we can all agree that staying onsite at Disney, whether World or Land is infinitely more magical than staying offsite."



This was the referenced quote that I found to be lame. Just my opinion though and having experienced Disney both ways I feel compelled to point out that this is not something that we can all agree on. It has been my experience that money can't buy you love and money also can't buy you magic. You should also be teaching and modelling this to your kids if you want to pass along a message that is truly timeless. Call me arogant/cheap/jealous/magically challenged or whatever you want but my experiences and my opinion tell me that you don't need to pay $381 per night to get infinitely more magic at Disney. I realize that I am likely in the minority in saying this so I am going to leave it at that. Enjoy Disney no matter what way you choose to experience it and when you least expect it you will find magic. Don't try to manufacture it.....just let it happen naturally....

ouch!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

We're WDW vets.. and if staying across the street from Disneyland with less than a 10-minute walk, with a theme park view and fireworks from your balcony for 1/6 the cost of staying on one of the DLR properties isn't magical, I don't know what is.

I think we'll stick to the magic of the Hojo.