Advantages of staying onsite DLR?

[sandymandr]

I'm planning a possible FIRST trip to DLR for March 17-19 with me and step-daughter (15) and have been reading these boards.....Please help me!
What are the advantages to staying onsite vs. the good neighbor hotel? I can't figure it out. There is no magical express like WDW, and doesn't seem to be an EMH advantage. Also, if you stay onsite, can you get all your tickets and stuff when you check in? Sorry, I know better than to compare the resorts, but WDW is all I know TIA!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Actually, other than just being surrounded with Disney magic, you do get into Early Entry each day that it is offered if you are a resort guest.

Getting tickets would depend on the package that you book.

 

[bumbershoot]

There is also the package service, where you can buy things and have them sent to the hotel. It's not a same-day thing, but you'll have them the next day.

Though the times we tried this, the stores were out of the forms they needed to fill out, so we couldn't take advantage of it.


But you're right, there's no HUGE advantage to staying onsite. We stayed onsite for 4 days, then offsite for 2 in September (same trip), and this trip we're off site as well, b/c we don't feel the expensive of being onsite was worth any advantages (though I will miss EE like crazy, b/c we have APs now and don't get EE at all).

 

[sandymandr]

I thought of something else, if you stay onsite, can you do a "pre check-in" like at WDW where you drop your stuff at bell service and you can go hit the parks. When you come back your stuff is in your room? Many of the off-site hotels have 3pm check-in times and we will be arriving around noon.....what to do for 3 hours???

 

[bumbershoot]

As far as I know, all the hotels around DLR, including the DL hotels, allow you to put your luggage in a special room/area. So you check in, but before your room is ready you can leave your luggage there and retrieve it later when your room is ready. I do NOT know if the DLR hotels will put it in the room for you (seems doubtful, as the bellhops would probably like you to be there to put some cash in their hands), but just about anywhere you can leave your luggage before your room is ready.

 

[NVDisMom]

The only other advantage I can think of that is not already mentioned is the use of the exclusive entrance to DCA in GCH. All hotel guests get to use it. I know sometimes they let non property guests thru too, but it is handy. Also, the Monorail has certain times that only property guests can use it.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Bumbershoot is right. We stayed at the DLH. We checked in at 10:00am and checked in. Checked our bags with the bell desk and hit the park. We closed the park and got back and called for our bags. They also had our groceries too. They brought them up right away. They were not in our room. We had to call them. It wasn't too much trouble though.

 

[Judy from Boise]

of course there are more "resort" amenities

room service
onsite restaurants
interior corridors
themed pools with slides

Most of us do different lodging based on the circumstances of each trip.

 

[blackjackdelta]

The only other advantage I can think of that is not already mentioned is the use of the exclusive entrance to DCA in GCH. All hotel guests get to use it. I know sometimes they let non property guests thru too, but it is handy. Also, the Monorail has certain times that only property guests can use it.

We stayed non-property this last mid august and used the entrance all of the time.

Jack

 

[5/4Disney]

We just got back last night from our stay at PP Concierge level and it was nice. Il ike the fact that you can stay so close it is very easy to walk back to the hotel. We went back each day for the 4:45 hot snack (mini hamburgers, calzones, burritos, can't remember what else but it was good) Unlike WDW it is super easy to get back to your resort and you don't feel like you'll be gone for half the day. We also took advantage of having stuff shipped to our room. ex. one day it was raining so we had all our stuffed shipped so it wouldn't get wet. PP was nice, but not a lot of Disney decor like at WDW. If you have ever stayed at one of the DTD hotels like Royal Plaza at WDW then you've seen hotels similar to the PP. Now the GCH was nice, it reminded me sooo much of our last stay at the WL if you want to pay $$ then stay there otherwise I would choose the PP. They upgraded us to a parkview and it was nice. PM me if you'd like to see some photos of the room and view we took plenty.
Julie

 

[farmfresh]

We have done both on and off site, and, if funds permit, on site is best, but of course it's not always possible. As others have said, you can have good time anywhere. In fact, I think that in some ways Disney hotels are a little light on advantages when you compare costs.

However, you do have more of a resort feel, and generally you are quite close, which is worthwhile. The GCH entrance is usually only restricted for inital entrance...after than pretty much anyone can come and go with a handstamp.

We have never used the parcel service, but it seems minor consideation.

 

[sandymandr]

WOW! Thanks for all the advice, I love these boards! mmmmm, hot evening snacks.....that may be a tie-breaker right there! I guess I'll get my quotes and see how much everything costs. EE sounds good too. I love staying onsite at WDW, but it really is a huge advantage. Do you all feel safe leaving DLR at night and returning to your hotel off-property? If we stay off-site, then we will stay at one that is right across the street (assuming I can still get a room for the week before Easter!!!)
Thanks again! I'm soooooooooooo excited! Now, to spend the next few months reading about restaurants, itenerary advice, etc.....I love Disney planning!!!

 

[shoppingmom]

One of my favorite reasons for staying on site is if you buy anything (except food and candy) within the parks you can have the items delivered to the hotel the following morning instead of carrying around packages all day long!

We have always stayed on site at PP and absolutely love it. EE is a great benefit too.