Ahh, why is it so expensive

[whoever]

My comment was not meant in that way. I would hope that all kids appreciate their trips, regardless of where they stay and what they do. The point of my particular post was to say that no one should *need* to stay on property to enjoy the magic. I also find it a little rude (and this is not directed at anyone on here, just in general) to hear people say that staying on property is more magical. To me, a statement like that could make someone who does not stay on property (perhaps a family of first time visitors on a tight budget) feel bad and doubt their trip. If someone has the money and chooses to stay on property then more power to you! I don't think you will have a better vacation than me and I don't think I will have a better time than you either. Saying one place is better than another (in terms of "magic"-obviously DLR properties are nicer quality hotels) just seems unnecessary.

An opinion can be rude depending on content and delivery, but in this case, I think it is absolutely a valid opinion, and not in the least sense rude. My first trip to DLR was when I was 10 I think, and we stayed offsite. Fast forward a few decades, and my first trip with my family (wife and kids), was absolutely more magical staying onsite vs. what I experienced staying off. Nothing rude about it, my opinion, and as far as I am concerned, fact for my family.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

An opinion can be rude depending on content and delivery, but in this case, I think it is absolutely a valid opinion, and not in the least sense rude. My first trip to DLR was when I was 10 I think, and we stayed offsite. Fast forward a few decades, and my first trip with my family (wife and kids), was absolutely more magical staying onsite vs. what I experienced staying off. Nothing rude about it, my opinion, and as far as I am concerned, fact for my family.

And there is nothing wrong with it being a fact for your family and it is a valid opinion. My point is that there is no reason for people to say that it is in fact more magical in general. I think it is inconsiderate and could upset those who can not afford to stay on property. Kind of a round about way of saying that an on property vacation is better than an off property vacation. I have been several times and know that this is not the case, but a person who has never been and doesn't know may start to feel bad about their choice. If I did think it was better to stay on property I would keep it to myself or state it the way you did, as a fact for my family. Making a broad statement that it is better to stay on property for everyone is rude.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

My comment was not meant in that way. I would hope that all kids appreciate their trips, regardless of where they stay and what they do. The point of my particular post was to say that no one should *need* to stay on property to enjoy the magic. I also find it a little rude (and this is not directed at anyone on here, just in general) to hear people say that staying on property is more magical. To me, a statement like that could make someone who does not stay on property (perhaps a family of first time visitors on a tight budget) feel bad and doubt their trip. If someone has the money and chooses to stay on property then more power to you! I don't think you will have a better vacation than me and I don't think I will have a better time than you either. Saying one place is better than another (in terms of "magic"-obviously DLR properties are nicer quality hotels) just seems unnecessary.

And I agree with this. I am not one to say that onsite is more magical for everybody. Everybody has their own wants & needs in a vacation. I have said, on these boards even, that is more magical for MY family and that is a fact. We have stayed offsite more than we have stayed onsite, but given the choice (meaning it's in our budget for that trip), we will stay onsite. I think it's impossible to say one is better than the other because each individual group has their own needs, but I do think it's a fair for somebody to say one is better for them. I don't begrudge people who like to stay offsite, but I also don't like the impression that my children are less grateful for our trip. I'm glad you came back to explain, so thank you.

 

[cari12]

You make a very good point! When we stay onsite, we get back to our room tired, but happy. The walk to Harbor, no matter how close, just seems to drag. The same goes in the morning - there is an extra bounce in our step, despite the early hour, when going through DTD. There is something about walking back through DTD that makes the walk seem not as bad, even if it technically further than across the street.

This is exactly why we love staying on site!

 

[Dot2Vegas]

And I agree with this. I am not one to say that onsite is more magical for everybody. Everybody has their own wants & needs in a vacation. I have said, on these boards even, that is more magical for MY family and that is a fact. We have stayed offsite more than we have stayed onsite, but given the choice (meaning it's in our budget for that trip), we will stay onsite. I think it's impossible to say one is better than the other because each individual group has their own needs, but I do think it's a fair for somebody to say one is better for them. I don't begrudge people who like to stay offsite, but I also don't like the impression that my children are less grateful for our trip. I'm glad you came back to explain, so thank you.

Of course! I was happy to explain!

 

[BadBoyBill]

We have gone to our favorite place Disneyland for the last 4 years, since our daughter turned 2, she is now 6. We always stay at GCH. I just don't know how we are going to do it this year. It is so expensive, a package used to cost us about $1350 - $1600, this year it is coming in at $3000 and we still would need to add another night at $409+ tax, plus parking, food, goodies, airfare, car rental, etc., it's gonna end up costing us like $6000 to $7000 to go to Disneyland for 3 in a standard room. Such a bummer. It's been a really rough year medically and we so deserve it. I know, we don't have to stay at the GCH, but that is our special place and all we really know. We love it there. Sorry, I just had to shed my disappointment with someone and only you other Disney lovers would understand. Even DH who usually doesn't squak about the price is saying oh wow. wahhhh

We are going early October, looking at the 6th for 5 nights. I wish Gays Days rate was open to supporters this year

Thanks for listening to my rant, just trying to figure this all out.

The Gay Days rate is for anyone Straight or Gay attending the Gay Days event. You don't have to pay for the parties... Just wear red Sat and Sun and attend some of the events such as the welcome center that are free. The discounted rooms are sold out but keep checking. Also consider the Holiday Inn (not Express) by the parking garage. It is very affordable. Discounted park tickets are still available. Just go to the Gay Days Anaheim website and check the events page for a listing of all the events. Many (not the parties) are free.

 

[tiggerluvr]

The Gay Days rate is for anyone Straight or Gay attending the Gay Days event.

Ditto. Hubby and I got the gay days rate for DH (Oct 6-9), and we are hetero.

 

[bbeagle]

My point is that there is no reason for people to say that it is in fact more magical in general. I think it is inconsiderate and could upset those who can not afford to stay on property.

Are you serious?

These are message boards where people give opinions to help others decide what to do. If someone on here is so fragile to think tha there is no difference in paying $100 vs $500 for something, and get upset it is THEIR fault, not the poster!

Kind of a round about way of saying that an on property vacation is better than an off property vacation. I have been several times and know that this is not the case, but a person who has never been and doesn't know may start to feel bad about their choice. If I did think it was better to stay on property I would keep it to myself or state it the way you did, as a fact for my family. Making a broad statement that it is better to stay on property for everyone is rude.

It IS more magical to stay on site. We're giving our opinions here, and YOU are the one being rude by trying to silence people who don't have the same opinions as you.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

Are you serious?

These are message boards where people give opinions to help others decide what to do. If someone on here is so fragile to think tha there is no difference in paying $100 vs $500 for something, and get upset it is THEIR fault, not the poster!

It IS more magical to stay on site. We're giving our opinions here, and YOU are the one being rude by trying to silence people who don't have the same opinions as you.

My goodness, way to over react. I certainly don't want to silence anyone. This is the internet. If I don't care for someone's opinion I can scroll past it. For the last time I will say that I think making the broad generalization that it is definitely better to stay on property is what's rude. There are ways to state things to others so that you don't offend them or their ideas. For example "for our family" or " in my opinion staying on property is better". Yes, you think it's better and that's great for you. It's called being thoughtful of others. But seriously, this is beating a dead horse at this point.

 

[Malcon10t]

It IS more magical to stay on site. We're giving our opinions here, and YOU are the one being rude by trying to silence people who don't have the same opinions as you.

I don't think anyone is trying to silence people. But I am another one who will say I don't consider it more magical. To you, it may be, but to blanketly say "It IS more magical" isn't true. It may be more magical for your family. Not so much for ours. I see people all the time comment about how nice the walk through DTD is at night. I took their word for it. I found it to be like pushing and shoving your way through crowds in Adventureland. I asked my kids, and they agreed the walk "Not so magical", in fact my older daughter commented the walk up Harbor is more peaceful. So, to you it is more magical, to us, not really.

For example "for our family" or " in my opinion staying on property is better". Yes, you think it's better and that's great for you. It's called being thoughtful of others. But seriously, this is beating a dead horse at this point.

We stay at the Disneyland hotel about half the time. We stay for other conveniences (and when I can get a good rate) and I do enjoy the hotel. But, I still like other hotels and stay there too. I agree with you. "Magical" is subjective. My kids when they were teens thought staying longer and eating in the park was more magical than staying a shorter length at the DLH...

 

[Dot2Vegas]

I don't think anyone is trying to silence people. But I am another one who will say I don't consider it more magical. To you, it may be, but to blanketly say "It IS more magical" isn't true. It may be more magical for your family. Not so much for ours. I see people all the time comment about how nice the walk through DTD is at night. I took their word for it. I found it to be like pushing and shoving your way through crowds in Adventureland. I asked my kids, and they agreed the walk "Not so magical", in fact my older daughter commented the walk up Harbor is more peaceful. So, to you it is more magical, to us, not really.

We stay at the Disneyland hotel about half the time. We stay for other conveniences (and when I can get a good rate) and I do enjoy the hotel. But, I still like other hotels and stay there too. I agree with you. "Magical" is subjective. My kids when they were teens thought staying longer and eating in the park was more magical than staying a shorter length at the DLH...

We have asked our kids (for discussions sake) if they would prefer long trips staying offsite or shorter trips staying onsite. My kids have never stayed on property but have seen the hotels and the answer is always "more Disney time"! I like whatever allows us the budget to stay longer and afford other in park luxuries!

 

[sheetz]

"Magical" is subjective. My kids when they were teens thought staying longer and eating in the park was more magical than staying a shorter length at the DLH...

I don't even consider "Magical" to be a proper adjective the way most people use it on these forums. It's such a vague term, kind of like describing something as "smurfy."

 

[Blue32]

I don't even consider "Magical" to be a proper adjective the way most people use it on these forums. It's such a vague term, kind of like describing something as "smurfy."

I agree. And I have to confess that as much as I like Disney(especially the parks), I sometimes get tired of the term 'magical'.

 

[sammons70]

I would love to be able to afford to stay on-site, but there is no way I am willing to pay that much more for use of a bed. To me, that's what it comes down to. A Disney vacation is a pricey one, no way around that fact. Just to get in the gate of a park myself, is more than a day's pay for me, so I have to put things into perspective and prioritize. If I am paying to enjoy the parks, then getting the most out of my money for the parks is my priority. If I am at the parks from open to close, all I need is a clean room with a clean bed for the nights, that's all! Booking through AAA gets me several perks like early entry, Toon Town Morning Madness, and priority seating at several shows. What it comes down to for me is getting to Disneyland at all, so staying at the closest, most expensive hotel in Anaheim is not a priority. I know that Disney hotels are great, and I would enjoy my stay there, but I can't justify spending so much more when accommodations at the Best Western 10 minutes away are more than satisfactory. If you have never tried a Good Neighbor Hotel, you may be surprised at how nice your vacation is with spending a lot less money.

 

[SuperRob]

I don't even consider "Magical" to be a proper adjective the way most people use it on these forums. It's such a vague term, kind of like describing something as "smurfy."

I vehemently disagree. Staying on-site is absolutely more smurfy.

 

[mydisneyfix]

I have stayed on and off site a few times. I agree that on site has a Disney bubble, but I get a happy feeling staying offsite too. Maybe I am weird this way since no one else has said this but...when I leave the park at night and go to my offsite hotel I get a sad feeling that my magical day is over. But then..I crawl into bed and get super excited that I get to do it all over again the next day! It's like my vacation starts all over again when I hit the turnstiles the next day! That is until my last day..then it is just plain sad when I walk back from the park that night

 

[junmatno]

I have stayed on and off site a few times. I agree that on site has a Disney bubble, but I get a happy feeling staying offsite too. Maybe I am weird this way since no one else has said this but...when I leave the park at night and go to my offsite hotel I get a sad feeling that my magical day is over. But then..I crawl into bed and get super excited that I get to do it all over again the next day! It's like my vacation starts all over again when I hit the turnstiles the next day! That is until my last day..then it is just plain sad when I walk back from the park that night

I agree! We have stayed on and off site. The only difference was the Extra hour which was nice at DCA, and we decorated the room for DS birthday. I love Disney no matter where I stay.

 

[junmatno]

Ditto. Hubby and I got the gay days rate for DH (Oct 6-9), and we are hetero.

Hey tigger, we are also attending during GD. But we are booked from the 5-9th. But the reason we are booked starting Saturday is because it said that your stay had to start between certain dates, and the last day was the 5th. Did I read that wrong??

 

[tiggerluvr]

Hey tigger, we are also attending during GD. But we are booked from the 5-9th. But the reason we are booked starting Saturday is because it said that your stay had to start between certain dates, and the last day was the 5th. Did I read that wrong??

I didn't see that anywhere. I booked through the GD site and didn't have any problems getting the rate for just the 6th-9th. I believe the GD rate is good for the entire two weeks surrounding the GD weekend (5th-6th). We wanted to avoid some of the huge crowds, but still support GD with our friends, which is why we decided to come on the last day of the festivities and spend most of our Disney time in the park during the week, when it's less crowded.

 

[Baxhappyplace]

Have you checked cheaptickets.com? They have a promo code CHEAP20 which gives you 20% off of all three of the DLR hotels. We just booked our trip for December at GCH which gave us a woods/courtyard/garden view standard room for $350 a night (not including tax). I thought the last day of the promo code was yesterday but I just checked and it is still working, but I wouldn't wait too long. Using your Oct 6-11 your daily rate is the same as mine, $350 a night. With tax and everything your total for the hotel would be $2128.

Also check out way.com for your tickets. We purchased ours for our July trip and they worked just fine. We even upgraded at Disneyland to make it a 3 day park hopper instead of the 2 day park hopper that we originally purchased with way.com. Their tickets are the cheapest I have seen and I was looking really hard. We are going to purchase through them again for our December trip.

Good luck!