Any benefits to staying on property?

[skiingfast]

Don't stay at the Dineyland Hotel this summer--because it is under massive construction in the pool area. The new pool area will be open NEXT summer, not this summer. Even if you don't swim it matters because it messes with the overall environment and should get what you are paying a premium for.

Lisa

This is very incorrect. This summer at the DLH there will be two pools open. A new one and an old one. The Monorail pool with the waterslides and the existing neverland pool. The Pool bar/restaurant will also be open. In the Fall work on the neverland pool will commence.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

This is very incorrect. This summer at the DLH there will be two pools open. A new one and an old one. The Monorail pool with the waterslides and the existing neverland pool. The Pool bar/restaurant will also be open. In the Fall work on the neverland pool will commence.

Really? I called the hotel because we are going this summer, and the person I spoke to in guest services told me summer 2012. Maybe they had their information wrong.

This website says the pool will be open, but the sides won't be open till 2012:

http://www.**************.net/2010/05/disneyland-hotel-pool-to-receive-monorail-themed-water-slides/

 

[sonnyjane]

Really? I called the hotel because we are going this summer, and the person I spoke to in guest services told me summer 2012. Maybe they had their information wrong.

This website says the pool will be open, but the sides won't be open till 2012:

http://www.**************.net/2010/05/disneyland-hotel-pool-to-receive-monorail-themed-water-slides/

I think we need to find more recent info. This Disney blog with the same date as the link you posted above reads slightly differently: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/disneyland-hotel-makeover/

"The new water play area, pool and dining locations are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011, and the remodeled Never Land Pool is slated to be completed by summer 2012."

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I think we need to find more recent info. This Disney blog with the same date as the link you posted above reads slightly differently: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/disneyland-hotel-makeover/

"The new water play area, pool and dining locations are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011, and the remodeled Never Land Pool is slated to be completed by summer 2012."

That is similar to what guest relations told me. She said it was the water play area (not the big new monorail pool with the slides--which she told me would not be open this summer)--that would available. She added we could use the Grand Californian pool instead.

I will try calling again later this week. We are going there soon, and I will talk to them in person as well (for a one night stay in April).

Sorry, I didn't mean to pass along misinformation to anyone...I am just telling what I was told by guest relations.

 

[nunzia]

When we were young and had better pain free feet and less money we happily stayed off site up and down Harbor. We stayed in the Grand Californian in 2001 and that was it. LOVE that style of building and decorating and love that location, expecially to DCA and the ability to use that entrance. DTD to me is not mall-ess at all..but also, where we live there is NO mall, so eh.. we don't get tempted to buy stuff, we do end up stopping so the kids can watch the fountain in the morning or do a little dance at night. I do not like to see the 'real world' when I'm at Disney..although a quick booze run is OK. I don't have to worry about looking for deals anymore since I found owning DVC the perfect solution for our family. With three kids and nearly 9 grandkids it will be 'paid for' quickly. I treated all of them to an all expenses paid trip (yep work 2 jobs and do ebay also for the extra$) and now just offer the room which, for them, is huge. Also have been able to already treat extended family and soon, friends. This year we will use our points for 16 nights at VGC..not a bad deal at all. I don't know why, but it does seem much shorter walking through DTD than out on Harbor no matter how close it really is. Still, I'll stay off site at times..for the Expo I'm at the Jolly Roger strictly for the location, then move to VGC afterward..talk about a drastic difference in quality and experience .
Each person can only decide for them what is 'worth it'. I don't think alot of things are worth it that others do, so I sure don't expect everyone to feel that the huge amount of $ to stay onsite is worth it to all.

 

[OrcaPotter]

I think because of your dates the MM will be extra nice. As with WDW that will be a time of peak crowds. So that golden hour may be a bigger benefit. Also it's very possible that if you wait for a summer room special the Disney Hotels and some offsite hotels will sell out first.

You might like the DLH's new pool because of the water slides, if you like pools for such a thing. On Harbor you will find the pools to mostly be like the ones in FL yards.

If you all have gone to WDW so much does anyone have a premium pass? Maybe it would be worth it to upgrade to a Premier and get them to pay for a hotel room at an AP rate. And of course get discounts on food and merchandise.

Perhaps though since you've been so much you don't see the excitement or hear the clapping when you drive under the WDW banners over the entrances to the World. But at DLR from a couple of the Harbor hotels you can see that same thing, over the entrance to a whole new Land from the front of those motels.

One of my best friends is a CM, so we go to the parks on her guest passes. Without her we couldn't possibly afford the $400+ AP costs. What was interesting is that Expedia is quoting the CM discount rates my BF was given. I'm hoping that with the economy and gas prices, we might hit some deals this summer.

The summer discounts are not out yet. They typically come out in April or May at the latest. The spring deals end April 14, so I imagine the 5 for 3 will be out soon after if they are doing it this year. So be patient. The reason why expedia is quoting you the same rates as Disney is that the way Expedia and Orbitz get you the discounted rates is to wait unil Disney is done selling them. (this usually happens a month or so before travel, but it really varies--could be 3 weeks, or a little over a month). The Disney website will show "sold out" on their website for rooms, but when you go to Expedia and Orbitz they will have the rooms there at a discount. Obviously this is risky because Disney only has these rooms to unload if there are excess rooms. They sell them all to these discount places (sort of like TJ Maxx for hotel rooms) some of the time. If Disney is effective in selling them, then they don't go to the dicounter. Hope that is clear.

Don't stay at the Dineyland Hotel this summer--because it is under massive construction in the pool area. The new pool area will be open NEXT summer, not this summer. Even if you don't swim it matters because it messes with the overall environment and should get what you are paying a premium for.

If I were you I would stay either at Paradise Pier or the Grand Californian if you can get a good rate. You can still make a reservation at the Carousel Inn now, and cancel it later if you don't get the rate you want. I believe it is worth it to stay on property, and not just for the MM. This trip is a big deal as you have never been before, and likely won't be back soon. Make it as memorable and good as possible. The Paradise Pier actually has some really competitive rates compared to the other two hotels, and people seem to get upgraded to nicer rooms there easier than the other hotels. My friend booked a standard room there and got an amazing high tower theme park view and could see World of Color from her room. They were pleasantly surprised by the PP, as have always been GC diehards.

What made you decide on the Carousel Inn out of curiousity?

Oh yes, I'm familiar with how they get the discounted rooms. It was just curious that Expedia was quoting the same price that my BF was given under a CM discount. We were/are seriously looking at PPH over the DLH, though I did not want my other BF to get stressed financially for the trip. I'm hoping a deal will pop later on so we can still manage to stay there.

We're looking at the Carousel because it seems the nicest and closest to the parks. The reviews are kinda mixed bag, though ... however the room photos are nice. We don't need anything fancy but being as close as possible without having to pay a shuttle is a big deal. As mentioned, we're still hopeful for an official hotel to have the whole "original" experience since we don't really get that at WDW.

Actually, staying on-site only gives you access to the pool at your hotel. There is not pool-hopping at Disneyland. The only time you can use another hotel's pool is if the pools at your hotel are closed. I know you said you don't care much about pools, I just wanted to clarify that point.

Huh, I've been reading everywhere that people staying on-site do get that opportunity. Particularly since the DLH pool is under construction.

 

[DahliaRW]

Huh, I've been reading everywhere that people staying on-site do get that opportunity. Particularly since the DLH pool is under construction.

If you stay at DLH you can use the pool at GCH since the cove pool is under construction.

 

[sonnyjane]

Huh, I've been reading everywhere that people staying on-site do get that opportunity. Particularly since the DLH pool is under construction.

They get that opportunity because of the construction. As I said, you only get to hop if your hotel's pool is closed/being remodeled. If nothing was under construction, pool-hopping would not be an option.