Any benefits to staying on property?

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

I really think you must be remembering your visit wrong. Downtown Disney is nothing like Harbor Blvd. Harbor Blvd. is a huge metro street with tons of traffic, buses, fast food chains and cheap motels. It isn't pretty by any stretch. Downtown Disney was designed to be more than a shopping area--it was meant to be a carless pramenade with lots of charm and a nice place to hang out. No one is hanging out on Harbor Blvd. unless they are selling something (and it isn't always legal).

People from all over LA go to Downtown Disney to eat and relax outside--day and night for the ambiance it provides. It may not be your cup of tea, but you can't really make it into a Harbor Blvd twin without stretching the truth.

If you read my original quote (which you quoted) I said it isn't much different. Might be an issue of symantics, but there is a difference. Just like there is a difference between Harbor and Downtown Disney. It's just an individuals perspective how *much* of a difference there truly is.

You actually are right on one point. My perspective might be a little skewed because the monorail was down my entire stay last time I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We had to walk the entire way from Disneyland/DCA through Downtown Disney with tired, cranky kids every night. It's a much longer walk when you're not being leisurely and relaxing or sightseeing.

Just for the record, the prices I was quoting *are* the discount prices available for the same weekend I'm looking at going in May for the On-property resorts. We go to Disneyland several times a year, so I am aware of looking for the discounts. I just am not always able to schedule my vacations based on when I find the best discounts/offpeak times, but when other travel companions are able to go.

Everyone is entitled to make their own choices on where to stay and what they want to spend. I was giving my opinion to the OP based on many visits to Disneyland and WDW. Everything I stated was my opinion and I said so in every post.

I was not inflammatory in any way nor did I ever state that "everything is overpriced" in any way, shape or form. If it was, I wouldn't go to Disneyland and have the amazing times my family has. We love Disneyland.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

My apologies. I know I am a diehard Disneyland Resort person! I probably can't be saved at this point. I can get easily riled on the subject. Your opinion is valid too, and many people do feel the same way about staying on property.

My next wish on my wishlist is to rent some points and stay at VGC, which I see as the melding of perfect worlds--being at the Grand Californian, yet with a kitchenette! (see, I am hopeless!).

Take care,
Lisa

 

[blackjackdelta]

If you read my original quote (which you quoted) I said it isn't much different. Might be an issue of symantics, but there is a difference. Just like there is a difference between Harbor and Downtown Disney. It's just an individuals perspective how *much* of a difference there truly is.

You actually are right on one point. My perspective might be a little skewed because the monorail was down my entire stay last time I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We had to walk the entire way from Disneyland/DCA through Downtown Disney with tired, cranky kids every night. It's a much longer walk when you're not being leisurely and relaxing or sightseeing.

Just for the record, the prices I was quoting *are* the discount prices available for the same weekend I'm looking at going in May for the On-property resorts. We go to Disneyland several times a year, so I am aware of looking for the discounts. I just am not always able to schedule my vacations based on when I find the best discounts/offpeak times, but when other travel companions are able to go.

Everyone is entitled to make their own choices on where to stay and what they want to spend. I was giving my opinion to the OP based on many visits to Disneyland and WDW. Everything I stated was my opinion and I said so in every post.

I was not inflammatory in any way nor did I ever state that "everything is overpriced" in any way, shape or form. If it was, I wouldn't go to Disneyland and have the amazing times my family has. We love Disneyland.

Well, as you can see, I am the trouble maker here. I should never post after a long day. I looked at the post and said here is another post about things being to expensive. I am a guest and also a Disney shareholder. If Disney runs their business appropraitely I make money, and if they charge me more than what I want to pay, I do something different.
I wish that there were better options than there are for places to stay. I have been a Disney person for a long time and I honestly wish it could go on for many generations..I won't be around to see it but I can always hope
You are lucky where you can go many times during the year but we are relegated to once if we are lucky. Have fun.

Jack

 

[gary1955]

some of the hotels near the Harbor entrance are actually closer to the park entrances than the Disneyland Hotel. the Grand Californian is closer but cost more than DL Hotel. Paradise Pier Hotel is farther than the DL Hotel and a little less. DL Hotel is being renovated so some areas are closed.

for me its not worth the extra cost, but we have stayed at all three and they are nice and you get good service. most of the time we stay outside the park.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the DLH....I love that when I wake up in the morning, I wake up to the fireworks, I love I turn on the TV and see Disney stuff, I love when I turn on the light in the bathroom I see Mickey hands, I love that when I am in the shower, I grab a Mickey head bath wash, love that walking down the hall I see "hidden" Mickeys in the carpet, I could go on and on...but really I feel "magical" the whole stay So for me it is worth the extra money...that being said, I do often look at off site hotels for their rates during the same time and I compare prices, etc.

Do I ALWAYS stay onsite? No, but I would if I could get that darn money tree to grow !!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

My apologies. I know I am a diehard Disneyland Resort person! I probably can't be saved at this point. I can get easily riled on the subject. Your opinion is valid too, and many people do feel the same way about staying on property.

My next wish on my wishlist is to rent some points and stay at VGC, which I see as the melding of perfect worlds--being at the Grand Californian, yet with a kitchenette! (see, I am hopeless!).

Take care,
Lisa

I rented last year and I am renting again this year. Very, smooth easy process. We had a full kitchen in the 1 bedroom.

Jack

 

[suzannen]

The first time I went to DL, DH and I stayed offsite. The second time, then with our DD, we stayed at the DLH. The third time, we stayed at the Grand Californian - and that did it. Every trip back since, GCH is the only place my family will stay, for us there is no comparison. We always get a DTD room where we can watch the fireworks from our balcony, listen to the music drifting up, and just be so close to the magic of the parks and DTD. We've also gotten some great deals through the years, so for our family, it's a little splurge that's absolutely worth it.

 

[sabrecmc]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the DLH....I love that when I wake up in the morning, I wake up to the fireworks, I love I turn on the TV and see Disney stuff, I love when I turn on the light in the bathroom I see Mickey hands, I love that when I am in the shower, I grab a Mickey head bath wash, love that walking down the hall I see "hidden" Mickeys in the carpet, I could go on and on...but really I feel "magical" the whole stay So for me it is worth the extra money...

Ha, that's me, too! For our upcoming Easter weekend trip (I know, yikes! But its a pre-cruise thing), we're staying at the DLH. It never occurred to me to try off-site (*shudder*). Its worth the money because it is part of the experience for us. Some people golf. Some people collect things. I stay on-site at Disney.

 

[blackjackdelta]

The first time I went to DL, DH and I stayed offsite. The second time, then with our DD, we stayed at the DLH. The third time, we stayed at the Grand Californian - and that did it. Every trip back since, GCH is the only place my family will stay, for us there is no comparison. We always get a DTD room where we can watch the fireworks from our balcony, listen to the music drifting up, and just be so close to the magic of the parks and DTD. We've also gotten some great deals through the years, so for our family, it's a little splurge that's absolutely worth it.

We fell into the same Disney trap.

Jack

 

[rosiep]

A veteran of WDW, I always advocate staying onsite while there. The immersion factor is priceless. My first time visiting DL we stayed in the PPH, it was convenient and beautiful but simply did not offer me the same "value" as staying onsite at WDW. My second visit I stayed on Harbour Blvd. This made the trip seem less vacationlike as I was surrounded by the city, but just fine in the end.
Now, if I had an abundance of money I would absolutely choose to stay at one of the Disney Hotels, but since that's not the case I feel the extra money is better spend of food or experiences (such as a tour or a massage)

 

[suzannen]

We fell into the same Disney trap.

Jack

But, it's a good, HAPPY trap!!

 

[davidsprincess]

I have stayed on site only once and I Loooooooooooved it!! We are going again in a couple of months and we will not be staying on site . If I had the money to stay on site again, I would totally do it, but I don't. I am just happy that I get to go to DLR again. In the end, to me that is all that matters. I get to go and enjoy the time with my family. As long as the place we are staying in is clean, I really don't care where we are. I just want to be all together.

My extended family are doing a first visit with us. I would have loved to have been able to stay on site so that they could get that "total emerssion" of Disney magic that you get when staying on site. My SIS-in-LAW put it great when she said that they don't care that they are not staying on site. They are just glad that they are able to go and take the kids. That is all that matters.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I rented last year and I am renting again this year. Very, smooth easy process. We had a full kitchen in the 1 bedroom.

Jack

Thanks--I would love the 1 bedroom for our whole family. We have 3 kids, and when we all go some day I would love to set this up. I think my husband would really like it too! He is a very easy going guy and one reason I know he loves me is he indulges my need to go to Disneyland at least once a year as a family! My husband and son (17) aren't as into it as my daughters and I. If it is just me and the girls (like this summer), then a studio would be the more logical (read: affordable) option. I tried to set it up for this summer, but wasn't quick enough about it. I tried a month ago, but it just was too late. I read about it and realized I need to do this like 7 months out, so next summer this will happen.

 

[AustinTink]

I rented last year and I am renting again this year. Very, smooth easy process. We had a full kitchen in the 1 bedroom.

Jack

How do you go about renting points? Do you use a service?

 

[OrcaPotter]

I'm really torn about what my friends and I should choose. We're planning our first ever trip to Disneyland for this summer and we're more than just WDW veterans ... we practically live there. One best friend is a CM, and myself and another BF have been going to the parks since we were in the womb. So, we're very familiar with the hotels on property and wish we had the cash to splurge and spend a weekend at one of them despite living less than 45 mins. away. For this trip, we really want the whole "new Disney experience" and would love love love to stay at an official hotel.

But hot-dog, are these places pricey ... though not unexpected. Even with a CM discount, it appears Expedia is quoting the same price we're being given for the DLH and PPH. My one BF would severely stretch her budget if we stayed at a Disney hotel. The rest of us are willing, though I wonder if we'd regret not having the extra cash to spend on some other things, since our budgets aren't much bigger. Character breakfasts are great and all, but honestly we have plenty of character dining options here at WDW, so I'm not sure if it'd be that big of a loss as far as experience.

I've read and spent too many hours reading all the reference threads for hotels and comparisons between DL and WDW. We're looking at the Carousel Inn as an acceptable alternative. However, we (I) can't help but feel we'd miss that extra "specialness" of being totally Disney for our first trip--and possibly only trip for a very long time. I'm aware that the only real perks of the Disney hotels are the theming, MM hour, and access to all resort pools. Our plan is to be there for 5 nights, from July 5th-10th. Would any of you suggest ...

- Waiting for some sort of summer special, like the aforementioned "5 nights for price of 3"?
- Thinking it's worth it, as we'd get 2 MM hours during a possibly very crowded week?
- Staying at a Good Neighbor, like the Carousel, because we'll probably want/need to spend every moment possible in the parks and we're ultimately not going to care in the long run?

Pools are something we can honestly not care about, seeing as how my family has one and most everyone/everyplace here in Florida does as well. But it'd be nice to be around a nicer Disney pool than a basic rectangle I can find anywhere if I/we decided to relax at some point out of the parks.

Ack! This Disney fanatic isn't sure which route to go

 

[Captain Hindsight]

For this trip, we really want the whole "new Disney experience" and would love love love to stay at an official hotel.

You mean "Original Disney Experience"! If $ is a big factor in your decisions I'd skip the DLR hotels and just stay someplace on the other side of Harbor that is still walkable! You can still visit the resorts, spend time in DTD after the parks close, and just return to your hotel to sleep! You will have much more fun if you are not stressing about the bill thats going to come at the end of your trip!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Stay at DLH.....You will love the extras...like the shower curtain, lights, sheets, etc. !!!

 

[skiingfast]

So, we're very familiar with the hotels on property and wish we had the cash to splurge and spend a weekend at one of them despite living less than 45 mins. away. For this trip, we really want the whole "new Disney experience" and would love love love to stay at an official hotel.

But hot-dog, are these places pricey ... though not unexpected. Even with a CM discount, it appears Expedia is quoting the same price we're being given for the DLH and PPH. My one BF would severely stretch her budget if we stayed at a Disney hotel. The rest of us are willing, though I wonder if we'd regret not having the extra cash to spend on some other things, since our budgets aren't much bigger. Character breakfasts are great and all, but honestly we have plenty of character dining options here at WDW, so I'm not sure if it'd be that big of a loss as far as experience.

I'm aware that the only real perks of the Disney hotels are the theming, MM hour, and access to all resort pools. Our plan is to be there for 5 nights, from July 5th-10th. Would any of you suggest ...

- Waiting for some sort of summer special, like the aforementioned "5 nights for price of 3"?
- Thinking it's worth it, as we'd get 2 MM hours during a possibly very crowded week?
- Staying at a Good Neighbor, like the Carousel, because we'll probably want/need to spend every moment possible in the parks and we're ultimately not going to care in the long run?

Pools are something we can honestly not care about, seeing as how my family has one and most everyone/everyplace here in Florida does as well.
Ack! This Disney fanatic isn't sure which route to go

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.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

OrcaPotter:

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?

Lisa

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm aware that the only real perks of the Disney hotels are the theming, MM hour, and access to all resort pools. Our plan is to be there for 5 nights, from July 5th-10th.

...


Pools are something we can honestly not care about, seeing as how my family has one and most everyone/everyplace here in Florida does as well. But it'd be nice to be around a nicer Disney pool than a basic rectangle I can find anywhere if I/we decided to relax at some point out of the parks.

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.