Best hotel pool at DL for kids 5 & 7?

[bethnburke]

We are planning our first trip to DL this May and I am trying to find the best hotel for us. At our last trip to WDW we stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter and the pool with the dragon slide was the high point of the trip for my kids DD5 and DS7. We would like to find something that is moderately priced, close, and has a great pool. A view of the fireworks would also be nice because I doubt we will stay at the park long enough to see them there. My son is a huge pirate fan so I am interested in getting opinions about the pirate pool at DLR (I think). It looked nice in the pictures but I didnt see a waterslide which is high on DS's wishlist. Any recommendations?

I would also love to get opinions about the benefits of staying on-site vs off-site since transportation is not an issue at DL like it is at WDW.

Thanks for your help

 

[CupidsKiss]

Neverland Pool at Disneyland resort has a 100ft waterslide

 

[CupidsKiss]

Neverland Pool at Disneyland resort has a 100ft waterslide.

We have stayed offsite at the HoJo and enjoed the pool in Feb. We laso ahd a view of the fireworks from the hotel.

 

[PrincessSitka]

We love the neverland pool at Disneyland Hotel

 

[CoolPool]

I love the DLH and GCH waterslides/pools. Both are great. PP has an awesome waterslide that you don't even have to be able to swim to use it. Just keep in mind that the Disney lifeguards will ask little ones to do a swim test before letting them go down the slides - they position some one at the top to make sure the kids/adults go down in an orderly fashion and they will call out little ones. I lurve me some Disney pools. Have fun!

 

[disney-super-mom]

I just want to repeat what CoolPool was saying.

The slide at the Paradise Pier hotel is the only main pool slide on Disneyland property that non-swimmers are allowed to use. It is the longest slide on Disneyland property at 180' long, but it's fairly gentle despite it's length, so even younger children can use it without feeling overwhelmed. There are NO swim tests given to use this slide.

If your children can swim at least a little bit (meaning they can at least dog paddle their way from the bottom of the slide to the side of the pool), then they'll be able to use the main slides at either the Disneyland Hotel (the Neverland Pool) or the Grand Californian. The lifeguards do ask younger children to take a simple swimming test (just to show they can swim well enough to get from the bottom of the slide area to the side of the pool or the stairs). Unfortunately children are not allowed to wear life-vests on the slides at the Disneyland Resort, which explains the swim tests.

 

[bethnburke]

Thanks for the info. My kids are both great swimmers - they have been doing lessons since they were 2 - so that is not an issue. Is it worth spending twice the cost of a room elsewhere to stay at the Disney Land Hotel? The pool does look like a lot of fun but DH is not conviced that is worth $250 / night.

 

[CoolPool]

If a waterslide is really important as you said on your first post then you are stuck with Disney hotels. If you want to save money, then there are lots of hotels and motels within walking distance that have a typical pool. I know the Hojo has a few things extra (a water fountain-jet play area or something) things.

Here is a map that puts everything in perspective:
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html
Not everything is walking distance but there is this bus system ART that shuttles between some hotels/motels and the park.

 

[DangerMouse]

Thanks for the info. My kids are both great swimmers - they have been doing lessons since they were 2 - so that is not an issue. Is it worth spending twice the cost of a room elsewhere to stay at the Disney Land Hotel? The pool does look like a lot of fun but DH is not conviced that is worth $250 / night.

If you are asking about off-site hotel pools, the best in the area is the Howard Johnson's. They have two pool areas, a kiddie pool with zero entry and a splash playground. Pics can be found here:

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/info/photos.htm

You won't find an off-site pool close by that has a pool slide or theming. They are all pretty generic.

I'm a loyal HoJo fan, so if you have any other questions about the property, ask away.

 

[bethnburke]

The Howard Johnsons looks like it would be fun for them and more in DH's price range. The waterslide would be a nice addition but its not a must have. I cant decide whether it is worth it to spend the extra $ for the "Disney Magic" and the waterslide or use the extra $ on things at the park. Other than the pool, what is the benefit of staying onsite? Is it warm enough at the end of May to swim in the evenings?

Thanks for all your input!

 

[Sherry E]

If the monetary aspect is the main concern, but you still want to stay at a Disney hotel, stay at the Paradise Pier and book it through Central reservations rather than the WD Travel Co and get your tickets separately. The Disney hotels have the cute Disney touches, like the Surfer Goofy in the lobby of the PP Hotel, which is a photo opportunity for the kids. The Disneyland Hotel, slightly more expensive, has the great waterfall on its property and the koi fish, AND it has the great buffet restaurant for kids AND adults, Goofy's Kitchen. These two hotels have the Mickey bath products in the rooms, a plus for kids, while the Grand Californian has H20 products with no sign of Mickey on them. But as for convenience, you can't get better than the GC because it leads right onto Downtown Disney, right into Cal Adv, and is steps away from the Disneyland entrance. Just book it through Central, not the WDTC.

 

[jenksdj]

We stayed at the DLH in late April last year and the water in the pool in the evening was fine to swim in. A little chilly for me (I'm a warm water lover), but the kids didn't even seem to notice. May should be fine swimming weather! We loved the DLH and picked it partly for the pool. Our girls are 5 and 7 also. When we booked we were concerned about the price too, but decided to splurge. We didn't regret it one bit! In fact, we decided to go again in November 2007 and we chose DLH, hands down. I think the kids would have revolted if we told them we were staying elsewhere! The water in November seemed a little warmer, but maybe it was because the air temp was a little cooler? If your son loves pirates and swimming, this is the place to go. Can't say one bad thing about the DLH in our two times there! If you want a view of the fireworks, try to get a room in the Dreams Tower with a DTD view, as high as you can get. We had that last time and it rocked! The first time we were in the Dreams Tower as well, but had a view of the pool - really liked that too! Whatever you choose, enjoy!

 

[TripHHH]

I thought I had read on another post that if you stay in one of the Disney resorts, it is okay to use the pools in the other hotels. Does anyone know is this is true.

For instance, stay at Paradise Pier and have access to DLH and GC pools? If so, you might stay at PP and be able to use the pool at DLH. Just a thought.

 

[DangerMouse]

I thought I had read on another post that if you stay in one of the Disney resorts, it is okay to use the pools in the other hotels. Does anyone know is this is true.

For instance, stay at Paradise Pier and have access to DLH and GC pools? If so, you might stay at PP and be able to use the pool at DLH. Just a thought.

Pool hopping between resort pools is only allowed if the resort pool in which you are staying is closed. Otherwise, no, you cannot use the other pools.

 

[CoolPool]

The pools at the GC and DLH have fences and you need your room key to access them. I did see a CM chase down a group of teenage girls who came in when some one left and ask to see their room keys (they had them). I doubt its enforced constantly but it is certainly randomly enforced.

 

[jenksdj]

We stayed at DLH and were specifically told that we also had access to PP pool, which we took advantage of on one of our "down" days. The kids loved the change, but still preferred the DLH pool. I don't think, however, that guests at PP can use the GC or DLH pool.

And as far as I am aware, only GC guests can use the GC pool, which begs the question, "how did the Hounds get their noisy crew and ice chest into the GC pool while they were registered at the HoJo?"

 

[DangerMouse]

"how did the Hounds get their noisy crew and ice chest into the GC pool while they were registered at the HoJo?"

I loaned them my limo and secret key!

 

[jenksdj]

We need to become better friends!