The DLH is wonderful!
Crocs Bits N Bites is very good counter service for lunch, dinner and snacks. For breakfast there is a small coffee shop next to Goofy's that has pastries, muffins etc. There is also the Compass Book Store which is very, very close to the hotel in DTD that has donuts, pastries etc in the morning. Its maybe a one to two minute walk from say the pool area of the DLH so its easy to get something there in the mornings as well.
We love the grounds of the DLH. They aren't as extensive as the WDW resorts but they are really lovely. Be sure and check out the fountains,and koi ponds they are so pretty and at night they have them lit up.
The nice, classy Disney touches in the rooms and around the resort. I love the decor of the rooms and they are fairly large.
My kids (and for that matter my husband and I) love the pool area(s). The main pool is very fun, has some nice landscaping, palm trees etc that are very nice. There is also a small sandy area at the main pool, I know my dd and nieces loved playing in that sand in between going down the slide and splashing in the pool. The quiet pool is separate and has a large sandy, volleyball area that as my kids have gotten older they enjoy. There is also a laundry room right near the quiet pool which is nice and the athletic club is back there too.
We enjoy the light, bright spacious rooms and the fact that many of them have daybeds. If you don't get a daybed, you can request a free rollaway and the rooms are larger enough that you can keep that rollaway set up no problem. Also, with your daily resort fee ($12 I think) you will get internet access in your room, USA Today delivered to your door (Mon-Fri) and health club access. That fee sort of stinks but at least you get something for it!
My kids love the little remote control jungle boats they have between the main and quiet pools. They have an arcade, its not as big as the ones at the WDW resorts but my son has had some fun burning some quarters in there!
I love the DLH but its not quite the same as a WDW deluxe in that its not that in your face, designed by Disney theming that makes you feel like you really might be in Polynesia, the northwest woods or Africa. But its a lovely hotel and its the only one at Disneyland that has much in the way of grounds. The rooms do not have balconies but do have a large sliding door that allows in fresh air and you can pull up a chair and relax in the fresh air. The Grand Californian rooms do have balconies which is really nice but not the grounds of the DLH and the rooms are about like a WDW moderate in size.
I have stayed in all three towers and all three are nice. The Dreams Tower is the closest to DTD and if you pay for concierge I think that is where you will be. The concierge lounge is the in the Dreams Tower. I have had pool and DTD views in that tower, both are nice. The Magic Tower is also nice and is where the main lobby is. The third tower (used to be Bonita I cannot remember the new name) can have some very nice views, some of the rooms are above the waterfalls and you can have nice park views. On the flip side, the other side of that tower looks at a parking lot! But I like that tower, its a slightly further walk but we have had some lovely rooms there. If you pay for a premium view you will more than likely be in the Dream Tower looking at either the pool or DTD. If you are in the DTD side, you can see the fireworks which can be nice. I generally now book a premium view and enjoy the pool side but thats just me. There are three towers with six possible views and only one of those has basically no view! So if you book standard your chances of getting a view of something is pretty good. And even if you get a parking lot, city view, your room is still just as nice!
I think you will enjoy the DLH very much!
