Cons / Pros to DL hotels, help?

[lenshanem]

We're looking into a possible trip to DL. Any opinions on the three DL hotels would be greatly appreciated. We have two small kids, they would be four and seven when we go. We go to WDW alot, but have only been to DL a couple times years back. We're clueless! Thanks!

 

[Amberle3]

Do you need/really want to be at a Disney hotel? Disneyland is very different from WDW, many of the "good neighbour" hotels are literally right across the street from the park.

 

[lap3]

No one really needs to stay there but we like staying at a DL hotel for a couple of different reasons:
1)Very close to the parks and DTD
2)Staying at a DL hotel adds to the whole "magical experience"
The downside is that they can pricey. A AAA discount will help a bit but not a whole lot. Anyone else think of pros and cons?

 

[disney-super-mom]

Hi lenshanem,

This is a complicated question because it depends on what type of experience you're looking for.

Now, I've never stayed at any of the Disney hotels (we're staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the first time this November), but I've been to all three and have seen their rooms, facilities, etc. Normally we stay at on offsite hotel like the Anaheim Hilton or the Howard Johnson, both I would highly recommend.

If you're looking for a most magical experience for you and your children, then I would stay at the Disneyland Hotel. It has all those special Disney touches (Neverland Pool, Goofy's Kitchen, glow-in-the-dark Pixie wallpaper border in the rooms, etc...) that your kids will love. The kids will definatley like this the best out of all the DL hotels.

If you're looking for something a little more sophisticated, stay at the Grand California. It has nice dining, nice rooms, nice pool, and is right in the middle of everything, and with it's woodsy theming, gives you a little reprive from the parks and Mickey. However, I don't think the cost of the rooms here are worth it, especially if buget is a concern, but if buget isn't a concern, then go for it.

Paradise Pier doesn't really have that Disney feel, but the rooms are nice and some of the rooms have the best views of DCA, but if you're considering staying here, you might as well as check out some Good Neighbor hotels, pick one to stay at, and save yourself a bunch of money.

A couple of Good neighbor hotels I recommend is the Hilton Anaheim or the Howard Johnson. I've stayed at both hotels, and thought they were nice.

Hope this helps.

 

[daannzzz]

I have done all three of the Disneyland hotels as well as many "offsite" places. The one thing about offsite motels here are that they are close. Some closer than two of the three Disney hotels. But staying at the Disney resorts is still special.
The Grand Californian is most like the WDW resorts. The theme is strong and the architecture beautiful....well mostly. The rooms are somewhat small (same as WL and AKL) but decorated nicely but have only one or two small Disney references in them. Food choices here are good and the location would be like the Contemporary resort being where the MK Monorail station is with a Direct entrance into Adventureland. We were able to get from our room into Disney's California Adventure in 1-2 minutes. The pools are nice with one somewhat themed to a redwood tree! The only cons of this place are the price and the smaller rooms.
The Disneyland Hotel is not anything special as far as the architecture. The three towers were each built at a different time and have differently configured rooms. In general the rooms in the Sierra Tower and the Bonita Tower are quite large...400 square feet or more. The rooms in the Marina tower are around 360 SF. The room decore at the DLH is much more fun than at the Grand Californian. There are loads of Disneyland and disney character touches in the room and bathroom yet the rooms still feel semi formal - more like the Grand Floridian but not quite are...well...gaudy! The rooms here do not have balconies but slider doors that open against a railing. The grounds at the DLH are pretty and large with the main Neverland pool and a quiet pool. Some areas of the grounds are a bit dated looking and need some work. Food choices here are good. Cons can be the price and expansive parkinglot views from one side of two of the towers.
The Paradise Pier Hotel is a newer tower hotel (formerly the Pan Pacific) that was purchased by Disney during the last decade and just remodeled this last year. The rooms are decent size with a new beach theme decore. There is a small lobby and public area and virtually no grounds. The newly remodeled and slightly themed pool area is on the roof of connecting buildings and is not a big deal. I have never eaten here so can't make an opinion one way or the other. I have heard Yamabuki is very good. The rooms on the back of the tower over look the roofs and pool area, parking garage and parking lots and Anaheim. The rooms on the front have awesome views of DCA park. Rooms here can be less expensive and it feels sort of like a slightly upgraded WDW moderate resort. It has interior corridors but there are no balconies and the windows only open and inch or so.

 

[Gathrn]

I have stayed at the DLH and loved it! what made it stand out for me was that it had alot to offer for my family (wife and 3 little ones). Besides the Neverland pool, it has the fountains (They were ok, but did not hold the attention of the little ones for long), The Riverboat RC boats (This held their attention for a long time, and ended up holding most of my change), and what we all enjoyed were the waterfalls.
We stayed Concierge, so I wont comment on the rooms, as that was my first time in the hotel, but because we stayed at the DLH, we always felt like we never went out of Disneyland and that their was always something to do.

 

[lenshanem]

Tough decision. Thanks for all the opinions. It does help. I think we would want to stay at one of the Disney hotels. We like to have that Disney feeling back at the room, too. Plus, we normally go to WDW. This would be special for us to fly out there.

Would DLH seem like the best choice for the kids then? Anyone have any links to what the pool looks like? Can I specify what tower we want or no?

Thanks!

 

[daannzzz]

If you book a theme park view at the DLH you will most likely get the Sierra tower. Make sure you request a room in the Sierra tower with Two Queens and a daybed. You will get a large room with a nice size bathroom. If you have a themepark view you will be able to see Disneyland and DCA though they are not right below you. You will have a view of Downtown Disney and the Grand Californian. If you get the other side of the Sierra tower you will have a view of the pool. This is also a pool view. I booked a standard view once (which the Sierra is not considered) and requested the Sierra tower and received it though I was above Hook's Point Restaurant so you could see the roof of that, but also the pool and over to the warterfalls and such. Go here and click on "more photos"
http://www.travelhero.com/prophome.cfm/id/108988/hotels/reservations/index.html

I personally think the DLH is more fun for kids. The border paper has tiTinkerbell on it with Pixie dust that glows for a bit after you turn the lights off. The bedspreads have old time sepia drawings of the rides at Disneyland. The Disneyland hotel is probably a 4-7 minute longer walk to the Disneyland than the GCH

The Grand Californian is very beautiful but the rooms are decorated in a nice Frank Lloyd Wright style with one little Disney touch on the shower curtain. The pool area is pretty and fun but not as fun as Neverland. The lobby is on par with the Wilderness Lodge and AKL as the hotel was designed by the same architect.
Click on more photos.
http://www.travelhero.com/prophome.cfm/id/127069/hotels/reservations/index.html

Both

 

[disney-super-mom]

Hi again,

Yes, the Disneyland Hotel is your best bet for the kids. Expedia.com has several pictures and about five virtual tours of the property (standard room, pool, lobby, etc...) whereas Hotels.com only has about four pictures. The Disney website also has several pictures, I would say about 12 pictures total, which gives you an idea what rooms, restaraunts, pool, lobby, etc look like, but they only have two virtual tours, one of a standard room, and one of a suite. I would check out both Expedia.com and Disney.com to get the best idea of the hotel and property.

Don't worry too much about this. You really can't go wrong with a Disney property.

We are going to DL in three weeks and booked a room at the DLH to make it really special for the kids. (normally we stay at a nice Good Neighbor hotel)

If you're looking for a great price on the DLH and park tickets, check out www.getawaytoday.com. We've used them twice now, and they have the best priced packages. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be able to afford to stay at the DLH. However, if you decide to book a package through them, I recommend calling them at 1-800-523-6116 to make sure you get the Hotel you want. If you book a package on their website, you have to list a first, second, third, and fourth choice for a hotel with no guarantee of getting your first choice. If you call them, you'll know right away if they have rooms available at the DLH and they'll book your package right then while your on the phone with them. You can also ask if you can request a preference for tower/room location. It's always hard to book a package through someone you're not familiar with, but check their website out and see what you think.

Hope your trip is FANTASTIC!

 

[lenshanem]

Wow, thanks guys. This gives me some homework to do after the kids go to bed.

 

[overwhelmed]

We like the park inn, and the candy cane, but i have heard great things about the Hojo too.

Dont forget that the disney hotel restaurants, fountain shows, rc boats, etc can be accessed by anyone. (not the pools tho)

with the money you save by staying across the street, you can afford nicer meals.

unlike WDW, Disneyland has at least 15 hotels within walking distance of the parks.

enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>the MK Monorail station is with a Direct entrance into Adventureland. <<

Hey daannzzz does your monorail go somewhere ours doesn't?


-em

 

[daannzzz]

Originally posted by Disneyland_emily
>>the MK Monorail station is with a Direct entrance into Adventureland. <<

Hey daannzzz does your monorail go somewhere ours doesn't?


-em

I had to look at the whole paragraph to see what I meant!!!
I meant that staying at the GCH would be like having a hotel where the MK monorail station is and that this hypothetical hotel would have I direct entrance in the MK's Adventureland. I hope I didn;t misslead anyone into thinking there were monorails going places they don't or that there are monorail stations where there isn't.