Counteracting trip advisor: GC, DLH, or Ramada Maingate

[Nala83]

I'm traveling to DLR with friends (including their DD4) in September, and our dates are covered by the summer room rate promotion. I'm thinking this is great- it means staying on-site will fit our budget.

My friend did a little research on Trip Advisor and walked away with the impression that the Disney hotels are terrible...and that we should stay at the Ramada Maingate because it gets the best reviews in the area.

Help! I need some stories to counteract the negativity on trip advisor so that I can stay in the heart of the magic this time around!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

People on TripAdvisor exaggerate so bad. I remember reading all the reviews about how small the GCH rooms were that when I was opening the door to the room, I was expecting something similar to a cruise ship.

The rooms are fine. People are just basing it on the price but if you know you're paying a premium for the resort and its location and not for the room.. and the fact that you'll be getting a nice deal on it, you'll see that the GCH is fantastic.

But I've heard good things about the other hotels too, but I would probably only stay in DLH in a renovated room. Not sure how you go about booking that.

But for the most part, TripAdvisor is good and the Hojo really is great too. But a lot of the reviews are definitely influenced by price and the DLR hotels aren't always budget-friendly.

 

[L2S2C]

I've only ever stayed in the DLH for the resort hotels but I think its totally worth it if its in the budget. I wont break my neck to stay there because we live so close which is why we are not staying there when we go in a few days (DLH was $200 a night and the Annabella was $50 a night for a suite!) but DLH is special (to me at least) and taking the monorail into the park was cool.

 

[nana50]

To me, the hotel is part of the trip. I love room service and a great pool. So I would stay at GCH if I could afford it in a heartbeat!

 

[MCSfromWA]

I LOVE DLH and GC. I am sure that the good neighbor hotels are fine as well. Sometimes we will stay at the Residence Inn and a long time ago we stayed at some of the other good neighbor hotels. But I really like staying on property. My DD likes DLH because she likes the pool. The rooms are nice and I liked the extra space and day bed for our party of 5. My favorite is GC and while the rooms a slightly smaller than DLH they are still adequete. I love the location and the private gate into DCA. I like GC so well that I bought into DVC so that I could always stay at the villas at GC.

You should stay where you think you will be most comfortable, but IMHO DLH and GC are great. They just cost more than some of the other options around the park.

 

[Scotch]

To me, the hotel is part of the trip. I love room service and a great pool. So I would stay at GCH if I could afford it in a heartbeat!

I've never stayed at any of the Disney hotels, but we did visit DLH briefly over winter break to have dinner at Goofy's kitchen. I must say, having stayed onsite at WDW, I was not impressed with the public interior at DLH -- some areas are definitely showing their age. I take all positive reviews now on Tripadvisor with a grain of salt; however, when you find a property with a lot of consistent negative reviews over time re service and upkeep, I would stay at those lodging only if I were willing to accept the fact that less than stellar service or poor maintenance could happen during MY vacation. If I must stay onsite, I would only stay at GCH.

 

[DizMe]

I almost always stay onsite. I love the DLR hotels. My favorite is DLH, which I prefer to GCH most of the time (only when it's adults-only do I prefer GCH). I've not stayed at PPH because it's usually only a slight price difference from DLH at the times I go. PPH does not have the grounds and amenities and it just doesn't seem as Disney to me, probably because I remember it as the Pan Pacific in its previous life (and I did stay in it then). However, I keep considering it because they DO have a great deal on the concierge floor when the good AP deals are going on...I think it was $189/night for concierge at PPH during the last ap promotion.

Sure, you can stay for less money off site, but it is NOT NOT NOT the same experience for me. In fact, I hate staying off site. I only do so because there are times when I don't have a choice (I go 5-6 times/year) and I'd rather stay in a place I'm not as thrilled with than not be able to go at all.

 

[farmgirljen]

I stayed a the ramada maingate. We were not in one of their renovated rooms, but we were comfortable and very close to the park. My son loved the pool, and it was a relaxing getaway really.The breakfast that they serve is nothing special, but it does get you going.We would gladly stay there again. I have only been to DL that one time, but am planning 2 more trips in the next year, and as neat as the park hotels sound, I still personally have a problem spending that much $ on a place to sleep thatwon't even have a microwave for me to use...

 

[daneenm]

I think you will find with any hotel, reviews will vary. I just checked out Trip Advisor and there are quite a few very good reviews for both GCH and DLH. Yes, there are bad ones mixed in as well. There are for most places I have researched.

Take a chance, stay on site. We have always had very good experiences at DLH and GCH.

 

[tholczer]

I'm a Hyatt girl. I love me some Hyatt. Some are better than others, but we generally feel they are pretty consistent. Clean, luxurious, comfortable. Plus I am picky with a capital P. I have been known to ask for room changes two or three times and fully realize that I am a pain in the butt. That being said, we've stayed at the DLH many times and love it. The rooms are a good size and feel luxurious to me. They are not totally up to my freakish cleanliness standards, but they are very close. The beds aren't overly comfy, but they aren't uncomfortable and customer service has always been good. We've enjoyed room service as well, although pricey (like everywhere else!), and spend lots of time at the pool. For us, it's the best blend of on-site immersion and budget.

It is a very personal choice as to whether spending the extra $$ is worth it, though. We stayed at the GF in WDW when we went and were disappointed. It was very grand on the outside, but the walls in the rooms were paper thin (we could actually hear the people above us when they peed in their toilet! It was very loud and we couldn't help but laugh after awhile). When we go back to WDW, we won't stay there again. If I'm going to hear someone pee over my head, I'm not paying $535 a night for it.

Although I can't speak for the GC or the PPH, I'm sure others will give you a similar endorsement. There's something special about total immersion - and I'm willing to put up with some imperfection because of that. The trick is finding what you are comfortable spending to have it.

Tracy

 

[StevieK]

We always stay at the Ramada. The location can't be better. The main reason we come is beause the service is the best I have received from any value hotel. They treat us like family. The rooms are clean. We upgraded to a premium room last time and we were delighted. The upgrade fee is $20-$25, but well worth it. You feel like you are in the Marriott. These rooms have a great view of the fireworks, as well. Give it a try

 

[DisneyJewel]

I don't know what days you will be there, but at the on property hotels you can use Magic Morning every day it's offered. With my two kids, both of whom are early risers, and one who is sensitive to heat, MM on multiple days made the trip. Plus, we had a mobility-impaired grandma with us, who moved slowly. We were basically able to do all the Fantasyland rides on MM days w/out a line and were first on Finding Nemo. We took the monorail from Downtown Disney, so were deposited right by Nemo. We rode Matterhorn twice w/ no lines. And then we were able to be first on Autopia, and then were over at New Orleans Square when it opened for no lines on Pirates and Haunted Mansion. We did MM 2 or 3 days. It was great and -- for us -- worth the premium paid to stay on-site (we stayed at DLH last year and will stay at GC this year). We would usually have lunch at the park, leave for pool time and a rest, and come back later to use collected Fastpasses. My older DD melts in the heat, so being able to do SO many rides in the morning made the trip for us. My kids at 4 were also still napping, so you guys especially might want the option of an early morning getting in lots of rides if the DD is still a napper.

In general, I really prefer hotels w/ a microwave or kitchenette, but at Disneyland, the way our family is now, the on-site hotel perks are worth it. For different families -- if you are staying up late for fireworks or Fantasmic, or just don't want to wake up early, it's not worth it. Have fun!

 

[blackjackdelta]

We use to stay at RI's all the time, then we graduated to DLH for a couple of trips, back to RI and last year we did the GCH. This year we are trying the Villas for a week. My DGF has decided she likes the GCH and probably will not stay anywhere else from now on. For us the hotel is part of the experience. I have stayed in so many crappy places over the last 20 years or more that when we take that 1 vacation a year we like it to be nice. DLR is not a vacation for some, but it is to us. Stay at the Grand if you can.

Jack