Disney hotel questions...

[Tasmen]

So I'm starting to plan a trip for a year from now so that we can take our daughter to Disney for the first time. She'll be 17 months old at the time. I've decided we are going to stay in a Disney hotel this time around. We've usually stayed at neighbor hotels but I figured with a LO it would be nice to stay closer to the parks.

My question is: what are some of the benefits/bad things about the Grand Californian and the Disneyland hotel. I'm seriously considering both but admit I know next to nothing when it comes to the Disney run hotels at Disneyland.

 

[lisah0711]

I've stayed at both places in the past year. I think Grand Californian is far better in location and ambience but that is JMHO. It is also much more expensive, especially if you are used to staying offsite.

P.S. I love your kitty pic -- I had a kitty that looked very similar to your kitty in markings. Maybe they were cousins since we are both from the NW.

Good luck planning your trip. Planning is half the fun!

 

[TinkandPooh]

So I'm starting to plan a trip for a year from now so that we can take our daughter to Disney for the first time. She'll be 17 months old at the time. I've decided we are going to stay in a Disney hotel this time around. We've usually stayed at neighbor hotels but I figured with a LO it would be nice to stay closer to the parks.

My question is: what are some of the benefits/bad things about the Grand Californian and the Disneyland hotel. I'm seriously considering both but admit I know next to nothing when it comes to the Disney run hotels at Disneyland.

From someone who has stayed many times in both the hotels you are thinking about I can say IMHO that I really don't feel as though there is anyhting bad about staying at either one........it's Disney....so it's never bad....at least to me. However you can at times at any of the DLR hotels run into a less than pleasurable CM who may have a negative impact on your stay but as I have found it is very wise especially if you are staying for some time to speak up to management regarding any negative experiences that you feel should be addressed. You pay alot of $$$$ to stay on site and your stay should reflect that cost and should be very magical for you!
I can give you a list of te pros about staying at either one of the hotels (GCH or DLH) so here goes:

1.) Disney atmosphere.
2.) Guest treatment.
3.) Close to parks and DTD (although I feel much closer at the GCH (which is our
families favorite...infact we will be there in 2 days for a stay).
4.) GCH has it's own private entrance in DCA park so nice to use!
5.) Disney Hotel activities for little ones.
6.) Nice themed pools with water slides for relaxing and taking it easy.
7.) On site Disney Dining
8.) Can buy things within the parks and have them sent to you hotel for you free of charge....rather than carrying bags with you around the parks all day. We love this feature
9.) Room Key works like a charge card for you to use throut the resort for charging back to your room rather than taking out credit cards or cash every place you go.........you will need some cash for carts throught the resort for example the ice cream carts.


I am sure I will think of more to ad to this but for how it is a good start.

As far as which of the 2 hotels you should pick that would be up to you and what kind of atmosphere you desire.
I can tell you that staying at the DLH is close but you will have to do a little more walking staying there, even using the monorail system, than you would have to do staying at the GCH.

Which ever hotel you choose of the 2 you will not be let down, so enjoy and have fun!

Wishing you a Magiacal Disney Vacation!!!

Hope this helps you a bit

 

[Disneyanajc]

So I'm starting to plan a trip for a year from now so that we can take our daughter to Disney for the first time. She'll be 17 months old at the time. I've decided we are going to stay in a Disney hotel this time around. We've usually stayed at neighbor hotels but I figured with a LO it would be nice to stay closer to the parks.

My question is: what are some of the benefits/bad things about the Grand Californian and the Disneyland hotel. I'm seriously considering both but admit I know next to nothing when it comes to the Disney run hotels at Disneyland.

Tasmen
OMG...Is it a Long-a-go MAYer??? A Baby Daughter! CONGRATULATIONS !


We love the DLH over the DGC...the price is one reason...the DLH is fun...Goofy's Kitchen is right there and the pools are great! Request the Dreams Tower, if you go for the DLH...

WOW~ a baby girl ...JC

 

[01spirit750]

In addition to all the previous posts.

For a 17 month old the Grand Californian should be your first choice.

Here are my suggestions, only considering your childs age as a factor
1. Grand Californian << Close and easy to get to. Nice setting as well
2. One of the good Neighbor hotels directly across the entrance to the park.
3. The Disneyland or Paradise Pier. << This is the same distance as the good neighbor hotels. When were there last year the monorail lines were long and took longer then walking. This should improve once the new monorails come online.

My distance facts are based on my "perception" of the distances and not on actual measurements.

chris

 

[Tasmen]

Tasmen
OMG...Is it a Long-a-go MAYer??? A Baby Daughter! CONGRATULATIONS !

Hi hi It mostly certain is a Mayer! I still have my buttons. I know I sort of disappeared after May but I was kind of pre-occupied with that whole 'having a thing'. Having a child definitely brings a whole new facet to Disney planning. I can't wait until she's nearing 3 to plan our WDW trip too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since you want to be onsite in order to be closer than onsite, go with the GCH.

If you stay at the DLH, the walk from the park through DTD to the hotel will be most likely longer than if you stayed over on Harbor. And it might not be practical to happen to be in Tomorrowland near the monorail every time you want to go back and also plan to want to be in Tomorrowland every time you enter the park! Now, if you LOVE Tomorrowland and that would be your plan anyway, then the monorail will help you be closer to the DLH, but otherwise, the extra walking inside the parks will ruin the idea of being closer to the hotel.


We did stay at PP for our first big trip to DLR when DS was 3, but we'll save the others for either a really screamin' good deal, or when he's old enough to actually appreciate the fancier (and more expensive) hotels. I say, oh, 12...


And the con of the disney hotels is the cost, IMO. Spend that much on a hotel, you have to spend much less (or save for much longer) on the fun stuff that you can bring home with you.

 

[Tasmen]

This will be a special treat for us. Like I said, we don't normally stay at the Disney owned hotels when we go to Disneyland. It's something I want to do at least once. I realize it's more of a treat for the DH and me than it will be for the little one. I just feel like splurging

 

[disney4cam]

The only negative about the GCH is the cost. If you can afford it, go there. It is so close, especially if you are at DCA. Even the DLH is fairly close, the distance is noticeable, especially with a toddler.