Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian?

[ehsmum]

As the dollar is so high at the moment, I've topped up our travel card so now we have our spending money ready for our next trip .

I'm thinking about Christmas 2011 at Disneyland. While we loved staying at HoJo this year, I would want to spend Christmas at a Disney property.

Has anyone stayed at either over Christmas? Or in general? Which would you recommend?

Thanks .

 

[aussietravellers]

As the dollar is so high at the moment, I've topped up our travel card so now we have our spending money ready for our next trip .

I'm thinking about Christmas 2011 at Disneyland. While we loved staying at HoJo this year, I would want to spend Christmas at a Disney property.

Has anyone stayed at either over Christmas? Or in general? Which would you recommend?

Thanks .

I haven't stayed at DLH for many years but liked it when we did. But DLH doesn't compare to GCH. We have stayed there twice now, the last time was during the Christmas period for two weeks last December. We did leave on the 23rd Dec but were there for two weeks prior to Christmas and it was absolutely beautiful.

The hotel is just amazing, the massive tree in the lobby of GCH is just magical, there is a fireplace to in the lobby. They also have a scavenger type hunt each afternoon that is free for GCH guests. It really is not that difficult but my DS loved it and at the end they get something (can't remember what now, it was either a cookie, gingerbread man or a rice crispie Mickey head). The rooms are lovely, you get nightly turndown which is included and they leave little disney chocolate coins on the bed. It is all kind of dark wood and I believe it's by the same designer as WL and AKL at WDW, but it has a grand feeling, its so close to the parks and DTD and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole two weeks there.

We booked last minute but got a really good deal, it was a stay 4 nights get 3 free or something like that and it ended being even better than the AP rate at the time. We had a theme park view (which was amazing, i'll post a picture later, just off to take DS to golf now)

 

[Aust]

My first trip (3 years ago, October) we stayed at the DLH. I was actually a bit disappointed in it, I thought there would be more Disney touches and it would feel a bit more special, but it really just felt like any hotel room. There was nothing in particular wrong with it, but nothing that would get me back there in a hurry. Maybe it's better now with the new renovations, I haven't really looked at any photos. The pool was nice and well themed though. I also found the walk to DL a lot longer than I anticipated (and was easy to get distracted by all the DTD shops!), the monorail was handy sometimes but there was still quite a walk at the end back to the hotel.

Next time my husband goes to DL he is determined we will stay at GCH - didn't look much at it but what we saw looked great, and it's that much closer to the parks. No budget for GCH for my January trip, HoJo's this time.

 

[dollarmite]

My first trip (3 years ago, October) we stayed at the DLH. I was actually a bit disappointed in it, I thought there would be more Disney touches and it would feel a bit more special, but it really just felt like any hotel room. There was nothing in particular wrong with it, but nothing that would get me back there in a hurry. Maybe it's better now with the new renovations, I haven't really looked at any photos. The pool was nice and well themed though. I also found the walk to DL a lot longer than I anticipated (and was easy to get distracted by all the DTD shops!), the monorail was handy sometimes but there was still quite a walk at the end back to the hotel.

We stayed at DLH last November and it was awful. Very much as described above and it was also dirty, noisy, overpriced and run down.

We often used the GCH as a thoroughfare to Disney's California Adventure Park, and whilst it didn't really seem very "Disneyish" it seemed like a much higher class hotel than the DLH. It reminded me of a luxurious hunting lodge inside (much like the Wilderness Lodge at WDW).

The location of the GCH couldn't be beat - it opened right into DCA, which I'm sure would be very handy if someone just wanted to pop in and out through the day.

As an aside - the Paradise Pier hotel (opposite GCH) had the best gift shop of the 3 Disney hotels.

 

[ehsmum]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like GCH is the popular opinion. We did check out the lobby when we were there in June and it looked beautiful. I didn't even see the DLH or Paradise Pier . If we go for Xmas I definitely want the full Disney Xmas experience, so GCH sounds like it might be what I'm looking for. Looking forward to seeing those pics aussietravellers!

 

[aussietravellers]

Our room view - Daytime - 4th Floor, New wing, Theme Park View. These two photos are NOT zoomed. We were so close to Mulholland Madness ride that when we were on the balcony, people waved at us from the ride

Our room view - Night

Our Christmas tree when we arrived - waiting for us in the room after ordering from Vacation Planning. It had our name on the tree topper too.

Our Christmas Tree by the end of our two week stay, after adding more decorations

Christmas stocking that was also waiting for us in our room when we arrived. I ordered it from vacation planning too. It has DS's name on it.

Christmas Tree in the lobby of GCH

Santa is also in the hotel every day and you can have photos with him and he sits with the tree behind him. There are also photopass photographers there so you can get the photos on your photopass if you get it.

 

[ehsmum]

Thanks so much for posting those, aussietravellers. What a fantastic view! And I love your tree and stocking so much!

If you checked out 23 Dec, where did you spend Xmas Day? We wouldn't want to spend 2 weeks in Anaheim, probably 5-7 days there over Xmas and another week in LA/Hollywood. I need to think about this some more!

 

[kyl]

We did GFH last year and disneyland hotel this year. GFH is worth the money if you can do it. The disneyland hotel was a bit of a let down after doing the GFH first. Loved the atmosphere of the GFH and the staff were better as well. Hope that helps a little.

 

[sarali]

sounds great~@