Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian

[Captainkidd76]

We stayed at the DLH last year and thought it was very nice. I'd love to stay at the GCH, but for 7 nights, it's an additional $1,000. I liked all the Disney touches at DLH, but would like to stay even closer to the parks. Which do you prefer?

 

[aulanidreamer]

Wow $1000 is a lot. We love the location of GCH and prefer the DVC rooms when we can get them. (We are members though, not paying cash for them.) The regular hotel rooms are beautiful, but smaller and darker than I expected for that price range. Now that my kids are older we don’t mind the walk as much, especially for $1000. (Thats a lot of churros and dole whip ) I think I’ve read the rooms were renovated to not be quite as dark anymore, but we haven’t been recently to know for sure. Pool was recently renovated as well, but don’t think it’s as loved as the DLH hotel if the pool is important to you. If it’s on your bucket list or the walk is a dealbreaker, it’s a beautiful hotel with a very different vibe than DLH. Personally that price jump isn’t worth it to me.

 

[DLgal]

Grand Californian all the way. $1000 extra over a week is not that much, IMO. The location convenience alone is worth it. The recent room remodel is really, really good! The beds are SO comfortable, the room has amazing lighting effects now and plenty of USB outlets, a HUGE TV, a gorgeous rain head glass enclosed shower, a Keurig coffeemaker (the DLH has none of these things). The bars and restaurants are all great, the pool area with the new poolside bar is awesome, etc. It is wonderful to leave your room and be in DCA in just minutes. Plus, honestly, the service there is better. I've stayed at both hotels numerous times and the GCH is just better overall.

 

[Captainkidd76]

Grand Californian all the way. $1000 extra over a week is not that much, IMO. The location convenience alone is worth it. The recent room remodel is really, really good! The beds are SO comfortable, the room has amazing lighting effects now and plenty of USB outlets, a HUGE TV, a gorgeous rain head glass enclosed shower, a Keurig coffeemaker (the DLH has none of these things). The bars and restaurants are all great, the pool area with the new poolside bar is awesome, etc. It is wonderful to leave your room and be in DCA in just minutes. Plus, honestly, the service there is better. I've stayed at both hotels numerous times and the GCH is just better overall.

Is there still a Disney feel to the hotel? Also, do all of the rooms have that shower instead of tub/shower combo? I saw that on YouTube and really liked it.

 

[Malcon10t]

DLH. The rooms are larger, and I love the Disney touches. The Grand is nice, but the rooms are smaller, and I keep trying to like it, but just can't. The walk from the DLH is less than 5 mins further (unless you are shopping along the way. We have it timed at 3 m 42 secs at my daughter's "get to the gate" walk, this is to the GCH exit in DTD.)

 

[Malcon10t]

Is there still a Disney feel to the hotel? Also, do all of the rooms have that shower instead of tub/shower combo? I saw that on YouTube and really liked it.

To me, there is no "Disney feel" to the room. It is more like when we stay in Yosemite at the Ahwahnee. And most (not all) have the shower instead of the tub combo.

 

[DLgal]

Is there still a Disney feel to the hotel? Also, do all of the rooms have that shower instead of tub/shower combo? I saw that on YouTube and really liked it.

I think there are plenty of Disney touches, if you mean amazing themeing through and through. The rooms themselves have Chip and Dale art, along with a Bambi mural when you fold down the daybed. The bathroom has some Chip and Dale and other woodland creatures. The arts and crafts theme is executed beautifully in the furnishings and lighting fixtures around the resort and in the rooms as well. You can definitely tell it's a Disney hotel, but it's a subtle sort of classy theme. It's totally my style. I love Craftsman architecture, though.

I think most bathrooms have the shower stall, no bathtub. The shower is large enough for 2 people...it's massive. I really liked it along with the sliding pocket door.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

We recently stayed at DLH for the first time, and I love the Disney (specifically Walt) touches. It’s so cool. We are mostly WDW visitors from the east coast, so it was a unique offering for us. But with all of that said...

GCH is a VERY Disney hotel, in the classic WDW style, where the theme of a hotel is less overtly characters or Walt, but instead a very nice period piece or architectural piece with a Disney flair and attention to detail. It reminds me of the Beach Club, or Boardwalk, or Animal Kingdom Lodge, not in direct comparison, but in commitment to a style and theme. Throw in the subtle Disney characters mentioned above, and this is indeed a very Disney hotel...just not a celebration of Walt.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I am in the GCH Camp. Love the proximity and ability to just pop in and out of the rooms as desired. When I stay at the DLH or PPH we usually plans to leave the room, even sometimes get a locker and typically do not return till end of day.

While there are plenty of upside to DHL over GHC, proximity is what I personally value the most...plus it is one of the most comfortable hotels I have stayed in. Something about the GCH is nice and cozy...where the DLH and PPH while nice, just feel like another hotel room dressed up.

 

[emmybee]

I also prefer GCH over DLH. But an extra $1000 is a lot to me, so I could not see myself booking at the Grand for that kind of money. If you can swing it, though, go for it!

 

[jbh275]

I'm thinking the same. If you can swing it, its well worth it. Especially if you have smaller kids. The convince to just pop in as needed it great.

 

[ParkHopper1]

...and if it is worth another $1K is subjective. Here is my response when that question gets asked:

If that $1k could negatively affect your vacation timeline or cause you to cut short other in park experiences that you might otherwise splurge on...not worth it IMO.

If that $1k will not affect your vacation budget bottom line although may still sting...may be more worth it.

If it is an either/or choice, there are a lot better ways to plus your vacation experience for $1k more than just a room upgrade but certainly is a nice luxury to splurge on if you can.

 

[TinkerTay]

I’ve stayed at the GCH the last 3 or 4 times I’ve visited, and I’m staying again in Nov. (Thank you, Military discount) To me, the proximity beats EVERYTHING else, especially midday, or the end of the night when you can barely walk anymore. Totally worth it for that, alone, to me! GCH is a classier hotel, and like others have said, the Disney touches are subtle, but there. I’ve stayed in the older rooms before the remodel, and I honestly love them both! (Although the new ones are lighter/brighter) The price difference over an entire week isn’t terrible, but I understand wanting to save that money. I debated staying at DLH this time around, but I just can’t even imagine NOT being at GCH, so that’s what we went with. Either hotel, you can’t really go wrong, it’s mostly personal preference. GCH is as close as you can possibly get, without actually staying IN the parks!

 

[Steven G]

I love the DLH. It's my favorite hotel. Each tower has something to explore.

I can't deny that it would be nice to stay at the GCH, due to it's closeness. If that's important and you don't mind the upcharge, then sure go with GCH.

I've been at both, and I like GCH. I usually will end up hanging out in the GCH lobby on almost every stay, even if I don't stay there. One of the things that bothers me slightly about GCH, is that it is possible that your room is VERY far from the elevators.

 

[gerilyne]

We had an end room last year when we stayed at the DLH so it was waaaayyy smaller than the GCH room we just stayed in last week. The Disney touches are there; you get Chip and Dale with Mickey's everywhere. I also prefer the location of the GCH; even staying with a DTD view the walk was less than going to the DLH. I think as long as I can afford the additional cost, I would go with the Grand every time. I just like the decor, the rooms, the overall feel of it better than the DLH. That said, I would probably go with the DLH if I was bringing my boyfriend's daughter as I think she would like the pool and decor better there.

 

[StarlitNight05]

We had an end room last year when we stayed at the DLH so it was waaaayyy smaller than the GCH room we just stayed in last week. The Disney touches are there; you get Chip and Dale with Mickey's everywhere. I also prefer the location of the GCH; even staying with a DTD view the walk was less than going to the DLH. I think as long as I can afford the additional cost, I would go with the Grand every time. I just like the decor, the rooms, the overall feel of it better than the DLH. That said, I would probably go with the DLH if I was bringing my boyfriend's daughter as I think she would like the pool and decor better there.

We had a similar room when we stayed at DLH. It was fine, but pretty hilarious since I kept telling DH how spacious the rooms were at DLH. Then we walked in to our tiny little room. There was barely enough space for us and the luggage. We still enjoyed our stay, but much prefer GCH.

 

[DizMe]

The major drawback to DLH, for me, is the lack of a central lobby. At GCH, the lobby is the main feature of the hotel, and connects almost everything, plus it's spectacular and a great place to hang out. I like the food and beverage options at both hotels, don't mind the walk from DLH, but I just don't find it very charming. I used to love it but I don't like some of the changes that have been made as much as I liked what was there before. I do love the suites, though, and I'd stay in a suite at DLH over a room at GCH. In fact, I'd probably stay in a concierge room at DLH over a regular room at GCH. Concierge is a really nice perk.

 

[mouschievous]

I have a question about GCH - does everyone just make sure they have park hoppers so they can use the DCA entrance, then walk through DCA to DL? Or is there another way to get to DL from GCH?

 

[DLgal]

I have a question about GCH - does everyone just make sure they have park hoppers so they can use the DCA entrance, then walk through DCA to DL? Or is there another way to get to DL from GCH?

There is an entrance into Downtown Disney that you can use to get to DL if you don't have hoppers.

 

[Malcon10t]

I have a question about GCH - does everyone just make sure they have park hoppers so they can use the DCA entrance, then walk through DCA to DL? Or is there another way to get to DL from GCH?

The hotel also has an exit into Downtown Disney, which is a 3 min walk to the Disneyland gates.