Disneyland Hotel - Pool or Theme Park View?

[Circusgirl]

I'm staying at the DL Hotel in July and have decided to splurge on a view. I'm interested in people's experiences of their view rooms, as I'm trying to decide whether to request pool or theme park view. Is it possible to see fireworks from a theme park view room? I'm leaning toward the pool view as the landscaping is lush and beautiful and the theme park view is more of DTD than of the parks.

 

[basketballmom]

In 2007, we stayed in the DLH with a theme park view. We were in the tower that faces DTD. It was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! We could see both parks and DTD. My favorite time was the early morning, when we could see the new day growing light and the (real!) mountains in the distance. I also loved people watching in DTD.
The pool area is beautiful too, but if I had to choose, I would choose a DTD view every time!

 

[Burnt Toast]

I tend to shy away from using "Theme Park View" when speaking about the Disneyland Hotel... as there are no rooms with a view overlooking either theme park. The appropriate term that needs to be used is "Resort View", which is views of Downtown Disney and, depending on where you are, you can see Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure in the distance. Fireworks can be seen from some of the "Resort View" rooms (not all of them) as well as about half of the "Standard View" rooms, but the rooms that offer this view is limited compared to "Standard View" and "Pool View" (one side on two buildings offer "Standard View" and one side of all three buildings offer "Pool View"... while only one side of one building offers "Resort View").

The Grand Californian and Paradise Pier hotels both offer "Theme Park View" rooms, which overlook inside Disney's California Adventure, but the Disneyland Hotel does not.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We loved our pool view this past March, I didn't pay any extra for it and it was lovely.

 

[Circusgirl]

In 2007, we stayed in the DLH with a theme park view. We were in the tower that faces DTD. It was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! We could see both parks and DTD. My favorite time was the early morning, when we could see the new day growing light and the (real!) mountains in the distance. I also loved people watching in DTD.
The pool area is beautiful too, but if I had to choose, I would choose a DTD view every time!

Thanks for the input! I am at that stage of ultra obsessive planning that takes over when all the bigger stuff is settled, and this helps me feel like I'm making the most informed choice.

I tend to shy away from using "Theme Park View" when speaking about the Disneyland Hotel... as there are no rooms with a view overlooking either theme park. The appropriate term that needs to be used is "Resort View", which is views of Downtown Disney and, depending on where you are, you can see Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure in the distance. Fireworks can be seen from some of the "Resort View" rooms (not all of them) as well as about half of the "Standard View" rooms, but the rooms that offer this view is limited compared to "Standard View" and "Pool View" (one side on two buildings offer "Standard View" and one side of all three buildings offer "Pool View"... while only one side of one building offers "Resort View").

The Grand Californian and Paradise Pier hotels both offer "Theme Park View" rooms, which overlook inside Disney's California Adventure, but the Disneyland Hotel does not.

Thanks so much for the clarifications. I usually go to WDW and know the details in a way I don't for DL, and since I am a detail gal, this really helps!

Since there are fewer of the Resort/DTD view rooms I think I might request one and then not be at all disappointed to have a pool view if that's how it works out.

Please keep the input coming!

 

[basketballmom]

I tend to shy away from using "Theme Park View" when speaking about the Disneyland Hotel... as there are no rooms with a view overlooking either theme park. The appropriate term that needs to be used is "Resort View", which is views of Downtown Disney and, depending on where you are, you can see Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure in the distance. Fireworks can be seen from some of the "Resort View" rooms (not all of them) as well as about half of the "Standard View" rooms, but the rooms that offer this view is limited compared to "Standard View" and "Pool View" (one side on two buildings offer "Standard View" and one side of all three buildings offer "Pool View"... while only one side of one building offers "Resort View").

The Grand Californian and Paradise Pier hotels both offer "Theme Park View" rooms, which overlook inside Disney's California Adventure, but the Disneyland Hotel does not.

You are so right! Sorry! We booked the DTD view and we were on the 9th floor, i think, on the south corner. I was just really excited to wake up and be able to see Big Thunder and Grizzly Peaks!

 

[DizMe]

I really like both views! We were on the...hmmm, I can't remember! Either the 7th or 9th floor of the Dreams tower in November. We had a corner room with a fabulous view of DTD. We could see the parts of the parks that stick up and it was really cool. We pulled our sofa/daybed over to the sliding door and watched the fireworks with the doors wide open--really neat!

Previously we have requested pool view, which I also love. You can see the grounds and the pool, which is lit up at night with a giant Tinkerbell image.

The nice thing about a resort view is that I think you always (or at least almost always) get the Dreams tower, which is my favorite. When we've paid for standard rooms we've always gotten standard rooms (parking lot view) except when something went awry with the reservation and we were bumped up as compensation. I don't mind paying more for something other than parking lot view, although I might take my chances if it's a slow time of year. I remember reading (maybe it was BurntToast's advice?) that if you ask for a standard room and request the Dreams tower you will actually get something that would be pool or resort view except that there is something blocking your view--palm trees, landscaping due to low floor, etc. However, there is no guarantee that you would get your requested tower.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

So is the Dreams tower the one you want to be in, if only booking a standard room?

And do you put in a request for the tower at the time of booking?

 

[Burnt Toast]

Disclamer: I used to work for the Disneyland Hotel Front Desk years ago.

Honestly, if you prefer a certain view, I'd book it as such. Never count on booking a "City/Standard View" room and expect an upgrade to a "Resort View" or "Pool View" room, even if you request it (requests should really only be made for things that normally wouldn't require an "upgrade" cost). Now sometimes comp. upgrades are made but that is never ever a guarantee.

That said... "Resort View" rooms at the Disneyland Hotel are in the Dreams Tower (formerly the Sierra Tower). "Standard View" rooms are in all three towers, one complete side of a Magic and Wonder Towers and all low floor rooms (as they are obstructed view) in ALL three Towers facing both sides, typically only the second and third floors, and the obstructed view rooms behind the Concierge-access glass elevator in the Dreams Tower. "Pool View" would be in all three towers facing inward.

DizMe: Yup... I posted that tidbit a VERY long time ago on another Disney board.

 

[emum]

We had a Resort View and Pool view from our suite in the Wonder tower - if I were choosing one over the other, I'd go with a resort view - it was superb looking out at this at night....

Cheers,
Sally

 

[Circusgirl]

Thanks, everybody!!! I'm definitely going to request resort view.

 

[Call me Flower]

I really like both views! We were on the...hmmm, I can't remember! Either the 7th or 9th floor of the Dreams tower in November. We had a corner room with a fabulous view of DTD. We could see the parts of the parks that stick up and it was really cool. We pulled our sofa/daybed over to the sliding door and watched the fireworks with the doors wide open--really neat!

Do all the rooms have a daybed, or did you stay in a suite. We are a family of five, and I know we can have a rollaway bed but I was worried about the size of the room that would limit for us. Really like the daybeds they have at WDW.

 

[Burnt Toast]

They have daybeds already in certain rooms. The Disneyland Hotel is kinda weird that way, where each stack of rooms is completely different from the one next to it. It was like it was designed by a five year old. Different room shapes, sizes, some have vanities, some don't, some have enough room for two queens, the next room might have enough space for two doubles.

 

[bumbershoot]

Theme park view...if the view from the concierge floor in the Dreams tower, or the concierge elevator gave me an idea of what the view rooms might yield, you can *see* DLR and parts of DCA (I was sitting in that lounge with the fam, looking at GCH and I believe the Grizzly of GRR, and I vaguely recall seeing Maliboomer as well). You're not looking into them, but you can see them.

Pool view.

I personally would go with the pool view.

 

[DizMe]

Here is my sister standing at our sliding doors with a resort view. As I said, it's the Dreams tower and it was the 7th or 9th floor. It was great because all the Christmas decorations were up and we could enjoy the music and entertainments from our room and there was a beautiful Christmas tree below us.

The pool view is also great. I don't know which I prefer (though at Christmas I'd definitely choose resort view!). It used to be that you simply paid for a view room; you couldn't guarantee pool or resort view. You were guaranteed one or the other and you could make a request for what you preferred but it wasn't a sure thing. Have they changed that?

 

[Circusgirl]

Here is my sister standing at our sliding doors with a resort view. As I said, it's the Dreams tower and it was the 7th or 9th floor. It was great because all the Christmas decorations were up and we could enjoy the music and entertainments from our room and there was a beautiful Christmas tree below us.

The pool view is also great. I don't know which I prefer (though at Christmas I'd definitely choose resort view!). It used to be that you simply paid for a view room; you couldn't guarantee pool or resort view. You were guaranteed one or the other and you could make a request for what you preferred but it wasn't a sure thing. Have they changed that?

The CM I talked to when I made my reservation gave me a choice of pool or resort view, and made it sound like they were two different categories, but I now assume this is like all requests and will depend on what is available. There are many more pool view rooms than resort view so I don't see how they could guarantee one or the other.

Thanks for sharing the pictures!