Disneyland Hotel reviews are getting bad

[hootey]

We go to DL to RELAX That includes the DLH and everything it has to offer, to help us relax. Some days we spend more time at the hotel enjoying the pool/waterslide/hot-tubs, the grounds, the Disney art work, or maybe just a cup of coffee in the lobby to watch the children's faces light up as they walk into the lobby with mom and dad and find Mickey, Goofy , or maybe Snow White to welcome them The fine folks at Disney have spent the same amount of time putting in the small details at the DLH as they have the parks. I take time to enjoy these things and relax. Yes, I am one of those guys you get behind when you are in a hurry that is taking his own sweet time at DL Hey, take time to smell the roses. Someone spent a lot of time planting and caring for them so you could do so.

 

[eileenkeeney]

I think there are high expectations based on the high price, compared to non Disney owned surrounding hotels. Comparisons to other locations is not as relevant.

I can get a suite at Carousel Inn and Suites, with a Mickey themed kid sleeping area, for $229 a night.
I would have a shorter walk to the DL parks, than the DL hotel offers, and a free breakfast.

IF I did not own DVC points, or could not get a DVC reservation using those points, I would choose a non Disney owned hotel.

But if I did pay the cash price for any of the Disney owned hotels, and I did not understand that I was paying a HUGE premium for early park access to CA and use of the CA entrance in GC, I would expect a premium hotel experience.

 

[dedwards]

I have stayed many time at all three onsite hotels. I have enjoyed them all and believe they are nice hotels. I do think the rooms are way small for the price When i pay over 300 a night for a room I do expect it to be of good quality and size. I usually pay more around 500 a night for hotel rooms when I travel with my family.

Disneyland hotels are more about the magic and staying in Disneyland theme mode your entire trip. They are not luxury hotels you are paying for the theme. So I do believe the complaints are mostly do to high expectations people come in thinking they are going to a luxury hotel because of the price, but they are not. They are going to a nice hotel that is Disney themed throughout.

So the choice you have to make is the Disney magic feel the entire time I am on vacation worth it. For half the price you can find nearby hotels(not across the street) that are as nice of a hotel , or for the same prices you can find some pretty amazing Hotels that would be glad to give you car service. Of course across the street you are closer then Disneyland hotel and the rooms are a quarter of the price, of course not many people are going to try and tell you they are as nice they are not they are a step down in quality.

You do get what you pay for, however some people don't actually know what they paid for they are expecting a luxury resort Hotel and Disneyland Hotels are not that they are nice hotels with great magic and theme.

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

I have stayed many time at all three onsite hotels. I have enjoyed them all and believe they are nice hotels. I do think the rooms are way small for the price When i pay over 300 a night for a room I do expect it to be of good quality and size. I usually pay more around 500 a night for hotel rooms when I travel with my family.

Disneyland hotels are more about the magic and staying in Disneyland theme mode your entire trip. They are not luxury hotels you are paying for the theme. So I do believe the complaints are mostly do to high expectations people come in thinking they are going to a luxury hotel because of the price, but they are not. They are going to a nice hotel that is Disney themed throughout.

So the choice you have to make is the Disney magic feel the entire time I am on vacation worth it. For half the price you can find nearby hotels(not across the street) that are as nice of a hotel , or for the same prices you can find some pretty amazing Hotels that would be glad to give you car service. Of course across the street you are closer then Disneyland hotel and the rooms are a quarter of the price, of course not many people are going to try and tell you they are as nice they are not they are a step down in quality.

You do get what you pay for, however some people don't actually know what they paid for they are expecting a luxury resort Hotel and Disneyland Hotels are not that they are nice hotels with great magic and theme.

This sums it up quite well for me, and is essentially what i was trying to say (less eloquently) in my previous post.

 

[rootbeer]

While we have been to DL many times, this March will be our first time staying onsite, 4 nights at the DLH On a trip years ago when we were younger (And poorer), we went to the DLH and just walked around in awe and said to ourselves "Some day..." Well, that someday has come and we can't wait! I did read a few reviews on trip adviser, but I got tired of them pretty quick. I just wanted to say that the responses here have set my mind at ease, and I have no doubt we'll enjoy every minute of it!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We stayed in August at PPH. The spa was filthy everyday (brown foam ) and we received less than pleasant service from CMs, specifically at the bell desk but other than that it was fine.

 

[darcie2000]

We had a fantasmic time when we stayed at the DLH last year. It was just drop dead gorgeous and so magical. We are planning on staying at the GCH for the first time next year and I have to admit I'm a little worried it won't be as awesome lol.

The only complaint I had about the DLH was the rudeness I experienced from a CM working the big gift shop in the Fantasy Tower. Everyone else was wonderful.

 

[codycpreston]

Thank you for the reviews and responses. I booked the DLH room for December 1, just not sure if I can keep it a secret from my daughter that long!

 

[Stinkerbe11]

We are here now (did a split stay w/GCH) and I am a huge fan of the Disneyland Hotel now. At check-in, we were greeted in the lobby by Jasmine, Genie, Goofy, Pluto, Dale & Mad Hatter! We were pixie dusted to premium view and the room is beautiful and spotlessly clean. The beds are super comfortable and I love the music box/fireworks display We will absolutely stay here again!

 

[2tinkerbell]

We are here now (did a split stay w/GCH) and I am a huge fan of the Disneyland Hotel now. At check-in, we were greeted in the lobby by Jasmine, Genie, Goofy, Pluto, Dale & Mad Hatter! We were pixie dusted to premium view and the room is beautiful and spotlessly clean. The beds are super comfortable and I love the music box/fireworks display We will absolutely stay here again!

So happy you are having a good time and enjoy the DLH.

 

[larryz]

Once when we stayed at the Grand, I was upset because the "view" room I paid for was nothing but the tops of trees ...

Considering the "non-view" room is building, highway or driveway, I wonder what you expected...

 

[5forMickey]

Considering the "non-view" room is building, highway or driveway, I wonder what you expected...

I expected to look out my window and see a view of something nice, like the park. Something other than a building top, parking lot or the tops of trees blocking everything. I believe that is what you pay extra money for when you upgrade to a premium view.

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

Now, I have had some rooms/experiences that are better than others, but never a bad one, and yes, we have sometimes changed rooms before but mostly because I want EVERYTHING my way

Once when we stayed at the Grand, I was upset because the "view" room I paid for was nothing but the tops of trees . I called and explained my frustrations and while they couldn't move us that night because they didn't have two connecting rooms available, they treated all 8 of us to dinner at Steakhouse 55 and moved us to beautiful view rooms the next day.

I'm glad I'm not cantankerous like that.

Talk about an unenjoyable vacation.

 

[5forMickey]

I'm glad I'm not cantankerous like that.

Talk about an unenjoyable vacation.

I'm glad for you also However, I'm not really sure I agree that expecting to receive what you are paying for is being difficult or irritating. I think that is more about being a smart consumer. This trip was also the furthest thing from "unenjoyable" just because we had a minor "hickup" that I asked to be corrected. I assure you the management of the Hotel agreed with my problem when I called or they would not have been so gracious about correcting the issue. We paid for a certain level of accommodations and did not receive them. I don't mind paying top dollar for somethings, but when I do, I expect to receive them. Am I a princess when I travel -- you bet I am and there is nothing wrong or cantankerous about that.

My point to the op was that if you are not satisfied with the services you are expecting, it's better to give an establishment a chance to correct their mistake rather than to leave angry and then bash them for their shortcomings on a review site.

 

[larryz]

I expected to look out my window and see a view of something nice, like the park. Something other than a building top, parking lot or the tops of trees blocking everything. I believe that is what you pay extra money for when you upgrade to a premium view.

Ah. I guess I don't have enough information.

Did you pay for the "Woods-Courtyard," "Deluxe Partial," "Downtown Disney" or "Premium" view?

 

[5forMickey]

Ah. I guess I don't have enough information.

Did you pay for the "Woods-Courtyard," "Deluxe Partial," "Downtown Disney" or "Premium" view?

Thanks
Premium (two adjoining rooms) -- and when I talked to management they totally understood why I called. They stated they didn't know why they kept putting people that paid for premium views in that room and they would make sure that the room assigners were made aware of it. But my point to the op was that they MORE than made up for the mistake once it was brought to their attention.

 

[2tinkerbell]

My point to the op was that if you are not satisfied with the services you are expecting, it's better to give an establishment a chance to correct their mistake rather than to leave angry and then bash them for their shortcomings on a review site.

I agree with this. So much better to give someone the opportunity while you are there than to wait until afterwards.

5forMickey - I am happy that GCH took care of your problem and you had a great time!

 

[larryz]

But my point to the op was that they MORE than made up for the mistake once it was brought to their attention.

Don't blame you for going back to the desk... and I agree, dinner was a nice touch.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Thanks
Premium (two adjoining rooms) -- and when I talked to management they totally understood why I called. They stated they didn't know why they kept putting people that paid for premium views in that room and they would make sure that the room assigners were made aware of it. But my point to the op was that they MORE than made up for the mistake once it was brought to their attention.

We had a similar experience at the DLH last Nov. We had booked a 2 bedroom suite and got one, but it was not the layout we had been promised. And had called to confirm. It wasn't even the layout the front desk described (which matched the request). Our original question was how to make the sleeping arrangements work -a rollaway would not fit in the room, so they offered premium meal vouchers as their apology, recognizing their error (but having no room to move us to). They didn't have to of course, but it went a long way.

And before anybody mentions it, yes I realize they are only requests. It didn't really become an issue until the sleeping arrangements were not at all what we were told they were by the check in CM.

(For anybody wondering, my youngest ended up cosleeping with us, which is how it worked out).

 

[hootey]

We have only had one problem staying at the DLH. It was so minor, I can not recall what it was. The matter was large enough to justify going to the front desk to seek a solution to the problem(whatever it was). I explained the problem to the hotel manager and it was taken care of, with apologies . This is one of the reasons we stay at the DLH