Disneyland hotel rooms/balconies??

[goofyfordisney]

Well, I have finally made a decision about our upcoming trip in June--we are going to stay at Disneyland Hotel. We have stayed at GCH so we are going to try DLH this time--we really like the on-site thing now--really hard to go back to staying off-site once you've done the on-site thing!

I have alot of questions about the hotel. We have never really walked around there much--we ate at Goofy's Kitchen and the Hooks Restaruant once.

1. Anyone know where I can see some pictures of the rooms?
2. Do the rooms have balconies?
3. Are there different towers? Which one is the most centrally located (access to monorail, pool, etc.)
4. Has the whole hotel been remodeled?
5. Any rooms that are better than others that I might be able to request when we check in? I think we have Lower Level Park View ressies.
6. We requested a room with 2 Queens and daybed--is the daybed a "normal" size?
7. Will it be too cramped for 2 adults, 2 teens and and 8 year old? We are probably going to be bringing a friend of my 13 year old with us.

I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions!
Thanks,
Sue

 

[daannzzz]

There are 3 towers. The Marina (where you check in). The Sierra (facing Disneyland, Downtown Disney and DCA), and The Bonita. The Neverland Pool is in the LARGE courtyard between them.
The Rooms at the Disneyland hotel do not have balconiess. They have a large sliding glass door that open directly to a railing. I was worried about this when I first heard about it but found that it was great at bringing the outdoors in!!!. The Rooms in the Bonita tower have one door. The rooms in the Sierra tower have two doors, each one sliding away from eachother making a very large opening. I am unsure what the Marina Towers doors are like but assume they are like the Bonita's. The room we had in the Sierra tower faced Disneyland (the rooms across the hall face the pool) and was quite large. We had four adults and a 4 year old and had plenty of room. The bathroom was large and very nice and had two sinks and the shower/tub in one room with a private room for the toilet.
The room we had in the Bonita tower seemed a bit smalle and had a standard bathroom of average size and layout but had a small bar at the entry with stools to sit at and a sink and fridge. The room we had faced the pool ( others across the hall face the parkinglot).
The new decore looks a bit nicer than it used to be. I haven't stayed since the remodel. The daybed looks similar to the ones at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. If so it will fold into a twin size bed.

http://www.travelhero.com/photos.cfm/id/108988/index.html

 

[goofyfordisney]

daannzzz-

Thanks for the great, detailed reply! This really helps alot since we have no frame of reference at all. I guess I'm looking to get a room at the Sierra Tower vs. one at the Bonita. I really don't want to be cramped!

I have another question--did you usually take the monorail from the station at the hotel or from DTD? And...does the monorail run early (before official park opening)?

Hey, it looks like we might be neighbors also! We live in San Jose--where are you located in Silicon Valley?

Thanks again!
Sue

 

[wdwluvr]

Here is a link to some pretty good pics of the DL Hotel.


Disneyland Hotel Pictures

Also, the only station for the monorail is at DTD. It's about a 5 min walk from the hotel. When we were there it usually started running about 5 minutes before park opening.

 

[funnygarcia]

We were offered pool view or downtown disney view- but did not mention tower names- would the Bonita then be the pool view? which tower is the DTD view? and which would you prefer more? We got it for $129 nite as AP Super Sunday deal (buying AP when we get there). Never stayed on-site so this will be fun! Hope that day bed thing is comfy/long enough for a 15 yr old...

 

[daannzzz]

The Monorail at The Disneyland hotel is not nearly as convenient as at WDW. The hotel station and the downtown Disney station are one and the same. If there is a big line at the Monorail station we just walk over to the front gate. The first load of people on the monorail into the park always seems to go by a few minutes before the gates open.
All three towers have a good view of the pool on one side of their towers. The Bonita Tower (on it's other side) would have a view of Anaheim, a large parking area. The Paradise Pier Hotel and some of DCA but not a greait view. The Marina towers ther view is of Anahem, the parking lot, The parking structure and Disneyland. The Sierra tower (my favorite as it seems bigger and the sliding doors open wider) has a great view of Disneyland (somewhat distant), Downtown Disney, DCA , The Grand Californian and Paradise Pier Hotel. The lower level rooms on this side of the Sierra tower will have the above view though not quite as nice, it would have a large expanse of the AMC theater in the foreground. If you do get a room in the Bonita or Marina tower. They are definately not small. Maybe on par with the rooms at the Polynesian.
I am assuming any really good rate would be a "city/ parkinglot view unless the hotel is not full. We had a good rate at the Paradise Pier hotel and had rooms on the 13th floor overlooking DCA. I would not "plan" on a pool view with a $129 rate but you can ask!!! The Bonita Tower is farhtest away from the monorail, Downtown Disney and The Parks.
I actually live in Sunnyvale, right off of 101 at Mathilda. Ewwwwww!!!

 

[funnygarcia]

The $129 rate is an AP super sunday promo- I also will be going at a not too busy time (first week of June) reservation office offered pool or DTD - we also have 5 people in our party so maybe they are just putting parties of 5 w AP in the Sierra tower to fill up the hotel? I have looked at other boards who also got these views for the same rate....... something to look into if you can go in May or Early June!! I also read that hotel guests get a priority boarding pass for monorail so this would help in AM. We plan to relax by the pool and go to the beach for the first two days there as it will be the weekend- blackout days- We also took the advice of several peaople and splitting our stay between cheap hotel (Fairfield) then off to DLH --- I love the free kids passes deal they have for summer!!!This trip with one extra person turns out to be over $1000 cheaper than just the four of us last yr!! I get smarter each time we go on how to do the ressies and special rates here and there. The only problem --- we ned to wait until May 28 until we leave- sigh---

 

[teri]

<img width="500" src=http://www.boomerweb.net/users/disteri202d/22402dis_0236.JPG>

<img width="500" src=http://www.boomerweb.net/users/disteri202d/22402dis_0234.JPG>


<img width="500" src=http://www.boomerweb.net/users/disteri202d/22402dis_0217.JPG>

 

[funnygarcia]

Just finished talking w a wonderful CM who called me back after I asked about which tower and why I could not get the lower $99 rate for Sunday and Monday nites of my stay instead of the same $129 rate for all 3 nites (beginng with a Saturday) .
She had talked w her lead and decided to give me the deal by splitting it into two reservations.
Will be the same room , Sierra tower downtown Disney view- no smoking, upper floor, quiet room , fridge, coffe maker- 2 queens and day bed.
This is the AP rate super sunday promo good every day thru June 30 - make reservations soon as dates later in June are filling up according to other posts /other boards.
I will be there June 1- June 4 with 5 people, as well as starting out on
May 28 to June 1 at Fairfield Inn thru Disney Travel(getting the free kids passes).
Grand Californian looks so pretty! Maybe next year..................

 

[goofyfordisney]

funnygarcia,

So you were able to request a specific Tower? Were you guaranteed any of your requests or are they just noting it on your reservation? I think I might be calling them back to see what I can get noted on my ressie...can't hurt to ask...right?? We are traveling with two other families, so we asked to be in the same area of the hotel. I think that the $99 rate I got was for a "lower level park view"...not really sure what that means.

Do you know if all of the rooms have been remodeled recently? Some posts I have read on the boards have had some "so-so" reviews of some of the rooms. I did ask to be in a recently refurbished room. I forgot to request non-smoking...guess I better make that call!!

Sue

 

[funnygarcia]

Didn't make specific request for tower thats just what they gave me. It said it on my ressie the first time I called to make it(no choice kind of thing) and confirmed it when I asked about the $99 rate for those two days . She also marked it as early check in but I believe that was just a request if anything. If you get Diane for a CM then you are in good hands when you call!! As for rooms that are remodeled I have no idea- might want to check other boards such as www.mouseplanet.com (or the articles /reviews there)

 

[teri]

The whole place was refurbished a few years ago. You will have a lovely time!