Disneyland Hotel stay - do you think I'm crazy...

[BecAus]

Hi
Just after anyone's thoughts on whether they think I'm crazy - be honest : )
My 12yr old (he's quite a 'young' 12yr old) and I have an upcoming trip to Disneyland at the end of the month. We are there for 8days - 6 full days + our arrival / departure days.
This is our 6th or 7th trip - we've always stayed offsite because the Disney hotels are just too highly priced normally, particularly with our conversion rate to the aussie dollar.

However... after recent threads on another forum I have been looking at the Disneyland Hotel special available till c/out on the 29th Sept. I am seriously considering doing it for 2n.
We arrive into LAX on 9/27 and will catch the DLE - the first one at 7.50 if we make it thru or the next one at 8.50am.

After our 26hr journey we weren't planning on doing much the first day other than swapping our 10 day ticket vouchers for entry / breakfast vouchers at the ticket booth and then maybe just doing stuff like the Rail Road / TSI etc...
I really want to try and get through till at least 6 or 7pm that night before going to bed to try and get on to PST - we've had varied luck with our jet lag on our trips depending on time / location we've flown in to the States etc..
Spending some time at the pools at the D/L Hotel would be a great option that day.
The parks open late the next morning on the 28th so expecting we are going to be up early after going to bed early the night before we were going to have B/F at Storytellers at 7.30 or 8am.

We could then do EE at DCA on the Friday AM before coming back to c/out and move to our Harbor Blvd hotel on the Friday till our c/out the following Wed. We have MHP that Friday night so will be in the parks till close or later : )

If money wasn't really an issue - would you do this or is it crazy? It wouldn't really affect our trip money wise - we are still doing everything we want to: 2 x MHP parties, WOC DP, BB Fantasmic Pkg, Dinner at Cafe Orleans / Carnation Cafe pre-party, A/Tea at DLH on the Sunday and we are also going to book WIWF Tour.
This is going to be our last trip for many years after having travelled every year since 2012 and I am SO TEMPTED to do it.

If you've managed to read this post this far I appreciate it - any thoughts?
I've been quite unwell the past week so I'm just wondering whether I'm delirious or whether we should just do it!!

 

[Aladora]

If money isn't an issue, I say why not!

 

[ParkHopper1]

IMO staying on site adds a LOT to the overall vacation experience. Some people just need a bed and a shower, but being immersed in the "bubble" can't be beat IMO.

If it will not cut into other areas of your trip...heck yeah stay on site!

 

[SteveMP]

If money isn't an issue, I say why not!

Exactly, if money isn't an issue I would stay in GCH every night.

 

[Sergio S]

If you really think this is your last trip for sometime (or even ever) then by all means do it as you plan.

I just think the only concern is moving from the DLR hotel to the other might feel a huge downgrade. Can you reverse it?

 

[Disney Excitement]

I'd do it. We are staying at DLH too as I want us to be amongst the magic. We are from NZ - it's such a long way that I think you want to make the most of the experience.

 

[wdwfan22]

I'm not really sure what you are asking. If you should split your stay between the DL hotel and an offsite property? If you can afford it, of course. I love staying on property. I can only ever afford a couple nights. So we usually stay our first week or so offsite then move to a DL hotel for the last 2 nights. That way I finish with the nice hotel. We move hotels early so we can have 3 EE mornings for 2 nights onsite. I love staying onsite and would do it as much as possible.

 

[BecAus]

Hi, yes I am suggesting a split stay I guess. I have always wanted to stay onsite but it's too much money to stomach usually. Mostly when I've looked before it's been $600 - $800 AUD / night which seems crazy to me. We have stayed onsite at D/L Hong Kong and the 'Disney' touches do make it special.
If we do it, we would definitely be doing it the first 2n - I know it's a down-grade after that but that won't bother us - we will be in the parks the whole time anyway.
The 'Late Summer Room Offer' is only available for those first 2 nights: I can get the 9/27-29 for $932 USD. If I was to do 9/27 - 10/1 (4n) it jumps up to $2176 USD - that's probably getting in to territory that I perhaps can't stomach paying for a hotel room : )
The DLH is not actually showing availability for my whole stay through till 10/4 anyway.
I feel like my son would really like / prefer the DLH over GCH - as I mentioned, he is quite a 'young' 12yr old and he would LOVE the waterslides and pool area there.
The main pool at DLH is actually under refurb from 10/1 also.

 

[Aladora]

I feel like my son would really like / prefer the DLH over GCH - as I mentioned, he is quite a 'young' 12yr old and he would LOVE the waterslides and pool area there.
The main pool at DLH is actually under refurb from 10/1 also.

Our son is also a 'young' 12 year old so I know what you mean. Your son will probably love the fireworks headboard at DLH. Have you priced out Paradise Pier for your last few days! We stayed there a few years ago and DS still talks about the beach ball pillows!

 

[Geemo]

Hi, yes I am suggesting a split stay I guess. I have always wanted to stay onsite but it's too much money to stomach usually. Mostly when I've looked before it's been $600 - $800 AUD / night which seems crazy to me. We have stayed onsite at D/L Hong Kong and the 'Disney' touches do make it special.
If we do it, we would definitely be doing it the first 2n - I know it's a down-grade after that but that won't bother us - we will be in the parks the whole time anyway.
The 'Late Summer Room Offer' is only available for those first 2 nights: I can get the 9/27-29 for $932 USD. If I was to do 9/27 - 10/1 (4n) it jumps up to $2176 USD - that's probably getting in to territory that I perhaps can't stomach paying for a hotel room : )
The DLH is not actually showing availability for my whole stay through till 10/4 anyway.
I feel like my son would really like / prefer the DLH over GCH - as I mentioned, he is quite a 'young' 12yr old and he would LOVE the waterslides and pool area there.
The main pool at DLH is actually under refurb from 10/1 also.

You might want to check with the hotel to see the hours for the Water Slides.
When we went they were only open until 5pm. But that was a couple of years ago.

If you look at the closure list, it has DLH E-Ticket pool down Oct 1 to Oct 8

If you're planning to use a specific perk at the hotel call and make sure it's available for the dates you're considering.

 

[BecAus]

There doesn't seem to be availably at DLH or PPH from 10/1 only GCH and it is SUBSTANTIALLY more.
What to do...what to do..... : )
Our accommodation on Harbor is only $800 USD total for our 7n but reading recent threads I just got to thinking...

So, we could do 2n DLH on arrival to chill out and settle in our first day and there are limited park hours our first full day on the Thursday anyway. Do EE on Friday AM then go back, get our bags and uber to our Harbor hotel before getting dressed for the MHP and heading back over to D/L ~ 2pm (we want to be in the parks early for the MHP and can do so as we have a 10day tkt)

or

bite the bullet and stay 4n - do EE at DCA on the Sunday AM as well before heading back to DLH at lunch time to checkout - we then have A/Tea booked there for 1.30pm and then we could Uber across to Harbor - I definitely don't think we would stay longer than the 4n however. We will be in the parks after that the whole time till we depart for LAX on Wed PM.

 

[smartlabelprint]

There doesn't seem to be availably at DLH or PPH from 10/1 only GCH and it is SUBSTANTIALLY more.
What to do...what to do..... : )
Our accommodation on Harbor is only $800 USD total for our 7n but reading recent threads I just got to thinking...

So, we could do 2n DLH on arrival to chill out and settle in our first day and there are limited park hours our first full day on the Thursday anyway. Do EE on Friday AM then go back, get our bags and uber to our Harbor hotel before getting dressed for the MHP and heading back over to D/L ~ 2pm (we want to be in the parks early for the MHP and can do so as we have a 10day tkt)

or

bite the bullet and stay 4n - do EE at DCA on the Sunday AM as well before heading back to DLH at lunch time to checkout - we then have A/Tea booked there for 1.30pm and then we could Uber across to Harbor - I definitely don't think we would stay longer than the 4n however. We will be in the parks after that the whole time till we depart for LAX on Wed PM.

Where is your reservation? Why don't you take the extra you'd spend at disney hotels and upgrade to a nicer hotel on harbor? I'd be so let down by a cheap motel after being at a nice one. I'd say go for it if the discount was at the end of the trip.

 

[BecAus]

We're currently at D I & S. Or Camelot but probably D I & S. Previously stayed at Camelot / Tropicana / Ramada Maingate (now Legacy). Had no problem with any of these - we were happy at all but did feel Legacy was pushing it for how far away we want to be.
What got me looking was a post elsewhere by another Aussie who is paying more than the price of the D/L Hotel to stay at the Anaheim Courtyard across the road.
Just started thinking - what the heck. Maybe we should do a couple of nights at DLH.
Closeness is the main priority for us. We ruled out Desert Palms and any of those newer hotels up that way as it is further than we wish to walk, particularly over such a long stay. There's not a whole lot of availability close on Harbor at this late stage from what I'm seeing.

 

[MacMama0930]

I'm in agreement that it's hard to "downgrade" - even if you don't think it'll affect you, it very likely will. Staying onsite is really special and if it were at the end of your trip, I'd say go for it. But I'm not sure about the beginning...
I like the idea of staying 4 nights. But I also like the idea of taking that extra money you'd spend and just staying in a nicer place off site. The new Marriot Theme Park Entrance has a little water park and looks like really cool rooms...with views!
I love staying onsite, and make it a point to budget it in with each stay. I think once you get a taste of it...you'll be ruined like I was
Either way, sounds like a great trip!! Have a blast! We'll be at the 9/29 party!

 

[hootey]

Yes, do it! Staying at a Disney Hotel is always nice. Be sure to have them explain ALL the Amenities available at the DLH when you check in. Be sure to ask about character meet-n-greets when you check in. Be sure to explore all of the DLH common areas to enjoy the Artwork, Historic Photos, and Disney-Stuff you can see and enjoy

 

[smartlabelprint]

We're currently at D I & S. Or Camelot but probably D I & S. Previously stayed at Camelot / Tropicana / Ramada Maingate (now Legacy). Had no problem with any of these - we were happy at all but did feel Legacy was pushing it for how far away we want to be.
What got me looking was a post elsewhere by another Aussie who is paying more than the price of the D/L Hotel to stay at the Anaheim Courtyard across the road.
Just started thinking - what the heck. Maybe we should do a couple of nights at DLH.
Closeness is the main priority for us. We ruled out Desert Palms and any of those newer hotels up that way as it is further than we wish to walk, particularly over such a long stay. There's not a whole lot of availability close on Harbor at this late stage from what I'm seeing.

I highly recommend switching to Camelot. It's much nicer than DIS. You also get a discount with a 5 day stay or more.

 

[Geemo]

Hi
Just after anyone's thoughts on whether they think I'm crazy - be honest : )
My 12yr old (he's quite a 'young' 12yr old) and I have an upcoming trip to Disneyland at the end of the month. We are there for 8days - 6 full days + our arrival / departure days.
This is our 6th or 7th trip - we've always stayed offsite because the Disney hotels are just too highly priced normally, particularly with our conversion rate to the aussie dollar.

However... after recent threads on another forum I have been looking at the Disneyland Hotel special available till c/out on the 29th Sept. I am seriously considering doing it for 2n.
We arrive into LAX on 9/27 and will catch the DLE - the first one at 7.50 if we make it thru or the next one at 8.50am.

After our 26hr journey we weren't planning on doing much the first day other than swapping our 10 day ticket vouchers for entry / breakfast vouchers at the ticket booth and then maybe just doing stuff like the Rail Road / TSI etc...
I really want to try and get through till at least 6 or 7pm that night before going to bed to try and get on to PST - we've had varied luck with our jet lag on our trips depending on time / location we've flown in to the States etc..
Spending some time at the pools at the D/L Hotel would be a great option that day.
The parks open late the next morning on the 28th so expecting we are going to be up early after going to bed early the night before we were going to have B/F at Storytellers at 7.30 or 8am.

We could then do EE at DCA on the Friday AM before coming back to c/out and move to our Harbor Blvd hotel on the Friday till our c/out the following Wed. We have MHP that Friday night so will be in the parks till close or later : )

If money wasn't really an issue - would you do this or is it crazy? It wouldn't really affect our trip money wise - we are still doing everything we want to: 2 x MHP parties, WOC DP, BB Fantasmic Pkg, Dinner at Cafe Orleans / Carnation Cafe pre-party, A/Tea at DLH on the Sunday and we are also going to book WIWF Tour.
This is going to be our last trip for many years after having travelled every year since 2012 and I am SO TEMPTED to do it.

If you've managed to read this post this far I appreciate it - any thoughts?
I've been quite unwell the past week so I'm just wondering whether I'm delirious or whether we should just do it!!

If I were traveling the distance and expense you are, here's what I'd do.

Keep my current full reservation at the DI&S for now.

Book the 2 or 4 nights at the DLH ONLY if it would be refundable, if you decide to cancel.
Know DLH cancellation policy for FULL refund.

I think the current promo your thinking of using ends September 28th.
Watch closely for Disney to put out a new promotion any day now that would begin Sept 29th

IF Disney begins a new promo and the rates work with your budget. Call and modify your current DLH reservation.

Once you know the final dates you're staying at DLH then contact DI&S to coordinate the dates if it ends up a split stay.

I'll watch for a new promotion to roll out, if it does I'll send a message to your "Start a Conversation" - INBOX.

Geemo

 

[Nevada Jen]

I like your two night plan. Dlh will work in your favor with eMh and jet lag

 

[farmfresh]

Once you know the final dates you're staying at DLH then contact DI&S to coordinate the dates if it ends up a split stay.

I'll watch for a new promotion to roll out, if it does I'll send a message to your "Start a Conversation" - INBOX.

Geemo

Wow! What a kind gesture!....pixie dust to you

 

[StormyCA]

I always advise to stay onsite for as long as you can, whenever you can!

I'd do as Geemo suggests. Or I'd look at all the activities I was planning and see if it would be worth cancelling any of them to use that money towards your onsite stay.

Have a wonderful time, whatever you do. 12 year old boys are such wonderful companions. You can still see the child in them as well as catching an occasional glimpse of the men they will become.

And don't give up.......my most recent trip to DL was a 'Mum & Son' trip with my 28 year old son! Just the two of us and it was truly magical.