disneyland hotel vs grand ca

[princess lovers mom]

comparing these 2 hotels for trip at Christmas time - we don't tend to spend a lot of time in the rooms, but looking at the photos the disneyland rooms look really cramped and small - is this true

the grand Califonian doesn't look a whole lot better

we usually stay in deluxe rooms at WDW and are used to some moving around room??? are we going to be a bit tight in these rooms?

also the Grand Ca doesn't look very "disneyfied" is that true....do they have subtle little disney touches or is that missing?

 

[blackjackdelta]

comparing these 2 hotels for trip at Christmas time - we don't tend to spend a lot of time in the rooms, but looking at the photos the disneyland rooms look really cramped and small - is this true

the grand Califonian doesn't look a whole lot better

we usually stay in deluxe rooms at WDW and are used to some moving around room??? are we going to be a bit tight in these rooms?

also the Grand Ca doesn't look very "disneyfied" is that true....do they have subtle little disney touches or is that missing?

We prefer the Grand, the rooms are smaller, they do not have the "pixie" touches and they are tight if there are 4 in a standard. But we love the Grand for its location and amenities.

Jack

 

[princess lovers mom]

which hotel has the biggest standard rooms?

 

[FlameGirl]

which hotel has the biggest standard rooms?

You may want to check out Paradise Pier too. Bigger rooms than DLH and we actually prefer it to DLH as well.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I prefer the DLH over the Grand, actually I like the PPH more than the Grand.

 

[Judy from Boise]

The size of the rooms and themeing at GC is very comparable to the WL. The DH rooms are larger, and the themeing is more equivalent to the Contemporary.

 

[disneymom23]

The rooms at the GC are small. There are 5 of us and its tight. We can't unpack. We just live out of our suitcases. That said, we love the GC, especially at Christmastime. The location can't be beat. Its rustic and cozy and just feels right in the wintertime.

For our summer trip, we were going to stay at DLH but got a much better rate at GC, so we're staying there. Nothing beats leaving the park and being back in the room in 5 minutes.

 

[DizMe]

Well, normally I'm a DLH girl. However, at Christmas time I don't think you can beat GCH. The lobby is amazing with its huge tree, carol-playing pianist, and Santa, of course! You're right in the midst of all the holiday stuff, close to the parks, and it's...well, magical!

As far as the room size, most GCH rooms are smaller than the DLH rooms, but not bad for a family of 4. There are some that are much roomier and have 2 Q + daybed, but you're not guaranteed you'll get one so you just have to hope your request is honored. Those rooms tend to be near the lobby/elevators and they're pretty popular. The smallest rooms, in my experience, are the bunk bed rooms. There is no wiggle room, esp. when the trundle is pulled out. Keep in mind, too, that the bunk beds are not standard size, but are actually shorter than normal.

I have stayed at DLH at Christmas time and had a wonderful, wonderful experience there as well. We had a DTD-view room in the Dreams tower, looking out on a huge Christmas tree! We could hear the music and watch people dancing and having fun. We could see the fireworks, too--we pulled our daybed over and sat in front of the open sliders and enjoyed the atmosphere. Now, of course, there are no more sliders to open so I don't know whether or not you could hear the music and I don't think it would be quite as cool, but the renovated rooms ARE really nice (stayed in one in Jan). So...my close runner-up to GCH during the holidays would be DLH with DTD view (Dreams Tower).

I've never stayed at PPH, so I can't say how it compares. One reason I haven't stayed there, though, is because the rate is usually only $10/night less than DLH at the times I go and I much prefer the grounds and atmosphere of the other 2 resort hotels. One of these days, though, I want to try PPH concierge, as I think it's a great bargain when the great ap/promo deals are offered.

 

[Janell]

My fav is the Grand, but the rooms are smaller and could become cramped depending on how many people you have with you. When we stay we have four adults. Which work fine, but we notice there is less floor space. We like the locations of this hotel.

I would choose DL as my second fav, the rooms are much bigger in what was called the Sierra Tower(I forget what its called now) its the tower that looks over DtD and the pool. The tower that has the main lobby in it, many years ago the rooms seemed smaller. Not sure if they were, but it felt smaller.

 

[skiingfast]

DLH is now being remodeled so the rooms are changing completly. I'm not even sure they are going to be the same size. I did read the bathrooms were completely new but I don't know if the removed the walls of the basic room itself.

This poster just put up some pics from her stay in the Dream tower.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473935

 

[nana50]

I'm that poster. The room was a standard with a king size bed. There was room only for a chair, no couch or love seat. All the furniture is gorgeous. There is a long hallway which is wasted space. I'll put up some more pixs.

 

[VallCopen]

I don't think the room size differs that much between the Grand and DLH. IMO I think it may be 30-40 sq ft. The Pier does have the largest rooms of the 3 hotels. With that said I prefer the Grand, hands down, but I also have not stayed at the DLH since they remodeled either. The location of the Grand is great and the overall feel and comfort is great too. I think it just comes down to personel choice.

 

[CrazyDuck]

we usually stay in deluxe rooms at WDW and are used to some moving around room??? are we going to be a bit tight in these rooms?

They have "deluxe rooms" at the Grand Californian too. You have to book them through central. You can get 1, 2, even 3 bedroom suites. They start around $800 a night and go way up from there!

 

[princess lovers mom]

thank you everyone for your replies !!! now I guess I just need to make a decision....

 

[DizMe]

I'm that poster. The room was a standard with a king size bed. There was room only for a chair, no couch or love seat. All the furniture is gorgeous. There is a long hallway which is wasted space. I'll put up some more pixs.

The funny thing about DLH is that it is full of different-sized rooms. There are rooms that are very large, many in between and a few that are tiny! I got one once that was at the very end of the hallway in the Magic tower (main lobby tower) and was postage-stamp size. I didn't keep it, though . *Most* rooms in DLH are pretty large, with 2 queens and a daybed. Our renovated room in Dreams was that size and we had lots of space (4 adults). We stayed in one that was the same size in GCH, but as I said above, the 2Q + daybed rooms in GCH are limited; in DLH they are the most common. Still, we don't have a problem staying in GCH with 5 of us but we do prefer DLH except at Christmas.

 

[AZMyers]

I find the rooms at DLH to be huge! I've never been in a small one.

 

[MeRSiamese]

I find the rooms at DLH to be huge! I've never been in a small one.

Have you been in the Marina/Magic Tower? Are they huge there as well?

 

[jodeja]

Have you been in the Marina/Magic Tower? Are they huge there as well?

We just stayed 5 nights in the Magic Tower, room 2325. I thought our room was very spacious for the 3 of us. We had two queen beds, a day bed/couch with a chair near it, the desk/mirror area with another chair, and it had a 3-part bathroom: there was a counter with a mirror and the hair dryer outside of the bathroom, then a room with the sink and shower, and a separate little room with the toilet. So we had more than enough room for everyone to get ready in the morning and ready for bed.

I loved being able to open up the sliding glass door to get fresh air and lean over the railing to watch the fireworks, I will miss that when all of the rooms are renovated.

Here is a website that has the floorplans of the rooms:
http://disneylandmeetings.disney.go.com/dlm/index?id=DHStandardRoomPage

 

[tehbigmatt]

comparing these 2 hotels for trip at Christmas time - we don't tend to spend a lot of time in the rooms, but looking at the photos the disneyland rooms look really cramped and small - is this true

the grand Califonian doesn't look a whole lot better

we usually stay in deluxe rooms at WDW and are used to some moving around room??? are we going to be a bit tight in these rooms?

also the Grand Ca doesn't look very "disneyfied" is that true....do they have subtle little disney touches or is that missing?

for shear history the DH is a great place to stay...the GC is a lot of fun. I personally enjoy going downstairs in the morning, as i am an early riser, and having my coffee and reading the newspaper in front of the hearth.

 

[MeRSiamese]

We just stayed 5 nights in the Magic Tower, room 2325. I thought our room was very spacious for the 3 of us. We had two queen beds, a day bed/couch with a chair near it, the desk/mirror area with another chair, and it had a 3-part bathroom: there was a counter with a mirror and the hair dryer outside of the bathroom, then a room with the sink and shower, and a separate little room with the toilet. So we had more than enough room for everyone to get ready in the morning and ready for bed.

I loved being able to open up the sliding glass door to get fresh air and lean over the railing to watch the fireworks, I will miss that when all of the rooms are renovated.

Here is a website that has the floorplans of the rooms:
http://disneylandmeetings.disney.go.com/dlm/index?id=DHStandardRoomPage

This reply was WONDERFUL and exactly what I was hoping for!!!! Thank you SO very much!!!
And Thanks Bunches for that website too! With all my Google searching for something like that, nothing on that site ever came up! Go figure!!

I really appreciate it!!
What floor were you on?
How high would you say would be a good view, but not so high you are too far up? I was hoping to be able to be above the trees, but not so above everything as to be removed from the "action" below so to speak!!!

Your room description is exactly what we are hoping for!!
/crossing fingers!