Disneyland hotel vs Grand California

[seadd67]

Ok this might have been asked a millon times , so I am going to ask again. Between the two wich one would hold the lead?. From a pure Disney pont of view,themming,park access. Avalbilty to snacks,early morining coffie,late night coffie creature comphurts. We are two guys,(me and my DS) so prettyness is not at the top of our list LOL. My main Idea is being able to walk out of the park and Into our room and feel like we have not left Disney(LOL if thats at all pospile). But really Its just that feeling you get when you eneter the resort. When we are at WDW we always stay at the Resorts and I never fail to get that feeling. We stay at CCI last July and really never got that sensation, nice place, knothing reall bad about it but it just felt a little empty. This year I wanted to try the resort,we recived a pin code, and I am booking this Friday our room for March, so I thought I throw this out there for ones that have stay there recently, or just have imput. Thanks

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I have stayed at both, and here is what you are choosing between:

Grand Calilfornian: Looks like the Ahwhanee in Yosemite, or the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World. Arts and Crafts style, big lobby with fireplace. Not tall--low floors, so very little view. Attached to the back of California Aventure, so quick entry into that park. Right in the middle of downtown Disney. Smaller rooms that are a bit dark.

Disneyland Hotel: Bigger rooms than Grand California, and look more "resort"-ish. Taller towers, so spectacular views of pool or downtown disney if you are willing to pay for it. If you pay for a preferred room, you get a newly remodeled room that looks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGBbO5in_-k
Comfortable beds, Goofy or Goofy's son in the lobby as you check in, true Disney theme. Right at the mouth of Downtown Disney, so about a extra 4 minutes to the park--rather than the 5 minute walk that the Grand has to Disneyland Park. A more modern, streamlined look to rooms than the Grand, which has a darker, more wilderness cabin look. What you like better is up to you.

The one thing that you should know is that they are remodeling the Disneyland Hotel Pool (not likely the tower you will be staying in if you pick Dreams Tower in a preferred room). One pool is open, but the other is closed. This was a big issue for us in November when we paid for a preferred room and got one--but it overlooked construction!

We almost always prefer the Disneyland Hotel, but with the construction right now, the Grand is edging it out. People like the Grand because of the shorter walk and the big lobby, but we tend to like the Disneyland Hotel for the the better views, modern style, and bigger rooms. It is really up to you to decide what is better for you and your son.

Lisa

 

[seadd67]

Thanks for the post, so I seen the entrance to the park from Cali,but where is the entance on the DTD area?. I cant Imagin only entering through the park?.
With the pool refurb,is it the main pool?

 

[Amommy21]

DCA ALL THE WAY!

We have stayed twice at DL Hotel, but many many times as DCA. We love it so much more.

 

[Dobie]

We Dobies prefer the Grand. We like the closeness to the park, the beautifully themed pool area, the subtler Disney touches, the decor, and the ability to leave the pool area and hop right on Grizzly River with a FP!

 

[mamian16]

Grand Californian is a thousand times better. But Disneyland resort will have a new pool this summer.

 

[Aust]

I stayed at DLH 3 years ago, and am at GCH right now. I stayed at DLH the first time because i thought it would be more 'Disney-ish' and I was kind of disappointed. Also the walk was longer than I expected. I LOVE the GCH - love the look, the location and the rooms. Would stay here again in a flash.

 

[funatdisney]

We Dobies prefer the Grand. We like the closeness to the park, the beautifully themed pool area, the subtler Disney touches, the decor, and the ability to leave the pool area and hop right on Grizzly River with a FP!

Yep, we have done this many times and always pack aqua shoes to make it easier to go back and forth. I look at it as one of the perks of staying at the GCH.

 

[nunzia]

I also prefer the Grand, but just stayed at DLH in September for Destination D and really enjoyed it, even in the midst of all the construction. Nice breakfast at Steakhouse 55 btw! Good price, that wonderful atmosphere and really good food. The DLH does have much more in the way of theming, but the Grand is not without Disney touches or charm as well. The Grand does have Whitewater Snacks, a favorite for a quick meal, and the super close entrance to DCA can't be beat.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Thanks for the post, so I seen the entrance to the park from Cali,but where is the entance on the DTD area?. I cant Imagin only entering through the park?.
With the pool refurb,is it the main pool?

The entrance is a special one built just for the hotel. It is through the Grand Calfornia lobby--at the back of the hotel. It opens to the Grizzly River Rapids area in the park. You can use this same entrance if you stay at ANY of the Disney Resort Hotels by just showing your room key.

Since you are going in March, not this summer--I would say go to the Grand. I still like Disneyland Hotel much better (I know I am in the minority here!), but with the construction, you may have a nicer visit at the Grand. The Disneyland Hotel is much more "Disneyish" to me, but there is no denying that the Grand is beautiful in a rustic way.

If you did decide to stay at the DL despite the contruction, I would make certain to choose a "preferred room" (code for one of the remodeled ones, like I showed you in the video) and "Disney facing" (this way you won't be looking at the pool construction). As far as the construction--right now it isn't on the main pool--it is on the other little one.

Have fun!
Lisa

 

[sierranevada]

While I love them both, especially the new rooms at the DLH, I would say the Grand for you two. The convenience to the parks is absolutely great and it is a gorgeous hotel.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

While I love them both, especially the new rooms at the DLH, I would say the Grand for you two. The convenience to the parks is absolutely great and it is a gorgeous hotel.

I agree.

 

[Jana0326]

We've stayed at both many times, but I greatly prefer the Grand Californian. The hotel itself is nicer, but the biggest thing for us is proximity to the parks and DTD. It's way easier to go back and forth to the room when you are the Grand Califorian.