Disneyland Hotel vs Grand Californian

[dsnyfan608]

We are planning our first trip to DL for next year and are sooo torn! We can not decide between DLH or GC. All traveling are adults but play around the park like kids. At WDW, we loooove WL. Picture of the GC look like WL, am I missing something? I am leaning towards DLH cause I want a different experiece. The rest of the party is split. Thoughts?

 

[Mickey527]

I flew down to CA to pick up my son who just finishe his 4 years in the Marines. We were going to drive his car back to CT and I was not going to go all the way to CA with out seeing DL.
I just got back from 2 days at DL. I am a major WDW fan and wasn't sure what to expect from such a tiny park.
I couldn't get into GC so I booked at DL Hotel. I walked through GC and it was nice, alot like WL. I didn't get into the rooms to see what they are like. DL hotel was nice too, and the rooms are newer and nice. I did like the wall mural in my room that looked like carved leather depiction of the castle that had tiny lights. I left it lite all night, it was so pretty. I was in the frontieer building near the pool and Trader Joes.
The proximity to DL and Cali D was great, it was about the same walk as from Beach Club to Epcot.
The pools at all the resorts are closed at 11 and locked. In WDW you can go in the pools after the lifeguard leaves, in CA they are locked.
The place is dead after midnight. We went for a walk and saw no one at any of the resorts or pools, or in the lobby, everyone goes to bed. In WDW you can find people wandering around even at 2 or 3 in the morning. I like that, being able to soak in the lights and beauty of the resorts and land even late at night.
We did walk through DTD and House of Blues was open but it was filled with what looked like 200 HS kids, I didn't really see much adult night life there.
Trader Joe's was fun, I had read about it on these boards and knew what to look for, but there were people there who were so boring. The bartenders can flip a switch and lower the stools at the bar and some people started yelling at them. I though it was fun and when my stool went down one guy yelled "Hey we need a kids menu". If you do go tell them you want to see Bill do his version of World of Color.
It was comfortable during the day, I had shorts and a short sleeved shirt, but I was shivering during World of Color even with my light nylon jacket. If I ever visit again I will go back to the room and change into jeans and a long sleeved shirt in the evening, it got COLD.
Oh, and my son bought a six pack of beer at the store off property and brought one down to sit on the patio in front of the resort. The area is away from the pool and hidden by trees but you can see through a bit and see a little water spout like at WL. The security guards told us we couldn't have our own beer or liquor anywhere other than in our room.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We are planning our first trip to DL for next year and are sooo torn! We can not decide between DLH or GC. All traveling are adults but play around the park like kids. At WDW, we loooove WL. Picture of the GC look like WL, am I missing something? I am leaning towards DLH cause I want a different experiece. The rest of the party is split. Thoughts?

What time of year are you going? If it's winter I would go with the GCH because of the fireplace. Also, if you get soaked on the grizzly rapids ride, it's so nice to walk just 5-min back to your hotel room to change clothes.

Anyway, you really can't go wrong with any of the DLR hotels.

 

[Hoku]

GCH has similarities to WL but you can't compare them too much. WDW has a ton of room to work with and can make each resort hotel a destination in itself. At WL you can really feel like you're in the secluded mountains and forget the reality. At GCH you don't forget as easily where you actually are. But it is a beautiful hotel.

What I like best about GCH, aside from it just being a nice hotel, is that it's really close to the action. What I like best about DLH is requesting a high floor room overlooking DTD. From these rooms, you not only have a great view of DTD, but you can see the fireworks at night.

I think they may have made some monorail changes since I was there, but I think the monorail stops close to the DLH, making it easier to take it into the park and giving you two entrances to choose from. The monorail doesn't (didn't?) stop at GCH so you pretty much have to walk to the park, which really isn't far from GCH.

You might look into whether DLH is still doing pool renovations. I recently caught wind that there was some construction there. That might make your decision easier if it's still happening.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The reason both the WL and the GCH feel so similar (as well as AKL) is the fact that they all were designed by the same architect. Each resort is a grander scale of a "residential" architecture - in the case of GCH - an Arts and Crafts bungalow, in WL - the log cabin/national park lodge, and in AKL - an African village Ceremonial Lodge.

If it's any help, the DLH was just announced to have achieved AAA's four star rating - which is quite an achievement of excellence. There is a LOT of construction there right now though which should be done by next year.

 

[ORDisneyfans]

Both hotels are wonderful in their own way! We love GCH because of the location and views from the rooms. DLH has newly remodeled rooms which are great, new pool area and slides (not really much for adults pool wise) and the new onsite dining options are unique, filling and reasonable. We ate there several times last trip for convenience.

I would not choose DLH until the construction is over unless it was really cheap! It is hard to get around, most rooms not facing the DTD are affected by poor views of construction work. To get from one side of the hotel say the lobby to your room in the Frontier wing you have to walk all the way around two large buildings and dodge lots of constrution. It is annoying and confusing. I was not impressed with our room in the frontier wing at all. It was newly remodeled but smaller than our previus room facing DTD. It had a wierd bathroom set up and no couch! Now we were there at a convention and the rate was great so I did not say anything. For a family or special trip at retail price I would have been very unhappy!

I vote for GCH the location is fab, decor gorgeous, lounge and piano bar really great, much more adult friendly, pools are wonderful. (Downside it is a lot more $$ usually) DH loves the GCH and is willing to stay there at any price. I am the budget, cheapo inthe family! LOL!

Good luck in whatever you choose and have a magical vacation.

 

[d1gitman]

we haven't stayed at GC but have at WL. what i can tell you is that if you want to cut down on teh walking, GC is the way to go. DLH and PP are much farther walks to the gates, GC has it's own entrance to Cali Adventure.

There are a few hotels on S. Harbor directly across from the main entrance to the parks that are also the same walking distance to the main gates as GC is. If price matters, those are good options as well.

 

[KCmike]

GC hands down. It's our second favorite resort of all the Disney hotels.

 

[Dreaming of Main St]

We are frequent visitors to WDW too and our favorites are the WL and Poly!

We've been lucky enough to visit DL 5 times over recent years during visits to CA and the GC is our favorite! We've stayed at DLH 2 times and GC 3 times. That said, we really like DLH too and don't think you can go wrong there. We stayed in the Dreams tower (I think it has a different name now) both times and had a view of DTD. Watching the fireworks from our room was magical and the walk is only a bit longer than GC. DLH just has a classic "Disney" feel. We saw Goofy just walking around property many times. The newly renovated rooms look great. And, the DLH will definitely give you a different feel than the WL. I don't know if I'd want to stay there while it's still under construction though.

The GC does have a similar feel to WL. But, it's just a bit more elegant feeling...doesn't have as much of the "rustic lodge" feel that WL has b/c it's arts and crafts style. The location here just can't be beat. Watching WOC in the evening and then being in your room 5 minutes later is so nice! If you are coming in the late fall/winter, I definitely suggest GC. The lobby is so warm and inviting on a cool day.

Good luck with your decision and have fun planning!

 

[skiingfast]

While the GCH and WL both have lodge type stylings, GCH is more like the GF at WDW. GCH though does have the sprawling building style. DLH is a tower hotel unlike the WDW resorts. GCH has the subdued theming, DLH is more fantastic.

As far as the comparable differences GCH is closer to the parks. Super close unlike anything at WDW. The DLH is kind of close like the Boardwalk Resort to Epcot.

DLH is finishing up a super pool area if swimming will matter to you.

And like mentioned before both now have a 4 diamonds rating, the best in Anahiem. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2781906

It's a tough choice now, but if you want something unlike WDW, you probably want to try the DLH.

 

[taaren]

GCH. From what I understand its the only Disney hotel in the States with its own private entrance into a park. You can't beat that.

 

[cmwade77]

Please note that if you stay at any of the three hotels you are allowed to use the GCH entrance, but with GCH you can;t get any closer to a Disney Park, I mean depending on your room you could go down the elevator and walk in.

 

[dsnyfan608]

While the GCH and WL both have lodge type stylings, GCH is more like the GF at WDW. GCH though does have the sprawling building style. DLH is a tower hotel unlike the WDW resorts. GCH has the subdued theming, DLH is more fantastic.

As far as the comparable differences GCH is closer to the parks. Super close unlike anything at WDW. The DLH is kind of close like the Boardwalk Resort to Epcot.

DLH is finishing up a super pool area if swimming will matter to you.

And like mentioned before both now have a 4 diamonds rating, the best in Anahiem. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2781906

It's a tough choice now, but if you want something unlike WDW, you probably want to try the DLH.

Different was what we were hoping for! We plan to walk around the other resorts including PP. If we stay at DLH can we use the entrance to the park from GCH?

 

[DoleWhipLover]

I believe the GCH park enterance is open to guests of the resort hotels and guests re-entering with hand stamps.

You cannot go wrong with the GCH...especially at the holidays...it has become a tradition for me and DH.

However, I do want to stay at the DLH....so once the construction is done....I am there!!!!

Have fun

 

[ktlm]

You can use the entrance to CA from the GCH if you stay at the DLH.

We are WDW vets that have been to DL the last 2 years. We love WL at WDW, and to us, GCH is just a scaled down version of WL. It is beautiful and the entrance to the park is great, but we prefer the DLH because we like to do something different at DL. We stayed at DLH even with the construction this summer and we still loved it. The rooms are a bit bigger at DLH than they are at GCH. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

(Oh, if you are big Grizzly River Rapids fans (think Kali River at AK), if you stay at GCH, the entrance is really close to the ride, so if you get soaked it is really quick to go out and go to your room and change clothes and go right back in the park).

 

[disneyguy1818]

If you will be traveling in the next six months and the pool is an interest for your group- stay at GCH. The DLH main pool is under construction so there is a temporary D Ticket Pool which is really pathetic and not sub a desirable place. There is a splash area with two monorail themed slides but as far as actual swimming space choose GCH. It has multiple hot tubs and three different pools with excellent chairs and scenery. Also, the GCH has a more unified theme and story whereas DLH is basically a box hotel with decor in the rooms only. DLH is host to trader sam's tiki bar- by far the best bar at DLR; however, it is only a short (5 min walk) from GCH. Also, DLH has relatively no view of the parks. If price isn't an issue go with GCH. Both are nice accommodations, but if you had to put a tag on it, I'd say GCH would be a deluxe hotel at WDW and DLH would be a high- end moderate hotel.

 

[disneyfan67]

I have to disagree with those who would say the DLH if at WDW, would be considered a moderate hotel. Having stayed many times at WDW in deluxe accommodations, it's not a fair comparison. Maybe with the old crappy rooms, but not now.

Two weeks ago I wrapped up my trip with 4 nights in a 1 br villa at the GC and a 1 night stay at the DLH in the Adventure tower.

Both hotels are very nice and you can see that they were made in a quality fashion. The DLH had a way more classic Disney theming to it and the rooms were great. You get the feeling of being at Disneyland when you're in one of those rooms. The picture of Walt walking in DL, the Disney and Mickey touches everywhere, and even the carpet is Disney themed. I loved the room and it was a great way to cap off the vacation.

The GCH 1 br villa was nice and the GCH is very peaceful, the pools are nice and low key. It doesn't feel like your at DL though, IMO. It's the perfect place to stay if you want to get away from the chaos of the parks. The entrance to DCA was great and so was Story Tellers, who's breakfast buffet was better than Goofy's Kitchen and cheaper too, IMHO. It was a much more subdued atmosphere compared to GK. Steakhouse 55 was the best place I are at all trip, including breakfast. Top notch service and food. Never a wait or had a hard time getting reservations. The best steak I had in a long time and way better than the surf and turf combo I had at Blue Bayou.

I have stayed in a standard room at the GCH last summer for one night and found the room way too small. I found the rooms at DLH to be bigger, but I missed having a balcony to sip my coffee in the morning. Once the whole pool area at the DLH is done, it's going to be a very popular spot. Trader Sams is off the chart cool!

IMO, if you're only going to stay in a standard room, want more classic Disney touches, more room to spread out, and don't mind the little extra walk, go with the DLH. If you like the old craftsmen style architecture of vintage California, a quieter atmosphere, and a closer location to the parks, especially DCA, don't mind the smaller rooms, the go with the GCH.

 

[wbl2745]

With all the construction going on at the DLH I would think that you'd get a more uninterrupted experience at the GCH. We own at the Villas at the Grand Californian, and I've also stayed at the GCH and the DLH in a renovated room.

I think that one of the big differences between the two hotels is that the DLH really isn't a destination. There's no real lobby, each building has a small sitting area. Between the three towers they are working on the pool. I don't know if they've finished the room renovations, but if they haven't then one of the towers has that going on. I've stayed in one of the renovated rooms and it was really nice, but the GCH is better in my mind.

The GCH has a fabulous lobby that soars up six stories. It was pointed out earlier that the same architect did the GCH, the AKL (Jambo House), and the WL. That should give an idea. The style is California Craftsman which emphasizes hand made decorations. Check out the dancing bears, the grand father clock with the hidden Mickey, the "game room" (actually a lounge), two huge rock fireplaces, and more.

If I had the money, I'd definitely stay at the GCH. You can ask for a Downtown Disney view, or a theme park view, or a pool view, or a "standard" (aka parking lot) view. You'll really remember your stay at the GCH.

 

[mrswh]

Anyone can use the GCH entrance to DCA once the park is open. They only limit it to guests of Disney resorts from 9:00-10:00 a.m. I don't know whether it is always that way, but on our last two trips that was the case.

I have been tempted to try out the DLH with the newly renovated rooms, but keep coming back to the proximity of GCH. If you don't mind a bit more walking (and I do mean a bit, it's still very close and a nice walk through DTD), DLH is a great location as well. I agree with the PP about the construction, though. You might want to call and find out what the construction schedule is - just trying to get to Goofy's Kitchen from DTD was a hassle - lots of paths/entrances blocked off.