Disneyland hotel vs Grand Californian...

[amdgoogles]

Ok so last time we stayed at the Disneyland hotel.. we loved it, but we're considering trying out the GCH this time.. I have heard the walking distance from GCH is decieving and not always shorter? Is this right and if so is there any reccomendations you can give me to ensure we have a quick walk to the park and back from. I've heard about the "secret staircase" .. but I've also heard the walk back in is pretty long. Just wondering how the walk time compares from rooms in GCH vs DLH..

Thanks!!

 

[phil1914]

We normally stay at GCH. There's an entrance into CA at the hotel, but it closes early so in the evening you end up walking around if you like to stay in the parks late. I really don't think the walking distance between any of the 3 DLR hotels matter, unless you're lugging small children or lots of gear.

 

[skiingfast]

Did you stay in the DLH pre or post the big renovation? If before it may be reason to revisit the DLH.


The GCH has a stairway at the north east corner that has a door into the east end of DTD. It's a time saver to exit through it if you are in the east end of the hotel but not as much if you are already going by the elevators when staying on the west side. It and exit only you can't use it to get back in. Take a look at these maps and you should see what I mean.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36355632&postcount=450

Where your room ends up being in the GCH can effect the walking time to the parks a lot. It can take 5 minutes to get out of the hotel and then 5 minutes to DL or a couple to DCA through the special entrance, shown in the insert picture in the top of the link above. Sure the DLH is only 10 minutes away but it takes time to get into the room there too.


You can find more iformation in the GCH Superthread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2396588

 

[Argento]

I have heard the walking distance from GCH is decieving and not always shorter?

The DVC wing is probably the furthest out you can get from either park's entrance and it is still significantly closer than anything at either PPH or DLH.

 

[amdgoogles]

We will have a 3 year old in tow, we stayed at the DL hotel after the renovation last time and Loved it, but my mom is wondering if the GC is a shorter walk plus I may be carrying a 3 year old at the end of the night!

 

[A Small World]

It is definitely shorter as you have the entrance into and out of DCA straight into the GC - its open as long as DCA is open.

If you are using the other entrance it goes out into Downtown Disney so you actually pass it when walking from DLH so definitely shorter. (Its about half way up through DTD)

 

[miss.potatohead]

The distance between the two is nothing compared to what you will be walking in the parks, just remember that! In the grand scheme of things, an extra few hundred meters won't make a large difference (oh just read that you have a small kid. maybe it will then) but the Grand is certainly closer.

 

[MinnieMom13]

On our last two trips, we (DS 9, DD 8) stayed in the GCH and the DLH. There is no doubt that the GCH is closer to the parks. We didn't even bother getting a locker when staying at the GCH because it was so easy to get back to the room. We went back to our DLH room once to change my daughter's shoes, but learned to get a locker after that to store our items as that was too long of a walk during my commando touring plans.

 

[Hunnypaw]

We like the Grand Californian as DCA has updates so much lately. We stay on DVC points so it is really a good deal for us. DL Hotel would be fun too as that has been renovated and looks fantastic. Both are great for different reasons. You will have to make two trips!

 

[Nonsuch]

...I've heard about the "secret staircase" .. but I've also heard the walk back in is pretty long.

The secret staircase is most useful for rooms located above the Disney Store. This makes the return seem much longer, since you will pass your room walking back through DTD and must walk all the way to the main lobby then backtrack to your room. The actual distance is less than going to DLH or PPH.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Its all in where your room is located. Our first stay there we were down a long hallway (and I didn't know about any secret stairway lol) and it was a long walk just to get out of the building!

To me, the location of the DLH is not a negative in relation to the location of the GCH. For one thing, you have the monorail. Yes its a bit further down DTD, however, for us, this is not a big deal.

We just got back from four great nights at the DLH, we were in the Frontier Tower which is the "farthest" which to us was so not a big deal! The walk was easy, we usually took the monorail back at night but walked to and from in the mornings and for our midday breaks.

We love both hotels but for us, the DLh wins because we enjoy the Disney and tropical theming, the grounds and the pool. I do also love the GCH pools and think White Water Snacks is a huge selling point to GCH as well as the balconies. But its location over the DLH for us is not a factor.

I will add we are used to staying at WDW, generally in the moderates which are very spread out, so the walking difference between DLh and GCH is nothing. And if you end your night in Disneyland, being able to take the monorail is a huge selling point. Friday night my dd and I rode the train from New Orleans Square to Toon Town, then the short walk over to the monorail station. Piece of cake. On the other hand we generally ended our morning/afternoon at DCA and headed back to our hotel to swim and relax. That scenario would have been much easier if we had been staying at GCH. But getting to the DLH was still no biggie, esp since we cut through the GCH.

 

[phil1914]

We will have a 3 year old in tow, we stayed at the DL hotel after the renovation last time and Loved it, but my mom is wondering if the GC is a shorter walk plus I may be carrying a 3 year old at the end of the night!

If that's the case then I would do GCH. I had my DD then 5 during MHP. She fell asleep one night near IASW the next night somewhere in CA. Very glad we were at GCH

 

[specialks]

I would request a room overlooking the lobby. We had one of those rooms and it was a quick jaunt to the elevator, down to first floor, then down a couple of hallways to the DTD exit/entrance. The CA entrance was close too.