Disneyland Hotel vs Grand Californian

[IronCloud]

Were planning our next stay, and since we have stayed at the disneyland hotel, I was thinking the grand californian would be a great choice. But if I stay at the grand californian will I miss the disneyland hotel. Also the paradise pier hotel is an
option so what do you guys think is the best onsite hotel

 

[Bud Ice]

Depends on preference. I always encourage experiencing all three first. Then deciding future visits after that.

If some are turned off on price, just remember that all the restaurants, stores, and such are open to the Public. GCH fireplace, PPH Cafe, Steakhous/Lounge at 55, Mandara Spa, Trader Sams open to all. Can always chill at one of the hotels to check it out.

 

[Geemo]

GCH is always our first choice.
Due to being so close to the parks.
The pool/hottub area is very nice.
Rooms are a little smaller overall but not enough to be a deal breaker.

DHL and PPH are fine too.

 

[swooshbear]

We love the DLH rooms after the remodel. I think GCH is due for a refurb, some of the rooms are really starting to show some wear and tear.

PPH isn't a bad option either, costs less and just as close if you cut through the GCH. The only problem with PPH are the elevators, only one bank of elevators for the entire hotel. When it gets super busy, sometimes CMs will take you to the service elevators.

 

[Malcon10t]

I voted that you should stay at the Grand. Why? Because the DLH is getting harder to book into and that is my personal fav!!!

 

[alvernon90]

For us the extra walk to the DLH is worth it. The rooms at the GCH are cramped and dark, and depending on your room location you will find yourself walking through seemingly endless corridors to get to your room. I found the walk past 100 other hotel rooms to be more frustrating than the extra walk through DTD to get to the DLH. Even the amazing public areas did not seem so fun because of crowds (except White Water Snacks, the best kept secret at DLR). The hotel guest entrance to DCA is no perk, because it is better to go to the main gate for early entry. And judging from the boards, the hotel has a surprising number of maintenance issues.

Since the refurb the DLH feels like a true Southern California vacation resort, and I love the Disneyana that decorates the place. The waterslides at the pool are super fun, as is the amazing waterfall splash pool -- I'm usually not the only adult who plays in that. Trader Sam's is literally my favorite bar ever, and I have visited plenty. The whole place has an upbeat vibe that just feels fun. And if you schedule your trip right, it can be significantly cheaper than GCH.

Everybody has their own opinion. It could be that certain issues (such as wanting to rent DVC points for the villas at GCH) that would tilt another way, but for my money DLH is the place to stay.

 

[whoever]

GCH

 

[Jerryp49]

GCH. You can`t beat the location. Yes, for EMH it is better to use the main entrance to DCA since there are only 2 turnstiles from the GCH to DCA, but you are still closer . Times other than EMH you will be glad you are at the GCH, like after riding Grizzly River and you want to change clothes, or you need something from your room. And at park closing you are right there. If you have little ones , you will especially appreciate it

 

[Malcon10t]

Everyone here has their own personal favorite. Some will tell you the GCH because of the how close it is, but realistically, DLH and PPH are 4 minutes further. Some feel GCH has a more upscale feel. To me, the lobby does.

It really depends on what you are looking for. PPH is a nice hotel. Rooms are large and bright with a surf motif. I hate the elevators, but others aren't bothered by it. To me, it doesn't have a resort feel to it. The new dinner buffet there is pretty good, but it is limited to that restaurant. That said, if you stay there, you still have access to the other hotels. Trader Sam's and Hearthstone Lounge are a 5 min walks and Steakhouse Lounge/restaurant is maybe 7. Same with Napa Rose, and Storytellers.

Disneyland Hotel - Has a resort feel, love the pools, love having characters on site to meet the kids, rooms are large, Mickey motif, love the light up head boards. One of the nice parts is you walk out of the hotel and you are step from DTD and while you have Steakhouse 55, Goofy's, the Lounge, Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's right there, you also have Jazz Kitchen, Tortilla Jo's, Catal, Uva Bar and many others, steps away.

Grand Californian - Has a resort feel, pools are good, slides are better at the DLH, beautiful lobby, love listening to Jaime, one of the piano players, has Hearthstone lounge, Napa Rose, Storytellers, and Whitewater Snacks. If you exit from DCA, your room can be close. Exiting from Disneyland, the walk is about 4 mins shorter. The rooms all have a small balcony, the rooms are smaller and to me, they are dark. They are done in a woodland motif. Think Yosemite Awhanee Hotel. I've stayed here about 6 times, and the last time (about a year ago) I asked myself why I kept doing it when I don't like it? Because everyone keeps saying it is great, and I was trying to see it. So, I quit trying. It isn't my favorite. But everyone is different. I like a room with 2 queens and a sofa sleeper, they are really limited on those. you either get 2 queens or a queen and a bunk bed set. There are 39 rooms with the 2 queen/sofa set up. Otherwise, you get 2 queens and a sleeping bag.

All 3 can use the entrance to DCA for EE, but I recommend the main entrance.

You need to try the hotels for yourself as your needs and mine will vary.

 

[jpessa]

I don't understand something, and I keep reading it about GCH, and that's that for EMH it is better to use the main entrance to DCA, but when I stayed there last May they let hotel guests through the turnstiles 15 minutes early and kept everyone at the rope, and as soon as they got the call from the main entrance they dropped the rope. So we got to RSR at the same time as the first people at the main gate. Is this something new / different?

 

[ParkHopper1]

All depends on you family and priorities.

Grand location is amazing but rooms are smaller

I don't understand something, and I keep reading it about GCH, and that's that for EMH it is better to use the main entrance to DCA, but when I stayed there last May they let hotel guests through the turnstiles 15 minutes early and kept everyone at the rope, and as soon as they got the call from the main entrance they dropped the rope. So we got to RSR at the same time as the first people at the main gate. Is this something new / different?

The problem is the backup at the bag check since there are only two lanes and two turnstiles to let guests in. It can be quite a backup and delay if you get stuck in it vs. using the main entrance gates.

 

[jpessa]

All depends on you family and priorities.

Grand location is amazing but rooms are smaller


The problem is the backup at the bag check since there are only two lanes and two turnstiles to let guests in. It can be quite a backup and delay if you get stuck in it vs. using the main entrance gates.

OK thanks, I guess when I was there I was lucky and there was no backup.

 

[IronCloud]

I think im going to go with GCH because I've stayed at the disneyland hotel. I like theme and the look of the hotel, but do you think it is worth the extra cost alot more than PPH or DLH

 

[whoever]

I LOVED the DLH... EXCEPT for the location. I REALLY missed the GCH for "popping back" to the room. There's no "popping back" with the DLH like there is with the Grand. I just wish the Grand had rooms the size of the DLH..... but kept the balcony... I really missed the balcony this past trip.

 

[Aladora]

I LOVED the DLH... EXCEPT for the location. I REALLY missed the GCH for "popping back" to the room. There's no "popping back" with the DLH like there is with the Grand. I just wish the Grand had rooms the size of the DLH..... but kept the balcony... I really missed the balcony this past trip.

Funny, the only time I even popped back to the hotel to drop something off was when we stayed at PPH. Our room at GCH was almost at the very end of the last hallway so it seemed SO far!

 

[ktlm]

I don't think you can go wrong with either the DLH or GCH. DLH is our preference, but I would happily stay at the GCH as well. We have not stayed at PP, but I have a friend who did, and she said it just did not feel that "Disney" to her Her opinion is that the extra money to upgrade from PP to either DLH or GCH is worth it.

 

[emmybee]

I've stayed at the PPH, and it was ok. But after staying at the Grand, I don't know how I'll ever go back! For our family of 3, the courtyard view room w/ king sized bed and sofa sleeper was top-notch. We were right by the elevator, and were able to run back to our room on a whim. I really liked the orientation of our room because it was so unbelievably hot, I was happy to have indirect sunlight. It was fun to watch the monorail go by on the balcony. I felt spoiled by the turn-down service. Man, I'd go back tomorrow if I could....

 

[sgrap]

We love, love, love GCH. Besides the feel and the proximity, we love having the double sinks and the separate toilet/shower area from the sink area. Makes a huge difference with us. We also love the bunk bed rooms. We stayed at PPH once . . . it was fine, but it just didn't feel like the full "Disney" experience for us. The elevator situation was a pain in the tush, and the one bathroom one sink set up was a big drag, especially with a teen and a tween girl at the time. And we were sad every time we walked through the Grand because we love it so much. Granted, we had been spoiled by our stays at the Grand, so we might have liked it just fine if we hadn't had that to compare it to. We haven't stayed at DLH, but we helped a friend move from GCH to DLH once and saw her room. It was beautiful, but the walk was long and the bathroom set up was the same as PPH. We love the Grand so much that we finally decided to buy a VGC DVC contract there, and we go on our first trip with it next week!

You will have a wonderful trip with any of the options, but I think you will figure out how I voted!

 

[IronCloud]

For all of you who have stayed at GCH did you guys spend alot of resort time, and if so what did you do and enjoy. Also have any of you dined at Napa Rose and if so what did you think of it.

 

[Aladora]

For all of you who have stayed at GCH did you guys spend alot of resort time, and if so what did you do and enjoy. Also have any of you dined at Napa Rose and if so what did you think of it.

We have eaten at the chef's counter at Napa Rose twice and loved it both times. Definitely pricey but worth it, imho.