Disneyland vs. local area hotels for D23 Expo, split stay?

[andrewilley]

I'm coming to Anaheim in August for a first-time-ever DL visit and finishing off with the D23 Expo. Although flights/etc are all booked, I'm still in a bit of a dilemma about hotels. I know WDW inside out, but even after reading the DIS threads and the Unofficial Guide, DL is still something of a mystery...

I can get some discounts at the on-site hotels, but seven nights would still be rather expensive for a single traveller like me, unless any late offers appear (which might still happen, you never know). I'd kinda like to experience one of them for a day or two though, so I thought of splitting my stay between two nights on-site and then five nights somewhere else closer to the convention center ready for the Expo?

I can get the Disneyland Hotel for $259 per night, or the Grand Cal for $312, or the Paradise Pier for $203 (all plus taxes). Just how bad is the construction work at the DLH going to be in August - would it kinda spoil a first-ever visit do you think? Otherwise, the GC looks lovely but is the most expensive - so would the PP perhaps be worth considering from the cost angle? (I don't really fancy it too much from the pics). I'd like a real, proper Disney experience for those first few days.

For the last five nights, I was thinking about the Candy Cane Inn which looks nice ($124/night) or even the Hilton (a bit more at $150/night). The HoJo is recommended a lot ($126) however on the wikimapia it looks quite close for Disneyland but perhaps a bit more of a daily trek for the convention center and the Expo. Any better ideas?

So, locals and regulars, what are your opinions?

Andre

 

[HydroGuy]

As you can see from my signature line I am going for CCI - because it will allow me to walk to the Expo and to DLR and has a shuttle to DLR.

I think HoJo's would be frustrating for the Expo unless you wanted to learn and trust ART.

As for the split stay, I considered that myself. I cannot help you with the status of the DLH construction. If you do two nights at a Disney hotel realize that you can get two Magic Mornings if you arrange the days right. They will give you MM on your check-in and check-out days. You just have to check-in reeeeeal early.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When I went to the 2009 Expo I stayed in the Anaheim Marriott. Walk out the door and you are at the entrance to the Convention Center. Can either walk to DL or take the ART shuttle.

 

[andrewilley]

So the HoJo sounds like a no then. Anaheim Mariott gives me $124/night, so not a bad price, but a bit further from the parks perhaps? I thought the CCI seemed a nice compromise from the maps - but as I said, so far I know nothing! LOL

Andre

 

[nunzia]

The CCI isn't far at all. I'm staying at the Jolly Roger during the Expo (super close and it was $70 a night..stayed there last time and it was just fine.) and then going to VGC after the Expo to do the parks for a couple days. We left the Expo to do the parks a bit last time and regretted what we missed so will make no plans away from the Expo on those days. If you want to try onsite for your DLR days I would certainly do that if you can afford it, and to me the Grand Californian is worth the splurge to make for a really amazing time. I also really enjoyed the DLH last Sept ( a bit more of a trek everywhere), but I don't know how construction looks now. Last September it was in full swing, but really didn't bother me.

 

[Simba001]

We are starting out at the Anaheim Hilton while at the Expo and then moving over to the Paradise Pier. We have stayed at these hotels before (as well as HoJOs, CCI, DLH and GC).

If you can afford two days onsite, staying at the GC is wonderful. Though the standard rooms aren't anything spectacular, the location is the best! Of the 3 DLR hotels we tend to stay at PPH the most. It is not as "Disneyfied" as the other 2 hotels. It is smaller (which we like). Plus, it is easy enough to visit GC and DLH when you want.
To us the DLH just isn't what it was back in the day (I miss the Monorail Cafe, Plaza Shops and Animation shop).

Some say the walk from PPH is longer than DLH, but it depends on what tower you are in and the route you take. We prefer crossing the street from PPH and walking through the GC to get into the Park. It really isn't too bad a walk.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Even though Hojo is a great hotel, it was not worth staying there if you are planning on going to the D23 Expo. I have stayed there during the 2009 D23 Expo and it took quite a while to walk down and back. I also did regret back in 2009 of not staying at the convention the whole time instead of going to DL. It is fun to go to DL, but the D23 Expo is once every two years.

I plan on staying at BW Stovalls. It is across the street from the ACC, but I got it for $75 a night which is a great deal.