DLH or GCH - can't decide!!

[laura428]

We are veteran WDW folks making our first DL trip next April, and we're having a heck of a time deciding between DLH and GCH. We'd love to save a little money, but since this will be our first (and maybe only) trip, we're willing to pay a bit more if it's worth the cost. I'd love to ask a few questions of those who either have a lot of DLR experience, or WDW vets who have experience with DLR as well:

1) Is the walk from DLH really that big of a deal? I've read several posts complaining about the long walk, but I'm wondering, since we're used to a more expansive WDW setting, if this will really be a big deal for us?

2) Is GCH opening right into California Adventure that big of a deal? Is the private entrance clogged in the morning? We're rope drop folks.

3) Construction - I know there will be rehabs at DLR next year, and have heard rumors of the same at GCH. Would it make sense to stay at DLH to avoid any issues?

4) We'll be bringing DS12 and DD10 - is DLH a better fit for them? At WDW, we've stayed at both moderate (Port Orleans Riverside & Caribbean Beach) and deluxe (Poly and Beach Club), and loved all of them. But somehow, the GCH reads a little stuffy from the website. I could be totally off-base on this, though... which is why I'm asking here.

5) The rooms look awesome from both resorts, but we'd like to avoid looking at a parking lot. Any opinions on the locations of the standard rooms for each?

Thank you so much, guys!!

 

[Jerryp49]

Here is a view of DL Resort, the walk from the closest DL Hotel building ( there are 3 ) , and the walk from the GCH to the main gate. One of the 3 DL hotel buildings is at the beginning of DTD, the other two are set back further so the walk from either of those two is a little longer. You can take the monorail from the DTD station for early entry but I don`t recommend it, they may be late getting the monorail going and the wait in line could kill half of your EMH.

The walk from the GCH to the main gate is shorter ,some rooms like near the Villas or the South wing are set back further and add to your walk. The entrance to DCA from the GCH is great, you are right there, but I wouldn`t recommend it for early entry. There are only two turnstiles and the line backs up. Plus, it is further from the Racers than the DCA main gate.

The maps are labeled wrong. Where they say Downtown Disney District is actually the roof of the GCH. The Monorail station is across from the AMC movies

 

[Jerryp49]

If you are going for Dapper Days with their convention rate you are limited to Standard View and can not upgrade. I have stayed at the GCH with Standard View and it is really not bad. We usually get Courtyard View and it is quiet , the monorail passes thru it. I would avoid a room overlooking DTD. The music goes on until 10 pm. The Dapper Day rate for Concierge is $450/night which is quite are discount from regular price.

I have stayed at all three Resort hotels and I prefer to take the family to the GCH because of its location.We have been going almost every year since the kids were babies , and the oldest is 18 now.It`s great having it right there at the end of the day, or if you need something from your room, or a change of clothes

 

[Malcon10t]

I prefer the DLH myself. Yes, it is 4 mins further. (It takes my daughter 4 mins to make it from the Sorcorer's Hat at DLH to the GCH turn into DTD.) It will be longer if you shop, browse, etc... But walking time is 4 mins. (It takes us 7 mins from the DLH to the bag check tents.)

For me, the GCH are smaller and darker. I may be an adult, but I love the light up head board at DLH. And my kids and nieces and nephews prefer the pools at DLH.

 

[aristocat65]

We love both hotels, but I would recommend the DLH as there is really nothing like it at WDW. The theming is pure Disney and the rooms are so pretty! For a family of four, they are also larger. I can't comment on a standard room, because although I always book one, I dont think we've ever actually ended up in one. Pixie dust I guess!

I would compare the walk from DLH to the gates to the one from the Boardwalk to the Interntional Gateway at Epcot. Really not a big deal, and you always have the option of the monorail, which is closer if you feel like waiting for it.

Definitely visit the GCH though and maybe eat at Storyteller Cafe. The hotel is beautiful (like a more refined WL at WDW), but the rooms do feel dark. You can experience the best of it without staying there.

 

[GeneralTso]

With kids, I always vote for DLH. It's more "festive" and the atmosphere is very magical and upbeat. GC is gorgeous, really pretty. It's subdued though.

 

[laura428]

Here is a view of DL Resort, the walk from the closest DL Hotel building ( there are 3 ) , and the walk from the GCH to the main gate. One of the 3 DL hotel buildings is at the beginning of DTD, the other two are set back further so the walk from either of those two is a little longer. You can take the monorail from the DTD station for early entry but I don`t recommend it, they may be late getting the monorail going and the wait in line could kill half of your EMH.

The walk from the GCH to the main gate is shorter ,some rooms like near the Villas or the South wing are set back further and add to your walk. The entrance to DCA from the GCH is great, you are right there, but I wouldn`t recommend it for early entry. There are only two turnstiles and the line backs up. Plus, it is further from the Racers than the DCA main gate.View attachment 136854 View attachment 136856 View attachment 136857

The maps are labeled wrong. Where they say Downtown Disney District is actually the roof of the GCH. The Monorail station is across from the AMC movies

Thank you SO much for this! I realized that where we stay within each resort would likely impact our walking time. Don't imagine we'd take the monorail often. Honestly, even when we were at the Poly at WDW, the resort monorail failed us and resulted in a frustrating delay. If we only have a short walk, I'd much rather we hoof it!

If you are going for Dapper Days with their convention rate you are limited to Standard View and can not upgrade. I have stayed at the GCH with Standard View and it is really not bad. We usually get Courtyard View and it is quiet , the monorail passes thru it. I would avoid a room overlooking DTD. The music goes on until 10 pm. The Dapper Day rate for Concierge is $450/night which is quite are discount from regular price.

I have stayed at all three Resort hotels and I prefer to take the family to the GCH because of its location.We have been going almost every year since the kids were babies , and the oldest is 18 now.It`s great having it right there at the end of the day, or if you need something from your room, or a change of clothes

That's a great concierge price for GCH!!! I wish we were going for Dapper Day just for that reason, but we'll be there April 5-9. I do like the location for exactly the reasons you state. And although we're morning rope drop people, we do like to head back to the room and chill out during busy afternoons, so having the resort right there would be just awesome. We enjoyed this benefit when we stayed Deluxe at WDW - Poly for Magic Kingdom/Epcot, and Beach Club for Epcot.

I prefer the DLH myself. Yes, it is 4 mins further. (It takes my daughter 4 mins to make it from the Sorcorer's Hat at DLH to the GCH turn into DTD.) It will be longer if you shop, browse, etc... But walking time is 4 mins. (It takes us 7 mins from the DLH to the bag check tents.)

For me, the GCH are smaller and darker. I may be an adult, but I love the light up head board at DLH. And my kids and nieces and nephews prefer the pools at DLH.

Only 4 minutes? That's totally doable! DS and I are very fast walkers, DD and DH maybe a little slower, but we could totally handle that.

We love both hotels, but I would recommend the DLH as there is really nothing like it at WDW. The theming is pure Disney and the rooms are so pretty! For a family of four, they are also larger. I can't comment on a standard room, because although I always book one, I dont think we've ever actually ended up in one. Pixie dust I guess!

I would compare the walk from DLH to the gates to the one from the Boardwalk to the Interntional Gateway at Epcot. Really not a big deal, and you always have the option of the monorail, which is closer if you feel like waiting for it.

Definitely visit the GCH though and maybe eat at Storyteller Cafe. The hotel is beautiful (like a more refined WL at WDW), but the rooms do feel dark. You can experience the best of it without staying there.

Thank you - this totally helps to frame what the walk would actually feel like. If you wanted to be there at park open (or before), when would you have left the room to make it on time? At the risk of sounding like a newbie, not knowing exactly when anything opens, let's say we can walk in at 8:00. Would you leave your room at 7:30? 7:15? Earlier?

 

[laura428]

With kids, I always vote for DLH. It's more "festive" and the atmosphere is very magical and upbeat. GC is gorgeous, really pretty. It's subdued though.

Yep, that's the feeling I get, too. In fact, I just showed the DIS videos to both of my kids, and they totally voted for DLH. GCH's location is sooooo tempting, and it does look lovely. But I'll admit it - I'm a huge Disney geek myself, and I don't know if it offers enough Disney for even me.

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

We stayed at DLH a few months ago. I was very concerned at check-in when they said our room was in the Frontier Tower(furthest walk). It turned out to be so awesome! We loved it. I wouldn't scoff at any tower there. Our kids loved the hotel and were in love with the pool. My daughter asked all summer long if we could go swimming at Disneyland again.

For early entry, it was 9am for us, we left the room by 8:15, got breakfast at The Coffee House at the hotel and were in the parks for rope drop.

 

[meggles]

We have stayed at the GCH with our kids 8&4 and it was awesome. The lobby and the extra onsite perks like the scavenger hunt and trivia games were fun. The disney cartoons in the magnificent lobby were wonderful too. If we go next year, however, we will stay at the DLH. The GCH is supposed to be undergoing construction in 2016 and I don't want to deal with that possibility while on vacation. You can still enjoy the lobby, restaurants, and lounges at the Grand even if you stay at the DLH. And the walk to either is really nothing to worry about- maybe 5 minutes longer to the DLH.

 

[jeeperwy]

Another thing to keep in mind is the room layout (bed configuration) of the two hotels. I don't know how tall your 12 year old is, but mine couldn't sleep comfortably on the bunk beds at GCH. So you might need to request 2 queens and I'm not sure if your kids have a problem sleeping together??? There are way more rooms with a daybed at DLH than at GCH. I realize the daybed is not guaranteed, but we've never had a problem when requesting it. This configuration (2 queens and a daybed) works really well for our family (me, DH, DS12 and DS18).
I think the pool area is a wash. The slides at DLH are neat but the lines can get long. The slide at GCH isn't as cool but my kids don't mind it since they usually don't have to wait in line as long!!
I don't mind the extra walk. I agree that it's only about 5 more minutes for us and I really enjoy the walk through DTD. Love the music and atmosphere!!
Sorry this is so long!!
Either way I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Kari

 

[Mividadisney]

GCH all the way. Some might say DLH is only few minutes farther but those minutes count when all you want to do is take a shower and get in bed. We stayed at the PPH last time and we vowed only to ever stay at GCH from now on.

 

[tlovesdis]

DLH for sure! The GCH is too dark for me. The DLH just feels like Disney and the rooms are bigger and brighter than the GCH. It's not that much farther to walk to the DLH!

 

[Jerryp49]

Using Gmap pedometer the closest DL hotel to the Main gate is .4456 miles, from the furthest DLH building , the Frontier Tower , is over a half mile at .5480 , Howard Johnson on Harbor is about the same distance at .4800 miles . Best Western across the street on Harbor is .2348 miles. From the lobby of the GCH to the main gate is .1600 miles.

 

[laura428]

Thank you so much for your input, everybody. Based on what you guys said here, we decided to switch to to DLH! I called earlier this afternoon and booked a standard room, although the CM I spoke with told me she noted a few things on the account to see if they might sprinkle a bit of Disney magic on us when we get there, i.e., high floor and Downtown Disney side. She wrote in her notes that it was our first trip out there, and requested that they go the extra mile to make it a memorable trip. I know not to expect anything, especially given that we're only paying for a standard room (and those views should have us paying more), but it was nice of her to try.

 

[Drewski77]

I would definitely stay at the Grand. My wife and I tried the DLH this summer and the walk from the Frontier Tower was much longer, especially if you want to take a break during the day.

Also, there are three towers at the DLH and we were in the Frontier Tower which is not connected to the main lobby. This really made us feel unconnected to the Disney Magic every time we came back to our room. Just seemed stale walking into a "lobby" with nothing happening and quite average in appearance.

The GCH location simply can't be beat, and coming back to the amazing lobby when going to your room gives you the Disney Magic feeling. We also like how every room has a balcony, helps to make it feel larger.

Sorry about the long post but you'll be spending a lot of money either way and I would at least consider the GCH again, it's our favorite hotel anywhere!

 

[Malcon10t]

I actually prefer the Frontier tower over the Fantasy Tower at the DLH. If you get lucky and get the 14th floor, there are balconies. The theme in the frontier tower is Frontier. I love the Big Thunder Mountain display. The Christmas Trees in the lobby are interesting. I usually make a trip to that tower if I am in the other towers. The Adventure tower is also not "connected" to the main lobby. The main lobby is in the Fantasy Tower.

 

[laura428]

I actually prefer the Frontier tower over the Fantasy Tower at the DLH. If you get lucky and get the 14th floor, there are balconies. The theme in the frontier tower is Frontier. I love the Big Thunder Mountain display. The Christmas Trees in the lobby are interesting. I usually make a trip to that tower if I am in the other towers. The Adventure tower is also not "connected" to the main lobby. The main lobby is in the Fantasy Tower.

I totally respect Drewski77's comments, but I actually thought to myself, "but there's a super cool model of BTMR in the Frontier lobby, and we LOVE BTMR!" Honestly, I'd be happy with any room there, and the walking distance to the main lobby or pool areas can't be any longer than what we'd be used to at Port Orleans or Carribean Beach at WDW. Or the Poly.

But tell me more about the balconies! I thought DLH had none...?

 

[Malcon10t]

There are a few balconies. The 14th floor has balconies on each room. And the rooms on the end have balconies (they are usually suites.)

 

[aristocat65]

Yes, we were lucky enough to get a balcony room in the frontier tower. It was an end room that looked like part of a lock off suite. We entered thru a main door and then there were 2 doors and our room was on the right. Kind of interesting.