DLH or GCH?

[4evrdisney]

Hi All -
So, we have finally decided that we are staying on-site for our next trip in September. We will have our kids DS3 and DD2 with us, as well as both sets of grandparents this time around. We have ruled out PPH - and are down to staying at DLH or GCH?

Last September we stayed GCH with a Theme Park view. We loved the view, loved the rooms (especially down comforter beds), and mostly we loved the proximity to the parks. We loved that we could walk downstairs, turn a corner and be at DCA. And, we loved being so close to DCA so when we were drenched after GGR and Bugs Land we could run back to change so quickly!

Our original plan was to stay at DLH this time - with a Downtown Disney view. We figured our kids would love the theming, even though it might not be as luxurious as GCH and it is more of a trek. And, most importantly it is definitely less expensive than GCH!!

Yesterday we got a 30%off pin in the mail though - making GCH much less expensive.

Any tips on what to do? How long is the trek from the Dream Tower at DLH? Are we going to be disappointed staying at DLH after staying at GCH? What are the beds like at DLH?

If we do stay at GCH we were thinking of doing the Downtown Disney view. Anyone done that before?

Any insight for us on DLH?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nunzia]

Well..I choose GCH every time so that would be my choice, although I'm sure the theming at DLH is great for kids (I stayed there when I was a kid back in the 60's and loved it then) Anyway..we have had the DTD view at GCH and it was great! Lots of sparkly lights and if you had your patio door open you could hear the street music..also a decent view of fireworks..I think that one of the TV stations in the room plays the fireworks music? Is that right?
It seems like GCH is much closer to the parks and that means alot with little ones. We had 5 of our grandkids with us in May and they seemed to enjoy it! (still the theming at DLH is something to consider...) hard choice!

 

[grizbuzz]

I'm not a big fan of the downtown disney rooms as the walk to the room is SO long (at least for the room we had). It was a hassle with the little ones. I also didn't like the Downtown Disney music blasted all the time.

I'm a big fan of the GCH view rooms over the Grizzly River Run. After that, I think I'd take a more peaceful courtyard room.

BTW...we tried DLH standard room last summer and just didn't like it as much as GCH.

 

[Lostgirlz]

Well, my DD 4, and I went end of Oct. I SERIOUSLY considered GCH and did the virtual tour and she hands down wanted DLH. We stayed in dreams and it was dead center to the resort. Walk out of dreams lobby make a righ then walk right under the mickey hat which has twinkle lights at night and there you are in DTD. Now while yes the grand cuts the walk some I wouldnt say it's extreme or unmanageable. The monorail is right near DLH so you can catch that back to the hotel. Beds are HIGH and COMFY like climbing into a bed for a princess. If money is not an issue they offer fully themed mickey, or princess rooms for kids. That will be a reg room for you guys and basically a connecting kids room but it is NOT a suite. The grand is gorgeous at night the DTD view will have considerably more noise if you're trying to turn in early. Honestly for kids/disney lovers who want to continue the magic feel from start to finish DLH is the way to go. My DD loved turning the lights out at night for bed and tinks pixie dust at the top boarder of the wallpaper glowed.

 

[DizMe]

We've always stayed at DLH. This last October, it was booked up for the nights we wanted to stay so we got GCH instead. While it is a beautiful hotel, we unanimously opted for DLH from now on. My kids are 5 (twins) and 8. The grounds are so much more fun for kids, IMO, and the distance from the Dreams tower is actually less than what we had at GCH if you're going to DL, plus the monorail is right there. Now, I will tell you that we had a standard room at GCH and we were about as far away as you could possibly get from the lobby, which was a real drag. We had a wonderful time but it was $100/night more than DLH and we didn't even like it as well. GCH is swankier and would probably appeal more to the grandparents, so there is that to consider. The lounge is awesome and a great place for a drink. For a family with small children, though, I prefer DLH. Breakfast at Steakhouse 55 is super, Rainforest is steps away, and so on and so forth (plus free coffee in the lobby of each tower! Going to the lobby from our room in GCH was too far to make it worth it, though I'm not even sure that's a perk they offer). We looked at Storytellers and omg, a waffle was $17. Thank goodness for Whitewater Snacks.

So....if it were me, I'd stay DLH concierge! The price with your discount would probably be close to what you'd pay for a Theme Park view at GCH. We're paying $279 for DLH concierge next month.

 

[Disney Anna]

I have stayed at both hotels also and both are wonderful. The big plus with the Grand Californian is its proximity to the parks and is more luxurious than DLH. However, I love the DLH, went there as a child and it holds nostalgia for me; I still love it because it's more "Disney." It's lovely to walk around - you sometimes see Goofy in the lobby and the waterfall area still astounds me. So peaceful and pretty. The only downer is that it is farther than GC, but I think all of the rest-plus the price differential, makes the DLH the better choice.

You'll have fun at either hotel.

 

[amyamya]

We were there recently with a 2 and 4 year old and IMO GCH is the way to go between the two. We only stay onsite and even tho I think GCH is not quite worth the 5 star rating or the price, we will stay there when we go probably from now on. You cannot beat the location, DLH is too far of a hike for a nap or to change an outfit.

Did you really have a down comforter? We just had a tripled-sheeted bed and I am pretty picky about hotel bedding and would have loved a duvet!!! That is one of the reasons I don't think GCH should have 5 *s.

 

[tracer]

Just reading your post I think you are leaning towards the GC. I have never stayed there so I can't tell you the difference btw it and DLH, other than what I have read or heard. However, we had a Mickey Mouse themed suite at DLH in Dec. with DTD views. Great time for our family and kids ages 5, 3 and our baby girl. We felt like we never left the magic.
I have posted pics on here if you're interested in seeing them...http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2031455

 

[4evrdisney]

Thank you all for your opinions!! We still feel a little stuck - it is funny, the things that people are saying about each hotel are the exact things we've been talking about.

DizMe - Have you done DLH with kids in strollers/toddlers? Do you go back to DLH for a mid-day nap/swim break? Just wondering how the trek seems when you have to go back in the middle of the day? Also, is there a concierge level in the dreams tower or just in the tower where you check-in? We did concierge and GCH last year and loved it - it was worth it just for the amount of whole milk my 1 year old was drinking and we never could have stocked that much in our little room fridge!

Also - can anyone testify as to the amount of noise that carries up from DTD to the DTD view rooms at GCH? Also - did someone mention that the DTD view rooms at GCH have a particularly long walk to get to the parks? Does anyone know what kind of views you get with a standard room? If DTD makes those view rooms very loud, we might consider a standard room as loud is not good with little kids needing a nap and earlier bedtime!!

Also - is there anywhere at DLH that is similar to Whitewater Snacks - where we could get a light breakfast to take back to our rooms rather than paying for a full-service breakfast each day if we don't do concierge?

I so appreciate all of your input! Thank you, thank you!!

 

[DizMe]

Thank you all for your opinions!! We still feel a little stuck - it is funny, the things that people are saying about each hotel are the exact things we've been talking about.

DizMe - Have you done DLH with kids in strollers/toddlers? Do you go back to DLH for a mid-day nap/swim break? Just wondering how the trek seems when you have to go back in the middle of the day? Also, is there a concierge level in the dreams tower or just in the tower where you check-in? We did concierge and GCH last year and loved it - it was worth it just for the amount of whole milk my 1 year old was drinking and we never could have stocked that much in our little room fridge!

Also - can anyone testify as to the amount of noise that carries up from DTD to the DTD view rooms at GCH? Also - did someone mention that the DTD view rooms at GCH have a particularly long walk to get to the parks? Does anyone know what kind of views you get with a standard room? If DTD makes those view rooms very loud, we might consider a standard room as loud is not good with little kids needing a nap and earlier bedtime!!

Also - is there anywhere at DLH that is similar to Whitewater Snacks - where we could get a light breakfast to take back to our rooms rather than paying for a full-service breakfast each day if we don't do concierge?

I so appreciate all of your input! Thank you, thank you!!

We starting taking our kids when they were 4. When the oldest was 4, we left the twins (1 1/2) at home instead of taking them to DL. We did not take strollers, but it would certainly be easier with smaller children if you're going to walk through DTD. We used the monorail or walked and it was ok for us. Yes, we always take a break during the day and go back to the hotel. The kids love the pool and sometimes they napped or took it easy in the room for a while. Both GCH and DLH are nice places to hang out for a break. We love the shops and DLH has fun grounds to explore. GCH has the great entrance to DCA. It's hard to pick, I know! I don't think you can go wrong either way but for *me*, the extra money for GCH wasn't offset by a better experience. It seems more like a place designed to appeal to the adults. Oh, they do have Pinocchio's Workshop, which gives you the chance to leave your kids in a fun childcare place while the adults do something else for a bit. You can use it from any of the resort hotels, but the location is at GCH so it's definitely more convenient if you're staying there. wE didn't use it because it was too expensive ($13/hr per child, which is pricey when you have 3!), and if you have kids under 5, it doesn't do you any good because they have to be at least 5 to go there.

The GCH rooms overlooking DTD are not supposed to be noisy with the slider closed. I've read repeatedly that the doors are very good at keeping out the sound. I've not stayed in them but we did have a DTD room in the Dreams tower and noise was not a problem. I've heard others say it can be, so maybe it depends on your floor or something?

The concierge lounge in DLH is in the Dreams tower. That's what the outside glass elevator is for.

Our standard room at GCH had a view of the Brisa courtyard, where the monorail goes through. A nice thing about the rooms at GCH is that they have an actual balcony you can sit on, with a table and chairs! Other standard rooms have a city, parking lot, entry, or rooftop view, from what I've heard. If you decide to stay at GCH, I would request a room near the lobby. That way you won't be hiking a mile to the elevators like we did! DTD view is more than a standard and Theme Park view is more than DTD.

DLH has a coffee place, kind of like Starbucks, with to-go eats and drinks. We like to have breakfast at Steakhouse 55, which is VERY family friendly, amazingly inexpensive, classy and the food/service is great. We choose it over Goofy's (which is right next to it). Not far away, in DTD, is the Compass Bookstore, where they have more coffee place things including bagels, doughnuts, yogurt, etc along with coffee drinks and such.