DLH or Tropicana

[Nanners74]

This will be our first trip to Disney. Going next month and can't decide which is better to stay at DLH or Tropicana across the street. I'm worried about how tired the kids will be. They are 5 & 7. Any recommendation?

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

If I can swing it money wise, I would always choose to stay onsite. Your kids will love the Peter Pan themed pool. I like the feeling of never leaving the park, always having the "magic" around you when you stay onsite. Plus you always get that disney service! So if you can afford it, I'd go with the DLH. The walk isn't bad, and it's right through Downtown Disney. So you can window shop and enjoy the sites. Plus there is the option of taking the monorail to and from the hotel.

Otherwise we really like the Tropicana, it's our offsite motel of choice. Can't beat the location. Right across the crosswalk there. We found our room to be clean and comfy. Good service, and the pool area is one of the nicest we've found for offsite.

 

[Nanners74]

JenDisneylandlver, how long a walk is it from either hotel to entering disneyland in minutes or distance that is?

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

For the Tropicana I'd say 5 minutes or less. For the Disneyland hotel, if you walk, 7-10 minutes I'd say. Just depends on how fast (or slow) you walk, and if you stop and look at stuff in Downtown Disney (which we seem to do a lot LOL).

My son has always handled the walk okay. When he was a toddler I used a stroller. But from 5 on he did okay with the walk. Lots to distract him. LOL

 

[godalejunior]

We have stayed at both and the walk is shorter from the Tropicana then it is walking from DLH. We love the DLH and used the monorail as much as we could when we have taken DS. First time he went he was 5 and he is now almost 7. After staying at the DLH our first trip and going to the Tropicana on the second one, our family prefers to stay on site if at all possible. So far, having an AP has helped that happen.

 

[avalon451]

JenDisneylandlver, how long a walk is it from either hotel to entering disneyland in minutes or distance that is?

Nanners, there's an article about this called "How Far Is It?" and it's kind of surprising to people: http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as

Most of the hotels at the crosswalk on Harbor are actually closer than the DLH, especially if you're in the far tower.

If price isn't an issue with you, DLH will be nice and kid-friendly; if you just want a place to lay your head and be closer, I'd stick with Desert Inn.

If you want a compromise, check out HoJo's up the street. It's not much farther than DLH (or even closer from some rooms), and the new kids' water play area just opened there. It's very nice and much less expensive than DLH.

 

[DisneyLover4Ever!]

If price is not an issue I would choose the DLH it is a more kid-geared with Disney themes. I think your kids might have a better time being surrounded by Disney-magic all day. . But if you want to save some money, the HoJo pool area has just been remodeled into a pirate themed pool and is about the same distance.

 

[Nanners74]

Thanks for all the tips. Debating still. Hopefully I can come up with something soon. Want to get the most out of the trip especially for the kids since I doubt we'll ever be able to take them again. This is going to be a once in a lifetime trip.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Once in a life time trip? Oh yeah for sure DLH then!

 

[mikayla73]

Another vote for the DLH. I have done a mix of both DLR hotels and the hotels on Harbor. If I have a choice and money isn't the deciding factor, then I'd choose DLH (or GCH) everytime. It's nice not the "leave" Disney at the end of the night (even if it is just going across the street).

 

[Nanners74]

You guys talked me into it. I just called and booked the DLH I'm so excited. The kids are going to love this.

 

[Amy&Dan]

You made a good choice! And I love the Tropicana, but there is nothing about it that can compare to the DLH because the Tropicana is a motel (a very nice, clean one) whereas the DLH is part of a resort. The pool is incredible for kids, the rooms are much larger than the Tropicana ones and you have interior hallways, onsite dining availalbe (everything from a quick, take out burger to room service, to character meals to a very nice steak dinner). You will also be able to take advantage of Magic Mornings, each day they are offered by staying onsite. Certain days of the week, parts of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open one hour early. A typical park hopper will let you do that one day. Staying onsite lets you do that as many times as its offered during your stay. You can also have purchases you buy in the park delivered to the hotel for free. Very nice and can save you lugging around that big stuffed animal your kid had to have or worse, leaving it on a ride because you forgot it!

Have a great trip, your kids are going to be in sheer heaven.

And I had a trip of a lifetime to the DLH about five years ago. Since then I have taken about ten more trips of a lifetime!

Oh and one more thing, be sure and take your kids to Goofy's Kitchen at the DLH. Its a wonderful experience where they can dine and have several characters come to the table for pictures and autographs. They get to dance with Goofy and its just so much fun. Its pricey, if you have AAA, they give you a 10% discount. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. You can call: 714-781-3463 up to sixty days in advance to make a reservation. Have a wonderful time with your planning and your trip!

 

[tmli]

I stayed at both last November, this past trip stayed at Tropicana.

I am a huge disney fan and can't come up with 3 good reasons to convince myself the unbelievable amount of money they charge is even almost worth it! The DLH is a moderate hotel charging deluxe prices!

 

[RudemanRB]

DLH, Hands down!

If this is your first trip. splurge. go for the full monty!!

as for the walk, it's about 3-4 mins to the Monorail and that would let you off in tomorrowland. if you don't want to walk to the gate.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I stayed at both last November, this past trip stayed at Tropicana.

I am a huge disney fan and can't come up with 3 good reasons to convince myself the unbelievable amount of money they charge is even almost worth it! The DLH is a moderate hotel charging deluxe prices!

I disagree and agree! I think all Disney hotels are overpriced in a sense. I mean a value at WDW is a Motel 6. I have never paid over $100 a night for a Motel 6. But then again, I've never had a Motel 6 that had the theming and customer service that a value does. Same way with the DLR hotels. They are all walking distance to one of the world's most popular theme parks. So they will be overpriced just the way all the onsite hotels in Florida are. But you pay for the location more than anything and with the nice magical touches, large rooms, themed pool area and dining options, you do get quite a bit. I know that the Tropicana also has location but being on Harbor vs. being on DTD (still on Disney property) aren't in the same location ballpark. And the lovely grounds, pools, fountains, koi ponds that the DLH has all make it very nice and above par with a typical hotel.

I still think that for a family's first (and possibly only) trip to Disneyland, they made a great choice. I have stayed at the DLH seven times in the last five years and always enjoyed it. It is priced high but so is everything else you do at DL and WDW.

 

[tmli]

I am glad for your family it made sense....for mine it did not. All of the reasons you list for making it worth it to you aren't important enough for me to spend an extra $1700. (10 nt stay)

To each their own, for me that is another vacation!

 

[annieb727]

I stayed onsite once...and I felt guilty that I didn't spend more time in the room - I spent all my time IN the parks. So it was fun - and a nice treat, but we will probably always stay offsite - it allows us more days there with our budget, and means we can make more trips.

Though if I truly thought we were taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to DL, I would have gone for the DLH. It does have great theming and the pool is so cute!

 

[Nanners74]

I think for our family we made the right choice. We will only be at DL 2 days. We got a good rate and I want us all to really enjoy the full disney experience. We are leaving in two weeks and I feel like I am so unprepared.