DLH......would I be disappointed?!!

[Debs Hill]

WE are trying to decide between a stay at DLH and the Grand Californian......I think my son would prefer the pool complex at DLH but I have read some terrible reports that say that the resort is worn and dated and that it is no better than a holiday inn!!!!! Would I be hopelessly disappointed and would I be better off with the GC?!! All opinions gratefully received!
Debsxx

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at the Disneyland hotel 5 times in the last few years and never have I thought it was anything like a Holiday Inn. The first couple of stayes was with the older decore and it was great. The new decore is wonderful. The building exteriors were buitl in the 60's and 70's so are a bit dated as far as architecture goes. I haven't seen any more wear and tear than any other expensive hotel. It is a really fun place to stay and generally the roioms are bigger than the Grand Californian and a bit more fun for kids. The Grand Californian is also a wonderful Hotel but not quite as "fantasy" oriented.

 

[karylrocks]

We have stayed at the DLH and visited the GC. GC is really very nice and we hope to stay there someday. We loved the DLH, and I think it is especially nice for kids. Even our "kids" (teen and early 20's) loved the Disney atmosphere better than GC. It is older but we didn't find anything outdated; they keep it up pretty well. It is definitely better than Holiday Inn, I would compare it with a Hilton. GC is new and more elegant, but DLH is fine.

 

[mad hatter fan]

I actually prefer the DLH over the GC. The style of the GC just does not appeal to me. The DL H means Disneyland to me. It just feels magical. And I absolutely love the DTD view rooms!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I don't think you'll be disapointed with either choice, DLH or GCH. We've stayed at GCH in Oct 2005 and most recently at DLH in Mar-Apr 2006.We've noticed a pattern with our 2 kids (5&8). For them, it's all about the pool. Although both hotels have slides, my kids preferred the themed DLH pool over GCH. Since they're a little too old for strollers now, they found GCH to be more convenient when walking back to the park for afternoon swims and calling it a day though. Dh and I prefer GCH over DLH mainly due to atmosphere. We loved turn-down service and our nightly chocolates was well as all the other activitied available to GCH guests only. Our room faced teh great hearth and it was wonderful stepping out each morning to head to the parks. Our furnishings in our room at the DLH did not seem dated at all. The room itself did though. We had a connecting door to another room and we could hear just about any conversation they had by the sink/vanity area. I don't think you'll go wrong with either hotel.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We've stayed there a few times in the past few years, and we are staying there again next month. I would never compare it to a Holiday Inn. The newer decor is really nice we found, and the hotel has all the Disney touches. The pool is wonderful of course too.

We've also stayed at the GCH. Which is also a wonderful hotel. My two favorite things about there is the lobby and the park view. When we stayed there we had a view exactly over the water rafting ride. It was completely awesome! The room was nice, but IMO not nicer the DLH. And I prefer the DLH pool any day! I also like all the old pictures of Walt Disney, Disneyland and DLH they have up. I agree that you wouldn't be disappointment with either.

 

[Mousemom]

Our family loves DH. We have stayed at PP once, our last stay, and did not like it. Love the Disney feel of DH, the pool, the quick place to buy burgers, chicken strips, etc.. Right outside the door is DD. We don't feel it is worn and old. The room with tinkerbell boarder glows in the dark. My neice loves this! You would love this hotel.

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

We stayed at dlh just for the pool on our trip. The hotel was wonderful and the pool probably was a highlight of the trip with many highlights. You'll have a blast no matter where you stay.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have stayed at the DLH five times it the past three years and have had wonderful stays each time. The rooms are lovely, spacious and very nicely furnished. Nothing against Holiday Inn's but the DLH is way above any HI I have stayed at! I too have seen the occasional negative report but always just remember my own, positive stays. We have had many friends and family members stay there, including my brother and his wife who always stay at five star hotels, and they have all loved it.

 

[sgtdisney]

We just got back from a week at the Disneyland Hotel and I would never compare it to a Holiday Inn. As others have stated, the towers were built in the 60s and 70s, but you could almost never tell that from the inside. The one thing that was slightly strange in our Marina tower room was the shower fixtures. The shower head was really low for my wife and I and we are not tall. I can't help but imagine what a 6+ footer would do. That part there was the only thing in the room that showed the true age of the building. The decor was great. The counters and fixtures on the sink in the bathroom were new, granite, etc. The rooms are very large as was the style back in the 60s and the 70s. None of these little boxes like some of the newer luxury hotels. The pool was fantastic. Location can't be beat. It was strange being there at first and not seeing the marina between the towers, but I can see why it had to be eliminated. We would definately go back to the DLH again for sure. Never even stepped into the GC, just didn't have any desire to on this trip.

 

[brando5111]

Depends on what's important to you. Your kids will probably love the pool at the DLH much more than the GC. You just cannot compare the hotels, the Grand Californian is a beautiful "new" craftsman style resort. The Disneyland Hotel is dated (60/70ish). But they have redone the rooms and they are comfortable compared to what they were like before. Are they great - no - comparable to a Holiday Inn - sort of - but have some Disney charm (in my opinion). If you want a hotel that is more of what you are used to staying at in Orlando, then stay @ GC. If you don't care that much about your room and dated hallways, etc. and the pool is really important then stay at DLH. You can use the restaurants at either, so that should not really factor in. If money matters, DLH is cheaper. You'll have a great time no matter what you choose.

The only other problem we had @ DLH was the pool area was FILTHY when we stayed a while back. We complained big time as this is not tolerable to me for a Disney (or any) hotel property. The trash cans were overflowing and the hot tub was full of dirty green foam (gross). The chairs by the pool were also dirty. I don't know if they've improved or not, but this did bug us on our last stay.

Anyway, enjoy your trip.

Brando

 

[va32h]

We stayed at DLH just a week and a half ago. The rooms were huge compared to the usual hotel room! Our room at DLH was larger than the "suite" we had at the Doubletree in Dana Point earlier in the week!

The towels were on the skimpy side, though. That was my only complaint.

 

[Debs Hill]

Thank you so much for all your repsonses, it's so helpful. My little boy is 5 and loves Peter Pan, so I know that he would prefer the pool at DLH, and my husband did not like Wilderness Lodge......so I was wary about how similar the GC would be............but this our first trip to DL and I wanted it to be right!!!

Are the rooms at the DLH themed at all? Do they have balconies? What is the conceirge like at the hotel? What are the views from the concirege rooms.....and what is considered a standard view and preferred view? Will be paying with DVC points and it is more points for a preferred view...is it worth it?!
Thanks again!
Debsxx

 

[Debs Hill]

Bump!!!!

 

[daannzzz]

None of the rooms at the DLH have balconies. They all have large (in the Sierra tower there are two large) sliding glass doors that open up against a metal railing. You can pull a chair over and sit and look out at what ever your view is. In the Sierra Tower the two doors slide open away from each other creating this huge opening in the side of your room. If the weather is beautiful it is awesome to be able to sit in your room and enjoy the view and outside air.
The rooms at the hotel are themed to Disneyland. They remind a me a bit of the Victorian formality of ther Grand Floridian but not quite as frilly. The Bedspreads have sepia colored drawings of the Disneyland Attractions. The headboard and armoisre have an artist rendering of the original idea for Disneyland. The bathroom is nice with character topiary wall paper, granite counter tops and mickey glove sconces.

http://www.fastlodge.com/t/hotels/ANA_DISH-rooms-1.jpg

 

[katedrew94]

We just got back from there and loved our visit. The only downside was that the outlets were not powerful enough to charge our laptop and we had problems with that- otherwise it was wonderful.

 

[brando5111]

The rooms as stated above have sliding glass doors and a bump-out (very small) - don't let your littles ones near it! The picture above is exactly as it is. It's OK, just not "great". The room is a decent size, but it does not feel like any of the WDW hotels we've stayed at (usually POR) - so be prepared to be "underwhelmed" and you'll do fine. As stated before, be prepared for that 70's feeling.

Now, if your willing to stay off-site, you can go to Priceline.com and probably get the Hyatt Regency for about $50.00 per night. This is a very nice hotel, but does not have the "Disney" touches you may be seeking. This is the hotel we usually stay @ when doing a "quick" Saturday night stay. The rooms have been refurbished and the bedding is wonderful. But the bus ride to DL is a pain and for that reason alone you may prefer to spend the extra money to stay @ the DLH.

Best,
Brando

 

[brando5111]

If you could pay cash instead of using your points, you'll be better off. I've heard it's a bad deal to use your points at any of the California hotels. Check on the DVC board, I'm fairly certain they state this somewhere.

Best,
Brando