First Visit Hotel Questions

[jandm]

We are planning our first trip to DL and am really torn between staying at either the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel. After the refurb, the Disneyland Hotel looks great and seems to have a more "Disney" feel to it, which I think our kids would like. But the Grand Cal looks beautiful and closer to the parks. My main question is which hotel is the closest to both parks and downtown disney? It is a far walk from the Disneyland hotel to the parks? I know that the Grand Californian is inside Ca adventure, but wondered if it's quicker from the Disneyland hotel since they have the monorail. What are everyone's thoughts on both hotels? Thanks!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Both would be great choices, but I'll just clear up a few things that you mentioned.

First of all, Grand Californian is not inside of California Adventure but is right next to it, with a special entrance into the park from the lobby.

Second, the Disneyland Hotel does not have direct access to the monorail. The monorail station is located in Downtown Disney and it not really a means of transportation as it is in Walt Disney World. The monorail opens when the park officially opens, if not a few minutes later, whereas the front entrance allows guests to trickle in up to 30 minutes prior to official opening to gather on Main St. If you took the monorail to enter the park, you'd actually be behind all those people that used the front gate. It also drops you off in Tomorrowland, so if that's not where you're heading, it's a bit inconvenient. It's a nice break from walking when you're heading back to your hotel in the afternoon, but I don't recommend it for entering the park.

They are both very close to Downtown Disney, and while I don't know exact measurements, I've read on here that the farthest rooms in GCH can seem farther than the close rooms in DLH. As I said, either one would be a good choice. I'd probably personally pick DLH (post-renovation) because it's more Disney-themed whereas GCH just seems like an upscale lodge.

 

[skiingfast]

Which do you want to stay at more and is the price of each acceptable?


The DLH has a little work left on the rehab and won't be done until near the end of the year, keep this in mind if it's a summer or fall trip.

 

[jandm]

Thanks for the info! Yes, I was thinking the monorail was more like at WDW...glad to know we won't want to rely on that in the mornings before the parks open. Do you cross a major road from the Disneyland Hotel to the parks --or are the hotels/parks all confined in one area?
If we do end up at the Grand Californian how much time should we allow to get to breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the info! Yes, I was thinking the monorail was more like at WDW...glad to know we won't want to rely on that in the mornings before the parks open. Do you cross a major road from the Disneyland Hotel to the parks --or are the hotels/parks all confined in one area?
If we do end up at the Grand Californian how much time should we allow to get to breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel?

You walk thru DTD to get to the parks. No streets. The monorail is there and about as close to the DLH as the GCH. Except with the GCH you have to walk away from the parks to ride it. For DLH you walk towards the parks to ge to the monorail.

As for Goofy's Kitchen, sorry don't know.

 

[Wests4Disney]

Another thing to note about the monorail in California is that when you enter the line to board, you have to use your ticket (meaning it takes one of your days at the park for Disneyland). It is just as if you had entered the front gates as far as your use of the ticket.

 

[skiingfast]

If we do end up at the Grand Californian how much time should we allow to get to breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel?

It will depend on if you are staying in a room near of far, but I'd give it about 10 minutes to get over to Goofy's.

Though if it were me I would suggest dining at Ariels Grotto(in DCA) for brunch if you want princesses or Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn(in DL) for breakfast with general characters.

 

[jdb in AZ]

What time of year are you going? When we go to DLR during the winter I love to sit by the fireplace in the Grand Californian lobby. We've stayed at all three on-site hotels and prefer the Grand. When we got soaked on the Grizzly Rapids Ride, it was so convenient to walk back to our room to change clothes. Whitewater Snacks is great for fast-food.

I haven't seen pictures of the refurbished DLH rooms, except for the headboards. If anyone has a picture other than the pools, please post it.

By the way, Paradise Pier is a nice hotel too.

 

[Caseystigger]

We love the Grand Californian, the location is wonderful and like the OP's have said about the momorail, we usually take it back in the afternoons as it takes you away from the parks entrance and the timing of when it opens in the morning. We love the spa and the pools the lobby is just wonderful it feels like coming home.

 

[Sydnie]

Well we love the Grand Californian and it is always our preference. However I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Disney hotels!

The GCH is closer to the parks, but it's a very easy walk to the gates from either of the others, especially as you just walk through DTD to get there.

 

[splash5]

I will put in a vote for the Disneyland Hotel. The magic is amazing. We have stayed at the Grand Californian and found the walk to the rooms to be quite long. With all of the winding around in the hotel, it sometimes felt longer than the walk from the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[Hound 109]

It cracks me up when i read WDW vets (& DLR newbies) concerned about "the walk" from DLH or GCH (or Paradise Pier) to the turnstiles.

The walk from any or ALL THREE hotels (to the DL or DCA turnstiles) is shorter than the walk from the back of POR to the POR bus stop....then you have to ride a stinkin' bus for 20 min. to get to the parks.

(not to mention the walk from the bus drop off at WDW parks to the actual turnstiles of the parks).

 

[jandm]

It cracks me up when i read WDW vets (& DLR newbies) concerned about "the walk" from DLH or GCH (or Paradise Pier) to the turnstiles.

The walk from any or ALL THREE hotels (to the DL or DCA turnstiles) is shorter than the walk from the back of POR to the POR bus stop....then you have to ride a stinkin' bus for 20 min. to get to the parks.

(not to mention the walk from the bus drop off at WDW parks to the actual turnstiles of the parks).

lol! Thanks for your response. This is our first visit, so I just didn't know what to expect (and yes, like you said -at WDW to walk anywhere is a hike!)

 

[oumagic]

Last year was my kids' first trip and we chose Grand Cal for the location and LOVED it. We walked to the DLH one night and they saw the Neverland Pool and want to try that hotel sometime. This year (2nd trip) we chose Howard Johnson and will grab AP's with our savings on the room. Hoping we can swing a DLH trip spring or summer 2012 before the AP's expire. You can't go wrong with either. If the pool is a big issue, I would choose DLH. If not, I would go with Grand Cal. The location for your first trip is really magical We went from hot tub to Grizzly Rapids and back into the hot tub within an hour (probably closer to 30 minutes)!

 

[Hound 109]

.....If we do end up at the Grand Californian how much time should we allow to get to breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel?

The easy answer (& the answer for those with a WDW mindset) would be 3-5 min. to get out of the GCH (& into DTD) & then 3-5 min. to get to the DLH....so about 10 min.

My answer would be about 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 hours......say WHAT????

For example:

- 7am at the turnstiles of DL for MM.
- 7-7:55am - Enjoy Fantasyland during MM.
- 7:55am - 9:30am - Pick up a ST & two other FPs (Indy & SM) & enjoy 3-5 rides in uncrowded bliss.
- 9:30am - Hop on the Monorail on the edge of Tomorrowland (next to Nemo) & ride it to (almost) the DLH.
- Walk into the DLH famished & ready for a mega breakfast buffet at Goofys with 3 FPs in my pocket for that afternoon or evening.

(then slide back thru the GCH to DCA....a 5-6 min. walk.....for another couple of hours of touring etc. prior to your mid day rest back at the GCH ).