GCH standard room or DLV preferred studio?

[wallawallakids]

Hi! I have a standard room at the GCH booked for the half marathon. I noticed that I could get the preferred view studio for slightly less. I have never stayed at the villas. Are the rooms comparable is size? I know the walk will be more. I am interested to hear what you would pick and why. Thanks for your help.

 

[starry_solo]

Unless you plan to use the kitchenette in a studio (microwave and sink and mini-fridge), I would stay with GCH.

 

[DizMe]

Hi! I have a standard room at the GCH booked for the half marathon. I noticed that I could get the preferred view studio for slightly less. I have never stayed at the villas. Are the rooms comparable is size? I know the walk will be more. I am interested to hear what you would pick and why. Thanks for your help.

Are you the only one in the room? If so, I personally would stick to a room closer to the lobby area. Do you need the kitchenette? That might be a deciding factor if it's something you'd use. I recently stayed in a regular room with my 15-year-old grandson who does not get up early, even at DLR. I made coffeee with the Keurig and had some pastries I bought earlier, so when I got up (I get up pretty early), I just made my coffee, warmed my pastry in one of the MWs they have in the snack rooms (usually they're on main hallway corners) and enjoyed it in the lobby. On DCA early entry days I just went to the SBs in the park. The location of the room is more important to me than the view/category so I always opt for something closest to the lobby/elevators, whether that's the main one or the one that's next to Napa Rose.

 

[wallawallakids]

Thank you! It’s just me and my husband. We might use the microwave but it’s not a deal breaker. I’m curious to stay at the DLH but I also love the location of the Grand. So maybe I’ll just keep what we have then if the studios don’t offer much more than a kitchenette.

 

[DizMe]

Thank you! It’s just me and my husband. We might use the microwave but it’s not a deal breaker. I’m curious to stay at the DLH but I also love the location of the Grand. So maybe I’ll just keep what we have then if the studios don’t offer much more than a kitchenette.

Oh! I didn't realize you were talking about a DLH studio room--I thought it was also at GCH.

I mean, it might be fun to try it out since they're so new. The kitchens have a little more to them than the GCH studios, I think? The downside is that it's as far away from the parks as you can get on site, with the possible exception of some areas of PPH. But there's DTD with its new restaurants etc, TS's, the new lounge next to Goofy's Kitchen, so I can see why it would be fun to check it out! Be sure and let us know what you decide

 

[wallawallakids]

Oh! I didn't realize you were talking about a DLH studio room--I thought it was also at GCH.

I mean, it might be fun to try it out since they're so new. The kitchens have a little more to them than the GCH studios, I think? The downside is that it's as far away from the parks as you can get on site, with the possible exception of some areas of PPH. But there's DTD with its new restaurants etc, TS's, the new lounge next to Goofy's Kitchen, so I can see why it would be fun to check it out! Be sure and let us know what you decide

Thanks! I will. There are a bunch of new restaurants in DTD that I am really looking forward to trying. But, yes, I’ll let you know what we end up doing. Thank you

 

[Pluto468]

I'd stay at the Grand because it's so much closer.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is this when construction on the second CL lounge will have kicked in? The disruption potential of that project has spooked me out of GCH for the next 1-2 years (and the room refurbs don’t help).

 

[maleficent55]

can't beat the proximity of the GCH! pick that

 

[wallawallakids]

Is this when construction on the second CL lounge will have kicked in? The disruption potential of that project has spooked me out of GCH for the next 1-2 years (and the room refurbs don’t help).

Is that going on now? I don’t know anything about this project. We are going in September. Thanks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is that going on now? I don’t know anything about this project. We are going in September. Thanks.

Not yet. Disney said it will start in 2025 and they are aiming for completion in 2026. Napa Rose is the only part with a start-ish date. It’s slated to close this Spring and re-open in the Fall.

Keep an eye on the website, they usually put a note out when they are doing renovation work that will mention a season or month. (I’m a bit surprised they are booking all 2025 without any sort of warning after they made this announcement last week.)

 

[StarlitNight05]

I picked the DLH studio. We stayed in the DVC Discovery Tower last year (albeit in a 1 bedroom), and even though it was a bit further than GCH we really loved everything about it. The bright colors, the theming, the brand new everything, proximity to Trader Sam's and the new Palm Breeze bar.

Later that year we also stayed at GCH (we always book standard there), and while I still love the location for proximity, I found myself missing DLH. For one, the grounds of DLH just feel more relaxing to me. The lobby at GCH is always so packed and feels even chaotic at times. The rooms are also starting to show their wear, some pretty badly. I can see why they are doing the refurbs soon...it's needed! And that aspect also scares me, like gottalovepluto mentioned -- I tend to avoid hotels during huge projects, and the concierge lounge expansion sounds like a doozy (along with room refreshes). But I will say that Disney does a great job of trying to minimize guest impact, so I don't think it will be off the walls awful.

I hope you have a great time whatever you decide!

 

[maleficent55]

I picked the DLH studio. We stayed in the DVC Discovery Tower last year (albeit in a 1 bedroom), and even though it was a bit further than GCH we really loved everything about it. The bright colors, the theming, the brand new everything, proximity to Trader Sam's and the new Palm Breeze bar.

Later that year we also stayed at GCH (we always book standard there), and while I still love the location for proximity, I found myself missing DLH. For one, the grounds of DLH just feel more relaxing to me. The lobby at GCH is always so packed and feels even chaotic at times. The rooms are also starting to show their wear, some pretty badly. I can see why they are doing the refurbs soon...it's needed! And that aspect also scares me, like gottalovepluto mentioned -- I tend to avoid hotels during huge projects, and the concierge lounge expansion sounds like a doozy (along with room refreshes). But I will say that Disney does a great job of trying to minimize guest impact, so I don't think it will be off the walls awful.

I hope you have a great time whatever you decide!

I've never found the lobby to be chaotic, it's relaxing most of the time, just except for certain times with check in and people waiting in line for bell hop