Getting nervous about Disneyland Hotel

[BlueBayou]

The rates were pretty low - so on a lark we booked 4 nights at the DLH.

We have never stayed there before and I have always wanted to try it. We loved our Grand Californian stay and have a handful of off site stays under our belts.

Looking at some of the reviews online - It looks like DLH has been getting some spotty reviews recently. Now I am worried.

Anybody stay there recently who can ease my concerns?

 

[RDJ]

I haven't stayed there recently, the last time was December of 2008. At the time we were staying in the Dreams tower, with our room looking out over DTD. That tower is still being refurbished now so I'm not sure if they're renting rooms there still or not. Our room was a bit "tired" but the magic was still there, the size of the room was great and it was always very clean and done up early and we loved every minute of staying there. I did have a mini-fridge which was nice but I really missed a coffee maker. Honestly, it was quiet and we had no problems - and you can't beat their CM's at check-in. Sorry I don't have a recent review for you which is exactly what you asked for but I thought I'd start the ball rolling.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Subscribing-- our first trip to DL and staying at DLH. I am a picky hotel person and while I really want to stay there some reviews have me worried also.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I love the DLH ~ I prefer it over the GCH!

 

[skiingfast]

Regarding the rooms. I know that currently they are rehabing the buidlings. The exterior is being redone and they are refreshing the rooms. I imagine since they are doing one tower they will do all three. But I don't know that they will close any during the summer. So chances you get a new or old room aren't that great.

I don't know which tower is which but you may try to request the one to the East (park side) because that is the one under rehab right now.

 

[tholczer]

I can't speak to whether or not the service or housekeeping might have changed as we haven't stayed since last summer, but the rooms won't have changed, so I can speak to that. I've posted before about how I am uuber picky about where we stay, and DLH has never disappointed. I should say that we've stayed in each of the buildings, on different floors, and the view out the window seems to make a difference. I enjoyed our room (and hence, our stay) much more when we looked out over DTD or over the pool than when we had rooms that overlooked the parking lot. So I can understand how spending oodles of $ to stare at a parking lot for five days might make someone cranky enough to post a bad review.

The rooms themselves could use a bit of updating - but they are taking care of that, and it wouldn't be anything I'd feel the need to complain about. The rooms are always very clean, they're spacious and pretty quiet, the pool is the best, and you are on property (some people say that being on property at DLR isn't the same as being on property at WDW, but I disagree).

Of course, all of this is subjective. So from this super picky person, DLH is definitely worth the price. But I'd have to recommend a room with a view.

Tracy

 

[bumbershoot]

If you've been reading Trip Advisor, well, just stop reading there. The people who have been reviewing the Disney hotels have been panicking people recently! Meanwhile, no one has come back with any *scary* reviews here...I know who I trust, LOL.

 

[BlueBayou]

I should say that we've stayed in each of the buildings, on different floors, and the view out the window seems to make a difference. I enjoyed our room (and hence, our stay) much more when we looked out over DTD or over the pool than when we had rooms that overlooked the parking lot. So I can understand how spending oodles of $ to stare at a parking lot for five days might make someone cranky enough to post a bad review.

That is a very interesting point. When we stayed at the Grand Californian - we did not have a pool, park or DTD view - but we looked out into the monorail courtyard (it wasn't running - down for a major rehab). We really liked our view - much better that the rooms across the hall that looked toward the parking lot/PP.

 

[tholczer]

That is a very interesting point. When we stayed at the Grand Californian - we did not have a pool, park or DTD view - but we looked out into the monorail courtyard (it wasn't running - down for a major rehab). We really liked our view - much better that the rooms across the hall that looked toward the parking lot/PP.

It didn't occur to me until I was writing the post. I was thinking about how I enjoyed some stays more than others and got to wondering why. Especially since the room and for the most part, experiences, are always the same. When we enjoy the view, we open the curtains and sheers wide and let the sun and the view in. When we don't have a view, we tend to leave the sheers closed and it's much darker. I don't know about anyone else, but I guess this makes a difference to me. Darn it! Now I need to upgrade my room

Tracy

 

[DizMe]

I love the DLH ~ I prefer it over the GCH!

Same here! I've stayed at both DLH and GCH numerous times, and while I love GCH for an adult stay, I still prefer DLH most of the time.

I stayed in January in one of the newly refurbished rooms. It was fabulous! I also love the old rooms, though. I thought the big poster beds were great. Please don't worry--chances are that you will love your stay. The grounds and atmosphere are delightful.

 

[SueTGGR]

Just got back from a four day stay. You may have read what I had posted already but I will try and be brief. The room we had was sad but by Disney standards. I have been spoiled by staying at the Grand most of our visits. We were given room 2800 - 10th floor at the far end away from the park, with a pool view in the same tower as the front desk.

I was disappointed more in the condition of the room. Wallpaper peeling, shower dripping & late housekeeping. In hindsight, maybe I should have asked for a different room & I didn't. I was so happy getting one of the older rooms with a balcony (maybe for the final time) that I didn't want to risk not having one for this stay. I don't know, maybe it is a claustrophobic effect but rooms seem bigger with a sliding door to open to watch the world go by. And when DH & DS need a break, I can people-watch while they recoup. Unfortunately, we were right over the end with the restaurants and such and the noise was unending. If my DS or DH wanted to watch TV during a mid-day rest, I had to close the doors so they could hear. Now, when it was time to sleep it was more white noise. But had it bothered us too much I would have asked for another room.

Now, the room was good size. I could watch people getting their morning coffee and the kids excitedly running toward Goofy's Kitchen and even could peek down as the little ones were getting ready for their Easter Egg Hunt Easter Morning. Would I have liked one of the refurb rooms? Maybe. Should I have asked for a different room? Maybe. But we were there to be part of the Disney experience. Being a quick hop from the Monorail, having Magic mornings and all the other bonuses were worth it. We will be staying at Paradise Pier in June but that was already set before so it wasn't because I was disappointed but I really think I will wait for more rooms to be refurnished before going again.

Sorry if this goes against what others had experienced but you ask about what we experienced, I will be honest. But make sure you read that I could have maybe made it better by speaking up. Don't think that you can't speak up and make it more magical for you and your family.

Sorry, not brief!

 

[Dopey's MIL]

Don't think that you can't speak up and make it more magical for you and your family.

I have to agree with this comment! No need to be ugly or rude, just ask and it will be taken care of. Disney really does try to make everyone feel comfortable and happy with their choices.

 

[mom2travel]

We returned Sunday from a 5-night stay at DLH. It was our first trip to DL after many trips to WDW where we always stay on-site (at the Polynesian or Contemporary, with one stay each at the Grand Floridian and All-Star Sports). We were on the 9th floor of the Wonder tower facing out over the pools area. To the right was DTD with the tops of some of the DL mountains in the distance. We are not big pay-for-a-view people since we don't typically spend much time in our room, but I do always enjoy looking out over Disney property from a different angle.

Our room at the Wonder tower was definitely dated, but we did not have any peeling wallpaper or other eye-sores. It was more of a faded, needs a little love look. Decent sized room too - comparable to where we've stayed at WDW, maybe just a tad smaller that Contemporary/Poly rooms (or we were just less organized this time ). We had a refrigerator and a small safe, 2 queen beds and a day bed. No complaints about housekeeping or the cleanliness of the lobby or grounds. We don't drink it, but there was coffee available in our tower's lobby.

Now, we did walk through the GC to get to CA and liked the look of it and it is obvious that it is a newer hotel. But imo the DLH is a perfectly fine hotel. If we ever are in CA again and get a chance to revisit DL we wouldn't hesitate to stay there

 

[jodi90]

If we booked an upper level resort/pool view room will we be able to see the fireworks from our room?

 

[Whidbey5]

SueTGGR, sounds like we were there about the same time (we stayed a week and left the Friday before Easter). We were on the 8th floor, pool view. Construction was going on during the day. The crews were sanding the exterior of the building that is closest to Downtown Disney. They were also painting what they sanded blue.

We usually stay at the Grand Californian, but booked to late to get a room for this trip. In my opinion, the DLH looks a little tired on the inside, but I know changes are coming for all three towers, so that's a plus.

What I do appreciate about DLH is how you can't really hear people in the halls. I know the building is old, but I think it is build really well and once in your room, you really don't hear anything! We could hear construction noise and pool noise, but at night, it was silent.

Jodi, we were pool view and could not see the fireworks from our room. If you get a room that faces the parking lot (in the tower that has the check-in desk) you'll have an amazing view of the display.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

If we booked an upper level resort/pool view room will we be able to see the fireworks from our room?

Possibly. We stayed in the Dreams tower last June and we could see the fireworks from our (tiny) balcony at night.

 

[RDJ]

If we booked an upper level resort/pool view room will we be able to see the fireworks from our room?

Hi Jodi.......if you want a resort/pool view room you might be able to see the fire works from an upper level room from the Wonder Tower. It would be the only one with the pool view that might work with the fireworks. I'm not sure about this though - there might be trees and buildings in the way there - I have never stayed in that tower before. If you stay in an upper level room in the Dreams Tower and you look out over DTD (not the pool view) you can see the fireworks at DL ok. The Dreams tower is the one that is under refurishment right now. The best view for fireworks might just be from the main tower where the check in desk is but you would have to have a parking lot view, not a pool view. I guess it just depends which one is more important.

 

[Gisele]

Last year, when I was fortunate enough so as to stay at the Disney Hotel, I was not disappointed at all. Wallpaper was not peeling, nothing was dripping, no dust, the only thing that I did see, is that a damp towel had been left on the corner of the one bed, so I figured oh well, OK kind of gross, but how bad can that be really? So if that was the worst thing to experience, then the room was perfect. Was not really sure where to put the towel though... I loved my room, and am disappointed that all of the rooms are going to be changed.

 

[mom2travel]

What I do appreciate about DLH is how you can't really hear people in the halls. I know the building is old, but I think it is build really well and once in your room, you really don't hear anything! We could hear construction noise and pool noise, but at night, it was silent.

Jodi, we were pool view and could not see the fireworks from our room. If you get a room that faces the parking lot (in the tower that has the check-in desk) you'll have an amazing view of the display.

You must not have had the same people in your hall that we did! We could hear kids crying next door and adults talking very loudly on the other side. Plus people running down the hall after midnight. Nothing that couldn't happen somewhere else also, but we definitely did not experience a "soundproof" room at the DLH

Hi Jodi.......if you want a resort/pool view room you might be able to see the fire works from an upper level room from the Wonder Tower. It would be the only one with the pool view that might work with the fireworks. I'm not sure about this though - there might be trees and buildings in the way there - I have never stayed in that tower before. If you stay in an upper level room in the Dreams Tower and you look out over DTD (not the pool view) you can see the fireworks at DL ok. The Dreams tower is the one that is under refurishment right now. The best view for fireworks might just be from the main tower where the check in desk is but you would have to have a parking lot view, not a pool view. I guess it just depends which one is more important.

We stayed on the 9th floor of the Wonder tower with a pool/grounds view. DS was in the room one night and said he saw the entire fireworks show laying in bed