Good Neighbor Hotel or Resort Hotel?

[onelilspark]

WDW fans as a group tend to be much more concerned about hotel choice than DLR fans. One thing for WDW fans to grasp is that the walking distance hotels at DLR are closer to the park gates than some of the bus or boat drop-offs are at the WDW parks. They are really close.

I went on Google Maps and did Street View. That is an excellent tool.

So for me, it's more the "magic" element. Which is totally intangible. And I'm not sure is really worth ~$150/night. But if Disney comes out with a deal next year, I'd probably be persuaded.

 

[HydroGuy]

I went on Google Maps and did Street View. That is an excellent tool.

So for me, it's more the "magic" element. Which is totally intangible. And I'm not sure is really worth ~$150/night. But if Disney comes out with a deal next year, I'd probably be persuaded.

No problem with that. Part of my point is that WDW fans tend to spend more time at their hotels. At DLR many find they only use the hotels for sleeping and maybe swimming. So the benefit of the Disney magic is less at DLR hotels than WDW hotels for many folks, while the cost is often steeper.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Lately I've been getting a moderate at WDW on a discount (ahhh AP rates ) So I think I'm paying $115 when I go down in a month. I think usually they run about $160.

I've stayed at resorts in the deluxe cateogry at WDW before, but now that my parents aren't paying for them and I've got my own job & my own money, I'm paying for it and I currently can't justify the spend while they are lovely

I think it's the idea of the "Disney experience" and the imersion. Personally, I was getting kind of sold on the idea of staying off site, at the Fairfield most likely...I'm a Marriott/Hilton property girl and that's the closest, so that'll do! But if I didn't have to worry about costs, I would absolutely choose to stay at DLH...because that's the most "Disney" to me when I look at the pictures, etc. The GCH just doesn't do it for me (while it looks beautiful!) Personally, I'm also slightly concerned about the walk back from DL/DCA at night, crossing the street, etc. I mean, I'm not bringing kids and plenty of people do this with kids, so I'm sure it's fine...but I'm nice and paranoid, so it concerns me.

From what it seems, DLR is definitely a trade off. You pay much more than you would at WDW to be "immersed." And you don't really have the option of chosing a less expensive hotel to still get the "magic." BUT if I stay right accross the street...within walking distance...I can save a boatload of money... For me, the logical part of me knows it's a no-brainer. It's the other part of me that goes, "but but but...the MAGIC!" Good thing I have a while before my trip!!!

Yeah I totally get that. And if what Hydroguy is right and you guys are USED to staying immersed, then it's a real issue for you.

It's just a completely different monster!

As for the walk back, I can understand it. For reference..I'm from Utah. Completely used to 'safe'. I don't feel unsafe in that portion of Anaheim. There are people leaving all the time. And if you're right across the street, it's totally not a big deal.

So yeah, IMHO it all boils down to (with DLR)...are you willing to spend 175 a night to walk a good distance but still see mickey everywhere you turn. If magic will be lost and you want that mickey immersion, you probably want Disneyland Hotel! DLR people are way more used to immersing by staying late or opening the park LOL

 

[HydroGuy]

DLR people are way more used to immersing by staying late or opening the park LOL

At DLR we personally tend to spend 50% more time inside the parks than at WDW. Longer park hours. Easier park hopping. Little time wasted on transportation. Easier to take hotel breaks. With the hotels right there across the street, I agree with Emmers it is a different kind of immersion.

 

[onelilspark]

For me, the other thing is that my parents live in FL and I've had an AP to WDW for the past year. So I've gone down to visit and we've headed up for just the day. So it's not like I haven't "stayed" off-site at Disney. I also tend to take long weekends in the off-season (not 100 degrees!) so I'll stay at the parks for 12 hours easily...no kids! Hitting park open and/or park close. But when I want a "vacation" and just to get the whole Disney experience, I skip staying with my parents and I do stay on-site. I think though unless Disney comes out with a deal that makes their hotels cheaper, I'll stay across the street. The practical side is starting to win this battle! Plus you all are rather convincing that I won't lose the magic

 

[Sherry E]

Here is the thing: it boils down to what makes a magical experience for each person individually and what your priorities are. None of us can really say to anyone else, it IS or IS NOT any more magical to stay at X, Y or Z hotel because we may have different priorities for our overall Disney experiences than the person we are telling this to. It is very personalized and subjective what actually makes something more magical or helps anyone to stay "immersed in the magic." The bottom line is that some people base their overall Disney experience on just being able to ride rides and do the parks and maybe eat some character meals, etc. When they think of going to DLR, they think of being in the parks, basically, and all the other stuff (like hotels) is not an issue because that is not part of what makes the DLR visit special for them. Also, some folks maybe just can't afford to stay onsite and because the parks and food and souvenirs are most important to them, then they will get a great deal at a place like HoJo's and be perfectly happy because being in the parks is "staying in the magic" enough for them. Some folks skip character meals and ALL food in the parks entirely and only eat off-site or order groceries, bring their own food, etc., and the only thing that matters is riding rides and seeing shows, whereas I have to eat somewhere on-property when I am at DLR. It is very specific to each family/person what is magical and what is not.

Now, that said, I love staying onsite. Yes, the hotels are terribly expensive, but I don't get to DLR frequently, so once in a while it is okay to do it. If I went to DLR all the time, then I would most likely stay off-site here and there. Honestly, I love the feeling of staying in one of the DLR hotels, and when I think of MY DLR trips, I envision the hotel as being all part of the magic FOR ME. The hotel experience is very much a part of it for me. I would even feel sad if I only went to DLR for one day and couldn't stay in one of the hotels, because the hotels complete the experience for me. To me, staying immersed in the magic includes getting a bright pink folder with Goofy's picture on it and all my DLR brochures and paperwork inside at check-in. Sometimes the CM behind the check-in desk with give us free pins or free 8x10 B&W pictures of our favorite characters too! I love getting my room key - my Key to the Magic - with my name printed on it. I love walking up to the rooms and scouting for Hidden Mickeys in the carpets and hallways. I love being greeted by 'Mickey ears' shampoo bottles in the PPH bathroom (they are also at DLH), or sitting out on the balcony and overlooking DTD from a GCH room. I love passing by the Surfer Goofy statue in the lobby of the PPH on my way out the door, and then I walk right across the street to the GCH and cut through their lobby, where I stop to appreciate the very well obscured Hidden Mickey in the grandfather clock.

And I love the perks that come with being a hotel guest - I have taken advantage of the Magic Morning with great success; I have had my purchases sent back to the hotel (for free) so I didn't have to schlep them around all day or get a $$$ locker; I have used the special GCH entrance into DCA to get to the TSMM line first thing in the morning before the masses got to it and that was wonderful. And it just feels more 'vacation-esque' to me to stay onsite in a DLR hotel. It is nice to be able to sit in the comfy lobby of the GCH and unwind, knowing that to get to my hotel room I just have to walk a few feet to the elevator and there I am. I love bieng able to be in that magic from the second I hop out of the car to unload the bags to the second I hop back in the car to go home. If we take a mid-day rest break (which we usually do), I love being able to rest in my DLR hotel room and watch the special Disney programming on the TVs (every time you turn on the TV, it is set on a Disneyland-related show of some kind).

What I have described is all part of what "staying in the magic" means to me, and I could never picture staying offsite as being magical in that way because the hotel is part of my whole Disney experience....but lots and lots of people don't feel the same way and the biggest priority for them is to just be in the parks - riding, eating and shopping (sometimes only riding!). I like a combination of riding, eating, shopping and being at one of the DLR hotels!

 

[DizMe]

I prefer to stay onsite whenever I can, which is almost every time. I have an ap (which I originally got just to get the great hotel rates) so I generally don't pay a whole lot more than if I stayed offsite, as I go off season most of the time. This year, they're offering great rates even in high season. It's a very individual thing though and it's impossible to say for someone else which is better! I would rather spend a little more and stay where I don't have to exit into the real world , and the grounds at DLH and GCH can't be compared with any offsite hotel/motel. There are many perks to staying onsite, including MM every day it's offered. There are drawbacks as well, the main one being the higher cost. But if you look into getting an ap, you might find that the extra cost is more than paid for by the savings you get on hotel rates, the 10% food discount, etc. Plus, you only need one per family to get the discount and if you buy the pass at Costco in SoCal, you get a $50 gift card which is good on almost everything in the resort! I've also gotten merchandise discounts with my ap, so I always ask.

If DLR is my main vacation, I don't hesitate to stay onsite. That's part of my being-on-vacation mode. But now that I have an ap, ironically, I find I sometimes need to stay offsite because I go so much more often! Between SW's great Ding rates and Hojo's Entertainment rate of $59, it makes it "easy" for me to hop down to DL fairly often! Most of the time I stay onsite, but when I really need a Disney fix and my budget is groaning I stay at Hojo's because the rate is unbeatable and the staff is so nice.

I also have to say again that I hate Harbor Blvd and I hate walking on it. I don't like the freeway noise in the hotel and I don't like seeing the seamier side of life while I'm trying to get away into a land of magic.

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Thanks for the advice and input, all.

In the end, I just couldn't help but go for DLH. This is my first ever trip to DLR, a place I've wanted to go my whole life, and it's possible that I may not go back for a long time. We're in a financial situation at this moment in time where we can splurge with some money we've saved up, and as much as this makes me sound like I'm stuck in the mindset of WDW...being as immersed as possible is a must for me. But in truth, even if it's not a Disney vacation, the hotel is a big deal for me no matter where we are. I love hotels and I like staying in ones that interest me and make me feel like I'm really on vacation.


That being said, the onsite hotels are a lot of money and I do agree that some of the Good Neighbors even seem more convenient. If I ever am presented with another opportunity to go to DLR, or if I ever become a regular visitor, I will undoubtedly take advantage of good neighbor hotels.

(PS. Thanks Hydroguy for catching me up on the DLR lingo. I will use it wisely. )

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the advice and input, all.

In the end, I just couldn't help but go for DLH. This is my first ever trip to DLR, a place I've wanted to go my whole life, and it's possible that I may not go back for a long time. We're in a financial situation at this moment in time where we can splurge with some money we've saved up, and as much as this makes me sound like I'm stuck in the mindset of WDW...being as immersed as possible is a must for me. But in truth, even if it's not a Disney vacation, the hotel is a big deal for me no matter where we are. I love hotels and I like staying in ones that interest me and make me feel like I'm really on vacation.


That being said, the onsite hotels are a lot of money and I do agree that some of the Good Neighbors even seem more convenient. If I ever am presented with another opportunity to go to DLR, or if I ever become a regular visitor, I will undoubtedly take advantage of good neighbor hotels.

(PS. Thanks Hydroguy for catching me up on the DLR lingo. I will use it wisely. )

I think you made a good choice. And people have pointed out on the DIS before that, while some of the Good Neighbors may be technically closer in footsteps, the walk from the DLH through DTD to the main gates or to the Monorail is not a boring one, so the time will go by faster than you may expect. Everything is much closer and more compact at DLR than at WDW, so you can easily just stroll from one hotel to the next to DTD and then back to the parks and vice versa.

Honestly, I think if money were not an issue, many more people who usually stay off-property would be staying onsite at the DLR hotels, regardless of whether some off-property places may be closer in footsteps....because the DLR hotels are magical!

Have a great time!

 

[HydroGuy]

Honestly, I think if money were not an issue, many more people who usually stay off-property would be staying onsite at the DLR hotels, regardless of whether some off-property places may be closer in footsteps....because the DLR hotels are magical!

Heck yah! GCH every time for me.

 

[HydroGuy]

Honestly, I think if money were not an issue, many more people who usually stay off-property would be staying onsite at the DLR hotels, regardless of whether some off-property places may be closer in footsteps....because the DLR hotels are magical!

Heck yah! GCH every time for me. Their standard rooms only sleep 5 max and we need 6. I looked at a GCH suite a few years ago. $700 a night. Yowza!

 

[Sherry E]

Heck yah! GCH every time for me. Their standard rooms only sleep 5 max and we need 6. I looked at a GCH suite a few years ago. $700 a night. Yowza!

I know what you mean! The price difference from just the PPH to GCH is astounding! I had a reservation set for December of last year at the GCH. I had already put down one night's deposit. But when the nifty AP rates came along for December and I realized I could stay at the PPH and save $700, I decided it was worth it and switched the whole reservation over to PPH. Sure, I would have preferred GCH, but it was just too expensive, so I had to scale down my 'dose of magic,' but still remained in the magic!

I know Molly (Bumbershoot) figured out the other day the exact distance to the Tropicana across the street vs. the exact distance to the PPH using the GCH shortcut, and I was amazed that the technical distance to get to the Trop was about half the distance to get to the PPH!! But I swear, when I am onsite I am not thinking that PPH or DLH seem far because the DTD walk is so entertaining that it seems shorter! So I think most folks would overlook the fact that certain off-property places were shorter in distance to be able to stay onsite - but only at a cheaper rate!

 

[TheZue]

I think you made a good choice. And people have pointed out on the DIS before that, while some of the Good Neighbors may be technically closer in footsteps, the walk from the DLH through DTD to the main gates or to the Monorail is not a boring one, so the time will go by faster than you may expect. Everything is much closer and more compact and DLR than at WDW, so you can easily just stroll from one hotel to the next to DTD and then back to the parks and vice versa.

Honestly, I think if money were not an issue, many more people who usually stay off-property would be staying onsite at the DLR hotels, regardless of whether some off-property places may be closer in footsteps....because the DLR hotels are magical!

Have a great time!

I agree with this as well. The other issue I've found with the Good Neighbor hotels is that you do end up spending a fair bit of time in Downtown Disney. So the technically closer thing doesn't really matter if you wander over to Downtown Disney for a bit after the park, or you plan on walking to a character breakfast in one of the hotels, or plan on catching a movie etc.

 

[KCmike]

We stayed on first two times outside the resort (Fairfield Inn and Hojo's) and last time at DL hotel. DL hotel was the best by far. IF you like lush grounds, a great pool to relax in, ovesized hot tub, and don't want to see an overpriced McDonalds, IHOP, or cross a busy street then stay where the magic is.....inside the resort. Yes it is true that the above outside hotels are closer in actual walking steps to DL/DCA but walking through downtown disney feels like a resort while walking up Harbor has no magic at all.

By the way DL is awesome. It is my favorite park.

 

[DizMe]

Heck yah! GCH every time for me. Their standard rooms only sleep 5 max and we need 6. I looked at a GCH suite a few years ago. $700 a night. Yowza!

Ok, I know it isn't technically allowed, but we had 6 in our room. It was an accidental thing as our eldest dd ended up wishing to join us while we were there. We told the staff and they didn't say no so that was that. It worked out fine for us but we were at DLH where we had 2 queens and a daybed.

In Feb., we were offered a deal to stay an extra night at GCH (concierge!) for $189. We had 2 rooms--my mom, oldest dd and sister in one, my 3 youngest and me in the other. We were pretty maxed out on our budget but couldn't say no to another night, so we said we wanted to stay but asked if we could downsize to one room. They obviously knew we would be "condensing", but they said great. I wouldn't want to have 7 people in a GCH room for too long, but it worked fine for one night! We had the 2 queens/daybed room and they also brought us 2 sleeping bags with pads.

*Disclaimer: only 5 per room are allowed as per CA firecode laws. In some states (like Hawaii) it's 4. The number is pretty arbitrary as it has nothing to do with square footage. I realize that we were actually in violation of the law but the hotels were fine with it so I didn't sweat the technicalities.

 

[Sherry E]

Ok, I know it isn't technically allowed, but we had 6 in our room. It was an accidental thing as our eldest dd ended up wishing to join us while we were there. We told the staff and they didn't say no so that was that. It worked out fine for us but we were at DLH where we had 2 queens and a daybed.

In Feb., we were offered a deal to stay an extra night at GCH (concierge!) for $189. We had 2 rooms--my mom, oldest dd and sister in one, my 3 youngest and me in the other. We were pretty maxed out on our budget but couldn't say no to another night, so we said we wanted to stay but asked if we could downsize to one room. They obviously knew we would be "condensing", but they said great. I wouldn't want to have 7 people in a GCH room for too long, but it worked fine for one night! We had the 2 queens/daybed room and they also brought us 2 sleeping bags with pads.

*Disclaimer: only 5 per room are allowed as per CA firecode laws. In some states (like Hawaii) it's 4. The number is pretty arbitrary as it has nothing to do with square footage. I realize that we were actually in violation of the law but the hotels were fine with it so I didn't sweat the technicalities.

DizMe, you have got some great luck! You must have been sprinkled with pixie dust when you didn't realize it! First, you got the offer for an extra night at a discounted rate at the DLH last November, and now you got a GCH offer for $189 (on the day of what was supposed to be your check-out, I assume) just this past February? The GCH for $189? Wow!!! You are so lucky. I was offered one of those discounted extra night things way back in 2001 at the GCH, which we could not take advantage of as we had to leave, and the other one I got at the PPH ($99!!!!!) in September 2007, which we couldn't take advantage of because I had to get back to work, and that is IT! They have not offered me another last-day discounted room rate again at any hotel. I cannot believe I had to turn down a $99 room rate for the PPH for one last night. I bet I will never see that kind of an offer again.

 

[onelilspark]

Ohhhhh...see, this is what makes me go back and forth. Good thing I have so much time to decide

 

[DizMe]

DizMe, you have got some great luck! You must have been sprinkled with pixie dust when you didn't realize it! First, you got the offer for an extra night at a discounted rate at the DLH last November, and now you got a GCH offer for $189 (on the day of what was supposed to be your check-out, I assume) just this past February? The GCH for $189? Wow!!! You are so lucky. I was offered one of those discounted extra night things way back in 2001 at the GCH, which we could not take advantage of as we had to leave, and the other one I got at the PPH ($99!!!!!) in September 2007, which we couldn't take advantage of because I had to get back to work, and that is IT! They have not offered me another last-day discounted room rate again at any hotel. I cannot believe I had to turn down a $99 room rate for the PPH for one last night. I bet I will never see that kind of an offer again.

Sherry--I must confess, the "offer" from GCH was made after I asked them if it was possible You see, I got the offer from DLH in November (I think it was $129) so I wondered if GCH would do the same for us if I asked, seeing as how it was Feb and they weren't full. The concierge called a couple of people to find out and they ended up saying "sure!", honoring our rate. We got $189 at GCH because we had originally booked DLH concierge at that price, but a few days before our trip they called to say the concierge lounge at DLH would be closed during our stay and they offered to move us to GCH concierge. Well, YEAH! I jumped all over that one. Actually, they first told us we could keep our concierge room at DLH and have lounge privileges at GCH, but they did not seem surprised when I declined and they immediately said they would move us to GCH. Since we usually fly down, I'm not able to take advantage of it on most of my trips, but we drove down in Feb. so it seemed like a good idea to ask

 

[HydroGuy]

Ok, I know it isn't technically allowed, but we had 6 in our room. It was an accidental thing as our eldest dd ended up wishing to join us while we were there. We told the staff and they didn't say no so that was that. It worked out fine for us but we were at DLH where we had 2 queens and a daybed.

We did this at the PPH when our kids were much smaller. Now they are all teens and there is no way. The GCH $uites slept 6 and were very nice, but I could not bring myself to pay that $700 a night price. So we went back to BWPPI mini-suites for $150 a night last time.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry--I must confess, the "offer" from GCH was made after I asked them if it was possible You see, I got the offer from DLH in November (I think it was $129) so I wondered if GCH would do the same for us if I asked, seeing as how it was Feb and they weren't full. The concierge called a couple of people to find out and they ended up saying "sure!", honoring our rate. We got $189 at GCH because we had originally booked DLH concierge at that price, but a few days before our trip they called to say the concierge lounge at DLH would be closed during our stay and they offered to move us to GCH concierge. Well, YEAH! I jumped all over that one. Actually, they first told us we could keep our concierge room at DLH and have lounge privileges at GCH, but they did not seem surprised when I declined and they immediately said they would move us to GCH. Since we usually fly down, I'm not able to take advantage of it on most of my trips, but we drove down in Feb. so it seemed like a good idea to ask

Wow! Yes, it was definitely a good idea to ask the concierge at the GCH if they could extend your stay for a night at that same rate!! I mean, it couldn't hurt to ask that at any time, I suppose, and if they really couldn't afford to let you stay on for one more night at that price, or if they were booked up, they would have declined. But they said yes!! Jackpot! So it just proves this point: 'You never know until you ask...' It was also extremely lucky to be switched to the GCH from your originally planned DLH because of the concierge lounge situation (even though in some ways I am sure you prefer the DLH), and now that you mention it, I do recall reading that in one of your posts on a different thread quite a while back and I was thinking, "Lucky!" But I don't think I realized it was for $189!! That is a real bargain - $189 for ANY room at the GCH is a rare, fantastic deal, but for concierge level/lounge at GCH, that price is outrageously good!

I still think you have been sprinkled with some extra magic pixie dust! I am inclined to think that if I ever get another 'stay one more night at this low rate' offer at any of the 3 hotels, I am going to jump on it no matter what my schedule is or what the circumstances are. I have turned two of those offers down before due to schedule, and clearly the hotels do not offer these deals all the time, so if I ever get one again I will jump on it. But next time I stay at one of the 3 DLR hotels, I may try calling the front desk on the day of check-out and asking if it is possible to stay on, just to see what they say. It can't hurt. All they can do is say no!