Grand californian for us or somewhere else?

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi all

We are visiting Disneyland next August and are planning one day touring Hollywood/visiting Warner studios and then five whole days at the disney parks.

We had planned to spend our first night at the Best Western Stovalls (we have a late arriving flight, so it was going to just be a bed for the night, then we'd drop our luggage at GCH before catching our tour bus for our Hollywood day) then we were planning 6 nights at GCH for our five Disney days.

We'd planned to rent DVC points for our stay, but that is proving hard to do - and I've looked at booking the hotel directly for cash and it's very expensive.

My question is - is there one of the offsite hotels that is within walking distance of the parks, which is also a really nice place to stay? We would want to combine park time with pool time and that was why GCH seemed the perfect choice - but it's not currently working out within our budget!

If it really is that much nicer to be onsite than offsite, then I'll find the money - I guess I'm just asking whether it really is worth it? I know there are lots of really close hotels to Disneyland, it's just whether they are just motels to sleep in or somewhere you enjoy relaxing at too?

Many thanks for any advice

 

[rms123]

The hotels offsite are really just places to sleep. There is really no comparison to the Disney experience. That said, it is so pricey it's hard to stomach. HoJo is probably the closest thing to nice you'll find within walking distance. Also, check on the Disneyland Hotel - it's probably a bit cheaper but still what you are looking for.

 

[Butterfly123]

The hotels on Harbor really are just your generic hotels. That is where we stay because of our budget. But if this is a special once in a lifetime trip...our even once every few years trip I would consider staying onsite. Have you thought about the other two resorts on property? Both the DLH and PPH would be cheaper the GCH and would still give you the resort feel.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thank you both that's really helpful, I'm off to look in to the Disneyland Hotel now

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

If you decide to do cash, I would look at DLH or PP. They are cheaper and still on property and you will still have that Disney feel. DLH is a really great hotel, and has an awesome pool. I think I might rather stay there than GCH anyway, it has a more disney feel to me.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

If you decide to do cash, I would look at DLH or PP. They are cheaper and still on property and you will still have that Disney feel. DLH is a really great hotel, and has an awesome pool. I think I might rather stay there than GCH anyway, it has a more disney feel to me.

Thank you I must admit thanks to everyone here I am now quite excited at the idea of the DLH too!

 

[MommyJKM]

Thank you I must admit thanks to everyone here I am now quite excited at the idea of the DLH too!

I got an email earlier this week that Disneyland Resort Hotels are 20% off when you book a "view" room and 15% off otherwise. You have to go through almost to putting your credit card in to see the change in price but it might help.

If you're spending 5 days you probably want to be at the DLH or GCH - they just make you feel like you're at Disneyland!

Enjoy!!!

 

[Speechphi]

PPH is another DLR hotel & it's very nice too, therapy expensive of the three onsite hotels. And with the quick cut through GCH it's not much of a walk at all.

 

[ludari]

The hotels offsite are really just places to sleep. There is really no comparison to the Disney experience. That said, it is so pricey it's hard to stomach. HoJo is probably the closest thing to nice you'll find within walking distance. Also, check on the Disneyland Hotel - it's probably a bit cheaper but still what you are looking for.

I agree.

 

[B-Ride]

We just stayed at the Grand Californian the last week of August and loved our stay. I must admit money wasn't a big concern so you should take it with a grain of salt when I say it was worth it. The walk to the parks and DTD was especially important for us because my DS19 gets bad blisters from too much walking. I didn't feel the immersive feeling was as significant as WDW but we still really enjoyed our stay.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thank you all for taking the trouble to reply - I am definitely going to be staying onsite now - it might be a while before we get back to the west coast (flight prices from the UK are Crazy!) so I want to do it 'properly!'

I got an email earlier this week that Disneyland Resort Hotels are 20% off when you book a "view" room and 15% off otherwise. You have to go through almost to putting your credit card in to see the change in price but it might help.

If you're spending 5 days you probably want to be at the DLH or GCH - they just make you feel like you're at Disneyland!

Enjoy!!!

Ooh that's great - thank you . Do you think that will apply for stays for next year too? (We aren't travelling until August 2015 and the site is down right now so have been unable to check)

 

[Zena Wright]

We always stay on property, it not only makes the stay feel extra magical but the perks that come with it helps as well.

Staying at any of the 3 properties gets you Magic Mornings which gives you early entry into the parks before the general public is let in and if the park is busy it really makes a difference especially for getting on the rides with long wait times. Each Magic Morning day offers a different park so if you stay you can ask the front desk when you check in.

Also when you stay on site & you shop at either Disneyland, California Adventure or Downtown Disney they will send your purchased goods to your hotel room so you don't need to carry a bunch of bags around all day.

I hope things work out for you but either way you will be at Disneyland and no matter where you stay you & your family will have a great time.

 

[MsPinkyE]

Staying onsite- can't you enjoy any of the 3 resorts pools?

 

[Nonsuch]

Staying onsite- can't you enjoy any of the 3 resorts pools?

Pool hopping is not allowed at DLR

 

[5forMickey]

Thank you all for taking the trouble to reply - I am definitely going to be staying onsite now - it might be a while before we get back to the west coast (flight prices from the UK are Crazy!) so I want to do it 'properly!

I'm so glad you decided this, I think you will be so happy!!! And I agree that once you are in so far you mine as well jump in all the way and do it properly

If you decide on the Disneyland Hotel I think you will love it. I haven't stayed at PPH but people seem to really like that also. Good Luck and happy travels.

 

[bayoulife4me]

We have been staying at the Residence Inn. It's a walking distance hotel. You're correct about the prices of the Disney hotels. Our budget can't afford the hotels. Residence Inn has about everything you could need for your stay. The walk to Disneyland is about 8-10 minutes.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We'd planned to rent DVC points for our stay, but that is proving hard to do...

What type of villa are you booking?
Studios are still available, except August 13-16 (D23 Expo).
Continue trying to rent at least until 7 months in advance, good luck

 

[Apps]

I find the harbor motels are closer to the main gate than the onsite hotels with the exception of GCH.

In August, the GCH is a godsend due to the proximity and the weather (hot as hell). Magic mornings are also awesome.

 

[huskerchica]

We were just there 3 weeks ago and stayed at Paradise Pier. So glad we stayed on site - what an amazing experience. HOWEVER, next time I will definitely stay at Grand Californian. It looked AMAZING! We kept asking ourselves the whole trip, "why didn't we pay a little more and stay here?!" Next time for sure we will splurge and stay there!! Like others have said, it looks like it is very worth it!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thank you all for your posts the more I read about the onsite hotels, the more excited I'm getting!! Can't wait for next August now!!

What type of villa are you booking?
Studios are still available, except August 13-16 (D23 Expo).
Continue trying to rent at least until 7 months in advance, good luck

We are looking at a studio for 6 nights from aug 24th. I have decided that I will wait until the 7 month window and if nothing comes up before then, then I'll pay cash for an onsite stay (probably at the Disneyland Hotel)