Yes & yes.
That is great that you enjoy the rooms, a lot of people do and some do not. In our opinion, they are dated. We did not stay DVC, we don't do timeshares. This was a Courtyard-Woods view room category that faced GRR near Soarin'. Dated meaning dark, wood paneling that is always going to show age faster, small bathrooms, less counter space, less insulation from the hallway. We had a room with a tub rather than a glass shower, which didn't help it feel updated. We paid rack rate booked through the Disneyland website (I want to say $800? per night for the room), so it's not like we were put in a less desirable room because we booked third party.
You gave a fair review of your experience, which I respect, but I just have to point out that I don't understand the internet love for the DLH lighted headboards. The music they play is creepy and out of tune like from a horror movie--it's become an ongoing joke with my family. They were a wonderful idea that was poorly executed, and it continues to shock me how people brag about them as a benefit of the DLH.
We absolutely love it, I play it every time we're in the room. I've even tried to see how I can create one for our home.
My daughter also loves turning the headboard off and on so the music plays, and she is 36. I've found people are very partial to one or the other hotels. I had people tell me how great the Grand is, and we stayed there time after time looking for the "great", til my daughter finally said "Mom, we are Disneyland Hotel people. Just accept it."... It is my preferred hotel. Just like the Disney Wish is the latest and greatest, but my preference is the Disney Wonder. We all have difference "wants" in a hotel room, our family finds what it wants in the DLH.
So true! I think a lot of it is thinking that the Grand with the higher cost on average = better, which I've fallen into that trap before with other things. I'm really glad I was able to experience both hotels, because I know that we're not missing out.
The distance is a nonfactor because the hotel is worth the extra few steps for us over GCH. In fact, by the time we were to our room at the Grand (walking to the DtD exit, through the lobby, down to Napa Rose, up the elevator, down 2 hallways), I almost think it might have been the same distance as our room in Adventure Tower. And I think we were lucky with room location because there was another hallway we could have had to go down.
When I stay at GCH, I ALWAYS request (and get) a room close to the elevators. There is no view worth that walk for me, and most of those rooms way down are view rooms. Tip: there are very few rooms at GCH that don't have nice views of some sort.
I called to request a room close to the Napa Rose elevators at 10 days out, then called again to verify. She said she was going to go ahead and assign us a room (3 days out? I think that was when I called to verify) that was nice and close to the elevators. When we saw the room assignment on the app when we landed, we were bummed but thought maybe it was a shorter walk than it looked on the map (we were naïve lol)
That is great that you enjoy the rooms, a lot of people do and some do not. In our opinion, they are dated. We did not stay DVC, we don't do timeshares. This was a Courtyard-Woods view room category that faced GRR near Soarin'. Dated meaning dark, wood paneling that is always going to show age faster, small bathrooms, less counter space, less insulation from the hallway. We had a room with a tub rather than a glass shower, which didn't help it feel updated. We paid rack rate booked through the Disneyland website (I want to say $800? per night for the room), so it's not like we were put in a less desirable room because we booked third party.
The GCH has the location, grounds, pool, cabanas, restaurants, CMs, and lobby going for it that make it unique and special. The rooms, however, are not one of the reasons that the hotel stands out from the rest which is fine, but it is what it is. I hate being negative, so I will say that the room was clean and the beds were comfortable. The Chip and Dale painting was cute, but doesn't hold up when compared against Disneyland Hotel's lighted/musical headboard.
I didn't take pictures of issues in our room because it didn't bother us enough (and again, I hate being extra negative), but it had similar on the wood when staying there (taken from trip advisor). Not completely obvious or impacting functionality, but I would consider this to be dated:
Dark rooms with ambient lighting:
The walk to DLH was about 15 minutes for us. It felt pretty long, but walking through DTD vs Harbor Blvd is way nicer. Also, you can take the monorail when it's running. The monorail is fun and fast. The stop is maybe 5 minutes from DLH.
I'm sure I've asked you this before, but is it the Napa Rose elevators you request? We're going to be in a standard view club level room. I don't care much about the view but would like to avoid one of those rooms that people say might as well be at Paradise Pier.
Like I said, those were taken off of Trip Advisor but the wear on the wood was very similar to what was on the bathroom door and vanity area.
I ask for a room near any of the elevator banks. The elevators near the Napa Rose wing are my favorite but I'm happy with any of them. My other favorite is any room right above the lobby, preferably the 3rd floor which has its own little lobby. The only wing I avoid is the DVC wing, and only because I had a dated, dark room there once and it was a very long walk to anything. I don't know what it's like now with the new entrance to DCA, but at that time it was not updated, was dreary and too far from everything.
