Grand Californian vs. Good Neighbor Hotel for toddler

[HawaiiMom]

Hi, I've been lurking for a while and this is my first post.

I'm planning on taking my daughter to Disneyland for the first time. She will be almost 3 when we go.

Although I'm budget-minded, I'm willing to spend money to make her experience memorable and special.

My question - at her age, is the Grand Californian worth it? Or is a Good Neighbor hotel, like the Park Place Inn adequate? One of my top priorities is being very, very close to the park.

Thanks for any advice (or suggestions)!

 

[kikiq]

While I'm a big fan of the Grand Californian, you might want to consider staying at the DLH. It has been renovated, the rooms are pretty cool and even my grown DDs remember an early Christmas trip at the DLH. It's not as close as the Grand Californian BUT I personally would pick an onsite hotel over an off site hotel if you don't mind spending a little more. If you're willing to consider the Grand Californian, then please consider the DLH. You can take the monorail to and from the hotel mid way of DTD, and how cool for a 3 year old to walk by the big Mickey Sorcerer's hat back to the DLH.

 

[SpaceMania]

I second staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Thats where my parents took me when I was really little, and I loved it.

If the only thing you are worried about is distance, then obviously the Grand Californian is the closest... but DLH is great and cheaper too.

 

[nemofans]

We stayed at Paradise Pier b4 & I didn't care for the long walk to/from the parks. I tried the monorail one time & it was a big mistake. The monorail isn't large like the WDW ones. At WDW, you can keep your child in the stroller & just roll him on. I was by myself w/my little one & didn't know DL monorail was smaller. I had to get my little one out of the stroller, fold it up while holding him & the diaper bag, then get on b4 the doors closed. I was worried my little on would get on & the doors would close b4 I got on with the stroller. Luckily, there was a mom in there who helped me with the stroller. Needless to say, we did the long walk & avoided the monorail after that.
This trip we are staying at GC. We now have a 6 yr old & a 2 yr old. It will be super close & convenient to walk back for naps.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

I'm voting for GCH. I can't give you any specific because this will also be my first time taking my DD (she'll turn 3 just before our trip) and my mom (who is in her 70's). I chose and did spend the extra money for the GCH mainly based on the distance to and from the parks. I know my little girl (and my mom) the best and I know that mid-day rests are needed for her so this hotel in perfect. Even if she doesn't take a nap, I think just getting her away from the noise and excitement of being inside Disneyland will help her out. Then we can go back to the park refreshed and ready for another round. I don't think she's going to end up remembering much of this trip, let's face it, I'll have more memories of it than she will being 3. Yes, it's a more $$ than the other hotels but I think I'd take that over meltdowns having to walk that far to another hotel after hours "doing" Disney.

 

[23bw]

You know that once you've stayed at the GCH, no place else will measure up!

We've stayed at the GCH once and many times at a good neighbor hotel. If location is your top priority where you want to stop off at your room for breaks or naps, then you are correct in choosing the GCH.

In terms of a magical experience from a 3 year old's perspective, I personally feel it doesn't matter where you stay. Afterall, she's visiting DL!
Any hotel I'm sure will be fine with her.

 

[Sydnie]

We took my son two weeks before his 3rd birthday and I can't rave enough about the GCH. As I am sure you know the hotel is amazing-but the biggest selling point for us was the ease with which we were able to get back to the hotel for naps. We never felt like we were wasting half our day getting back and forth, a big plus when you have little ones who need to nap!

 

[bumbershoot]

We stayed at Paradise Pier b4 & I didn't care for the long walk to/from the parks.....
This trip we are staying at GC. We now have a 6 yr old & a 2 yr old. It will be super close & convenient to walk back for naps.

To walk from PPH is to walk out their front door, cross the street, and go through the Grand. Whatever you do, and it sounds like you did what we did, do NOT follow their signs for the walking path!

Our room at the Grand caused MORE walking than staying at PPH did, for us. It was one room closer than THE longest walk you could have to/from a room at the Grand. Our walk from our room to the center of the esplanade was *longer* than the walk from the HoJo parking lot to the same spot.

You know that once you've stayed at the GCH, no place else will measure up!

Definitely not everyone's experience.



When DS was 3 we stayed at PPH and at HoJo in one trip. He remembers the trip but does NOT remember the hotels! And at the time he liked both hotels equally. The hotel is not important for most toddlers, IMO.

 

[LisaT91403]

We took DS for his first trip about 3 weeks before his 3rd birthday, and stayed at GCH. Like others have said, we wanted to be able to go back for a nap in the afternoon, and it worked out really well.

We also go to have a Magic Morning, which was a HUGE plus of staying at GCH vs. a good neighbor. We got up early and went to DL first thing in the morning, did Magic Morning and a few other rides, then went back to the hotel (at around 11:30) to gather up our stuff before checking out. It was nice to be able to go back and use the restroom, freshen up, etc., before heading back out to the park.

Our standard view room (the least expensive) had a balcony that overlooked the Monorail track. Every few minutes, a train would whisk by. For my train-obsessed son, this was one of the highlights of the trip. He still talks about the hotel where the Monorail goes through...so he does, in fact, remember the hotel

Enjoy!

 

[boscoj]

Make that another vote for the GCH! Like previous posts have stressed you can't beat the convenience when you have to put your child down for an afternoon nap....the location was priceless!

 

[mable1988]

Make that another vote for the GCH! Like previous posts have stressed you can't beat the convenience when you have to put your child down for an afternoon nap....the location was priceless!

hi .this is my new post.i hanv never been to disneyland.so i decid to go there to relax my mood this month.hope have a good time there .

 

[taaren]

While we love the Grand for the pool and and afternoon nap, I don't know that if we didn't own I'd want to take my son there, simply because I don't think DS4 will remember. Because we go every year and the CMs keep pitching "Welcome Home", he does refer to VGC as our Disneyland home now. But prior to that we staying at BWPPI and it was perfectly okay for the afternoon nap. We stay at the Grand for us, but I don't know if I would pay rack rates for it. Either way you'll have a great time watching your toddler's face light up at the sight of the Land, so Enjoy!

 

[closetmickey]

I'd say book the Disneyland Hotel. So many special "Mickey" touches. Have fun!

 

[Hound 109]

We stayed at Paradise Pier b4 & I didn't care for the long walk to/from the parks. I tried the monorail one time & it was a big mistake. The monorail isn't large like the WDW ones. At WDW, you can keep your child in the stroller & just roll him on. I was by myself w/my little one & didn't know DL monorail was smaller. I had to get my little one out of the stroller, fold it up while holding him & the diaper bag, then get on b4 the doors closed. I was worried my little on would get on & the doors would close b4 I got on with the stroller. Luckily, there was a mom in there who helped me with the stroller. Needless to say, we did the long walk & avoided the monorail after that.
This trip we are staying at GC. We now have a 6 yr old & a 2 yr old. It will be super close & convenient to walk back for naps.

For what it's worth.... to anyone else reading who is not familiar with the Paradise Pier:

- No one ever uses the monorail to get to either park (from the PPH)
- It's across a street & 30 yards down from the GCH. So it's not a long walk to DL....& technically closer to DCA than the DLH....seriously it's probably 3-5 min. from Griz Rapids. (& most everyone walks thru the GCH)
- The "DL Monorail" isn't "smaller". (it's the original & the proper size). It's just that the WDW monorail is supersized.
- It's pretty common knowledge here that one should avoid the monorail with a stroller.....& in the early AM......& after the fireworks.

But NemoFans is correct. The GCH is great & very convenient.


To the OP.....will you be using a stroller? If yes, close to the crosswalk hotel on Harbor would be great. If not, you might also put the Candy Cane Inn on the list.

or stay on site (which is great & preferable if $$ isn't an issue).

 

[Hound 109]

To walk from PPH is to walk out their front door, cross the street, and go through the Grand. Whatever you do, and it sounds like you did what we did, do NOT follow their signs for the walking path!

Our room at the Grand caused MORE walking than staying at PPH did, for us. It was one room closer than THE longest walk you could have to/from a room at the Grand. Our walk from our room to the center of the esplanade was *longer* than the walk from the HoJo parking lot to the same spot.

When DS was 3 we stayed at PPH and at HoJo in one trip. He remembers the trip but does NOT remember the hotels! And at the time he liked both hotels equally. The hotel is not important for most toddlers, IMO.

Bumber pretty much stated what i was trying to say.

The PPH is darn near as good a "location" for optimum touring as the GCH. (though not as luxurious).

 

[nemofans]

PPH is closer to DCA & we didn't mind that walk at all, but the walk is much further for DL. Not one you want to do for naps.

 

[angel22]

We took my son when he turned 3 and stayed at GCH, and he barely remembers the hotel except that maybe he was in a bunk bed. The location was very convenient, but I would say having a second room like the kids room at HOJO would be a bigger benefit so he can nap and sleep well while you have the other room to hang out. Just my opinion, and of course you really can't go wrong with GC but it's a lot of extra money and my son was very cranky as he couldn't really get his sleep well with us in the same room. We stayed at DH when he was 4 and that was much better and he really remembered it.

 

[jacs1234]

We took our 3 year old 2 years ago (along with her older brothers) and stayed at the Howard Johnson hotel. She still talks about Disneyland everyday and loved every minute of the trip. I don't think it matters where you stay because your DD will have the BEST time anyway. It was a pain for the grown ups and older kids to walk all that way though but the 3 year old was in a stroller, so it didn't bother her. We'll be staying at the Carousel Inn next time so we'll be much closer.