Have you stayed at DLH AND GC lately?

[LisaDKG]

Or even if you haven't but are really up on these things maybe you can help!? We are thinking of coming down to DLR for Aug. 25 to the 30th and staying at either DLH or GC. We usually travel to WDW or DLR in Sept. or Oct. so I might be completely crazy to hope that most kids are back in school this week (ours in Calgary aren't) and hope for crowds that are less overwhelming than mid summer (am I completely crazy???). The insane number of potential ride closures during Sept are enough to make me change our dates.

We stayed at GC in 2008 and loved the hotel for its lobby and proximity and restaurants - but let's face it - the rooms are just plain ol' rooms. DH thought the proximity alone was worth the extra money IF you are definitely staying onsite at one of the 3 hotels.

We stayed at the DLH in 2004 back when our kids were just babies and we were fulfilling a childhood dream of mine! Loved it too but the walk back and forth for naps and swims (which we still do) always made me look longingly at the GC.

So now that the DLH has been redone and the GC rooms are underwhelming is it time to try DLH again? If you ask DH, the price difference doesn't matter (that sounds like an awesome quality to have in a DH but it has its drawbacks, believe me!) We will be onsite the whole time, with no car and will be dining all along Downtown Disney as well as at GC and in the parks (DLR too if we stay there).
Any insight would be 'preciated!

 

[ConnieB]

Well, one potential crowd problem is that August 21 is the first day that Southern California passholders are NOT blocked.....they've been blocked all summer long so that's likely going to be a big week for them to get a little park time before going back to school.

Way back when I was in school, most schools started in the week of Labor Day....obviously a few started earlier, but "back to school" was considered after Labor Day. So if that still holds true, then you have all the kids still out of school that week and between that and the local passholders getting their blocks removed, well it could be pretty busy.

That said, there is still a lot of fun to be had! Just enter with a mindset that it may be a bit crowded and have your plan in place. Arrive at rope drop, get FP whenever you can for the rides most important, and be prepared for some waiting. I find it's much easier when you're expecting the crowds because you're in the right frame of mind, lol.

 

[marcemc]

Well, one potential crowd problem is that August 21 is the first day that Southern California passholders are NOT blocked.....they've been blocked all summer long so that's likely going to be a big week for them to get a little park time before going back to school.

Way back when I was in school, most schools started in the week of Labor Day....obviously a few started earlier, but "back to school" was considered after Labor Day. So if that still holds true, then you have all the kids still out of school that week and between that and the local passholders getting their blocks removed, well it could be pretty busy.

That said, there is still a lot of fun to be had! Just enter with a mindset that it may be a bit crowded and have your plan in place. Arrive at rope drop, get FP whenever you can for the rides most important, and be prepared for some waiting. I find it's much easier when you're expecting the crowds because you're in the right frame of mind, lol.

Last year we went to DLR on that same week & we were worried about crowd levels. Even though most days were Not blocked for Passholders, the crowds were pretty good & we never had to wait in line for more than 10 minutes.

Take in consideration, that this year the parks most likely have bigger crowds because of ST & the Little Mermaid. A lot of schools in Southern Cali start classes the 1st week of september.

I will book DLH, the weather will still be warm to enjoy the Monorail pool & you can check their new restaurant & most likely you will get a renovated room. We enjoy GCH a lot, but my boys say they really want to stay at DLH next time.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We stayed at the GC last month for 5 nights, and also stayed at the DLH in April.

I agree with you about the rooms at the GC, although this trip we got a much better room (we had previously only booked standard at that hotel, and this time I paid for an upgraded view of downtown disney). We got a bunk bed room and the balcony overlooking DTD was really nice. We enjoyed watching the fireworks from our room, and I also liked sitting on the balcony in the morning with my coffee before my girls were up. I love the lobby at the Grand Californian as well--but it is just so darn COLD in there, that I found we never wanted to spend anytime in there despite it's beauty. They must crank the A/C up to artic temps to keep it that cold!

The main reason I picked to stay there in June over the DLH wasn't the distance--it was the pool remodel situation at the Diseyland Hotel. When we were there in April staying in a view room (we paid for an upper tower view room that had been refurbished) and our view was the very un-resort like view of massive pool construction. I had called ahead and requested a Downtown Disney view room, but they did not place us there, and instead, like the previous 3 trips to the DLH, we had the pool view. Not only was it dusty and noisy, but they put us in the Wonder Tower and there was no entrance through the front lobby (they were remodeling it when we were there) so we had to walk all the way around passed the construction walls to the back parking lot entrance. We love the look of the new rooms at the DLH, and this hotel has always been the favorite of ours at the DLR--but I am determined not to go back until they are done with the remodeling of the entire hotel--including pool. Right now the Peter Pan pool is closed, but the new splash monorail pool is open. The Peter Pan pool will not be complete until next year, as far as I know.

I felt like if we were paying for a resort experience this summer, it would have to be the GC so that we could enjoy it without the construction mess. I am very glad I chose it--because we really enjoyed the pool area at the Grand and our room with the balcony overlooking downtown disney. We will return to the DLH when I hear it is fully complete.

I hope you have a great vacation.
Lisa

 

[LisaDKG]

That said, there is still a lot of fun to be had! Just enter with a mindset that it may be a bit crowded and have your plan in place. Arrive at rope drop, get FP whenever you can for the rides most important, and be prepared for some waiting. I find it's much easier when you're expecting the crowds because you're in the right frame of mind, lol.

You're right about all this! It is so nice to be pleasantly surprised when you go prepared to be fighting the hordes. Then you realize that you know all the "tour smart" tricks and have a great time no matter what.

Last year we went to DLR on that same week & we were worried about crowd levels. Even though most days were Not blocked for Passholders, the crowds were pretty good & we never had to wait in line for more than 10 minutes.

Awesome!

Take in consideration, that this year the parks most likely have bigger crowds because of ST & the Little Mermaid. A lot of schools in Southern Cali start classes the 1st week of september.

Thanks! We'll have to be on our toes then!

I felt like if we were paying for a resort experience this summer, it would have to be the GC so that we could enjoy it without the construction mess. I am very glad I chose it--because we really enjoyed the pool area at the Grand and our room with the balcony overlooking downtown disney. We will return to the DLH when I hear it is fully complete.

This might be the way to go too then. We can always head over to check out all the newness at DLH this trip and as I can use it as leverage for planning a return trip! Mwaaa haa haa!

I really wish I was a LisainCalifornia rather than a LisainCalgary!

Thanks everyone!