Help! Disneyland Hotel vs Grand Californian Hotel

[suzannen]

I know this has probably come up before, but, we've just booked our flights for DL next summer and I have the responsibility to make the hotel reservations. We want a deluxe hotel with a great pool and water slide, as well as close proximity to the parks. We will have one 7 year-old (the water slide devotee) and a 19 year-old (deluxe hotel, don't ask!), and I am totally confused on which DL resort hotel to choose. We definitely want on-site, so please give opinions. I had settled on the DLH, but recently read a few threads with room and pool complaints, so now I'm not sure what to do. Earlier reports had shown the GC as "cold" and not as "kid-oriented." This past June we stayed in a great room at the Contemporary at WDW, and loved it (we could see fireworks from our patio, if that helps anyone make comparisons. I have been to DL, but it was only for one day 11 years ago, and we did not stay on site. All opinions and criticisms of the hotels would be greatly appreciated!!! I need to book in the next few weeks, so all help is great!

 

[teri]

We love the pool at the DLH, the rooms are bigger, Goofy's Kitchen is there, they have little activities all around the resort... it is closer to the monorail station... I haven't stayed at the GC and I really am not motivated to do so, I like the DLH just fine.

 

[dizzdis]

I believe I read that if you stay at the Dis Pacific that you get to use the DLH pool and amenities, and vise versa.I have heard the rooms are bigger in the pacific.We are staying in th GC in Oct, I dont know if the poll hopping applies there, but the walking distance is just to good to be avoided for us!

 

[suzannen]

Thanks Teri and dizzdis for your input. I sort of get the impression that people like the pool better at DLH, but GC is actually closer in proximity. Do you know aproximately how long a walk it is to DL and GCA from each hotel (or do you have to take the monorail from DLH)? Also, has anyone stayed at both of these hotels that could comment on the difference in the rooms and the views?

 

[daannzzz]

The rooms at the Disneyland hotel are around the size of the Contemporary with a bit more subtle decore ie: more Mickey and Disneyland oriented than bright colors and drug induced patterns. The rooms at the Grand Californian are smaller ( Simialr to Wilderness Lodge) and decorated a little more formal with a hint of Disney ( Look at the shower curtain).
The Pools are quite different. The Disneyland hotel has a Neverland theme which is fun for kids. The Grand Californian has a slight redwood theme which is less fun but the slid looks to be good.
The views at DL Hotel can be of the parking lot / Parking structure and Anaheim. They can be of the pool areas or of Downtown Disney, The California Adventure and Disneyland.
Disneyland hotel is probably a 7-15 minute walk to the parks or a 2-5 minute walk to the monorail station. The Grand Californian is a 2-5 minute walk to Disneyland and has a direct entrance into California Adventure. ( We could leave our room and be in the park in less than a minute.
I like both hotels very much. The DL hotel is not quite as pretty and themed as the GC but it is more fun for kids. The GC is very nice and rich in detail Like most of Disney's newer hotels and is more convenient to the parks.

 

[teri]

dizzdis, the rooms are bigger at DLH than they are at Paradise Pier or GC. You can use the pools at DLH if you stay at either one.
The rooms are comfortable and clean, nice Disney ambience. The service is good at both DLH and PP.

You can walk to the main gates of both DL and DCA from any of the onsite hotels, about a 10 minute walk through Downtown Disney which is wonderful. You are closer to the monorail if you stay at DLH, and that puts you right into the center of the park. You can walk right across the street from PP into the special gate there and you will be in DCA. GC is the closest and newer and fancier. All 3 have view options... at DLH you may get a pool/courtyard view, a parking lot view that also has a fireworks view, or a Downtown Disney/DCA View. There is also a plain parking lot view, some of those are the deep discount rooms. At PP you can get at Paradise Pier/DCA view, which can be a bit noisy to be frank, or you can get a parkinglot - small pool view, which is quiet. The views are great, and you can see them from the balconies at the ends of the hallways if you can't see them from your room. I haven't stayed at GC, but I understand that you have a DCA view, a DD view, or a courtyard view.

 

[suzannen]

daannzzz and teri,
Those are some terrific details which will help me mull over some specific questions I had been having.

Is there anyone else who has experience with the two hotels?

And, as my youngest daughter has a major waterslide priority, does anybody know first-hand how the neverland pool slide compares to the GC redwood waterslide? I have been told that no one other than GC guests are allowed to use the GC pool, unlike the DLH pool. So, although I'm sure it must be less crowded than the DLH pool, do kids like it as well?

I know I'm being a pest, with all these questions, but I just want to make sure I've thought of all of the variables.

All of your expert knowledge makes these decisions so much easier on us DL novices!!! You can't find it anywhere else!

Suzannen

 

[Michelle]

Hi suzanne! I'll throw my two cents in, I've stayed at both hotels as well.

One thing you should know is that as a DL Resort Hotel guest you are allowed to "pool hop". So don't base your decision on where to stay solely on the pool; no matter where you end up you'll be able to visit any of the three resort pools.

Another thing you should know is that it can be VERY COOL here in March and swimming may not be very appealing. The pools are heated but the outside air temps sometimes only reach the 60s in the spring.

Now, on to your hotel choice. It's true that the rooms at the DLH are bigger than the GC, there's no doubt about that. I happen to prefer the Grand Californian as it is much more aesthetically pleasing to me (I love the decor, the gorgeous lobby and all the little touches), plus I think the staff there is superior. (Not to say the staffs at the other DL Hotels are not also very good, but the GC staff goes the extra mile). To me, the GC feels like more of a WDW-type of resort, while the DL Hotel feels like a regular high-rise hotel with three towers.

Two other pluses for the GC are the very short walk to both parks and Downtown Disney, and if you have any interest in a "kid's club" where you can leave your 7-year-old for the evening (they are a blast for kids, my daughter loved it) there is Pinocchio's Workshop at the GC, that is ONLY available to GC guests.

The trade-off with the GC is definitely the room size; the rooms are similar in size to the rooms at the Wilderness Lodge at WDW. But other than that, the GC is the winner in my book.

All that said, if you decide to stay at the DL Hotel instead you will still be quite happy with your choice! It's a great place too, and you won't go wrong staying there.

Now have we totally confused you?

 

[dizzdis]

inkbounc Wow !Great replies!I so love how everyone gives such detail.We all know we love to feel like we are there, and you did just that for me!I so excited I cant stand another 40 days, but alas, I must

 

[suzannen]

Great detailed iresponse, Michelle! I think my husband is now leaning towards the GC. Thanks so much, everyone for all of the help - these boards are the greatest!

 

[brando5111]

Stay at the Grand Californian without question!!!!!
you cannot compare the hotels - I just stayed at the DLH over labor day - the lobby is fine but the hotel rooms are old and smelly (especially the hallways) and just plain not worth the $200.00 we paid for it! The pool area was very dirty with plastic cups and plates and napkins everywhere - I am not kidding - it was gross - the trash cans and ash trays around the pool area and the outside of the DLH were overflowing and staff just stood there - nobody came around to clean....we were amazed it was a disney property!

The GC on the other hand was extremely clean and very nicely appointed and has a real disney feel about it! It is more expensive - but worth it for the upgrade in atmosphere and cleanliness!