Help me decide where to stay

[minniecarousel]

My 2 sisters and I are going to Disneyland in December. My sister-in-law was the mastermind behind this trip but she can't go now. She works for the Hilton chain and got us the Embassy Suites one mile from Disneyland. She won't cancel the reservation yet - the 3 of us may be using it. I could get us the Grand Californian or the Disneyland hotel using 2013 DVC points. Or I could see if there is a good AP rate, since we're there during the week.

Using DVC points isn't an efficient use of points and we just used a big chunk to reserve a Grand CA room for our son and DDIL.

Part of me says to just use our points. DH & I don't know what we'll be doing vacation-wise next year. I am concerned about staying a mile away and having to use the bus to get to the Parks. (as I understand it, the Embassy Suites doesn't have their own shuttle)

Also, my oldest sister is just now starting her 2nd of 5 weeks of radiation therapy for breast cancer. She is really looking forward to this vacation. Since he had planned to use SIL's Embassy Suites connection, it's not like she'll be disappointed in the accommodations. My other sis and her husband stayed at the Grand with us last year. I don't know how soon oldest sis will want to return to Disneyland.

What would you do?

 

[fitzaboo]

I have stayed at the Embassy Suites before. Good hotel. The free breakfast is nice too, but sometimes it is hard to get an early start. The bus there comes often enough and isn't a problem. Sometimes the bus back is a bit confusing though. Overall I would probably choose on site, but that is because I never have stayed on site

 

[XGrumpy1]

Have you check availability at GC for December. It may not even be an option now.

I have rented a car before and taken the Disney transportation to the parks and usually that works pretty well for me. I am then not waiting for some confusing bus!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Embassy Suites are nice, but so is staying on site. How's that for a definitive answer? Basically, you can't go wrong with any of your choices.

Have you stayed at the Disneyland Hotel before? Since you and your sis stayed at the Grand Californian recently, maybe the Disneyland Hotel would be a fun change of pace?

Embassy Suites has the best breakfasts and the rooms are large, but the Grand Californian will always be my favorite, especially in the cool months when I can relax in front of the fireplace in the lobby after a long day at the parks.

One other thought. How is your oldest sister's stamina? (I realize it's hard to tell at this point how soon she'll get her energy back.) If the radiation leaves her weak, perhaps she'll want to rent an ECV off site (it's cheaper, and she can drive it around DTD.) If she has an ECV, then staying on site would be a major consideration.

 

[minniecarousel]

Sis will have about 7 weeks after her radiation when we take this trip so I think her stamina will be good. I already know that we won't be "doing" the Parks the way DH & I do them. (we pretty much wore out my other sis and her husband last year!)

I keep looking at the pros/cons: we'd each have our own bed at the Embassy; good breakfast. Staying on-site, we'd be closer; no hassle with buses; I'm familiar with the Disney hotels - DH & I have stayed on-site for the past 10 years.

I guess the three of us will have to talk. Maybe each of us having our own bed makes a big difference to them. (the deal breaker will be if our other sis-in-law wants to go - we def will have to do Embassy. Bad enough sharing a bed with your own sister!)

I guess my biggest concern is the bus to get to the Parks - it's not too much trouble? And getting the bus from the airport to the Embassy? not too bad? will we be taken right to that hotel?

 

[buddywesley]

If they have early morning admission for resort guests when you will be there that would be another reason to stay at either the Disneyland or GC! We just did that and were able to ride Radiator Springs in 14 minutes! Totally worth it! and was out of Carsland before the mad rush began

 

[taaren]

I wouldn't borrow points for a stay at the DLH/GCH. I have used use-em-or-lose-em about to expire and/or holding points there, and they were lovely stays but not worth 40+ points per night (~$450 cash on the rental market?) unless those points are 'distressed'.

In your shoes, I'd go with the Embassy Suites. Also I'd waitlist for a villa at the VGC, just in case, with authorization to borrow. Odds aren't great it'd come through, but if it did, what a wonderful surprise!

Alternately, I'd rent half my DVC points out, maybe through one of the brokers? Then use that to make a cash reservation at the DLH with a PIN or AP discount, since that would be a more effective use of the points ... and you'd still have some leftover. Even if you don't go in 2013, you could bank them into 2014.

 

[Mary09]

I guess my biggest concern is the bus to get to the Parks - it's not too much trouble? And getting the bus from the airport to the Embassy? not too bad? will we be taken right to that hotel?

Do you mean the ART shuttle to get to the parks? For adults who are not in a huge hurry, it's been fine for us. It might add 20 mins. of waiting/riding time to your commute each direction (maybe more at park closing) as compared to walking to an onsite room. I would do an ART hotel or walking-distance local hotel over on-site but I'm thrifty, even with points.

I don't know if that hotel does a dedicated airport shuttle but those are usually fine, too.