Help us decide, please :)

[azdisneylover]

If I were in your situation, I would stay at the DH because of all the Disney stuff everywhere in the hotel. I love the Mickey Shampoo, etc, and so will your child. I loved having the Princess Storytime on the TV as we all fell asleep. Since you have a 3 year old, I will assume you will take a break for quiet time or a nap. Taking the monorail from Tomorrowland to DTD will drop you off pretty close to DH, and then you can get back on and go to Tomorrowland.
Goofy's Kitchen is in the DH too! Anywhere you stay, you can't go wrong because you are going to Disneyland!

 

[QueenDoOver]

Thank you everyone so very much!!!

Hound -- 3 nights, although for the PPH it's only $20 more for 4th nights OMG and another day at DLR!! that's great!!! can't believe I just realized it, but for GCH it's $550 more, $250 more for DLH and $200 more for BWPPI. I think I was looking more towards DLH or GCH.

Maybe we should just do PPH and do a 4th night, probably wouldn't be able to get there to check in before MM that day as it would probably be 7, but could do afternoon and evening. hummmmm. now I'm more confused

Well this is a no brainer then!

PS I always leave a housekeeping gratuity on day one and a little note asking for an extra shampoo. Sure enough I come back to a nice stack of all of the goods, which I love to take home for souvenirs. Makes the magic last longer when I go to the Gym and pull out my Mickey Bottles, etc. etc.

 

[kailuagirl]

Anyone know if the PPH have princess storytelling too on the tv at night? DD would LOVE that, oh dear, would she love that, I didn't know about that one!!

QueenDoOver: good tip on the extra tip for the shampoo's, etc., whereever we end up, I'll give it a try

I still don't know what to do, for me, it's between DLH and PPH, but DH really wants GCH. I just wish there was more flexibility with packages. ahhhh

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

I am going thru the same brainstorming as you- so I can feel your frustrations hehe! everyday all day long its all i think about. I currently have resies for BWPPI for Halloween weekend. But then the onsite hotels came out with great rates- basically a 100 more a night and OMG. Now I want the Grand. I even consider the PPH. But yes it adds up to 500 more then the BWWPPI. Which is spending money- but then I think well I dont need that much spending money. LOL. ( I do lol) I then think my 2 year old boy wont know the difference between which hotel we stayed at and I doubt he would resent me for it later on in life looking back at pics. But then I think about how I wouldclike to just relax this trip- spend a few more hours enjoying the hotel everyday- and thats when the Grand comes back into the pic. We stayed there in july and WOW it was the best experience ever with prolly one of the best views too! I loved sitting out on the balcony at 2 am and watching the Mickeys Wheel all lit up and watching the CM's work on rides. It was the best! the beds were also amazing! So too get the great deal for Oct I need to put up the deposit by the end of Sept- so now I posted a few more items on Craigslist to sell to see if I can try and raise the extra $500. That way- it wont feel like I am wasting money- it will feel like free money! keep us posted and let us know what you pick! Good luck!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Anyone know if the PPH have princess storytelling too on the tv at night? DD would LOVE that, oh dear, would she love that, I didn't know about that one!!

Princess stories is on every night... and if you get up early enough in the morning is on then too! DD watched them at each hotel every day--in between the stories it was usually the old fashioned mickey cartoons.

 

[disney4metoo]

Staying off-site/on-site opinions are different for most people. Some say it does not matter to stay off site at Disneyland compared to WDW and I could not disagree more. Personally for me, I would not want to stay off site at WDW or DLR.

We typically stay at The Grand Californian Villas because we are DVC members and we absolutely love it. However, recently we went down to DLR for the WOC Special VIP Party. I could not get a villa, nor an on-site hotel room, because they were booked. But the Embassy Suites South was available and for a very good price so I booked the room. We have stayed here before many times prior to our on site days. Although it was clean, and breakfast was good, it was just not the same leaving DLR to return to our hotel.

I am at the point ... if we cannot stay at the Grand ( no availablitiy) why go to Disneyland. For us staying at the Grand is the biggest and best part of our little get aways. We love to enjoy the hotel. We are not commando style visitors, but only go into the park for a few hours at a time and enjoy our hotel experience much more. We also like the total immersion experience, and staying off-site does not come close.

Now that all that is said...only you can decided if it's worth it for you. Saving a lot of $$$ does matter too! It would be difficult if you are eating crackers and peanut butter for dinner to stay at the Grand. It would be more enjoyable to stay off-site and use the extra money to make it a nicer vacation for your family. If however, you can swing it and maybe cut down in other areas, bring your own case of water, sandwiches in the room for lunch, breakfast in the room and dinner in the park and you are ok with that then do it.

The nice thing about the Grand is it is so close to the park for naps, running up to get a sweater or cold bottle of water is a piece of cake. You can have breakfast and lunch on your balcony looking out into the park. Good luck making your decision! My vote is stay at the Grand if you can swing it.

 

[disney4cam]

We have stayed at PPH and GCH, plus across Harbor. IMO, it's either GCH or the Harbor hotels. While the walk to PPH and DLH are just a bit longer, it is still longer. I was not at all impressed with PPH. If you want the full on Disney experience, GCH can't be beat. Otherwise, save the $$$ and stay across the street. You get to the park in a blink and it's so easy to go back and forth. When we stayed at PPH, by the end of the week, the walk back to the hotel seemed reeeaaallllly long - and we had a 4yo.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

I would vote for staying on site!!!! It's definitely a personal preference but we've had nothing other than fabulous experiences staying on site. We've always stayed at the grand and had an amazing experience.....not to mention the SUPER CLOSE entrance to the parks. Some say it's not super close but for us, it's never been anything but. Nothing like walking down the hall to the elevator and being at the entrance of the park when you get off. Literally!!!!!! Of course, I've never stayed off site so chances are, those experiences are equally as great.....I just can't imagine anything different than what I experienced!!!!! Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!