How does a Disnenyland Hotel compare to a WDW resort?

[mom2boys]

We only stay on-site at Disneyworld - we love the theming, EE & transportation. We considering a Summer 2005 visit to Disneyland & I am not seeing as much to get excited about at a Disneyland resort. Am I missing something? What are the benefits of staying at a Disneyland resort vs. a nice nearby hotel? (2 adults 2 children ages 10 & 11)

 

[Bete]

Grand Californian is it. There are no off-site resorts that come close. Now, Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier is another story. If you had to compare it to WDW then I suppose I would rank Grand California as a Deluxe, Disneyland Hotel as a Moderate and Paradise Pier as a Value resort.

I see one feature I like about the Grand Californian. It's very close to the parks and you can get there easily. The same is true of its close proximity to Downtown Disney. I would not want to walk from the other resorts but there are plenty of guests who do it. By the way, keep in mind, Disneyland's Downtown Disney is way smaller then the other one.

I feel for the dollars spent it's not worth it to stay in any of these resorts. I have an AP and I can get a discount and I still won't stay there. Now, I'm sorry I even purchased APs because I thought I would need them for AP resort discounts but if I'm not staying there anyway; so, guess what?---I don't need them. Others will disagree; so, hopefully, you will get some other insights.

I like going to the character meals there but you can do that with PS and skip the stay.

I'm always looking for good value and this just doesn't qualify for me.

 

[disneychrista]

Other then being "surrounded" by the magic. There is no real benefit (IMO) to staying on property VS one of the Hotels accross the street on Harbor Blvd.

Transportation is a non-issue with Disneyland, as everything on property is within walking distance. You walk between the parks and to DTD. The parks are connected to the Disneyland and Paradise Peir Hotels via Downtown Disney. Other then "priority" on the Monorail from Tomorrowland to DTD, there is no transportation benefit.

Early Entry. This is something that is just starting to be brought back to Disneyland and is only at the Disneyland Park (DCA is not included). I am also not sure if this is included with any Disney Hotel stay or just for those who booked with Disney Travel Co. In the past it has included all hotel guest, those who purchased Passes through AAA and those who purchased packages throught DTC. Right now, from what the limited information that I have read, it is only those who book through DTC.

Now the Grand Californian is a great resort/hotel. If cost were not a factor that is deffiently where we would stay, hands down. But with rooms costing close to $300 a night, it is just out of reach. Discounts are not available like they are for WDW. You can get a good room rate at Paradise Peir and sometimes at the Disneyland Hotel. But for my vacation money I would prefer to save on accomidations and spend it in the parks on treats and souvenirs.

Now at WDW on site is the only way to go, I agree. The same is not true at Disneyland.

 

[kimkatmom]

I think to compare DL resort with WDW resort is like comparing apples and oranges. Originally, DL resort was not built as a resort - it was built as DL and surrounding hotels. The DL hotel was built to accommodate guests wanting to stay close to DL. Originally, it wasn't even owned by Disney. Paradise Pier was originally the Emerald Hotel. The only hotel built by Disney is the Grand Californian.

The Grand Californian is very nice. Similar to Wilderness Lodge. Quite pricy, however, and the grounds are not nearly as nice as WL.

The resorts at WDW accommodate any price range as we know. It's very rare, but you can get the Grand Californian for as low as $139 with an AP, but like I said - that is very rare -- usually in the middle of winter.

Dollar for dollar, in my opinion, WDW is the way to go. When we compare the price of the airfare from the bay area to Anaheim and then the airfare from the bay area to Orlando, we only pay $100 more to get to FL. You can stay at a very nice resort at WDW for just over $100.00. You can't even get a room at Paradise Pier for that.

Don't get me wrong -- I love Disneyland -- we just got back from five days there. But price wise and accommodations --- I'll go to WDW any day!

 

[Judy from Boise]

and just to clarify....most of the walking distance motels on Harbor are MOTELS built to accomadate a family on a driving vacation. This is very nice if you are driving a car, but a shock to people who aren't expecting external coridors and possible a pool in the parking lot.
But with that caution, we too always stay on site at WDW, and don't mind at all staying in a motel at DLR.

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks for all the replies. Actually DL would be a stop along our cross-country driving trip which will start in Maryland. Not sure I will be able to justify the additional cost of a DL hotel. I need to do some more research on admission options.

 

[bhillier]

for me I think that the DL Hotel compares to WDW resorts like DL compares to WDW. DL is great but WDW is huge and it offers everything you can imagine and more. The hotels are resorts and they seem like a vacation by themselves. At least this is how I felt when I went in May. Don' t get me wrong, I do love DL and I love staying in DL resorts it's just different.

 

[Alice28]

Yes, staying on property at DL is vastly different than at WDW. I have stayed at Paradise Pier and the DL Hotel both several times each, and while I think they are a little bit nicer hotels than the majority surrounding Disneyland, they won't blow you away with theming. I will say that on our most recent trip (Aug 04) we were able to secure the DL Hotel for 3 nights at $140 a night using Expedia. The rooms are quite large (larger than I remembered) and easily accomodated our family of 4 and all our paraphernalia (stroller, etc). I like the added Disney touches in the room (more subtle than some of the WDW hotels, but still definitely there) and the service was excellent. I would love to stay at the Grand Californian someday, but it kills me how expensive it is! the rack rates are the same as the Grand Floridian without the resort atmosphere. Crazy.....it seems it should be prices more along the lines of $175 or so a night...not $300.

 

[Leigh123]

I too am planning my first DL trip...We go to WDW every year and stay at a diff resort each time. This year it was the WL, so I am concerned the Grand Cal will feel just the same???? I also seem to think that the DL hotel will have more of that magic feel? For me I stay on prop at WDW for many reasons one of them is I like to be surrounded by the magic, will I feel any of that at any of the DL hotels?

 

[daannzzz]

My opinion:
The Grand Californian Hotel is as nicely themed as the best WDW hotels. The rooms are the same size as at the WL and AKL. The decore is woodsy and nice. The hotel is comfortable with an impressive lobby and good restaurants. The best feature is that it is located closer to the parks than any of the WDW are located close to their respective parks. From our room we could be in DCA in a minute or two!
The Disneyland Hotel is three towers built at different times so each is different from the other. They remind me most of the Contemporary resort though the grounds around the DLH are prettier. The rooms vary in size from tower to tower and even inside each tower. In general the rooms in the Sierra Tower are quite large and have the best views and great bathrooms. The rooms in the Bonita are large as well and have a real sit down bar in the entry area. Bathrooms are standard. The rooms in the Marina tower are the smallest with a small but nice bathroom.
The decor is somewhat victorian but with loads of Disney twists from old sepia colored drawings of Disneyland attractions on the beadspreads to fun Tinkerbell border paper.
The Paradise Pier Hotel remonds me more of the Hotel Plaza next to downtown Disney. It is a nice enough tower hotel but a bit bland, even with the brand new remodeled rooms. The lobby is inconsiquential abd there are no grounds to the place to speak of. If you get a good price though it is fun and the rooms on one side of the building have awesome views of DCA and Disneyyland in the background.
Because of the suburban location and all the motels and hotels that are so close (many closer than the DLH and PP) I usually stay "offsite" at Disneyland and save the big bucks for my trips to WDW where it matters a bit more.
If you don't mind spending the money the Grand Californian is really nice and more like WDW. The Disneyland hotel has those wonderful large rooms and MUCH more fun Disney decore inside.

 

[lark]

We went to DL for the first time ever (at least first time that I can remember as an adult) for a few days last month. We were in the area and just decided to do it. I always had very low expectations. I did not expect it could compare to WDW, and from reading various guidebooks, I kind of just expected a couple of theme parks in the middle of a parking lot off the highway.

We were dramatically and pleasantly surprised. It is a very different experience from WDW, but we just loved it. We stayed at the disneyland hotel, and it was great. I agree that comparing it to resorts at WDW is like apples and oranges, but I disagree that it would equate to a moderate. I think it would be something between a moderate and a deluxe. The pool is great, the rooms are huge and very well appointed, and there is a magic feel to the place. It is very convenient, and the people are really really nice. It's true it does not have a resort like feel, like at one of the monorail resorts, but there are a lot of very nice little touches that we (and more important our little guy) loved. We spent alot of time walking around the GC, and that does have the on-site, resort like feel. I'd put it up there with the better WDW resorts.

 

[bhillier]

I think your right the magic is all around DL. This includes "magic" @ all the Disney resorts. This may be the one thing that DL does better than WDW. Maybe it's because is so much smaller that it has so much charm. I think you will enjoy the DL it doesnt matter if you stay on or off site.

 

[safetymom]

I don't think that Paradise Pier had much theming at all. We had a much nicer room at the Hilton with a view of the park for less money.

It was nice walking across the street and through the entrance into Calif. Adventure but I also enjoyed the Anaheim shuttle for the diff. in the money.

 

[Buttercup26]

IMO you should stay offsite, as others have said there is no comparison to DLR hotels and WDW hotels.

We always stay at the HoJo Anaheim. It is across the street from Tommorowland and a 5 - 7 minute walk to the main gate. It is much more of a 'hotel' than most of the other accommodations within easy walking distance.

It is a great family hotel, very well maintained, two nice pool areas, a great giftshop/store. And very important to some us, indoor corridors to get to your room.

If you stay on one of the upper floors in the Tower building you'll have a great view of Tommorowland/Fantasyland.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/index.html