I just can't see paying almost double to stay on site…WDW yes…DL no

[VandVsmama]

Look on the bright side of things...there are lots of lodging options in the DL & surrounding Anaheim area for people travelling with all sorts of different budgets. I'm grateful for the options because when we can't afford PPH or the DLH, we can still go to Disneyland, just in a less expensive motel. Going to WDW is so cost prohibitive to us and DL is much closer, so we can go to Disney parks without having to devote 2 weeks and $6,000 (including cross country airfare) to it.

 

[AustinTink]

I'm late to the party, but I'll jump in anyway. Our first trip to DLR was the summer of the 50th anniversary. So this summer will be our 10th visit. In those 10 years we have visited in a variety of ways... the first few years we drove up from San Diego for day trips and we had a blast! The 4th-8th trips we stayed offsite at the Candy Cane Inn and we had a blast! Last year we stayed at the Grand Californian and guess what? We had a blast!

I guess what I'm saying is there is NO WRONG way to stay and play at Disneyland. Stop poking each other with sticks. We're all here for the same reason.

 

[Disneyland4TmB]

At Disneyland there are too many nice hotels close by to not at least look into a few. They have great extras and are just a stroll away. WDW is a different story....and have many more choices as far as Deluxe, Moderate and inexpensive hotels.

 

[cijay]

I go solo so there's no reason for me to stay on site in Calif. The only people I know who have, have had big reasons. One was a family after a very stressful few years, another was a grandchild finally clear of cancer and my friend did "adoption day holiday" when he got custody of his twin godchildren. So all three of those were reasons to go all out and celebrate.

 

[pindecisive]

I choose to stay offsite, not because of a shortage of money, but because of an unwillingness to spend hundreds of dollars per night for a place to sleep... If I were on a tight budget, I'd use Priceline, as I have in the past.

I stayed at the $40/night Disney budget hotel in 2012. For me the hotel makes a buffalo of a difference and the only reason I stayed there was because I could not have afforded it otherwise. The smell of the space I'm in, the ease of getting to and from. In other situations It's been much easier on me stress wise to stay at nicer hotels with more amenities.

I haven't yet stayed onsite (that's coming up) so after that I'll really be able to give my opinion on "worth." But honestly I agree with this:

I guess what I'm saying is there is NO WRONG way to stay and play at Disneyland. Stop poking each other with sticks. We're all here for the same reason.

 

[taniahappy]

I would much rather keep my AP and be able to go any day I want than spend crazy money to stay on site, not saying that, if money was no issue at all, I wouldnt do it, of course!

It depends on what your priorities are, and if just being there makes me happy, why stress?