Info on the resorts?

[corvair]

Hi....we always go to WDW, but in Nov. we are going to be in calif. so we thought we would go to disneyland for a couple days....My question is...where are some good sites to check out the resorts...we want to stay on site....I know the one resort you can walk to the park...can you walk from the other 2 resorts also? and I read somewhere about a monarail..does this go to the on site resorts...any help would be good....thanks...amy

 

[HydroGuy]

Monorail will be down in November. See www.riderefurbs.com.

I am a DLR vet who just got back from my first trip to WDW. IMO, staying onsite at one of the three DLR hotels does not carry the same advantage as it does in WDW. In fact, you make life harder on yourself if you stay at DLH or DLPP because the walk to DL is more substantial. The GCH is of course right there.

Staying off-site at DLR does not carry the same minor stigma as it does at WDW. WDW vets like to talk about Disney "immersion", but it is just not the same at DLR. We stayed at the DLH once in 2000 and have stayed at some of the good neighbor hotels since then. Heck, we stay right across the street so once we cross a cross-walk on Harbor we are on Disney property - about a 30 second walk.

Most of the good neighbors have some minor DL theming so it is not like you are far away. One of the hugest advantages of staying at DL's GCH or one of the close by good neighbors is the ability to walk everywhere and do it quickly. Check out this map of local hotels around DLR:

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

We stayed twice, for example, at the (Best Western) Park Place Inn on Harbor. From our room to the DL and DCA gate was a 10 minute walk maximum. No waiting for buses or boats or monorails.

And the distance from the DL gate to the DCA gate is about a one minute walk. And from these gates the distance to DownTown Disney is about one minute.

If you choose the right hotel, moving around DLR and DTD is extremely fast and efficient, and park hopping is extremely fast and efficient.

Some people do not realize this and choose a hotel that is a little further away. We did this in 2003 when we stayed at the nice Howard Johnsons. It added 5-7 minutes to the walk each way, and when you add that we take afternoon breaks every day it took its toll. Never again for us. We will always stay right there on Harbor or - some day - at GCH. As a side note I would like to try GCH but we have four kids and the DLR hotels are set up for families of 5 or less. So we would get stuck having to get two rooms or some super expensive suite. So no GCH until we have money to burn or a smaller group.

Edited typo - in bold

 

[disneyfreak75]

Last time we went we stayed at a hotel that was called "Maingate" (can't recall the full name, but it certainly wasn't close to Disney. it was a long walk to the maingate.

I've stayed at the carousel inn and it was very close to the maingate. In researching for our next trip, I see that the candy cane inn is quite popular and has good ratings on tripadvisor.com.

hydroguy is right that you can stay "offsite" at DL and not have to worry about transportation like WDW. When we were at WDW 2 years ago for our honeymoon, it wasn't even a question if we would stay in a DLR.

 

[corvair]

We are going to stay at one of the disney resorts...and we like to have very easy access...so I guess that GCH would be our best choice? Is that the most convenient?....thanks...for the replies....amy

 

[amw]

We are going to stay at one of the disney resorts...and we like to have very easy access...so I guess that GCH would be our best choice? Is that the most convenient?....thanks...for the replies....amy

People aren't trying to disway you from onsite, but at DLR, easy access means offsite -- those hotels are often closer. Here's a link to a map of hotels:

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/default.asp

Otherwise, here are some websites with info/pics of the Disney hotels:
http://kingdommagictravel.com/disneyland/hotels/anaheim_hotels.htm
http://www.dlresortinfo.com/
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/acc/acc.htm

 

[corvair]

Thanks so much...that map is great....that info is just what I need....I have only been to WDW, we are DVC members and go quite often, but disneyland is all new to me.....I am looking forward to learning everything about Disneyland and the resorts... amy

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

At this point we won't stay anywhere that isn't onsite. Even if it is more of a walk, the whole atmosphere and the quality of service we get onsite is just so much better then what we've experienced at any of the motels around Disneyland. When we go the Monorail is usually running, so that makes it very easy for us to get back to DLH for breaks and at the end of the day when we are tired. We usually walk DTD if the Monorail line is too big in the morning. No it's no 30 seconds, but we leave a few minutes early, and I actually enjoy looking around as we make our way.

So I guess it just depends on what you are looking for. Being THAT close is nice, but not priority for us. I'd rather have all the perks of staying onsite, and if being that close was an issue I'd stay at GCH. Since it's right there. We've done both GCH and DLH, and we like both. That's just been our experience though, our best vacation experiences were when we stayed onsite.

 

[darph nader]

Just spend the next 22hrs on disboards and every question you could ever think of will be answered.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are going to stay at one of the disney resorts...and we like to have very easy access...so I guess that GCH would be our best choice? Is that the most convenient?....thanks...for the replies....amy

You will probably get different answers - and you only have three onsite choices at DLR - but if it were me GCH would be a no-brainer. It is the nicest hotel of the three and its location cannot be beat.

 

[HydroGuy]

At this point we won't stay anywhere that isn't onsite. Even if it is more of a walk, the whole atmosphere and the quality of service we get onsite is just so much better then what we've experienced at any of the motels around Disneyland. When we go the Monorail is usually running, so that makes it very easy for us to get back to DLH for breaks and at the end of the day when we are tired. We usually walk DTD if the Monorail line is too big in the morning. No it's no 30 seconds, but we leave a few minutes early, and I actually enjoy looking around as we make our way.

So I guess it just depends on what you are looking for. Being THAT close is nice, but not priority for us. I'd rather have all the perks of staying onsite, and if being that close was an issue I'd stay at GCH. Since it's right there. We've done both GCH and DLH, and we like both. That's just been our experience though, our best vacation experiences were when we stayed onsite.

Different strokes for different folks. I have no desire to disagree with Jen. At WDW people look at it more like a vacation, and the hotel plays a bigger role for most people. At DLR it is not so much of a vacation spot in the same sense as WDW - and we found out when we stayed at the DLH that we primarily use the hotel for sleeping. If we are awake, we are at the parks. Other people like to be more leisurely and spend more time at the hotel - in which case a nicer hotel and/or a DLR hotel makes more sense. But I think these types of people may be in the majority at WDW and are in the minority at DLR.

Also at WDW on-site one of the perks is not needing a car. So when we went last week we did not rent a car. This compensated for the cost difference between WDW off-site and on-site. At DLR no such advantage exists for the on-site hotels.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Different strokes for different folks. I have no desire to disagree with Jen. At WDW people look at it more like a vacation, and the hotel plays a bigger role for most people. At DLR it is not so much of a vacation spot in the same sense as WDW - and we found out when we stayed at the DLH that we primarily use the hotel for sleeping. If we are awake, we are at the parks. Other people like to be more leisurely and spend more time at the hotel - in which case a nicer hotel and/or a DLR hotel makes more sense. But I think these types of people may be in the majority at WDW and are in the minority at DLR.

Also at WDW on-site one of the perks is not needing a car. So when we went last week we did not rent a car. This compensated for the cost difference between WDW off-site and on-site. At DLR no such advantage exists for the on-site hotels.

We mainly feel this way due to the poor experiences we've had staying offsite, which we have mainly done for years (well all of my life really). Just the basics is what I expect. A clean room, running water, a working phone and TV. Feeling safe around the motel, enough to walk back at 11pm. Working elevators and nice helpful staff. A pool that doesn't have broken sharp tiles around it. Not being woke up at 3 am by an alarm next door (with no one there) and it taking 2 1/2 hours for staff to go turn it off. Not asking much, but those are some of the issues we had staying offsite the last 3 years (all different places). So for those reasons alone we only want to stay onsite now.

I can only imagine that if we had continued to have good experiences offsite we would have continued to stay offsite. But the issues we had began to put a damper on our vacations, and we found the extra money to stay onsite as worth it. Even if we have to take the monorail or walk through DTD. But I agree it is a matter of different strokes for different folks!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I love staying onsite at Disneyland and have stayed at all three hotels. The Disneyland Hotel wins for me as far as fun, Disney immersed theming. The GCH wins for location and level of service. PP is fun and very nice and much cheaper as a rule of thumb but comes in third, still I love it and would stay there again. The biggest plus for staying onsite at DL is EE each day it is offered. We were there last week, and with crowds and the heat it was nice that we got to do EE each day they had it. We have AP's so EE would never have been an option for us if we hadn't been onsite. Park Hopper tickets get you one EE day only. Another nice perk to being onsite is the pool areas are much nicer. Offsite, near to Disneyland, you will be staying at an older MOTEL with a standard, older motel style square pool. No slides, no pool bar and most don't have kiddie pools (the HoJo does). To me its all about what you are willing to pay. Not necessarily what you can afford because many people can easily afford to stay onsite but don't want to pay that much and I see their point since sometimes we stay offsite too. However, I find that when we stay onsite, we enjoy the perks and I never think while I am there "Oh this isn't worth it, I wish we would have stayed offsite and saved the money". Once I decide to shell it out, I am happy and there's no turning back! On the other hand, I enjoy my time at the parks just as much when I stay on Harbor. If you are "resort" type people who like perks and will use them, stay onsite and enjoy yourself. If you think you will spend each and every hour possible at the parks and never swim, don't think you would use EE and just need a place to shower and sleep, save the money and know you will still have a great trip. Good luck!

Corvair, I will second that if you are looking for convenience, GCH is your best bet. However, DLH is not a far walk and neither is PP. Even without the monorail (which we hardly ever use since we like to begin and end our day on Main Street), I don't think I would ever classify the DLH or PP as "inconvenient". And bear in mind, you may do a bit of walking when you stay at those hotels (as in 10-15 minutes at a leisurely pace) but you are walking up DTD which is very nice, not up and down a busy street, complete with traffic and noise, hardly magical. So I would rather walk 15 minutes on DTD than 5-7 up Harbor. The rooms at the DLH and PP are more spacious and lighter, the GCH rooms have some more luxorious touches and you do get a nightly turndown service which is very nice. The GCH you will also get a balcony which is very nice.

 

[my3kids]

We are going to stay at one of the disney resorts...and we like to have very easy access...so I guess that GCH would be our best choice? Is that the most convenient?....thanks...for the replies....amy

We atayed at DLH and never felt ;ike it was anything but "right there." We loved the short walk to the parks, right through downtown disney. It was always fun and we loved DLH. The DLH rooms are larger than GC, if that matters. And if you have 3 kids or in any way a party of 5 they won't guarantee a bed for the 5th person....something that shocked me that I learned from here recently when trying to book a concierge stay.

 

[corvair]

Thanks so much for all the replies ...I know we want to stay on site, just not sure which resort.....sounds like all 3 are nice ...Is GCH the only hotel with balconys? thanks....amy

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks so much for all the replies ...I know we want to stay on site, just not sure which resort.....sounds like all 3 are nice ...Is GCH the only hotel with balconys? thanks....amy

Yes, only GCH has balconies. Although they have a very few rooms (something like 12 total) that don't. The DLH rooms have sliding doors to allow in the fresh air, but no balcony. At PP there are a very few rooms that are on the second floor, adjacent to the pool deck that have patios with chairs. You wouldn't have much privacy since its right there at the pool but you would have outdoor seating. All the other rooms at PP have windows that do not open. Also, as someone else stated, GCH cannot guarantee a bed for a fifth person. Our room had a bunkbed with a trundle so we could have slept three kids fine but not all of them have that. Some have daybeds. If you don't get a bunk or daybed room they will provide a sleeping bag. The DLH has rooms with daybeds, if you don't get one, they will provide a rollaway for free. PP rooms have sofas that make into a very comfortable twin bed. Have you checked out the sticky on this board titled DLR Information? It has lots of photos of the three onsite hotels and their grounds, rooms and pools. Good luck with your decision!

 

[my3kids]

The DLH isn't exactly a balcony but it is something that can stood on. Maybe a foot or so deep outside the sliding doors. We stood next to the railing to watch fireworks. There is definatley not a table seating outside, but I'm pretty sure I remember standing outside.