Is it worth it to spend $600 more for Disneyland Hotel?

[jicarv]

Hi,

We are going to DL from 8/7-8/10 and I've been waiting to book a hotel because I thought that there would be a discount code for the Disney hotels. Since there is no discount from Disney, the best deal I can find is the Cheap tickets 20% coupon. PPH does not have any rooms available in their lower price category for that period, so that makes their rooms with a view cost the same as the lower room at DLH. Since we stayed at PPH last time, I think I would stay at DLH this time if staying at a Disney resort. The Cheap Tickets discount makes DLH $600 more than the Costco package for the Fairfield Inn (my offsite choice, since I usually stay at Marriotts when I travel). Is it worth spending the $600 more for DLH? Will our experience be greatly enhanced by staying at DLH?

Thanks!

 

[Girimama33]

For me, absolutely not! I could wisely use that money for a lot of special experiences during our trip for me and my family. Sure staying onsite is nice, and you get some perks, but not $600 worth in my opinion.
I too prefer to stay at FFI which is about the same distance as DLH...may be closer. I can usually get a room at FFI for less than $90/nt,

 

[Breyean]

Are they still offering the extra early opening (or whatever they are currently calling it) for on site guests?

If so, and if you really want to get a lot of rides done when the crowds are minimal, this is one perk of staying at DLH (or PPH) that could make a big big difference.

If you plan it correctly, you can get a ton of stuff done in that extra hour before the lines get crazy.

If they aren't offering it anymore, then forget this post!

 

[Astylla]

For $600 more..I'd say no.

While we recently changed our stay from PPH concierge to DLH upper resort view for 4 nights it was only a jump of about $180 for all 4 nights.

I would definitely go with the FFI for that savings and is praised very highly with a close walk.

 

[sonnyjane]

Unfortunately, as much as I'd enjoy staying on-site, $600 is just too much of a difference and I don't think you'd recoup it in early hours or "Disney" magic. Fairfield Inn isn't exactly a "dive" so I think I'd stick with that choice and enjoy having $600 for treats, souvenirs, and peace of mind

 

[Kauinohea]

Two year ago...I would have said "no way" to a price increase of $600....however, because we finally stayed at PPH during our last stay at Christmas....there is no way we'd stay off site again. Instead we now save up to pay the extra $ to stay on site. It really is a personal choice, and understandably not the right choice for everyone. surprisingly, my kids rather stay on site than have the option of side trips or promises or extra goodies too! We love the early morning entry every day it's offered and walking thru GCH and downtown Disney to get to the parks.....it's just a whole other experience from Harbor. Prior to PPH, we stayed either at FFI and the kids suites at Howard Johnson....both were great properties no doubt! They just aren't as Disney as the on property hotels.

 

[OneoftheMels]

If this is a special splurge, then I would say yes! We had booked the FFI but ended up staying at DH for about the same difference, $600 more. I worried as to if it was worth it or not, but for us, it definitely was! We enjoyed the resort, the pool, Trader Sams, the room. It made the trip really special and one to be remembered. For us it was well worth it but if you do it, make sure you take the time to enjoy where you are staying.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[egritz]

personally, it is not worth it. I would rather put that $ towards character meals or perhaps one (or more) tours. When we stayed at DLH in 2010 it was fine, but we only spend $160 more than it would have cost for the Ramada Maingate (I know, we scored a great deal through Southwest vacations!) The EMH were awesome and we did take advantage of them, but if the EMH is 7am that is REALLY early, and if you have late nights, you may not be taking advantage of them as often as you think you would, especially if you have kiddos/teenagers.

if you have the cash, though, then I would say why not? Basically, what else could that $600 go to pay for on your trip that would make it more special (or maybe towards your next trip???)

 

[ChloroFiend]

I count the DLH as one of the best overall hotels at which I've ever stayed. It's luxurious with just the right amount of Disney-touches.

We were lucky enough to be able to stay there on our first trip to DLR and it made for an utterly amazing experience.

Would I have paid $600 more for the weekend? Probably not. That's like 2 3-day park hoppers....or one hell of a tab at Trader Sam's.

 

[CaptainEIEIO]

In a word....No.

Personally I would not even have to ask that question. I would know the answer as soon as I saw the difference in price. Lets say you have a five day pass, thats an extra $120.00 a day for one hour more a day in the park each of those days. That just doesn't add up in my book especially since we only use the hotels as a place to sleep and spend as much time in the parks as we can. I would keep the extra 600 dollars and spend it on something else, especially since there are pleanty of nice off site hotels that are within walking distance.

 

[sonnyjane]

In a word....No.
.

Yeah, effectively this lol. If I had enough money to book DLH, I would just book DLH. If I was in a financial position where $600 actually DOES matter (which I am), I would keep my FFI ressie.

 

[hootey]

Yes, it is worth it! We have stayed off site many, many times and on site many times. We use all the amenities of the DLH, early entry, water slides/hot tubs, cafés, coffee shops, character meets, gift shops, complimentary park souvenir to DLH service, etc.. We treat the DLH as a resort and enjoy it. If all you are looking for is a shower and a place to sleep, stay at a good neighbor motel. If you like being at a resort, try the DLH. There are many reasons for staying at the DLH, I have listed only a few. Last spring we stayed at a good neighbor hotel for a quick four day trip, after we left, our son's politely asked if we could stay at the DLH for all future stays. We either stay at the DLH or we simply do not go.

 

[sjs314]

I say Yes! When we went there was no question about where to stay, had to be DL Hotel!

 

[Kauinohea]

Yes, it is worth it! We have stayed off site many, many times and on site many times. We use all the amenities of the DLH, early entry, water slides/hot tubs, cafés, coffee shops, character meets, gift shops, complimentary park souvenir to DLH service, etc.. We treat the DLH as a resort and enjoy it. If all you are looking for is a shower and a place to sleep, stay at a good neighbor motel. If you like being at a resort, try the DLH. There are many reasons for staying at the DLH, I have listed only a few. Last spring we stayed at a good neighbor hotel for a quick four day trip, after we left, our son's politely asked if we could stay at the DLH for all future stays. We either stay at the DLH or we simply do not go.

My daughters have the same request....they rather skip a visit and stay on site next time. I am thinking that we should have never stayed on site

 

[k3chantal]

Hi,

We are going to DL from 8/7-8/10 and I've been waiting to book a hotel because I thought that there would be a discount code for the Disney hotels. Since there is no discount from Disney, the best deal I can find is the Cheap tickets 20% coupon. PPH does not have any rooms available in their lower price category for that period, so that makes their rooms with a view cost the same as the lower room at DLH. Since we stayed at PPH last time, I think I would stay at DLH this time if staying at a Disney resort. The Cheap Tickets discount makes DLH $600 more than the Costco package for the Fairfield Inn (my offsite choice, since I usually stay at Marriotts when I travel). Is it worth spending the $600 more for DLH? Will our experience be greatly enhanced by staying at DLH?

Thanks!

I have stayed in the Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, PPH, and many of the Good Neighbor Hotels including all the Best Westerns that are in walking distance. We have had 'expensive' vacations to DL and less costly visits to DL depending on the year or length of stay.

Is it worth it? I love the on site hotels so much more than the surrounding properties. I love the pools and completely being surrounded by the ambience of Disney.
But I would rather have a visit and stay off site than not to visit at all.

Will you change your eating habits if you pay $600 dollars more to stay on site (whether that is paying more for food or not going to sit down restaurants on property?) Will spending that money make it impossible to get that cute shirt in DTD? Or will it not really make a difference in your overall monthly budget and you are just feel a little guilty splurging? Only you can answer these questions for yourself.......

 

[ND Disney Daddy]

It depends entirely on how important the $600 is to you, and how much staying at the DLH would mean to you.

If by "Is it worth an extra $600?" you are actually asking "Will I get an extra $600 worth of value out of staying at the DLH?", then the answer is no.

If you have to give up other portions of your vacation, like dining or souvenirs, in order to stay on-site, then again I would say no, it's not worth it.

However, if the $600 is an affordable add-on to your vacation, and if you think that staying at the Disneyland Hotel will enhance your trip and your memories, then I say go for it.

 

[mom2aredhead]

For my family... no.
Our "splurge" is going to be the Hyatt in Huntington Beach instead. I'd much rather spend the $$ to be beach front for 4 nights. In 3 trips, all of which were different times of year, I haven't found a "worth it" price for us to move to an onsite hotel yet.

 

[ToodlesRN]

I have stayed in the Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, PPH, and many of the Good Neighbor Hotels including all the Best Westerns that are in walking distance. We have had 'expensive' vacations to DL and less costly visits to DL depending on the year or length of stay.

Is it worth it? I love the on site hotels so much more than the surrounding properties. I love the pools and completely being surrounded by the ambience of Disney.
But I would rather have a visit and stay off site than not to visit at all.

Will you change your eating habits if you pay $600 dollars more to stay on site (whether that is paying more for food or not going to sit down restaurants on property?) Will spending that money make it impossible to get that cute shirt in DTD? Or will it not really make a difference in your overall monthly budget and you are just feel a little guilty splurging? Only you can answer these questions for yourself.......

I completely agree! We have stayed on and off site many times. If no rooms are available at the villas (DVC) I check cash prices and if its to expensive I book at the Howard Johnson across the street. As we would rather have a vacation vs no vacation and save my points for another trip later!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

WHOA! What is the new code for Cheap Tickets 20% off? I used "cheapbeach" to book the PPH for August, but now am switching to DLH. I called WDTC and used my AP discount for an upper-level resort-view room, but I'm hoping Cheap Tickets can beat the $416 price I am paying--which like you, is a $200/night splurge over where I could stay happily.

Here are the questions I would ask myself, after having a two-week DLR trip last year that ended with four nights at PPH, in a high-level PP view room with concierge, after 9 nights at the Residence Inn Maingate:
1) Will you effectively use EMH every day you are there? So, that means getting in line at the parks a good 90 minutes before the regular opening, so that you enter in a timely fashion when the EMH begins 60 minutes before the regular opening. (Which means you can NEVER use the GCH entrance for EMH, because every guest of the GCH is already therein a line that looks two hours long.) EMH is not useful if you and your family are people who don't get up extremely early (possibly because you went to bed early as well) or don't hustle well in the morning to get out that door, you will waste part of EMH waiting to enter and then be getting in lines to attractions where everyone beat you to it. Time of year matters, too. A 7am EMH and a 9am EMH are very different targets for a family to reach at DCA, for example. Can your crew do this three days in a row? How will it affect your evening plans and how late you stay in the parks if your goal is to make EMH each day?

2) Will you really use the amenities and features of the hotel or do you spend all your time in the parks? DLH has three pools and two waterslides--but will you make time for them, or is your crew happy to cool off at GRR and keep trucking for another round on TSMM?

For my family, we do not hang out at the hotel enough to stay there for all of our five nights. It is mainly a place to eat outside the parks for less and a place to nap in the afternoon and sleep at night. We also really enjoy closing down the parks. Being the last ones on a ride can be as fun as being the first, like when all the CMs for RSR gather together like a big pit crew and whoop and cheer for the last cars coming in for the night or the CMs at MJJ let you and your young kids ride three times in a row (it's the toddlers fave ride) without getting off because there is no line. I also like being in the parks when it is cooler, there is no sun beating down on us, and the crowds thin out (but not so much on the handful of super-popular rides). But staying late means getting up early is next to impossible. (And my eldest has nine tardies on his June report card to prove that we always have trouble getting it in gear in the morning!)
So, for our coming trip, we will eat hardy breakfasts at the Residence Inn, enjoy all the space of a one-bedroom suite with a full-size dining table and a kitchen, and save $200 a night on the room--not to mention on the food they give us and the food we can keep and eat in a suite. We stayed at RI 9 nights and *never* made it to the (nice-looking) pool. Not when we could be at the parks!
Buuuuut, our last night will be at DLH. We are checking in at the crack of dawn to get our room keys and attend EMH, then returning to the hotel at lunch time to spend a good six hours enjoying the slides and everything else at the hotel, eating dinner before we return to the parks for a couple hours. Since we will be flying out the next day, we will retire early, watch the fireworks from room, and get up for EMH on our departure day before checking out and heading for the airport. So that's how I justify the cost (using two EMHs for one night's stay, getting to see one last night of fireworks without having to stay late in the park itself, and spending a good part of the day at the hotel) for a one-night splurge. YMMV. Either way, you will have a great time.

 

[k3chantal]

I completely agree! We have stayed on and off site many times. If no rooms are available at the villas (DVC) I check cash prices and if its to expensive I book at the Howard Johnson across the street. As we would rather have a vacation vs no vacation and save my points for another trip later!

That's the beauty of DVC. We are members too and know that we will definitely be back on site using points so no worries if it doesn't happen every time..........