July Trip-Crowds and Hotel?

[emilymad]

We are thinking about heading to Southern California in July. We want to go to DL for a few days. I am hoping for 3 park days but it might end up being 2 full park days. I am assuming mid to end of July will be extremely crowded. Are the EMH for staying onsite worth it for this time of year?

We will probably take mid day breaks. I know that cuts into a lot of park time but is a necessity for DH.

It feels like staying onsite may be worth it??? We prefer nicer hotels ie, Hiltons, etc with nice pool areas which seem to be located a little further away.

We know we will not see and do everything but I want to maximize our time.

 

[gottalovepluto]

If you're looking to maximize your time onsite is your best option. DLR has extended hours to usually during summer so early entry at 7am & closing DL at midnight (DCA at 10pm) will leave you time for a pool break. DLH has the neatest pool, GCH just got remodeled so rooms are nice with a rainshower. PPH is the most economical (but by no means cheap!) way to stay onsite but is farthest away. Have you checked rates? I'm just making sure because there are no discounts that time of year & some people get sticker shock at DLR onsite prices. (We love EMH!)

I stayed Anaheim Hilton, was so happy to get to GCH next day. Not impressed, screamed "desperate need of remodel" to me, didn't see their pool. GCH & DLH will meet the standards of nice hotel. I haven't stayed PPH so idk.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

We rarely stay onsite because we do not spend much time in the hotels. If you are planning on spending more time at the hotel just resting and soaking it in, then the onsite hotels may accommodate you nicely. The early entry perk from staying onsite almost invariably is the deciding factor for us versus good neighbor hotels. If you normally budget for premium rooms-then I would say go for it. It will be busy at end of July and I would strongly suggest at least three days in the parks if at all possible. With early entry, afternoon breaks, and then returning to the parks for the afternoons/evenings, you will be able to still do quite a bit while also avoiding the hottest part of the day. The earlier the EMH the better, 7am entry is magical as far as crowd levels.

The Grand California is the closest onsite hotel and has a very nice pool area and some excellent restaurants, one of our top 3 resort-wide favorites is Napa Rose. Be aware that you do have to walk through Downtown Disney to get to the parks, but you can take the monorail once the park opens-something you might want to do when you go back to your room for a break. The Disneyland Hotel is a little further away, but the rooms are actually bigger, and there is a nice pool area there too. They have one of our top 3 resort-wide restaurants, Steakhouse 55. I have only stayed at Paradise Pier once and I would pick from the other two onsite hotels 10 out of 10 times.

 

[emilymad]

Thanks! We know it is $$$$ to stay onsite but most of the trip we will be using hotel points so I think it will balance out. Coming from the East coast we get to CA very rarely so while not a once in a lifetime trip it will be a long time before we are back. We are not used to the parks at peak times so we want to plan for what is best and then worry about the money which is probably backwards.

We don't mind getting up early so I think the EMH's could work for us. We were leaning towards the DLH since the price difference could maybe get us the extra park day.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Thanks! We know it is $$$$ to stay onsite but most of the trip we will be using hotel points so I think it will balance out. Coming from the East coast we get to CA very rarely so while not a once in a lifetime trip it will be a long time before we are back. We are not used to the parks at peak times so we want to plan for what is best and then worry about the money which is probably backwards.

We don't mind getting up early so I think the EMH's could work for us. We were leaning towards the DLH since the price difference could maybe get us the extra park day.

DLH + extra park day = perfection!

 

[emilymad]

DLH + extra park day = perfection!

Now just to convince DH! Since we go to WDW all of the time he thinks it all the same despite my arguments otherwise.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-dlr-area-hotel-for-you.3656512/
This thread has a lot of good info and insight on choosing a DLR hotel and on site vs. off site. At DLR, as compared to WDW, there are serious advantages to both.