Just can't justify it... staying onsite

[ncarrier]

We're heading back to DL in October for the 3rd time and this time doing a split stay between GCH and DLH. In 2008 we stayed across the street at the Desert Inn for our very first trip. We had a blast and the hotel was fine . In 2010 I found a pretty great deal on the DLH so we stayed there. It was amazing. I didn't expect too many extras other than a birthday button for my daughter (which we did get) and we were just hooked.

The simplest way I can sum up the difference for us was the one day we were in DL in the afternoon and it was hot and starting to get pretty busy. My husband and daughter (10 years old at that time) all looked at each other and said "We'd rather go back to the DLH for a swim!!!". The hotel was under massive renovations back then with walls up and half the pool boarded off but there was something there that I cannot put my finger on that just made us happy to be there. And on a side note- I don't even like swimming so I just hung out and watched lol!

Our trip this October just about made me choke when I seen the room prices. The problem is- now we know what we're missing if we don't stay on site again lol. Money and value are subjective. I can tell you that I have searched and scrounged for a year to come up with the few discounts I have found and still would never pay that kind of price for just about anywhere other than the DLR onsite hotels.

I completely agree- a hotel room IS just a hotel room. It is the general atmosphere complete with the pool, grounds and hotel theme that had us hooked. We're coming from Alberta Canada and pricewise with flights can only work in a trip every two years. Had we had to choose this year between onsite and offsite making or breaking our trip, I really think that we probably would've pushed the trip another year until we could afford onsite. Our stay onsite turned our trip into more of a true vacation with relax time built in as we just didn't really feel like we were missing out on as much by being at the DLH as we would've if we had stayed across the street again.

Having said that, if was either offsite or no trip for years... it's Disneyland. Wherever you stay, you will still be going to the most magical place on Earth .So I guess I just want to add a disclaimer- be careful! Once you stay onsite you may not have a choice in where you want to stay for future visits lol!!

 

[whoever]

So I guess I just want to add a disclaimer- be careful! Once you stay onsite you may not have a choice in where you want to stay for future visits lol!!

THIS!!! Our first trip as a family was at the Grand and we've never stayed anywhere else.

 

[Califlove]

Agreed. We first stayed at the Grand. Then tried DLH and liked that too. This trip is back to the Grand to rent a DVC villa. Can't go wrong with staying onsite in my opinion. And I can't really explain that feeling of staying in the bubble but is AmAzInG

 

[happiest in Disney]

Hi, I have to respond to your justifying not staying on property.... with reasons I wouldn never ever stay off property again.

my first visit to Disney back in 1972, we stayed off property, because it was so new and no availability. IT is just not worth it to stay off property.

Reasons to stay on property:
#1 YOU NEVER LEAVE THE MAGIC- when you stay off property you travel out of the Magic and deal with the normal frustrated people that are not experiencing happiness within the "Disney World " Rhelm, traffic jams, irritation. rudeness, etc. i'm sure you get my drift.

#2 you miss out on early/late Magic hours, that are only for guests of Disney resorts.

#3 travel time getting into Disney, even if you stay outside the gates you are still MILES away from the World.

#4 the Disney resorts are themed so wonderfully that you just feel awesome when you arrive and throughout your stay, plus the service is top notch. Nothing is ever a problem and they are there to treat you with the utmost of hospitality.
Every Cast member you encounter you get "good morning sir mam", smiles, and genuine warmth.

#5 FAST PASS SELECTIONS can be done 60 days prior to arrival date, if you stay off property you cannot make them until you arrive. that alone should be reason enough. ( at Disney World)


hope you decide to stay on property, you surely won't want to ever stay off property again.....

Faith, love and Pixie dust..... Yes I guess I drank the coolaid.....

 

[mummabear]

Hi, I have to respond to your justifying not staying on property.... with reasons I wouldn never ever stay off property again.

my first visit to Disney back in 1972, we stayed off property, because it was so new and no availability. IT is just not worth it to stay off property.

Reasons to stay on property:
#1 YOU NEVER LEAVE THE MAGIC- when you stay off property you travel out of the Magic and deal with the normal frustrated people that are not experiencing happiness within the "Disney World " Rhelm, traffic jams, irritation. rudeness, etc. i'm sure you get my drift.

#2 you miss out on early/late Magic hours, that are only for guests of Disney resorts.

#3 travel time getting into Disney, even if you stay outside the gates you are still MILES away from the World.

#4 the Disney resorts are themed so wonderfully that you just feel awesome when you arrive and throughout your stay, plus the service is top notch. Nothing is ever a problem and they are there to treat you with the utmost of hospitality.
Every Cast member you encounter you get "good morning sir mam", smiles, and genuine warmth.

#5 FAST PASS SELECTIONS can be done 60 days prior to arrival date, if you stay off property you cannot make them until you arrive. that alone should be reason enough. ( at Disney World)


hope you decide to stay on property, you surely won't want to ever stay off property again.....

Faith, love and Pixie dust..... Yes I guess I drank the coolaid.....

These are great reasons to stay onsite at WDW, however for DLH 3&5 are irrelevant.

 

[happiest in Disney]

These are great reasons to stay onsite at WDW, however for DLH 3&5 are irrelevant.

yes I realize this after I was posting...forgetting I was on Disneyland... but still great to stay on property .... for the experience just once... let the experience determine future stays....

 

[Malcon10t]

I would also like to know.

Jack

Sorry, I don't check all the threads every day, and this must have rolled off the first page before I saw it.

It is a convention rate, similar to Dapper Days. A few of us are coming down for the Produce council meeting, then lunch in the park....

A friend just booked a room at DLH military rate for July 4-6 at $240 a night.

 

[Blue32]

Sorry, I don't check all the threads every day, and this must have rolled off the first page before I saw it.

It is a convention rate, similar to Dapper Days. A few of us are coming down for the Produce council meeting, then lunch in the park....

A friend just booked a room at DLH military rate for July 4-6 at $240 a night.

Is this a convention AT the DLH? Just curious.

 

[proud_canadian]

We have been to Orlando twice as a family and to Anaheim once. We never even considered staying onsite, not even at WDW. For us, we just don't sleep well if we are all in the same room. It is ok in desperation for a night or two, but we really try to avoid staying in a small room. For a week, it is just so much more a vacation to us, if we can have the kids have their own rooms (or at least share). They need their sleep, and the vacation is so much more enjoyable when everyone is well rested. We always rent a place with a kitchen and we love being able to have a proper breakfast (without costing a fortune) and always make a few dinners at the rental. For us, our systems just cannot handle eating out every meal for a week. Plus it saves a bundle. We also really enjoy having our own washer and dryer, so we can pack lightly, and wash clothing as necessary. Plus, at the end of a packed day at the parks, it is just so relaxing being able to sprawl on on some couches, not sitting on beds, lol. And multiple bathrooms to get ready is a must. Also, usually the places we rent even have their own pool or hot tub, so we can cook dinner, or relax while the kids unwind in the pool. It's a win-win. I never even considered staying in a cramped 500 (or less??) sq feet room, when I could stay in a place 3 times the size for half the price!

However, I may be coming to Anaheim this year again, this time on business, and my company may be paying for me to stay at DLH. If I do go, I am very interested to see what the fuss is all about.

I am curious though about the perks everyone keeps mentioning about on site:
1) For EMH, the only thing you can get onsite that you can't get offsite, is early entry to DCA. Because with magic morning tickets so readily available, most guests get early entry to DL during their stay. However, when we went last year, we found that we go just as much done being at rope drop for DL on a non early entry day, as we did being at rope drop for MM. It would be nice getting early entry to DCA, but we entered DCA on a non early entry day, right at rope drop and were able to do everything we wanted.
2) Disney touches, a lot of the offsite places, like the rental place we rented, have Disney touches everywhere too Disney artwork, Disney themed rooms, Disney games and toys, Disney, Disney, Disney
3) As for proximity, I have heard that many of the offsite places are just as close as onsite! However, when we went, we rented so we just drove to the parking garage (the rental we rented gave us free parking vouchers).
4) Cool pools, I do admit DLH has some cool pools, but to be honest with you, we don't really have a lot of time for swimming on our trips! But it is not worth double the cost of vacation for a waterslide!

Anyways, if I do go to DLH this year on business, I will have DH and the kids meet me there for a night or two so they can see what it is about, but the real vacation won't start till we can sprawl out in our rental and get a great night's sleep!

 

[momof2n2]

We have been to Orlando twice as a family and to Anaheim once. We never even considered staying onsite, not even at WDW. For us, we just don't sleep well if we are all in the same room. It is ok in desperation for a night or two, but we really try to avoid staying in a small room. For a week, it is just so much more a vacation to us, if we can have the kids have their own rooms (or at least share). They need their sleep, and the vacation is so much more enjoyable when everyone is well rested. We always rent a place with a kitchen and we love being able to have a proper breakfast (without costing a fortune) and always make a few dinners at the rental. For us, our systems just cannot handle eating out every meal for a week. Plus it saves a bundle. We also really enjoy having our own washer and dryer, so we can pack lightly, and wash clothing as necessary. Plus, at the end of a packed day at the parks, it is just so relaxing being able to sprawl on on some couches, not sitting on beds, lol. And multiple bathrooms to get ready is a must. Also, usually the places we rent even have their own pool or hot tub, so we can cook dinner, or relax while the kids unwind in the pool. It's a win-win. I never even considered staying in a cramped 500 (or less??) sq feet room, when I could stay in a place 3 times the size for half the price!

This is us, too.
My thing is when I am on vacation I want accommodations better than or equal to my home environment. It's why I don't camp. I don't share a bedroom with kids at home... I'm not interested in doing so on vacation. I like to get up earlier than they do & stay up later. I don't like poking around a hotel room with a flashlight looking for something as I'm trying not to wake them up. I can do 1-2 nights if I have to. We might even like it at someplace high-end. But the price tag is TOO HIGH to give it a whirl.