More hotel help and a possible intervention please

[eeyora68]

We started with Motel 6 Main gate 3/29-4/1 for 300.00 then I got a reservation at Desert Inn and Suites for 768.00 we were trying to keep the price down but I talked my husband into it since it is close and has breakfast, now I am have a reservation at Grand California with a friends and family rate 1242.00. Am I crazy? We used to stay at Hilton Properties as I worked for them and got great rates or at HOJO's with retro rates. I am now a stay at home mom,my husband works 6 sometimes 7 days a week 11 hour days so Vacations are when he gets to see the kids. We have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel 2 years ago but never the Grand California, we have 3 kids 13, 8, and a 6 year old with ADHD who doesn't like to walk and it seems so convenient to go swimming in the middle of the day and then go back to the Parks. Please help me! I haven't cancelled any reservations yet.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I stayed at Motel 6 Main Gate last year and I'm going to stay there again this year. There is a pool at the hotel, which seemed popular last year, when I was checking out around 1pm, there were lots of families at the pool.

There is a shuttle bus to the park, I think I paid about $10 maybe less?? for a 6 journey ticket to the park. There is no breakfast but they do have a snack area with vending machines.

 

[Geemo]

The GCH is an additional $474.
Look at your budget and if it works.... then it works.

I've stayed on-site when my budget worked. I've stayed off-site when it didn't. Enjoyed the trips both ways.

I would stay with the DI&S and use the money for other things Disney.

Geemo

 

[YukonMommy]

I personally would not spend the extra $400-$900 on a hotel room, especially if you are trying to keep the cost down. For me I would rather use the money on something else.
Whatever you choose to do I hope you have the most magical time!

 

[Angrose]

It sounds like the Desert Inn & Suites is a happy medium between the other two extremes. It's right across the street from the entrance on Harbor, so very close and a super easy walk to go back for an afternoon break. It sounds like you guys would be really stretching your budget to stay at GCH. You could use that money in other ways inside the parks, like perhaps a Fantasmic! dining package so you don't have to line up early or even on a character breakfast.
I hear you though, we stayed at the DLH in November for the first time and it was a bummer to go back to the Tropicana this past weekend. BUT, the walk was even better than from the DLH, so that was all that really mattered to me in the end. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.
Good luck with your decision!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

My husband sounds like your husbands schedule. He works his butt off year round putting in long hours. So, when we go on vacation he really wants to have an amazing time and not nickel and dime ourselves. I say if you can afford it, then do it.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Here're my two cents...

The first thing to look at is what you can afford. If you can afford it, then go with your gut. Will you walk by the GCH every day wishing you were staying there instead of Motel 6 or Desert Inn? I did that on my January trip. I opted for PPH club level over GCH standard and regretted it the whole time. It really comes down to what works best for your family. How does your husband feel about it? Does he want to schlep all the stuff to the room, or would he prefer bell service? Do you want the option of room service? Will the option of having packages delivered to you hotel so you don't have to carry them around the park make a big difference in your day? Will you use early entry? I'd you answer yes to a majority of those questions, go with GCH. If not, go with Desert Inn. I'd dump Motel 6 off the list with young kids and one who doesn't like to walk.

 

[motor58]

eeyora68-It's a slippery slope! I swear that is how it is here reading the boards. Start off with $ hotel, then $$ hotel, then $$$ hotel. I am laughing over here and also you have made me feel better cause I have the same thing going on.

We also have 3 kids and have been to dl twice before staying on harbor (hojo kid suite and desert inn). I currently have rsvps for Park Vue Inn and Grand Californian for our Dec trip. About 4 days ago I also had the Disneyland Hotel reserved too, but I canceled that one. For our trip, 5 nights, the Grand is $1000 more than Park Vue Inn. And the Grand is a single room and Park Vue Inn is 2 rooms. But I still want to do the Grand. I feel like the first two trips I couldn't conceive of spending that much for onsite (I am at heart a cheap bastard) but we are saving all year for this December trip and when I broke it down that way it was doable. I obviously am still on fence cause I still have both reservations and I think I am really going to try to do the Grand this time.

But for the Desert Inn: The walk from Desert Inn is FANTASTIC. We didn't have good luck there last year and won't stay again, but really the price and location can NOT be beat.

That said, if you can swing the grand californian, go for it. Then come back here and tell me all about it, esp with the 3 kids in a room. We've never stayed at a hotel with our kids in a room.... I am a little scared.

 

[Tricia's mom]

This is not a once in a life time trip. I never throw money around on vacation. I don't say Hey, I am on vacation.....if I did I would never have opportunities to go on vacation. Nothing is worse than coming home to those bills....
I know it sounds nice to stay at the GC.
Do the EMH have that much value to you ? Will you utilize the resort to justify the price.... With the money you don't spend could you stay a night or two in a hotel for a weekend getaway near to home ?

 

[Imdboss]

So I'm guessing you may already have an idea of which one you are going to choose but want opinions/advice to push you to your decision. That being said here's my two cents worth:

We go once a year to DL and I can't justify the added cost of staying on property. We did once at DLH for my 30th before their remodel and we're totally unimpressed and didn't find it worth it. We can afford to stay at GCH but choose not to. I rather stay at a moderate priced hotel and spend the money in the parks or other vacations. Not to mention we are in the room basically just to sleep. Last year we stayed at DoubleTree and walked to the park most days then took ART back at night, that worked for my family. We go back to the room most days for a nap but never use the pool unless it's a non park day so pool time isn't a factor for us. Lastly we aren't early risers so the EE isn't a factor either. We are more stay until park closes people.

Hope everyone's input helps you out!

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

My husband sounds like your husbands schedule. He works his butt off year round putting in long hours. So, when we go on vacation he really wants to have an amazing time and not nickel and dime ourselves. I say if you can afford it, then do it.

My husband is the exact same way! To us, the extra cost is well worth it!

 

[Geemo]

You didn't say what room type you have at the DI&S. They do have a variety of rooms for a family or 5, with everyone in a bed.

The GCH is more limited for a family of 5. Even though the GCH does allow 5 people to a standard room, not all of the rooms have a bed for the 5th person.

There are two types of standard rooms that will sleep 5 people in beds and there are only a few of these. One has 1-Queen bed and a set of bunks with 3 beds. The other has 2-Queen beds and a daybed. If you get a room with only 2-Queen beds you'll be give a couple of mats and a sleeping bag for the 5th person.

You can request a specific room type but they won't guarantee you'll get it.

I know I wouldn't want to pay that much and have someone sleeping on the floor.
If you go with the GCH I wish you luck on a room that will sleep 5 in beds.

 

[rentayenta]

Here're my two cents...

The first thing to look at is what you can afford. If you can afford it, then go with your gut. Will you walk by the GCH every day wishing you were staying there instead of Motel 6 or Desert Inn? I did that on my January trip. I opted for PPH club level over GCH standard and regretted it the whole time. It really comes down to what works best for your family. How does your husband feel about it? Does he want to schlep all the stuff to the room, or would he prefer bell service? Do you want the option of room service? Will the option of having packages delivered to you hotel so you don't have to carry them around the park make a big difference in your day? Will you use early entry? I'd you answer yes to a majority of those questions, go with GCH. If not, go with Desert Inn. I'd dump Motel 6 off the list with young kids and one who doesn't like to walk.

We usually stay at the GCV but we are out of points and will be staying off property this next trip (or 3)....I am so afraid I am going to long for our beloved GCV.

 

[amyg1975]

For that price for GCV, I would jump on it! I am there for the same time, but an additional night and the price was $2700!

 

[bumbershoot]

We started with Motel 6 Main gate 3/29-4/1 for 300.00 .....Desert Inn and Suites for 768.00 ... I talked my husband into it since it is close and has breakfast.....Grand California with a friends and family rate 1242.00. Am I crazy?

Yes you're crazy.

I would have zero problem staying at the Motel 6, not even a twinge of difficulty. It's pretty much the best MOtel 6 in the country, it was the first to be renovated to the Euro style, and it's not that far away. And...$300? Seriously? Put the other nearly $1000 into a savings account and save it for the NEXT vacation.

I am now a stay at home mom,my husband works 6 sometimes 7 days a week 11 hour days so Vacations are when he gets to see the kids.

And 1K towards the next vacation would be lovely.

it seems so convenient to go swimming in the middle of the day and then go back to the Parks

Desert Inn is going to be closer, from anywhere except deep in DCA, than the Grand will be. If you have gone swimming in the middle of the day, and if your family can actually get back to the plans after swimming (we can't, swimming knocks us out), and if swimming is the biggest thing you want, go for Desert Inn. And put the 1242-768 into a savings account.

Will you walk by the GCH every day wishing you were staying there instead of Motel 6 or Desert Inn?

Not with those hotels, they won't go near them.

This is not a once in a life time trip. I never throw money around on vacation. I don't say Hey, I am on vacation.....if I did I would never have opportunities to go on vacation. Nothing is worse than coming home to those bills....

Yes yes and yes. Darned bills.

 

[Eeee-va]

I briefly visited the Grand Californian on Tuesday. Currently, Condor Flats is walled off, and my understanding is that it will remain walled off during your trip. If so, that means that it is a fairly substantial walk from most of DCA to the entrance to the hotel that is in DCA, since you can't pass through the area that goes past Soarin'. Right now, you have to walk through the whole Grizzly Peak area and you come out near Ariel's Undersea Adventure in Paradise Pier. So if you want to do Hollywood Land for Frozen Fun or maybe even Cars Land, it's probably not much of a time savings to stay at the Grand Californian, even if you get a room in a convenient location to the parks. And I'm pretty sure that currently, you can't save any time/hassle by going from Disneyland through DCA to the Grand Californian, but that it'd be faster to walk out of Disneyland through Downtown Disney, which is fine but not as magical to me as staying in the theme parks. (The walk to the Grand Californian through DCA is not UNPLEASANT, but it's not convenient and to my tired feet, anyway, it was not very short.)

They also appeared to be doing construction on one of the pools, I think it was, at about 1 PM. The noise was so loud that children walking past were covering their ears (and me too!). I imagine that if they booked any rooms in that area, it may have been difficult for those guests to nap.

My mom and I both commented that if we had stretched our budget to stay at the Grand Californian this trip, we would have been rather disappointed. It's a gorgeous hotel and I don't think I would have regretted staying there, per se, but it wasn't the peaceful and convenient getaway it usually is, and I might have wished I hadn't splurged during this particular trip.

In your case, I would personally go with the Desert Inn and Suites (but if "walking distance" doesn't matter to you, I see no problem with Motel 6). No, the walk across the street to the Desert Inn and Suites is in no way "magical," but it very well may be more convenient and quicker.

If you do want to stay on property, then if you could get a good rate at the Disneyland Hotel or even the Paradise Pier, that might be a good idea. But if money is any sort of object, I personally wouldn't stay at the Grand Californian until the refurbishment walls are down by Soarin'. (Again, I don't think they'll be down for a while, but if I'm wrong, that might change my answer.)

 

[4Mickeys]

I understand your desire to stay in a really nice hotel for your holiday. I also like a little luxury sometimes, but on our holiday last year opted to stay at the Desert Inn and Suites and have that extra money for other things in DL - as well as other parts of our trip. DI&S is a short walk and we were really happy with our stay with them.

 

[Eddygirl]

My $0.02....

We stay off site at DL. We like the SP off Katella and Harbour and enjoy the walk and do not find it "unmagical" at all. We go rope drop, return for a swim and rest early afternoon and return to the parks for the evening.

We save for our trips in advance and are heading down in a few days. We actually have enough to stay at the GC or DLH but would much rather keep that money in the Disney account for our next trip. Now DW is a different story we can justify staying onsite there and will do so again on our next trip.

The DI&S is practically across the street and might actually be a closer walk depending on where your room is at the GC.

There is no wrong answer... Do what is right for you and your family. .

 

[rentayenta]

Eee-va, any word on how long the walk will be blocked off?

 

[KalamityJane]

We were just at GCH beginning of Feb with the walls up at Condor Flats. It was still very convenient. We have stayed there with the walls down and it is more convenient. That being said, I'm spoiled staying at the GCH now! I would say, stay there if you are prepared to want to stay there in the future