My trip to DLR, stayed at DLH..wasn't really pleased..

[Susycakes]

Hi all,

We went to DLR from Sep17-21 and spent 3 days in the park. We stayed at DLH. I was unpleased with our room..there is nothing special about that room..yes it was the 'newer' room with the headboard that lights up and sings..but other than that there wasn't anything really special about it. Actually the room was kind of small. It didn't feel like it was worth the price we paid. It wasn't as close as I thought it would be..

Construction was a real pain..there was no available laundry room. I have a 3 yo so we def ended up having to do some washing...I had to lug it to PPH. It was a nightmare. I have a disability..after I got there I was told I could ask for a ride at the valet to get back..that was a relief.

Getting to DL wasn't too bad, the monorail is close and puts you right into the park. Getting to DCA was such a LONG walk! I was exhausted before I started. Some people would just say its my fault because i refuse to ask for any help...but I'm stubborn.

But we did have a good time and my DD loved it. With a GAC, we were able to ride everything once (everything that didn't require a height requirement), and that was nice. it was more crowded that I thought it would be. I still love disney..i just thought that staying at the resort would be nicer. i wonder how different it is to stay at a wdw hotel..but now i dont think it was worth it. .the only thing it helps is if the park closes late (like 12am) we were able to go back to the hotel and rest/nap and head back out again in the evening. but the only day we did that was sunday, on mon and tues they closed at 8pm so we didn't have time for a break (we are slow movers!)

Sorry if i bored anyone,
Susy

 

[Malcon10t]

the only thing it helps is if the park closes late (like 12am) we were able to go back to the hotel and rest/nap and head back out again in the evening. but the only day we did that was sunday, on mon and tues they closed at 8pm so we didn't have time for a break (we are slow movers!)

Several of the hotels across the street from DL are actually closer than the DLH. We generally stay at one of them and go back for naps as they are so close.

 

[sonnyjane]

Hi all,

i wonder how different it is to stay at a wdw hotel..but now i dont think it was worth it.
Susy

Staying on-site at WDW is totally different than at Disneyland. First of all, WDW had a lot of hotel options for many different budgets. They also offer many different themes. At WDW, I'd absolutely stay on-site (and always have previously), but I've stayed many nights near Disneyland and have only stayed on-site during one of more than a dozen overnight trips. Disneyland only has the three on-site hotels and even the least expensive, Paradise Pier, is really very expensive. At Disneyland, there are several off-site hotels that are 1) much closer and 2) much cheaper than the three official on-site properties. DLH is actually the farthest of the three hotels at Disneyland from the main entrance. Pity you didn't find the DISboards much sooner, as there is tons of information on the distance and the current construction hassles, including the laundry being closed.

I'm glad you still had a good visit other than that though!

 

[smiles33]

I'm sorry to hear the hotel was disappointing. I agree with you, as we stayed at DLH a couple years ago for a wedding and were underwhelmed. For that price, I thought it would be nicer. We just got back and had a FANTASTIC experience at the Howard Johnson, an 8 min walk for me (pushing a double stroller). It was even less time for DH in his ECV (he slowed down to stay with me).

For $99/night, we got a 2 room suite that was spacious, clean, and comfortable. I won't stay on-site again knowing what a great value I can get at HoJo, as even with a PIN, the suites at on-site hotels are far, far more expensive.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

That is too bad. We really do love the Disneyland Hotel--but the construction is a big bummer for us. I won't stay there again until it is done, and encourage anyone that is going soon to think twice about it.

I don't find the walk that far, though. To get into CA you can cut through the GC lobby to the entrance there.

I have actually never done any laundry while at the DLR. I just take lots of clothes so I won't even have to think about it while we are there.

We have stayed at many places on Harbor, but still prefer staying on property if we can. It makes a big difference to us. It takes us so much effort to get to DL (many hours of driving or a plane flight)--so to me it is worth the extra money to stay in the hotel we want.

 

[BlueBayou]

We visited DLH Spring Break 2010 and were not overly impressed. It was not bad - but not worth it to us.

The distance and lack of free breakfast really were strikes against it.

 

[nunzia]

If staying closer to park entrances is a big deal, then you should give the Grand Californian a try. Yes, there are plenty of super nice and close hotels on Harbor and that may be a better fit, but I'm one who has the 'never leave property' mentality after I get there (except for an ABC run for booze). Yes..it costs ALOT more, but everyone's splurges are their own. I actually stayed in an old DLH room last year and just loved it..I thought the room was plenty big and all the Disney touches were nice, but again, to each their own. When we return to WDW (if we ever get around to it) I will not even consider staying off site and am happy at how much further my DVC points will go there. Stayed at Beach Club (hotel) waaaaay back and would like to do that again.

 

[princesskayla]

Thanks for that report. I am glad that it turned out to be an okay trip for you still.

 

[larina]

It seems to me that for every person who just LOVES the Disneyland Hotel, there's a person who doesn't care for it at all. I am with you, I don't get it, at all. It is dark and dreerie regularly, but with construction it is even worse (the walkways make it sort of creepy in the morning fog/smog) than usual.

Must admit, those headboards will keep me intrigued, but for this family it is the PPH until we decide to really do it up at the Grand.

 

[oumagic]

It seems to me that for every person who just LOVES the Disneyland Hotel, there's a person who doesn't care for it at all.

It is pretty apparent that your statement is true, but you could just change it to:

For every person who just LOVES any Anaheim Hotel, there's a person who doesn't care for it at all.


I think we are going to try numerous hotels this year so we can get an idea for our go-to places depending on budget. I so far have the extremes covered, having stayed at Grand Calif. on one trip and Hotel Menage the other. The trip next week will be HoJo on the ENT rate.

I am sorry you had a bad experience, OP. I do want to try the DL Hotel someday, but will definitely wait until construction is done before we do.

 

[larina]

It is pretty apparent that your statement is true, but you could just change it to:

For every person who just LOVES any Anaheim Hotel, there's a person who doesn't care for it at all...

LOL, so true!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks for the report. We have stayed at many on-site and off site places and do prefer the GCH if we can a afford it. We will see what this next year holds.

Jack

 

[DizMe]

Your post has me scared. I booked us at GCH for Oct 13-15, but my kids wailed about not getting to stay at DLH so I switched us over. I had purposely gone with GCH because of the construction but decided it was probably going to be mostly done by the time we got there. Now I'm worried!!

As far as liking vs not liking DLH, I'm one of the ones who LOVE it. I will happily pay more not to have to stay on Harbor, which I hate. I find GCH rooms dark and small, plus the hotel layout is just plain weird. However, it's a gorgeous hotel and I love just about everything else about it (except its lack of family restaurant choices--not gonna pay $17 for a waffle and I don't even consider WWS's offerings food). I've not stayed at PPH because I'd rather pay the extra few bucks for DLH when it comes time to book! I like having nice grounds, I guess . I've stayed at several places on Harbor and for me, it's TOTALLY worth it to stay onsite.

I hope our experience at DLH is a good one...

 

[Niebz]

Sorry about your bad experience. We always loved the Disneyland Hotel but found the price hard to justify until a recent horrible experience at the Carousel Inn across the street had us vowing never to stay off property again. A lot of those off-property hotels are way overpriced too unfortunately. We love the feeling of never leaving the disney magic that comes from staying on property. It's a slightly longer walk but the atmosphere of DTD is so much better than the late night trek past drunken bums sleeping in the bus stops. We are so looking forward to our Christmas DLH trip when hopefully the construction will be complete.

 

[nana50]

I'm going back and forth on this. My sister who is in a wheelchair is going with me to Disneyland in 2 weeks. She hasn't been in 30 years so I want to make it special. I was not impressed with the small dark rooms at the Grand. However I'm worried the DLH will look ugly with everything all torn up. I made a ressie at DLH, but I'm still wondering about the Grand. The best part about the Grand is the lobby and you don't have to stay there to visit it.

 

[oumagic]

I cannot speak for DL Hotel, but we really liked the accessible room we had at the Grand for my parents last year. The shower was very nice and we had connecting rooms so my kids kept requesting to shower in nana and papa's shower.

 

[elaw]

Your post has me scared. I booked us at GCH for Oct 13-15, but my kids wailed about not getting to stay at DLH so I switched us over. I had purposely gone with GCH because of the construction but decided it was probably going to be mostly done by the time we got there. Now I'm worried!!

As far as liking vs not liking DLH, I'm one of the ones who LOVE it. I will happily pay more not to have to stay on Harbor, which I hate. I find GCH rooms dark and small, plus the hotel layout is just plain weird. However, it's a gorgeous hotel and I love just about everything else about it (except its lack of family restaurant choices--not gonna pay $17 for a waffle and I don't even consider WWS's offerings food). I've not stayed at PPH because I'd rather pay the extra few bucks for DLH when it comes time to book! I like having nice grounds, I guess . I've stayed at several places on Harbor and for me, it's TOTALLY worth it to stay onsite.

I hope our experience at DLH is a good one...

I recommend staying in the Adventure tower with a park/DTD view

 

[DizMe]

I recommend staying in the Adventure tower with a park/DTD view

Thanks...that's what I asked (and paid) for when I booked, but then I've been reading that due to the construction, everyone has been requesting that same thing! I finally decided to switch us back to GCH. We have a premium view so hopefully everyone will be ok with that.

When things settle down at DLH, we'll go back.

 

[larina]

I'm going back and forth on this. My sister who is in a wheelchair is going with me to Disneyland in 2 weeks. She hasn't been in 30 years so I want to make it special. I was not impressed with the small dark rooms at the Grand. However I'm worried the DLH will look ugly with everything all torn up. I made a ressie at DLH, but I'm still wondering about the Grand. The best part about the Grand is the lobby and you don't have to stay there to visit it.

What about the PPH? The rooms are roomier than the Grand or DLH and it is a little closer than DLH. Just a thought.

 

[mydisneymoney]

What about the PPH? The rooms are roomier than the Grand or DLH and it is a little closer than DLH. Just a thought.

I have stayed at the PPH and the GCH but not the DLH. I would say that you do not get what you pay for at the GCH. There were three adults and 1 child in our room at GCH. There were only two coffee cups and out of the 4 coffee packets to make coffee from, only one of them was regular coffee. The other three were decaf. Now who drinks decaf in the morning? So I called down and asked for more regular coffee and they brought us some. But then the housekeeper made up our room that day they left more decaf and only 1 regular coffee. What is up with that??? There wasn't one morning that we had enough regular coffee for each of us to have one cup. You would think they would catch on that they needed to leave 3 regular coffees each morning.

The PPH was nothing to brag about either. However it was a nice place and very close. In fact, the distance to walk from the PPH to the DL was probably closer then our walk from our hotel room in GCH to DL. It was a long walk from our room in GCH to the DL.