Need Advice - Is it worth spending more $ at...

[AnnDisney]

the Disney Grand California over staying at the Disneyland Hotel? We'll have small children and I like the idea of the Disney Grand Californian being right there in the park. But I know the Disneyland hotel is just about right there, too. Thoughts on either hotel?

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well it's not really right IN the park...and the park that it's sort of in is DCA.

More would be better to decide which one is worth it, we just stayed at PP and were fine with it, but then enjoyed HoJo's more! So I'm not the one to talk about spending all that much for a hotel (unless it's a Westin, LOL)

 

[jenksdj]

We struggled with this question when we went last April as well. We ended up choosing the DLH and didn't regret our decision. We have two DDs, aged 5 and 7. We're going again in Nov and chose to stay at the DLH again. It is just a little more magical in my opinion. Mickey's hands are holding the lamps in the bathroom, there are Disney paintings on the walls, pixie dust on the wallpaper border, and DL rides depicted on the bed spreads. This may be lost on some stuffy adults, but not on kids, that's for sure! The pool is shaped like Mikey Mouse's head, there are warmer, kid's pools as well, and Goofy's Kitchen is right in the hotel. It doesn't get any better than that!! I loved the GC, from what I say (and we have had friends stay there), but I think we will wait for that until the kids are older, or if we take a trip by ourselves (like the kids would stand for that!).

As for the walk from the DLH, it is not far at all, to either the monorail station (which drops you right off in DL), or to the front gates of both parks. The GCH is obviously closer to DCA, but not significantly closer to DL.

And that's my 2 cents worth!

 

[lawyergirl22]

I really think this depends on the ages of your kids. If it were me, I would spend the add'l $$. For reference, I recently returned from 4 nights at the GCH, with my Mom, 2 nieces (ages 8, 10) and my two kids (ages 1, 3). Our goal was to be up and at the parks bright and early (at least 30 minutes before opening), we ate breakfast in the room to save time (had groceries delivered--heaven!), and returned each day for naps from about 1-4 or so.

GCH was worth EVERY penny. I found that in trying to accomplish our goal of being in line bright and early, every step counted! The ease of returning to the hotel room for naps, or part of the group going back to the park during naptime was awesome. There were a couple of days that I came and went from the park 4 times! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the GCH and will scrimp and pinch to stay there again--at least until my kids are a bit older.

Good Luck!
Gianna

 

[grizbuzz]

For us, it is worth it. We just love the GCH - not just for location, but for overall atmosphere. If you want to splurge, I say go for it!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

For us it was worth it. Well, we haven't actually stayed at the DLH with the kids, so I'll just leave it as the GCH was worth it for us. The monorail wasn't running during our first two trips because of the Nemo construction, so it would have have a walk for us. And we've fallen in love with the hotel, which is why we're going back. The girls loved the pool and the distance to the parks can't be beat.

 

[secretkeeper]

GCH is by far my favorite. I love the "Arts & Crafts" style but realistically it is very expensive. We have stayed there three or four times and loved every stay especially when they upgraded us to a park view and Huey Lewis & the News were playing for a private party. However the hotel is huge! You do a lot of walking to get to your room. The last few visits we have gone back to the Disneyland Hotel and enjoyed it very much. It has a more intimate feel as the buildings are separate and smaller then the massive GCH. You do walk a bit further but it's thru Downtown Disney where there is always something going on and it builds your anticipation for the parks. I've never tried PP but have heard good things as well. If you want to stay on the property you will have a blast at any of the hotels you choose but remember you can always visit the other hotels. We often stay at DLH but choose to eat at The Storyteller at the GCH. Have fun!

 

[ScooterL]

I think the DLH is more "magical" for little ones than the GCH, and it's less expensive, too. I agree with everything that jenksdj had to say, but I'll add that there's more interesting stuff on the grounds of the DLH - the jungle cruise boats, a LARGE arcade, the waterfalls and koi ponds, and all of the different topiaries and character cutouts for photo ops.

 

[drag n' fly]

We are staying at GC for this trip because we wanted to include some things for the Mom and Dad that made our trip feel special. So the trip is for the kids but the hotel is for us

 

[AnnDisney]

WOW! Thank you so much everyone for your insight. This was my first post and I am just so happy that you all helped out! I'll be reading these to the rest of my family so we can make a decision. Thanks again!!

 

[ter-moo]

With small children, I'd definitely choose the DLH. It's more attractive for them. The GC is beautiful, but very adult in its themeing.

 

[lisadoll93]

My kids are 5,4,2 and they loved the "camp hotel" GCH. They like DLH but GCH staff was wonderful with them.

 

[DL4my2kids]

Last year we stayed at DLH and it was great. This year we are staying at GCH. We walked by it last year but did not go in at all. Our kids are 6 & 3 and loved the DLH last year.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

As others have said, The Grand California is not "in the park"--and is only a very short straight walk to the Disneyland Hotel. They are both directly off of the downtown Disney District--you won't have to cross any streets or leave the Disney area. So that is not really a reason to choose the Grand California.

We have stayed in both, but like the Disneyland Hotel much better. This is one of those personal choices, and your view may vary. The reason we like the Disneyland Hotel better is that to us it is more "Disney-ish" for the kids, it has taller towers so you have amazing views, and most of all--the rooms are much larger. We have 3 kids and we were incredibly cramped in the Grand California (we got one of the rooms with bunk beds). The decor is pretty dark (to look arts and crafts style) and although we paid for a view room, the hotel is not very tall (I think it is like 4-5 floors?) the view was minimal. It was noisier than our high view rooms at the Disneyland Hotel as well. The Disneyland Hotel seems lighter, brighter, has the Disney theme that we all like, and has lots of extra space around the bathroom with an extra area to store luggage and put on make up and fix hair that is out of the actual bathroom. There is a nook with a mirror, table, lights and outlets that I love for doing my stuff in the morning, as well as fixing my girls hair.

We go back to Disneyland so often that the Disneyland Hotel seems so happy and familiar to us.

Hope that helps.
Lisa

 

[Amy&Dan]

As others have said, The Grand California is not "in the park"--and is only a very short straight walk to the Disneyland Hotel. They are both directly off of the downtown Disney District--you won't have to cross any streets or leave the Disney area. So that is not really a reason to choose the Grand California.

We have stayed in both, but like the Disneyland Hotel much better. This is one of those personal choices, and your view may vary. The reason we like the Disneyland Hotel better is that to us it is more "Disney-ish" for the kids, it has taller towers so you have amazing views, and most of all--the rooms are much larger. We have 3 kids and we were incredibly cramped in the Grand California (we got one of the rooms with bunk beds). The decor is pretty dark (to look arts and crafts style) and although we paid for a view room, the hotel is not very tall (I think it is like 4-5 floors?) the view was minimal. It was noisier than our high view rooms at the Disneyland Hotel as well. The Disneyland Hotel seems lighter, brighter, has the Disney theme that we all like, and has lots of extra space around the bathroom with an extra area to store luggage and put on make up and fix hair that is out of the actual bathroom. There is a nook with a mirror, table, lights and outlets that I love for doing my stuff in the morning, as well as fixing my girls hair.

We go back to Disneyland so often that the Disneyland Hotel seems so happy and familiar to us.

Hope that helps.
Lisa

That is exactly how I feel! The DLH in six stays has never disappointed us. We did enjoy the GCH but the room felt cramped (also had a bunkbed room) and I am not a lover of dark furnishings. Again, just a personal thing.

We love the grounds of the DLH, my kids really enjoy the arcade, cruise boats and the two pools. I like the fact that at the DLH the quiet pool is completely separate, tucked away and actually quiet.

Our room at the GCH was down a very, very long hallway. Even when we have stayed in the Bonita Tower at the DLH , we never felt like it was inconvenient or a bad walk. I would rather walk through the outdoors than down a hallway.

I do have to say I did enjoy our balcony at the GCH. That was very nice and the one thing it really does have over the DLH. As far as location, I timed it, from the time I walked out of my room in the Sierra Tower until I got to the Club Libby Lu entrance for the GCH it was four minutes. So our walk back to our room at the DLH from DL was actually less than four minutes, since once we entered that entrance to the GCH, we had to walk down the hallway from he**.

Just my opinion, you cannot make a wrong choice, they are both lovely and they are both at Disneyland!