Off-site, or split stay off-site with GCH or DLH?

[sky13]

Planning my upcoming trip in late November. I currently have a booking for 7 nights off site at the Residence Inn Anaheim Convention Centre (for a queen bed 1 bedroom with kitchenette). This looks like a really nice, newly built hotel, and it looks like there is a lot of space in the room.

But I keep wondering if I should try to spend a couple of nights at the GCH instead - just for the experience and for the atmosphere and the proximity to the parks.

Also, Disney has just released room discounts for my dates - making the GCH just about twice the price of my off-site hotel (which I think I might be able to stomach for 2-3 nights). So I'm contemplating changing my off-site booking to 4-5 nights and then staying the remaining 2-3 nights at GCH.

Another option is the DLH which is about $80 cheaper/night than the GCH for my dates...

Is there any chance that I might be disappointed with a standard GCH/DLH room after staying off-site in what looks like a pretty nice/large-ish room? Would staying at the GCH be worth the hassle of doing a split stay? Or should I just stick to off-site for all 7 nights...

Any help/advice would be really appreciated!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I know at homewood suites convention you get a discount for a 7 night stay. Maybe that’s the case at residence inn too? Is compare prices. We are perfectly happy a week there. Moving stuff is such a hassle to me.

 

[sky13]

I know at homewood suites convention you get a discount for a 7 night stay. Maybe that’s the case at residence inn too? Is compare prices. We are perfectly happy a week there. Moving stuff is such a hassle to me.

Thanks for replying! Unfortunately I don't think there was a discount for booking a 7 night stay at the Residence Inn - though the first few nights will be the more expensive nights price-wise as it's just after Thanksgiving!

I agree that moving stuff is a real hassle! Which is why I'm in this dilemma, and I'm worried that if I book a split stay that I'll be paying more money for more hassle and might be let down by the GCH or DLH...

 

[LeahMLee]

We have not stayed off site yet but we have stayed at both the DLH (twice)and the GCH (three times) and have not been disappointed! If it’s in the budget it’s worth it.

 

[rentayenta]

Spilt stay with the latter half of the trip on property.

 

[pharmama]

I do not think you'll be disappointed at the GCH. The rooms are smaller, yes, but the hotel is just beautiful (especially during the holidays) and the proximity to the parks is very nice. You will also have early entry each day of your stay which can be great.

I'd do the split stay. If you're an early riser, just pack up and check in at GCH first thing in the morning (you can even use EMH on your check in day if you're early enough). Leave your bags with bell services and enjoy the parks. They'll text you your room number when its ready, then you can head back to your room whenever its convenient for you.

 

[sky13]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm still debating with myself about this - part of me really wants to stay on-site and be in the Disney bubble and be super close to the parks, but I'm also questioning whether the added cost (somewhere in the range of about $200-300/night) would be worth it! Keep thinking that with that I could book a few nice TS meals, buy lots of souvenirs, and probably still have money left over...

But then I kind of want to stay on-site just so I know what it's like, plus I'm not likely to return to DL for another few years (I live a long long way away). I'm also going to be there with my parents who haven't been to Disneyland for over 20 years (though we've been to other Disney resorts in the interim). So I think it would be really nice to get the full Disneyland (Christmas) bubble too...

(Part of the problem might be that I've stayed in deluxes at other Disney resorts and sort of felt that they were nice, but that they weren't quite worth the cost of staying there - after doing BC/BCV one visit at WDW I went straight back to booking Pop...)

 

[JasonMak2000]

With the current discounts offered I would definitely recommend you bite the bullet and stay at the Grand for as many days as possible. You can buy some souvenirs from Amazon when you get back and go out for a nice steak dinner in your hometown. Prices are only going to go up after Star Wars land opens. JMO

 

[sky13]

Thanks to everyone who commented/voted - I've just booked 4 nights at Tropicana followed by 3 nights at GCH!

The plan is to do long days in the parks over the first half and also maybe a LA day tour, and Tropicana looks like a good place to crash at night (and possibly to return to the room midday for a quick nap). This is going to be the few days after Thanksgiving, so the parks will be insanely crowded but will also be open really late!

Then for the second half, hopefully I'll have done most of the things I want to do in the parks by then, so I'll have time to enjoy the GCH and the Christmassy atmosphere.

Pretty excited for the trip now! And really excited that both hotels are so close to the parks - have never experienced this before in any of the Disney resorts I've been to!

 

[JasonMak2000]

That's great! I don't think you will regret it for a second! Don't get too worn out at the parks the first half of your trip so you can still take advantage of the perks of staying at GCH(like early admission). Have fun and enjoy! Downside is that it will ruin you for staying anywhere else

 

[Whistlebee]

You made a good choice. Last trip we stayed out first night at RI Convention Center and then switched to the GCH. The RI is very nice and we were upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite but was still very happy we had our remaining nights at the GCH. Being so close is so nice and we also love the pool there.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I would stay the entire time in one place, simply because I am on vacation and I do not work on vacation. Packing and unpacking is work.