Offsite vs. On property

[DSNY4ever]

I know this board is always full of questions about the offsite hotels near Disneyland, so I thought it would be fun to see what the majority of the people on here do the most- Do you stay in one of the Disney Hotels on property, or do you stay offsite? Feel free to say what your #1 hotel choice is if you wish.

We are offsite people. We have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel once and it was a treat, but our regular trips include an offsite hotel in walking distance, it saves us money and we have found a few we like.

So what do you do?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

were staying desert in in oct. If the on site had better sells we would stay there but the cheaper the better for suviners and such

 

[Jenn1116]

Offsite for this poor mom

Looking forward to getting APs next year, then I might do a mini trip and stay at DLH if I can get one of the special AP rates they sometimes have.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

As much as I would love to stay onsite, even the AP rates are more than I want to spend. Maybe someday for a special occasion, but otherwise I'm fine with offsite. I would love to see DLR do something like the value resorts Florida has, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I would love to see DLR do something like the value resorts Florida has, but I'm not holding my breath.

Oh I hear ya!!! The value resorts are such a deal. If they had $89 a night for a Disneyland hotel, I think they would have a ten year waiting list for reservations. Their whole phone reservation system would breakdown. I am not holding my breath either

 

[Disneyanajc]

Our first stay on onsite was Summer of 1973...The Disneyland Hotel...it wasn't owned by Disney back then...All our trips have been onsite and preferably the Disneyland Hotel...it has all our family vacation memories ... We do love the GCH but it just doesn't feel like home...

So my vote went for onsite...jc

 

[bumbershoot]

Our first big trip, last September, was on-site, at Paradise Pier. We spent 4 nights there. Then we moved to HoJo for 2 more nights, and liked HoJo better.

We (or I alone) have since stayed at the Anabella and Carousel, and HoJo again, and haven't really considered staying on-site again.

The only thing I feel I'm missing by staying off-site are the Magic Mornings, since we have APs and staying on-site is the only way to get them as an AP holder. On the other hand, we know how to get around since we've been there a couple times, and know how to get on all or most (depending on how fast we can move on any given day) of the rides we want to get on. So missing the MMs isn't really that big a deal to us, not a big enough deal to put out the big money!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Except for one time last fall (we tried out DLH for the 1st time), I have always stayed off-site. When I was a kid, it was never within walking distance, but since I've had my DD we've stayed at the Candy Cane Inn.

We always stay all day in the parks, so a hotel is just a place to sleep and keep our stuff. While it was nice to stay at the DLH and be on-site, I just can't justify the cost for every trip.

This year we are trying out HOJOs.

 

[honeymom]

We've done both. Our last trip was our first off site.

If I can afford GCH, I would pick it - we had a great time there. But, if I can't, I am most likely to stay offsite. Just didn't feel it for the DLH. Paradise Pier looks okay, but not so much better than offsite.

 

[DangerMouse]

As you can tell from my sig, I have stayed lots of places, including the GCH and DLH, but HoJo is still my preferred DLR hotel. I won't ever pay resort prices for those rooms when I can have better quality across the street.

 

[chickyann]

I really wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, but it was too $$$ for this trip, so we have booked the HoJo & are really looking forward to it

 

[bonita_babe232]

I would love to stay on site on day. And i'm sure i will do a weekend or like 2-3 night trip and try but, for the extra money i can't see doing it all the time...( inless me mind changes after we try )... its alot extra and i like to spoil the kids on vacation so i think theres alot better stuff to spend it on!!! like treats

 

[jocotter]

In over 40 years, I've only stayed off site, but this August we are staying at the Paradise Pier due to a conference rate. I am looking forward to it, but it's a longer walk I think.

 

[dizneekrazee]

I have only stayed onsite twice, once at the DLH in about 1995 or so, so obviously my parents paid. Then at PPH in 2005, and my dad came along, and he paid as well. The whole trip was his treat to us. It was nice, but cannot afford it. I would rather spend the extra $500-700 on stuff to buy in the park. We stay all day in the park, as a PP said, so it is just a place to sleep. We usually stay at Desert Inn & Suites. Works well for us.

I will admit that now that the Disney Stores are once again owned by The Disney Co., I am gonna check out the prices to see what kind of rate I can get. Supposedly we get upto 50% off the rooms. So we will see.

 

[ScrapperKimmyD]

We've never stayed on site because we always (except for once) stay in our timeshare condo at the Dolphin Cove (right behind Denny's). But, we have a new place that is supposed to be walking distance with an area on top to watch the fireworks. It'll be a few years til we get back to DL, so I'll have to rely on reports from friends as to what it's like.

So, why pay for a hotel when the timeshare is already paid for? Maybe someday - if we win a trip or something.

 

[godalejunior]

We have stayed DLH twice, GCH once and Tropicana once. Tried the offsite thing once and missed being on site. I would like to try PP just for comparison and am holding out for AP rates for this December. If not we are going to try BWPPI.

 

[Sy-]

In that past I have always stayed offsite (Anaheim Hilton mostly). But on my next trip on Oct, I decided to splurge a little and booked GCH for 6 nights with a TP view. I did so mostly because it will be my DS's first trip there and he will only be 2 1/2. When we took my DD there when she was 2 the offsite was managable because she was the only kid at the time, and we also had my inlaws with us. This time it will be just DW, DD, DS and me so the closer the better!

 

[mariezp]

Wow look at that poll! No wonder the walking distance hotels are always booked! The Disboarders keep them packed!

We have stayed the last 7 years, and booked again in November, at the Anaheim Desert Inn. So far it has served our needs perfectly fine so unless something goes terribly wrong it looks like that's where we will be on all our trips. My family would probably mutiny if I changed our location, as they consider it part of our "tradition" when we travel to DL. As long as the troops are happy so am I. Just get me to the park!

Really, I couldn't justify taking out a loan just to get to stay in a Disney property.(man! they are expensive!) Selling off my first born would be out of the question because the family vacation just wouldn't be the same without him so looks like we will stick with off-site.

 

[Sienna]

We've been there twice in the last couple of years. We stayed at GCH because we got a really good package deal and it was our daughter's first trip. For the next trip, we stayed at the Camelot. If money is no object, then of course we would try to stay at GCH. BUT, I honestly liked the amenities at the Camelot a bit better. Stuff like free breakfast (even though it's basic), on-site laundry room, fridge & microwave in rooms, etc. It was a bit more practical.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

camelot was grate last year