onsite vs. offsite

[jag90]

other than atmosphere and cost savings, is there anything we will missout on by not staying onsite for our May22nd trip. Would like to stay onsite, but coming from florida need to save all the money we can.

 

[daannzzz]

Staying ojnsite offers similar atmosphere as staying on site at WDW. The Grand Californian is the most themed of the three but the Disneyland Hotel is very fun too. However because there are loads of places to stay, right nearby
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
you can save money buy chooseing one of these places. The Best Westenr Park Place Inn, Tropicana and places right next door are a faster walk than staying at two of the three Disney hotels. While the monorail station at Downtown Disney is close to the Disneyland hotel and sort of close to the Paradise Pier Hotel that only takes you into Disneyland. You still have to walk to the front gate of DCA. The Grand Californian has it's own entrance into DCA. Anyone with an entrance ticket can use the Downtown Disney Monorail station so it isn't for Disney Resort guests only.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

For what it's worth...I've been going to DL since 1968 (too many times to count!) and have never stayed on site yet. Never have I felt that I've missed out on the Disney experience because of it. I think it's because trips to DL are normally compressed into a much shorter timespan compared to WDW and there's much more time spent inside the parks vs. the hotel. You'll have a ton of fun regardless of where you stay, so just do what ever works best with your budget.

 

[sters]

By staying onsite you can have your packages delivered to your room, same as at WDW but unlike WDW, staying onsite will not provide early entry or extended hour benefits. At least that's what I'm given to understand. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

 

[LucyKate]

Unlike in Florida, the only real "onsite" hotel is the Grand California which has its own entrance to DCA.

Otherwsie, many of the offsite hotelsare actually closer than the other two Disney properties.

We stayed at the Howard Johnson (10 minutes walk) and loved it. As we were at Disney from opening until close 4 of our 5 days I don't think we missed out on any "magic" by not staying at a Disney poroperty.

 

[Mom2Joce]

When you say down town disney monorail is that the one over there by disneyland hotel? Or is there another one?