Perks of staying in the park versus a good neighbor hotel???

[rentayenta]

Disney bubble for me too. We like EMH but its really not the major reason. We prefer the GCV but had a stay in December at the PPH concierge level and it was amazing!

 

[lcp9]

We are Marriott associates and can't justify the difference in price to stay in property. Last visit we stayed at the brand new Residence Inn on Katella - it's super modern, excellent breakfast, about a 10 minute walk for us. Did not feel significantly different than the walk from esplanade to DLH when we've gone to Goofy's kitchen. Personally I think the courtyard theme park is too much $ for what it is, but we are also willing to walk a little bit and don't go back to the hotel during the day.

 

[lindsey harrison]

PPH is across from the GCH and below the DLH. People used to walk through the GCH to DTD or the GCH park entrance from PPH but this is no longer allowed. You now have to walk up to basically the end of DTD where the DLH is and go in that way. From what I understand you can still take the shortcut through the Grand to walk back to the PPH from the parks.

What you heard was about Magic Morning (MM) which is tied to the type of ticket you buy. You have to purchase a 3day or longer ticket to get 1 magic morning which will allow you access to Disneyland 1 hour before it opens. MM at DL are usually on Tues, Thurs and Saturday.

Extra Magic Hour (EMH) is available to all guests of on site resorts only (GCH, DLH, PPH). EMH allows access to Disneyland 1 hour early on the same days as Magic Morning and to DCA 1 hour early on the other days (usually Mon, Weds, Fri and Sun).

So as an on site guest, you have early entry to one of the parks every day. The only way to get early entry to DCA is as an on site guest.

As an off site guest, the only type of early entry you will have is a MM IF you buy a 3 day or longer ticket.

Oh awesome I had no idea I thought they were one in the same! So if you stay 2 days at the hotels and are going to just DL then you would have 1 MM for the day you go there (since it's only ever other day they do it?) I hope I get that right

 

[lindsey harrison]

We are Marriott associates and can't justify the difference in price to stay in property. Last visit we stayed at the brand new Residence Inn on Katella - it's super modern, excellent breakfast, about a 10 minute walk for us. Did not feel significantly different than the walk from esplanade to DLH when we've gone to Goofy's kitchen. Personally I think the courtyard theme park is too much $ for what it is, but we are also willing to walk a little bit and don't go back to the hotel during the day.

My husband works at a casino that is officiated with Marriott so we would get a discount there too. I should mention that I will have 2 yr old twins when we go so I just wanted the quickest and best option for them we are still nursing and for nap and such. Does residence inn or Katella have a shuttle? Any time we took shuttle to and from it always took forever and I can't have that with the babies in tow

 

[lindsey harrison]

Yes. We have stayed there a few times. I would say it is very comparable to PPH. Its about the same walk to the parks, about the same level of luxury and about the same level of amenities. Courtyard has 2 queen with a bunk bed rooms as their "standard" room which works well for our family. We used to be die hard PPH fans for the EMH and the other conveniences but we have APs and a DAS so EMH is not as critical to us now. When they closed off the ability to walk through the GCH to get to the parks, it pushed my willingness to pay too far and we started using Courtyard Theme Park (I think that is the exact name. You want the one with the word "theme park" in it). The last trip we discovered that we can stay at a much nicer hotel in Garden Grove for literally half the price of Courtyard theme park and Uber to and from the parks for 5 bucks and I think that will be our new go to plan. Of course that only works if you only have 4 people and none require carseats. I have tried a couple motels across the street and I finally had to admit, I am just not a motel person.

We will have our newly two year old twins with us who are still nursing so I just wanted the most easy access and bang for our buck possible. What do you think? Any time we took shuttles back to the hotel it seemed to take forever. So to enter PPH you go around to DTD?

 

[lindsey harrison]

It depends if you are on vacation, going to stay for more than three days or only need a bed.

3 days, vacation from out of state, 2 year old twins that are nursing and cranky without naps

 

[lindsey harrison]

Bump!

 

[chickapin parterre]

Marriott is always a great stay.....but the twins won't be swimming, so no need for an empty pool, you won't be able to sit in the great landscape of the marriot, because of the twins and you will not need a private area for sleep, so onsite may very well just keep you from getting nervous about the whole trip, you have covered all you bases with on-site and are worry free.... but folks with older children who are on vacation and returning in the afternoons to the lodging for a 4 hour rest, then the Maingate RI is a great vacation spot. Folks visit Disneyland in two styles: Vacation or Gung Ho!!!!! and there is suitable lodging for both adventures.

 

[lcp9]

My husband works at a casino that is officiated with Marriott so we would get a discount there too. I should mention that I will have 2 yr old twins when we go so I just wanted the quickest and best option for them we are still nursing and for nap and such. Does residence inn or Katella have a shuttle? Any time we took shuttle to and from it always took forever and I can't have that with the babies in tow

No shuttle to any of the immediate vicinity Marriotts - courtyard theme park, Fairfield Maingate, RI Maingate, Springhill suites convention center, RI convention center. Our kids are 5, 3, and 1, and I think every time we've been I've been nursing someone. haha. FFI and courtyard are definitely closer, but the RIs will give you way more space. FFI rooms are tiny. We did a 1bd suite at the RI and it was awesome. Having the free breakfast (real, not continental) was awesome. FFI and courtyard don't offer that. We take our double stroller and our kids nap in that, but I know some aren't stroller nappers. If you definitely are going to be walking back, FFI and courtyard are more convenient (5 min vs 10 min walk) but honestly I think the RI offers so much more it would be worth it.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Oh awesome I had no idea I thought they were one in the same! So if you stay 2 days at the hotels and are going to just DL then you would have 1 MM for the day you go there (since it's only ever other day they do it?) I hope I get that right

Just to be clear -- DL EMH/MM days are T/Th/Sat. DCA EMH days are Sun/M/W/F. So if you are 2 days at the hotel and have 2 day tickets for DL only, you would have one day MM/EMH at DL *unless* your two park days are Sunday and Monday. In that case, you wouldn't get a MM at DL on the day you were there because those two days are DCA days. However -- in reality you get 3 EMH days if you book two nights, because you get both the day you arrive and the day you depart as well as the day in between. So that works with 3 day tickets, but not with two day tickets.

Also, they have been known to occasionally switch the days which park has EMH. It's very rare, but it has happened.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We will have our newly two year old twins with us who are still nursing so I just wanted the most easy access and bang for our buck possible. What do you think? Any time we took shuttles back to the hotel it seemed to take forever. So to enter PPH you go around to DTD?

The easiest access for sure is GCH, no contest. It may take you a while to get to your room depending on which room you're in, but at the very least you can be inside the lobby quickly.

 

[Westcoastwild]

It's just that sometimes all of the rides are not open at the beginning of EMH. It has happened to me in the past RSR or TSMM does not open right away. Have not had that happen to me the last several times we have been there.

What generally opens first at DCA?

Just wondering because I seem to remember only fantasyland rides really opening at DL but it's been a long time since I cared enough to get up for morning EMH. Never tried to do it at at DCA.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Other than the obvious what are some maybe unknown perks for staying on site instead of at a good neighbor????

Disney service. Disney "touches". Pools.

I'm not a Disney bubble person. I will say that the main difference if I'm not staying at on property is that I'll be staying in a motel, because I'd say there aren't that many hotels in Anaheim that are in the same hotel class as (unlike hotels near WDW). So it's not necessarily a fair comparison.

I think you're the one with the twins, right? I read through the thread and then got mixed up who was who. But we stayed at the on property hotels with babies/toddlers. And I would do so again. So convenient. If you're an active family with teens or older kids, I'd say the perks aren't worth the price. They practically live in the parks and don't care about the room details.

 

[pharmama]

What generally opens first at DCA?

Just wondering because I seem to remember only fantasyland rides really opening at DL but it's been a long time since I cared enough to get up for morning EMH. Never tried to do it at at DCA.

At DL, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are typically open for MM/EMH. At DCA, unless there is an issue with a ride, pretty much everything is usually up and running during EMH.

 

[Westcoastwild]

At DL, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are typically open for MM/EMH. At DCA, unless there is an issue with a ride, pretty much everything is usually up and running during EMH.

Oooh. A chance to start my day with California screaming and then get coffee. Thanks. May have to try that next time!

DL is about what I remember then. I think I would do EMH at DL if it involved another land: the only ride in the lands you've listed that I would rope drop for is Peter Pan.

 

[lizzytizzy]

Paradise Pier is located across the street from the Grand. Staying onsite, you get EMH every day you are there.

Can you still use the park entrance from the Grand if you stay at Paradise Pier?

 

[Steven G]

Actually, here are rides open during EMH. Its the headliners and a couple extras.

https://touringplans.com/disney-california-adventure/attractions/morning-extra-magic-hour

 

[Steven G]

Can you still use the park entrance from the Grand if you stay at Paradise Pier?

Not in the morning.

Officially on their website, the entrance to DCA from GCH is now only for GCH guests.

However, they let anyone leave the park into GCH.

And they only strictly enforce the entrance into DCA from GCH in the morning.

There are two other entrances into GCH... the front main entrance and the downtown Disney entrance.

The front main entrance is what many PPH guests used to use.

Note that no matter what, you cannot enter the main entrance unless you are a GCH guest or have a reservation at the spa or restaurant. This is strictly enforced all day. You could use the main entrance to leave GCH and go to PPH.

There is a downtown Disney entrance to GCH, this can be used to enter and exit GCH all day. You would need to go through security to enter downtown Disney.

 

[Malcon10t]

Not in the morning.

Officially on their website, the entrance to DCA from GCH is now only for GCH guests.

I want to clarify this. You cannot use the front entrance into the Grand. You need to exit the back side of the Pier, walk to the area of Earl and enter the security line there.
BUT, if you seriously want to enter via the Grand entrance, you can exit Downtown Disney into the Grand by Sephora, and use the entrance into DCA. Be aware, it is not faster, and the front turnstiles are ALWAYS faster for EMH. We have not been asked for keys all weekend.

 

[disland7]

3 days, vacation from out of state, 2 year old twins that are nursing and cranky without naps

Every time I have been to DLR so far we have had a nursing baby or a toddler that still needs naps. The majority of the time we have stayed on park but we did try a split stay off park at home wood suites and then PPH. I wouldn't stay off park where I needed the shuttle again. I hate folding up the stroller and reconfiguring all the stuff that goes in it. But more than that, I hate having to plan my afternoon or evening around the shuttles. I once ran all the way from The little mermaid ride to the shuttle with my 9 month old boy (heavy) to make the shuttle. Since then we have decided, with napping kids we will stay on park. My DH and I stayed off park again just us once and still didn't like having to wait around for shuttles. - just spoiled now I guess.