Pool question at DL resorts

[disgirl]

Hi! I thought I had our hotel all planned for our August trip to DL, thanks to answers to questions from some of you. Thanks, although now I need advice again. I thought we would stay at the Disneyland Hotel to save a little $ over the GC Hotel and I thought my 11 year old would prefer the pool at DLH over the PPH pool. However, now I have read so many nice things about the GC that I thought we might go there and splurge a little. My question: Do you think my 11 year old son would enjoy the pool with the slide at GC as much as the Peter Pan pool at DLH. He loves to swim and enjoys good slides. I could not tell if the slide at DLH pool is better, longer etc. than the GC slide. Am I just being silly, should we just stay at the GC because some people say it is nicer than the Disneyland Hotel? This may be our only trip as a family to CA so I want our experience at DL to be special. Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

Patty

 

[daannzzz]

I love the Grand Californian. It is a wonderful place to stay. But the Disneyland hotel is very nice too. The rooms (in general are bigger) and more fun for kids. There are more Disney references than in the rooms at the GC. The decore of the hallways and exteriors pales in comparison though, to the GC. The pool at the Disneyland hotel is more adventurous with the neverland theme. The redwood pool at the GC is large and the tree slide is neat looking plus you can see some of the rides in DCA. I don't know if there is that much difference in the lenght of the slides. Both places have nice rooms but are worlds apart on the theme and decore. You just need to decide if you want a roome and pool with a lot of fanatsy and Diisneyland touches or a more adult style room with very subtle touches. I know... I am no help.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks daannzzz. You were helpful. I appreciate your insight. I know it is a personal decision. I was just hoping I could find out a little more about the pool at DLH as compared to the themed pool at GC. Anyone else have opinions? I would really like to hear more views. I think we may be leaning more toward GC to splurge a little now because I have been reading so many positives on the GC. I just hope my son will enjoy the pool there. Does the Peter Pan themed pool at DLH actually have a slide and is it big or more for little kids? My son is 11 and loves slides. Again, thanks for any help on this.

 

[giustot]

Hi Patty. I just got back from Disneyland and stayed at the GC. I didn't think the pool at GC was all that special but the hotel is very nice. If you're just basing your decision on the pool, I'm not sure the pool at GC is worth a lot of extra money. But the hotel is, by far, the best place to stay at DL.

There are actually two pools at GC. The one with the slide attracts most of the kids, leaving the second one mostly for adults. Perhaps I wasn't looking closely enough, but I didn't notice any special theme at the GC pools, other than fitting in with the overall California theme of the hotel.

By the way, how much more would it be to stay at the GC? Let me know if you have any other questions. Tom.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Tom. I appreciate the quick response. The prices I have seen for the GC for my time August 2004 are around 310 a night. However, we are presently closing on DVC so I am considering using points to stay at either hotel. The GC is of course more points than the DLH(about 3-10pts more) depending on the view, weekend nights etc. Did you get a good value at the GC when you stayed?

I know it seems silly to base my decision just on the pool and I really do not want to do that. However, if the DLH pool is really more interesting for an 11 year old who loves pools than I really have a decision to make. It sounds like my husband and I would like the atmosphere at the GC better since I have heard it compared to The GF and Wilderness lodge in Disney World. Although, we have never stayed at either, we have visited the GF many times and think it is beautiful and the WL looks beautiful too. From the pictures I have seen of the GC, I think you are right about the pool, I only see a tree slide that does not look that long, but probably fun for kids. The pictures I have seen of the DLH pool show a big pirate ship but I can not see a slide to compare. I tell you the things we do for our kids, right? Well, unless I hear from someone about how great that DLH pool is for an 11 year old, I think we might go with GC. Thanks again and I am glad you really liked the GC.

 

[disgirl]

I'm sorry I forgot to ask, Tom, Did you stay in a standard view room or the CA
Park view? How was the view from your room? Thanks!

Patty

 

[sierranevada]

We have stayed at both the DH & GC with two kids. On the pool issue, the kids thought the slide at GC was better - it is "themed" as a redwood tree slide and curves more than DH. The DH slide seemed higher but straight. Kids can NOT play on the pirate ship at DH pool. I always thought that was odd that Disney, of all people, put in a pirate ship in a place where kids were bound to want to play on it!! The rooms at DH are bigger but you can get bunks or sleeping bag with pad at GC which kids get a kick out of it.

I understand the "pool" issue with kids - we also base our hotel decisions in Hawaii on the pool!! And in August, you will be there at alot so it should figure into the decision.

Since your child is older, he may actually appreciated the craftsman theme of GC more than the disney theme of DH. So if the pool is the tie breaker - I would go with GC. One word of advice at GC, ask for a room close to the elevator. They only have two and when we stayed, our room was quite a haul from the elevator.

Enjoy!!

 

[disgirl]

Thanks sierranevada. I think we will give GC a try. I think I read that it will be shown on the travel channel this Monday and Wednesday so I think I will try to remember to check it out. They probably will show the pool and rooms.
The GC does seem to get rave reviews. It was nice to hear from someone with kids that liked it also. Thanks everyone for your help!!

Oh, Sierranevada, Did you stay in a standard view room or CA view? Thanks.

 

[sierranevada]

We stayed in the DTD/Theme Park view (of Disneyland) and loved it. We had a two bedroom suite that was over World of Disney store. We were able to see the fireworks from our balcony. Don't know how many people in your party but we had five and found that we saved money by doing conceirge service (they call is Craftsman service now at GC). Between breakfast, dozens of water bottles and sodas a day, snacks and happy hour, we got our money's worth. As long as you are splurging.....right??

 

[daannzzz]

From what I have read over the years kids love pools even when they have no theme at all. While your son most likely would enjoy the Neverland Pool a bit more I am sure it will be great fun at the GC pool to, particularly if he doesn't know about the other pool!!! It is apretty area and the slide looks fun as it wraps part way around the tree. The lobby is spectacular and there are story tellers by the fireplace sometimes and the entrance into DCA is more convienient than you can imagine. You can change your clothes really fast each time you get wet on Grizzly Rapids!

 

[disneychrista]

Unless things have changed you would be able to use all the pools, not just the one at the hotel you are staying at (unlike WDW). So stay where you want and if your soon would like to use the pool at the other hotel then do it.

 

[sierranevada]

Actually, if you stay at GC you can use all three pools. If you stay at DH or PP, you can use either of those two pools but not the GC pool.

 

[robsmom]

I thought that the pool at GC was very nice. my 4 yr old was too young for the big slide but the older kids seemed to enjoy it.

I stayed at the GC and went to the Disneyland Hotel for Goofy's Kitchen. I think that the major advantage to the GC is its location. It really puts you in the middle of everything. Easy access to the parks and the restaurant/shops at downtown disney. We were so relaxed that we ended up cancelling 2 nights we had scheduled in LA and staying on at the GC.

We stayed in a standard room overlooking the pool. We could also see some of the top of rides from the park.

 

[disgirl]

A big thanks to all of you! Now, I just can not wait until the summer. ha!!
It looks like GC will be the hotel we pick. Now, I just have to decide standard view or CA view. I think I am leaning toward the CA.

robsmom: It is funny, we are first going to stay in a hotel in the LA area. I have not researched that yet. My husband has a few friends he wants to visit while there. Then, I thought we would spend a few days at DL. The idea of skipping LA and going only to DL is certainly tempting to me, but my dh has been hoping to get to LA for a while now. I guess I should be grateful that we will end the trip at the GC for a few days.

Sierranevada: Thanks for the tip about the elevators.

Have a great day everyone!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Here's a couple of pics I took of the pools. They're in the DIS Gallery.

I took this pic from one of the concierge rooms in the Sierra Tower (a nice housekeeper let me in the room).

I took this pick from the 5th floor terrace (if I remember correctly) at the Grand Californian.

Like the others said, you can pool hop when staying at the hotels. I have seen a lot of people walking from the DL pool back to the Grand Californian & vice versa.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks Mary Jo. The pictures are great. I can really see the slide from those. THANKS !

 

[giustot]

Patty, I stayed in a CA view room. It probably is worth a little extra money because you get a Disney view as opposed to a view of Anaheim. All the balconies are a bit small. I didn't get concierge service but some people feel it's worth the extra price because you get breakfast, water and some snacks. Fortunately, I get a very good deal on all Disney hotels because I work for a company that is owned by Disney.

As you are learning, it's very easy to start going up the price ladder. First DLH, then GC standard, then GC CA view, then concierge. At some point we all have to say enough is enough.

I think if you can afford a CA view room at the GC go for it and you won't be sorry. You also have the advantage of a private entrance to CA. The Napa Rose restaurant is excellent if you and your husband want to splurge one night for dinner. Good luck. Tom.

 

[westjones]

I believe this Monday at 3:00 pm Eastern time, Samantha Brown of Great Hotels will have a new episode of the GC Resort at Disneyland.

Here is the website with the information:
http://travel.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=5&cpi=105526&gid=7665&channel=TRV

I plan to watch this before I decide which resort we will be staying at for our trip to DL.

DJ

 

[disgirl]

Thanks westjones. I will watch it too. Good luck with your planning.

 

[mirlow]

Are any of the pools zero-entry?