Question for those who have stayed at both DLR and GCH

mrswh

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
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We have stayed at GCH several times and love it. I don't think it's the best hotel ever, and agree to some extent with those who say it's kind of dark, but I *love* the proximity to the parks. For those who have stayed at both, do you find that the GCH is significantly more convenient, or only marginally more? I am always sort of tempted to stay at the DLH just to check it out, but then I ask myself why I'd stay there when I can leave my GCH room and be at DCA within 90 seconds. Anyone want to convince me to try DLH or should I just stick with GCH? I should mention we have two kids (6 and 8) and we spend the vast majority of our time at DCA, not much at DLR. And we love GRR. :)
 
I've stayed at DLH and visited family that was staying at GCH. You've stayed at GC so I'll talk about DLH. I felt like it was still a pretty substantial walk. So, while I might quickly run back to a room at GCH (or even to one of the closest hotels in Harbor Blvd) I wouldn't feel the same way about popping back to my room at DLH. However, IMO the atmosphere at DLH cannot be beat. And the walk is pleasing and entertaining. I don't think I would ever stay at GCH with my kids because I think the experience (not to mention price) of DLH offers so much more for my family. The convenience/location of GCH is far less of a benefit for my family than the magic we all feel at DLH.
 
I've stayed at DLH and visited family that was staying at GCH. You've stayed at GC so I'll talk about DLH. I felt like it was still a pretty substantial walk. So, while I might quickly run back to a room at GCH (or even to one of the closest hotels in Harbor Blvd) I wouldn't feel the same way about popping back to my room at DLH. However, IMO the atmosphere at DLH cannot be beat. And the walk is pleasing and entertaining. I don't think I would ever stay at GCH with my kids because I think the experience (not to mention price) of DLH offers so much more for my family. The convenience/location of GCH is far less of a benefit for my family than the magic we all feel at DLH.

Thanks for your reply! I'm not taking cost into consideration really since it's only a 2 night stay, so the price isn't much different between the two. However, I keep wondering what the DLH magic (that I have heard others mention as well) is all about . . . can you elaborate?

ETA: Are there bunkbeds at DLH?
 
Your kids would love the monorail pool at DLH. My DH and I prefer the GCH but our boys prefer the DLH, they think it's more magical. They usually win ;)
 

Although the GCH is my favorite, I like to try the different hotels fromm time to time. It's a really nice hotel :thumbsup2


some pics from our last stay at the DLH ... Adventure Tower, CL, DTD View

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mrswh said:
Thanks for your reply! I'm not taking cost into consideration really since it's only a 2 night stay, so the price isn't much different between the two. However, I keep wondering what the DLH magic (that I have heard others mention as well) is all about . . . can you elaborate?

ETA: Are there bunkbeds at DLH?

I haven't stayed since the renovations but I imagine they've only made it better! What I can say is that when I walk into Grand Californian I think "wow, this is a beautiful hotel" and when I walk into DLH I think "omg, I am at Disneyland!"

I'm almost certain there are no bunk beds at DLH.
 
For us, it was always about the price. Our two stays at DLH were in 2005 and 2006, and being WDW people, being able to walk to the parks was really cool to us...now that GCH has DVC rooms, it's where we stay- and now I'm spoiled for any other resort, as much as I like to stay at different places too.

We were able to watch WOC from our room, which was awesome. We had the music in the room, CHAIRS to SIT on, and our DS passed out in bed! I absolutely LOVE the nachos from White Water Snacks! My DS really enjoyed the kiddie slide at the pool, and my DH liked the big slide (since we haven't been to DLH since the renovations, I can't speak to the new stuff there).

Honestly for us, walking back to the resort was never really something we did...if we forgot something, oh well. I'm just really spoiled by the park views from the resort as well.
 
I have stayed at all three on-site hotels fairly recently. I stayed at the DLH in July and GCH earlier this year (February). I think it is hard to beat the GCH. I found the distance of the DLH to be more of a drawback than I originally planned. When staying at the GCH, I think nothing of popping back to the room to get a sweater, change clothes, take a nap, etc. I found that when staying at the DLH, it just wasn't as easy to access the room.

But I don't have children and I don't normally use the pools too much. I did see lots of kids having tons of fun on the DLH slides, so if that is a consideration, you might want to try DLH. However, my nieces and nephews loved the pools at the GCH too. I mean, they still talk about how much fun that was and I still remember the comfy pool loungers at the GCH! ;)

I guess I wasn't too impressed with the DLH rooms. The headboard was pretty and the room was nice, but it wasn't anything that got me too excited. I much prefer the GCH. Good luck with your decision! I am very curious, so even though I really enjoyed the GCH, I had to see the other two hotels to make up my own mind. Now I know I prefer GCH best of all. :)
 
I've stayed at all 3 on site DLR hotels - DLH is my fave, followed by PP. The Grand is too big, rooms are dark *seem small* I love the lobby of the Grand *but anyone can enjoy that, within reason.
 
I would try the DLH. We were there in August. My kids are 6 & 12. My older one likes the GCH more due to the walk but my 6 year old loved the pool and DLH so much. And the rooms are quite big (assuming you are all sharing). It is a farther walk but it is nice through DTD. There wasn't a bunk bed but my younger dd slept on the daybed. They loved watching the fireworks from the room.
 
Thanks, everyone! I made a reservation for the DLH but am now thinking I might switch back to the GCH. My kids *love* the bunk beds at the GCH as well as the turndown service with the character chocolates - do they have that at DLH? They love GRR so we like to be able to run back up to the room and change out of wet clothes. They aren't that into big slides at pools - they prefer to just swim around and love the pool at the GCH . . . so maybe there is nothing at DLH for us that is worth the extra walking distance. Hmmmm.
 
Thanks, everyone! I made a reservation for the DLH but am now thinking I might switch back to the GCH. My kids *love* the bunk beds at the GCH as well as the turndown service with the character chocolates - do they have that at DLH? They love GRR so we like to be able to run back up to the room and change out of wet clothes. They aren't that into big slides at pools - they prefer to just swim around and love the pool at the GCH . . . so maybe there is nothing at DLH for us that is worth the extra walking distance. Hmmmm.

I never received turndown service at the DLH.
 
Thanks, everyone! I made a reservation for the DLH but am now thinking I might switch back to the GCH.

IMO ... It's the kind of thing you have to try at least once to really know for sure. GCH is my favorite but there is just something about the "Original" DLH.
 
For those who have stayed at both, do you find that the GCH is significantly more convenient, or only marginally more?

For us, the distance is only a marginal difference. But maybe it's not that way for you? If popping back in to the room is very important and you're spending most of your time at DCA, then GC might be better for you. For us, since the distance isn't a big deal (and we do still go back to the room once mid-day) we prefer DLH. The rooms are bigger and it still feels like you're in Disneyland when you're staying there. The walk down DD is entertaining. And for kids ages 6 and 8, I would think it's at least worth a try. I can't imagine they wouldn't love the pool there too even without taking the slides into consideration. My $.02... it's just two nights, try the DL once and then you'll know for sure. :)
 
You have been so lucky if you could get to the DCA entrance in 90 seconds. Our room was just under the distance from the HoJo parking lot, to the center of the esplanade. From looking at the map I figured we had the second farthest away room in the hotel, it was so NOT fun.

We are staying at DLH and are having a fine time. And we are even in frontier tower, which is far from DTD, but close to the walk through the grand if we go out the back side of our tower.
 
I love the DLH for Disney-ness but still will pick GCH every time for a normal park visit (I have VGC DVC so makes sense that way also) I stayed at DLH for 5 nights during Destination D and it was super hot. I found I was much more likely to just stay in the room than brave the trek to the parks multiple times (kid-less trip). While staying at VGC it is so easy to get to DCA you can literally be in the park in a minute or two and if I'd been staying there would have gone to the park much more often. We did take the monorail to DL for dinner at the Plaza Inn and that worked great, but still..the walk from DLH does seem quite a bit more when you are used to the Grand.
 
I think the replies to this point have captured the issues quite well. Based on what you've written, the Grand is certainly the hotel that meets your needs.
Perhaps you might want to stay just one night at the DLH on one of your upcoming trips to check it out.

My children (DS 10, DD 9) spent more time in the Redwood Pool than on the monorail slides, which surprised me. While they liked the view of fireworks and the light-up headboard at DLH, nothing beats the bunkbeads. DLH has more overt "Mickeyness" so if your kids love that, then it will seem more magical.

When we stay at the DLH, we do get a locker as it really isn't as easy to just pop back to the room for something.
 
We've stayed at both within the past year. Honestly I didn't find the difference in distance to be that far overall if you are going to DL. However, if going to DCA then there is a big difference since there is an entrance right in GC.

As for comparing the two resorts, they are both nice. We loved the rooms at DLR, not that the rooms at GC weren't nice too, and would give them a slight edge.
 
IMO ... It's the kind of thing you have to try at least once to really know for sure. GCH is my favorite but there is just something about the "Original" DLH.

I agree. We usually make it to Disneyland once a year (though I'm always cautious to remind my kids (and myself, for that matter) when we are there that there is never a guarantee of getting to come back, so don't take it for granted!). For as many times as we've been, I wouldn't feel like we've completely experienced Disneyland without staying in all of the hotels at least once, but, having done that, we certainly keep GCH as our family preference.

Of course, if you don't get to Disneyland often, I wouldn't feel bad about any of the hotels, and, honestly, wouldn't feel bad about off property, either. Get me within shouting distance of Disneyland and I says its all good ;)
 
The only real complaint I have is about the laundry room is a hike from the front tower and a bit small for that size og hotel.
Frank
 


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