Resort Hotel Booking Question

[emacat]

This December, I plan to surprise my dd with a trip to DL for her birthday. We've always stayed at the Hojo, but I know she'd love to stay at one of the resort hotels, so I'd like to do that this trip.

My question is, when is the best time to book them? It seems like the DL hotel deals at any given time only book several months ahead, and I would want to get early enough to hopefully get a "preferred" (refurbished) room at the Disneyland hotel, but without paying too much.

Also, do any of you have a preference between the resort hotels? I'd really be willing to try any of them. She's going to be 12, so we don't have to have Princess headboards or anything....

 

[blackjackdelta]

We like the GCH. You can always book and then change if specials come out.

Jack

 

[DahliaRW]

Book a room only reservation now if you know your dates. Then you can call back and have any specials apply to the booking you made (or convert to a package) at any point. All of the rooms will be done by December. They're supposed to have them all done by Summer. So you will get a refurbed room if you book at the DLH.

 

[emacat]

Thank you to both of you! I'll plan on booking one here in the next couple days, now that I know I can have specials applied.

Grand Californian, hmmmm?? I hear a lot of that one, and a lot of the DL Hotel, but not much of the third resort hotel. What about the Paradise Pier? Is that a long walk in? I don't remember having noticed it on our trips like I did the other two??

 

[PrincessIM]

We have stayed twice at Paradise Pier and once at GCH. We loved the GCH and if we were able to get a great deal like we did last summer, I would stay there again. It's an amazing hotel with an amazing pool and you can't beat the location. Paradise Pier isn't bad either. Both times we were upgraded to a theme park view which was great and all you had to do was walk across the street and take a short cut through the GCH. My first choice is GCH but if you don't want to spend as much the Paradise Pier isn't a bad choice either. You still get alot of the the same perks (early entry, private entrance through the GCH to DCA, package delivery, etc....).

 

[DahliaRW]

She probably would LOVE the new headboards at DLH. My kids are younger, but all of us, adults included, found them totally magical. She'd probably like all the Disney touches as well at DLH.

 

[yupikgal]

It's hard to say, since we've only stayed at the Paradise Pier! I want to try the other two, we (DH & I) stayed at the DH YEARS ago, so I can't speak to how it is now, but with the new upgraded rooms, I think it would be great! Not sure if the pool area would be 100% done by December, I know they plan on having it completed by 2012, so not sure if that is early on or later in the summer. The GCH would be very nice, if for nothing else, the proximity to DCA & the private entrance...I've heard the pool area is nice, and of course, the lobby is spectacular, which we always walk through anyway, no matter where we stay! As far as the Paradise Pier, they upgraded the rooms, or at least they are in the process, I saw pics of the new bedding/lamps/carpeting on Trip Advisor, and it looks great! We stayed in concierge, which allowed us to visit their Beachcomber Lounge & take advantage of the free continental breakfast, snacks & evening "meal" with all kinds of hor dourves such as; a hot item like mini sliders, cheese/crackers/veggies/dip/fruit/chocolate dipped strawberries/fruit tarts/mini pecan pies, etc.!! It was an awesome benefit...here's some pics:

 

[yupikgal]