Sell it to me...

[cane13]

Planning on surprising my DW with a trip to DL for our 10yr wedding anniversary.

Being a WDW VET, I am well aware of the significant value of staying on site.

Looking a staying offsite at DL at the Camelot. Why should I pay the difference?

TIA

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Don't.

When at WDW I won't even consider staying off site but at DL, I found it much more convenient to stay off site (we stayed at the CCI and the DLH).

If you are planning to spend most of your time at the parks, save the extra money and spend it on a nice dinner or other special treat to commemorate your anniversary. The DLH was nice but not as convenient and I didn't find the service quite up to WDW standards.

 

[HydroGuy]

"On site" at DLR is a bit of a misnomer as compared to WDW. At WDW it means closer proximity to the parks and transportation, as well as EMH priviliges. At DLR it doesn't. It just means Disney hotels.

The extra value of a Disney hotel at DLR is not nearly is great as at WDW. The only added value is just that it is Disney.

IMO you will be fine staying at a non-Disney hotel at DLR.

 

[DangerMouse]

I agree 100% with both posters above.

 

[fairykin]

At WDW..we only stay at Grand Floridian.

However at Disneyland..we stay offsite.. everything is *so* close.

Disneyland is V e r y Different from WDW.. it's a smaller more intimate park.

Once we went to Disneyland..we've never gone back to WDW.

Good Luck in Your decisions and what a sweet thing to gift your wife! Happy Anniversary

Alot of people seem to like the Candy Cane Inn.. it also has it's own shuttle to and from the park.

 

[cane13]

Thank you everyone for confiring what I thought to be true.

It should be a fun one.


Thanks again.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I agree however where do you stay at WDW? Like fairykin we stay at the MK hotels only and therefore we still stay onsite at DL because we like a nicer hotel that is still close. If you dont mind and want to stay close then stay offsite. Either way enjoy your trip!

 

[zeitzeuge]

When going to DLR, stay at the Fairfield Inn Marriott which is only one block from the entrance. Saved us a lot of money and the hotel is nice and clean. About all I need when I'm going to be at the parks from 8am to 12am. Staying at one of the DLR hotels to me was a waste of money. I could have spent that money on so many other things.

 

[kikiq]

One question - is your wife a Disney nut? This is your anniversary.

Just a dissenting post. This is your 10th anniversary and if you are use to staying onsite at WDW, why change for your anniversary. Now if this was just a trip then stay offsite, but take it from an old married lady, 33 yrs and counting, how many "marriage missteps" will be forgiven as you pull up to the Disneyland Hotel. I know, I know...it's not like pulling up to the GF or YC/BC BUT this is the original and it is your anniversary. The area around Disneyland is urban and hotels. It will be a lot more romantic to walk through Downtown Disney after the parks to your room at the Disneyland Hotel. Yes, you will be saving money and could even stay at a nicer hotel BUT you said yourself, this is your 10th anniversary and are WDW vets. Not telling you, but big time hinting, you might want to consider spending that money for YOUR ANNIVERSARY to stay at the DLH. And if you really want to go "crazy", stay at the GCH and you can walk right into DCA from the hotel. Just saying, 10th anniversary, WDW vets looking for a special DLR experience.

Nothing against Hojos or Candy Cane Inn, but really, 10th anniversary first time DLR experience. Nothing romantic crossing Harbor Blvd or Katella. BUT then again if your wife is concerned about money, THEN I would say stay offsite at hojos (my preference for guests). Just some musing from a Disney nut who has been married for many years and passing on some sage advice.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We personally still love staying onsite. We haven't had too many great experiences with the motels offsite though. We had a nice experience with the Tropicana across the street, but the rest weren't so great. Some down right scary. LOL

We will stay offsite if we can't swing the costs, but if we can afford it we always stay onsite.

 

[bumbershoot]

We've now stayed at PPH twice and HoJo twice. I've stayed at Carousel, we've stayed at Anabella, and we had a night at the Hilton. Other than Carousel we've liked them all.

But the ONLY reason we chose PPH this last time was b/c the price for our dates with the special AP discount was just about the same cost as all the offsite hotels. If I'm going to pay closing in on 200/night, I'm going to stay onsite, LOL.

"And if you really want to go "crazy", stay at the GCH and you can walk right into DCA from the hotel."

BUT since part of staying onsite is getting MM each day it's offered, and since a big part of touring plans is to start off early, many people go to DL first each day anyway. So the benefit of the DCA entrance dwindles quite a bit, if you're an up'n'at'em person that starts at DL and hops to DCA when it opens. And after opening time at DCA, in our experience anyone can go through to/from DCA later on, so it's really not something that sways me to stay at GCH, because you couldn't pay me enough to sleep in so that DCA would be the first park I went to (even though we love adore and love some more DCA!).

 

[SueTGGR]

I am also the vote for staying on site. I have not stayed off site for a number of years and only because $$ was a MAJOR issue...needed a Disney fix.
We have stayed @ DLH & GCH. If $$ is no object GCH, hands down. But DLH has it's perks too. We have stayed on & off site at WDW as well & the other posters are right on. There is no comparison to on/off site @ DLR. We stay for the "Disney" service & the Early Mornings to hit as many rides as we can in FL. Nemo had no line when we went early last month. You just about walk on to Mr. Toad, Peter Pan & all those.
Good Luck with your decision!

 

[Sherry E]

I am another vote for on site...unless money is of utmost concern and you have to save as much as possible. If you want to splurge a little bit and immerse yourselves in the full Disney experience (and GCH is the least Disney of all three hotels, but the most elegant) for the 10th anniversary, as Kikiq pointed out, on site is the way to go. Plus, you get the MM option and the ability to send any packages you buy back to the hotel so you don't have to carry them in the parks or get a locker, and you have the access to the GCH entrance into DCA, even if you are not staying at GCH but are staying at DLH or PPH. I like 100% FULL Disney magic from beginning to end when I go, so I choose onsite.

 

[cane13]

Thanks for all the advice....

To answer a few questions, first off this not my normal sign on...for the sake of the secret... and it doesn't have all my signature images etc.

A little back history of me and my wife. We are DVC members and vets of 40+ trips to WDW apiece since childhood. We have been working our way through the resorts at WDW but usually stay at Saratoga, Poly, or WL. When me and my DW got married we for some crazy reason we went to Atlanta on our honeymoon and ever since then have commented to each other how we should have went to WDW for our honeymoon.

My wife thinks we are going to WDW for our anniversary and I have talked her into letting me plan everything.

My plan...in cahoots with my MIL (who is watching the kids) is to "surprise" her that we are flying to WDW instead of drive. We're flying alright ....straight to DL. AND instead of 3 days like she thinks, we are going for a week.

I am thinking of DLH but it depends on money because I want to be able to spare no expense on "stuff" (food, souvenirs, etc). That walk through DTD and the fact of being a Disney hotel is hard to turn down.

Thank you for every ones help.

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks for all the advice....

To answer a few questions, first off this not my normal sign on...for the sake of the secret... and it doesn't have all my signature images etc.

A little back history of me and my wife. We are DVC members and vets of 40+ trips to WDW apiece since childhood. We have been working our way through the resorts at WDW but usually stay at Saratoga, Poly, or WL. When me and my DW got married we for some crazy reason we went to Atlanta on our honeymoon and ever since then have commented to each other how we should have went to WDW for our honeymoon.

My wife thinks we are going to WDW for our anniversary and I have talked her into letting me plan everything.

My plan...in cahoots with my MIL (who is watching the kids) is to "surprise" her that we are flying to WDW instead of drive. We're flying alright ....straight to DL. AND instead of 3 days like she thinks, we are going for a week.

I am thinking of DLH but it depends on money because I want to be able to spare no expense on "stuff" (food, souvenirs, etc). That walk through DTD and the fact of being a Disney hotel is hard to turn down.

Thank you for every ones help.

I agree with all of the posters above me. I like staying on Harbor Blvd AND i like staying on site.

If it was me (given your WDW lodging experiences... but also the money issue)....I'd stay 3 nights on Harbor Blvd (Hojos, Candy Cane or the BWPPI) & then slide on over to the DLH for the final 3 nights. (& I'd maximize Magic Mornings while i was at it).

Best of both worlds & it's EASY to move at mid day.


Have a great time planning a trip to Walt's park.

 

[kikiq]

Any chance you can swing some of those DVC points toward the DLH? Or have you used them all up already? Being a DVC member, I've used my points at DLH and GCH and yes it does eat up the points. If it's any help, food will not be as expensive as WDW because it's so easy to go offsite. I'm pulling for the onsite stay, sort of selfishly, because IF my DH EVER wanted to surprise me, that's the type of trip I would just love

Have fun planning and have a good time!! What a great anniversary surprise!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We are using DVC points to stay at GCH in April...do you have any points available? If not I would definitely try for DLH. If you are used to staying onsite at WDW then you should stay onsite at DLR...you might be disappointed otherwise...I know I am.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Allow me to give you the wife's side of the reverse trip. LOL (Did you follow that?)

We are DL regulars. My DH and I went to WDW for our 10 year anniversary. We are living on a tight budget (since I quit a "real" job a few years ago to give a try at starting my own business - which is still blooming). We splurge each year for annual passes on the logic that if we use them enough, they are a great price for entertainment.

We decided that it was our 10th anniversary, it was worthy of a celebration, and we were going to take a trip we have long wanted to take, but couldn't afford: WDW.

Could we suddenly afford it? No, but we found ways to do so. Furthermore, we decided if we were going to "go for it," let's do it right.

If you can afford to stay on-site, I don't think the question you need to ask is, "Is it worth it?" but rather, "Is it any more memorable or special?" That is only an answer you have since you know your wife.

Allow me to explain in WDW terms since you are familiar with it. Should we have upgraded ourselves to a Savannah view at AKL? No. Are we VERY happy that we did? ABSOLUTELY. The money is gone and we made the holidays small this year, but the memories of looking out our resort balcony and seeing a giraffe is one that we will have forever! The same can be said for our waterview room at YC or the Spirit of Aloha dinner, or our anniversary dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. We truly should not have spent the money on any of it. But we set a budget that we were okay with spending, decided there was no second guessing it, promised ourselves not to beat ourselves up when the bills came in post-trip, and had an absolutely amazing 10th anniversary trip that we will never, ever forget.

Was it "memorable" in a way that will last us at least another 10 years? In every possible way.

So, the real question for you to answer is: "Will you and your wife look back at walking across Harbor Blvd to Camelot and wish you were at the GCH or DLH?" Only you know the answer to that, but THAT answer is the one that will tell you where to stay. Once you answer that question (either way), go with it. You said you want to be able to spare no expense on the extras. The hotel may be one of those. I know for me, a Disney nut, staying in a Disney hotel would be part of what makes the experience memorable. Would it for you and your wife?

- Dreams (whose 10 year anniversary trip memories will last longer than the money ever would!)

P.S. Wow that turned out to be long. Sorry. Hope it helps.

 

[cane13]

Great points DisDreams. I see your point and agree 100%

Hound, I have never thought of that. I could could keep the surprises going and switch us midweek to a DL hotel.

No go on the DVC points. We are doing a grand gathering in Dec and staying onsite in the treehouses (hopefully) for Christmas Day. Plus my DW handles ALL the DVC stuff and even if we weren't maxed out, there is no way I could sneak that.

After talking to the MIL this week, she is taking my DW shopping for some new "WDW" outfits before we leave.....man what a rough life my DW has.

 

[Judy from Boise]

can you give us a rough date estimate ? Remember that she will need much warmer clothes at some times in CA over FL.