BriAlie
Alie In Glacierland
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 72
My judgement is clouded and I am hoping some of you can be more pragmatic than I am. Or maybe talk me into going for the Magic?
The summary for those who don't have time to read this long post: We have 4 nights booked at Tropicana Inn in an executive suite1/13-1/17. Debating whether to spend $100 more (total) to split stay between Tropicana and DLH; or spend $366 more (total) to ditch Tropicana and split the stay between GCH and DLH. Won't use EMH the first two days at all, regardless of which hotel. We will enjoy the extra space (and extra bathroom!) at Tropicana, not to mention the short walk to the parks. But the magic of staying on-site is tempting and we would use the EMH on the last two days. How much of an advantage will EMH on Jan 15 and Jan 16 be? Park hours are 9am-8pm in both parks, EMH will be at 8am.
My DH and I are going to Disneyland for our 10 year anniversary Jan 13-17. I had originally booked the Tropicana (Executive suite) for the entire stay because it looks like a nice enough hotel, it's super-close to the parks, and that room type has a living area, bedroom, and two bathrooms. Lots of space. They have a military rate that is outstanding. I've stayed at Park Vue and Desert Inn, and the similar proximity to the parks appeals to me.
But then, I got the itch to stay on-site because, MAGIC!! Our budget does not allow for an entire stay on site at regular prices, nor even with the magical stay offer that is available to the public for our dates. I was able to book Jan 15-17 at the Disneyland Hotel with the Military Salute rate, thus having a split stay at Tropicana Jan 13-15, DLH Jan 15-17, for only about $100 more total. That's not bad. I am second guessing the decision because we'll be farther away at DLH (more walking, ugh), plus we lose the living area and the second bathroom, all while paying more. Plus, we have to check out of one hotel and into the next, and of course I'd want to do it very early to be able to use the Extra Magic Hours on the 15th! It's starting to sound like a lot of trouble for the Magic.
And just now, I started wondering what if we did a on-site split stay? If I book the military salute for the first two nights at the Grand Californian and keep the second two nights at DLH, it would be a total of $366 more than the original Tropicana room. (The salute rate is not available for the entire stay at GCH, I checked!). That's nearly $92/night more than just staying at the Tropicana. DH would be ok with starting at the GCH and ending at DLH, or starting at Tropicana and ending at DLH, but would not be ok with doing the entire stay at DLH because "it's smaller AND farther away" than the Tropicana.
Our travel day is 1/13 so no Extra Magic Hours benefit that day, and the next day 1/14 we have non-park plans in the morning, so no Extra Magic Hours use that morning either. That is the original reason I was planning to do the off-site portion of the split stay at the beginning. We would use the Extra Magic Hours benefit on the 15th and 16th if we stayed on site, for sure. We are leaving very early on the 17th so no EMH that day either.
Any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions are welcome. Everything is still refundable until 5 days prior, so I have a little time to decide. Thanks in advance!
The summary for those who don't have time to read this long post: We have 4 nights booked at Tropicana Inn in an executive suite1/13-1/17. Debating whether to spend $100 more (total) to split stay between Tropicana and DLH; or spend $366 more (total) to ditch Tropicana and split the stay between GCH and DLH. Won't use EMH the first two days at all, regardless of which hotel. We will enjoy the extra space (and extra bathroom!) at Tropicana, not to mention the short walk to the parks. But the magic of staying on-site is tempting and we would use the EMH on the last two days. How much of an advantage will EMH on Jan 15 and Jan 16 be? Park hours are 9am-8pm in both parks, EMH will be at 8am.
My DH and I are going to Disneyland for our 10 year anniversary Jan 13-17. I had originally booked the Tropicana (Executive suite) for the entire stay because it looks like a nice enough hotel, it's super-close to the parks, and that room type has a living area, bedroom, and two bathrooms. Lots of space. They have a military rate that is outstanding. I've stayed at Park Vue and Desert Inn, and the similar proximity to the parks appeals to me.
But then, I got the itch to stay on-site because, MAGIC!! Our budget does not allow for an entire stay on site at regular prices, nor even with the magical stay offer that is available to the public for our dates. I was able to book Jan 15-17 at the Disneyland Hotel with the Military Salute rate, thus having a split stay at Tropicana Jan 13-15, DLH Jan 15-17, for only about $100 more total. That's not bad. I am second guessing the decision because we'll be farther away at DLH (more walking, ugh), plus we lose the living area and the second bathroom, all while paying more. Plus, we have to check out of one hotel and into the next, and of course I'd want to do it very early to be able to use the Extra Magic Hours on the 15th! It's starting to sound like a lot of trouble for the Magic.
And just now, I started wondering what if we did a on-site split stay? If I book the military salute for the first two nights at the Grand Californian and keep the second two nights at DLH, it would be a total of $366 more than the original Tropicana room. (The salute rate is not available for the entire stay at GCH, I checked!). That's nearly $92/night more than just staying at the Tropicana. DH would be ok with starting at the GCH and ending at DLH, or starting at Tropicana and ending at DLH, but would not be ok with doing the entire stay at DLH because "it's smaller AND farther away" than the Tropicana.
Our travel day is 1/13 so no Extra Magic Hours benefit that day, and the next day 1/14 we have non-park plans in the morning, so no Extra Magic Hours use that morning either. That is the original reason I was planning to do the off-site portion of the split stay at the beginning. We would use the Extra Magic Hours benefit on the 15th and 16th if we stayed on site, for sure. We are leaving very early on the 17th so no EMH that day either.
Any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions are welcome. Everything is still refundable until 5 days prior, so I have a little time to decide. Thanks in advance!