Special perks at Disney Hotels??? (other than EE)

[MinMou]

I know about getting to go into the parks an hour early on alternating days, but I just read about some other stuff that I thought was only at WDW.

Can you get character wake-up calls?
Are there a special TV channel with bed time stories?
Is there anything else I should know about?

 

[John93]

Almost anything they offer at WDW will transfer over in terms of the resorts. I'm not sure about the bed time stories - but there is definitely a channel that just runs Disney Classic's all day long.

 

[figment_jii]

This page has some other "benefits" listed:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotel-benefits/

 

[MinMou]

THank you both! And of course, now I have another question. Can you pick which character makes the wake-up call? And which ones are available?

 

[are you ready]

There are bedtime stories on the tv i think there were 2 fifteen minute ones that were on a loop. we didnt do character wake up calls so not sure about that one.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Yes, they have character wake up calls.

 

[RKKUNK]

You probably already know this but they also have channels that have the music for the fireworks and WOC. Depending on where you are staying and which room that you have, you can watch the show from your room and have the soundtrack that goes with it while you watch!

 

[plutos1fan]

THank you both! And of course, now I have another question. Can you pick which character makes the wake-up call? And which ones are available?

Hi,

I have not been a resort hotel guest since 2010, but what I remember is the character wake-up call came from Mickey. I do not think we could pick another character to call us and give us a magial wake-up call, but I could be wrong. I love the Mickey wake-up call because it makes me smile and happy!

 

[lorijohnhill]

We weren't able to choose the character when we used the wake up call service. We had some calls from Mickey and some from Olaf.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Any purchases you make inside Disneyland can be delivered directly to your hotel.

 

[calilou]

There are also hotel activities throughout the day - hotel tours, story time, outdoor movies, crafts, etc. These are wonderful to take advantage of especially when staying more than a couple of nights. You'll get a schedule at check in.

Did someone already mention special viewing decks? WOC viewing deck at GCH and fireworks viewing deck at PPH.

Don't have high expectations about the princess bedtime story channel - it's very dated (unless it's been changed the last few months). But my girls have loved it since their first stay 8 years ago!

Overall there really are a lot of going ons and experiences to certainly get all guests in the Disney spirit!!

 

[calilou]

I LOVE taking advantage of having shopping purchases delivered to the hotel from both parks and many DTD locations! FYI you pick them up at the front desk the next morning. We tour the parks lightly with just our small Disney Vera Bradley shoulder satchels so don't like to carry purchases around.

 

[Disneyland1084]

FYI you pick them up at the front desk the next morning.

I always picked them up when I got back to the hotel at night. Is picking them up the next morning a new policy?

 

[calilou]

I always picked them up when I got back to the hotel at night. Is picking them up the next morning a new policy?

It is the official policy (has been for awhile). However the packages are often delivered in the evening in time for night pick up. They just don't advertise/guarantee that in case guests have to check out early in the morning and packages aren't there yet.

 

[bumbershoot]

I always picked them up when I got back to the hotel at night. Is picking them up the next morning a new policy?

No, it's been the policy since our first trip back in 2007 and likely before that. You're picking up THAT day's purchases in the evening? Lucky. They have told us every time that it's the following day.

They just don't advertise/guarantee that in case guests have to check out early in the morning and packages aren't there yet.

They shouldn't even be letting you send purchases back on the day before checkout. They don't guarantee that the items will be there by checkout time, so even if you are leaving way later they won't do it.

 

[calilou]

No, it's been the policy since our first trip back in 2007 and likely before that. You're picking up THAT day's purchases in the evening? Lucky. They have told us every time that it's the following day.



They shouldn't even be letting you send purchases back on the day before checkout. They don't guarantee that the items will be there by checkout time, so even if you are leaving way later they won't do it.

I think you may have been dealing with persnickety CMs on this one? I have regularly sent packages to the hotel the day before check out. Our hotel stays are often just 1-3 nights so I've definitely checked on it to make sure we can get our goods before leaving. Granted we rarely check out early (usually we do park time before driving home), but it's come up several times.

Last trip we purchased some things at Anna & Elsa's Boutique and had them sent to the hotel because we planned to do more shopping/hanging/eating in DTD. We changed our minds about 15 minutes later after one quick stop in favor of swimming back at the hotel. Well as we walked back to DLH the CM from A&E Boutique actually passed us with our package to deliver to the hotel! Oops!

 

[Disneyland1084]

You're picking up THAT day's purchases in the evening? Lucky. They have told us every time that it's the following day.

I haven't stayed at a resort hotel since 2012. But I do remember the cast members saying I could pick them up at the hotel the same evening. These purchases were made earlier in the day, so maybe that's why.

 

[McNs]

One thing we did last year was book a Build A Bear session before the shop opens, this was done through the hotel. Our girls had such a great time, and it was nice not battling the crowds.

 

[hootey]

We have always enjoyed the character meet n greets in the DLH lobby. Several of our all time favorite DL pictures of our children with characters were taken in the lobby of the DLH. Our 2012 Christmas arrival at the DLH was special, Goofy was at the bellhop stand to welcome us to the DLH!. He assisted with loading our luggage on the luggage cart(F U N) . Then, when we entered the hotel lobby, there was Mickey to greet us!. There was no doubt, we were at DL. Our sons were 9 and 10 yrs old at the time, they were all smiles before we ever checked in! These are just a few of the reasons we stay at the DLH or we stay home.

 

[MommyJKM]

They shouldn't even be letting you send purchases back on the day before checkout. They don't guarantee that the items will be there by checkout time, so even if you are leaving way later they won't do it.

We've definately picked up purchases the evening we bought them. I had a day off from the parks to spend at GCH pool and spa and my DH bought some things and I got them from Bell Services before they even got back from the parks. Maybe they do 2 runs a day? But I wouldn't COUNT on them the same day - they come by 11am the next morning.

I know about getting to go into the parks an hour early on alternating days, but I just read about some other stuff that I thought was only at WDW. Can you get character wake-up calls?
Are there a special TV channel with bed time stories?
Is there anything else I should know about?

At GCH there is a Princess Storytime channel but it runs the same 4 shows.

For GCH hotel exclusives:
I love to do the morning pilates class (I think 6am?) and the morning DCA walk (make sure you leave your phone in your room as you can't bring it). My DD and her cousin love to do the hour early entry into either the Anna & Elsa boutique or Build-A-Bear. My nephew does the hour early into RideMakerz. There is a character wake up call. You can also ask for "Magic" waiting when you check-in and they give the kids a signed photo and pin. We also have asked to have my DD's favorite Ariel send a photo to her and in the morning it was slid under our door for her to wake up to.

They also do some sort of washcloth design class, a hotel tour called Art of the Craft, there is a private 6th floor World of Color viewing patio (where we like to bring a glass of wine and watch without a crowd), an afternoon dance party at the pool, nighttime movies on the lawn, the amazing option previous people mentioned to send all of your park purchases back to the hotel instead of carrying them around (which my DH teases me costs him twice as much to stay on-site ), the Extra Magic Hour which knocks out a ton of rides early on, the closeness of the hotel to DCA when you want to leave midday for a break it's just amazing to be able to walk right into your hotel to nap or swim.