Split Stay Early Entry/Morning Magic Question

[wareagle57]

We will be starting the first half of our trip out at the GCH for 3 nights, followed bye 5 nights elsewhere. TBD. We will have 5 day park hoppers, which I know includes one morning of EE into Disneyland.

Ideally we'd like to be able to use that MM AFTER our stay at GCH, since we are eligible for EE/MM every day while we are there. Is this possible? Or will any EE into DL use our entitlement?

 

[smartlabelprint]

I think you can specify at the gate that you'd like to use your Early Entry, not your Magic Morning.

Are you sure you can't stay at GCH after the h/motel? The 2nd place isn't going to seem very nice after being at the Grand!

 

[wareagle57]

I think you can specify at the gate that you'd like to use your Early Entry, not your Magic Morning.

Are you sure you can't stay at GCH after the h/motel? The 2nd place isn't going to seem very nice after being at the Grand!

The only reason we are able to afford the Grand at all is because our arrival date is the last day the Dapper Day rates can be applied. I agree pretty much anything will be a downgrade, but we almost always stay on the cheap so it will be what we are used to. This is our honeymoon however so I wanted to do something special. We are looking at some of the surrounding hotels that might be a little nicer but still affordable.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I think smartlabelprint is correct that you can specify that you want to use your early entry and not magic morning. Not 100% though as I've never been in that situation, but I remember reading about it in another thread. Hopefully those with recent experience can confirm.

Congrats on the wedding! If you are looking for a nicer and newer hotel (not a motel), we really liked the Hyatt House. The walk isn't that bad (maybe 10-12 minutes or so) and it was a pretty nice property with decent pricing. I liked that it had a Walgreens underneath that made it convenient for stocking up on water and snacks (or adult beverages). And they have a good free breakfast included.

 

[wareagle57]

Congrats on the wedding! If you are looking for a nicer and newer hotel (not a motel), we really liked the Hyatt House. The walk isn't that bad (maybe 10-12 minutes or so) and it was a pretty nice property with decent pricing. I liked that it had a Walgreens underneath that made it convenient for stocking up on water and snacks (or adult beverages). And they have a good free breakfast included.

Thanks! Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but the prices it's quoting for our dates in April are more than we are paying for our room at GCH. $560 a night is the cheapest room. At that price I'd just stay put at GCH. We're probably looking for something closer to the $200 range.

*edit* It must have something to do with our dates. I just tried for some days this November and they were less than $200. It looks like for whatever reason all dates into 2019 are 2-3x what they actually cost.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Thanks! Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but the prices it's quoting for our dates in April are more than we are paying for our room at GCH. $560 a night is the cheapest room. At that price I'd just stay put at GCH. We're probably looking for something closer to the $200 range.

*edit* It must have something to do with our dates. I just tried for some days this November and they were less than $200. It looks like for whatever reason all dates into 2019 are 2-3x what they actually cost.

Wow! That must be some sort of glitch. If you are really interested in that property I'd give them a call and see what is going on. I was able to even get an August 2018 reservation last month for $167 with my AAA discount -- I used their website to book. $560 would be unheard of.

 

[Disney_Alli]

You might check the Sheraton Park is a decent Sheraton but the pool area is really nice, there’s actual room service and the king rooms with Disneyland/Fireworks views are awesome!

 

[wareagle57]

You might check the Sheraton Park is a decent Sheraton but the pool area is really nice, there’s actual room service and the king rooms with Disneyland/Fireworks views are awesome!

That looks great too. I've got both bookmarked. Have you ever stayed concierge level there? Is it worth it? Looks like it is not much more.

It has the same problem as the Hyatt, the rates in 2019 are super inflated, so I assume those will come down at some point.

 

[Winnowill]

I know the dates we were looking at for next year's girls' trip (3/7-3/11) are either fully booked or horrifically expensive. Camelot is $269/night and Red Lion is $319, and they're really the only ones even available that are within walking distance. Last time I stayed at Red Lion, it was something like $189/night. So we're probably not going to be doing our girls' trip in March next year...

 

[wareagle57]

I'm wondering if they are waiting to lower the rates when they know when GE has an official opening date. Though in April (our trip) it shouldn't even be on the radar. But it seems like rates at both hotels double after New Years, regardless of what dates you pick. I'm really hoping that is a glitch.

 

[Disney_Alli]

That looks great too. I've got both bookmarked. Have you ever stayed concierge level there? Is it worth it? Looks like it is not much more.

It has the same problem as the Hyatt, the rates in 2019 are super inflated, so I assume those will come down at some point.

When we stayed on my dad’s points we were upgraded to concierge - he’s lifetime platinum- but we didn’t take advantage of it due to our schedule. I’ve read a really good review on here that’s been updated several times. I can’t link it here but a google search should find it. If you’ll be at the hotel at the right times it seems like it could be worth it.

 

[minnieralyks]

I really like the Desert Palms hotel. It doesn't look as fancy in comparison to the newest next door hotels from the outside, but the inside is really nice! Free hot breakfast, close proximity to park, comfy beds, clean.

We stayed at Hyatt House (Harbor/Katella one) earlier this year and didn't care for it. The floors/walls are probably the thinnest out of all the hotels we've stayed at along Harbor/Katella and elsewhere, which was surprising for a new-ish hotel. We heard everything going on above us - kids running/jumping off the bunkbeds, parents yelling, etc late into the night and early beginning in the morning (5 am most days of a 4 day trip). Of course if you have quiet neighbors then you're fine, but its kinda luck of the draw and we're not willing to take that chance again. They do have a fairly extensive breakfast line up which was great, though.

We've been on all floors of the Desert Palms and have never had a problem with hearing neighbors. Same with the Courtyard Theme Park hotel. But for a budget-friendly, good hotel I would recommend Desert Palms.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We are regular guests at the Sheraton Park and won't stay on the concierge level unless we get a free upgrade. For us, we don't find the value to be there at this particular property. For one thing, we are rarely in the room enough to make good use of the lounge. And whenever we did visit the lounge, we found unsupervised kids running around touching the food while their parents sat around drinking, chatting, and doing anything but watching their kids. Breakfast was difficult because of all the families taking most of the food and not leaving much for anyone else. It has just been much easier to go elsewhere for food and drinks, even if we have to pay. The rooms on the club level have been fine.

 

[wareagle57]

We are regular guests at the Sheraton Park and won't stay on the concierge level unless we get a free upgrade. For us, we don't find the value to be there at this particular property. For one thing, we are rarely in the room enough to make good use of the lounge. And whenever we did visit the lounge, we found unsupervised kids running around touching the food while their parents sat around drinking, chatting, and doing anything but watching their kids. Breakfast was difficult because of all the families taking most of the food and not leaving much for anyone else. It has just been much easier to go elsewhere for food and drinks, even if we have to pay. The rooms on the club level have been fine.

So is the lounge the only real perk? I thought being on the top 2 floors might be good for the balcony/fireworks and to lessen the chance someone above you might be noisy. I assume the drink in the lounge are not free?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For the current fireworks show, Together Forever, having a fireworks view room at the Sheraton hasn't been as much fun as it has been for previous shows. TF is much less dependent on actual pyrotechnics and is a much more immersive experience with the digital projections (especially on Main Street). So we prefer to be in the park to view that show. We don't have drinks in the lounge, so I don't know if they are free. You could email/call the hotel to ask what the current club level lounge policies are.

 

[smartlabelprint]

So is the lounge the only real perk? I thought being on the top 2 floors might be good for the balcony/fireworks and to lessen the chance someone above you might be noisy. I assume the drink in the lounge are not free?

Beer & wine is free at the homewood suites cocktail dinner 5-7 mon-thurs.

 

[wareagle57]

Beer & wine is free at the homewood suites cocktail dinner 5-7 mon-thurs.

Is there a difference in the Homewood Suites convention center and homewood suites main gate?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Is there a difference in the Homewood Suites convention center and homewood suites main gate?

Convention center is new. It’s the only one I’ve stayed at. I don’t know where the main gate is.

 

[Cal-Pie]

I know the dates we were looking at for next year's girls' trip (3/7-3/11) are either fully booked or horrifically expensive. Camelot is $269/night and Red Lion is $319, and they're really the only ones even available that are within walking distance. Last time I stayed at Red Lion, it was something like $189/night. So we're probably not going to be doing our girls' trip in March next year...

It's because of the Natural Products Expo at the convention center. My kids have a school break that week, so we've been during that time frame several times. It really doesn't impact crowds in the park all that much, but it does impact hotel rates! We're trying Grand Legacy this time because it's the only walkable place I could find a decent rate.

 

[wareagle57]

It's because of the Natural Products Expo at the convention center. My kids have a school break that week, so we've been during that time frame several times. It really doesn't impact crowds in the park all that much, but it does impact hotel rates! We're trying Grand Legacy this time because it's the only walkable place I could find a decent rate.

Is that over a month long? Should I give up hope of an affordable room in April