They want to stay in the parks . . . .

[oldduhoski]

but I'm not sold on it.

Planning a trip for 6 adults, 6 kids aged infant - 7 years old for late April. Our friends we're traveling with say stay in the park, but I keep reading how good the hotels are right outside the park. We're only going to be there for 3 days max, and really wanted to go to a beach 1 day anyway - so the multi-day tickets don't even really appeal to me, but maybe I'm missing something? They thought there was a resort on property where all 12 of us could stay in a suite of rooms?

Advice appreciated!

 

[VillianGeorge]

Staying "on campus" makes a big difference at WDW, but not so much at DLR.

The 3 Disney hotels are really nice, no doubt about it, but the non-Disney hotels along Harbor Blvd as just as close to the main gate and cost way less. Personally, I'd rather spend $100 on the room, and $200 on other fun than $300 on just the room.

 

[tink2dw]

The Walk is shorter from the Harbor Blvd Hotels than from the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier hotel. Here is a map click below,
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

The Grand Californian has it's own park Enterance. But I have never heard of a suite that slept 12 people. Each family would need to have their own room.
Plus with a new baby, the crying would make for some Cranky Campers.

I say do your own thing and check out the Desert Inn and Suites!

Or Howard Johnson[do you have an Entertainment Book??]

 

[ballarinamom]

I've heard great things about the HOJO and Best western. Unfortunately for my pocket book, DH will only stay at the DLH. But I say with a group that large, save the money and do extra character meals

 

[DisneyLover4Ever!]

I've heard great things about the HOJO and Best western. Unfortunately for my pocket book, DH will only stay at the DLH. But I say with a group that large, save the money and do extra character meals

I think that it would be best to make reservations to a hotel like the HOJO or Best Western instead of the DLH, GCH, or PPH because:
1. you save $$$ on rooms
2. the only time you will really be in your rooms will to sleep, snack, etc...
3. The kids and adults will have much more fun spending their extra $$ on souveniers and awesome character meals.

 

[audrabolster]

I've only stayed at a hotel across the street. I would rather take the extra money from a DLR hotel and spend that on extra things in the park! Especially with a family that big! You would need more rooms, which means more money. I've never felt the need to stay in a DLR hotel. I have friends that will only stay in them because they want ALL disney ALL the time, but I don't need that at all!

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I know that DLH and GC have larger suites, like 3 bedroom and such. We could have had 10 people sleep in our 2 bedroom suite at the DLH and that didn't include the 2 pack n play's for the babies. But, that does include two per bed. We had a 1 king bedroom and 2 queen bedroom, but we could have had two of the 2 queen bedrooms and slept another 2 people. So, I think with a 3 bedroom suite you could do 12 rather comfortably. However, you have to figure the room is probably going to run about $700 a night, so however you would split that with your party and go from there. Or you can go across the street to Harbor and probably get a block of rooms at Desert Inn or Carousel, or HOJO, for a lot cheaper. I think the walk from the GCH is definitely comparable to the hotels right across the street, but agree that the DLH is a little farther, but still do able. It all depends on what everyone wants out of the trip. If you aren't going to spend the whole time "doing Disney", it may make sense to not stay at a resort hotel. If you only want a clean place to lay your head and you aren't spending time in the room or on the hotel property, staying across the street will probably be a better deal for you.

Good luck choosing!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

I agree with others....put that money towards more fun in the park, or even extra days.

 

[bumbershoot]

clarifying... "The Grand Californian has it's own park Enterance."

The park entrance is to DCA. Now that would be great for me, b/c I know that I love DCA. (of course, even on a day I plan for DCA I still go into DL first then hop once DCA opens, LOL) But it could be a bad surprise for someone who doesn't (know they) love DCA (yet)!


Offsite is great at DLR, IMO. We stayed 4 nights at PP, then 2 nights at hoJo, and loved the value of hojo so much more!

 

[oldduhoski]

Thank you everyone - your advice is much appreciated!

I think we'll stay across the street; if our friends want to stay in the park they can do that and we can just hang out all day together -- sleeping 5 feet from each other really isn't necessary.

Thanks Thanks Thanks!

 

[MaiynaMouse]

clarifying... "The Grand Californian has it's own park Enterance."

The park entrance is to DCA. Now that would be great for me, b/c I know that I love DCA. (of course, even on a day I plan for DCA I still go into DL first then hop once DCA opens, LOL) But it could be a bad surprise for someone who doesn't (know they) love DCA (yet)!


Offsite is great at DLR, IMO. We stayed 4 nights at PP, then 2 nights at hoJo, and loved the value of hojo so much more!

Hey, bumbershoot (Molly, right???), I'm also a DCA fan. I really do love it and hope the "improvements" really are just that. We always stay at the Grand and love the "personal" entrance into the park. If it wasn't in the budget, though....we'd definitely stay off-site.

 

[pixiewings71]

We have stayed at PP and the GCH but those were special "splurge" trips. We normally stay across the street at the HoJo if they have the Ent. Rate or at the Tropicana or BWPPI if they don't. I would rather stay off-site and use the saved money in the parks. I did LOVE staying at the PP and GCH though, they are both nice hotels, just not in my budget all the time.

 

[Hound 109]

but I'm not sold on it.

Planning a trip for 6 adults, 6 kids aged infant - 7 years old for late April. Our friends we're traveling with say stay in the park, but I keep reading how good the hotels are right outside the park. We're only going to be there for 3 days max, and really wanted to go to a beach 1 day anyway - so the multi-day tickets don't even really appeal to me, but maybe I'm missing something? They thought there was a resort on property where all 12 of us could stay in a suite of rooms?

Advice appreciated!

Staying on site doesn't offer any real logistical advantage. (It might offer an extra day MM/EE, but that is a different topic). So i don't disagree that staying at a nice clean motel on Harbor near the crosswalk would work for your family.......BUT.....

..... a multi day ticket (3 day) offers several HUGE advantages (over a 2 day or god forbid 2 (1 day) tickets).

- Check the price difference between a 2 day & a 3 day.

- Consider that the BEST TIME to take a 3-5 hour beach run is mid day - late afternoon. Precisely the time it's best to avoid DL.

- Even if i was going to "go to the beach" one day, I'd do an early morning run to DL for 2-3 hours, ride rides, pick up 2-4 FPs for the evening & then BAIL for a 3-5 hour beach run. When you return at 6pm - 7pm you'll still have a couple of hours of fun stuff to do at DL.

Walking to DL (if you're onsite or on Harbor at/near the crosswalk) for a couple of hours is EASY. (As opposed to WDW where you have to wait in bus lines & take a bus to the parks).

- A 3 day hopper gets you one day of MM/EE (which rocks), a 2 day hopper doesn't.

Have fun.

 

[Judy from Boise]

what are you realistically hoping to see in the two days....? Do you want to try everything once....try both parks....have time for favorites....tour at the kids pace....see shows and parades...? Two days is quick, especially with that many kids, I just don't want you to be disappointed.