To Split Stay or Not To Split?

[epcotfan]

Hi Everyone,
I'm a WDW Veteran but a Disneyland newbie. I plan on going to DL in May of 2006 for 8 nights. We want to stay at the Disney hotels for the convenience and some of the perks (room charge, package delivery, etc...) We can't decide whether to stay at one Disney hotel for the duration of the stay or to split up the trip between two hotels. So far we are partial to the DL and DGC hotels. Any advice is appreciated. (I will have a lot of questions for everyone in the next couple of weeks)

 

[CalGal]

At WDW, I love to split my stay because the different delux resorts are so unique and special, and different locations have their advantages. It can be really fabulous to spend some time at an Epcot resort, and some time next to the MK. OR, while I wouldn't want to spend all of my time at AKL because of its location, it's pretty special to spend some time there.

At DL, the main reason to split a stay is to save money (8 nights at the GCH can be pretty expensive!) or because your first choice is not available for the entire period of your stay. There's just not that big a difference in the experience. At the same time, if you want to convenience and style of the GCH, and you've got kids that need to spend some time at the Neverland Pool, splitting is not out of the question. The hotels are pretty close, so it's not difficult to split your stay if you don't mind the inconvenience of packing your bags and being roomless one day for 4 or more hours,

 

[disney-super-mom]

I say go for the split.

Since your a DL newbie, and you don't get over here very often, then try to experience as much as you can while you're here.

Also, you may be able to work it out so your luggage will be transfered for you from one hotel to the other. I know they've done it before, so there must be a way to arrange this.

Have a terrific time!

 

[superdisneyfan]

I agree with CalGal regarding not splitting unless you want to save money. I too am a WDW veteran, but I've been to DL on 4 trips. I liked Wilderness Lodge in WDW much better than Grand Californian so if you were to pick one, go for DL hotel. Paradise Pier is like any other hotel--I've been to it since the 80s when it was the Emerald Hotel and then turned into Pan Pacific before Paradise Pier. DL is much different from WDW in that everything is very close together and you can walk to all three to check them out.

 

[LucyKate]

The whole point of staying a long time in one place on a holiday for me is so I don't have to pack up every day.

Packing is the worst part of a holiday and once I arrive I just like to get everything out of the bags and leave it there - so I'm a big "no split" person.

Having said that, I can see the attraction if you want to spend some time at an expensive place like the GC, but can't afford to spend the whole week there. But I know what my wife would say if I suggested packing up everything in the middle of the week just so we could move to another hotel down the road! (something along the lines of, "I'm going to Disneyland. I'll see you at the new hotel when YOU have finished packing and moving all the stuff).

 

[epcotfan]

Thank you everyone for your imput. I think I'm going to stay put at the Disneyland Hotel. I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions to ask all of you with my trip planning. Thanks again

Edited to add I prefer to stay at one hotel during my vacations at WDW because I too hate packing. LOL.