You'll definitely have a bubble feel if you stay in a resort hotel.
Harbor Blvd just isn't magical. We've stayed there many times but after our last stay we're never going back there. There are homeless people, loud cars at night and religious zealots yelling at you with a megaphone as you enter or exit the park from the Harbor entrance.
The Grand Californian is a beautiful hotel with a resort feel and there's an entrance that pops you right into DCA, so your commute is only how long it takes you to get from your room to the entrance. The walk to Disneyland is 5ish minutes. The Grand ruined all other hotels for me lol.
Disneyland hotel is a 15 minute or so walk through Downtown Disney, but still in the bubble. It's a wonderful hotel with a nostalgic Disney feel, plus Trader Sam's and Goofy's. And the best part—light up head boards!
If you're used to staying in the WDW bubble, I'd stay on property at Disneyland for sure.
Have a great trip!
That's a valid opinion, and I have no doubt you experienced these things, but I recently stayed on Harbor (along with many prior experiences staying on Harbor) and I've never experienced any of those issues in the way you're describing them. I literally stayed at a park view room right on Harbor where I would most hear loud cars and it didn't bother anyone in my family over 5 nights (also over July 4th when frankly people were more rowdy in general). Are there some homeless people? Sure, but I don't believe it detracts from the value to be found staying on Harbor. Are there sometimes people yelling and selling things? Again, yes, but not all day and they're harmless (the religious person was there 1 time over 5 days for about 10 minutes in July). I guess for me going to Disneyland is like any other trip - when I walk into DL the world outside still exists, I need to check email for work, deal with real issues that arise, and yes, homeless people are living in the world.
I think a lot of the discomfort with some of the homelessness, noise, etc. relates to what people have experienced before in their lives.
That's purely subjective, and your perspective is valid and important to share, so thank you for doing so.
I am fortunate that my family is able to afford to stay on site, but I cannot wrap my head around the value proposition. I can spend over $500 to stay on site (usually much more), for basically no benefits. I can stay across the street on Harbor in a multi room suite and be closer to the park entrances than many Disney resort rooms for $300 or less per night. You also have easy access to affordable and easy meal options like McDonald's, Panera, etc., which further reduces the cost of a trip because you aren't relying on overpriced Disney food.
To the OP, given your preference for the WDW bubble, I encourage you to look at the Grand Californian and the second option should be the DL hotel. I do not think you would be happy with Harbor based on your comments about the on-site feel of WDW. You will get that for sure at the Grand. I do not personally find the cost on-site at DL to be worth it, but that's a purely subjective decision. I would rather apply the several hundred dollar per night cost differential to other travel throughout the year, experiences at home, retirement, and future DL trips. We stay across the street on Harbor almost annually and have a consistently amazing experience.
Would I love to stay on-site more often? Absolutely, it's amazing - as many have noted. If this is a one-time trip and it's in your budget - then go for the Grand!
