What is your favorite/least favorite part about each DLR hotel?

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks, I guess we will wait and see. We definitely want to stay onsite at either DLH or GC. We picked DLH because it’s so different. We’ve stayed at WL at WDW and GC reminds me of that. But this possible construction scares me. We switched resorts at WDW due to construction. I wouldn’t want to Be walking back and forth through that mess every day.

Then I'd definitely book a back-up, refundable room at GCH. (I believe GCH & WL were designed by the same architect, alas I never got around to seeing WL at WDW so idk how different they might be from one another- but if you want to know start a thread! Someone here or on the WDW side of the board may have stayed at both!)

 

[Sun_soakin]

We enjoy all three and regularly rotate through them.

GCH - pros: location, balconies (we usually do woods view and get a partial park view, sometimes a great park view...which is fun when u sit on your balcony on the higher floors), we like the new rooms, and love the pool. Cons: small rooms, high traffic resort, price.

DLH - pros: theme, trader sams, pools. Cons: pool gets packed and is spread out which makes it hard to watch kiddos, longer walk, price is close to GCH.

PPH - pros: light/bright larger rooms, theme, love the cabana rooms, we enjoy the pool because it’s uncrowded and easy to relax and watch your kiddos. Cons: lack of pool side service, longest walk (although doesn’t bother us much more than DLH because it works out about the same - longer in morning by a couple min but shorter at night when you can cut through GCH), elevators

DLH used to be my favorite, but lately I’ve noticed that I usually book GCH for the proximity to the parks, or occasionally PPH for a cheaper option. For the small price difference I usually end up at GCH over DLH

 

[bethwc101]

Well the harbor hotels we normally stay at are ranging $180-200 the same nights so I think we will drop the extra $90 and stay at GCH

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Stayed at all three at least twice each...

GCH—like the closeness to the parks, but hallways can be long, not Disney enough for me inside and while the new showers are pretty amazing, I miss the tub for soaking my sore feet. The price point is stupid high.

DLH—love the theming and pools, love Trader Sams, but boy that walk to the parks is for.e.ver on day 4 at the end of the day.

PPH—haven’t stayed since the new security. I actually like the lobby and room theming, the theme park room view is the best of the 3 hotels. The character breakfast is my fave, all I have to say is Stitch! And it is nice to just go downstairs to get to it. New security means an even longer walk, the pool is downright awful and lack of chairs around it make it even worse.

 

[McNs]

I’m another fan of all three and wouldn’t mind staying at any of them for various reasons.

PPH Pros

• Cheapest way to get early entry
• AWESOME view if you get a room on the DCA side
• Best slide. For some reason my best pool memories are at the PPH pool. It’s a completely standard pool but maybe that’s why the family memories are so good.
• Surfs Up breakfast with Stitch. My favourite character meal.

Cons

• Location, though having now visited WDW and experienced the pain of getting to MK, this is now less of an issue
• Theming isn’t as good as other two hotels
• Lack of a “resort” feeling

DLH Pros

• History
• Trader Sams
• A true resort feel right through
• Light up headboards
• Pool and slides are cool

Cons

• Getting pricey...
• Not as close as the Grand, but once again put in perspective with WDW resorts...

Grand Californian Pros

• LOCATION! Our room was 120 steps from the private entrance to DCA.
• Have never felt as special checking in to a hotel. Could be subliminal justification for the price...
• Balconies.

Cons

• PRICE! It’s insane, at least any time we have gone
• Not much else...

Overall, I think Disney prices these hotels at rack rate pretty well. The step up is worth it if you can afford it, and the price gap is enough to justify the lesser priced hotels if you choose to save some money. DLH is our Goldilocks hotel, and the one we have stayed at most, and the one that is unanimously chosen when I ask where should we stay.

In this specific instance the Grand is totally worth the extra $30 per night!