Which Disney Hotel?

[katyringo]

This thread is more for fun and this hypothetical trip wouldn't be until 2026/2027.

First we will decide if we want to spend the extra for Disney hotel. If we don't, we will be looking at some of the non motel type options around. The older I get the more picky I am..HA! What are you suggestions for hotels within walking distance that are more moderate/delux?

But thinking about it- which Disney Hotel would you choose?

DLH: We stayed here in 2022 and it was a dream. We did 8 days at the resort and did a full day of no parks. We loved getting dole whip at the pool, using the pool, the hot tub that faces the pool.. we stayed in a standard room in fantasy tower, but could see the parks and fireworks. Recently on my solo trip I stopped by the new tower and had dinner. The new tower looked awesome.

GCH: I will say other than the entrance to DCA, this one doesn't appeal as much to me. One reason is I always feel like the lobby and areas are chaotic where as DLH felt calmer. Just walking through it, it also doesn't feel as Disney to me .

PPH: no expirence here other than the new picutres online. Only have been in the building prior to the overhaul when we ate at the now closed character breakfast there. The pictures look awesome and Pixar really appeals to my children while I'm more classic Disney.

So I would just welcome any thoughts! Do all three have the same level of service we experienced at DLH like being able to order food by the pool, transporting our luggage to the room, etc?

 

[DizMe]

This thread is more for fun and this hypothetical trip wouldn't be until 2026/2027.

First we will decide if we want to spend the extra for Disney hotel. If we don't, we will be looking at some of the non motel type options around. The older I get the more picky I am..HA! What are you suggestions for hotels within walking distance that are more moderate/delux?

But thinking about it- which Disney Hotel would you choose?

DLH: We stayed here in 2022 and it was a dream. We did 8 days at the resort and did a full day of no parks. We loved getting dole whip at the pool, using the pool, the hot tub that faces the pool.. we stayed in a standard room in fantasy tower, but could see the parks and fireworks. Recently on my solo trip I stopped by the new tower and had dinner. The new tower looked awesome.

GCH: I will say other than the entrance to DCA, this one doesn't appeal as much to me. One reason is I always feel like the lobby and areas are chaotic where as DLH felt calmer. Just walking through it, it also doesn't feel as Disney to me .

PPH: no expirence here other than the new picutres online. Only have been in the building prior to the overhaul when we ate at the now closed character breakfast there. The pictures look awesome and Pixar really appeals to my children while I'm more classic Disney.

So I would just welcome any thoughts! Do all three have the same level of service we experienced at DLH like being able to order food by the pool, transporting our luggage to the room, etc?

In your circumstances and given your preferences, I'd say DLH. Maybe check out the villas! That seems like it would be pretty cool, but I've never stayed in one. DLH has a resort feel to it, which I love, and just feels like vacation.

Pixar has done an amazing job of remodeling a tired hotel, and the finished product is quite nice! If your kids are into Pixar, it might be something to try. It is now quite handy to have the gate into DCA right across the street. Disclaimer: I've never actually used that gate. I ate at Great Maple with friends and we went around and checked things out and went up to the pool level. We saw Bing Bong (although I don't know who he is LOL) and I was impressed with what they'd done. I personally am not a big Pixar/PPH fan, however. I'm not the target demographic, though, and if your kids are into it, they'd probably love it there. I find it a little much. The pool level is the only outdoor space there is at PPH.

GCH doesn't appeal to you, so just check that one off the list, at least until your kids are older. My kids were all about DLH until they hit about 10-13 and we stayed at GCH, and that became their favorite, mainly because they were older and could do more things somewhat on their own.

My kids are grown up now. The youngest 2 are 21, and they'd be happy to stay ANYWHERE at DLR now! Juggling schedules and college demands makes it tricky and they all live in different towns. But big sis (24) is a CM so that's kind of cool.

 

[maleficent55]

I’ve never stayed at the Pixar Place Hotel (or paradise pier) and I’m not sure I will. If I really wanted to stay on site and that’s all that was left or if there was a good deal on a room with a great view…but honestly the other two are so much more exciting to me

I’ve stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, it was amazing! Very very magical. Everything about it felt magical. The room, the pool…we just had a standard room in the Fantasy tower and I had a sliver of fireworks from the room but everything was permeated in magic. I did tour some of the new room types in the new DVC tower shortly after opening, they are gorgeous. I got to go in a one bedroom with a beautiful view of the whole pool/resort scene. All the little touches are very nice.
The Disneyland hotel has a very tropical vibe I enjoy, so even if not staying there I try to get over there during each trip.

We’ve stayed at the Grand Californian twice. It doesn’t have that whimsy feel that the DLH has, but it too is soaked in magic. There is a different feel there. Can’t really explain it, but it’s GOOD. So many good options, I LOVE walking through the lobby every single time (especially when we stayed at Christmas time), the room service is great, it has a more luxurious feel than the DLH. Also, the closeness of it to everything and having the private entrance into DCA really deals the deal!

We are coming next spring and picking between the DLH and the GCH. It’s hard because we want a pool day and want to finally try a cabana. The cabana’s at the DLH don’t seem to compare to the ones at the DLH. Maybe someone here who has done both can chime in, but that may be the determining factor for me.

Don’t write off the GCH, I used to think it wasn’t what I liked but once you stay there….you get sucked into that craftsman style world!!! Ha ha

 

[BGinCali]

My last two stays were at PPH - once under the refurb, once as Pixar. I was so impressed with the staff and level of service, I felt more welcomed and appreciated than at DLH. I love the new bathroom as well as the location which feels close to both Parks, especially with the GCH cut-through. Gate into DCA is wonderful, just not at rope drop! I also like all the games and different seating available on the extended area off pool deck.

That said, I would choose DLH over PPH. I found the noise between the connecting rooms to be a main concern/consideration for me. I also feel once the full hotel opens, the pool seating will be an issue (same as I find at DLH during prime pool hours). Right now, the pricing is pretty close between the two for dates I have looked at (driven by discounts available at DLH) - but seeing room tours of DLH this week reminded me of the plush/elevated feel which I realized I missed! For similar pricing, DLH wins for me.

 

[crystal1313]

The DLH either in a hotel room or at the new villas would be my first choice. Maybe you can look into renting points for the new villas? We looked a the new tower too and loved it. Would love to stay there someday.

Second choice would be a view room at the Pixar place. While we haven’t stayed at this hotel since it’s been renovated, we used to stay here all the time. The view rooms are amazing! We sleep with the curtains open to see the parks all night. Love it. We walked through the main areas of the hotel since the renovation, and they have done a fantastic job with everything!! The new entrance to DCA is a great perk. A dream would be to stay club level here too. Or at the DLH.

We kinda feel the same way that you do about the GCH. It’s a lovely hotel and we know tons of people adore it, it’s just not for us I think. We prefer the vibe at the DLH and we like the pool area better at the DLH too.

Have fun trip planning!!

 

[gardenrooms]

Granted we stay at the Grand Californian Villas, which are different than the hotel, but we love the Villas. I loved the Disneyland Hotel when the rooms had balconies but it felt too dark (tinted windows) and closed in with windows that didn't even open the last time we stayed there. If they aren't all like that (without going concierge) I might change my mind about trying it again.

The Villas overlook CA and sometimes you have a partial view of World of Color, and I love hearing the park sounds from my room (the sliders cut out pretty much all sound, but I leave mine open - I love to hear the park "wake up"!

As far as off site, I know it's motel style but I love the Candy Cane Inn. The grounds are lovely and the people are sooo friendly. Our last trip I finally persuaded my family to stay there again and now that's the only place they want to stay. Since we went a busy week and didn't have early entry, we had their nice breakfast and hung around at the pool for a bit before going to the parks (and shutting them down!).

 

[crystal1313]

Ohhh, I forgot to mention off site! I would pick the westin if staying off site if budget isn’t a concern. Our other favorites are Hojo, Candy cane, Home2Suites, Cambria. Desert Palms has some nice suites in different configurations. We also like park vue inn since it’s right at the crosswalk! Wyndham on Katella is also nice. Now that our kids are teenagers we prefer a bigger room if budget allows. Dream would be 2 connecting rooms at the westin. Lol.

 

[Disneyland1084]

This thread is more for fun and this hypothetical trip wouldn't be until 2026/2027.

First we will decide if we want to spend the extra for Disney hotel. If we don't, we will be looking at some of the non motel type options around. The older I get the more picky I am..HA! What are you suggestions for hotels within walking distance that are more moderate/delux?

But thinking about it- which Disney Hotel would you choose?

DLH: We stayed here in 2022 and it was a dream. We did 8 days at the resort and did a full day of no parks. We loved getting dole whip at the pool, using the pool, the hot tub that faces the pool.. we stayed in a standard room in fantasy tower, but could see the parks and fireworks. Recently on my solo trip I stopped by the new tower and had dinner. The new tower looked awesome.

GCH: I will say other than the entrance to DCA, this one doesn't appeal as much to me. One reason is I always feel like the lobby and areas are chaotic where as DLH felt calmer. Just walking through it, it also doesn't feel as Disney to me .

PPH: no expirence here other than the new picutres online. Only have been in the building prior to the overhaul when we ate at the now closed character breakfast there. The pictures look awesome and Pixar really appeals to my children while I'm more classic Disney.

So I would just welcome any thoughts! Do all three have the same level of service we experienced at DLH like being able to order food by the pool, transporting our luggage to the room, etc?

You're picky, just like me! You didn't mention the ages of your children.
Marriott Theme Park Entrance hotel across the street is a good alternate to the DL hotel. The waterslides are fun. What I didn't like is that if you drive there, it's mandatory valet parking, and the pool is only 3 feet deep. It's based more towards families with small children. If you're children are older, I wouldn't recommend it. Then there's Howard Johnson which has a fun play structure at the pool for kids. But it's about a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the front entrance to DL. Anaheim Hilton is nice, but you'll need a shuttle.
I've stayed at all 3 Disney hotels, and personally like Grand Californian the best, though I think DL hotel has the nicest pool. I haven't stayed at Paradise Pier since 2004. My last stay at the DL hotel was in 2018. I loved my room and the pool. What I didn't like was how the monorail didn't run if it was too hot. We were there for three days and only rode it twice. With all this being said, I have no plans to stay onsite until all the pre-pandemic perks return, and the prices drop. Depending on what time of year , a standard room at Grand Californian can be anywhere between $800 to $900 a night. Good grief! I'd pay that much for a suite, but not a standard room. I think it's great people still stay there and the other Disney hotels. The current prices just aren't in my budget.

 

[Pluto468]

I'd go with DLH since you like it so much. You could try the villas, they look so fancy and nice. I bet they will still feel pretty new even in 2027.

For off site The Candy Cane Inn is probably your best bet because it's recently renovated, has the shuttle and a good breakfast. It has outdoor corridors but doesn't feel as "Motel" as some of the other places on Harbor. I think you should stay onsite, though. So much nicer and always love being in the bubble

 

[DizMe]

I'd go with DLH since you like it so much. You could try the villas, they look so fancy and nice. I bet they will still feel pretty new even in 2027.

For off site The Candy Cane Inn is probably your best bet because it's recently renovated, has the shuttle and a good breakfast. It has outdoor corridors but doesn't feel as "Motel" as some of the other places on Harbor. I think you should stay onsite, though. So much nicer and always love being in the bubble

Candy Cane is great in a lot of ways! But I agree, I think staying on site would be much nicer if you can swing it. Candy Cane is a wonderful motel but it IS a motel and the rooms are fairly small. Not sure how many kids you have or what their ages are, but I went with my daughter and it seemed crowded with just the 2 of us (nowhere to put suitcases etc). That was before the remodel, but I don't think the rooms have gotten bigger. They did have larger rooms for a higher price but I don't think any of their rooms are terribly large.

Staying farther than just across the street from DLR holds no appeal to me. Don't get me wrong--I did it for many years when I was a single mom and money was tight, but I don't have to do that now and I have no intention of going backward, mainly because the hotel is a BIG part of my trip. I'm not one of those who don't care and just want a place to sleep. I want the hotel to be part of the whole resort experience. I say if you can afford it, stay on site.

 

[katyringo]

I'd go with DLH since you like it so much. You could try the villas, they look so fancy and nice. I bet they will still feel pretty new even in 2027.

For off site The Candy Cane Inn is probably your best bet because it's recently renovated, has the shuttle and a good breakfast. It has outdoor corridors but doesn't feel as "Motel" as some of the other places on Harbor. I think you should stay onsite, though. So much nicer and always love being in the bubble

I was staying at castle inn and suites and could see Candy cane and it looked so cute and I saw their little shuttle and won't lie my feet were hurting and I was jelous...

 

[BriannaRuth]

We are coming next spring and picking between the DLH and the GCH. It’s hard because we want a pool day and want to finally try a cabana. The cabana’s at the DLH don’t seem to compare to the ones at the DLH. Maybe someone here who has done both can chime in, but that may be the determining factor for me.

Don’t write off the GCH, I used to think it wasn’t what I liked but once you stay there….you get sucked into that craftsman style world!!! Ha ha

I've stayed at all 3 hotels, although I haven't stayed at the PPH since they redid it. I've also done cabanas at both the GCH and the DLH. I'd say it really just depends on what kind of vibe you're looking for and what's most important to you.

Are you looking for a more upscale experience? Are you going as a couple? If so, I prefer GCH hands down. OP, I'm a bit surprised that you found the GCH hectic. My experience at the GCH has been that on *one* occasion (right after covid), the GCH was very hectic at check in. Not just my check in, but at check in times in general. We stayed at the GCH not too long after covid and the lobby was just slammed from about 11-3. Other than that, no, not hectic, just the opposite. I love the lobby at the GCH in the evening and I love Napa Rose. And then there's how close it is to the parks. I'm older, so that makes a difference but that's mainly from DCA. It's SO nice to head back to or from your room from DCA. Although if you get a room on the wrong side of the hotel, you can still have a pretty long walk to get to your room.

If I'm going with my kids (who are now 20 and 24), they prefer the DLH because it's more "magical," what you'd think of as Disney. I also like being close to Trader Sam's. Even though I prefer the GCH, I'm always excited to go to the DLH (and that's where we're staying in July).

As for the cabanas, yes, GCH has a more upscale cabana experience than the DLH, although we enjoyed both. The cabanas at the GCH are just nicer, and honestly, as an adult I enjoy the pool at the GCH more than the DLH. You can get waiter service at both, although it wasn't always prompt. Both had safes, TVs, and mini refrigerators, and you can bring your own food/drink or buy theirs. We did a combination of both. There is seating inside the cabana as well as as loungers right outside the cabana that are reserved for your use. I love getting a cabana and we do it every time we have a pool day. If you get one, reserve it as far ahead as possible so you can choose which cabana you want.

As for the PPH, we didn't use the pool when were there and it's by far my least favorite DL hotel. To me, it just felt like a random, very average hotel with a bunch of Disney stuff slapped on it. Just not the same feel at all. It's not actually in the Disney bubble since you have to cross a large road to get to the parks from there. Having said that, the room that we stayed in had a fabulous view of DCA for considerably less $$ than you'd pay for a view like that at the GCH.

 

[PiratesOfTheSea]

As for the PPH, we didn't use the pool when were there and it's by far my least favorite DL hotel. To me, it just felt like a random, very average hotel with a bunch of Disney stuff slapped on it. Just not the same feel at all. It's not actually in the Disney bubble since you have to cross a large road to get to the parks from there. Having said that, the room that we stayed in had a fabulous view of DCA for considerably less $$ than you'd pay for a view like that at the GCH.

That's because PPH was literally a Pan-Pacific Hotel building that Disney bought and re-branded!

With the resort hotels, it really comes down to what you want to prioritize. DLH wins on Disney theming, room sizes, and pool, but has the worst location. GCH wins on location, dining, but you are paying the most for the smallest rooms on-site. PPH might have the best theme park view rooms, but it also has the worst pool area by far.

If you are looking offsite on Harbor, the Courtyard is great if you have kids and are ok with walking a little bit. It has huge rooms with a good waterpark and some rooms there have a direct view of the fireworks.

 

[katyringo]

Thanks everyone!

Disney hotel or not will come down to what we want to budget for the trip. We find ourselves wanting to do longer vacations and thus we may have to give and take a bit. I am also not against a split stay between Disney hotels or between good neighbor and Disney/hotel.

 

[stardusty21]

We used to stay on-site (Grand villa) but have also stayed at the DLH and Paradise Pier (Pixar) We loved the hour early entry into the parks. Now that it is 30 minutes we prefer Residence Inn. They have the two room suite with full kitchen so we can spread out, not to mention the great breakfast. Bonus it is half the price!