Which Disneyland Resort Hotel would you choose and why?

[Pooh's Purple Pal]

They did fix the maintenence issues and they finally found our box, so our concerns are more intangible than practical. It seems awkward to say "Gosh, it just wasn't as "magical" as our stays in the past.

 

[stampinshauna]

We stayed at the GCH for five days last week. I think it was the most relaxing experience in a hotel that I've ever had. The beauty of the lobby goes without saying, as does the proximety to the parks.

I loved sitting outside of Whitewater snacks and listening to the 49er band while I had a snack.

The bellhops were wonderful, when there was a problem locating our bags, they brought me 'backstage' instead of sugar coating things.

The maid staff always had things up to par, and the turn down service made things just a little bit more *sigh*.

Loved having the robes, they made it so comfortable staying there.

Having a fridge there without having to ask, also a plus.

And I don't know if all the hotels do the triple sheeting...but yay! I could have slept for days.

I second this (except we were only there for 4 days Dec 15-19).

It was so convenient to go back to the hotel and change into warmer clothes for the evenings. We loved going on Grizzly River Run even when it was cold because we could easily change into dry clothes. It was nice in September when we were in DCA and our camera battery died. DH ran up to the room and started it charging. Then a couple hours later he grabbed it before we went over to DL.

We loved going hot-tubbing in the mornings even when it was cold outside. We stayed in Sept for our first time and had the PP booked for this trip, but after staying in September, I just couldn't bare not going there again. I was afraid that I'd be comparing everything and that I'd be disappointed.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I hope you'll let TPTB know. If you don't tell them they can't "fix it".

Another vote for GCH. We splurged a few years ago and stayed there (in the main lodge) and fell in love! The lobby is spectacular! We would take the kids to the lobby, meet our friends, and hang out! The kids would listen to the story and we would kick back and visit.

Last year we bought the DVC and returned to the GC. I have to admit, I was not impressed with our 2nd visit! Room type (Park View)wasn't ready so they gave us another room (in one of the outlying wings) which didn't have robes, our keys didn't grant us access to the pool, and when I did speak to one of the CM's it seemed quite a pain to make things right. They did though.

We will be visiting the GCH again over our spring break. This time we got a concierge park view and I can't wait!

 

[shamrockshake]

With money being no object, I would recommend the GCH.

1. convenience to parks. Sometimes it is faster to enter through CA park then go to DL. Much quicker checking bags.
2. balcony. when you put kids down, for nap or bed, you can sit outside and enjoy the view with a glass of wine.
3. storybooktellers corn chowder.
4. Little baskets left outside your door with your fresh towels and linin for the day. Very homey feeling.
5. Great pool.
6. Some rooms with bunk beds, trundle and queen. makes room look bigger, and fun for kids.
7. I do agree with the person who said that service has gone down hill. Rooms are not kept quite as clean. When we first started staying at the GCH, the bell hop would offer to get us ice, and one even made reservations for us at the trattoria for that night.


DLH another fav.

Like this hotel.

only idssadvantages, not balcony where you can sit outside. I dont think they have rooms with bunks ( correct me if I am wrong!) have to walk through Downtown Disney to get to monorail or parks. ( Loved it when it used to have its own monorail station)

Great pool, love the character breakfast. More things for kids to do.

Like the PP.

We used to stay here when it was the pan pacific. Some of the bottom rooms have patios near the pool. Don't know if they still have those.

boring pool, japanese restaurant expensive. char breakfast OK. Bit of a walk. Rooms nice, but all the rooms in the resorts are nice and clean.

Overall you get what you pay for. We REALLY need a balcony, so if we can get good AP rates for the GCH, we stay there. If not, we do DLH. PP is if we want to stay "on property" ( although I think it is farther than some of the good neighbor hotels) and we can get the $79 AP rate.

Hope this helps. All three are fine places to stay.

 

[ScrapperKimmyD]

Disneyland Hotel is plain because it isnt disney owned

Really??? I thought Disney owned EVERYTHING around there these days!

And I don't know if all the hotels do the triple sheeting...but yay! I could have slept for days.

er...what's triple sheeting?

 

[disney-super-mom]

Well, we've stayed at the DLH and the PP, and I have to say that we love them both.

However, our best trip ever (in October) was when we were at the PP. Funny how everyone says the PP has a boring pool. We LOVED-LOVED-LOVED the pool deck at the Paradise Pier. It's the perfect size and set up for families with younger kids - very easy to keep an eye on your kids there while they're running around swimming and sliding. Also, if you have young kids that aren't the best swimmers yet or are afraid of the deeper water in a pool, the water slide at the PP is perfect because it empties riders into a shallow catch-trough. NO SWIMMING REQUIRED for your kids to have a great time! Right next to the slide is a large wading pool (about 1.5' deep). Our kids would spash around in there for awhile, then they'd run up the steps and go down the slide about 10 times, then they'd hop back into the wading pool and splash around some more. DH and I just sat in the lounge chairs around the wading pool, relaxing and drinking some nice beverages, watching the kids having the time of their lives. It was the best and we did it everyday of our trip. We would stay at the Paradise Pier again in a heatbeat.

However, we'd stay at any of the DL hotels in a heartbeat - WE LOVE THEM ALL!

If we can find a good deal on a room at the GCH, we're going to try it next!

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[Daveland]

For location and value, the best is probably Paradise Pier. If price is not an option, definitely the Grand Californian; it is the closest to the park and the architecture is phenomenal. In addition, the GC has Napa Rose, which is an incredible restaurant (albeit on the pricey side). It is always good to check both online pricing as well as calling into a live person; prices vary and sometimes specials online are not able to be given over the phone.

 

[KirklandTutu]

[er...what's triple sheeting?[/QUOTE]

You'll usually find it in higher end hotels, from what I understand, it's becoming somewhat of a trend in them.

Triple sheeting:
sheet one is the fitted sheet
sheet two is the normal flat one
then a blanket
sheet three is on top of the blanket before the bed spread.

I can't explain it, but it's just the most comfortable way to do bed coverings. It's heavier without being bulky I suppose, and sheets do a better job of trapping heat than a blanket does...I guess that does explain it somewhat. Anyways, I'm definetly wanting to invest in new sheets now!

 

[honeymom]

[er...what's triple sheeting?

You'll usually find it in higher end hotels, from what I understand, it's becoming somewhat of a trend in them.

Triple sheeting:
sheet one is the fitted sheet
sheet two is the normal flat one
then a blanket
sheet three is on top of the blanket before the bed spread.

I can't explain it, but it's just the most comfortable way to do bed coverings. It's heavier without being bulky I suppose, and sheets do a better job of trapping heat than a blanket does...I guess that does explain it somewhat. Anyways, I'm definetly wanting to invest in new sheets now![/QUOTE]

The triple sheeting is done at most hotels nowadays for sanitation reasons. It is much easier to wash a sheet than a blanket. Those hotel blankets are used by thousands of guests and there are real issues with keeping them sanitary. So most hotels started doing that third sheet many years ago. I really can't think of any hotel that I've been to in last few years (and I've been from 1 stars to 5 stars - we drove cross country last year) that doesn't triple sheet.

 

[SplashMountainJunkie]

Well, we've stayed at the DLH and the PP, and I have to say that we love them both.

However, our best trip ever (in October) was when we were at the PP. Funny how everyone says the PP has a boring pool. We LOVED-LOVED-LOVED the pool deck at the Paradise Pier. It's the perfect size and set up for families with younger kids - very easy to keep an eye on your kids there while they're running around swimming and sliding. Also, if you have young kids that aren't the best swimmers yet or are afraid of the deeper water in a pool, the water slide at the PP is perfect because it empties riders into a shallow catch-trough. NO SWIMMING REQUIRED for your kids to have a great time! Right next to the slide is a large wading pool (about 1.5' deep). Our kids would spash around in there for awhile, then they'd run up the steps and go down the slide about 10 times, then they'd hop back into the wading pool and splash around some more. DH and I just sat in the lounge chairs around the wading pool, relaxing and drinking some nice beverages, watching the kids having the time of their lives. It was the best and we did it everyday of our trip. We would stay at the Paradise Pier again in a heatbeat.

We enjoyed the pool as well. It was also great to hang out in the evening and watch the fireworks from the pool. I also noticed in the DVC brochure that it takes more DVC points to stay at the PP than it does the DL hotel. I wonder why that is?

 

[Classic Fool]

I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for the first time last week and thought it was pretty nice. We were in the Sierra Tower which is right next to Downtown Disney, so it was very convenient. The room itself wasn't as Disneyfied as I thought it would be, though. Disney references were a lot more subtle. All in all, I would stay there again.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Disneyland Hotel is plain because it isnt disney owned

GC is really really nice!

Albort...how can you say its plain...you were in there...Its way more disney oriented than any of the 3...I have some pics on my TR of my room at the DLH...I love it there

 

[Albort]

Albort...how can you say its plain...you were in there...Its way more disney oriented than any of the 3...I have some pics on my TR of my room at the DLH...I love it there

like i told you, i was expecting like big big mickey pictures

 

[Lives4Disney]

Another vote for GCH. We splurged a few years ago and stayed there (in the main lodge) and fell in love! The lobby is spectacular! We would take the kids to the lobby, meet our friends, and hang out! The kids would listen to the story and we would kick back and visit.

Last year we bought the DVC and returned to the GC. I have to admit, I was not impressed with our 2nd visit! Room type (Park View)wasn't ready so they gave us another room (in one of the outlying wings) which didn't have robes, our keys didn't grant us access to the pool, and when I did speak to one of the CM's it seemed quite a pain to make things right. They did though.

We will be visiting the GCH again over our spring break. This time we got a concierge park view and I can't wait!

Hi, I am trying to plan our first DL visit and leaning toward GCH.....How do you get a "Main lodge" room?? Is that concierge like the Grand Floridian in WDW? Is it a certain room type/view or by request?

It looked like it was just one large building and not several (like GF at WDW), but is main lodge more desirable than a wing room just for convenience or is there more to it?

THANKS!

Lives4Disney

 

[disneegrl4eva]

We were in the Sierra Tower which is right next to Downtown Disney, so it was very convenient. The room itself wasn't as Disneyfied as I thought it would be, though.

you know me personally, I dont like Sierra Tower...Ive heard more complaints out of that one than any other tower....the rooms seem to be alot smaller as well...for me its the Marina Tower...I love being in the main tower with all the shops and lobby right under me

 

[susislickermouse]

Disneyland Hotel is plain because it isnt disney owned

GC is really really nice!

Who owns the Disneyland Hotel? I was not aware it was not owned by Disney anymore.....
sues

 

[honeymom]

you know me personally, I dont like Sierra Tower...Ive heard more complaints out of that one than any other tower....the rooms seem to be alot smaller as well...for me its the Marina Tower...I love being in the main tower with all the shops and lobby right under me

We stayed in Sierra a few years ago. The rooms were very large (we started in one room and switched to another). But, the Downtown Disney side is noisy! That's why we had to switch. It was a closer walk to Downtown disney, but I think I would have preferred Marina Tower for the reasons you said, or Bonita. Even though Bonita is further, the grounds were very pretty by that tower and we wound up spending more time hanging around there when we were at the hotel. Overall, we weren't big DH fans though.

 

[Orlando Disney Guy]

I have always stayed at DLH, That is where I will be satying on my upcomming trip too. To me it's all about history, even though it was not owned by Walt orginally it was the orginal hotel of Disneyland. Plus you can't beat the location. I will admit I have never cared for any ofthe food offerings in the hotel. I really like Storytellers at GC. On the subject of GC, yes it is closer but if you have a room at the end of one of the wings it could be quite a walk. How is the noise there too from DTD? I have always wondered that. PPH I have heard it just okay but it is a nice walk from most of property.

But in the end it's a room your not going on vacation to sit in the room are you? Just my thoughts

 

[Vanvmom]

GH would be my favorite due to location, pools, and the quality of the rooms.

For meals, I prefer Goofy's kitchen at DLH.

Would not stay at the PPH again (even with our resort view room) it just didn't feel any more "special" than the good neighbor hotels. It also looks much nicer in the promo videos & on-line than it does in real life.