Which DL hotel to choose?

[Butterx3]

I was planning on staying at the Disneyland hotel over our trip, but when I plug in the dates....there is hardly any difference in price between any of the three hotels. Less than $85. Now I don't know which one to pick! What is so great about the Californian? Which one has the best pool?

Thank You!

 

[skiingfast]

You know that the DLH pool area is in rehab right? So does it have a pool when you are going there? GCH is pretty spread out. But close to the parks, you just walk a lot inside the hotel. Some rooms are smaller.

DLH is getting new rooms, so it will seem the newest. Most of the hotels on harbor are closer than DLH.

PPH is a good walk away, it has bigger rooms.

GCH has it's own entrance into DCA but you can use it staying at any resort hotel.

The monorail goes from DTD into Futureland and helps if staying in DLH or PPH.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I would go for GCH. We stayed at DLH (renovated room) when we went in June, but next time we spring for an on-site hotel, I'm going for the GCH. It looked really nice, the pool looked great, and it was sooooo close.

ETA: Especially given such a small price difference - that can be hard to come across.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We just stayed at the DL last weekend and the Wonder Tower is actually farther from the Parks than the PP. I could understand why they are renaming that Tower the Frontierland Tower! Our room was not renovated, but was perfectly fine and we did not have any significant construction noise. -- Suzanne

 

[DahliaRW]

The cove pools at the DLH are under construction, but the peter pan one is still open. I was told that the pools at the other hotels are open to DLH guests during the renovation, but I would confirm that myself.

 

[jodeja]

there is hardly any difference in price between any of the three hotels. Less than $85.

To me, it seems rare that the price of the GCH is so close to the other two. Everytime I've looked, it's been several hundred (like, minimum $300) more. If it were me, I would jump on the chance to stay at GCH while the price is relatively reasonable. Maybe you can then try DLH (which I LOVE ) on the next trip.

 

[Dobie]

Ok, so the Dobies stayed in the DLH in August. We had a refurbished room, tower closest to DTD, high floor. In short, one of the nicest they had to offer.

We MUCH prefer GCH. GCH is way closer, which is more convenient than you think when your DD20 gets soaked on Pirates 5 minutes into the first day in the park and wants to go back and change. The GCH has a much more attractive pool area, and the lobby is nice for relaxing outside the room during break time. We didn't notice that the DLH room was much bigger than the GCH room, either.

And LOVE the GCH decor!

 

[LisaCat]

To me, it seems rare that the price of the GCH is so close to the other two. Everytime I've looked, it's been several hundred (like, minimum $300) more. If it were me, I would jump on the chance to stay at GCH while the price is relatively reasonable. Maybe you can then try DLH (which I LOVE ) on the next trip.

DITTO!!!! Wow, staying at GCH is on my bucket list.

I've stayed at PP twice, but normally I either stay at Dolphin Cove (a mile or so away- using timeshare points) or we stay at the Best Western RIGHT across the street (which is actually closer than PP)

 

[heatherleigh]

I would definitely do the Grand. If we were a smaller family, that's where we would be staying. When we do stay there in the future, we will either have to get a suite or two rooms.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Stay at the Grand Californian. I've stayed at all 3 resort hotels, and Grand Cal is the best! Have fun!

 

[ssxa]

August of last year was our familiy's first trip and we stayed at the DLH. We took a tour of the GCH and we immediately regretted not staying there. GCH is awesome, so much infact that we ended up buying a timeshare at the GCV. Another thing to think about is how close GCH is to the park, during our 5 days there, the monorail was experiencing problems and we were forced to walk on 3 of the days...let me tell you, the kids did not enjoy that at all and it took a lot out of them.

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

I would pic the Grand!!! Its beautiful and has a magical feel. To me, PP just does not have it. DLH is nice and has the Disney feel, but the grand is breath taking. The first time we saw it, we were hooked and could not wait for the DVC to be for sale. To us, the Grand is California. If you pick this one, you will not regret it!!!

 

[Retro_Epcot]

I've stayed at all 3, Paradise Pier in 2002, Grand Californian in 2005/2006 (New Year's trip) and DLH in 2006. PP was nice, and GC was majestic...really beautiful, but I loved DLH the most. It felt the most "classic Disneyland" to me. It's a short walk further (all DL resorts are a shorter walk to the parks than walking to a WDW bus, lol) to get to DLH, but I just loved every detail of that hotel.

The rooms had just been refurbished when we were there in spring 2006, but I think they've been done since then, even better! Good luck, and have fun, whichever you choose!

 

[curiouslittleoyster]

I would stay at the Grand. We stayed at DLH last week in a older room. The bed was very comfy and there was nothing really terrible about it, but we were in the Wonder tower and they had a lot of construction going on. You sort of had to walk around a bit since the pathways are diverted d/t construction and the lovely horseshoe falls is gone(Sooo sad about this)...not too bad but I just staying at the Grand is more convenient. You have direct access to both DCA and Downtown Disney.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Ok, so the Dobies stayed in the DLH in August. We had a refurbished room, tower closest to DTD, high floor. In short, one of the nicest they had to offer.

We MUCH prefer GCH. GCH is way closer, which is more convenient than you think when your DD20 gets soaked on Pirates 5 minutes into the first day in the park and wants to go back and change. The GCH has a much more attractive pool area, and the lobby is nice for relaxing outside the room during break time. We didn't notice that the DLH room was much bigger than the GCH room, either.

And LOVE the GCH decor!

For another perspective, we have stayed at both hotels multiple times, and I always prefer the Disneyland Hotel. I just like the bigger rooms (we have 3 kids, and it makes a difference), bigger windows with lots of light, better views (higher up) and less walking when you are in the actual hotel.

For me, the GC always seems cramped, dark and you have to walk a maze forever to get to your room.

I love the theme of the DLH, and the remodeled rooms are amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGBbO5in_-k

So, different strokes, right?

 

[snesguy]

I've stayed at all three hotels over the years. It's a toss up for me between the DLH and the GC.

I stay the most at the DLH. I love this hotel for its classic Disney feel, and off season the price is right. I would go for a premium view room so you don't end up in the back though (which is a longer walk).

I would stay more at the GC but it is usually quite a bit more expensive and the rooms are smaller than the DLH rooms. It is very close to the parks and if the price were about the same I would stay there (because the price usually isn't about the same so you'll get a chance to stay somewhere else next trip). I would tire of staying here every trip though. It feels a little bit stuffy and formal to me after a while. It's big, and if you're going to DL you might have a long walk from your room just to get to the hotel entrance so you can head to DL.

Once a long time ago (before DCA) I stayed at the PPH. It didn't compare to the other two hotels. Farther away and not as much of the magic feel.