Which DLR Hotel and why???

[CoolPool]

Here are my impressions. I'm a WDW veteran with a strong preference for the deluxe hotels.

PPH - stayed concierge/standard room. The room is large, bright, airy. The bathroom is typical hotel stall style - all in one room. The feel is not terribly disney given what one might expect from WDW vacations but there are some touches. The lobby is basically not themed and very small. The pool is sorely lacking (just a small rectangular hole in the ground, er, roof.) but its has a nice hot tub and a fun unique slide. If you walk thru the GC to get to DL park then I don't think its is further than the DLH. It does have a happy feel and the Yamabuki restaurant was a very pleasant surprise. I did like this place overall. Definitely it was a deal.

DLH - a step up in some ways. Both rooms I had were large. Most have no balcony but some do such as the ones at the Wonder Tower that face toward the theme parks (I had one of these rooms). The pool is a huge benefit as it is well themed and large. It has a fun slide and a nice hot tub. Kids love the rainbow colored waterfall and the coin-operated boats. It has a second pool that is quieter. Just "more" to see and do here. Toilet is in a separate room from the tub/sink area which is a benefit for getting ready to go out.

GC - haven't stayed here yet but have a reservation starting on Sept 30th. I walked thru it many times when I stayed at PPH. It has a grande feel and is very well themed. I'd say on a par with the Wilderness Lodge. A huge impressive lobby with lots of wood and stone. Beautifully evocative of Arts and Crafts and a bit of Art Nouveau. The pool excites my kids - they really want to try it out! The location is superb with easy access to both parks and DTD. I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

*I only stay at AP4 rates so I'm not paying rack rate by any means. This is why you don't hear me moaning about prices. I do think all the resorts are "worth it" and you couldn't pay me to stay in a frigging motel at this stage of my life so that is my prejudice which you must excuse.

 

[Skallywag]

We have booked two nights concierge in a garden view room prior to our Panama Cruise and wonder if anyone has any pictures of the view and can give us an insight into the benefits.
Thank you
Brenda

 

[davewasbaloo]

Let me chime in here. Having grown up at DL until 1986 (but visited a few times since), stayed at the Contemporary, Poly, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Dixie Landings at WDW, and 49 visits to DLP with all the hotels, the Grand Californian is my favorite hotel anywhere.

The Grand is better than the AKL and WL (our 2 favs at WDW - same architect) and in a wonderful location. It has the best dining options, room service and cast members. And it is the only DL hotel to have the Deluxe feel.

The DLH is tired and old. It is like a cross between the Contemporary and Pop Century at an outragious price (I don't mind paying the price for the Grand).

Paradise Pier feels like a lightly themed Holiday Inn or Hilton.

As for the rooms - yes, the DLH has the largest (but no theme to me). The Grand rooms are more highly themed, but about the same size as AKL or WL.

We cannot wait to stay in the Grand again in March!

 

[JDel]

Our favorite hotel is the disneyland hotel! We love the pool area and the bar area where our dd enjoys driving the boats. The rooms are more disney themed than the other hotels. The Grand Californian is a waste of money in our opinion and we found it to be pretty noisy. We had to have our room moved a couple times because of it. The only good thing about it is that you can get into california adventure from the hotel. Paradise Pier is okay. We are staying there at the end of november again only because of the price- 149.00 a night. Our dd loves the arcade and the movie theatre there, and we also like the pch grill for breakfast buffet!

 

[Hound 109]

Here are my impressions. I'm a WDW veteran with a strong preference for the deluxe hotels.

*I only stay at AP4 rates so I'm not paying rack rate by any means. This is why you don't hear me moaning about prices. I do think all the resorts are "worth it" and you couldn't pay me to stay in a frigging motel at this stage of my life so that is my prejudice which you must excuse.

CoolPool.....are you my wife??

 

[tinkerbelt]

We stayed at the DLH in August and we were NOT impressed. The room was dirty and the bathroom had mold. We did love the pool, though.

IMO, the rooms were nicer and the staff was friendlier at the Candy Cane Inn.

 

[CoolPool]

CoolPool.....are you my wife??

One thing I do not need is another husband!
You cannot be mine because mine hates Disney.

 

[tinkermell]

CoolPool.....are you my wife??

OK.........this was funny!!!!!!! LOL!!!!

Oh...and if I Boo'd you, would I be a "Cool Guy" too???

 

[doombuggy]

I have stayed at the DLH 2x and the PP once. I liked both, and agree that the DLH has bigger, better rooms. The one we had a PP back in 1998 was fine, it was a corner, so it was a different shape, but it had a nice view of the construction of DCA.

I am looking to book GC for my February trip (once the trip is firm), but I will be using DVC points, not cash. All times I have stayed on DL property I used discounts available to me. Last year we sent to DL but stayed off property, as I could not get a reasonable rate at PP (I think it was going to be around $160, and that was more than we wanted to spend).

Have a great trip!

 

[disney-super-mom]

We like both the DLH and PP equally. We stayed at the PP last year and are again this year because we had such a great time there. Both have nice big rooms, although we like the decor of the PP rooms a little better because the colors are brighter and more cheerful. That being said, I can't wait for the DLH towers to get redone - again. I hope any new decor is a bit more fun, whimsical, and immersive in Disney, instead of being so subtle like it is now. I'll take subtle and refined Disney touches at the GC, but at the DLH I want DISNEY, AND LOTS OF IT!

As far as the beachy theme at the PP, we like it! They could do a little more here with decor to bring out the theme even more and make it more 'fun' to stay there, but the theme itself is perfect.

We haven't stayed at the GC yet. Maybe someday we will.....or not. We'll see........

 

[Keggy]

We have stayed at all 3 hotels, including one stay at DLH in conceirge. We are locals to WDW. While we really enjoyed the GC, our favorite is the DLH. The GC was a very nice hotel, we just liked the DLH better. We are returning for a week in late april/early may (hopefully). PP is no comparison. I would choose one of the good neighboor hotels over PP. We have stayed in two good neighbor hotels - park vue and Best Western Park Place - they were both fine - but no comparison to the DLH or GC.

 

[Morley Dotes]

View from our window and of the room:

Please note that our kids are too small to sleep on a top bunk, so we took off the rail and put it on the bottom bunk and placed chairs behind so it would stay. Also note there is a trundle (my daughter slept there).

 

[twinmum]

Morleydotes: Thank you for posting the pix of your hotel room! We are staying at the GCH in December and weren't sure whether requesting the bunk beds was the right move. One of our sons uses a walker/wheelchair, so the extra turnaround room is important. I've had a hard time picturing it - now I know that at least once he gets down the hall, he'll be able to use the walker a bit in the room. Now, if I can just figure out where to store the wheelchair...?

 

[Morley Dotes]

Twinmum,

I am glad to be of help. If the walker or wheelchair fold up, there should be enough room between the bunkbed and the wall. Please note in the photo that we placed chairs behind there. Also, there is the patio, which is covered, and they would certainly fit out there, so I don't think you should have any problems.....you might want to call the hotel and ask them. They were very helpful with us. I hope this helps. Have a great time!