Would You Choose DLH or GC?

[Lexxiefern]

I am trying to get a trip together for disneyland for september. I definately want to stay on property, but I cannot decide between the disneyland hotel and the grand californian. It will be my DH, DD6, DD almost 2 and myself.

Disneyland hotel +
+ very cool looking pool & fun for the kiddos
+ less expensive

Grand Californian +
+ has full balconies with chairs
+ more theming

I really don't know much about these hotels and/or disneyland itself. I have been reading alot on here and looking at any pictures I can find.

So which would you choose and why? Thanks!

 

[VegasMike21]

If you haven't stayed at the Disneyland Hotel then stay there, it's the original.

 

[ubaisore]

We have stayed at both..... my wife loves the atmosphere of the GCH and my kids like the DLH... actaully, on a 5 day trip we spent most of our time in the parks or DD... our trip in October we will be switching back to the DLH after 2 stays at the GCH..... it is really nice but the DLH is the original

 

[lexnconsmom]

we stayed at dh hotel. Loved it, very nice rooms, the balacony was big enough to step on to. We really didn't have alot of time to sit and enjoy it so no chairs were not an issue for us. The kids loved the pool with the peter pan theme.
We took a wrong turn and took a walk through gc and asked the bell person where to go and we found him to be so rude. But we never ran into a rude person at dh. If fact the check in desk guy was the best!!!!
We are thinking of dh again in the fall!

Michelle

 

[CalGal]

I personnally love the GCH because of its location and style. It's so cool to be able to walk right into DCA or DTD, the hotel is newer and a little nicer than DLH, and the lobby area and grand and inviting. I especially love the view rooms -- BUT...

GCH is a lot more expensive.
The advantage of the location is not that great if you don't spend a lot of time at DCA, and if your room is located far from an elevator.
The rooms at DLH are a little larger.
The DLH is probably more inviting to younger kids. There's more Disney theming in the rooms and throughout the grounds, the pool is more festive, and you're more likely to bump into Goofy.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend a view room at the DLH (Sierra Tower is the closest to DTD and DL). When the kids are a little older and might be spending more time at DCA, come back and stay at GCH.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We loved the DLH, and thought it was great for young kids like ours (DS6 and Ds2.) I'd love to someday stay at the GCH when our boys are older. I haven't seen the rooms, but from what I have seen, the DLH has more DL theming. I think the GCH is just drop-dead gorgeous!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks so much for all the replies! I should mention that I have no idea when we will get back to disneyland again (this will be my first trip since I was 5!). My Dh thinks we should go with GC, he says if we don't I will be longing to stay there?? I don't know. It is really the DLH pool that looks so cool that has me so torn!

 

[CalGal]

Well, the nice thing about this decision is that you can't go wrong! And once you do go, you'll probably want to find some way to come back before your children are all grown up (if not much, much sooner).

 

[Disney Anna]

I have stayed at both, with and without kids. Everybody loved both places equally. Kids and adults alike.

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. Both are conveniently located. The DLH is better now that monorail is running. The GCH is more upscale which the kids don't care about. Both have nice rooms. Kids liked the DLH pool better, but still enjoyed the GCH pool also. Nice thing about the GCH pool is having Whitewater Snacks nearby. Also, GCH is nice bc can ride Grizzley River Rapids, get soaked, and run right up into the hotel room.

If cost is a consideration, I would go with DLH. Have fun.

 

[sasha]

I've stayed at both (GCH only once, but DLH several times). My vote would be the DLH. I promise that you won't regret staying there!

While the GCH is more luxurious, young kids will appreciate the DLH more. The pool is awesome and it has slides for them. That alone is worth staying there. Plus the rooms are very nice and large too. It's the original and I feel the "magic" whenever we stay there. I didn't feel it as much when we stayed at the GCH.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[HeatherAnn23]

We were on the same fence last year trying to decide. I finally let my then 5year old ds look at the pictures of each property online to get his opinion. We were keeping our trip a secret - so I just said. "Hey, look at these cool places I found pictures of online!" He chose GCH. He's always been a HUGE Peter Pan fan, so I was really surprised with his choice. It ended up being perfect for us - and we're going back in a month! Oh - another FYI - the proximity of the GCH can't be beat with little ones. I also have a 2 year old - and it's so easy to skip back to the hotel for naps and emergency supplies! On our last trip there it was a rainy March, and everyday they had characters in the lobby. I'll never forget the moments my toddler had one on one with Chip, Dale, Koda and Kenai.

 

[DangerMouse]

I've stayed at both, and preferred the DLH over the GCH. GCH rooms were tiny and not all that special. The room at the DLH blew me away (might have been the amazing park view, though! )

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with others, you cannot go wrong with either. They are both very convenient for going back to throughout the day and night for naps, swimming or whatever. If you stay at the DLH, you can monorail back from right inside DL, if you are at the GCH its an easy walk from either park (especially DCA). The walk to the DLH from either park is around 10-15 minutes depending on how fast you walk and how often you stop to window shop along DTD!

The balconies at GCH are great, so nice to enjoy and relax on. However be aware, there are a very few rooms that don't have balconies, like less than 20in the whole hotel I believe, but they do exist.

The GCH feels more deluxe, they have nightly turndown which is nice and print out a daily sheet of what's going on around the parks and hotel as far as hours, Early Entry etc. They give you that each evening for the next day's events and that is very nice. They have never had that at the DLH when I have stayed there (five times now).

The GCH is more themed, it was built by Disney (neither the DLH or PP were) which is why it has that same over the top theming and architecture the WDW deluxes have.

The DLH has more tropical landscaping. So for my family (we are from Colorado) that is nice, we love palm trees! The pool also has some nice sand areas to play in which can be nice for kids. The landscaping in general around the DLH is more extensive, they have koi ponds, fountains and little remote control boats you can play with. The DLH also has an arcade, GCH does not.

The rooms at the GCH are smaller and you can have very long confusing walks down hallways. The DLH has three separate towers. So if you are in the Bonita for example, you will have a slightly (and I mean slightly) longer walk but its outside as opposed to possibly walking down a long hallway at the GCH.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We've stayed at both, and no you really can't go wrong with either. The GCH is just beautiful. If your able to get park view, personally I say nothing is better. We had a view of the Grizzly River Rapids ride, and would sit out on our balcony eating lunch watching all those below on the ride. It was wonderful. Depending on the size of your family, we found the room size okay (but there is only 3 of us). The lobby is beautiful, and the location is great. It wasn't a dreaded thing to go back to the hotel to rest because of a long walk or getting all the way to the parking garage. We came and went as we pleased, and probably spent more time in the park that way. With it being so easy to get back and forth. We'll be staying there again in October. It is expensive though, and unless I'm able to get a really great deal, I can't always justify the price!

We also love the DLH. We've gotten the pool view twice. I'd love to get a DTD view at some point. It's more Disney themed then the GCH. When we stay there we feel like we've never left the park. The pool is wonderful, always a pleaser with kids. The grounds are nice as well with Koi ponds and waterfalls. They also have little remote Jungle boats to drive. Goofy's kitchen is there, which was a plus for us. By there is a lot of pictures of Walt and a case full of all the old Disneyland souviners. Very cool. The walk isn't bad, and it's through DTD which is nice. We find it a bit long once are feet are hurting late at night though!

So you really can't go wrong either way. Both make for a magical trip!

 

[ter-moo]

I've stayed in both, and with kids I'd recommend the Disneyland Hotel. It's got magical themeing, beautiful grounds that'll charm the kids, and a really fun pool. The concept of the GC themeing will just go right over their heads.

When you turn out the lights at night in the DLH, pixie dust appears toward the top of the walls, which is really fun.

You'll also be close to the monorail, and it's nice to take that into the park--less crowded and less walking. It may not seem like much, but a walk all the way through Downtown Disney, and then all the way down Main Street with little ones can be daunting after the first or second time!

AND DLH is cheaper. If money isn't an issue, then get concierge level at DLH, and you'll have access to the lounge for watching fireworks, snacks, relaxing, etc.

 

[MirandaPen]

The stand out features of both hotels.

Disneyland Hotel
----------------------------
- Nice looking excellent theming but crowded pool
- further away
- alot more Disney theming
- Goofy's Kitchen
- Koi pond and waterfalls
- remote boats
- not as well kept rooms
- better place for kids

Grand Californian
--------------------------------
-Closer
- Nice pool with nice padded lounge chairs and plenty of life vests
- Beautiful lobby, fireplace and rocking chairs
- Bunk beds available for kids
- Way over priced
- Napa Rose
- Story Teller's
- Not as Disney.


Overall
------------------------------
I would pick Disney hotel if traveling with children. Grand Californian appeals more to what adults value, Disney Hotel would appeal to children. The Grand Californian is definately not worth the price. Disneyland hotel is barely worth what it charges.

 

[adabob]

Dl hotel
The original
cheaper
nice pool
good ( well ok themeing)


We did not spend alot of time at the hotel but themeing go to GCH if u r ok with the price but if u dont then go to the DH you will not regret either

 

[disneycruise_obessed]

It is really the DLH pool that looks so cool that has me so torn!

alright
so i would honestly recommend the GCH over DLH. my family has stayed at the DLH about 4 times, and out of those 4 times weve only had 1 good experience. and that was only because we got bumped up to a concierge hotel suite with an amzing hotel view.

i loved the grand californian rooms because even though they were small, they were very nice. plus the balcony was wonderful. also the GCH has a really nice lobby, and reallly good restaurants. especially the storybook restaurant (i think thaats what it is called.)

as for your wanting to go to the DLH pool heres what my family does, because we love that pool too. go to the DLH pool, and just kind of stand aroudn it until someone comes out. the you can kind of jjust walk in casually. i dont think its technically allowed, but if your desperate to check it out, you could try it.

but overall i recommeend the GCH.
oh yeah
i just remembered somethign about the GCH pool
its exactly the same as the DLH, excpet for DLH pool has peter pan themeing with a small pirate ship (which kids cannot go on, its justa decoration)

but excpet for that theyre the same because they both have waterslides and stuff

so if its only the pool affecting your decision go with the GCH

hope i helped

 

[ubaisore]

You dont have to sneak in to the other hotels pools...if you are staying at 1 of the 3, you can use that facilities at any of the three.....

I found that the GCH is really well appointed but I didnt stay in the hotel that long and I certainly was tired when I got back so the extra cost really doesnt pan out that well for me

 

[EeyoreJMH]

We just returned from the DLH and loved it (Marina Tower, 7th floor, right by elevators. Couldn't have asked for a shorter walk to DTD and great view!) Here is the view of the Neverland Pool from our balcony:

And here is the view of DTD from our balcony-- you can see the narrow ledge of the balcony on the left side of the photo:

Finally, we loved the grounds, including the jungle cruise boats:

The room was very large and bright-- with lots of Mickey theming. However, that said, we also spent a good deal of time at GCH. I think this worked well for us-- we enjoyed Storyteller's several times for meals (the corn chowder is amazing) and was able to use the resort guest entrance to CA (it's available to any Disney resort guest).