DLR Accommodation

[ribollita]

1) I know that there is a lot to say for off-property hotels, but if you were to stay on property, would you choose the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel? I am interested mostly in pools, room quality, and convenience to the parks.

2) are there any CLOSE, and nice, 3-4 bedroom condos or houses we could rent? Wild have to have access to a pool.

3) nicest, yet convenient, off-property hotel? Would need to be 4-5 stars with a pool, preferably with a water slide?

(Edited)

[TBM]

1) I know that there is a lot to say for off-property hotels, but if you were to stay on property, would you choose the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel? I am interested mostly in pools, room quality, and convenience to the parks.  

The Grand Californian actually has an entrance to DCA and is closer to the main entrances, but the Disneyland Hotel is close to a monorail to DL.  

DLR is really small though, and both hotels are very close.  No trams or buses necessary, since it is a short walk, even from The Disneyland Hotel which is at the opposite end of Downtown Disney from the park entrances.

We've only stayed at The Disneyland Hotel, and that was many years (and renovations) ago.   We lived somewhat local, so we only went to the Grand Californian for the food and atmosphere.  The big fireplace in the lobby is a great place to dry out on a cold, rainy day.

[demofea01]

So this will be the first time I've gone to Disneyland as an adult and had to be the one choosing a hotel. We're staying off property and just out of walking distance because having a suite was basically our #1 priority with a 2yo who naps and will have an earlier bedtime then my H and I. I know people love the Howard Johnson and it has a pretty fancy pool. The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is basically a brand new hotel, also with a very fancy pool.

We're going to be staying at the Homewood Suites Resort/Convention Center.

[lala]

We are going to Disneyland for the first time ever this November. I have 4 nights of a studio rented at the GC. I'm SO excited. Being able to walk right into CA is so cool to me.

It mostly came down to price to me. I might have gotten it cheaper at paradise pier w/ a discount but I'm thrilled with the price at GVC.

We are doing the first night at the Sheraton Park Anaheim (I think that's it?). We have Starwod points, so that's why, but it gets good reviews. I always see good things about the Annabella, too. The unofficial guide (and presumably their site, touring plans) has great off site reviews & info. Also the dis unplugged podcast did reviews & videos of 4 good neighbor hotels - that was super helpful to me. They also had videos & reviews of the disney ones.

[ribollita]

Mar 12, 2016 16:25:36 GMT -5 demofea01 said:

The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is basically a brand new hotel, also with a very fancy pool.

I just found this. The pool looks amazing AND they have bunk bed rooms!

[Deleted]

I want to stay at the grand Californian sooooooo bad!!!!

We are doing a night at a hotel for DDs birthday next month and we're staying at the Howard Johnson across the street because it has a water park. But I don't know quality of rooms- I can let you know in a few weeks!

[Deleted]

Mar 12, 2016 18:01:32 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Mar 12, 2016 18:00:30 GMT -5 ladybug said:

I want to stay at the grand Californian sooooooo bad!!!!

We are doing a night at a hotel for DDs birthday next month and we're staying at the Howard Johnson across the street because it has a water park. But I don't know quality of rooms- I can let you know in a few weeks!

I think jenny1980 stayed here.

Yeah I wasn't too concerned about quality because it's only one night and just to sleep but I've read some pretty good reviews so I think it will be great

We're doing like the full Disney experience for her birthday to make it special since we go a few times a month anyway. So staying at the hotel and water park, breakfast with princesses at ariel'S grotto , makeover at Anna and Elsa boutique and probably build a bear and rainforest cafe.

[thejen626]

1. If money were no object, I'd stay at the Grand Californian. The location can't be beat and it's beautiful.

2. Yes! Look on home away.com. Tons of condos and houses.

3. I've stayed at the Hyatt in Garden Grove on my last DL trip and loved it. There is a new Marriott (Courtyard?) with a water park.

I priced out those two hotels for my April trip. It would have been $2600 for 7 nights in a two bedroom suite. Instead, we are renting a 1200 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo that's a 10 minute walk to the parks, for $2016 for 7 nights. It's in a condo neighborhood with 2 pools, a kiddy pool, and a huge playground.

[shevacc]

ladybug, I've stayed at that HoJo too and it was clean and really nice. The waterpark is awesome (DH took G even though it was January and mid-60s when we were there). We lucked out to get a room with a balcony where I could see the fireworks. I would probably stay there over anywhere else unless I wanted to pay Grand Californian prices.

[alleinesein]

Mar 12, 2016 17:45:07 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

I like the Anabella. But I don't think it's 4-5 stars. I don't think the pool has a slide but we didn't use the pool at all. It is the closest off site hotel.

Grand Californian has Dvc suites you could check but the limit is 3 bedrooms I believe and not cheap.

I stayed in the 3 bedroom villa in January.  It is nice but it isn't worth the money.  It takes a ridiculous amount of DVC points so if you rent someone's points you are looking at 94-224 points per night and if they don't have home resort priority it is damn near impossible to get.  The rack rate that is posted in the room is about $6k per night but I don't think it ever gets a chance to get booked as a normal room.  

[alleinesein]

Mar 12, 2016 13:55:54 GMT -5 ribollita said:

1) I know that there is a lot to say for off-property hotels, but if you were to stay on property, would you choose the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel? I am interested mostly in pools, room quality, and convenience to the parks.

2) are there any CLOSE, and nice, 3-4 bedroom condos or houses we could rent? Wild have to have access to a pool.

3) nicest, yet convenient, off-property hotel? Would need to be 4-5 stars with a pool, preferably with a water slide?

(Edited)

1. If you are shelling out cash I would opt for the Disneyland Hotel over the Grand.  While I love the atmosphere at the Grand I HATE the bathroom design with a passion.  They have one of those open concept bathroom areas where the sink and vanity area do not have a door.  The Disneyland hotel has everything in one room and some of the rooms even have the toilet in its own little room in the bathroom so 2 people can use it at the same time if someone has privacy issues.  The Disneyland Hotel also has a better pool area and if you get a room in the Adventure tower that overlooks Downtown Disney you can watch the fireworks from your room.  You can also use the DCA entrance in the Grand if you stay at any of the Disney hotels; you just need to show your room key.  If you plan on using the Grand entrance on an Extra Magic hours morning it will be faster to enter through the main gate; the hotel entrance line gets backed up and can take 15-30 minutes to get through security and into the park.

2. No clue.  Always stay on property or park adjacent

3. Great Wolf Lodge just opened up a location 3 miles south of Disneyland in Garden Grove.  It is maybe 10 minutes away by car if you hit all the stoplights along Harbor Blvd.  They have an entire water park so it definitely meets the water slide requirement.  

[Wines Not Whines]

We've gone to DL twice, and stayed at the GC both times. I loved it, but I don't really have a basis to compare to the other hotels. I love that there's an entrance to the park from the hotel lobby.

[Deleted]

Also across from the park is a new Marriott courtyard with a mini water park. (Bigger then the Howard Johnson) but smaller than the great wolf. Looks really nice It would be a 5 min walk to the gate. The great wolf you would need to drive from to the theme park

[ksun]

I've stayed at both DLH and PP. For the price, I expected more ($500 incl tax/night at DLH). We could hear the baby next door every single night. The walk from all the properties except GCH is about 6-ish blocks or so. I can't comment on another 4-5 star hotel nearby because we've only stayed offsite at Tropicana and HoJo (which does have a nice water park).