For the very first time, after many, many visits to the Disneyland Resort, I have booked 2 nights at the Disneyland Hotel for this weekend (1/12 thru 1/14). I was able to get the AP rate ($159/nt) and was very excited about it. Then I made the mistake of reading some of the reviews at tripadvisor.com. I was so excited about my stay at a Resort Property, but after reading the reviews I am concerned that the hotel will be a severe disappointment. I am going in with an open mind. I know that I pay a premium price for the convenience of being "on-property", but I don't want to be too disappointed with the hotel. Can anyone give me a "mouseplanet", "disney-lover" opinion of the hotel? I'll be going either way, but I want to set my expections, so I'm not disappointed. I usually stay at the Hojo's, Anahiem Sheraton, or Park Place Inn. Hopefully I won't be too disappointed. I have ready the reviews on this site, but there are few, and many quite outdated.

Are ya sure you want me to answer this? ;)

I think this property is overpriced for the services they provide. My last stay there included dried oatmeal on the bedspread. Then the power went out in our tower. Which they didn't tell us about even though there were CMs standing at the elevators as we entered the tower. And for our trouble they offered us.... glow sticks to help see in the dark.

I've watched others repeatedly book concierge rooms to get the runaround. "Well you can go to the lounge once a day, but you can't get unlimited access to the lounge." Uhm, we paid for unlimited access.... "Well you won't be on a concierge floor, you won't have a DVD player and you won't have turndown service, but you can still pay full concierge price and use the lounge."

My favorite was my friend who booked a room to sleep five people and was given a room with two beds, no daybed and no room for a rollaway.

Adrienne

I'll be going either way, but I want to set my expections, so I'm not disappointed. I usually stay at the Hojo's, Anahiem Sheraton, or Park Place Inn. Hopefully I won't be too disappointed. I have ready the reviews on this site, but there are few, and many quite outdated.The biggest issue for me is the rooms are smaller than the locations you listed. Park Place Inn is closer to the front gates. Hojos is about the same distance. I don't consider it a bad place to stay, but I just won't pay those prices for a place to sleep when I can be closer and have more room elsewhere.

I have stayed at the DLH once, this time last year and we had a standard room and were upgraded for no cost to a DTD view room. Our room was awesome and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

We are now AP holders and got in on the same rate that you did for a six night stay in a few weeks. I have seen the same reviews and I am a little scared also.

We stayed at the Tropicana last May and did not like the hotel, except for its location, and constantly talked about how we liked being at the DLH. Then we spoiled ourselves on an adult only trip in Sept. staying concierge at GC.

We have decided that we like the feel of being onsite and DS loved the Neverland Pool. And yes, we swim in January.

I am sure you will be fine in your hotel choice.

I prefer staying there rather than off property. I like the way the rooms are decorated. I love the feeling I have when we're checking in at the lobby. The pool (as mentioned before) is incredible. I just like the whole Disney feel of being there. I also like how accomodating they are when we've asked for something. Having said that, the rooms are smaller and I can hear people in the hallways or in the surrounding rooms. Still, when we can, I prefer to stay there.

Note, Disney has decided that the Disneyland Hotel needs a major refurb, and is planning to start the project in the next few weeks. This is good for the long term, but will cause some minor issues in the short term.

It also says a lot about what Disney thinks about the current status of the rooms.

If you get a great rate, I would think about it, but no way would I pay the current premium prices that are being shown at many places.

I happen to be a DLH fan. I like feeling like I've already arrived at part of Disneyland when we check in --the decor, background music ...

I've had good and bad experiences at checkin. Usually I am frustrated with the lack of people at the front desk availalbe for checkin. I have expereiinced the same thing sometimes at other hotels close to the park.

I recommend calling the hotel while ou en route to the hotel, confirming you are arriving and going over the room type you want. Because it's off-season, you could also mention you are open to a room upgrade (although usually the CM beats me to it).

I actually prefer the grounds and decor of the DLH for vacationing to the other hotels. Especially when we have the kids (3 & 5). I too love the pool. I really enjoy the Disney details in the room decoration. The DLH rooms are also larger than those at GCH. I have enjoyed the view of Disneyland from the Marina/Magic tower, standard. Great for viewing fireworks too. I like being able to get up early before the parks open and stroll around on-property.

I hope you will enjoy visit. Especially at the AP rates. Yes, I've had some problems while staying there, but the good parts more than outweighed them. I hope you have a great trip!

The only time I have & would stay there is with the AP rate. IMO I think $159 is a fair & good rate for the DLH. It's fun to do once in a while and my kids especially loved it. Just the atmosphere and grounds make it a little more special. With that said, I actually prefer staying at hotels like residence inn where you have a nice roomy suite, disney decor (I know it's not the same as being on property) and a warm free breakfast in the morning for usually less money than the disney hotels. Enjoy your stay :).

We stayed at the DLH for the first time in 10 years. We usually stay at the GCH but we thought our little kids would enjoy the pool a lot more. I have to say we were pretty dissapointed. We loved the pool and that was about it. The rooms are very outdated so I am glad to see they are being updated. We felt it was way too expensive for a below average room.

I just stayed there. I got a DTD view room in the Dreams tower and it was lovely. I've also stayed with a pool view room in the Dreams tower and the room was smaller. Don't know if that's a constant.

I, too, like being on property. We stayed in a room that was about $30 less a night this summer and was supposedly a "suite". It was a lousy motel room with a thin wall between the two beds. And the air conditioner was in one of the rooms (so if you wanted to be comfortable you had to leave the door open and remove the privacy factor for the suite). I would have rather stayed at the DLH. But, it would have been much more expensive as my recent stays were "off season" and our summer was "in season."

All said, I'd stay at the DLH off season. Magic Mornings, proximity, Disney staff, chocolates and turn down service, package delivery, etc. I just love it.

In season. I'm not sure.

Keep in mind that people are paying different rates. Many people who post here our annual passholders who have access to rates as low as $159 whilst others are paying over $300 for the exact same room. I know I am delighted when I stay in an upper floor/DTD view room in the Dreams tower for $169 or so. I'm happy when the rate is $189. Would I accept the same room at $315 or more? Probably I would not be totally satisfied.

The hotel needs to be updated but it is not in horrible condition. At least I've never experienced a horrible room in my many stays there. The pool is spectacular. The grounds are beautiful. The restaurants have a lot of fans. Watching the fireworks from your bed with your little kids already in PJs is a great experience. There are a helluva lot of great things about the place.

I just stayed there in December on a AP rate and I loved it! I agree with the rate thing, for $150 it was great, for $300, not really. I loved being able to take the monorail in and all the Disney touches. It was really awesome!

Thanks everyone for your insights on this hotel. I'm going to be arriving tomorrow, and am trying not to expect more than they can offer, so I'm not disappointed. I'm one of those folks who spends every possible minute in the park, so I guess either way I'll still be having fun! I'll be sure to (kindly) mention that I'm open to any type of upgrade that might be available, if nothing is offered. You never know. I've only reserved a standard room, so I suppose there's no where to go but up! I'll report back with my opinion after my stay. Again...thanks to all who replied. Great info!

Thanks everyone for your insights on this hotel. I'm going to be arriving tomorrow, and am trying not to expect more than they can offer, so I'm not disappointed. I'm one of those folks who spends every possible minute in the park, so I guess either way I'll still be having fun! I'll be sure to (kindly) mention that I'm open to any type of upgrade that might be available, if nothing is offered. You never know. I've only reserved a standard room, so I suppose there's no where to go but up! I'll report back with my opinion after my stay. Again...thanks to all who replied. Great info!

OK, is it just me or does this approach seem *wrong* with respect to a Disney property? I'll lower my expectations so that I'm not disappointed.

It's really interesting about the aspect of 'on property' versus 'off property.' For crying out loud, this is NOT Disney World. There are hotels on Harbor that are closer to the front gate than the back tower of the DLH.

Yes, there's the themeing. Nice. Yes, there's a great pool. But if you are spending most of your time away from the hotel and are in the parks, what's good is that? When you get back and you go to sleep, is there really a big difference from the DLH and the one across the street on Harbor that cost substantially less?

Case in point: We are going to DL for spring break, and friends are flying in and meeting us. Lucky coincidence of dates. We are staying at our usual place, for $119 night. They are staying at the DLH--with AP discounts--for $335/night and at the GCH for $465/night. I just CANNOT justify the difference in cost, especially when I don't spend time in the room other than to sleep and shower. (Now, if their rates were the $159/night that I'm reading on this thread, I might think a bit differently about the price difference, comparatively.)

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

For me the tipping factor to on property vs. off is that I hate outside corridors (motels) and I really like the option of room service. If anyone would renovate just one of the motels to a hotel I'd be there in a flash.

My satisfaction at staying on property is always based on what I booked and what I get and how much I paid. I've found if I book a standard room with no frills or bedding requests at the AP or AAA rate I'm happy because I didn't pay for anything I'm not getting. So unfortunately I'm one of those who now sets my expectations on the ground floor so they can only go up. No more will I book a full price Suite with concierge service so that when I'm given a room with no view, wrong bedding, wrong floor, no greeter, and no turn-down service I end up leaving with a bad taste in my mouth.

The Sheraton Park, The Marriott and the Hilton all have indoor corridors and room service, and very close to the Parks (next to the Convention Center).

Just checked TripAdvisor, here are the 3 Disney owned hotels and the 3 mentioned hotels above, listed by the TripAdvisor ranking in Anaheim and the Average Price for a hotel room.

8. Sheraton Park $184

9. Grand Californian $445

11. Paradise Pier Hotel $291

16. Disneyland Hotel $431

25. Mariott Anaheim $210

50. Hilton Anaheim $204

Of course, you can find discounts on all 6 hotels, but with the price difference, I just can't see staying at a Disney Owned Hotel.

Keep in mind that people are paying different rates. Many people who post here our annual passholders who have access to rates as low as $159 whilst others are paying over $300 for the exact same room.

Boy, you aren't kidding!! I booked a standard room for two weekend nights in February for my daughter's annual birthday trip, and we're paying $255 a night -- and they said THAT is the AP rate!

It was even more money for the weekends before and after the one I booked.

If not for the fact that the DLH is where she wants to go for every birthday, I would have booked off property. I love the hotel, but not the expense, and the fact that the AP rates vary so widely even in the off season!

I'm currently have the on property vs off property debate for an upcoming family trip with my family. I've got us booked at the Pier with an AP rate and also at Hojo's. With resort fees etc the Pier is $100 more per room for our weekend stay. I can't get them to understand that there's not a $100 difference in the two properties :rolleyes:. They're fixated on the idea that it's "on property".

I also have a hard time justifying the price difference. I'm a big fan of Hojo's but I thought I'd try something different. No doubt I will return to my favorite cost saving off property sites once I have given this a try. Sometimes it's just nice to do something different. I can't really, in all honesty, say a resort hotel isn't worth the price until I've tried it at least once! Great input from everyone....many thanks...

Boy, you aren't kidding!! I booked a standard room for two weekend nights in February for my daughter's annual birthday trip, and we're paying $255 a night -- and they said THAT is the AP rate!

It was even more money for the weekends before and after the one I booked.

If not for the fact that the DLH is where she wants to go for every birthday, I would have booked off property. I love the hotel, but not the expense, and the fact that the AP rates vary so widely even in the off season!

Tinkermommy: that is probably the regular AP rate. You need to call back and ask for the AP5 rate. They don't automatically give you the AP5 rate unless you ask for it. Please try again and good luck for the weekend! I see the weekend of the 8th and 9th still has availability on the website for $159/night. I've been blocked out of special AP rates only to have the rate open up a few days before arriving. If they don't book out I think they figure its best to get somebody in there even at the lowest rate.

I probably should have explained my hotel/motel quirk better. Since I only live 12 miles from DL when we do make a special weekend I like to be within walking distance - no shuttles. Since I could hop in the car and go rest at home it just never seemed as special. I had considered the Hilton before but I guess I always just thought if its not going to be on property I might as well sleep in my own bed.

O
Case in point: We are going to DL for spring break, and friends are flying in and meeting us. Lucky coincidence of dates. We are staying at our usual place, for $119 night. They are staying at the DLH--with AP discounts--for $335/night and at the GCH for $465/night.
Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

The special AP5 rates go only through March 6th. Assuming you are going after March 6th, then your friends are not getting a deal other than the standard AP percentage off the top rate. I agree that's not a deal, but if there are any "real AP deals" upcoming (say an AP6 rate!), they have not been released yet.

I admit I would not pay as much as your friends are paying but I would and am staying at the AP5 rates in 2 weeks and I'm going to love it!:p

OK, let's look at the walking distance to the Main entrance Plaza from the Disneyland Hotel first.

I am using the Lost Bar as a central location between the hotel towers as a starting point.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1544897

So just over a 1/2 mile from the DLH as a walk.

Now the Sheraton Park is just over 3/4 of a mile

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1544902

So for a little bit longer of a walk (but still very managable), I can save $250 a night (based on the TripAdvisor rates), but If I shopped around for both hotels, I would presume it is about $100 difference.

And on my walk from the Sheraton Park, I can stop by the 7/11 or ABC Mart for a decent priced soda or cup of coffee, there is the Subway and Quizno's if I want a quick breakfast, etc.

I know that everybody has different opnions and priorities, but IMHO the walk is about the same.

With all the choices on Harbor Blvd., 1/3 to 1/2 mile walk, we opt out of the DLH due to price and price alone. We sleep there, as long as it is clean and reasonably comfortable, BWPPI, Tropicanna, Carousel, they all work.

I see the weekend of the 8th and 9th still has availability on the website for $159/night.

Oh my gosh -- that is the weekend we're going! I just called, but they are closed until tomorrow morning. If they won't change it, I think I'm going to be really bugged. That's a difference of almost $200!! I had no idea there was a "magic word" besides "AP rate."

Thank you SO much for the information!