So we're in a dillemma. We're headed to DL for a 5 day stay with our 1 year old daughter and my younger brother who is 25 (to help babysit so we can have some adult time during the trip). I already know she won't enjoy anything and that this trip is for us, so no need to debate whether we should go or not. We're going. ;) LOL

Now the debate on where to stay:

1. We can stay at the Embassy Suites South, get free breakfast, but have to use the shuttles to get back and forth between the properties with a baby in a stroller.

2. We can fly Alaska, who has a deal right now that they fly your child for free. So we can save the cost of a flight for our daughter (Who we would buy a seat for - she HATES sitting in laps so she must have a seat), but we have to stay on property to do that. The Grand California is what is available to stay at. With the difference between the price of hotel and saving on the flight, the cost of staying at the hotel (aside from breakfast) is only a couple hundred dollars.

I am thinking with her being unpredictable in terms of naps and how she will do in the park, it would be worth that couple hundred to be super close to the park. But I'm also concerned that the room will be too small for three adults and a baby crib to be comfortable. I am not familiar enough with the Grand to know how big the rooms are, and if they are big enough for three.

My biggest concern is that I don't know how many times we'll need to go back to the room during the day with the baby. It could be one, it could be six. And it would be nice if it took as little time as possible to go there and get back to the park.

I realize we could stay at a closer hotel than Embassy suites, but we always stay at the embassy, every year, and it's great for us. So it would be the embassy, or the GCH.

I don't know about the hotel because I haven't stayed there, but I wouldn't say that your DD won't enjoy anything. We took our kids that young and they loved it. There are so many things to look at. They recognize the characters, they love the lights and the colors. She won't remember it, but you will have those memories.

From our experience, we never took our kids back to the hotel to nap, but we never went for that many days. It was always a one day trip for us. We would just have them take a nap in the stroller and we'd do baby swap or things that they could stay sleeping in the stroller, like parades or shopping.

Have fun and take lots of video :).

So we're in a dillemma. We're headed to DL for a 5 day stay with our 1 year old daughter and my younger brother who is 25 (to help babysit so we can have some adult time during the trip). I already know she won't enjoy anything and that this trip is for us, so no need to debate whether we should go or not. We're going. ;) LOL

Now the debate on where to stay:

1. We can stay at the Embassy Suites South, get free breakfast, but have to use the shuttles to get back and forth between the properties with a baby in a stroller.

Here's my question:

Have you ever stayed in a hotel with your baby before? Do you know how she'll do in a hotel room?

At that age, my children were horrible in hotels. Until very recently, we've tried, whenever possible, to stay in a suite where we could close the door and let the kid(s) sleep.

If it were me, I'd much rather stay at Embassy Suites for the amenities. If one of you wanted to take the baby back for a nap, it is still an option or you might find that she sleeps in her stroller. But based on my experiences with babies, having a suite available is a big deal.

Adrienne

we stayed once at the GCH and there were 4 of us. 3 adults one 5yr and a 1 1/2yrold. We found it to be big enough for all of us. The hotel is very convent and close to park. Husband and 1yr old went and "both" took naps! :D while DD and I played in the park and it was easy to come back and check on them and rest a little. It is also quiet and restful too.
We stay at the peir now because that is the kids favorite hotel.(they love the slide and cartoon room.)
Others with more experence can tell you more.
hope this is helpful.
kat

Yes, we have traveled with her and she does great in hotel rooms. She doesn't EVER nap in her stroller but will go down just fine as long as she has her "bed" (pak n' play or crib).

I'm wondering if the bathroom would be big enough to put her pack n play in? I know that sounds strange, but then we could close the door so she had her own little room if we needed to be in the room at the same time she was napping? On the other hand, does every room have a balcony? We could sit out there while she was napping too.

Kat - You were all in a regular sized room? Where did the kids sleep? I'd love to know a little more about how the room is spaced.

My one year old had a grand time at DLR! Don't discount the fun she'll have. I wore him on my front most of the day in our mei tai (facing me so he could see behind me and interact with silly adults who made faces at him without me knowing about it immediately, LOL) and he really loved it. Sat in the stroller once...napped a couple times in the mei tai...carried around by his loving aunt...fabulous day!

I'm looking at disneyland.com, and they have kid's fly free packages to good neighbor hotels, not just onsite. Actually, oddly, the only hotel mentioned on the main page (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/reserve/specialOffers/detail?name=KidsFlyFree2007Page) is the Jolly Roger. :confused:


Have you looked into HoJo?

On the other hand, if you want to be as close to the park as possible (closer than DLH even or PP probably) you could stay at the Tropicana or Desert Inn...they are right across on Harbor.


Decisions decisions...

On the other hand, if you want to be as close to the park as possible (closer than DLH even or PP probably) you could stay at the Tropicana or Desert Inn...they are right across on Harbor.


Decisions decisions...The Park Vue (which is even closer than the GCH) has "suite" type rooms. Just because you are staying on site doesn't mean you are staying closer than the hotels out on the crosswalk. (Hojo's is closer than PP!)

And we began taking kids at 6 weeks, true they don't remember it, but they definintly didn't hate it.

Personally, I am a a big fan of suites! We tend to go in the off season when the park closes early and I love being able to put the boys to bed, while I go in the other room and watch T.V.

I also think a free breakfast (especialy embassy's :)) is a pretty big $ & time saver. The tram rides can be very quick, if your not going at prime season time.

Others could give you a better description of the Grand but the room we went into (our friends) seemed pretty small. Our room at Paradise Pier was definetly larger than our friends room at the Grand.

My DD was 11 mo. when she first experienced DL and I have wonderful pictures of her in IASW, with utter amazement on her face!

At that time, we stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn, in a suite. My DD and I were on the sofa bed, which was in a separate room, with its own TV. It was nice to be able to close the door when she awoke early.

Even now, when we go, we will all still go back to the hotel around 3:00pm for all of us to rest. Usually when all the kids (and DH) are asleep, I'll head to Wal-Mart to resupply.

It's good to be within walking distance to the entrance, especially with young kids.

We will be staying at the Del Sol this time when we are there in a couple of weeks. I read good reviews about the hotel.

gloria

we have stayed at the Grand seveal times with both of my children. The bathroom is not big enough to put the pack n play in. You won't need to bring a pack n play as they already have one in the hotel room in the closet. (I always brought my own linens though) Very convienent as we didn't need to lug that thing on the plane. There is an outside vanity which is next to the bathroom and we use to put it there and go out on the balcony for some rest time. They had no problem going down for naps. We would usually only go back one time, but it was nice to go back to your hotel and know that you are still in the "park".

My son was 11 months when we took him the first time. He went on a lot of rides with us and really enjoyed the character greetings (when he was awake to see them). He slept in his stroller for naps. (of course we were there with our pushy 3.5 year old daughter who didn't even want to try California adventure :) ) and we were only there three days. so it was opening till closing.

Our vacation package includes the "kids fly free" deal with Alaska but we are staying at a good neighbor hotel. (we are going in March) so you should still be able to get that deal.

It is lots easier to run to the baby centers for a break than back to the hotel. Usually some time there being changed, fed and rocked will help babies deal with over stimulation. My kids always do great at Disneyland and sleep in the stroller just fine. Try reclining it with a blanket over top and then keep moving until they fall asleep.

Both my girls have been at the park at 1 (or younger) and had so much fun.

I personally suggest the GCH for the ease of returning to the room (mine are now 18months and 4 and we head back for pm naps every day) plus it is just a really nice place to stay. I HATE waiting for and getting the kids on the transportation back to a non-walkable good-neighbor hotel when one or both need a nap. No fun!

You will have a great time whatever you choose. I have the best pictures of my girls with mickey when they were tiny. Enjoy!!!

Word to the wise on the Alaska kids fly free. We looked at the fine print --this was 3 years ago--and if your child was under 2 the promotion would not apply. They forced you to lap carry. Now maybe the don't enforce that, maybe they don't have that rule anymore, but take a look.

This, as in many things, depends on your preferences. For me the number one priority is always to be close to the park. I like to go back and forth from the hotel to the park all day. With older kids this is great, but I need that time too! So, given those two options, I personally would stay at the GCH. But as Malcon10T says, the Park Vue is right across the street and has resonably priced (accually cheap) suites. That is what I would choose.

You might also want to check with your brother about spending 5 nights with a 1 yo in the room. A larger room might be better and give him a little more space.

The GCH is oh-so-loverly, but smallish in room size. The pack & play might partially fit in the closet. We've done that at the DLH and then draped blankets over the sides, to help keep the kiddo asleep.

You've had some good alternative hotel recommendations. The Baby Center is a wonderful place too. Keep in mind that you can also check up to your departure week at PP and DLH -- cancellations happen and a room could open up.

Have fun!

The biggest rooms at the GCH are located above the lobby area overlooking the front of the hotel. These are standard rooms that have two queen beds and a day bed. Similar to the layout at the PPH and DLH.

We have had several room configurations at the Grand:

We have had a park view with two queens,

and a park view with one queen and a bunkbeds.

But the standard view with day bed is definetely the biggest room - and it was the least expensive.

There aren't many of these rooms, so if you are booking a standard view, you can request a room with a day bed. That will give you a lot more elbow room.

And even if your daughter is too young to remember much about the trip, the wonderful pictures you will have of her there will last a lifetime!

Have a great trip!:D

We booked out trip through alaska air vacations online. It gave us the option for either DLR hotels or good neighbor hotels. We got the free airfare for both kids. 2yrs and 8 mo.