Afraid to stay offsite

[Captainkidd76]

WDW veteran and family planning on taking 2nd Disneyland trip in May. For our first trip last year we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which we really liked. Was hoping to stay at the Grand Californian this year, but at the least stay again at DLH. The cost is concerning me. I've done more research than I care to about all the hotels up and down Harbour Blvd. We want to be within easy walking distance, but also want to stay in the bubble. I know many people will say it's not as important at DLR as it is at WDW, but I disagree. I loveed not having to leave Disney property. And the ease of walking through that short security line as opposed to all these nightmare stories I'm reading about getting through security at the main entrance off Harbour. Also, my kids love a nice pool, which are few and far between outside of the DLH and GCH. I just loved the feeling and immersion at both parks so much and I don't want spoiled knowing I'd have to head offsite each evening. I'm seriously considering not going if I can't swing the cost of staying at the above mentioned just not to set myself up for disappointment. Anyone ever felt like this at DLR and what did you do about it?

 

[Brett Wyman]

I'm a serious WDW bubble person too. Staying at GC certainly helps to keep you in the Disney mood. But really there is no buble at DL. Tourists who aren't even Disney guests wander through the hotel lobby(and sleep on the couches). You can see signs of the outside world everywhere you turn. We would definitely stay at the GC again because it's a great hotel, but not because it keeps us in the bubble. We stayed there for around $300 a night by renting points, which helps with that decision. I would also check rates at DLH for that authenticate Disney feel, but steer far clear of the Paradise Pier hotel(expensive dump).

 

[dieumeye]

WDW veteran and family planning on taking 2nd Disneyland trip in May. For our first trip last year we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which we really liked. Was hoping to stay at the Grand Californian this year, but at the least stay again at DLH. The cost is concerning me. I've done more research than I care to about all the hotels up and down Harbour Blvd. We want to be within easy walking distance, but also want to stay in the bubble. I know many people will say it's not as important at DLR as it is at WDW, but I disagree. I loveed not having to leave Disney property. And the ease of walking through that short security line as opposed to all these nightmare stories I'm reading about getting through security at the main entrance off Harbour. Also, my kids love a nice pool, which are few and far between outside of the DLH and GCH. I just loved the feeling and immersion at both parks so much and I don't want spoiled knowing I'd have to head offsite each evening. I'm seriously considering not going if I can't swing the cost of staying at the above mentioned just not to set myself up for disappointment. Anyone ever felt like this at DLR and what did you do about it?

I totally agree there is a bubble at DL by staying on property. A couple thoughts:

Security on Harbor has been redone so all the horror stories you heard should not apply anymore. I’ve entered thru Harbor security recently and it is comparable to the lines that can form at the DLH security entrance. So don’t let Harbor security sway your decision.

Off site, you are not in the same bubble, in my opinion. But it’s not bad, just different. There’s plenty of info on here regarding which hotels are closest and which have the best pools/water parks. It all comes down to a balance of price, how close you want to be, and what type/quality of hotel you want to stay at.

There’s a lot of benefit to staying on property (in some peoples opinion, including mine) but it comes at a high cost. Sometimes it’s not in the budget. But I’d take a trip to DL in an off property hotel over not going at all!

Edit: you could always stay farther away at a hotel that meets your price, pool, quality needs. And Uber to DL every day. You lose walkability, but get a hotel you like and can get dropped off right at the front.

Also, if you’re looking for a resort pool setup check out Courtyard or Great Wolf Lodge which both have water park areas.

 

[Kimpossible1]

So I went to WDW 25 times from PA before moving to Florida and now live 10 minutes from WDW, so I know what you mean by the "bubble." I haven't stayed on Disneyland property because it's too expensive, but I've read so many reviews saying it doesn't give you the same feeling as WDW, so I don't think I'd spend the money. I stayed at Best Western Park Place Inn and Suites on Harbor last year and it was nice, but expensive, and 3 weeks ago stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites on Katella. Hands down, the Comfort Inn was awesome!! I had a rental car and would drive to the Toy Story lot on Harbor and take the bus to the parks, which felt very much like WDW The busses were always ready and one morning there had at least 6 lined up. They count heads, so no one stands (Yay!!!) I think the "bubble" at DL is just being able to go from one park to the other so easily, but that bubble ends if you stay on Harbor and have to walk through all the people (homeless?) asking for money, selling drinks, pics with birds, playing instruments. That really ruined the "bubble" Staying farther away was much nicer, and cheaper. I did try to stay at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites on Harbor, but only made it one night...it was awful!! Very dirty and again walking through all the people selling stuff and asking for money. If you get a car, consider one of the other hotels nearby. Oh and Comfort Inn had a nice pool, free parking and a small breakfast with eggs and sausage and other regular stuff Staying there again next month!

 

[Captainkidd76]

So I went to WDW 25 times from PA before moving to Florida and now live 10 minutes from WDW, so I know what you mean by the "bubble." I haven't stayed on Disneyland property because it's too expensive, but I've read so many reviews saying it doesn't give you the same feeling as WDW, so I don't think I'd spend the money. I stayed at Best Western Park Place Inn and Suites on Harbor last year and it was nice, but expensive, and 3 weeks ago stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites on Katella. Hands down, the Comfort Inn was awesome!! I had a rental car and would drive to the Toy Story lot on Harbor and take the bus to the parks, which felt very much like WDW The busses were always ready and one morning there had at least 6 lined up. They count heads, so no one stands (Yay!!!) I think the "bubble" at DL is just being able to go from one park to the other so easily, but that bubble ends if you stay on Harbor and have to walk through all the people (homeless?) asking for money, selling drinks, pics with birds, playing instruments. That really ruined the "bubble" Staying farther away was much nicer, and cheaper. I did try to stay at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites on Harbor, but only made it one night...it was awful!! Very dirty and again walking through all the people selling stuff and asking for money. If you get a car, consider one of the other hotels nearby. Oh and Comfort Inn had a nice pool, free parking and a small breakfast with eggs and sausage and other regular stuff Staying there again next month!

Ugh - Sounds like Las Vegas. I know myself. I'm an admitted hotel snob. I wouldn't be happy seeing people begging for money and trying to sell stuff. I'll just have to hope for some sort of discount to help bring the cost down to reality.

 

[DizMe]

I'm on "on site" gal, so I get what you're saying. I've stayed off site many times, and of course I've had fun, but it's not the same for me at all. I would always choose on site if I could afford it, and I'd stay fewer days to be able to do that, too. The one exception is PPH. I wouldn't bother to stay there unless there was a really outstanding deal.

 

[SeaDis]

Yes, know how you feel. We stayed onsite first trip and that made it hard to go to Harbor, although we have plenty of times now for smaller trips. Many properties have improved and the newer Marriott looks nice (haven't stayed).

My thoughts:
1) Try to rent a VGC studio villa, if you can fit your group in one (queen + foldout). This will be cheaper than standard rack rate at DLH. If going this route, you need to make request with the brokers immediately. And you will probably be on a waiting list for points until the 7 month mark, at which time you will know if it's possible/impossible. Renting is not for everyone. Non-refundable, etc. Just read the policies.

2) Try to plan your dates Sun to Thurs. If they offer a room special in the Spring, it will likely be for those days. Even if they don't, those days are cheaper each week. Likewise, DVC above will be fewer points on those days if you are able to rent them.

3) Don't rush to book. There's really no need to book this far out (except DVC rental). If you do book something, be sure it's refundable. Give it some time, maybe you will feel better about the DLH rack rate. If not, book your chosen hotel on Harbor and see how you feel for a couple weeks. Excited or no? It's easy to cancel and re-evaluate.

 

[limace]

I love a nice hotel and we actually own DVC at the Grand, but staying offsite is absolutely fine and I can’t imagine choosing not to go at all if that wasn’t my option. It’s safe, if you research you can pick a hotel that is perfectly nice. It’s not the Grand, but if I’m going just to experience a resort I’ll pick a different vacation. I’m going to be at Disneyland!

And if you have kids it’s good to get them out of the luxurious hotels only mode young. Otherwise they’ll be very sad when they are young adults and have to travel on their own dime .

 

[skippytx]

I'm a huge fan of the WDW bubble, but don't find it necessary at DLR at all. I won't argue that staying on property would be much nicer, but I don't feel it's worth it. I do feel staying on property at WDW is worth it, so much so we bought into DVC at Bay Lake Tower.

Our DLR trips are shorter than WDW. We're there maybe 4-5 days tops. Our average WDW trip is 8 or 9 days.

Our DLR trips have to be less expensive than WDW trips for us to afford them. WDW sets us back close to if not more than 5 figures all said and done... Last DLR trip was like 3K or so. Us being able to go means we have to save money on the trip, and hotel costs are the biggest way to do it.

I was nervous as well, but we really enjoyed our stay at the Tropicana last trip, and plan on going back in Feb 2021. Room was clean and updated, and you can't beat the distance to the parks. Yeah there was a busker or two out there, and some guy selling toys last time we went, but it's like less than 3 minutes to exit the park and cross the street.

Just my opinion. Some people will decide that staying at PPH is worth the extra 1200 dollars, I'm good staying across the street, putting that money towards MaxPass and other expenses. 1200 bucks covers our airfare and MaxPass usually.

 

[hyperminimalism]

WDW veteran and family planning on taking 2nd Disneyland trip in May. For our first trip last year we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which we really liked. Was hoping to stay at the Grand Californian this year, but at the least stay again at DLH. The cost is concerning me. I've done more research than I care to about all the hotels up and down Harbour Blvd. We want to be within easy walking distance, but also want to stay in the bubble. I know many people will say it's not as important at DLR as it is at WDW, but I disagree. I loveed not having to leave Disney property. And the ease of walking through that short security line as opposed to all these nightmare stories I'm reading about getting through security at the main entrance off Harbour. Also, my kids love a nice pool, which are few and far between outside of the DLH and GCH. I just loved the feeling and immersion at both parks so much and I don't want spoiled knowing I'd have to head offsite each evening. I'm seriously considering not going if I can't swing the cost of staying at the above mentioned just not to set myself up for disappointment. Anyone ever felt like this at DLR and what did you do about it?

I've never known a different way than how DLR does it. To me, staying in a Disneyland bubble seems like it might be too excessive and cost a looooot more. I'm sure there are pros to being able to stay at a Disneyland resort and one day I'd like to do it, but I've never even stayed at the DLH. I've always stayed at Good Neighbor hotels and never had any issues with them aside from the walking. Then again, if you can afford to stay at a Disneyland resort hotel then you can afford to stay close to the park and not have to walk very far from the gate.

As for your concerns about park security, just know what you're going into beforehand. Know which passes are unblocked. Know if there's a holiday or some kind of unofficial celebration going on. Know that the earlier you get to the parks the less time you'll have to wait in security. If you roll up there at 10 AM and expect to get into the parks easy breezy, then that's poor planning. Personally, I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to get through park security. The only thing that holds up the lines are people not being ready with their bags or people who have over packed and take forever for security to search through them. That and poor planning, like I said, when there are certain passes unblocked, certain holidays, certain days of the week that are obviously going to be more crowded (like weekends) since typically the 9-5 work week is over.

If you're used to staying on property and want the easy of being in the bubble, then stay in the bubble. But if cost is a huge issue for you this time around, you're more than likely not going to run into any huge nightmare scenarios. There's a saying that the loudest folk are the people who like to complain. The hundreds of thousands of other people who go through Disney typically don't have any issues because, for what it is, they have incredibly efficient procedures in place to move people into the parks. Disney is not going to expect their customer base to wait in miserably long lines to get through the park on a daily basis, I'll tell you that much. It would mean losing $$$'s.

 

[Captainkidd76]

Yes, know how you feel. We stayed onsite first trip and that made it hard to go to Harbor, although we have plenty of times now for smaller trips. Many properties have improved and the newer Marriott looks nice (haven't stayed).

My thoughts:
1) Try to rent a VGC studio villa, if you can fit your group in one (queen + foldout). This will be cheaper than standard rack rate at DLH. If going this route, you need to make request with the brokers immediately. And you will probably be on a waiting list for points until the 7 month mark, at which time you will know if it's possible/impossible. Renting is not for everyone. Non-refundable, etc. Just read the policies.

2) Try to plan your dates Sun to Thurs. If they offer a room special in the Spring, it will likely be for those days. Even if they don't, those days are cheaper each week. Likewise, DVC above will be fewer points on those days if you are able to rent them.

3) Don't rush to book. There's really no need to book this far out (except DVC rental). If you do book something, be sure it's refundable. Give it some time, maybe you will feel better about the DLH rack rate. If not, book your chosen hotel on Harbor and see how you feel for a couple weeks. Excited or no? It's easy to cancel and re-evaluate.

Normally, renting would be my first idea, but honestly, I really don't care for the studios. I like having 2 beds and the pullout sofa. I also much prefer the btahroom layout in a standard room. See - I'm very picky. The other issue is we're going to be staying for, hopefully, 7 or 8 nights. I really want to do 7 days at Disneyland. We did 5 last year, and I wish we had done more.

 

[tink89]

The first time we stayed on site was in 2017 at DLH. It was a one time only. DD was 8 and she had always wanted to stay onsite so i thought it would be nice to do it once while she is a child and can appreciate it a bit more. Well we fell in love and have stayed there each time now. We are staying at PPH this year in October and i might switch to DLH but im fine with PPH. We will now stay on site whenever we can. If for some reason we could not then i would stay at Hilton or Marriot ( and maybe one night one site) but i love DL and if staying off site is what i have to do to go then i will. But we go often so i would not mind because another on site trip would be coming. If this was a one time trip or once every few years i would wait until i could swing the costs.

 

[Becca1007]

Normally, renting would be my first idea, but honestly, I really don't care for the studios. I like having 2 beds and the pullout sofa. I also much prefer the btahroom layout in a standard room. See - I'm very picky. The other issue is we're going to be staying for, hopefully, 7 or 8 nights. I really want to do 7 days at Disneyland. We did 5 last year, and I wish we had done more.

With 7 days at DL are you going to get an annual pass? If you are planning on it, you can call to book at the annual pass rate and you don't actually have to have the pass until you check in.

 

[Rich M]

DL is my home resort and DW is my vacation destination. I have stayed on Property many times but majority of the times we stay off site. The hotels on property are so overpriced now that it is just too hard to justify the expense. We love the GC and PP. Not a big fan of DLH. We recently started staying at Majestic Garden since it has a shuttle and a quick walk to DTD. The other place I really like is Candy Cane Inn. But we have stayed at many different places and enjoyed most of them. In all my visits I have never seen one person trying to sell me anything staying off site and I have never seen people off the streets sleeping the lobby of any Disney Hotel. Maybe I am lucky or the person who saw it is just unlucky. Either way have a great trip.

 

[crystal1313]

Before 2012, we used to always stay at the PPH or the DLH because they were much more affordable. Now, we have basically been priced out....but we did manage a one night stay at the DLH in June. I must say, I totally forgot how AMAZING staying on property is! We had so much fun and were totally bummed to leave and go to a regular hotel. That being said, we still cannot justify the cost! We have thought in the future we might try to swing a night or two. Have you thought about a split stay? I know it would be a total pain to pack up and move hotels....just throwing it out there! Also, we were able to swing our one night splurge by using our Amex points.....something we have never even thought of before!

 

[SteveH]

We were at Disneyland in July at the Sheraton and going to Disney World in February at POFQ. If Disney offered a reasonable rate on site at Disneyland I'd stay, but for the price point they offer now I don't see the value of staying on property for my budget & expectations. We've stayed at GC and thought it was great, but the price now is just to much for what I care to spend on a hotel room. I really miss the back door exit in DCA by Katella.

 

[Kimpossible1]

The people we encountered were located at the Harbor Blvd exit right outside the entrance before crossing Harbor Blvd and also across the street on Harbor Blvd. This was just 3 weeks ago and there were more people 3 weeks ago than a year ago, but it was also summer. We went in March a little over a year ago and there were less, but it was cold. I don't mind the people, they are just people trying to make money, I try to be kind, but the original OP was talking about "the bubble" that you experience at WDW, and you won't have these experiences at WDW, because it is very insulated as a resort on the whole.

 

[lauritagoddess]

If money was no object, then I’d say sure, stay on site. But I’m someone who’s always stayed on site for WDW, and just once at DL when we salted at the DLH, and honestly it wasn’t that much more special to me to make it worth the extra cost. We stay at motels on Harbor and have just as good a time.

 

[Captainkidd76]

With 7 days at DL are you going to get an annual pass? If you are planning on it, you can call to book at the annual pass rate and you don't actually have to have the pass until you check in.

Wasn't planning on it, but good idea. Are AP rates already available for next year?

 

[avalon451]

Meh. As previous posters have said, the "Disney Bubble" is better IMO because of the closeness and accessibility of both parks and DTD. Walking to a nicer close hotel is worth it to me to save a thousand bucks or so for our stay. Have you looked at the Courtyard by Marriott Theme Park entrance? It's quite new and has a great pool and splash park. It's maybe five minutes farther than the ones directly on Harbor (It's behind Fairfield Inn) and an easy walk.

Anyway, I certainly wouldn't give up a Disneyland trip because of not staying in the "bubble."