Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder My wife and I go every for her birthday and stay on site. This year it was the Disneyland Hotel. Since we're PAPers, I'm not going to go into great detail about Disneyland itself. Since we're so close, we pick and choose what we'd like to do on any given visit. I can't remember the last time we tried to see as much as we could in one day. All we did this time was hit Small World, Haunted Mansion, Pooh, and then strolled around to take in all the decorations. About Small World- they need to re-install Fastpass. The lines were ridiculous, and next to the Nemo Subs, it seemed like the most popular attraction. Ironically, we went to the park this afternoon (12/30), and the parking attendant gave us a flier contained tips on how to fend for yourself in a crowded park. One of the tips was to use Fastpass. How can we when they don't see fit to have it on one of their most popular seasonal rides? The hotel- I made the reservation a month prior and got the passholder rate, requesting a king bed. For the third straight time at a Disney hotel (Contemporary at WDW, then DL Hotel and this time) we got a room with two doubles, although they insisted they were queens. Double or queen, I don't give a rip, we asked for a king. Why even ask if it's only a "preference" and "no guarantee"? We threw a hissy fit and got a king on night two at the Contemporary last year, but the two DL visits they couldn't have cared less. You don't get a person when you call the front desk at the DL Hotel anymore, you get a phone tree. My wife, who is much better at schmoozing and getting what she wants than I'll ever be, got very frustrated with it after getting disconnected twice. On try three, she was literally told "there's nothing to be done." We checked in at 3:05 p.m., not late in the day, so one would think the king rooms were available. They also missed the Room Service tag we hung on the door for breakfast and when we called for Room Service the next morning we never did get a person, much less get the phone tree to answer. We blew off the DL Hotel and had breakfast at ESPN. I will say that Hook's Pointe was great for dinner on 12/15. We were walk-ins, and the wait wasn't bad at all and the food was good. Overall, not a great experience. We stayed in the tower that has the lobby in it. (I'm not up on the new names, probably because I think they're cheesy. It's the cynic in me, but Disney has far over-used the words "Dreams" and "Magical" to the point where they carry no meaning.) The room was one that hasn't been renovated yet. Besides the bed problem, it was spacious. The TV was analog and was probably nice in 1997. Now the picture was faded and hard to see. I hope they do something about the slippery bathtubs when it gets renovated, because this one had no pads in the tub or a grab bar. But the bed thing really grated on us. We know they're a big outfit and all, but we've stayed there or Paradise Pier for ten years, and I've even rented out one of the top floor suites twice for parties, the most recent a surprise party for my wife for her 40th in 2005. I would think they would still be talking about the champagne bill alone from that one. Which reminds me- when I made the reservation, I told them it was my wife's birthday and asked for a floral arrangement upon arrival. Never appeared. Matter of fact, no mention of Happy Birthday to her from any Disney person except the main gate attendant. All in all, the DL Hotel most definitely WON'T be choice one or two next year. Maybe this is Disney's sneaky way of getting more money out of us when we stay at the Grand Californian next time. One other note- on the afternoon of the 16th we met Dabob and his partner Jerry for lunch at the Uva Bar. We had a very nice time and felt bad we couldn't spend more time with them. Both guys were very nice and we hope in the future we can meet up again somewhere along the line.
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Wow. That whole experience sounds sucky. Makes me rethink my idea of staying at the DLH in March (which I'm already rethinking it). About the Happy Birthday thing. I wore my button for 5 days. On my birthday, I walked through the main gate, turned around, and SAW that the screen said "Happy Birthday" yet the attendant said nothing. I was not wearing a button at that time (lost it in the hotel room) so I was looking forward to that "magical" part of the trip. Over the 5 days, I think I maybe only had 3 or 4 experiences when the CM actually said it and it surprised me. Twice, I was sung happy birthday to at Santa's Reindeer Roundup. Once for just me, and once about 10 minutes later for all the other birthday people in the crowd. I think the whole "birthday" experience at Disneyland is over shadowed by the "Dream" experience. And it's frustrating. Glad you met dabob, though. Sounds like a good time!
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Yeah, meeting Dabob really was nice. He and Jerry were good guys.
Originally Posted By pecos bill I gave up on the Disney hotels after my last stay a few years ago. Two star service at four and five star prices. But as they say, nothing beats staying on site, except that "magical" feeling of saving a couple hundred bucks a night by staying offsite.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 We really enjoyed meeting you two also, SPP. Happily, our experience at the DLH could hardly have been better. Go figure. Hope to do a TR later this week.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"But as they say, nothing beats staying on site, except that "magical" feeling of saving a couple hundred bucks a night by staying offsite."<<< AMEN!
