[geeman]

Last year, I celebrated my birthday weekend with a great stay at the Grand Californian. I was recently daydreaming about that trip just the other day. I have only stayed on site during my visits to Disneyland, and the reasons are plentiful.
a) You don't need a car. You leave your resort and you walk a bit and you are THERE!
b) You can go back and relax whenever you choose, and come back and enjoy more of the park later!
c) You come back from the park at night and look out the windows of your hotel or hotel room, and still see the park there, alive and glimmering.

If you can spring for it, the Grand Californian was worth the extra amount. I think it's my all-time favorite resort (running neck and neck with AKL).

I also stayed at The Disneyland Hotel a few years ago and enjoyed my stay there, too.

While you could save a bundle by staying offsite, some of the offsite hotels are actually just across the road from the park, so you're not technically "off-site".

I look forward to returning to DL someday, and already know that I'll want to stay at GC again.