Another (I know, sorry) motel question

[larina]

OK, so now that we've stayed on-site, I'm afraid we've become spoiled. We're looking at an October trip and we want to stay off site and put that money towards fun and food. We love the view from the PPH.

So my question is, what good neighbor, or other off-site properties, have the best views? Would love to be able to see the fireworks and/or one of the parks. Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Malcon10t]

I actually prefer the Hilton's view of the fireworks. Get a Disney View room.

 

[skiingfast]

For really good views, Hojo and Fairfiel Inn views work pretty well.

For some of the other harbor locations it really depends on where you room is and those views are more limited.

The Hilton and Marriot near the convention center have many view rooms, of course they are a lot further from the parks, which intorduces the problem of using a shuttle.

 

[poohnpigletCA]

We also love PPH. I think we have stayed at most of the hotels across the street. Well HoJo to BWPP. We have now found that we are either priceline people~average $45 a night in a nice hotel. There is the hassle of parking of shuttle. Or we stay onsite. The hotels across the street are no longer cheap enough for us to justify the benefit of walking across the street. We even got the Entertainment rate family sweet at the HoJo that is 129. a night. It was just not that much nicer or more convenient than a Priceline room.

Now that you have had the nice view and stay at the PPH I do not think anything other than another Disney property will compare. That is why we now either splurge and stay on property or go the priceline route.

 

[rentayenta]

We had a decent view of the fireworks from the HoJo years ago.

 

[larina]

I actually prefer the Hilton's view of the fireworks. Get a Disney View room.

How far away is the Hilton? I should have mentioned that I'd prefer walking distance (but we'll see what happens).

Poohandpiglet, I'll have to look at priceline, thanks!

 

[Malcon10t]

How far away is the Hilton? I should have mentioned that I'd prefer walking distance (but we'll see what happens).

Poohandpiglet, I'll have to look at priceline, thanks!

It is across the street at the convention center. My kids walk it in about 15 mins. You can also cross Harbor into the Toy Story lot and catch the tram there.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

There are rooms with a decent view of the Matterhorn from their rooftop hot tub/pool at The Camelot. This is also right outside the Disney entrance.

 

[Tommy_B]

Both the Anaheim Marriott and Anaheim Hilton can have great bargains if there isn't a convention going on.

The Sheraton Park Hotel is good too and if you can swing the Club Level, even better.

No views, but the Residence Inn Maingate is great for families and includes breakfast and the rooms have complete kitchens so you can easily bring in food or cook your own to save even more.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

We also love PPH. I think we have stayed at most of the hotels across the street. Well HoJo to BWPP. We have now found that we are either priceline people~average $45 a night in a nice hotel. There is the hassle of parking of shuttle. Or we stay onsite. The hotels across the street are no longer cheap enough for us to justify the benefit of walking across the street. We even got the Entertainment rate family sweet at the HoJo that is 129. a night. It was just not that much nicer or more convenient than a Priceline room.

Can you say which places around DLR have ever been that inexpensive via Priceline? It's hard to know what would fit MY personal calculus of being worth the trouble of parking or shuttling vs. staying across the street without knowing precisely which hotels are being compared to each other.
It's an interesting issue to consider, saving $80-ish/night vs. convenience with small children. (You also didn't say what kind of group/couple/family your trips involved. I imagine the convenience becomes more worthwhile with people who are less patient or less able to travel further or who need a break/nap in the middle of the day.)

AJ

 

[skiingfast]

Can you say which places around DLR have ever been that inexpensive via Priceline? It's hard to know what would fit MY personal calculus of being worth the trouble of parking or shuttling vs. staying across the street without knowing precisely which hotels are being compared to each other.

It's a little complicated. Generally you can get a great price on a convention hotel with Priceline for little more than you could a 3 start hotel. The problem is the places that are close to DL are 2 and 3 star, and they are plenty of 2 and 3 start that are far away. It can be risky bidding on locations hoping you get one that is close. With the 4 star convention hotels it's almost sure you are not within walking distance, so you can count on that.

Priceline changed the zones you bid on near the resort about a year ago, so bid before that aren't very helpful.

Some people use www.betterbidding.com.

Some people use Getawaytoday. It gives you a cut rate on a hotel, without naming the hotel, like hotwire. But there is a trick to seeing what you are buying. I don't know exaclty how this works but a few Dissers could describe the process if they see this.

 

[larina]

It is across the street at the convention center. My kids walk it in about 15 mins. You can also cross Harbor into the Toy Story lot and catch the tram there.

15 minutes is a totally doable walk for us.

There are rooms with a decent view of the Matterhorn from their rooftop hot tub/pool at The Camelot. This is also right outside the Disney entrance.

This is just what I was looking for. Something where the walk would be so short we won't think about not staying on property, but still with some kind of view. Thanks!!!

...I imagine the convenience becomes more worthwhile with people who are less patient or less able to travel further or who need a break/nap in the middle of the day.)

AJ

This is totally it!!! When I went with my parents when I was a teen, we stayed further away and it was no big deal. We could take a tram or do a long walk, but my parents are older now, that along with a three (he'll be four by then) year old, it is nice to have a quick easy walk; no shuttle to think about or car to get in and park (wouldn't dream of parking every day like that!). We do go back and rest mid afternoon, so close counts for us, in a big way!!!

 

[starshine514]

Close counts a lot for us, too. I'm a penny-pincher, but I always stay somewhere we can walk from. DH rarely joins us in the morning and generally goes back before us. My parents have similiar patterns as well. I would hate to have to coordinate everyone to have to arrive and leave at the same time. So, I always want walking distance, and am scared to try shuttle distance w/ an ECV and wheelchair.

I think the only hotels you'll be assured a view are the ones that sell 'view' rooms. We did have a decent view from the Desert Inn once, but it's pretty iffy.