Advantages of DLP hotels?

[JazzyMe]

I am going with kids to DLP for christmas for the first time and don't know which hotel to choose.
From the reviews I liked Disney's Cheyenne and Explorers.
First is better in style and not so far from the parks, and the second has a pool with the slides and soft ball room. This is the main advantage, because my kids love to swim and slide and could relax after noisy disney parks at afternoon before the nap.
The main disadvantage I see it that is is not possible to change breakfast to Good Morning Fantasyland one.

Anyone could help with the drawbacks of Explorers and more advantages of Cheyenne?

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi JazzyMe and welcome to the DIS!

If it is only the pool that is drawing you to the Explorers, I would pick the Cheyenne. Not only is the western theming fantastic and it is closer to the parks, we found it so cold last Christmas that a swim was the last thing on our minds!

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Jazzyme,

I cannot comment on The Cheyenne as its not one of the hotels we have stayed at, however, having stayed at several on and off site hotels I would say there is very little difference.

If you have a young child and want to bump into Minnie or other characters at breakfast, in reception etc then without doubt go for a Disney Hotel.

If you want a nice standard, newer, modern hotel and dont mind the short travel time to the parks then for their Value for money you cant beat the off site ones. We stayed at The MTE in December 2004 and had a great time. All themed, lovely pool, games room etc. It did miss the 'Disney' Magic but as we spend most of the day in the parks, we did not really miss that aspect.

We have opted to stay off site again this Christmas as the savings were huge.

 

[JazzyMe]

The savings on Explorer hotel is 100 euro. Just think that better choice is save that money and spend it on character lunch at Mickeys cafe and tea party at Plaza Garden.

But now I am really worried about cold hotel and as also found some reviews that water in pool is too cold for swimming.
My kids (3 and 4 years old) are still having a nap during the day and it quite hard to relax them for it. Without afternoon nap they get so fuzzy in the evening. So I thought the pool would do a good thing...

By the way was the Explorers decorated specially for Christmas (tree and so on) last year?

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Yes it was.

All hotels were very Christmassy with decorations, carols etc. Nothing in the bedrooms or restaurant areas at The MTE though.

You'll enjoy the whole Christmas experience whichever option you choose.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi JazzyMe and welcome to DLP DIS board
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If your children need a nap the closeness of Hotel Cheyenne may better suit as you could easily walk back to the hotel for a battery charging nap

 

[mickey66]

Hi
I have never stayed at either hotel you mentioned but would definately recommend staying on site, especailly with little ones.
If it is a pool you are after, have you thought about the Sequoia Lodge?
Our kids love it there(although they are a little older then yours at 11 and 8)
I am not sure exactly on the price difference but I don't think it is that much more then the Cheyene??
You have the benefit of being on site,characters, lovely walk to the park, good morning fantasyland breakfast and the pool.

But when it really comes down to it, you will have a fantastic time wherever you choose to stay

 

[luke]

Having never stayed at an off site hotel i can't comment there, but the on site hotels are fantastic. We have stayed at all bar New York and Disneyland, and they're all great. I know people don't spend much time at the hotels and mostly in the parks etc, but the magic of coming back to your hotel after a bisy day Disneying, and finding Goofy messing about in the shop is so so good!

Also have stayed in the Cheyenne both times when i've been in December, and it's not overly Christmas themed if i recall, but it is a wonderfully fun themed place, with a whole town to explore!!

Hoping to stay in the Sequoia this time, which in my opinion is the ultimate winter hotel - its just got that Je Ne Sais Quoi about it

Have a wonderful time wherever you choose

 

[sarahc]

We stayed at the Explorer's and did find the pool cold, so much so that DD had to get out after 15 mins as she was going blue - not very relaxing!

 

[Phil Harris]

Sequoia Lodge pool etc is closed during December (as it was as I recall when I was there for Christmas last year) - seems strange as is it the 'winter' resort what with the log fires and everything and yet they refurb the pool in December!

I think that you need to think about whet you mean by 'close' to the park - don't have children but I can imagine that if they have to go for a nap becuase they are tired then you'd be hard pressed to get them to walk to any of the on-site hotels - I wouldn't want to walk further than SL and Cheyenne is even further (which means Disney bus) and therefore you might as well drive to Explorers?

 

[Cyrano]

I think that you need to think about whet you mean by 'close' to the park - don't have children but I can imagine that if they have to go for a nap becuase they are tired then you'd be hard pressed to get them to walk to any of the on-site hotels - I wouldn't want to walk further than SL and Cheyenne is even further (which means Disney bus) and therefore you might as well drive to Explorers?

I suppose for some they may find the walk too far. We did not have any complaints from our 3 DD2, DS4 and DD5

 

[pigby]

Sequoia Lodge pool etc is closed during December (as it was as I recall when I was there for Christmas last year) - seems strange as is it the 'winter' resort what with the log fires and everything and yet they refurb the pool in December!

Oh No - we switched from Santa Fe to Sequoia for over Christmas mostly because it had a pool. Was it closed just for last year or is it an annual thing? - can't find any reference to it closing this year. Last year on www.dlp.info website it said it re-opened on 17th December.

 

[Phil Harris]

According to the DLP brochure (p80) (you can download it from the main website in pdf format) the pool is closed from Dec 4 - 22nd. So it will be open over the Christmas week, but not before.