Anaheim Marriott - did I chose poorly?

[crystal1313]

Hah! In typical "I can't figure out what to do fashion" I have both my Disney Vacation package (4 night deal) being held AND a room at the new Courtyard. You all have me thinking how much more FUN it will be at the new location right across the street even if it's for one less day. The rooms at the CY really remind me of the DCL rooms and being closer to the park is very enticing. If we stay one night less and do standard one park tickets, the price is fairly close. With it being Halloween nights while we are there we can always jump to DCA in the afternoon those days.

Pros: Still 3 day park tickets, less money spent on vacation because it's one less day, right across the street. The ticket package has more freebies: oh wait, none that I care about. (photo, lanyard, and pin)

Cons: 1 less day on vacation at the parks. Instead of not going into the park the day we get there (allowing us to leave the Bay Area later) we have to leave really early in the morning to get there around park opening time to enjoy a full first day.

WWYD?

Honestly my vote is to go to the new CY. Which is what it seems most of you have already been doing.

Hmm. I will ask you this: Are your kids good sleepers in the car? If you leave extra early from the bay (east bay native here), will they go back to sleep in the car? Or will they stay up?

My DH and I have thought about doing just what you are thinking about doing, many, many times. We used to do that when it was just the two of us all the time. BUT, our kids are horrible car sleepers! We want to try it, but are afraid they will wake up and NEVER go back to sleep on the drive (even the boring drive down I5) and we will arrive at the parks with two, cranky kids and cranky parents too!

I don't know what day of the week you are planning on driving down, but if it is a weekday, you will want to try to avoid a lot of the traffic. Will you be able to handle a full day in the parks after getting up so early and driving all the way to Anaheim?

What if you stay somewhere else the first night? Somewhere cheaper? We used to drive to Valencia, then stay the night and get up early the next morning (to hopefully beat traffic) and head into Anaheim. Kinda a pain to switch hotels, but you could drive straight to the parks, then mid day take a break and check into the hotel. We have also booked a room the first night using hotwire, to get a good deal in the Anaheim area, and then check into our hotel of choice.

Just thinking out loud. Courtyard looks AMAZING! I love the room layouts and it's a newer property. If it were me, I would stick to the 4 nights at the Marriott, but that is what would work best for my family. You know what will work best for your family. Good luck with your decision!!

 

[WestFamily]

Thanks! We did the LA to SF and vice verse road trips all the time before kids. They just mess the abruptness and lack of planning up.

We are in Brentwood so we have about a half hour (or more depending on the time of day) jump ahead in traffic and route. Yet it still takes FOREVER to get there. I did the 4AM departure about 2 years ago when my oldest and I did a day in the park. I totally thought he was going to fall back to sleep. Nope. Not at all. WIDE AWAKE the whole time. Too much excitement. He powered through that day, I was totally amazed. That one will be fine. It's the almost 6 year old I'm not sure about. That kid's the crazy one. The morning traffic though almost drove me insane. Bumper to bumper traffic from Valencia to Anaheim. Which is one reason why timing a mid-day arrival is nice. Our arrival day is a Monday either way. It's the backend of the trip that would either end on Thursday or Friday. I'm thinking 3 days in the parks Tu/W/Th or M/T/W either way. 3 days is about all I think I'll be able to handle.

 

[crystal1313]

I'm in Martinez! So close

What a trooper to stay up on the drive and all day in the parks!! I did a mom/son trip with my oldest last year. So much fun.

Can you keep the trip a surprise from the kids? Will they sleep if they don't know? Lol.

 

[WestFamily]

Contra Costa for the win!

I can keep the secret but the oldest would know instantly if we were to leave before the sun came up. In fact, my wife doesn't know about the trip yet either. I'm putting the finances together before I spring it on them. I may keep it from them right up to September if I can.

<as long as she doesn't read this forum>

 

[crystal1313]

Surprise trips are SO fun!

I guess it comes down to 1) do you want a walking distance hotel or use the shuttle for the Marriott? 2) you are going to use the waterpark at the Courtyard? 3) Are you willing to get up super early and sit in the SoCal morning commute traffic on arrival day?

Have you read the reviews on tripadvisor for both hotels?

 

[WestFamily]

So much to think about. Luckily I have time to stew. I think every time I think about it, my thoughts change.

The reviews are standard for a full size Marriott and of course exceptional for the new CY. They are totally what I would expect for both considering the difference in the properties as a whole.

Currently because it's the first whole family vacation to Disneyland, booking through Dis Vacations and the package that comes in the mail, it's a win there. To me the delivery of the box of stuff is going to be such a fun experience. Also we really are there for DL and DCA not the water park.

But those bunk beds and the water park! And the short walk! There's always the next trip...

 

[ImDMous]

Personally, it's always about maximizing park time. I don't go there to swim, just need a hotel to sleep. Mondays seem to have gotten really crowded lately with people staying from the weekend so I would do T/W/Th in the parks.

But that's just me

 

[Bud Ice]

Just gotta understand if you want cake and eat it too, nice hotel + VIP Disneyland, you will be paying for it.

My explanation is an oversimplification: "Are you there for the room or Disneyland"

If someone is picky, then yes a good number of average rooms will look below average.
If it's a place to crash and clean up, then you should be fine almost anywhere.

There's no difficult math about it, Disneyland area is a premium area. Soon to be 5-star territory.
Travel 1-5 miles around it, prices do drop somewhat.

 

[IBLarsen]

We are a Marriott family as well and I generally balk at a Fairfield, but have to say we've stayed at the Fairfield at Disneyland about 10 times and that's our go-to place. The rooms are actually quite large for a standard room, and have always been very clean. Even the walk back to the Fairfield seems long, and I can't imagine tacking on any more time to the end of the day (and I'm active). I can often find the full Marriott for not much more, which seems silly to me, but you pay for the convenience of the Fairfield, and still choose the Fairfield. Now for our next trip I'm considering the Courtyard, but still not sure it's worth the extra money, as we don't really take breaks, so not sure we would spend enough time there to justify the cost. Bottom line to me is convenience.