Anaheim plaza hotel

[mcjingles]

I've been recommended the Anaheim Plaza. I'm loving the price and seemingly good location (first time to DL). I'm trying to decide against the DH on property. In WDW it was an obvious choice to stay on property but DL not so much. Pools is the only big reason I see. But on 10/25-27 it most certainly cold be too cold. For 3 times less the cost convince me that off property is better.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I've been recommended the Anaheim Plaza. I'm loving the price and seemingly good location (first time to DL). I'm trying to decide against the DH on property. In WDW it was an obvious choice to stay on property but DL not so much. Pools is the only big reason I see. But on 10/25-27 it most certainly cold be too cold. For 3 times less the cost convince me that off property is better.

Here's my two cents. I'm a DL/WDW vet, getting ready to move from the SF area to 12 miles from Disneyland In my opinion, the hotels at DLR just don't compare to the RESORTS at WDW. If it's your first trip to any Disney park, ever, I might recommend the Disneyland Hotel. But if you've been to WDW, you know what real Disney resorts are like. Some people swear by the hotels at DLR. Others who only drink Disney Kool-Aid won't stay anywhere else. My thinking is this. At WDW, you can take a day off from the parks and spend it at a resort. At DLR, if you take a day off from the parks, you are spending it in a hotel.

That being said, the non-Disney lodging within walking distance of Disneyland consists mostly of 50+ year-old motels. Some of them have been upgraded, while others are convenient dumps. When I go to WDW, I stay at Deluxe resorts (Wilderness Lodge is my favorite). I've been to Disneyland three times in the last year. Twice this summer. Two of the hotels I recommend are:

Hotel Indigo: We stayed here in July. It's around the corner from Anaheim Plaza, but a world away. It will add about 7 minutes to your walking time (15 mins from your room to the turnstiles), but it's in a very safe area, and much less crowded than the Harbor Blvd strip. This place was recently refurbished, and we really liked it. Rooms are about $140 per night. They have free parking, and NO resort fee. Anaheim Garden walk is about a 3 minute walk away, and has several shops and nice restaurants.

Here's my TripAdvisor review: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...-Hotel_Indigo_Anaheim-Anaheim_California.html

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites: We stayed here in July, 2013. This hotel is on the other side of Disney. The walk is about the same, but there are two "shortcuts". You can walk to the Mickey & Friends parking area in less than 10 mins, and catch the tram to the parks. Or you can walk the whole way (15 to 20mins), which takes you through a very quiet neighborhood and Downtown Disney. This is a nice hotel, with rates starting at around $120 per night. They do charge $10 per day for parking, and there are very few services outside of the hotel.

Here's my TripAdvisor review: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...heim_1_BLK_Disneyland-Anaheim_California.html

I know this was a detailed reply. I hope it helps you with your decision, and I hope you have a wonderful time at Disneyland.

 

[mcjingles]

Awesome thx!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I've stayed at the Anaheim Plaza a few times (though the most recent was 2010.) It's definitely one of the cheaper/more run down hotels in walking distance. I had 3 decent stays and 1 not-so-decent one. We are trying the Desert Inn for our next trip. $94 for a 'parlor suite.' Woot!

 

[zanzibar138]

I agree, there are plenty of offsite options than the Anaheim Plaza Inn. It's not really a case of staying there or staying onsite.

I actually recommend the closest places on Harbor. Yes, it's busy there, and they may not be the nicest hotels available, but at the end of a long day at the parks, that 5 minute walk home will be looking pretty good There are also plenty of dining options in very close proximity.

We're staying at Desert Inn & Suites too, which seems to be the cheapest option there. They have very reasonably priced suites, so you can spread out a bit more.

The Indigo looks great and was very tempting, but I couldn't justify the extra cost on this occasion (this is a fairly low budget trip). I wouldn't hesitate to stay there if the price is right for you.

The more fancy hotels like the Hilton and Sheraton are too far away in my opinion, and you would have to rely on the ART shuttle. I think one of the best things about DLR is the convenience of being able to walk everywhere and not have to rely on buses.

Personally I could never justify the cost of staying onsite at DLR, but we are the type of people who only use the hotel to sleep and shower.

 

[rms123]

We've stayed at the Plaza, Tropicana, HoJo and Desert Inn and of those, I liked Desert Inn best. The walk to the Plaza and HoJo just seems like it takes forever after a long day. Tropicana rooms are tiny and we had other issues there. Desert inn looks like it hasn't gotten new bedding or furniture in 60 years but the rooms were huge.

 

[pixiewings71]

The walk takes 7-10 minutes, not a big deal at all really. We like the Plaza just fine, it's not a fancy place to stay but the rooms are decent, staff is nice and the proximity is great. The only issue I've had there is the fluctuating water temp, but it doesn't happen in every room, just in some. I'd definitely stay at the API again.

 

[ClaraOswald]

The walk takes 7-10 minutes, not a big deal at all really. We like the Plaza just fine, it's not a fancy place to stay but the rooms are decent, staff is nice and the proximity is great. The only issue I've had there is the fluctuating water temp, but it doesn't happen in every room, just in some. I'd definitely stay at the API again.

That was the reason I don't want to stay at the Anaheim Plaza again. It was pretty much impossible to shower. The temp of the water would go scalding hot to freezing cold and back again over and over while I showered. It was insane.

 

[DizMe]

The issue comes down to cost. There really isn't much of a comparison between the on-site resort hotels and the motels across the street. They offer a good value and most of them are decent, but they're not resort hotels, to put it bluntly. However, if you don't care about the amenities the on-site places have to offer in relation to the price you have to pay for them, then stay across the street! You'll have a lot of extra cash that way. I personally am one of those who will always stay on-site if possible, but then I usually choose times when I get a great discount.

One thing I wanted to mention respecting your dates: if you plan to attend the Halloween party, staying onsite is wonderful. You can change quickly and easily in your hotel without walking outside the resort in costume

 

[HappiestHaunt]

We have stayed there twice and found it adequate. We had a great rate of
$65 for Thanksgiving because we booked under CAAA and did so 8 months ahead (this was 2012). We stayed again around Christmas time that same year for only 10 dollars more (again booked months in advance). The walk was about the same as when we stayed at HoJo's. It worked well for our needs as we had a decent two queen room with fridge and microwave (requested but not charged for). The front office staff was nice and accommodating. The property isn't deluxe by any means, but it was clean and large. We love HoJo's but their pricing, unless you catch one of their every so often spur of the moment deals is pretty pricey these days. Hmm, Quality Inn near the HoJo's was decent stay. Smallish room, but a fairly decent breakfast (daughter liked the make your own waffle bar). You can walk from it but we took ART as well when we were tired, which has a stop at the HoJo's That is almost across the street (well just a little up the bend and across the street). This year we are staying at America's Best Value Inn Anaheim, because we got a pretty good deal on a two room suite with a full size in one room and a King in the other for under 100 a night for 3 days including NYE. This is a new one for us and a bit longer walk, as it is next door to the Hotel Indigo. Breakfast will not be much (donuts and cofee pretty much) but it has pool and they are allowing us to leave the car early and come back later to check in on NYE. Same suite is running a bit over $94 a night for you dates. Rooms include a fridge and a Microwave. Keep in mind that none of these are up to the standards that you would get for an Anaheim Disney property hotel, but they are inexpensive and decent accommodations, differing in pricing a bit and what is offered. It would depend on what you expect in a hotel/motel. I know from what I hear and read that the hotels on site at WDW can very from very basic to higher end, so these might be more towards your base accommodation.

 

[disneychrista]

And just have to point out that October is usually still warm enough to swim. When my kids were little the first thing they want to do after the 9 hour drive was go swimming, even in January.

 

[rxsuperwoman]

I booked Anaheim Plaza and Alpine Inn. I'll cancel one or the other the closer I get to departure. Anaheim Plaza was a little cheaper (maybe a total of $50), but the reviews on Tripadvisor worries me. Dirty carpets, worn out furniture, varying water temps.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I booked Anaheim Plaza and Alpine Inn. I'll cancel one or the other the closer I get to departure. Anaheim Plaza was a little cheaper (maybe a total of $50), but the reviews on Tripadvisor worries me. Dirty carpets, worn out furniture, varying water temps.

Did you check out any others on the same street?

 

[makana]

We stayed there on our July trip and we loved it! Super close to DL and the pool was great! Of course it doesn't compare to staying on property but we were in the park majority of the time so it didn't really matter to us. Have a great trip!

 

[mcjingles]

Ok so I rebooked for hojo. We will have all day out arrival day without going to a park as well as the morning before mhp so I did it for the water area to entertain dd (4).