Best Hotel for Location

[kiwitinkerbell]

I was wondering what you experts would recommend for the best hotel to stay at for location (most convenient to DL and restaurants etc.). We are planning a trip from New Zealand and it's a little difficult planning when you don't know the area or hotels well at all (haven't been since 1996).

Thanks so much for any advice.

 

[clairabell29]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120053

That has a huge map with most everything on it. As for best location, anything accross the street on Harbor is a great location! I suggest looking at the map and reading reviews on trip advisor. On this board a lot of people love HOJO and I've heard good things about the Desert Inn and Suites. Personally I liked the Camelot Inn and Suites. I would recomend staying accross the street since I hear taking shuttles can cut into your park time a lot. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[zeitzeuge]

We usually always stay at the Fairfield Marriott, which is clean, easy walking distance, friendly staff, nice rooms and decent price.

 

[Dis-Ted]

If I had my pick of all the hotels in the area I'd be found at the Grand Californian. While the rooms are ultimately just rooms the hotel is a page out of a different book and the location can't be beat. Of course the price can.

So when I'm actually paying you normally find me at the Hyatt or Embassy Suites. Both are nice hotels with food nearby but they aren't park walkable although there is a shuttle.

If you want to be right in the heart of things with a short walk to both the parks and dining take a look at HOJO. I haven't stayed myself but from what I know from others it's nice, clean, and friendly. And in a great location.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

All we do is sleep in our hotel room, so as long as it's close to the parks, clean, comfy & safe I'm happy. I love HoJo's ~ especially at the $59 ent rate! If you are a bigger group you could look into their new Kids Suites ~ you can get it for under $115 per night (off season) by simply asking for the Dis board discount.

 

[Zeebs]

Hello fellow Kiwi, don't see many of us on here. Although I live in the UK. Originally from Wanaka

When are you planning on going, we will be there at the end of June. On our way back to the UK after my first trip home in 2.5 years. I can't wait, my parents finally get to meet my youngest and he will be nearly 18 months when we get there.

Staying at the Jolly Roger can let you know how it is when we get back. it was cheap and they have recently done it up so we will see how it is.

As you will know with your previous trip the problem with the $NZ dollar that even budget motels etc work out to be so expensive. I remember my first trip to America a glass of juice and some toast came to something like $25.00 NZ dollars, I just about died although the exchange rate was really really bad at the time.

We have also stayed at Howard Johnston which was quite walkable and certainly not worth waiting for the shuttle unless it happens to pull up as you are leaving. I did find it a little noisy however, because it was right by the motorway. Mimis Restaurant across the road was lovely and huge meals, just order one and share at that place then you might have space for a pudding.

Hope this was of some help to you.

Kirsten

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Oh my gosh, you guys are just awesome. I found WDW boards so helpful when planning our recent WDW trip and you guys are just as awesome. Thank you so much for all your advice. It really has helped!

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hello fellow Kiwi, don't see many of us on here. Although I live in the UK. Originally from Wanaka

When are you planning on going, we will be there at the end of June. On our way back to the UK after my first trip home in 2.5 years. I can't wait, my parents finally get to meet my youngest and he will be nearly 18 months when we get there.

Staying at the Jolly Roger can let you know how it is when we get back. it was cheap and they have recently done it up so we will see how it is.

As you will know with your previous trip the problem with the $NZ dollar that even budget motels etc work out to be so expensive. I remember my first trip to America a glass of juice and some toast came to something like $25.00 NZ dollars, I just about died although the exchange rate was really really bad at the time.

We have also stayed at Howard Johnston which was quite walkable and certainly not worth waiting for the shuttle unless it happens to pull up as you are leaving. I did find it a little noisy however, because it was right by the motorway. Mimis Restaurant across the road was lovely and huge meals, just order one and share at that place then you might have space for a pudding.

Hope this was of some help to you.

Kirsten

Hi fellow kiwi!!! I know what you mean about the NZ$ - when we booked our last trip to Orlando, we booked in April and the NZ $ to US $ was 80c, by the time we left (Dec 13) it had dropped to 52c! Still we still had an awesome time.

We are not sure yet when we will go but we want to plan it so it fits in with a cruse on Mariner of the Seas (sorry DCL!)

Thanks so much for your help and have a wonderful trip in June - I will be thinking of you!

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120053

That has a huge map with most everything on it. As for best location, anything accross the street on Harbor is a great location! I suggest looking at the map and reading reviews on trip advisor. On this board a lot of people love HOJO and I've heard good things about the Desert Inn and Suites. Personally I liked the Camelot Inn and Suites. I would recomend staying accross the street since I hear taking shuttles can cut into your park time a lot. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

That map is awesome - it even tells me where Walmart is.... Cool! Thanks so much.

 

[farmfresh]

hi there fellow NZer! Not quite sure from your details when you are thinking of heading to Dl, or what your family might be prioritising (pool, walking distance, self catering, price etc etc). We are in Dl pretty regularly, have also done the WDW thing.

My first advice would be to talk to a travel agent, because currently there are some very sharp pricing deals combining airfares and accommodation in LA. These can often be better than the web (a recent Travel and Leisure magazine survey trialled out the two, and the TAs won!) One example - room rates at the three DLR hotels have been wholesaled at the same rate as US - but in NZ dollars. If you are thinking of staying in one of these, def. talk to an agent, rather than the Dl website.

If you are like a lot of NZers, most want to see other parts of LA/CA on their trip - universal etc..sometime packaging it all up is the way to go.

OP have given you good maps etc. Bear in mind that the block size is large, much more so than at home. Also bear in mind (you'll probably recall from your earlier trip anway) that the DL resort is smaller overall than WDW - so the disney choices for accommodation are much more limited - paradise pier would be closest to a POP. However, that means that all the other hotels in the area compete for guests, which is good for you, and some of them are closer to the parks than the Dl hotels anyway. Sothe first choice really is - stay in Dl, or outside? Once you've made that choice, and thought about what you will need in accommodation, people here will have great specific suggestions.

 

[Flea]

Hi KiwiTinkerbell

Another Kiwi here

When are you going? Do you have kids travelling with you or just adults?

We are going in October and staying at Hojo's. A bit further to walk but we like the sound of the new pool area for our 2 kids (almost 3 and 5 at the time we go). My friend who we are travelling with has stayed there and highly recommends it - rooms are spacious etc

The dollar sucks atm (at least it was up this morning though) but we are trying not to let it dampen our spirits. Though airfares are cheaper than this time last year so that's a bonus.

Have a wonderful trip

PS where do all you kiwi's hang out on this board? maybe we need our own thread if there isn't one already

 

[kiwitravel]

Yet another Kiwi here!!!

The best hotels by location that are popular here are:

BW Park Place Inn (there are other BWs that are further away so make sure you get the right one
Tropicanna
Carousel Inn
Camelot

These are literally right across the road from DL, no more than a five minute walk.

Still quite walkable but a little over half a mile away is Hojos and Candy Cane Inn, both with loyal fans here.

The best value is HoJos if you can get the entertainment rate ($59) a kiwi entertainment book card will work for this.... If going in late June then you will be unlikely to get this rate.

Also good value is Anaheim Plaza ($49 to $59), not as flash as the others here but clean and has a huge pool and outdoor area.

I am in the same currency limbo at the moment. We were planning on going this June but we made that decision when the currency was at .80 and of course until recently its been .50. Just when we give up and look to postpone till next year the US starts printing money again and the USD falls.

I would suggest the US will continue to slide to the late 60s which is more where its actual value should be but who can really predict? I think it is going to be too late for us as one of our seats is a frequent flyer reward and these tend to fill up early.

 

[Zeebs]

The first time I went the currency was .38 NZ cents in the US dollar. so you can imagine how much my flight in a helicopter over the grand canyon cost. But I had saved very hard for the trip. Although the credit card got a battering as well.

I never knew how many kiwis there were on the boards, when I first found this board I was researching WDW and didn't see many at all, but this time we are going to Disneyland.

Kirsten

 

[toni1227]

We just stayed at the Grand Californian and it was fabulous! I will not stay anywhere else now (which means I gotta save up a little longer between trips in order to make that happen, but it is SO worth it to me). That place was great. Location, service, disney GREAT!

 

[avalon451]

Depends on how big a factor money is.

If money is not really an issue, Grand Californian is the nicest and also the closest-- with a private entrance right into California Adventure.

If you need to watch the expenses, it's much less expensive to stay offsite, and it can be very convenient and comfortable, as well as a lot cheaper! I'm a big fan of HoJo, since we stayed there once. It's one block up, and closer than Paradise Pier. It's the only hotel across the street that has inside corridors, and it's very nicely refurbished, especially the premium and deluxe rooms with the new bedding. If you can get the Entertainment rate it's the best deal for the nicest hotel on harbor. (Ent rate info: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14)

If the Ent rate isn't available, I think I would try out Best Western Park Place... because it sounds pretty nice, gets good reviews here, and is right at the crosswalk!

Hope that helps! Have fun planning!

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Thanks so much for your replies, they are so helpful in planning. I'm not sure yet when we are going to go. I just wanted to cost out a budget. Hopefully it will be sometime this year (the NZ$ by the way is going up to the US$ at the moment, I think its around 56c now!)

It's great to hear from so many kiwi's! When I was doing the planning for our recent WDW trip, and was on the other board, I only heard from one other Kiwi (and several Aussies).

It's hard deciding on whether or not to spend the money on staying at the Grand Califorinian or to stay off site and save the $$$$. When you convert the rate per night into NZ dollars, it sure sounds a lot!

Thanks again everyone, have a great day.

 

[BecBennett]

Just throwing my 2c in. The Parkvue in, whilst I don't think it's technically a hotel, it's location CAN NOT be beat!!
I stayed there last March and it was great, will be staying again in May.

 

[Saskiwi]

Kia ora Kiwis - We are off next Friday 3rd (sooooo excited!!) - watching that crazy yo-yo dollar do its thing - we bought some US$ when it was 52 cents as that seemed better than 49c! - and now its back up to 57c - oh well....

It's our first time in 10 years (me and DH) and first-ever for our boys 9 and 6 - I think we are more excited than them as they have no concept of what they're in for!!! (My best description is DreamWorld x 10 - and then some!)

Will post a trip report on our return with all you Kiwis in mind. We are staying at Hojo's - asked for Disney view room and not too close to the freeway. Would love to stay at the Grand Californian but with the exchange rate it is just so far out of our price range... not to mention the $$$$ we have to pay from NZ/Australia just to get to DL! (don't you get envious reading posts from SoCal residents who have annual passes, and can "pop in" whenever??)

We have opted for the 6 day pass, as we had forgotten about Spring Break when we booked our flights (d'oh!) At least even with the mega crowds we can take breaks and go back to the hotel for a swim and rest and head back in the evening

Counting the days....

 

[mnasf]

I was wondering what you experts would recommend for the best hotel to stay at for location (most convenient to DL and restaurants etc.). We are planning a trip from New Zealand and it's a little difficult planning when you don't know the area or hotels well at all (haven't been since 1996).

Thanks so much for any advice.

If you can afford it, the Grand Californian can't be beat. Otherwise, we stay at the Best Western Park Place Inn which is literally across the street from Disneyland and California Adventure's entrances. It comes with a very simple breakfast - think toast and juice. It has a pull out couch, fridge, etc. Not the nicest, but the best location in my opinion.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Kia ora Kiwis - We are off next Friday 3rd (sooooo excited!!) - watching that crazy yo-yo dollar do its thing - we bought some US$ when it was 52 cents as that seemed better than 49c! - and now its back up to 57c - oh well....

It's our first time in 10 years (me and DH) and first-ever for our boys 9 and 6 - I think we are more excited than them as they have no concept of what they're in for!!! (My best description is DreamWorld x 10 - and then some!)

Will post a trip report on our return with all you Kiwis in mind. We are staying at Hojo's - asked for Disney view room and not too close to the freeway. Would love to stay at the Grand Californian but with the exchange rate it is just so far out of our price range... not to mention the $$$$ we have to pay from NZ/Australia just to get to DL! (don't you get envious reading posts from SoCal residents who have annual passes, and can "pop in" whenever??)

We have opted for the 6 day pass, as we had forgotten about Spring Break when we booked our flights (d'oh!) At least even with the mega crowds we can take breaks and go back to the hotel for a swim and rest and head back in the evening

Counting the days....

Kia Ora! - have a wonderful trip. I can't wait to hear/read all about it when you get back! Do you plan to go to Walmart? We went there in Orlando this January and had so much fun looking at the make up etc. It's so much cheaper there. The mascara I use (the pink and green mayballene one) is about $20 here and I got it for $3.97 in Orlando!)

Have a great trip.