Best non-Disney hotel list

[sole]

I've read a lot of posts over time talk about some of the hotels near Disneyland, all with varying criteria: price, friendliness, customer service, etc.

What I'm curious to see instead, is poster's lists of their top 5 non-Disney hotels, 1st through 5th, regardless of price, with quality and cleanliness being the main criteria.

We're gonna be staying at the GCH for 5 nights and need to spend one more night before we leave the following morning and don't want too much of an atmosphere letdown for that last night, if that makes sense. It doesn't need to be too close, but it can't be so far away it becomes a real hassle to move our stuff that last day. I figure if I could just see a list of the nicer places I'll be able to sort though them to make a final choice.

Fwiw, GCH is the only place we've stayed over the last 10-11 years we've been going to Disneyland, so we're really unfamiliar with other other places around.

Thanks!

 

[Geemo]

Have you thought about trading the last night at another location to the first night of your stay?

We have always stayed on-site. So I have no suggestions for an off-site place.

Due to budget constraints, on our next trip we'll split our stay. I can't afford on-site accommodations for 6 people for a week.

Geemo

 

[sole]

Have you thought about trading the last night at another location to the first night of your stay?
Geemo

That's an interesting thought. I'll give them a call today and see. The biggest problem I foresee with that, though is that we have 6 day hoppers, and I think if we changed our reservation we might lose that and instead only get 5 day hoppers. Disney hotels seem pretty particular with their reservations.

In the meantime, anyone else? How about a 3 hotel list if that's easier than 5, ha ha.

 

[sole]

bump*

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Do you have to stay off site for your last night? What about trying DLH or PPH?


On this board I think most people like hojo due to price, cleanliness and closeness. BWPPI seems to be mentioned a lot too for those same reasons. We've only stayed on site and I love PPH (seems closer to me then DLH) and I adore their theme park view rooms! GCH was great too, but seemed like we were walking the corridors of that hotel forever... Like our room was never convenient to the elevators.

 

[Jillchristina]

We just returned from a trip where we stayed at the Tropicana. Our room was clean but on the small side (not an issue for us) and SO close to DL. The last trip we stayed at Fairfield Inn. It's a bit more of a walk than from the Tropicana but our room was clean and a bit larger than the one we had at the Tropicana. I would recommend both hotels. I also like the idea mentioned above of switching your offsite room to the beginning of your trip. Seems like less of a let down that way.

Jill

 

[Mindy71]

BWPPI is super close & worked well for us!

 

[sole]

Do you have to stay off site for your last night? What about trying DLH or PPH?


On this board I think most people like hojo due to price, cleanliness and closeness. BWPPI seems to be mentioned a lot too for those same reasons. We've only stayed on site and I love PPH (seems closer to me then DLH) and I adore their theme park view rooms! GCH was great too, but seemed like we were walking the corridors of that hotel forever... Like our room was never convenient to the elevators.

As far as other Disney hotels, we're already pushing our budget and PP is $315 and DLH is $435 for single additional night. Cutting that in half or so would be helpful.

With regard your other suggestions: thanks much, but I was hoping to get a list of the nicest (possibly newest) hotels to choose from, then weed through them from there. And it's hard to picture the actual hotels only by what's on the internet.

Most of what people value with hotels is different than what I look for, so I wanted to internalize my own criteria after using this simple method once I have a small list. For example, using Las Vegas as a guide, I'd make a list like:

1) Encore

2) Wynn

3) Bellagio

4) Aria (and adjoining properties)

5) Four Seasons

But readers of Tripadivsor list La Quinta and Staybridge ahead of the Encore because they have a completely different criteria than I do.

So considering hotels around Disneyland when looking at a tripadvisor list, GCH places 4th on reader's lists. But by my simple starter criteria of nicest, GCH is easily #1 (with DLH, #2, and PP #3). I just wanted to see that same kind of simple list minus the Disney properties.

I hope that makes sense

 

[KCmike]

1. Fairfield Inn
2. HOJO
3. BWPPI
4. Candy Cane Inn
5. Park Vue Inn

Inside the resort my choices (in order)..

1. Grand Californian
2. DLH
3. Paradise Pier

 

[sole]

We just returned from a trip where we stayed at the Tropicana. Our room was clean but on the small side (not an issue for us) and SO close to DL. The last trip we stayed at Fairfield Inn. It's a bit more of a walk than from the Tropicana but our room was clean and a bit larger than the one we had at the Tropicana. I would recommend both hotels. I also like the idea mentioned above of switching your offsite room to the beginning of your trip. Seems like less of a let down that way.

Jill

I called about switching the days, but was told I'd have to give up the 6 day hoppers.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

There isn't anything new near by... So going by newest wont help you. I think a couple have been recently remodeled... Like hojos, which I know also has a brand new pool area. I am pretty spoiled when it comes to hotels, and if I had to stay off site, from previous research would probably choose hojo or candy cane inn. But thankfully, I can stay on site again this trip

 

[sole]

1. Fairfield Inn
2. HOJO
3. BWPPI
4. Candy Cane Inn
5. Park Vue Inn

Thanks! So are you saying that every other criteria put aside (closeness, price, etc.), that is the order you'd place the physical properties in?

 

[sole]

There isn't anything new near by... So going by newest wont help you.

I was thinking that was the case, so I was presuming newest, rather than new Oh, and remodeled is helpful.

 

[KCmike]

Thanks! So are you saying that every other criteria put aside (closeness, price, etc.), that is the order you'd place the physical properties in?

I guess the short answer is yes.

We just stayed in FFI again this past July and found the property to be very fresh and modern for a hotel on Harbor. I would definitely pick this hotel over several others. HOJO definitely felt older to me inside the rooms. BWPPI was nice inside but gives very little talk about except for a clean place to stay. If I had to choose for a friend and they didn't want to spend the money to stay on property then I would without a doubt tell them to choose FFI.

I have pictures of the room if you would like.

 

[Zbugz]

I called about switching the days, but was told I'd have to give up the 6 day hoppers.

I would double check on that. I switched my Costco package twice since the 6 day ph were discontinued, and they were able to change my dates without losing them. Ask to speak with a service specialist, i.e. the cm's supervisor. It can be done.

 

[Malcon10t]

This is hard, because I like different hotels, based on who is going and other plans....

1. Residence Inn Maingate
2. Tie between Candy Cane and Hilton
4. Fairfield
5. Carousel Inn (but only Resort Suite or View Suite)
6. Hojos

We don't stay onsite, because I don't see the value. BTDT. If they were the same price as the Hilton/Candy Cane, I would consider it.

A couple years ago, I actually booked the DLH because it was the same price as the Hilton. My daughter actually said she didn't want to go if we had to stay there, so I cancelled and we stayed at the Hilton. (We are an odd family...)

 

[KCmike]

That is strange^^^. Have to ask why your kids don't like DLH?

 

[chrisrunty]

I guess the short answer is yes.

We just stayed in FFI again this past July and found the property to be very fresh and modern for a hotel on Harbor. I would definitely pick this hotel over several others. HOJO definitely felt older to me inside the rooms. BWPPI was nice inside but gives very little talk about except for a clean place to stay. If I had to choose for a friend and they didn't want to spend the money to stay on property then I would without a doubt tell them to choose FFI.

I have pictures of the room if you would like.

I would love to see pics! DH, our 4 year old and I are staying there next month. This will be our first time at FFI. (DLH, GCH and Hojo before)

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

My picks would be:

Sheraton Anaheim - Deluxe hotel with a dedicated shuttle to the parks. The rooms are large, though the bathroom may be on the small side

Candy Cane Inn - Motel owned by the original owners. Pool is very small, but they offer a deluxe continental breakfast that is a nice way to start the day. You can walk from here, but also have a dedicated shuttle

Howard Johnson - Hotel complex that has a nice pool area and nice kid splash area. The rooms are fine and beds nice. I would have no problem staying here. Walking distance from the parks (about a 10 minute walk)

Tropicana Inn - Nice motel within walking distance, and usually they charge less than others. Has simple continental breakfast, and a couple of gift shops

Camelot Inn - Nice motel within walking distance with simple continental breakfast

Best Western Park Place Inn - Closest motel within walking distance and they offer a deluxe continental breakfast (Candy Cane has a better one)

Residence Inn Maingate - normally, I would rank this higher (about Howard johnson level), but since you aren't staying here for more time, a standard room should suffice instead of a suite.

Hilton or the Marriott - these are next to the Anaheim Convention Center - though across from Disneyland, there is a bit of a trek to get to the parks. You may want to use the ART or drive

Sheraton Park - this used to be the Coast Hotel and you can get a nice room that looks towards the parks. This hotel has been totally redone. You'll need the ART or drive yourself to the park

Doubletree - this is another nice hotel, next to Sheraton Park. It is one of the few that I did not visit, so I don't know how the rooms are. However, this would be one of the newer ones near the Disneyland Resort.

 

[HollyL]

The Ayres Hotel is supposed to be super nice. It ranks #1 via Travel Advisor- we are booked there for 3 nights the week after Thanksgiving. It's 2 miles away from the parks, and the shuttle service stops there, but we always drive and park at DownTown Disney. It's affordable too- we got it for $109/night.