Best non-Disney hotel list

[SA mom]

We stayed at the Sheraton Park this summer. It was more like a Westin and had queen size beds instead of doubles. It was spotless and fresh from a recent remodel. We had a fireworks view. Awesome!

 

[bondgirl007]

I would also go with Sheraton Anaheim. It is where we use to stay before we upgraded ourselves to Disney Hotels. My son would rather have less trips to DL if it means we get to stay on property. I did stay by myself at the Tropicana the night before Leap Day. It was a large, clean room, close to the park, only $109, but nothing even close to a Disney Property.

 

[Malcon10t]

My son would rather have less trips to DL if it means we get to stay on property.

My kids were the opposite. If we had the choice of 4 days onsite or 10 days offsite, they always chose off site.

 

[KCmike]

Pictures of the Fairfield Inn

Personally I like the hotels on Harbor that are within walking distance. I am not a fan of the ART shuttle at all. Too inconsistent for me. Again my vote is for FFI followed by HOJO and then BWPPI for outside the resort hotels.

 

[KCmike]

View of the chair/twin size sleeper

View toward the HOJO hotel

View toward Disneyland

One more view of the pool

Hope you enjoy the FFI.

 

[mrswh]

Check out the Hyatt OC - it's a little farther up Harbor and you most likely wouldn't want to walk to DLR but super close by car or shuttle. IMO it is a nicer hotel than the GCH - lighter, brighter, more modern. Full service Starbucks in the lobby. Great service. Super clean. Recently remodeled. We have stayed only at the Hyatt and GCH so I can't recommend anything else but from my research there isn't a nicer option in the area than the Hyatt.

BTW, you forgot the best hotel in Vegas - Mandarin Oriental.

 

[Disney_Alli]

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

I've stayed here twice and found it completely walkable - I really enjoyed the walk actually - however both trips were adult only: one with my sister and one solo which may influence how easy it is for you to walk.

 

[Magalex]

KCmike: very nice photos of FFI & the surrounding area. We are planning our first DL trip for July. I have CCI & Ramada-maingate on my list. Now I might have to consider FFI just because of your photos. What type/location of room did you have at FFI?

 

[NancyIL]

This is where I/we have stayed since 1998:

October 1998 - Fairfield Inn on Harbour. Nice hotel and only $45/night at the time. Now I think it is overpriced, as it's usually over $100/night.

September 2000 - West Coast Anaheim (now Sheraton at the Park) - Priceline. Definitely within walking distance of the park, and a beautiful hotel.

May 2003 - Hyatt Regency Orange County (Garden Grove) - Priceline. Beautiful hotel, but you need a car or ART.

March 2006 - Doubletree Orange County - Priceline. Nice hotel - again not within walking distance.

May 2010 - Red Lion Inn on Harbor - Priceline. I would stay here again, as it was within walking distance and a nice hotel.

Sept. 2011 - Sheraton at the Park (Disneyland package). I enjoyed it as a West Coast Hotel, and loved it as a Sheraton. As mentioned, it is within walking distance.

 

[Carolwoodpr]

Our overwhelming favorite non Disney hotels are:

Fairfield Inn for the rooms, the room amenities, the staff and the location. The price is usually around 150 pn

Candy Cane Inn for the rooms, the room amenities, the staff and the location. Their price is also usually about 150pn.

I have always tried to get into the Carousel Inn, but it is always sold out when we go, so I have never been able to do it.

We used to stay at HoJo. We didn't stop for any specific reason, we just prefer the others now.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I've stayed here twice and found it completely walkable - I really enjoyed the walk actually - however both trips were adult only: one with my sister and one solo which may influence how easy it is for you to walk.

Another vote for the Sheraton Park. We always walk to the parks but we are also just 2 adults. We used to stay at the Anaheim Sheraton, but now strongly prefer the Sheraton Park. The club floor probably plays a role in that perference, as does having a balcony and a view. If we are not staying onsite, this is our preference. -- Suzanne

 

[lulugirl1968]

When we went in May, we really enjoyed The Homewood Suites( A Hilton property.) It is a mile from the parks, but they do have a shuttle. We would stay there again in a heartbeat!

 

[Malcon10t]

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

The rooms are small. That is my daughter's biggest complaint. We've stayed on site at the DLH and PP, and while the PP was larger, she just doesn't like them.

 

[23bw]

For the last night there, you are really just there to sleep and shower up before leaving the next day. So I think proximity to DLR shouldn’t be a top priority. My vote would be one of the newer Sheratons. That being either the Sheraton Park or the brand new Sheraton Garden Grove.

 

[sole]

For the last night there, you are really just there to sleep and shower up before leaving the next day. So I think proximity to DLR shouldn’t be a top priority. My vote would be one of the newer Sheratons. That being either the Sheraton Park or the brand new Sheraton Garden Grove.

Thanks, 23bw. And I really, really appreciate everyone responding, but I don't think I did a very good job of asking my question. So many people spent a lot of time posting very thoughtful responses, which was nice.


Unfortunately, the only criteria I was after was a simple list of which are physically the nicest hotels, rated #1-5(newest or refurbished). With that list I was going to sort through some minor secondary issues.

Like 23bw said, it would be our last night there, so: the distance to the park makes little difference, nor does transportation to the parks, we won't use the pool (which would be too cold for us Phoenicians, even if we had time), breakfast won't matter, etc. Even price at that point was something I was going to peruse after I saw the lists.

That said, Geemo and Zbubz mentioned about moving my days up one day. I called back like Zbubs suggested and talked to a supervisor and was told I could in fact do that. The problem was that doing so would cost me another $161 because the new first day booked would cost that much more than the present last day reserved. That plus an extra night at another hotel would push us beyond our budget. Thanks anyway, G and Z. It was still a good suggestion.

 

[NancyIL]

Unfortunately, the only criteria I was after was a simple list of which are physically the nicest hotels, rated #1-5(newest or refurbished). With that list I was going to sort through some minor secondary issues.

Of the hotels where I've stayed, I would rank them as follows (with #1 being the highest):

1. Hyatt Regency Orange County - http://orangecounty.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-orangecounty/index.jsp?extCorporateId=
2. Sheraton Park - http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1569
3. Doubletree in Orange - http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...otel-anaheim-orange-county-SNACCDT/index.html
4. Red Lion Inn - http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=81
5. Fairfield Inn - http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxoc-fairfield-inn-anaheim-disneyland-resort/

 

[KCmike]

KCmike: very nice photos of FFI & the surrounding area. We are planning our first DL trip for July. I have CCI & Ramada-maingate on my list. Now I might have to consider FFI just because of your photos. What type/location of room did you have at FFI?

We were on the second floor facing the pool. I took most of the surrounding pictures by going to the top floor and looking out into each direction.

 

[sole]

Thanks, much, Nancy! That's what I was looking for.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

When we went in May, we really enjoyed The Homewood Suites( A Hilton property.) It is a mile from the parks, but they do have a shuttle. We would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Another vote for Homewood Suites. We've stayed 2 out of 5 visits in the past year. They were our best stay. Came to realize saving a few bucks wasn't worth it.