Best off-site hotel for smokers?

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Any smoker’s out there? Staying in non-smoking rooms, but like to go right outside to smoke?

I’m planning a Christmas trip to DL, and for the second time we are bringing grandma. She is a smoker, but since she is the only smoker we are not interested in staying in a smoking-room (if that even exists anymore?).
Last time we stayed at Super 8 on Disneyland Dr., and it was really convenient. We had a ground floor room, so she could just go right outside the room and smoke. This year we want to be a little closer to the main gate within walking distance (without using the tram…). We’ve stayed at Katella Ave. a few times and I feel more in a “Disney bubble” when staying on Harbor/Katella. So now I’m looking for a place to stay that is clean, fits our budgets and meet all of our needs ;D

We have a lot of things to consider when finding a room, so it isn’t easy. We are looking for a hotel with:
- Parking (it would be nice if it was free, but we are willing the pay about $10/night)
- (Microwave)
- Mini fridge
- Walking distance to DL (approximately between HOJO and where Harbor and Katella crosses)
- Exterior hallways
- Ground floor room
- Handicap accessible room (with bars/handrails in the bathroom – and roll-in shower if possible)
- Convenient access to the outdoors with smoking allowed just outside the door (with the door closed)
- WIFI
- (Free breakfast)
- MAX $150/night inclusive parking and taxes/fees (this is actually pushing the budget, and we would be much more comfortable with a much lower rate…. And since we can get Super8 Disneyland for a lot less, $85/night, I need a great argument to switch lol… I’m just sick and tired about the tram - and with a wheelchair, gosh! XD)

We have considered Best Western Park Place Inn, but it is WAY OVER our budget, since we need a suite to get an accessible room. And their smoking policy is not very good either. I’m now considering Anaheim Islander Inn & Suites, which actually fit our needs, I had just hoped to get a little closer to the main entrance.

I know it is a lot to ask – and we might need to compromise and live without e.g. breakfast or micro. I’ve emailed a lot of the hotels along Harbor, but haven’t heard back from most of them. So I thought I would ask here, Disboards has helped me a lot before!

Thanks in advance! Really hope that some of you have some great advices and experiences with the hotels/motels.
- Rebekka

 

[gerilyne]

Well, I don't know if I can be much help- I have only stayed at one off site hotel and that was the Fairfield Inn. We were smokers when we stayed there and they had a nice area off to the side of the hotel you could sit and smoke and one night we even caught part of the firework show form there. It was an obstructed view but it was nice to sit and smoke and watch it.

The drawbacks from your list are no microwaves (the have some available in the hotel just not in the room), no breakfast (we just stopped at McDonalds on the walk to the park each morning. They do have ground level rooms though and I believe free WiFi in the guest rooms. They do have exterior hallways and are within walking distance.

I have seen prices for around $140 a night and parking is $13 per day. with taxes it might be over your the $150 mark by a bit.

We really enjoyed our stay there, and I think even thought the smoking area is to the side of the hotel, with a ground room floor it shouldn't be too bad to get to. I am sure others will have other options for you though.

 

[mom2tinkandmickey]

My parents are smokers and they stay at The Anaheim Plaza. Other than the free breakfast, I think it meets all your criteria.

 

[mcn97]

I've stayed at the Tropicana, Park Vue and the Desert Inn & Suites (this year) and I, for lack of a better term, smoke like a chimney.

I can't speak to handicap rooms, and it can be tough to get a ground floor room at the Desert Inn (they do have elevators though), but other than that, these three fulfill your other requirements.

-Mark

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Well, I don't know if I can be much help- I have only stayed at one off site hotel and that was the Fairfield Inn. We were smokers when we stayed there and they had a nice area off to the side of the hotel you could sit and smoke and one night we even caught part of the firework show form there. It was an obstructed view but it was nice to sit and smoke and watch it.

The drawbacks from your list are no microwaves (the have some available in the hotel just not in the room), no breakfast (we just stopped at McDonalds on the walk to the park each morning. They do have ground level rooms though and I believe free WiFi in the guest rooms. They do have exterior hallways and are within walking distance.

I have seen prices for around $140 a night and parking is $13 per day. with taxes it might be over your the $150 mark by a bit.

We really enjoyed our stay there, and I think even thought the smoking area is to the side of the hotel, with a ground room floor it shouldn't be too bad to get to. I am sure others will have other options for you though.

Thanks alot! I'll certainly look into the Fairfield Inn It would be great to just watch a little of the fireworks from our hotel! I sometimes get lucky and get some kind of senior discount or discounts for staying 5 nights, so maybe it can work with our budget

My parents are smokers and they stay at The Anaheim Plaza. Other than the free breakfast, I think it meets all your criteria.

Thanks for the advice! I've actually just emailed with the Plaza, but from what I could understand they only allowed smoking at some special designated areas?
_________

Btw... the reason why it is important to just be able to open the door and smoke right outside, is that my grandmother is in a wheelchair. She has a hard time getting around be herself, and my mom and I plan to take the Walk and Walt's footstep tour and spend some time at the parks alone. My grandmother will then stay at the hotel by herself. So it is important that she can litterally just roll outside the room and have a smoke

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

I've stayed at the Tropicana, Park Vue and the Desert Inn & Suites (this year) and I, for lack of a better term, smoke like a chimney.

I can't speak to handicap rooms, and it can be tough to get a ground floor room at the Desert Inn (they do have elevators though), but other than that, these three fulfill your other requirements.

-Mark

Thnaks! I'll check them out... I actually think I've emailed a few of them, but haven't heard back. Did they all three allow smoking just outside the room??

 

[mcn97]

Thnaks! I'll check them out... I actually think I've emailed a few of them, but haven't heard back. Did they all three allow smoking just outside the room??

Well, I didn't think you meant *literally* right outside the room.

In this day and age, I seriously doubt any hotel is going to come out and actually say yes. I've certainly seen it all 3 that I mentioned, though personally I confine my smoking to near the ashtrays (The Desert Inn has the most, some of which are in fact right outside certain rooms).

-Mark

 

[SMD]

Thnaks! I'll check them out... I actually think I've emailed a few of them, but haven't heard back. Did they all three allow smoking just outside the room??

Most hotels are not going to allow smoking just outside a non-smoking room. You might get away with it, but that doesn't mean it's "allowed." Smoking outside your room allows the smoke into your room and those around yours and leads to complaints for other guests and subsequent guests because the smell lingers, especially if someone smokes outside the room for several days. You said you don't want to stay in a smoking room, but the other guests don't want someone smoking 10 feet or less from their room either. Marriott, who owns Fairfield has one of the strictest smoke-free policies. In CA there is a law which prohibits smoking within 20 feet of a public buildings. While hotels are not "public" buildings, most will try to respect that criteria and have their designated area removed from other guest areas.

 

[Malcon10t]

We have a lot of things to consider when finding a room, so it isn’t easy. We are looking for a hotel with:
- Parking (it would be nice if it was free, but we are willing the pay about $10/night)
- (Microwave)
- Mini fridge
- Walking distance to DL (approximately between HOJO and where Harbor and Katella crosses)
- Exterior hallways
- Ground floor room
- Handicap accessible room (with bars/handrails in the bathroom – and roll-in shower if possible)
- Convenient access to the outdoors with smoking allowed just outside the door (with the door closed)
- WIFI
- (Free breakfast)
- MAX $150/night inclusive parking and taxes/fees (this is actually pushing the budget, and we would be much more comfortable with a much lower rate…. And since we can get Super8 Disneyland for a lot less, $85/night, I need a great argument to switch lol… I’m just sick and tired about the tram - and with a wheelchair, gosh! XD)

Desert Inn and Suites allows smoking in the hallways, and has most of the above. Unsure about the accessibility part though.

 

[ronandannette]

Any smoker’s out there? Staying in non-smoking rooms, but like to go right outside to smoke?

I’m planning a Christmas trip to DL, and for the second time we are bringing grandma. She is a smoker, but since she is the only smoker we are not interested in staying in a smoking-room (if that even exists anymore?).
Last time we stayed at Super 8 on Disneyland Dr., and it was really convenient. We had a ground floor room, so she could just go right outside the room and smoke. This year we want to be a little closer to the main gate within walking distance (without using the tram…). We’ve stayed at Katella Ave. a few times and I feel more in a “Disney bubble” when staying on Harbor/Katella. So now I’m looking for a place to stay that is clean, fits our budgets and meet all of our needs ;D

We have a lot of things to consider when finding a room, so it isn’t easy. We are looking for a hotel with:
- Parking (it would be nice if it was free, but we are willing the pay about $10/night)
- (Microwave)
- Mini fridge
- Walking distance to DL (approximately between HOJO and where Harbor and Katella crosses)
- Exterior hallways
- Ground floor room
- Handicap accessible room (with bars/handrails in the bathroom – and roll-in shower if possible)
- Convenient access to the outdoors with smoking allowed just outside the door (with the door closed)
- WIFI
- (Free breakfast)
- MAX $150/night inclusive parking and taxes/fees (this is actually pushing the budget, and we would be much more comfortable with a much lower rate…. And since we can get Super8 Disneyland for a lot less, $85/night, I need a great argument to switch lol… I’m just sick and tired about the tram - and with a wheelchair, gosh! XD)

We have considered Best Western Park Place Inn, but it is WAY OVER our budget, since we need a suite to get an accessible room. And their smoking policy is not very good either. I’m now considering Anaheim Islander Inn & Suites, which actually fit our needs, I had just hoped to get a little closer to the main entrance.

I know it is a lot to ask – and we might need to compromise and live without e.g. breakfast or micro. I’ve emailed a lot of the hotels along Harbor, but haven’t heard back from most of them. So I thought I would ask here, Disboards has helped me a lot before!

Thanks in advance! Really hope that some of you have some great advices and experiences with the hotels/motels.
- Rebekka

Castle Inn has all the elements you're looking for except breakfast. Ground floor handicapped rooms and no restriction about smoking right outside the door - do something with your butts though please to help keep things clean. Rates should be right around your limit but there's no resort fee or anything additional. We liked it fine; I'd recommend you check into it. (Bonus if this is important to you: there's a lift-chair to assist the mobility-impaired into the pool.)

 

[spacemermaid]

Another vote for the Anaheim Plaza Hotel...most rooms have private "yards" (ground floor) or balconies (big enough to sit out on!) that you can smoke in/on. However, that was several years ago (I've quit smoking since, but remember it being nice to be able to not have to walk out to a "smoker's corral" first thing in the morning), so I'm not 100% sure if this is still allowed. Perhaps someone who's stayed there recently knows

Edited to add: I'm not sure if they have an accessible rooms (they would have to, I think?) or if the accessible rooms would have the fenced "yard"...also I am sure that breakfast is not included. There is a restaurant with a moderately-priced ($8-$10, IIRC) breakfast buffet on site, though. Microwave + fridge were available in the upgraded rooms (though that was 5 years ago, so I'm not sure if they're in all the rooms by now...). Have fun on your trip!!

 

[Tommy_B]

In CA there is a law which prohibits smoking within 20 feet of a public buildings. While hotels are not "public" buildings, most will try to respect that criteria and have their designated area removed from other guest areas.

Actually yes, hotels are public buildings since they are a public accommodation.

And the law isn't "buildings" but doorways and windows.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/ets/laws_ets.htm

 

[Disneygrandmareno]

Try the Ramada Maingate they having everything you r looking for. When we stay there my kids r smokers and they step out side and we have never had a problem. I have stayed there for 36 years +, love this place.

 

[disneyxica20]

i was going to suggest the ramada inn maingate also. we stayed there earlier this year and we really liked it. it was very nice to be right across the street from the parks too

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Well, I didn't think you meant *literally* right outside the room.

In this day and age, I seriously doubt any hotel is going to come out and actually say yes. I've certainly seen it all 3 that I mentioned, though personally I confine my smoking to near the ashtrays (The Desert Inn has the most, some of which are in fact right outside certain rooms).

-Mark

I've actually had a few that emailed me back that they allowed smoking just outside the room with the room door closed, so it possible
I'll be sure to check The Desert Inn out! Thanks!

Most hotels are not going to allow smoking just outside a non-smoking room. You might get away with it, but that doesn't mean it's "allowed." Smoking outside your room allows the smoke into your room and those around yours and leads to complaints for other guests and subsequent guests because the smell lingers, especially if someone smokes outside the room for several days. You said you don't want to stay in a smoking room, but the other guests don't want someone smoking 10 feet or less from their room either. Marriott, who owns Fairfield has one of the strictest smoke-free policies. In CA there is a law which prohibits smoking within 20 feet of a public buildings. While hotels are not "public" buildings, most will try to respect that criteria and have their designated area removed from other guest areas.

I myself hate smoking. Walking by the smokings areas in the parks make me kind of sick and I can't stand to walk behind a smoker on the street - so I know what you mean But.... My 83-year old grandmother is a smoker and is in a wheelchair - and that means I'll have to deal with smoking....
I know a lot of hotels are 100 % non-smoking. I would stay at those if I wasn't travelling with my grandma, but that is not the case this time. That is why I ask here and email all the hotels. I don't want to break any rules and I want to make sure that the hotel allows smoking.

Desert Inn and Suites allows smoking in the hallways, and has most of the above. Unsure about the accessibility part though.

Thanks!! I'll check it out....

Castle Inn has all the elements you're looking for except breakfast. Ground floor handicapped rooms and no restriction about smoking right outside the door - do something with your butts though please to help keep things clean. Rates should be right around your limit but there's no resort fee or anything additional. We liked it fine; I'd recommend you check into it. (Bonus if this is important to you: there's a lift-chair to assist the mobility-impaired into the pool.)

Really? I thought they had a non-smoking policy. But I'll check them out for sure - and of course I'll make sure that there aren't butts everywhere

Another vote for the Anaheim Plaza Hotel...most rooms have private "yards" (ground floor) or balconies (big enough to sit out on!) that you can smoke in/on. However, that was several years ago (I've quit smoking since, but remember it being nice to be able to not have to walk out to a "smoker's corral" first thing in the morning), so I'm not 100% sure if this is still allowed. Perhaps someone who's stayed there recently knows

Edited to add: I'm not sure if they have an accessible rooms (they would have to, I think?) or if the accessible rooms would have the fenced "yard"...also I am sure that breakfast is not included. There is a restaurant with a moderately-priced ($8-$10, IIRC) breakfast buffet on site, though. Microwave + fridge were available in the upgraded rooms (though that was 5 years ago, so I'm not sure if they're in all the rooms by now...). Have fun on your trip!!

That was exactly my thought! Smoking on the patio. But I emailed them, and they replied that smoking on the balconies and patios are not allowed But it had been great if that was a possibility!
Thanks you anyways

Try the Ramada Maingate they having everything you r looking for. When we stay there my kids r smokers and they step out side and we have never had a problem. I have stayed there for 36 years +, love this place.

Thank you! I haven't thought about the Ramada.

i was going to suggest the ramada inn maingate also. we stayed there earlier this year and we really liked it. it was very nice to be right across the street from the parks too

Great! Thanks

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO REPLIED! I'l let you know what we decide

 

[SMD]

Actually yes, hotels are public buildings since they are a public accommodation.

And the law isn't "buildings" but doorways and windows.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/ets/laws_ets.htm

No, public buildings are only government owned buildings. That's why your link specifically mentions entryways for city, county, state and public colleges. Hotels are an exception to the workplace law, which it also says on your link.

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Thank you all! You have given me some great options and posssibilities to think about so thank you!
I have thought a lot and spoken with my family. We have decided to stay at Super 8 on Disneyland Drive. I'm a little disappointed about not staying closer to the parks.... But I just couldn't justify the cost. I got a great rate at Super8, $63.99 + tax per night. It really can't be beat.
Can't wait! I'm so excited! Under 5 months now

 

[ronandannette]

Thank you all! You have given me some great options and posssibilities to think about so thank you!
I have thought a lot and spoken with my family. We have decided to stay at Super 8 on Disneyland Drive. I'm a little disappointed about not staying closer to the parks.... But I just couldn't justify the cost. I got a great rate at Super8, $63.99 + tax per night. It really can't be beat.
Can't wait! I'm so excited! Under 5 months now

Good for you...there's likely an ART stop nearby and I recommend using it. At the end of a long park day you'll appreciate that the busses are right at the top of the pick-up area on the entrance plaza. Much closer, quicker and easier than taking a shuttle to one of the parking structures, have a great trip!

 

[jina]

glad you're booked - have a great trip!

And thanks for your post for the opposite reason - DH has a horrible smoke allergy. Just a little in the air and his eyes get all swollen and close up- makes for some pretty challenging travel especially when we leave California. So now we know where *not* to stay .

 

[dcraythorn]

Former smoker here. We stay at the Best Western Stovall's. All smoking rooms are on the ground floor. Parking is $10 a day. Really good free breakfast. About 129.00 per night. Wonderful hotel.you van walk, it's about a 10 to 15 minute walk, but the ART picks up right out front.