Best western plus vs park vue vs desert palms vs HOJO

[Jman5983]

I am a family of four taking my two girls who will be 6 and 2 to DL/DCA next May 2017. Both of my parents will be coming along. We have decided to stay at a good neighbor hotel for cost savings. These are the top 4 I have been looking at. A few important factors here are price, free breakfast (more than just cold stuff), free parking, decent pool, and short walk to the parks and possible adjoining rooms. At Desert palms there is a 2BR/2BH that could accommodate all 6 of us. I noticed Tom like the Park Vue the best on his list. I was curious to see if other people have stayed at a few of these to help this decision process.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I loved the breakfast at Desert Palms. The rooms were cleaned well and were roomy. I Haven't stayed in the others. Hope that helps a little

 

[lalasmama]

Just want to confirm that you mean Desert Palm and not Desert Inn and Suites (they are commonly confused, and very different establishments with very different locations).

 

[avalon451]

HoJo- no breakfast, a bit farther to walk (I'd take a look at Googlemaps to check them all out-- look for proximity to the crosswalk on Harbor at the entrance). Very comfortable and clean, however, good service. Free parking, free wifi, the two pool areas are great.

Other than that, I've stayed at Desert INN, not Palms. I know they have adjoining rooms. Breakfast is simple, not hot-- pool is indoor but small and plain. They charge for parking. Wifi is free. Proximity is fantastic, though, right at the crosswalk.

So my deal is this: breakfast is a waste of time; I don't put a lot of emphasis on free breakfast because we're rope drop people. I'd far rather bring my own or have groceries delivered and eat in the room while getting ready, or in line at the gate. Desert Inn has microwaves, and I think just about everywhere has mini-fridges.

Loved HoJo, but hated the walk at the end of the day. It just looks like a mile when you come out at night. But then, so does DLH. BWPPI, Park Vue and Desert INN are right at the crosswalk, though, and I loved that.

Just my two cents

 

[lalasmama]

I'm a big Park Vue fan... Here's why:

http://disboards.com/threads/park-vue-inn-or-desert-inn.3497791/#post-55462511

(1) The walk cannot be beat. I mean, yes, BWPPI is just a crosswalk away (a crosswalk that everyone ignores). But BWPPI is a long hotel, and I'll admit I'm a bit lazy after walking 13+ miles in a day a Disneyland! I don't like seeing the front of my motel and then having to keep on walking...and walking...and walking to get to my room.

(2) The beds are super-comfy. Pillow top softness with firm mattresses below; but not overly firm. They are just perfect. And after a long day, sinking into bed is wonderful.

(3) Hot water is a wonderful thing. The easiest way I avoid waking up with sore legs is to take a shower or soak in warm water after we get back to the motel. I also like warm showers in the morning. And I like taking a dip in the hot tub without getting a rash. (Happened at Desert Inn.)

(4) Speaking of showers, PVI has some wonderfully soft and large towels that actually serve to cover me while I dry off. Not bath sheet size, of course, but they aren't those tiny towels, and they aren't scratchy.

(5) PVI has an on-site store, and Cold Stone Creamery. It was easy to stop off at the store, or the vending machines, to get a $1.75 soda (thereby saving $1.50 from park prices). I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit I ran to their store in my pajamas for a quick snack more than once. And, they have a huge selection of souvenirs. Of course, they can't have anything that says "Disneyland" but "California" with Mickey and Minnie seems to make the point for many people. They also have potentially-forgotten necessities, like the hairbrush my DD didn't think of packing and the toothbrush I forgot.

(6) Breakfast. PVI has hot items (over the years, we've had biscuits and gravy, waffles, fried potatoes, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, eggs, and more), along with fruits, cereals, yogurt, toast/bread, coffee, teas, juices, milk, and more. While we aren't huge breakfast eaters, it still saves us a fair amount! They are usually open pretty early, allowing enough time to eat and still do rope drop.

(7) Customer service. This is where places earn my business or lose my business. At PVI, they have always acted like I was their only guest. They called to make sure I didn't need anything. They left DH and I a sweet little present for our honeymoon stay. When there was a billing issue (my dad was trying to pay for a night of my honeymoon, and wasn't getting his desire across on the phone, so I got there, explained he situation to the desk person when my dad was on the phone, and she immediately got the night taken off my credit card and on to my dad's. They have also opened our room for us, after already checking out, when I realized I had forgotten my engagement ring in the room, and then even helped look for it! (They found it )... Oh, and they do military discounts, and returning guest discounts. It always feels like PVI wants my business.

So, there's my dissertation on why I love PVI.

Something else to think about... How old are your parents? Are they in good shape? How will they feel walking another partial mile at the end of the night? From the esplanade, the walk to Best Western and Park Vue is 0.25m. HoJo is 0.41m. Desert Palms is 0.68m.

 

[mamapenguin]

^^^She's not kidding. I stayed at Park Vue for the first time in February and they called shortly after we got to our room and asked if everything was okay, and did we need anything. I was shocked. Their customer service is excellent.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yeah I will agree the walk at the end of the night to palms can be killer. That's why we stay at Desert Inn now. I would rather be at rope drop than get warm breakfast so we grab food from Desert Inn's breakfast and eat it in the room while everyone's getting ready and book it. I'd way rather stay right across the street from the entrance than any of those places, tbh. That's why I haven't been back to Palms (and really the only reason besides it's way cheaper at Desert Inn and we can fit 7 of us in a room)

 

[Jman5983]

apparently i need to look at desert inn as well

 

[Jman5983]

I'm a big Park Vue fan... Here's why:

http://disboards.com/threads/park-vue-inn-or-desert-inn.3497791/#post-55462511

(1) The walk cannot be beat. I mean, yes, BWPPI is just a crosswalk away (a crosswalk that everyone ignores). But BWPPI is a long hotel, and I'll admit I'm a bit lazy after walking 13+ miles in a day a Disneyland! I don't like seeing the front of my motel and then having to keep on walking...and walking...and walking to get to my room.

(2) The beds are super-comfy. Pillow top softness with firm mattresses below; but not overly firm. They are just perfect. And after a long day, sinking into bed is wonderful.

(3) Hot water is a wonderful thing. The easiest way I avoid waking up with sore legs is to take a shower or soak in warm water after we get back to the motel. I also like warm showers in the morning. And I like taking a dip in the hot tub without getting a rash. (Happened at Desert Inn.)

(4) Speaking of showers, PVI has some wonderfully soft and large towels that actually serve to cover me while I dry off. Not bath sheet size, of course, but they aren't those tiny towels, and they aren't scratchy.

(5) PVI has an on-site store, and Cold Stone Creamery. It was easy to stop off at the store, or the vending machines, to get a $1.75 soda (thereby saving $1.50 from park prices). I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit I ran to their store in my pajamas for a quick snack more than once. And, they have a huge selection of souvenirs. Of course, they can't have anything that says "Disneyland" but "California" with Mickey and Minnie seems to make the point for many people. They also have potentially-forgotten necessities, like the hairbrush my DD didn't think of packing and the toothbrush I forgot.

(6) Breakfast. PVI has hot items (over the years, we've had biscuits and gravy, waffles, fried potatoes, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, eggs, and more), along with fruits, cereals, yogurt, toast/bread, coffee, teas, juices, milk, and more. While we aren't huge breakfast eaters, it still saves us a fair amount! They are usually open pretty early, allowing enough time to eat and still do rope drop.

(7) Customer service. This is where places earn my business or lose my business. At PVI, they have always acted like I was their only guest. They called to make sure I didn't need anything. They left DH and I a sweet little present for our honeymoon stay. When there was a billing issue (my dad was trying to pay for a night of my honeymoon, and wasn't getting his desire across on the phone, so I got there, explained he situation to the desk person when my dad was on the phone, and she immediately got the night taken off my credit card and on to my dad's. They have also opened our room for us, after already checking out, when I realized I had forgotten my engagement ring in the room, and then even helped look for it! (They found it )... Oh, and they do military discounts, and returning guest discounts. It always feels like PVI wants my business.

So, there's my dissertation on why I love PVI.

Something else to think about... How old are your parents? Are they in good shape? How will they feel walking another partial mile at the end of the night? From the esplanade, the walk to Best Western and Park Vue is 0.25m. HoJo is 0.41m. Desert Palms is 0.68m.

Both of my parents are in their sixties. Fairly active

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

apparently i need to look at desert inn as well

I really would. It's clean, very basic, but has the fridge/microwave and TONS of space. Better pricing than some of the others too. And like I said, right across the street from the entrance. We've stayed there twice and are staying again next year. We got the C1 suite. It has four queens and a couch (non pullout). It has one full bath and one half. If sharing a bathroom is an issue for you, they have one for a bit more per night that has two full baths.

I forgot, I lied. We have stayed at HoJo but it was forever ago. As a teen I remember the walk was AWFUL (but it's shorter than the palms).