I've stayed at PVI and DI&S.
I'm a HUGE PVI fan, for several reasons...
(1) The walk cannot be beat. I mean, yes, BWPPI is just a crosswalk away (a crosswalk that everyone ignores). And DI&S is only a hotel away... But both BWPPI and DI&S are long hotels, 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. I found DI&S beds very hard. Hard enough that I considered sleeping on the floor. I also considered taking the bus to Target to get an air mattress. You shouldn't need to consider that on vacation.
(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. I got a nasty case of folliculitis at the hot tub at DI&S.
(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. DI&S has a meager offering for breakfast: 2 cereals (neither safe for my family), toast, apples/oranges (cut, so you can't take them with you for a snack), packaged danishes, juice, milk, and weak coffee. My BFF isn't a coffee snob, and makes her coffee pretty weak, and even she complained that their coffee was gross. By contrast, 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!
(7) Customer service. This is where places earn my business or lose my business. My father-in-law passed away unexpectedly 4 days before my Disneyland vacation. I was booked for my 2nd stay at DI&S. Obviously, I had to cancel the trip. But, my bad, I forgot to cancel the hotel. It was 36 hours before my stay. I understand, I understand--it wasn't 48 hours, so legally they had every right. But, my young-ish father in law had just died, and they thought I would think about cancelling my hotel reservation ust hours after my father in law died?!? The manager said they would refund the money "if we can rent the room," and then held the money "pending" for 10 days before finally charging us for the room. I understand, they had the legal right. But it's not like they are a huge chain. They had the ability to just cancel it and not charge me. And there was no way for me to prove or disprove that they were or weren't able to rent my room, so I had no legal recourse. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope that when their beloved patriarch of their family dies that they are treated with more care and understanding than my family was! We had 4 future stays booked with them. Of course, my money doesn't make or break them, but, again, they lost all our future bookings! 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. Not so much at DI&S.
So, there's my dissertation on why I love PVI.
