Carousel Inn or Tropicana?

[Dostert9]

Can you tell me which you would prefer and why?

Thanks!
April

 

[got2travel]

I like the Carousel better. The furnishings in the rooms are a little nicer. And there is more available at breakfast. It's free and it's not much, but at Carousel you get toast, muffins, danish, instant oatmeal, fruit (usually oranges and apples, sometimes bananas), tea, coffee and juice.

I think the Tropicana rooms are a a little bigger, but not as nice in my opinion. And the breakfast is danish (and maybe muffins, can't remember), coffe, tea, juice. There are bagels, creal and milk for purchase at $1 each. (So that means $2 for creal and milk).

My first choice is always Carousel, if they're booked, then I just go with the best price out of Tropicana, Dessert Inn, Camelot Inn and Howard Johnson's. I do also like BW Park Place Inn, but it never has the cheapest price.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Another vote for the Carousel Inn! We like the 2 bedroom 2 bathroom suites when we bring extra family or friends.

 

[MulanFan]

Never stayed at the Carousel, but really liked the Tropicana and the location can't be beat!

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

I've never stayed at the Tropicana, but we have done Carousel a few times. While I like it just fine, if I had to make one complaint it would be small rooms.

Bear in mind that I'm soooo not picky about hotels. I view it as "just a room to sleep and nap in." But it is tight even for us (ages 5, 3, and 2 plus two adults on our last vacation; they're older now plus there's a new addition). IIRC some of your kids are older. You might appreciate more room.

I guess I'd vote that if Tropicana gets you more space, consider it.

I think you'd said that pool is important. Carousel's is said to be a smallish rooftop pool. I think Tropicana's is in their parkinglot? perhaps larger?

 

[disneydance]

caresoul , tropicanna is not nice at all

 

[Amy&Dan]

caresoul , tropicanna is not nice at all

I disagree, the Tropicana is very nice. Its not fancy but our room was spotlessly clean, the staff was helpful, the location was great and the pool area was very nice and clean. Based on our stay I would rate this one as an older but very nicely maintained property. We enjoyed our stay there very much and would return. I am used to the onsite hotels but didn't have one problem with our stay here in February of 2006. And the Tropicana is generally getting very good to decent reviews here on the dis and on Tripadvisor. That is not to say the Carousel isn't nice or nicer, I haven't stayed there. But I have to take exception to saying the Tropicana isn't nice at all based on my stay.

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

Didn't Tropicana just recently remodel too? Their review comments used to be riddled with "plastic mattress cover made sleep uncomfortable." Lately I haven't read that complaint at all.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Didn't Tropicana just recently remodel too? Their review comments used to be riddled with "plastic mattress cover made sleep uncomfortable." Lately I haven't read that complaint at all.

Yes, all their rooms were rennovated in the last couple of years. When we stayed there, they had the plastic covers which were actually part of the rennovation. I was fine with that, they didnt' bother me a bit. Since several motels on Harbor had some bedbug problems, the Tropicana added those covers. It was also to keep the nice new mattresses from getting bodily fluids on them (gross I know). But people complained so they took them off I heard. Oh, and when they did have them, they were easy to remove yourself or housekeeping was happy to do it for you. In all, I was very impressed with this motel and actually liked the rooms better than the Camelot's (which is owned by the same people that own the Tropicana) and even the beloved, sacred HoJo.

 

[Motherofafae]

I'm glad to hear these reviews on the Tropicana, I only had that as a close option when picking my stay so its good to know that it will be a nice hotel. Great question!

 

[kc10family]

Stayed at the Trop just last month. We did a 2 room "suite" with kitchen between. It worked out fine, but if it was just my family of four I would stay at the Carousel again (stayed there last year).
They are right nextdoor to each other and the walk was no different IMO (a few extra feet if your room was in the back), the rooms are fine at both, customer sevice I thought better at the Carousel. Food? Well for a quicky oe on the go or take to your room... I liked the Carousel better. They had better fuit choices and I guess over all I would take them over Tropicana if it was just us four again.

Last thing, McDonalds is just down the way from both and we also got some breakfast foods from them. We would get enough to put in the fridge and have a nice mix of things the next day.

Best of luck and have a fabulous Disney day.

 

[ZeusNike]

We have booked the 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom suite at the Carousel for our July trip on the recommendation of our neighbours. They said the suite was very nice and very clean. The location is great and they said the breakfast was better than the Camelot or the Tropicana. Here's hoping we agree!

 

[sweetascanbee]

We have stayed at both and since we are not too fussy, we just need a place to sleep, either one would be fine. BUT having said that between the two I would pick the Tropicanna. We stay at the Carousel in Nov 05, we found it to be very uncomfortable and I absolutely hated the pool. I thought the idea of rooftop souded great but I much preffered the pool at the Tropicanna. I hated the bed at the Carousel it was lumpy and lop sided. We were also treated very rudely upon check in. Which may have just set the tone for the whole visit. The Tropicanna was renovated in the last few years, the rooms are spacious and comfortable and the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. JMHO

Becky

 

[Aristomommy]

We were at Carousel Inn last week, and we were very happy with our choice. The location is great, we had the 3 bed suite and it was big enough for 3 adults and 2 kids. Breakfast was the typical continental breakfast, rooms were clean and fresh towels daily. We didn't use the pool, but it looked very cool although small.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We have booked the 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom suite at the Carousel for our July trip on the recommendation of our neighbours. They said the suite was very nice and very clean. The location is great and they said the breakfast was better than the Camelot or the Tropicana. Here's hoping we agree!

Well I have stayed at both the Tropicana and the Camelot (when it was the Park Inn) and I can tell you that the breakfast at the Carousel wouldn't need to be much, to be better! I loved the Tropicana and a free breakfast is better than nothing but it was pretty minimal. So I am betting you will get a better breakfast at the Carousel. Enjoy your trip!

 

[munchkinsmom]

We've stayed at the Carousel. The location was ideal and the layout of the suite we had was nice, but we decided we didn't like it for the following reasons:

1. Our suite was on a second story that didn't have an elevator. At the time we stayed there, my children were three years old and 18 months and having two young ones included bringing in extra gear, like a pack-n-play, double stroller. other baby items as well as luggage and food. It wasn't fun lugging the stroller up and down the steps each day.

2. We stayed at the Carousel during Labor Day weekend, and it was hot. While there was A/C, the separate bedroom in our suite DID NOT have an A/C vent. We wanted to use this room for our children so they could have a quiet place to sleep with the door shut while DH and I could have a nice dinner and watch some TV. We couldn't shut the door because of the lack of A/C in their room. So much for paying extra for the separate bedroom.

3. There were an exposed outlet (w/o cover) in our room. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but when you have little ones running around like we did, we became pretty concerned about the safety issue. The outlet was never fixed during our stay. even after alerting them to it.

4. The parking at the Carousel was pretty limited. My DH usually gets take out for us after the kids go to bed and when he came back he was very, very lucky to find the last parking spot in the complex.

5. My folks also stayed at the Carousel with us (just one night), but in a standard room. The A/C worked, but it was so noisy that it kept them awake that night. When they complained, the hotel sent them an apology letter. At least they acknowledged their shortcoming there.

I hear that Carousel has been renovated since our stay, so I hope that it's changed for the better. I have to confess that DH and I will be staying at the Carousel Inn and Suites next month for an overnighter. We chose the Carousel Inn over the HOJO (oh the horror!) because of the price and there was room at the inn. Apparently there's a cheerleading competition going on the same time we'll be there and many of the cheaper priced hotels are booked. The children won't be with us as well so there was no need for a suite and the close proximity will be a plus since we'll need to head back to the hotel in the afternoon to change for dinner at Club 33 that evening.