Cheynne or Explorers?

[lilacgems23]

were looking to go back to DLP and cant decide which of the 2 to stay at.

Any recommendations / bad points?

 

[A Small World]

we've stayed at both and would be happy staying at either again.

Explorers has a pool and excellent indoor childrens play area - Cheyenne doesnt

Cheyenne is close enough to walk to the parks

You would get EMH with Cheyenne which you wouldnt with explorers unless you had a dream AP

Cheyenne has double and bunkbeds whereas Explorers is double and 2 single beds

 

[torsie24]

I've never stayed at the Cheyenne, but I would choose an oniste hotel.

You get the benefit of being walking distance to the parks, and you get an extra 2 hours in the parks in the mornings! (the favourite part of my disney days!)

If you do want a pool, it is often only the case of a few pounds to book the sequoia lodge instead of cheyenne, then you are closer and have a pool! (Rooms have 2 double beds though, not bunks)

 

[DLPdaft]

I've also stayed at both hotels, and would recommend either to be honest.

As Small World said, Cheyenne gives you EMH, Explorers doesn't, and from the Cheyenne you can easily walk to the parks. You need the free shuttle to get to the parks from the Explorers (again, in my experience, not a problem, as the Explorers is first pick-up and first drop-off point).

For us, it was the swimming pool that swung it - we were there in June, when the evenings were long, and so we did use the pool after our visit to the parks and dinner. In later months, or early in the year, we wouldn't have used the pool (we didn't miss not having one at the Cheyenne in November, and we didn't find the time to use the one at the Newport Bay Club in October ).

 

[lilacgems23]

Its the 1st wk in december we are looking to book, so maybe the pool we wont miss. Does the cheynne have anything for children to do after we get pack from the park? Does it have anywhere to eat in the evenings?

When we stayed at the dream castle they only had a la carte which we didnt want just something little

 

[lilacgems23]

what about the santa fe? I see its cheaper lol.

It doesnt look my sort of hotel from the outside but you cant judge a book by its cover!

 

[DLPdaft]

There is no difference in the size of the rooms/bathrooms between the Santa Fe and the Cheyenne - the only difference, room wise, is that the Santa Fe rooms typically have 2 double beds, but you can request a room with one double and one set of bunks if you prefer (there is no guarantee you'll get that, although I'm sure the hotel would do its best for you).

The external theming of the Cheyenne is far better than the Santa Fe, but if your main priority is a clean comfy room, there really is no difference between the Santa Fe and the Cheyenne. They are similar walking distances from the parks, and both have restaurants which cater for buffet breakfast in the mornings, and buffet dinners at night. The Santa Fe is also next to a filling station, which has a shop selling snacks at much cheaper prices than hotel .
You could easily get to the filling station from the Cheyenne also, you'd just walk across the small bridge between the 2 hotels, and up through the Santa Fe blocks to the filling station.

 

[mommy2ash]

what about the santa fe? I see its cheaper lol.

It doesnt look my sort of hotel from the outside but you cant judge a book by its cover!

i stayed at the santa fe on my last trip and i am staying there again on my next. i agree the themeing is better for kids at the cheyenne but as ash is two it doesnt bother her

if you are looking for a comfortable bed at the end of the day then the santa fe is fine. i had no problem staying there and no problem recommending it to anyone. i guess it depends on what kind of hotel you are looking for. i dont think i would stay anywhere else lol

 

[cap'njack.]

what about the santa fe? I see its cheaper lol.

It doesnt look my sort of hotel from the outside but you cant judge a book by its cover!

The beds in the Santa Fe are the comfiest beds in the world! But it doesn't look Disney at all, it's in deperate need of a lick of paint and unfortunatly looks worse every year!

 

[Rachie B]

only stayed at the explorers ( in dec) but my boys loved it

there are games rooms,the play area and of course the pool which looks fab ( but we didnt get time to use it,as only a 2 day / 1 night trip!)

would happily stay there again

the rooms were lovely and beds really comfy!

different restaurants to eat at,we tried the evening buffet which was good

 

[DCLMan]

I would always stay on site, EMH is worth more than a pool and the Good Morning Fantasy Land Breakfast is great, if it's open.

 

[lilacgems23]

If your on site hotel, can you have breakfast in the park as opposed to the hotel or is there a extra charge for this?

 

[A Small World]

If your on site hotel, can you have breakfast in the park as opposed to the hotel or is there a extra charge for this?

you can request it when you book in but it depends if there are any slots left

 

[Rachie B]

we have dream annual passes, so was also able to make use of EMH