Closest hotel with suites

[teach1abc]

We are planning a trip to Disneyland after Thanksgiving. Which hotel with suites is the closest to the main gates? We have a 2 yr old and 6 yr old so we want something close so we don't have to deal with shuttles, etc. We are unsure if we want to spend the extra money on one of the Disney hotels since we will only be there to sleep unless we come across a fabulous deal. I have read that the GC is the place to be at the holidays. We would be willing to give up having a suite for the right price but want to look into all of our options now.

 

[skiingfast]

I know quite a few of the hotels on Harbor have suites or what the call Delux family rooms or somthing along that line. I would look at Hotels.com and see what available for your dates. Search for the location, "Disney's California Adventure" and it will list the harbor drive hotels first.

 

[ConnieB]

Check out the Residence Inn by Marriott. It has regular suites but it also has some really cool bunk bed suites which are fun for the little ones (and also puts them in their own room so mom and dad can stay up later!). A few other good features for families....a kitchentte so you can fix some meals to save money, also good for snacks of course. And I believe they have a breakfast buffet as well in case you don't want to cook but still want to feed the kids before hitting the park.

It's a block away from Disney (corner of Disney Way and Clementine)

 

[specialks]

The RI Maingate isn't really as close as it seems you want. Based on all the reviews I have read about it, it sounds like it is a 15-20 min walk. I know right by the crosswalk there is the Desert Inn & Suites and the Carousel Inn & Suites. What I have done is use this map (see below) and then go to each hotel's website to look at the rooms. It has taken time but it works. Also, many people like the HoJo Kids Suites. But they are about a 15 min walk.

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

HoJo has some kids suites and one queen suite. Both book fast though, so if you want one I would call right away. If you do a quick search on here there are some reviews with pictures of both types of suites. It's about a 8-10 min walk. We stayed there on our trip last year and tried to get the queen suite but it was already booked.

 

[ConnieB]

The RI Maingate isn't really as close as it seems you want. Based on all the reviews I have read about it, it sounds like it is a 15-20 min walk. I know right by the crosswalk there is the Desert Inn & Suites and the Carousel Inn & Suites. What I have done is use this map (see below) and then go to each hotel's website to look at the rooms. It has taken time but it works. Also, many people like the HoJo Kids Suites. But they are about a 15 min walk.

Well, we've stayed at the Candlewood and the Peacock which are both on the opposite side of the block from RI and it's been a fine walk for us. Considering how much walking you'll be doing in Disney I guess I don't see a city block as a long distance. I guess it really depends on your perspective, lol.

 

[specialks]

Well, we've stayed at the Candlewood and the Peacock which are both on the opposite side of the block from RI and it's been a fine walk for us. Considering how much walking you'll be doing in Disney I guess I don't see a city block as a long distance. I guess it really depends on your perspective, lol.

I agree that it would be possible but when I took into account my kids (currently 3 & 6) I don't think it is going to be easy for the 6 yr old after a full day at DL. The poster has a 2 & 6 yr old and it seemed like she wanted to be really close. Many of the disney planning sites have just the one block of hotels on harbor listed as 'in walking distance'.

Also, here is another map link that shows what they consider walking distance...
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

 

[Mcky36]

We stayed at the RI Maingate two weeks ago and LOOOOOVED it. It was a slightly farther walk than I wanted, but we did it twice a day for 5 days straight! I loved having the kitchen, full size fridge, table, etc. THey also provide dishes, paper towels, etc. Without a doubt, it was worth the extra walk. They will do your grocery shopping for free. My kids are 4 and 5 and it was wonderful to have the extra space, etc. We had a fabulous room in building 2. The staff was extremely helpful and accomodating. They also have a FREE breakfast with eggs, waffles, omlets, etc.

My 5 year old is a little big for a stroller but we still use it at Disney. DH and I took turns pushing the double stroller there and back for the walk. I would say it took us 15 minutes in the morning to walk there when we were fresh, and closer to 20 on the way back.... and this is while also pushing some heavy kiddos in a double stroller!

AND, the hotel is right next door to GardenWalk, so there are many restaruants and shops if you are interested in that.

I really recommend the hotel, especially with little ones.

 

[teach1abc]

We stayed at the Anabella last time. The website said it was walking distance but we found out once we got there, it was a looooong walk so we ended up driving to the parking structure and taking the tram since we had a free parking pass from AAA. Since we have 2 kids now, we thought it would be easier to be within reasonable walking distance this time instead of having to load them into the car, unload, and take the tram.

Thank you for the suggestions so far and the map!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We stayed at the RI Maingate two weeks ago and LOOOOOVED it. It was a slightly farther walk than I wanted, but we did it twice a day for 5 days straight! I loved having the kitchen, full size fridge, table, etc. THey also provide dishes, paper towels, etc. Without a doubt, it was worth the extra walk. They will do your grocery shopping for free. My kids are 4 and 5 and it was wonderful to have the extra space, etc. We had a fabulous room in building 2. The staff was extremely helpful and accomodating. They also have a FREE breakfast with eggs, waffles, omlets, etc.

My 5 year old is a little big for a stroller but we still use it at Disney. DH and I took turns pushing the double stroller there and back for the walk. I would say it took us 15 minutes in the morning to walk there when we were fresh, and closer to 20 on the way back.... and this is while also pushing some heavy kiddos in a double stroller!

AND, the hotel is right next door to GardenWalk, so there are many restaruants and shops if you are interested in that.

I really recommend the hotel, especially with little ones.

I'm confused. Was this the Ramada Plaza on Katella or the Ramada Inn Maingate on Harbor?

 

[Mcky36]

I'm confused. Was this the Ramada Plaza on Katella or the Ramada Inn Maingate on Harbor?

None of those! It is the Residence Inn on the corner of Disney Way and Clemintine. If you look at the map posted in one of the replies above, it is near the big sign for Garden Walk.

 

[specialks]

None of those! It is the Residence Inn on the corner of Disney Way and Clemintine. If you look at the map posted in one of the replies above, it is near the big sign for Garden Walk.

Not to be confused with the Residence Inn Anaheim Resort Area which is actually in Garden Grove off Harbor & Chapman (bottom of map)

 

[Leofoenget]

We are planning a trip to Disneyland after Thanksgiving. Which hotel with suites is the closest to the main gates? We have a 2 yr old and 6 yr old so we want something close so we don't have to deal with shuttles, etc. We are unsure if we want to spend the extra money on one of the Disney hotels since we will only be there to sleep unless we come across a fabulous deal. I have read that the GC is the place to be at the holidays. We would be willing to give up having a suite for the right price but want to look into all of our options now.

Desert Inn and Suites but book ASAP! Anaheim Plaza has suites also but a little farther
When you say after Thanksgiving, what do you mean? The DAY after or the following week?

 

[teach1abc]

At first we were thinking about Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving but then I read that the park has short hours and no parade or fireworks so now I am considering Thursday and Friday instead.

If I book a hotel now, can it be canceled if an amazing deal comes up for the Grand CA or PP? It would be fun to stay on site but not for what they are going for right now!

 

[Mcky36]

At first we were thinking about Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving but then I read that the park has short hours and no parade or fireworks so now I am considering Thursday and Friday instead.

If I book a hotel now, can it be canceled if an amazing deal comes up for the Grand CA or PP? It would be fun to stay on site but not for what they are going for right now!

Each hotel has a different policy, with cancellation required (or the first night fee will be charged to your card) usually between 1-5 day before your scheduled arrival.

At the Residence Inn you can cancel up to 5pm on the day of arrival.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

None of those! It is the Residence Inn on the corner of Disney Way and Clemintine. If you look at the map posted in one of the replies above, it is near the big sign for Garden Walk.

Ah, thanks. I had just been reading a thread on the Ramada so must have had that on my brain and somehow interpreted the abbreviations in the earlier post that way. Whoops. Makes tons more sense now.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

For a really close suite with small kids, I would go with the Desert Inn and Suites. They have several different layouts to choose from and their prices are reasonable. You could put the kids to bed in one room and stay up to watch TV in the other. The outside of the place isn't the greatest and parking is tight but the rooms are actually pretty nice. We just stayed there last summer with 5 people in a two-room suite with 4 queens and a sofa sleeper. It ended up being a nice place for us to stay.

 

[disney4cam]

At first we were thinking about Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving but then I read that the park has short hours and no parade or fireworks so now I am considering Thursday and Friday instead.

Not to get off topic, but is this a new thing? We always go the week after Thanksgiving (mon-fri) and they always have the parade and fireworks, weather permitting. The hours are shorter, though.

 

[ConnieB]

Each hotel has a different policy, with cancellation required (or the first night fee will be charged to your card) usually between 1-5 day before your scheduled arrival.

At the Residence Inn you can cancel up to 5pm on the day of arrival.

Just be sure not to choose the "Internet Only" or "Prepaid" reservations that so many of the hotels push..........while cheaper, those clearly state that they are non-refundable. If in doubt, call and ask about their refund policy before booking.....I've read so many sad tales of people having their dates change or having to cancel their vacation weeks in advance and not being able to get a refund because they chose one of the less expensive reservations.

My own strategy is usually to book a room at a rate that can be cancelled and then a week or two before our visit when I'm positive everything is a go, I'll check again and see if the Prepaid/non refundable rooms are a better deal and book it, cancelling the first. The reason I book a room instead of just waiting last minute is to be sure that I am not scrambling to find a good priced room last minute if a convention comes to town, lol. Been there, did that and while finding a room was relatively easy, the cost had gone up considerably. Of course, I tend to do the same thing with airline fares....book something when I first get the planning itch, then keep checking and change when I find a better deal. I use Southwest so changing doesn't cost anything and we fly often enough that the credits we get are easily used later.