Desert Inn and Suites Experiences?

[MamaChelle]

Heading to Disneyland and booked a room at Desert Inn and Suites. Couldn't pass up the rate at $99/night for the 4 queen beds and 1/2 bathrooms!!!

This is the 3rd year in a row we are visiting Disney.

First year 2010, we stayed at Ramada Maingate, loved the free parking! Staff was great, room was okay but nothing that I didn't expect. Couldn't pass up that deal either at 1/2 off sun-thurs!

Second year 2011, we stayed at Del Sol Inn. Booked it for the bunkbed room, which my DS didn't even sleep in Anyways. Big room, just parking was a little hectic and also they didn't have my reservation on file even though I had booked it straight from the website. Luckily they had rooms available.

Anyways, just wondering if any of you had stayed at Desert Inn and Suites and your experiences there. Couldn't pass up the rate and the room size! Would like you know what you guys think!

Thanks!

 

[starshine514]

I believe Del Sol and Desert Inn have the same owners. I've stayed at DI&S multiple times (see siggy) and Del Sol once. Luckily, I haven't had a problem with them having my reservation (I do always try to print out my confirmation for any motel I stay at, just in case). You'll find similar parking and breakfast (no waffles at DI&S, but a bigger breakfast area). We'll be staying at the Del Sol next trip, but only because it was $12 cheaper a night. My parents prefer DI&S because the rooms are a little larger than the one we had at the Del Sol (kids room with bunkbed - ours was really small but you're the second one on this board that called it large... I'm thinking we must have gotten a smaller one. Ours was on the first floor, near the pool).

 

[MamaChelle]

I believe Del Sol and Desert Inn have the same owners. I've stayed at DI&S multiple times (see siggy) and Del Sol once. Luckily, I haven't had a problem with them having my reservation (I do always try to print out my confirmation for any motel I stay at, just in case). You'll find similar parking and breakfast (no waffles at DI&S, but a bigger breakfast area). We'll be staying at the Del Sol next trip, but only because it was $12 cheaper a night. My parents prefer DI&S because the rooms are a little larger than the one we had at the Del Sol (kids room with bunkbed - ours was really small but you're the second one on this board that called it large... I'm thinking we must have gotten a smaller one. Ours was on the first floor, near the pool).

Thanks for your response! I had my printed confirmation, yet they still didn't have it in their system.

Our Del Sol room was first floor by the pool also, maybe I think it was large compared to other hotel rooms I have stayed in, we didn't feel cramped in that room.

Glad to hear about your multiple bookings at DI&S, at least it isn't one of those never return too again kind of places. Looking forward to it!

 

[Disneyluvr2]

MamaChelle, do you have one room with 4 queen beds? The reason I ask is that we stayed at Del Sol in May and I booked the family suite for $99. I was told it was a room with 4 queens and 2 baths. I jumped on that because it sounded like such a great deal! When we got there, we found our "family suite" was just two adjoining rooms. The rooms were quite big too, and we were happy with that. Well, until we checked out. That's when we were told the room's' were $99 each, not $99 for one family suite. So our $99 per night bargain room turned into a $200 per night room. I was upset about that and will make sure I ask more details when the rate sounds too good to be true!

Sorry, I haven't stayed at DI&S but I just wanted to mention that because starshine 514 said they have the same owners.

 

[MamaChelle]

MamaChelle, do you have one room with 4 queen beds? The reason I ask is that we stayed at Del Sol in May and I booked the family suite for $99. I was told it was a room with 4 queens and 2 baths. I jumped on that because it sounded like such a great deal! When we got there, we found our "family suite" was just two adjoining rooms. The rooms were quite big too, and we were happy with that. Well, until we checked out. That's when we were told the room's' were $99 each, not $99 for one family suite. So our $99 per night bargain room turned into a $200 per night room. I was upset about that and will make sure I ask more details when the rate sounds too good to be true!

Sorry, I haven't stayed at DI&S but I just wanted to mention that because starshine 514 said they have the same owners.

WOW! I would definitely be upset as well! I did book what is called "parlor family suite" which looks like 2 adjoining rooms but 1 of the rooms only has a half bath, which i can't see them using as a room to book. I have a confirmation with my final total which is the $99/night.

That is great heads up about room rates! Will definitely keep those things in mind when booking hotels now! Thanks

 

[danimaroo]

Wow, $99/night?! We are staying there as well in November and the lowest rae I could find was 109/night for a King size. Does this seem reasonable or am I missin some awesome discounts somewhere?

 

[MamaChelle]

Wow, $99/night?! We are staying there as well in November and the lowest rae I could find was 109/night for a King size. Does this seem reasonable or am I missin some awesome discounts somewhere?

yeah $99/night for the c1 parlor suite. i did book in January! I like to plan ahead I was surprised when I saw the price because its cheaper then I paid at Del Sol Inn last year for a smaller size room.I jumped right on it, i think its better to book off season the rates definitely drop. Just like our car rental last year, a suburban for $574 for 10 days and this year all year long its been over $1500!... It's all about timing, booking off season, and constantly checking rates until your comfortable with the price. Start as soon as you know/want to go. As soon as I get back this year I plan on starting to plan our 2013 trip!

 

[danimaroo]

Ah that makes sense. Back in January, I was in Disney World and didn't even think we'd be going to Disneyland in November, haha. We are from Seattle though so this was more of a "Hey, maybe we will go to Disneyland for my first visit/birthday celebration!"

As a WDW vet, I am beyond excited to be going to Disneyland for the first time ever. And hey, I will take $109 a night for a room across the street from DL!

 

[MamaChelle]

Jealous! WDW? I dream of going there one day! Living in Hawaii, that will definitely be a long and expensive trip, one which we might have to sacrifice a year in DL. It is on my list Excited for you! And yes, $109/night is a really good rate, super close to the disneyland entrance! That is what I love about staying offsite. Much cheaper and super close!

 

[disneyhoppers]

I've stayed at the di&s twice. It was perfect for what we needed. 1st times was 6 years ago with another family and then again 2 years ago with my in laws. We were all able to stay in the same suite and use the living area after we put the kids to bed. They have an oversized mini fridge and full size microwave in one room which makes breakfast and late night snacks a breeze. Out was very clean. The pool was inside so the chlorine smell was strong. I have asthma and am severely allergic to mold. I didn't have any allergy or breathing problems which is always a concern. Fyi-you only get one parking tag per room/suite.

 

[starshine514]

WOW! I would definitely be upset as well! I did book what is called "parlor family suite" which looks like 2 adjoining rooms but 1 of the rooms only has a half bath, which i can't see them using as a room to book. I have a confirmation with my final total which is the $99/night.

That is great heads up about room rates! Will definitely keep those things in mind when booking hotels now! Thanks

We've had that same room type twice (once at the $99 rate, once at $139). It's definitely a single room, with only one outside entrance. We've always been charged correctly for it.

I have seen adjoining rooms verbiage that I found confusing on some websites. If Del Sol had that misleading verbiage in the past, they may have it fixed now, as when I searched there last week, they had some room types appearing as 'two rooms needed' for our group of 6.

 

[ballarinamom]

We stayed in a "Family Suite" and it was two adjoining rooms with 2 queen beds in each room and a full bath in each. It was great for us! And they did not charge double the amount. We were quoted $110 for Thanksgiving week and that is what we paid for both rooms together.
The room was very large but very sparse. We did not do breakfast as the room just seemed overflowing. But we ordered food from Von's and it was waiting for us in the office fridge. We also rented an electric wheelchair and it was waiting for us in the office plugged into the wall. And when we wanted to return it, we just left it in the office and they let the company pick it up. They were very helpful!!

 

[limace]

Stayed there this week in a parlor suite. It was fine. The room was clean. The beds were comfortable, firm, the pull out couch was really uncomfortable. The pool is pretty miserable-so murky you couldn't see your feet when you were standing on the bottom. Breakfast is crummy, especially for my poor husband who can't have gluten. Parking is tight but worked fine for us. Elevator to the upper two floors was miserably slow. Location cannot be beat-we switched to the DLH for our last two nights and it seemed like a long trudge home in comparison to the Desert Inn.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Here at DI now! We stay at the largest suite and there is a ton of room for the seven of us. Clean and the beds are fine. We grabbed muffins at Mimi's and get beverages here. I' looking out at DCA right now! Great view of Carsland and TOT! Just across the street and you are at the parks. We brought a huge full size ban and used valet. Very easy. We have a backyard pool at he do we don't care to swim while on vacation. I would not stay here is the pool is important to you.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Sorry for the darn autocorrect!

 

[RedRosie]

We've stayed at DI&S twice, both times in the C1 with 4 queens. It is like 2 adjoining rooms but only one room has an exterior door. That was nice for the kids to not have access to open the outside door when we weren't looking! We've had the $99 rate too, when booked well in advance. We just decided to go again after Thanksgiving, and the rate is much higher now. Darn it!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We usually get the C2 for $ 119 a night in Jan.! Our room is $219 this trip. Still a great value IMHO.

 

[MamaChelle]

Here at DI now! We stay at the largest suite and there is a ton of room for the seven of us. Clean and the beds are fine. We grabbed muffins at Mimi's and get beverages here. I' looking out at DCA right now! Great view of Carsland and TOT! Just across the street and you are at the parks. We brought a huge full size ban and used valet. Very easy. We have a backyard pool at he do we don't care to swim while on vacation. I would not stay here is the pool is important to you.

That is so good to hear, excited to stay there now! Pool isn't an issue, was kind of excited seeing that it is an indoor pool since we will be going end of November/ beginning December. Maybe we will skip it though! Thanks

 

[kirstie101]

That is so good to hear, excited to stay there now! Pool isn't an issue, was kind of excited seeing that it is an indoor pool since we will be going end of November/ beginning December. Maybe we will skip it though! Thanks

DD5 actually thinks the indoor pool is cool!