Desert Inn and Suites - Give me the lowdown!

[Brady's Mom]

Hi All,

We are planning a trip to DLR in early March (5-11). It is DH, Me, DS9 and DS7 PLUS our best friends - Him, Her and DD8.

We are DLR veterans, want to stay w/in walking distance and would love a suite where we can stay together. Desert Inn seems to fill the bill, but I have a HUGE concern about the quality of the beds. We really do want some good sleep while we are there.

We're not worried about the pool, or about the parking - we head to the beach one afternoon during our stay (usually), our kids will swim if we give them the chance, we will probably all drive together - so we are not worried about the 1 car per room here or the size of the spots (DH is a San Francisco native and a very good parker!).

So, give me the lowdown on the beds and the room size! We are looking at the C2 Parlor suite.

 

[DisSarahK]

The room size was great for our family and I doubt you'll have a problem with that. The beds were okay for the first couple of nights--not amazing, but okay. After that though, my husband and I could really feel the aches and pains in our backs. (Our children were oblivious to anything.) We lasted two years at the Desert Inn and Suites and have decided we just can't go back even though the room set up and location is perfect for our family--and it is because of the beds.

With that said, I know others will post and say that their beds were fine. Ours, however, were not. On our last stay I was convinced that we must have had old mattresses--so I checked them...they were practically brand-new according to the tags that were still attached.

 

[sojocomo]

Take my review with a grain of salt:
A) I stayed there in January 2003 - memory might be foggy
B) They were undergoing extensive remodeling
C) I was newly pregnant and had morning - I mean "all day" - sickness!

That said, what I remember most was that the walls were thin. I could here the tv in the next room.

However, it was extremely convenient to Disneyland and the convention center (I was there for a conference that time).

Can't remember much about the beds, but I would hope the mattresses would be changed by now!

 

[larina]

It is my form belief that many hotels buy mattresses with defects and then let us sleep on them. It is the only explanation as to why brand new mattresses can be so uncomfortable.

 

[maryjeane]

We will be staying there starting this Saturday. We have been to DL two other times in the past 11 years and have stayed further away. I was insistent that this time we be across the street. I can be quite sensitive to a bad mattress so I will let you know how it goes. Could be a long 5 nights if we get a bad mattress.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

i was just coming to ask about this place.... i got a pretty good deal for february just now...... but i'm still looking around.

 

[jory29]

I wonder for really bad beds if a person couldn't bring a foam mattress topper or feather or synthetic fibre mattress topper to help ease pressure points. (?)

Walking around in Disneyland is painful enough at the end of a long day - we love Hojo's for that very reason, the beds are the best ever. We know what we are getting there, and have never been disappointed.

 

[Leofoenget]

I wrote a tripadvisor about the beds once titled "sleep in the parking lot" the beds are HARD! I bring one of those egg crate topper things from Target and I was fine. Once I even brought my memory foam topper from home and I was fine. Kinda silly to have to do that but we drove so it wasn't that big of a deal. Let's put it tihis way, once I ended up stuck on the sofa sleeper bed, and it was more comfortable. We don't stay there anymore not because of that but Anaheim Plaza is cheeper.

 

[ddwlms]

The room size was great for our family and I doubt you'll have a problem with that. The beds were okay for the first couple of nights--not amazing, but okay. After that though, my husband and I could really feel the aches and pains in our backs. (Our children were oblivious to anything.)
With that said, I know others will post and say that their beds were fine. Ours, however, were not.

ok, I'm laughing, 'cause I'm one of those others. (sorry, I'm not usually disagreeable )

I thought the beds were fine, the rooms were small. My thought is that if you just want a place to lay your head, DI&S works. (the pool and breakfast are not selling points.) We've stayed at several different places on and off property, of varying levels, and I've concluded it is either GCH if I'm splurging, or DI&S if I've trying to be economical. (guess I'm an all or nothing kind of girl)

 

[DisSarahK]

ok, I'm laughing, 'cause I'm one of those others. (sorry, I'm not usually disagreeable )

I thought the beds were fine, the rooms were small. My thought is that if you just want a place to lay your head, DI&S works. (the pool and breakfast are not selling points.) We've stayed at several different places on and off property, of varying levels, and I've concluded it is either GCH if I'm splurging, or DI&S if I've trying to be economical. (guess I'm an all or nothing kind of girl)

See, I knew someone would disagree with me! LOL! It always happens! No worries!

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel on this last trip and LOVED it...but I have to admit, we did miss the wonderful location of the DI&S...that easy walk to the parks can't be beat!

 

[camouseketeer]

We've stayed there numerous times in rooms of varying sizes. The beds have always been comfortable. I am a picky sleeper and the beds have never been hard or uncomfortable to me.

I don't like the pool there, but other than that, I like the DI&S and stay there during our winter/cold weather visits.

 

[jaanders]

Just got back last week from Dessert Inn and Suites. We had a suite with 6 adults and 3 kids in it. I did not hear one complaint about the beds from any of the adults. They were firm for sure, but nothing too bad. Anyone looking for a clean/cheap/close place, this is the place for you. The location is awesome. I couldnt belive how much we loved being that close to park. We have always walked to and from the park, which probably adds an extra mile of walking a day. The only downfall of this hotel is the pool. Its OK, nothing special, but is indoors. We will definately stay there again with a big group because the suite was so affordable.

 

[Leshaface]

I've stayed here a couple times and I really enjoy my stay. You can't beat the location. Beds are comfy, prices are great!

I always recommend this place and Tropical Inn to friends/family

 

[kirstie101]

We stayed here last year in a C2 Parolor family suite, and are again staying in the same suite type in about a month.
The suite is pretty big, IMO. Think of it as two generous sized connecting rooms. We used the "parlor" for storing strollers and shopping bags as we didn't actually need the sofa bed. This is also the room our fridge and microwave were in. The "room" attached to the parlor had the two beds and a tv and bathroom/vanity area in it. The "adjoining" room which was the other half of the suite had two more queen beds, a safe and a table with two chairs as well as a bathroom vanity area. We could see the fireworks from the windows near the sink in both sides of the suite.

Beds: I am a person who likes a bed slightly on the soft side, but I can sleep in just about any bed as long as its not rock hard. I thought that the bed I slept in was slightly firmer than my bed at home but nothing extremely firm. I slept like a baby each night, and we were there for 5 nights. The other two adults in our party thought the beds were very comfortable. We had no complaints. My kid can sleep on anything so the fact that she didn't complain doesn't really mean anything.

All in all I feel the location can't be beat. Our room was on the 4th floor and was extremely quiet and very clean. If I can continue to get good rates here I will continue to stay here.

 

[BayAreaMom]

I cast my vote as incredibly hard beds- I only slept a few hours each night.
We had Parlor Suite A- it was really cheap at $99/night. Plus parking and fees though.
I would NOT go back unless we were looking for the absolute cheapest suite option. And keep in mind the Parlor A "suite" isn't really a real suite. There is a super thin wall with a thin door between the rooms. The outside room is really tiny- a small couch and tv. Barely room for our 2 strollers.

It was semi-clean but super basic. If you are going to be in the park ALL day and just plan on sleeping here, it is probably ok.

 

[Brady's Mom]

I wrote a tripadvisor about the beds once titled "sleep in the parking lot" the beds are HARD! I bring one of those egg crate topper things from Target and I was fine. Once I even brought my memory foam topper from home and I was fine. Kinda silly to have to do that but we drove so it wasn't that big of a deal. Let's put it tihis way, once I ended up stuck on the sofa sleeper bed, and it was more comfortable. We don't stay there anymore not because of that but Anaheim Plaza is cheeper.

DH and I talked about the egg crate things. Since we are going to be there for 6 nights that would probably be our wisest choice. We would probably just buy them when we get there - even though we are driving.

 

[Brady's Mom]

I wonder for really bad beds if a person couldn't bring a foam mattress topper or feather or synthetic fibre mattress topper to help ease pressure points. (?)

Walking around in Disneyland is painful enough at the end of a long day - we love Hojo's for that very reason, the beds are the best ever. We know what we are getting there, and have never been disappointed.

We LOVE HoJo and would stay there again if the Retro Rate becomes available. We would just get connecting rooms. But, since that rate is harder and harder to come by we are covering our bases w/a suite so we can all stay together. Our friends have a slightly tighter budget than us - so around $100 a night for each of us including taxes and fees is a decent price. We would definitely prefer the NQQ2 at HoJo for $69 a night and no parking or "resort" fees!

 

[saving4disney]

Well I just got back from the Desert Inn & Suites about an hour ago! We spent 3 nights there and it was our first stay. In the past we have stayed at the Anabella, GCH and DH. This was our first trip across the street from DL. I was very pleasantly surprised. We went very last minute and booked our hotel the same day that we left the house. We are about 6 hours away. Anyway, we got a rate on Expedia of 65.00 per night and I was very very worried that it was going to be a horrible room. It was very clean and nice! I am a little bit of a hotel snob and haven't stayed in a room with doors that face out since I was a kid. I would stay there again in a heartbeat! We were on the 2nd floor in room 222 with 2 Queen beds. We did not use the pool but it looked clean walking by. The breakfast is just basic pastries, toast, cereal, orange juice, apple juice, coffee, milk and it is served from 7:30 to 9:30 daily. Housekeeping was just ok. I found the beds plenty comfortable but hubby said he thought it was hard. We have a 6 year old so I ended up sleeping with my son and hubby slept in the other bed. Maybe mine was softer? LOL Anyway, it was a very easy walk, right across the crosswalk practically. I have heard bad stories about the parking and when we arrived the lot was full so they valet parked us for no additional charge. We did not need our vehicle the entire time so it just stayed parked. Have fun!!!

 

[wvnative]

DI&S used to be our go to place to stay. Now it's our second choice behind HOJO (with the EC rate of course). I would not hesitate to stay at DI&S anytime. I sleep just fine there and I have a pillowtop at home. Of course, I'm usually so worn out by the time we get back to the room that I could probably sleep on the floor. lol That said, I don't wake up with aches and pains from a hard mattress.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Well I just got back from the Desert Inn & Suites about an hour ago! We spent 3 nights there and it was our first stay. In the past we have stayed at the Anabella, GCH and DH. This was our first trip across the street from DL. I was very pleasantly surprised. We went very last minute and booked our hotel the same day that we left the house. We are about 6 hours away. Anyway, we got a rate on Expedia of 65.00 per night and I was very very worried that it was going to be a horrible room. It was very clean and nice! I am a little bit of a hotel snob and haven't stayed in a room with doors that face out since I was a kid. I would stay there again in a heartbeat! We were on the 2nd floor in room 222 with 2 Queen beds. We did not use the pool but it looked clean walking by. The breakfast is just basic pastries, toast, cereal, orange juice, apple juice, coffee, milk and it is served from 7:30 to 9:30 daily. Housekeeping was just ok. I found the beds plenty comfortable but hubby said he thought it was hard. We have a 6 year old so I ended up sleeping with my son and hubby slept in the other bed. Maybe mine was softer? LOL Anyway, it was a very easy walk, right across the crosswalk practically. I have heard bad stories about the parking and when we arrived the lot was full so they valet parked us for no additional charge. We did not need our vehicle the entire time so it just stayed parked. Have fun!!!

Thanks for the info!

Are the rooms as decent in person as they look on their website? It looks like they have updated bedding and newer-ish furniture.