Desert Inn & Suites vs. Anaheim Hotel (formerly Anaheim Plaza Hotel)

[djk]

Which would you choose: Desert Inn & Suites or Anaheim Hotel (which I believe was formerly Anaheim Plaza Hotel)?

Desert Inn & Suites is a bit closer and has a free breakfast, albeit a not-super-impressive breakfast, from what I can tell. However, Anaheim Hotel would save us about $210 over the course of a weeklong stay. Is it worth the savings? (FYI, we most likely will not swim, so the pool is not an important factor.)

Thanks!

 

[kirstie101]

I'd figure out the price difference per day and then decide if the shorter walk was worth that much $ to me per day. DI&S is SUPER close. Its a really short walk and is definitely worth some price difference. The times that we have stayed there the rooms have been clean and front desk staff have been friendly and helpful.

 

[minnieralyks]

I'd go with Desert Inn and Suites, personally. We've stayed at Anaheim Plaza and the DI&S and had an okay stay at both, but would prefer the proximity of DI&S. Last time we stayed at Anaheim Plaza (maybe 2013), they did not have free wifi available. Not sure if this is still the case but I would double check on this before deciding. I know it was quite a hassle to go down to McDonald's (for their free Wifi) to check our business/email/etc.

If I can offer you a suggestion, have you checked the Camelot hotel or Tropicana? They both offer a 5+ day discount and both are usually cheaper than DI&S. Camelot's a great hotel (or is it a motel?) and we've stayed there many times over the years. Clean, spacious rooms, right next to McDonald's, 5 minute walk to front gates. We have yet to stay at Tropicana (staying there later this year), but it is the sister property of Camelot.

 

[tnzzz]

No experience with Desert Inn, but we stayed at the Anaheim Hotel in June and would not go back until they finish renovating or we were given a renovated room. Our biggest issue was the smell of mildew, very strong and possibly due to the AC units. We were given the impression all rooms in that building had the same issue. The room itself was very dated, and the carpet was very old and felt damp.

Otherwise, it was clean and the beds were fine, but the smell... we are not picky and generally happy with just a clean place to sleep, we don't spend much time in the room otherwise, but the place definitely fell below our standards.

I will say the walk was definitely manageable, even with a 4yo walking.

 

[Nonsuch]

No experience with Desert Inn, but we stayed at the Anaheim Hotel in June and would not go back until they finish renovating or we were given a renovated room. Our biggest issue was the smell of mildew, very strong and possibly due to the AC units. We were given the impression all rooms in that building had the same issue. The room itself was very dated, and the carpet was very old and felt damp...

There were plans to completely rebuild both the Anaheim Plaza and Anabella, taking advantage of an Anaheim room tax rebate for new 4-star hotels. A proposition sponsored by the housekeeper's union may have derailed those plans. There are currently some temporary fences around parts of Anaheim Plaza, which seem rather uninviting...

 

[spumonisowner]

Another vote for the Desert Inn. We just left there yesterday after staying for a few days. The room was decent, comfortable beds, and breakfast was good - hard boiled eggs, apples, cereal, danish, etc. There was free wifi. The best part about it is how close it is to the parks - just on the other side of the street. We also could watch the fireworks from the roof.

 

[amyg1975]

I am glad this post came up, because I was able to get a better deal at Desert Inn! We were booked for Anaheim Plaza because we were desperate, but I really didn't want to stay there again.

 

[djk]

If I can offer you a suggestion, have you checked the Camelot hotel or Tropicana? They both offer a 5+ day discount and both are usually cheaper than DI&S. Camelot's a great hotel (or is it a motel?) and we've stayed there many times over the years. Clean, spacious rooms, right next to McDonald's, 5 minute walk to front gates. We have yet to stay at Tropicana (staying there later this year), but it is the sister property of Camelot.

Thanks! I'll take a look!

No experience with Desert Inn, but we stayed at the Anaheim Hotel in June and would not go back until they finish renovating or we were given a renovated room. Our biggest issue was the smell of mildew, very strong and possibly due to the AC units. We were given the impression all rooms in that building had the same issue. The room itself was very dated, and the carpet was very old and felt damp.

Otherwise, it was clean and the beds were fine, but the smell... we are not picky and generally happy with just a clean place to sleep, we don't spend much time in the room otherwise, but the place definitely fell below our standards.

This is very helpful! You sound like us. We're not super picky because we're not in the room much during Disney trips. But we do want something clean, and a stale smell would bother me, I think. Thanks for replying!

There are currently some temporary fences around parts of Anaheim Plaza, which seem rather uninviting...

Oh, boy. This may be part of the reason the rates are fairly low right now.

I am glad this post came up, because I was able to get a better deal at Desert Inn! We were booked for Anaheim Plaza because we were desperate, but I really didn't want to stay there again.

Yay! How/where did you find a better rate on Desert Inn than Anaheim Hotel/Anaheim Plaza?

 

[Frozen2014]

Our first stay is in a month at Desert Inn. We picked it for the proximity to the parks and we also liked that for a decent price, we could get 2 rooms.

 

[amyg1975]

Yay! How/where did you find a better rate on Desert Inn than Anaheim Hotel/Anaheim Plaza?

I had originally booked Anaheim Plaza through Orbitz. I booked DIS through their own website, and they had a sale "Hot August Nights" and I was able to get two questions for less!

 

[Frozen2014]

Any one know how it works if you have a booking and the cost goes down? I see that DI&S price has dropped from our current booking. Am nervous to cancel our current one until we secure the lower cost. (We don't usually book direct so not sure how it works)

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Any one know how it works if you have a booking and the cost goes down? I see that DI&S price has dropped from our current booking. Am nervous to cancel our current one until we secure the lower cost. (We don't usually book direct so not sure how it works)

I'd book at the new rate then call to cancel the older reservation, provided you fall within the cancellation time frame. I think Desert Inn has a 48-hour policy. You'll have to verify.

Alternatively, you could call and ask if they'd change the rate on your current booking. I'd want the rate in writing, however.

Desert Inn does not charge at the time of booking, but rather at the time of stay, so holding two reservations won't cost you anything unless you don't cancel within the time frame. Make sure you ask for the cancellation number when you call to cancel.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you! My husband has the regular booking so will have him check. Yes, I believe it is 48 hours to cancel so we are good.

 

[SMD]

I've never stayed at DI&S, but if there are more than 2 people I think you'll struggle to fit in the rooms at the former Anaheim Plaza.