Desert Palm Hotel and Suites

[Sheenqueen281]

We are planning a trip to Disneyland this spring and had planned on staying at the Disneyland Hotel like our last trip but I was shocked how expensive it is. Someone recommended Desert Palm Hotel and Suites but I am nervous after reading trip advisor reviews. Has anyone stayed there before? Thoughts? Our kids will be 1 and 3 during the trip so we want a place with easy walking to and from the park.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

A blog with lots of pictures, plus a link to our podcast with lots of opinions just went up.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

A blog with lots of pictures, plus a link to our podcast with lots of opinions just went up.

Here's the link.

 

[farmfresh]

We've done it...didn't like it that much. With the age of your kids, maybe Hojos might suit better?

 

[Sheenqueen281]

What were the things you disliked about it?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We tried the place only once for a one-night stay in October 2007. I know that was quite a while ago and things can change quite a bit, but we haven't been interested in trying it again on any of our 34 subsequent visits lol. Our parking experience was mildly annoying but we found a spot and didn't need to move the vehicle during our stay at least. The lobby of the hotel was really nice, so it was a let-down to actually see the room. The room itself was dark. It had a window but no view of anything, and almost no light came in through that window because of its orientation. I don't particularly remember anything about the beds or room amenities. What does stick out in my mind is how icky I found the bathroom. It wasn't that it was particularly dirty although it wasn't the cleanest...it just felt old, worn-down, corroded, kinda grody. We didn't try the free breakfast or pool so can't comment on those.

 

[Sheenqueen281]

We tried the place only once for a one-night stay in October 2007. I know that was quite a while ago and things can change quite a bit, but we haven't been interested in trying it again on any of our 34 subsequent visits lol. Our parking experience was mildly annoying but we found a spot and didn't need to move the vehicle during our stay at least. The lobby of the hotel was really nice, so it was a let-down to actually see the room. The room itself was dark. It had a window but no view of anything, and almost no light came in through that window because of its orientation. I don't particularly remember anything about the beds or room amenities. What does stick out in my mind is how icky I found the bathroom. It wasn't that it was particularly dirty although it wasn't the cleanest...it just felt old, worn-down, corroded, kinda grody. We didn't try the free breakfast or pool so can't comment on those.

Now I am scared. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and stay at the Disneyland hotel.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Now I am scared. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and stay at the Disneyland hotel.

That's a big jump from the Desert Palms to the Disneyland Hotel, there are lots of other options between the two.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Now I am scared. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and stay at the Disneyland hotel.

Wasn't trying to scare anyone. I was just telling about my one experience quite a while back. It wasn't exactly a bad stay. There was just nothing memorable about it that was good. Have you listened to the recent podcast and checked out the blog? I have only gotten halfway through the podcast so far and haven't checked out the blog, so I don't know what Tom's conclusion about the place was. I did find it interesting though that the grody bathroom was commented on, so that doesn't seem to have changed.

 

[GatorChris]

I've been shocked by the prices recently. Last year when we were planning our trip, I had it down to it and HoJo. But the price for a suite with a separate bedroom was something like $185/night. We opted to go with just a room at HoJo because of the waterpark, but my wife and I sure did miss the suite.

Now the suites are going for $230+. That essentially kicks us out of ever using them for rooms. I'm just trying to figure out why it costs $50 more all of the sudden. Did they turn one of their elevators into the Tower of Terror?

 

[PlutoRocks]

My two sisters and I have stayed there the past 4 years and we love it. I've always found it to be clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful. The breakfast is decent with eggs and either ham or sausage, potatoes, waffles, fruit, pastries, cereals, and once or twice they've had biscuits and gravy. We're staying there again in June. We could see the fireworks from our room and could hear the screams from Tower of Terror. The pool isn't great - it's small and right off the lobby so not exactly "outside" but many people use it (I don't use hotel pools since we have one at home) and they seem to be enjoying themselves.

 

[Sheenqueen281]

My two sisters and I have stayed there the past 4 years and we love it. I've always found it to be clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful. The breakfast is decent with eggs and either ham or sausage, potatoes, waffles, fruit, pastries, cereals, and once or twice they've had biscuits and gravy. We're staying there again in June. We could see the fireworks from our room and could hear the screams from Tower of Terror. The pool isn't great - it's small and right off the lobby so not exactly "outside" but many people use it (I don't use hotel pools since we have one at home) and they seem to be enjoying themselves.

It is good to hear that someone has had a positive experience there.

 

[Sheenqueen281]

Wasn't trying to scare anyone. I was just telling about my one experience quite a while back. It wasn't exactly a bad stay. There was just nothing memorable about it that was good. Have you listened to the recent podcast and checked out the blog? I have only gotten halfway through the podcast so far and haven't checked out the blog, so I don't know what Tom's conclusion about the place was. I did find it interesting though that the grody bathroom was commented on, so that doesn't seem to have changed.

Yes I did listen to the podcast. I got the feeling that the place was ok but nothing to get excited about. I was a little nervous about the bathroom since it sounds like it isn't too nice.

 

[farmfresh]

[QUOTE That's a big jump from the Desert Palms to the Disneyland Hotel, there are lots of other options between the two.

][/QUOTE]

I agree. We just found the gap between the DLH and this was quite large - the rooms were fine, but very ordinary, ditto the breakfast room which, on our visit was very overcrowded, with limited options (the video on their site does look miles better!). Of course the price gap is big too We've never gone back. One reason though is we prefer to stay inside the resort bubble ( we only visit once a year so....) because the immediate surroundings outside DL are not especially attractive. So do check out other hotel options as well.

 

[Sheenqueen281]

I am open to any hotel advice I can get. We have never been to Disneyland with kids before and I just don't want to get us in a hotel that makes going to and from the park a huge hassle.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

the rooms were fine, but very ordinary, ditto the breakfast room which, on our visit was very overcrowded, with limited options (the video on their site does look miles better!).

Exactly. Ordinary. Nothing special. Not worth the few extra feet of walking when there are so many other motel options on Harbor closer to Disney. A little less clean and welcoming than I would have liked. We didn't try a suite room, so maybe that's a better experience? The overcrowded nature of the breakfast room is one reason we didn't try the free breakfast. The time and trouble it would take to get through that would have made us "late" for getting to the park before the gates opened since the park opened at 8 AM.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I am open to any hotel advice I can get. We have never been to Disneyland with kids before and I just don't want to get us in a hotel that makes going to and from the park a huge hassle.

Is easy walking to and from the park your only important consideration? What you want from the hotel makes a difference in what people will recommend to you. Do you need a suite or a room with lots of space or are you fine with a standard size room? Is an included breakfast important or not? Do you care about the pool? Do you insist on staying in a hotel with interior corridors or are you open to a motel with exterior corridors? Do you plan to spend lots of time in the rooms or only a little? With little kids those ages, I would be inclined to think that you plan to head back for naps and might have early nights, but I know some toddlers can be really good stroller nappers or just go, go, go anyway, so naps and early bedtimes aren't a consideration for all.

We have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel once and really enjoyed it. We got a great deal though plus an unexpected room upgrade to a higher floor. My kids were old enough to really enjoy the swimming pool, and we did our best that trip to take advantage of the hotel's amenities and not just hang out in the parks from dawn until midnight. We even watched the fireworks from our room one night.

Our go-to place is the Hojo on Harbor. The rooms are clean and mostly updated. I find the bathrooms dated and a little off-putting, but they are in my experience very clean at least. Interior corridors. The staff is wonderful. The parking is free. The swimming pool and water play area are nice. The walk to the parks is easy.

Another place we have always liked is the Candy Cane Inn. We haven't stayed there in a while, but I still read nothing but glowing reports of the place these days. Free parking. Cute grounds. Clean but small rooms. Nice but small pool. Great continental breakfast. Choice of an easy walk to the park or a free dedicated shuttle.

My in-laws love the Fairfield Inn and also enjoy the Tropicana. They have had very positive experiences at both. I have also stayed in both of those places and would give the edge to the Fairfield because I found the Tropicana staff somewhat rude during our visit, and I just liked the feel of the Fairfield better.

 

[Sheenqueen281]

Thank you for helping me think this through. Walking isn't the only consideration. I would like a larger room or a suite if possible. The kids go to bed at 7:30 and I would prefer if we didn't have to go to bed the same time they do because we are all in one small room. I don't really care about free breakfast. A fun pool for the kids would be nice but they are so little that any pool that is clean and well maintained would probably work for them. I don't mind spending a little more if the hotel is worth it. Is the Doubletree Suites a good option? I will look at the Fairfield. The pool at HoJo looks so fun but the rooms didn't look like anything special.

 

[squidlet]

You might find this map helpful for hotel locations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zfoavXBErsxQ.kzA1UCxpAZoA&msa=0
The main gate is right across from the Tropicana Inn

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Yes I did listen to the podcast. I got the feeling that the place was ok but nothing to get excited about.

That explains it exactly.