Difference between Tropicana & Camelot??

[cccdisney]

We are taking a short trip in mid-August. I would normally stay at HOJO's but they are not offering the great ent rate at the time and even the AP rate I was quoted is not that great.
I found the Tropicana and Camelot Inn have great rates (under $100) for my night (aug 14th). I noticed they are sister hotels. so which is closer to the front gates? Is one nicer than the other?
I will probably be traveling alone with my three kids so I want something very close to the parks.
So are these good motels? And is one better than the other?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

camolot
ask for room 404 to see firework view they were grate last year.

or desert inn really close to entrince but i havent stayed there i was going to oct but got hojos

 

[northshoremama]

my sister and her family stayed at the camelot this past may. they really liked it. they got to see the fireworks from their 4th floor hotel room. they are going again this october and we are going with them. this time around we are staying at the tropicana...which according to my sister is closer to the crosswalk to cross over to disneyland. the only reason we chose the tropicana this time was because it was a few dollars cheaper (and closer to the front gates). we've never stayed at the tropicana before, but from their website, it looks really nice. i know there is a thread here with pictures of the different hotels...if i can find it, i'll post again! have fun!

 

[Amy&Dan]

They are both nice and have clean rooms. I have stayed at both and prefer Tropicana. It has less of a parking lot feel and is closer (not by that much, but still closer). The pool at the Tropicana is also nicer and has a huge hottub. The hottub at the Camelot is tiny. Now one thing that the Camelot does have as far as its pool, is that its a great place to view the fireworks. Its a fourth floor rooftop pool, so its up high. That is the best view of the fireworks I have had outside the park.

But I still prefer Tropicana, the rooms are a bit brighter and they have some landscaping touches that make it seem a little less like the whole outside is a parking lot (which is what the Camelot is).

I am pretty sure all the rooms at the Tropicana have a microwaves (ours did and a frig as well). Our Camelot room had neither. You might want to check on that. The free breakfast is identical at both.