disneyland hotel vs. off site hotel

[kosmonn]

I am taking my 3 kids ages 4,4 and 1 to disneyland for the first time. I am trying to decide if I should spend the extra money on staying at the Disneyland Hotel or should I stay at one of the Good Neighbor Hotels. I was looking at the the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel. Is staying at the Disneyland that much more conveinant?

 

[kiwitravel]

The resort hotels will give you that more encompassing Disney experience but it is at a price. You get more bang for your buck at the good neighbour hotels but IMO I would stay closer than the Sheraton. The hotels across the crosswalk from DL are actually closer than the resort hotels (GCH excepted), we found being to come out for lunch and a lie down invaluable. For less than the resort Hotels you can get a suite at either Tropicanna, BWPPI and Carousel Inn.

 

[Anater]

We originally booked for three nights at the DLH because it will be my son's first time at DL, plus it will be his 4th birthday. We wanted to stay a fourth night but just couldn't swing the extra cost at DLH - and the 4th night free promo ends right as we arrive. Looking at the Good Neighbor properties we were able to get a fourth night free and save $350. Putting it all into perspective we realized that staying at DLH won't be any closer than where we now booked. Plus, we agreed that when we return in a few years we will go all out since it will probably mean more to him then. At four I just think that he will get so much out of being at the park that staying at DLH wouldn't have added much. we're going in December, if we were going in Summer we might have chosen DLH because of the pool, but our room will be for sleeping and afternoon resting only. I went back and forth so many times; the deciding factor for us was the extra night and $$ saved.

 

[CoolPool]

The kicker for me is The Pool. If you are not a Pool Person, and don't envision the hotel as anything but a place to sleep, then I'd stay offsite. If your kids don't think much of pool slides and think a pool is nothing more than a rectangular hole in the ground with water then I'd stay offsite. During the winter months, I'd stay offsite. However, Disney pools are wonderful and they add so much to our trips - we take afternoon breaks from the parks - so The Pool is critical for us. That said, I'm only going to stay at a DL hotel with a major discount (like AP).

 

[disney-super-mom]

The kicker for me is The Pool. If you are not a Pool Person, and don't envision the hotel as anything but a place to sleep, then I'd stay offsite. If your kids don't think much of pool slides and think a pool is nothing more than a rectangular hole in the ground with water then I'd stay offsite. During the winter months, I'd stay offsite. However, Disney pools are wonderful and they add so much to our trips - we take afternoon breaks from the parks - so The Pool is critical for us. That said, I'm only going to stay at a DL hotel with a major discount (like AP).

I completely agree with this!

I just want to add that if your 4 year olds can't swim yet, then the big pool slides at the DLH and the GCH are out. Often lifeguards will give younger children swim tests, and if they can't at least dog paddle, then they can't go down the big slides (and they don't allow life vests or water wings on the slides either).

If you have non-swimmers who enjoy water slides, then stay at the Paradise Pier hotel. There's no swim tests there because the slide doesn't empty riders into the pool.

 

[Hound 109]

I am taking my 3 kids ages 4,4 and 1 to disneyland for the first time. I am trying to decide if I should spend the extra money on staying at the Disneyland Hotel or should I stay at one of the Good Neighbor Hotels. I was looking at the the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel. Is staying at the Disneyland that much more conveinant?

I agree with all of the posters but would mention that because of the ages of your kids, it is important to be within easy walking distance of the parks so you can TAKE an afternoon nap. (is the Sheraton within walking distance?) There are several good neighbor hotels on Harbor that are AS CLOSE as the DH.

When are you traveling & for how many days?

Have fun.

hound -

 

[kosmonn]

We will be going there in October. I appreciate the info about the pool slide, my 2 four year olds can swim okay, but if they were given a swim test who knows if they could pass.

 

[dizzyami]

We have always stayed at one of the resort hotels with the exception of our last trip (we stayed at the HoJo's). This was my impression. We absolutely loved the hotel - and I could not believe that I had ever spent so much money at the resort hotels. The room seemed huge and very nice compared to even the GCH. The one thing that I felt lacked compared to the resort hotels...is that the magic is over as soon as you leave the park. I realize that this is not something everyone would want to pay for - I might if it was a special trip, or one we did not take so frequently - but when we tend to go twice a year - I can probably deal . Probably the weirdest thing to get used to (I know, silly, but honest), was I was very shocked to see CM's waiting for the bus (in uniform). I realize they are real people with real lives that need real transportation - but somehow I was slightly bothered when I first saw it. Enough to spend an extra $200/night - probably not!

 

[zukeeper]

I have stayed at all 3 onsite hotels, across the park, and far enough to take ART. My biggest thing with kids is the hassle of breakfast. We had PPH concierge, so snacks/breakfast were always available, but when at the other on-site hotels non-concierge, it was a battle keeping everyone fed. All food is theme park pricing. So if you want a milk, you pay an inflated rate. There are no stores without having to drive and the fridges are very small. Across the street from DL, you can find continental brkfast but it is usually awful. I have to say I felt the most relaxed at the Residence Inn and Embassy Suites. The Residence had a full fridge and will shop for you while you're gone. Embassy is a smaller fridge, but both give you such a nice big breakfast to start the day off. Then you take ART which is pretty predictable transportation.

I will say that the kids enjoyed the pools - especially the Neverland Pool at DLH. In the summer they have a DJ and some activities. In May it was warm enough to swim at night, but there had been a heat wave. Your 4yo will probably not be able to use the slide, but the pool is still a lot of fun. At PPH they can use the slide since it doesn't drop into the pool - my 4yo non-swimmer went down it. The pool is separated and there is also a wading pool for the baby. Our best trip was when we stayed at PPH Concierge and had a poolside Cabana room. The perfect everything, but it does cost you extra.

 

[Nora94]

I've been wrestling with the same questions. Seems like either way you get to option the dining plan, the same ticket pricing and such. Thinking even for my swimming kids it's not worth $600 more to stay onsite! (5 nights)

Nora

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We originally booked for three nights at the DLH because it will be my son's first time at DL, plus it will be his 4th birthday. We wanted to stay a fourth night but just couldn't swing the extra cost at DLH - and the 4th night free promo ends right as we arrive. Looking at the Good Neighbor properties we were able to get a fourth night free and save $350. Putting it all into perspective we realized that staying at DLH won't be any closer than where we now booked. Plus, we agreed that when we return in a few years we will go all out since it will probably mean more to him then. At four I just think that he will get so much out of being at the park that staying at DLH wouldn't have added much. we're going in December, if we were going in Summer we might have chosen DLH because of the pool, but our room will be for sleeping and afternoon resting only. I went back and forth so many times; the deciding factor for us was the extra night and $$ saved.

I couldn't have said it better myself. We really thought about staying at the DLH this go around, but my kids will be 4 and 1. I would rather save the money and spend it in the park than on the hotel. Maybe in a few years when at least my older dd will remember and appreciate it we will look at the DLH again.

 

[Vacation Dad]

My family really likes the Best Western Park Place Inn, I think they would be disappointed if we were to stay any place else – including on-site. Just a few minutes to the front gate, and the continental breakfast is not much different from what we normally eat for breakfast anyway: cereal, toast, juice, fruit etc. The pool is pretty small, but we still managed to have fun in there once or twice a trip when my kids were smaller.

 

[Peg In The Pound]

Have you considred a vacation rental? We did stay for a week, but we rented a condo in Newport Beach and it was wonderful. 4 kids in our group, from 15 months - age 8, and they loved being right on the beach. The drive was easy and fast, and not intimidating at all. We realized that for us, it's just too hard to stay in a place without a kitchen. It was great.

 

[chowboys]

Have you considred a vacation rental? We did stay for a week, but we rented a condo in Newport Beach and it was wonderful. 4 kids in our group, from 15 months - age 8, and they loved being right on the beach. The drive was easy and fast, and not intimidating at all. We realized that for us, it's just too hard to stay in a place without a kitchen. It was great.

. Can you please recommend one to me? How far is the drive.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

If a kitchen is important to you, there's the Residence Inn Maingate. They have studios, one and two bedroom suites all with full kitchens. It's within walking distance (10-15 minutes with kids) or you can also catch the ART. They also provide a full hot breakfast in the morning.

 

[Peg In The Pound]

I can't remember specifically which web site I went through, but I think it was vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner). BUT there are a lot of vacation rentals that show up on a lot of sites, so I really don't think it matters all that much. We were travelling with another family, and knew that we wanted to get 2 adjoining units, so we just contacted a whole mess of vacation rental sites by email to see if anyone could accomodate us. They were a bit slow with the return of my deposit, but other than that I had no complaints and would go through them again. We were right at the Newport Pier. The drive was about 15-20 minutes, and not confusing at all. HTH!

 

[npoon]

i recently stayed at candy cane inn and thought that it was quite nice but everyone raves about hojo. is hojo better then candy cane inn? is it possible to get a list of the good neighbor hotels but in the sequence of their distance from disney? ie. closest to the farthest...thanks

 

[tinkermell]

i recently stayed at candy cane inn and thought that it was quite nice but everyone raves about hojo. is hojo better then candy cane inn? is it possible to get a list of the good neighbor hotels but in the sequence of their distance from disney? ie. closest to the farthest...thanks

Try.............
www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap

 

[epicureangirl]

The Sheraton PARK Anaheim is within walking distance, but there is another Sheraton Anaheim that you would need to take a shuttle from. The Sheraton PARK is recently renovated and has rooms facing the park -- you could watch the fireworks from your balcony while the little ones sleep.

Have fun!