DL newbie with questions

[Lauri]

I've spent the last 3 years on the cruise boards, but now we're planning our first family trip to DL in March 2008. I have a DS 13 and DD 11. I tell you this because we're looking for help in picking a hotel. Whereas in WDW we will always say on property (and usually in a home away from home resort), it sounds like off proerty is almost preferable in DL. It would be great to walk to the parks each day. Because of my kids ages, we're looking for a place that would have 3 beds. (I still want to sleep with DH , but the kids are too old to sleep with each other anymore.)

We are very amenable to a suite. I've seen so many different hotels mentioned on these boards, but I'm not sure what would be best for us. We'd like:

-close enough to walk
-larger room with 3 beds (I've seen some bunk beds)
-breakfast included would be nice, but not a must, especially if there is a kitchen/ette
-we don't need the most expensive place, but we definately don't want economy lodgings

Thanks for your help in making suggestions.

Lauri

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

We just returned (11/14) from our first trip to DLR and stayed at the Grand Californian - loved it. Our room was a nice, nothing really fancy, hotel room. We had a queen bed (very comfy) and bunk bed for the kids. The bunk seemed a bit smaller than a twin size, but there was a trundle under the bottom bed, so 3 kids would work. We had a small fridge and coffee pot - no microwave, ect. With the bunk bed there was some nice space between the beds which made the room feel more spacious. We looked straight out at the Grizzly bear head on top of Grizzly River Run and could see ToT and the corner of the Soarin building from our balcony. We finished every day with a ride on Soarin before we went to bed - it was right around the corner from the CA entrance into the hotel. I can't offer any info on offsites, but for location alone, GCH was fabulous. I didn't miss the WDW buses or parking lot shuttles one bit : )) If you ever stayed at or visited Animal Kingdom Lodge at WDW - it is VERY similar (without the animal savanah of course).

 

[farmfresh]

If you can, stay on site. It may not be the best value for money, but The atmosphere is nicer, and you still get to walk! They are hotels though, so if you want more room you need to get a suite, or, as we do, interconnecting rooms. There are different bedding configurations, and the GCH has bunks, but your kids might be too big.

The nearby off site hotels have a greater variety, and as you'll see, everyone has their favourites. One thing to bear in mind though is the sort of trip you are after. If you want more of a resort feel, then go onsite. If it's more about the parks, and you don't really mind the ambiance around them, then off site works.

 

[alohaliilo]

On site, I know that the Grand Californian offers a standard room with a king or queen sized bed for you and your husband and bunk beds for your kids. I have not stayed there but have walked inside and it is beeeautiful! Offsite, I have stayed at the Anabella and I THINK you can get 3 beds there. It was pretty close, but our room kind of smelled like old people

 

[Brendella]

I've stayed at two nearby hotels within easy walking distance:
My favorite is Fairfield Inn by Marriott 1460 Harbor Blvd. You can get two Queen beds and they have a sofa sleeper (although the last time we went, the sofa became a chair and was meant for a smaller child. My DS 12 slept on it and did fine). It's approx a 7 minute quick paced walk from hotel to front gate of Disneyland. Rooms have a refridgerator and coffee maker, no breakfast. BUT: McDonalds is next door on the way to the park and they have a Millie's family restaurant onsite. They also have a small cafe that serves Pizza at night and breakfast items in the am.
I also like Portofino's hotel. A bit more of a walk (12 - 15 minutes to the gate) but they have kids suites that would work for you. King bed in one room, two decent size twin bunk beds in the other (with TWO TV'S - one for you, one for them - to keep the kids busy!) No breakfast that I remember....but they did have a fridge and 7-11 was across the street to get some breakfast goodies.

Hope this is of some help...(PS I'm a cruiser too! 8 and counting!!)

 

[DLR29]

I stayed at the Desert Palms Hotel and Suites this past summer. It definitely was not economy, but not quite Disney quality either (though I've never stayed onsite for a comparison). We had 3 beds in our room and our balcony overlooked DCA, just like a room at the PPH or GCH (at less than half the price). The walk was about 5-10 minutes, so it wasn't too bad. There's also a 7-11 100 feet from the hotel entrance which is where we got breakfast foods (milk) and waters for the park.

 

[BlueBayou]

We have stayed at;
Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites (2 or 3 times in a parlor suite)
Hojos (2 times)
Best Western Park Inn (1)
Camelot (2)
Grand Californian (1)

If price were not object I would say at the GCH every time. We like room service I am still wanting to try DLH and PP.

All the other motels we have stayed at I would stay at again. We were at the Camelot nn last month and the service was great. But they are all Motels and not Hotels.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I agree with PPs about staying at GC--it's our favorite now, too! We had a room overlooking CA as well, and the entrance to CA from the hotel is so convenient.
It is pricey, but worth it IMO.
We also liked DLH, but I'm not sure about getting three beds there. I think they do have suites--you might give them a call. That's a great resort too, but not as close as the GC. However, you do have either a monorail ride or a nice walk through DTD to the parks from there...
I've drunk from the Disney fountain too much--I'll always stay on-site.
Have a great trip--happy planning!

 

[samkj]

The non-Disney hotels within walking distance are ok, but nothing special. I haven't stayed at the Desert Inn, but have heard good things about it. The Camelot also has good reviews and suites available. If you can get the Entertainment book rate, I would go with the Howard Johnson Anaheim. Its one of the nicest of the walking distance hotels, and with the ent. rate you could get connecting rooms for a great price(we had 2 rooms for just over $100 per night, before taxes). One downside, there is no breakfast and most rooms do not have a microwave. We picked one up at Target for $32 for our stay there last week.

 

[ter-moo]

The non-Disney hotels within walking distance are ok, but nothing special. I haven't stayed at the Desert Inn, but have heard good things about it. The Camelot also has good reviews and suites available. If you can get the Entertainment book rate, I would go with the Howard Johnson Anaheim. Its one of the nicest of the walking distance hotels, and with the ent. rate you could get connecting rooms for a great price(we had 2 rooms for just over $100 per night, before taxes). One downside, there is no breakfast and most rooms do not have a microwave. We picked one up at Target for $32 for our stay there last week.

Amy, how WAS your trip????

Check out my trip report for WDW. We had a BLAST!

And to the poster, as far as where to stay, many of the motels on Harbor (across from the park entrances) have mini-suites with two queens and a hide-a-bed. I've stayed at Carousel Inn and Desert Inn--both were fine--nothing great, but clean and adequate. Both have breakfast and are very close to the parks.

My favorite offsite place is the Candy Cane Inn, but you'd have to get two rooms there. You might also try the Sheraton Anaheim. It's not really easy walking distance because of its location behind DL, but it does have a free shuttle and it's close to the DL parking structure, so you can catch the parking lot tram, too. I believe they have rooms with three beds (or two beds and a sofabed) and the grounds are really lovely.

 

[HydroGuy]

We have stayed three times at the Best Western Park Place Inn. FWIW it is the closest hotel to DLR besides the GCH - a five minute walk from your hotel door to the DLR gates. Their mini-suites have two queen beds and a sofa bed which is queen size. So there are three queen beds in total. There is a free breakfast at Captain Kidd's next door.

Check out this map for approximate locations. www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

The link to BWPPI is on the map. Here it is www.parkplaceinnandminisuites.com/

 

[BillyFan]

We normally stay off-site, but our room att he DLH over the Summer had 2 queens and a day bed.

 

[Lauri]

Thanks for all your help so far. I guess we're going a peak week, and many things are booked up. The Grand Californian is available, but starts at almost $500/night, so I think we'll skip that for now. This is what I found available. Please comment:

-Camalot Inn (Deluxe Family Suite, AAA, $229/nt), continental breakfast
-Tropicana Inn (AAA, $139/nt), continental breakfast
-Carousel Inn and Suites (Kidsuite, $159/nt) , continental breakfast
-Park Vue Inn & Suites (AAA, $146/nt), continental breakfast
-Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites (Parlot Suite A, $149/nt), continental breakfast
-Castle Inn & Suites (2BR, AAA, $148/nt), morning coffee

I've seen maps, but not wuite sure of locations and walking distance. Also rate the quality of the rooms. Thanks.

Lauri

 

[BillyFan]

Are you going during Easter week? That will make it more difficult. Of the places you've listed, I've only stayed at the Desert Inn. It is a very, very close walk. Basic continental breakfast, indoor pool, small shop, nice staff, but noisy location, especially if you are stationed near an elevator. It has worked great for us in the past.
However, this will be absolutely nothing like what you are used to at WDW, not even close to an All Star Resort. Prices are really ridiculous at the DLR Hotels compared to WDW, but if you're looking for that type of atmosphere, you're ina bit of a pickle. I would suggest the Hojo, which is about a 10 minute walt to the park. It is much nicer than the motels that I have stayed at on Harbor. No breakfast, but nice grounds and pretty nice rooms. My sister in law had 5 in their room and just ordered a roll-away bed with no problem, so that could be an option for you.
HTH

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for all your help so far. I guess we're going a peak week, and many things are booked up. The Grand Californian is available, but starts at almost $500/night, so I think we'll skip that for now. This is what I found available. Please comment:

-Camalot Inn (Deluxe Family Suite, AAA, $229/nt), continental breakfast
-Tropicana Inn (AAA, $139/nt), continental breakfast
-Carousel Inn and Suites (Kidsuite, $159/nt) , continental breakfast
-Park Vue Inn & Suites (AAA, $146/nt), continental breakfast
-Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites (Parlot Suite A, $149/nt), continental breakfast
-Castle Inn & Suites (2BR, AAA, $148/nt), morning coffee

I've seen maps, but not wuite sure of locations and walking distance. Also rate the quality of the rooms. Thanks.

Lauri

"How Far Is It?" (shows actual distances in feet from hotels to DLR entrance plaza) www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as

"Walking Distance Accommodations" (shows hotels within walking distance) http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/maps/...g_distance_map

"Bret's Disneyland Lodging Map" (shows hotel locations around DLR) www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap

 

[jennypersons]

Thanks for all your help so far. I guess we're going a peak week, and many things are booked up. The Grand Californian is available, but starts at almost $500/night, so I think we'll skip that for now. This is what I found available. Please comment:

-Camalot Inn (Deluxe Family Suite, AAA, $229/nt), continental breakfast
-Tropicana Inn (AAA, $139/nt), continental breakfast
-Carousel Inn and Suites (Kidsuite, $159/nt) , continental breakfast
-Park Vue Inn & Suites (AAA, $146/nt), continental breakfast
-Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites (Parlot Suite A, $149/nt), continental breakfast
-Castle Inn & Suites (2BR, AAA, $148/nt), morning coffee

I've seen maps, but not wuite sure of locations and walking distance. Also rate the quality of the rooms. Thanks.

Lauri

We have stayed at the HoJo, The Carousel inn and the Desert inn and Suites. The Desert inn is the closest of the hotels we've stayed at, but I would put it at the bottom of my list. We found it to be an OK hotel, (we got a great rate when we were there, so couldn't beat it!). I found our room to only be ok, but we spend most of the time at the Parks, so it didn't matter too much. My extended family that was with us, and they had a suite and they found it to be alright, nothing outstanding (but most of the hotels within walking distance are only ok) If your room is really important, I probably wouldn't stay there.. It also had an indoor pool, if that is important.. I would stay there again for a good price We stayed at Hojo and it was nice. Only about a 7-10 minute walk. My favorite of the 3 would be the Carousel inn because it had nicer rooms. Both the Desert inn and Carousel had a breakfast, but nothing special. They both also had a microwave and refrigerator (which for us is a important). If it was my choice of the hotels we've been to, I would vote for the Carousel inn, but would stay at any of them again, had no major complaints about any of them. Have lots of fun on your vacation!!!

 

[Lauri]

Thanks for the replies. We ARE going the week before Easter, so there are slim pickings to be had. We wound up booking at the Desert Inn and Suites, and upgrades to the 2 bedroom with 4 queen beds. We decided that location (close) and space in the room were most important to us (its 800 sq ft.) Breakfast and luxury accommadations are not quite as important this trip. I'm a Disney commando--we will not be spending much time in the room. I'll report on the place when we get back.

Lauri

 

[Lou-Ann]

For those who like Candy Cane inn, what is it that you like? We are staying there in three weeks but have never stayed there before. Thanks so much....

 

[ter-moo]

For those who like Candy Cane inn, what is it that you like? We are staying there in three weeks but have never stayed there before. Thanks so much....

Of all the nearby motel properties, it's the nicest for grounds and decor. It's quiet, peaceful, and has very good breakfast options.

It also has a dedicated shuttle that runs every half hour, even though the walk is really not bad at all. (takes our family about 5-7 minutes--equivalent of about 3-4 regular blocks to the entry driveway.)

 

[wvnative]

Thanks for the replies. We ARE going the week before Easter, so there are slim pickings to be had. We wound up booking at the Desert Inn and Suites, and upgrades to the 2 bedroom with 4 queen beds. We decided that location (close) and space in the room were most important to us (its 800 sq ft.) Breakfast and luxury accommadations are not quite as important this trip. I'm a Disney commando--we will not be spending much time in the room. I'll report on the place when we get back.

Lauri

My daughter (17) and I are also going the week before Easter (Spring Break) and will be staying at Desert Inn. We do the whole commando thing too and typically only spend enough time in our room to sleep and shower. lol We stayed at Desert Inn in May and it was fine. Nothing spectacular but the room was clean, well stocked, and the front desk staff was great. The walk to the gates is minimal and McDonald's (always a line) isn't too bad either if you opt to grab breakfast there.