DL Resorts vs offsite

[LisainCalifornia]

Linda,
I think you chose well. The two off-site hotels that get the best reviews are either Hojo's or Candy Cane Inn. I haven't stayed at the CCI, but a good friend of mine has, and it always looks clean and pleasant. Their shuttle bus is a big help too. I like that it isn't located on Harbor Blvd--it is a much more quiet walk for the times you will be walking. My friend stayed there last year, and they raved about it. They have one child--and for them it was perfect. She told me that the rooms would be small for us (we have 3 kids--two of them teens), otherwise I probably would have tried it too. I know they have bigger rooms as well--so maybe one day we will.

I hope you have a great trip!! Be sure to write an update when you get home.

Lisa

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian many times--and hands down like the Disneyland Hotel better. It has bigger rooms (we have 3 kids), better views and just feels more like a vacation to us. Grand Californian has a pretty lobby, but the rooms are dark and small--and I hate that you have to wind around and around down long hallways to get to your room.

*I agree very much with what you wrote/typed above ~ I even prefer the PP over the Grand. Except we haven't stayed at DLR many times ~ 1 night at the Grand, 2 nights at PP and maybe 5 at the DLH.

Howard Johnsons was clean, spacious and comfortable--but seemed like such a long walk to us. Much longer than the walk to Disneyland Hotel. And you have to walk down Harbor Blvd--which is just a death march after a long day at the parks. Bus exhaust, homeless people, people trying to hand you flyers you don't want for their timeshares, McDonalds, stoplights and all manner of unpleasantry. I am not a picky princess either--I have lived in a major city (we lived in S.F. for 15 years), so I have seen it all before--but it isn't what I want smacking me in the face when I am on our vacation.

I don't agree with that *except for this Howard Johnsons was clean, spacious and comfortable
The HoJo IMO is as close if not closer to DLR than the DLH is - we walk on the DLR side of Harbor from and to the HoJo.

OP ~ I think you made a wise choice ~ we've never stayed there but it's sounds lovely.

 

[MikeSF]

Depends upon your situation IMO. I might be a cheapskate at heart, however the price difference from off site and on site is too much to pass up. For me it's all about what do I need the hotel for, do I need a pool, grand breakfast, bellhops, etc? My answer is no. Last trip stayed at a Super 8 on Katella, it was a decent place, I have no kids just the wife and I, and at that price, a short walk to the gate (3/4 mile) it was perfectly fine. The Gardenwalk right next door had food that was great, and with the exception of my traditional Churro I don't buy food in either park, I will go to Downtown Disney but that's it.

Now if you have kids in tow, need to take that after lunch break/nap, then staying onsite could have advantages, however there are a few good ones right across the street literally the same walking distance. But for me, I don't find any advantage to paying that much more money other than maybe the feeling that I'm pampered a bit more (but in reality, probably don't get any different treatment)

 

[HydroGuy]

The HoJo IMO is as close if not closer to DLR than the DLH is - we walk on the DLR side of Harbor from and to the HoJo.

According to MousePlanet they are just about the same distance:

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

 

[raftislander]

Thanks everyone! I've decided to stay at CCI. The price difference was just too much, even with the military discount.

Great choice! The CCI is my favorite offsite hotel.