Embassy Suites North or Anaheim Sheraton??

[DawnCt]

Hi, I saw a rate for Embassy suites North (I think) for $129 and I am already booked at the Sheraton Anaheim, Club level for $135. The $6 isn't a big deal to me but if the Embassy suites north has a better location, should I consider switching? I am giong with three kids and me. Embassy Suites has a cooked breakfast and the Sheraton has a continental breakfast. Both have snacks, etc at night. I prefer a more upscale atmosphere but both are rated 3 stars. Any opinions?

 

[goofyfordisney]

Is the Embassy Suites the new one in the Convention Center area of Anaheim?

I am a huge Embassy Suites fan--I like the cooked to order breakfast better than a continental type breakfast, I like the suite type rooms too.

I have stayed at the Sheraton in Anaheim (about 6 years ago) and I liked it very much--but I would still go with the location of the Embassy Suites!

Hope this helped!
Sue

 

[DawnCt]

No, it looks like it is 6 miles from Disneyland, where as the Sheraton is 1 block away. I understand that the Sheraton is behing Disneyland so it isn't like a block away from the main gate.

 

[goofyfordisney]

I would check for rates at the new Convention Center Embassy Suites...for our dates in June it was $147.00 a night.

You might try calling the hotel directly--I know that they were offering $89 a night when they first opened--maybe if you tell them you are thinking of switching from Sheraton they will offer you a great rate!

It doesn't hurt to ask, right??

Sue

 

[Floydian]

Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim - North is the "old one". This one is about 6 miles away, all the way up next to the 91 Freeway, practically out in Fullerton or Anaheim Hills. Between this and the Sheraton, stay with the Sheraton, no question about it.

Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim - South is the new one that opened less than a year ago. I've seen great rates for that location for a while now, plus it's Embassy Suites, plus it's new, plus it's not "much" further away than the Sheraton. It's about a mile south of the parks, along Harbor Blvd. It looks very nice, but it would still be quite a long walk, long enough that I would personally take a car or shuttle from there to the parks and back.

Sheraton Anaheim Hotel is located across Katella from DCA. It's actually a very convenient location, as you can cross the steet right in front of the hotel and go through a pedestrian entrance to the parking lot (at least you could a few years ago). From there, wait at a parking lot tram stop and get a ride to the front gates, just like everyone else.

Hmm...I wonder if Ive helped or confused with this post. Oh well, at least I posted for once!

 

[DawnCt]

Now it is decision time! I booked the new Embassy Suites Anaheim South. I got a military rate of $129 per night. I am also still holding the Sheraton ressie. I like the idea of a big breakfast with three kids (2 14 year old boys and an 11 year old girl). It is a mile from Disneyland and it is new. The Sheraton on the other hand is closer, continental breakfast, $135 per night, walking distance.....Although with a big breakfast we should really walk the mile from E.S. More input please! Also, I got the rate from the national reservation tel. number. Should I call the hotel directly to see if I can do better or is that reasonable for school vacation considering they had lower rates in the past? Thanks,

 

[dznybound]

Both are nice. The Embassy Suites is probably more visually appealing since it is a new property. The Club Level room you have reserved at the Sheraton, is it a suite? If so, it is very nice. If you do not have a suite reserved at the Sheraton, I would definately chose the new Embassy Suites. Since you have a couple kids with you, I think the Embassy Suites will be more spacious and comfortable for your family. Also, the cook to order breakfast at the Embassy Suites beats the continental breakfast at Club Level hands down.

As for proximaty of the Sheraton to the Disneyland, it really is not that close. I personally think it's too far to walk to Disneyland from the Sheraton. However, on the bright side, the Sheraton has their own bus service which is excellent. Embassy Suites' bus service is shared with approx. 2 other hotels which is a little painful.

Hope this will give you a little more insight. Personally, I would not hesitate to stay at either.

Mary

 

[DawnCt]

The Club level at the Sheraton is just the availability of the concierge room, nothing more. In fact, I went on their web site yesterday and they said that the Club room will be closed until April 2002 for "renovations" and that coupons will be substituted. My question is April when? and what would be coupon value. Given that I know what I will be getting at Embassy Suites, I think I have made my decision. For those of us who have used Disney transportation at WDW, sharing buses with other resorts is not unusual, but if I find that it is a major inconvenience, what would the driving/parking situation be like? Thanks,

 

[goofyfordisney]

I think that you made the right choice! I think the cooked-to-order breakfast will work great for the teens in the group--they sure do eat alot!

As to the shuttle question...We have always driven our car rather than the hotel shuttles when we stayed off-site. It has never been a problem. We had one bad experience on a shuttle years ago, and have chosen to drive ourselves rather than deal with the shuttles from now on! Do you have an AP? I think you will have free parking--depending on which AP you have. Even if you pay for parking--you do have in and out privileges--just show your receipt when you return.

Have fun!
Sue

 

[mareed]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites South 2 weeks ago and drove to the Mickey & Friends parking garage every day (free parking w/ AP). It was a very quick drive - I'd say around 10 minutes. A tram was always there within just a couple of minutes to take us to the parks from the garage. We have children young enough that we take a big double stroller and I absolutely did not want to mess with that on the shuttle. I also really liked being able to leave to go to the park in the morning right when we wanted to without waiting for the shuttle, and also to return exactly when we wanted to. We got a great rate of $89 that was available through June I think with a val-pak coupon. The rate used to show up on the embassysuites.com website, and the val-pak coupon also used to show up at the val-pak website, but neither is true now. I was able to call a while back and book the $89 rate over the phone for early June, but I've cancelled our ressie because we'll be staying at the Westcoast Anaheim courtesy of Priceline for $42. When I check the same dates for June now, the rate is over $200 - insane! The hotel was very nice, and I'd definitely stay there again, but not for much over $100.

 

[DawnCt]

Mareed, are you sure that it is the same (new) Embassy suites. I can get ES North for about $89 and that would be a ten minute drive since it is six miles away. The new EB-South is supposedly a mile away. Would you prefer the Sheraton given the choice.

 

[DawnCt]

I had asked this question on Fodor's community board and someone informed me that the Club Room at the Sheraton is not available on weekends and that they do not tell you that on the phone when you book. That information made the decision very easy for me. Of course I haven't verified that the answer is correct, however, with the other pluses that ES offers, I cancelled the Sheraton reservation.

 

[Floydian]

A 10 minute drive is very subjective, especially in Southern California. I'd say that, with traffic and stoplights, it would commonly be a 10 minute drive from the ES-South.

As for the ES-North, well, I think 10 minutes is just a marketing claim. Looking at the locations on a map, and having lived in that area for about 6 years, I can't see anyone getting from the ES-North into the DL Parking garage in 10 minutes, unless they speed a lot and/or run a lot of stoplights. Well, unless maybe they're doing it at 2am when there is no traffic.

 

[DawnCt]

Maybe we should walk then. ! With the cooked to order breakfast, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[mareed]

Yes, it was definitely the Embassy Suites South - the new one that just opened recently - last November I believe. And yes, I'm saying 10 minutes from the hotel to the Mickey & Friends parking garage because there are several lights to go through. We noticed the Sheraton and the look of the place just didn't appeal to me. It is very close to the parking garage however - probably more like a 2 minute drive. I pulled out my val-pak coupon for the $89 rate (which they never asked for) and the details say to request rate code L-VPK, valid 11/14/01 - 6/30/02, subject to availibility. Address is 11767 Harbor Blvd. I called the hotel directly at 1-714-539-3300 and made the reservation for early June, but that was back in January, so I have no idea if it would still be available.

 

[DawnCt]

Mareed, Thank you very much, I may call the hotel directly and see if they have a better rate than the one I am paying.