Explorers Hotel. Were we just unlucky?

[tinkerbell 766]

I would be interested to find out other peoples opinions of the Explorers Hotel. We stayed there just over a week ago just for one night (thankfully) before moving to a Disney hotel, and were sorely disappointed. I must admit that it was the first time I have ever stayed off site and I will never be doing it again. I know you only get what you pay for but it had a 'travel lodge' feel to it. The rooms were cramped and not particularly clean, the staff were at best brusque and I was horrified to see Christmas decorations still up in the play area and the Plantation Restaurant on 22nd January! No feeling of magic to it at all. The pool was closed all day until 4.30 and don't get me started on the buses!!!!! Were we just unlucky?

 

[jillrobinson]

Sorry your stay at Explorers was poor, hope it didn't spoil the holiday for you.

I almost stayed at the Explorers once but then changed my mind and swapped to SL instead, I like to be onsite, but I think you were very unlucky though, I can't remember reading a bad review for the hotel before, it's just the thought of the shuttles buses puts me right off.

Look forward to hearing how the trip went.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

It wasn't my favorite hotel. The room was crowded with the way they had it set up. Our biggest problem was the pool, DH is French, speaks fluent French and still couldn't understand the woman at the pool! He's still baffled as to what the woman was trying to explain to him, my MIL and FIL didn't have a clue either!

 

[kevankiki]

This is worrying, we are booked into this hotel for 5 nights in October, the longest time we will ever have stayed at DLRP

Since there are just the two of us, I doubt we will feel so cramped, I am more concerned with the cleanliness of the room than anything else.

I sincerely hope that you were just unlucky, and that others can reassure us that the Explorers Hotel is just as clean as the Holiday Inn, as we were happy with this hotel at Christmas.

The buses are always going to be a problem, wherever you stay off site, we accept that

 

[marcus.ka]

We have stayed there one night in May 2005 and we found the hotel as clean as the other 3. (We have stayed in all 4 hotels there, and we have also stayed in every Disney hotel, so I think I am able to compare them all)
We have not used the pool but the pool looked great to me.
There is no real Disney magic but the hotel has a great atmosphere and is perfect for families as they have big rooms with many beds in them.

I would rate the 4 hotels in this order:

1. Dream Castle (great atmosphere, you almost feel a little Disney magic, great rooms, very clean, very good breakfast)

2. Holiday Inn (also great atmosphere, you can also feel a little Disney magic in this hotel, very clean, very nice rooms -Holiday Inn standard -, the breakfast costs 15€ extra and is definitely not worth it)

3. Explorer (very nice hotel, nice atmosphere, very clean, perfect for families, breakfast is OK)

4. Kyriad (almost as good as Explorer, very clean, nice atmosphere, breakfast is OK, this is the cheapest out of these 4 hotels)

I would stay in all 4 hotels again. The CM’s there were always friendly (except for Holiday Inn if you ask for a free breakfast) ;-)

 

[julieannbabe]

sorry that you were not happy with the explorers - i went there nove 2007 and i couldn't fault it at all.

yes the rooms were small but it was very cheap the deal we got - i think £105 per person for two nights on direct Eurostar trains - so i couldn't fault that aspect of it.

the buses on the sat/sun were fine - except monday was that awful bus strike!

i hope that it didn't spoil your trip too much.

xjx

 

[dgutte]

Sounds unlucky. I have stayed here 3 times and its great. My kids have a fab time which means I can relax with a drink (albeit an expensive one!).

However I suppose it only takes a couple of small negatives to ruin the whole experience.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thank you all. I think we were unlucky and I must admit that I am a bit spoiled as I have always, in the past stayed on site and have stayed in all the on site hotels and cannot fault any of them. I don't think I would stay off site again. Unlucky, okay, but I can't find an excuse for the Christmas decs still being up on 22 Jan. It seems very unprofessional and sloppy to me. What do you all think? When I mentioned it to the girl on checkout, she just shrugged and said it was not 'her department'.
Thanks for all your kind comments. No, it didn't spoil our trip, I wouldn't let it!!!! We went on to have two lovely nights at the Disneyland Hotel and really enjoyed the new attractions in the Studios and the 15th anniversary parade. Absolutely loved Candlabration too.

 

[marcus.ka]

I would love to hear more about your Disneyland Hotel Christmas trip.
And mybe you have some pictures too that you could show us?

 

[BRobson]

Sorry to hear your bad experience We had stayed at the Explorers many times and never had a bad experience. We tend to book the bunk room and that gives us more than enough room.

When we were there in the summer and our suitcases had gone missing the staff were very helpful

 

[A Small World]

We stayed at Explorers last Easter for 2 nights after being at Santa Fe and really liked it. We found the room to be an adequate size - there were 3 of us and we had a double bed and 2 singles. It was clean and comfortable. We didnt have park tickets for these days as we were using the time to calm down again after 3 hectic days in the park (this was before we had APs ) before the long drive home.
The swimming pool was lovely (or so DD and DH said) and it was nice being able to sit in the bar area relaxing whilst watching DD play in the play area.

Breakfast was a bit chaotic but the 2nd day we sat at the tables in the bar area instead of the restaurant and found it much more relaxing.

We have also stayed at Holiday Inn and although we liked that in some ways I preferred Explorers - the bar area was nicer (Holiday Inn reminded me of an airport lounge in some ways) and I thought the theming more in tune with the Disney hotels in that there was a story attached.

In no way would I say I was disappointed by it at all and would certainly stay there again

 

[Dianetigger]

We stayed at the Explorers in July of 2005 and loved it there, found it very clean and the staff very friendly and helpful. The only downside (if you can really call it that) was the frequency of the buses and the crowding of them.
In the evenings we used to catch the bus to the Santa Fe (naughty I know!) and then walk the rest of the way back to the hotel , very pleasant and gave us some wonderful memories of our holidays, especially the falling in the ditch!

 

[Ware Bears]

Sorry you had a bad experience. We've stayed at the Explorers four times now and have always found it to be spotlessly clean and the staff very helpful.

As we're a family of 5 we stay there as it's more economical to do so and as we have to book the extra cabin room we get lots more space that way. However, if money wasn't an option, I think I would always opt for a Disney hotel.

Regarding the Christmas decorations still up past twelfth night were they the stars hanging from the ceilings as they are always up all year round. If so, I know they look like Christmas deccies but they are meant to be part of the exploration theme. If not, then I hope it's not going to be unlucky as we've booked to stay there in August!!

Anyway, glad it didn't spoil your trip and that you had a wonderful time.

 

[marcus.ka]

Regarding Christmas decoration: When we were at the Resort around 22nd January 2006 we had a look into the DLH and in the lobby the whole Christmas decoration was still present.

 

[Ware Bears]

Ooh, very unlucky.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Gosh really Marcus, well there was certainly no evidence of Christmas at the Disneyland Hotel this year.
As for the decs at the Explorers, no not just stars but clusters of baulble decorations and in the restaurant still snowy stencils of snowmen, santa etc on the windows.
As for a trippie, I will try to write one today sometime if I can. As for pics, my camera is broken at the moment and we had to rely on DMIL to take pics. If I see her today I'll see what I can do.

 

[marcus.ka]

Sounds great. I can't wait.

 

[dgutte]

Whilst I love the Explorers and am a bit miffed that for budget reasons we are not stayin there this weekend, the pool is not that warm - in fact, I found it cold and despite the kids pleas I was not staying in there for more than 5 mins!!