Fairfield Inn or Carousel?

[cburnett11]

If you were a family of 4 (15 yr old boy + 12 yr old girl) and would be staying 3 nights, which of these 2 places would you choose to stay and why?

We may swim the night of arrival as well as some during afternoon breaks. The prices are close (actually Carousel is about $17/night cheaper and it has a small continental breakfast). We've toured wdw extensively, but only one of us has been to DL... and that was in 1975.

We plan to arrive on a Tuesday night after driving from Sequoia np and simply relaxing, swimming, or going to downtown disney. On Wednesday the plan is to go to dl and then to go to dca on Thursday. We have 2-day park hoppers. We always get to the wdw turnstiles before opening and plan to do the same here. We also usually close up the park and expect to do the same. We'll leave the area Friday morning.

Thanks, any input is appreciated

 

[Itinkso]

For Thursday: Go to DL first and then head over to DCA when it opens. You'll have a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours in DL before DCA opens.

Both hotel properties are nice. We, though, choose to stay at Camelot Inn or Tropicana. Not sure what the pricing is on them at your trip time.

 

[julw]

We love The Carousel. It does have a pretty small rooftop pool (not the greatest), but I am not sure of the size of pool at the Fairfield Inn? That may be a deciding factor for you?

The Carousel is always clean and the cont. b-fast is nice. We love it also because it is so close (closer than the Fairfield Inn) to the main gates. We are actually staying at The Carousel in July in one of the view suites. I can't wait! Good luck!

 

[cburnett11]

>For Thursday: Go to DL first and then head over to DCA when it opens. >You'll have a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours in DL before DCA opens.

I figured that DL would have enough EE (which I wouldn't be participating in with a 2 day hopper) that it would not make it worth my while on Thursday. That is why we are planning to go to DL on Wednesday because it is a non-EE day. Am I missing something here?

 

[ter-moo]

Like you said, Carousel's got the breakfast and Fairfield doesn't. That would be a deal-clincher for me.

It's also closer to the parks' entrances. HOWEVER, there is NO hot tub by the pool, if that matters to you.

I haven't stayed at the Fairfield. It used to get some not-so-nice reviews, but lately they've been very good, so I think it has improved.

 

[Husker Mickey]

We've stayed at the Fairfield two times and have found it nice. It is true that it is further away from the main gate than the other hotel. The pool is nice sized. Our kids swam a couple of times. There is not a continental breakfast, but there is a McDonalds that you walk past to get to the main gate. (That was convenient) Sorry, can't comment on the other hotel because we haven't stayed there.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

>For Thursday: Go to DL first and then head over to DCA when it opens. >You'll have a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours in DL before DCA opens.

I figured that DL would have enough EE (which I wouldn't be participating in with a 2 day hopper) that it would not make it worth my while on Thursday. That is why we are planning to go to DL on Wednesday because it is a non-EE day. Am I missing something here?

I think I can answer that one for you....I noticed in your first post you mentioned wdw...I know in wdw you need the whole day pretty much in a particular park due to distance and such regarding travel time to and from hotel etc...DL is completely different...the parks are right across from each other, separated by a hub and most people park hop all day long...you dont really need to stay in one park the whole day nor would you really want to...the best way to see both parks is what Itinkso said...go to DL first because even with EE, its still not crowded and you can get alot done in the first couple of hours...when it starts picking up, go over to DCA and you will get in some good ride time before it really starts picking up crowd wise...at that point, go back to the hotel and swim, nap, eat whatever and then about 5ish go back to either park and parkhop again...

 

[kiwitravel]

I haven't stayed at the Fairfield so can't comment other than it is a bit further away and is a high rise sort of hotel, we went and had a look but didn't appeal. Carousel is smaller and very friendly and we found the breakfast very good. The only negative is the pool which is small but plenty big enough for a swim, its about 12 yards by 6yards and about 6 foot deep at the deep end so you have to watch young kids.

 

[Hound 109]

I think I can answer that one for you....I noticed in your first post you mentioned wdw...I know in wdw you need the whole day pretty much in a particular park due to distance and such regarding travel time to and from hotel etc...DL is completely different...the parks are right across from each other, separated by a hub and most people park hop all day long...you dont really need to stay in one park the whole day nor would you really want to...the best way to see both parks is what Itinkso said...go to DL first because even with EE, its still not crowded and you can get alot done in the first couple of hours...when it starts picking up, go over to DCA and you will get in some good ride time before it really starts picking up crowd wise...at that point, go back to the hotel and swim, nap, eat whatever and then about 5ish go back to either park and parkhop again...

I agree 100% with this.

If it was me, I'd get to DL 15-30 min. before Gen. Park opening. You will likely be allowed onto Main St. (but not into FL or Tomorrowland...which is where the EE folks will be).

At rope drop, head to Indy (or Splash) & pick up a FP. Then you can pretty much walk on (Splash, Pooh, HM, Pirates, BMTRR, Jungle Cruise) the first 75 min. or so.

At this point head over to DCA (but pick up a FP at SM or some other popular ride before you go).

Use the FP's that you picked up that night when you're back at DL.

Have fun.