First time at Disneyland, hotel question

[mcz100]

We are from Cincinnati and traveling out west to Vegas and LA.

We are planning 1 day at Disneyland and my question is what hotel should we stay at in Anaheim. I would like to use Marriott reward points and there are several that say they are right at the main gate.

Just curious from anyone with experience which would be best.
Thanks

 

[chickapin parterre]

Main gate can be defined as two California blocks long, two blocks north, two blocks south. . There are no marriotts across from the transit portal. What would you like from your marriott, there are four choices.

 

[Cal-Pie]

Courtyard Theme Park Entrance/ Water Park would be your best bet. 10 min walk to the gates. 2nd choice would be Fairfield.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

We use our points at the Courtyard Theme Park entrance. It's 5 minutes to the gate. We stayed there last Summer, and are going again this Summer on points. Saved over $2,000 each trip! LOVE that hotel! So clean and modern, love the split bath, and my kids (ages 11 and 19) enjoy the waterpark.

 

[HydroGuy]

We are from Cincinnati and traveling out west to Vegas and LA.

We are planning 1 day at Disneyland and my question is what hotel should we stay at in Anaheim. I would like to use Marriott reward points and there are several that say they are right at the main gate.

Just curious from anyone with experience which would be best.
Thanks

This may help:

"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

 

[ParkHopper1]

Marriott Platinum member here...The Courtyard Theme Park Entrance is the nicest off site walkable hotel IMO, that is my first choice. Second choice is the Fairfield Inn. A bit older property but the rooms have recently been "refreshed" (no free breakfast FYI).

You can't go wrong with either one. Fairfield is a bit closer by just a few steps, Courtyard is a bit nicer with a few more amenities available.

There is new Springhill Suites. I have not stayed, but it is a brand new property and just a bit further walk to the gates but totally manageable. The Marriott Hotel really needs to hop on the ART shuttle, that is a bit of a hike and unless you need a multi room suite, no need to go to the Residence Inn over CY or FFI.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

DH stayed at the Springhill Suites on Katella last Summer while we were at the Courtyard (working trip for him). He loved it, and he is a hotel snob (Lifetime Platinum Premier member!) He walked to the park when he met up with us, BUT, it was a hike. He likes to walk though. He said the free breakfast was good, and enjoyed the roof top views.
FYI, Courtyard is now a Cat 9...and the others are still Cat 8, so they are less points

 

[theluckyrabbit]

DH stayed at the Springhill Suites on Katella last Summer ... He walked to the park when he met up with us, BUT, it was a hike. He likes to walk though...

The OP will find that distance is very relative at DLR. What is "a hike" to one person is not a big deal to someone else. Much of this depends on how much walking you are used to doing normally, whether there are mobility issues, strollers or not, ages of family members, etc. We often stay at the Sheraton Park, which is a few hotels further away from the Springhill Suites, and find the walk to be fairly short. It is level and takes about 10-15 minutes to get to the parks depending on the 2 signals. So the walk from the Springhill Suites would be even less. 3 advantages to the Springhill Suites: it is fairly new, it is above the 24/7 CVS if you should need anything (staff there is very nice and friendly), and it is also above a full service Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. One disadvantage: walking straight up Harbor will have you going through the Harbor bag check/security, which is inconsistent time-wise. Sometimes that bag check can get backed up. We much prefer the bag checks at M&F or DTD because they move much faster. You could always get Uber or Lyft to drop you at the DTD bag check, then walk through DTD to the gates if you wanted to avoid the Harbor entrance during peak traffic periods.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Good point about Springhill being above the CVS. We stayed at the Sheraton Park a few years ago and it seems like we must have stopped at that CVS at least 3 times for one reason or another.

 

[MSH518]

We always stay at the Fairfield Inn. The refreshed rooms are nice and it's a short and easy walk to the parks. We don't have children, so we don't need the extra space/waterpark of the Courtyard next door, but that would be a great option for families.