First trip - where to stay?

[Boardwalk_bride]

After years of thinking about it, we finally booked a trip to Paris. We are coming from near Toronto.

I have a hotel offsite booked, but thinking of staying onsite for EMH and overall Disney experience. We almost always stay onsite in WDW (just did Dolphin a few weeks ago, and it felt weird). Is there a big difference in staying onsite vs off? How is the a/c situation? I've read mixed reviews. I sleep hot, as does my family - we usually sleep at 18.5 C year round. We are turning 40, and celebrating our 15 year anniversary (we married in WDW), so I'm okay to splurge a bit, but prob not the Disneyland Hotel prices. We are going for 3 nights at the end of our trip (6 nights prior in Paris).

TIA

 

[zavandor]

All the onsite hotels offer the same advantage for early entry and restaurant booking (1 year in advance vs 60 days).

All are within walking distance to the park. Of course the Disneyland hotel is right above the main entrance, so it's the most convenient, but also eye watering expensive. The second best is the recently refurbished Marvel hotel, which is 10 minutes walk away, the least convenient is hotel Santa Fe, which is 15-20 minutes way. There is also a shuttle bus from all hotels, but most fo the times walking is faster and more pleasant, the walk is all on property and along greenery and the lake.
So there isn't much difference in convenience, not enough to justify (in my opinion) the price difference. If you walked from the Swan to Hollywood studios, you can manage the walk from every onsite hotel at DLP.

So it comes down to amenities: the value hotels, Cheyenne and Santa Fe, don't have a pool and only one buffet restaurant. the others have two and also a lounge. However, it you want to visit any restaurant they're just a few minutes away. Like staying at Beach Club and going to Trattoria al Forno for dinner.

As you may have already guessed, I think Cheyenne and Santa Fe offer the best value, if you don't mind the longer walk, slightly smaller rooms and fewer amenities. Cheyenne in particular, even as a Value, I think it has a quite effective theming as an Old West village with a touch of Toy Story Woodie and friends in the rooms. If you want to upgrade, Sequoia is a good compromise, it's a "moderate" version of the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Karin1984]

Cheyenne recently increased their prices, it is now also considered a 3 star hotel. Santa Fe is 2, Seqouia is also 3. So now Cheyenne is often as expensive as Sequoia Lodge, but then further away and less amenities, as in Cheyenne has no pool for example.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Thank you! This is helpful. I've read some poor reviews about the a/c for Sequoia, which is too bad as it was my first pick. I'll take a deeper dive into the reviews. I think if we stay on property and pool would be good for the kiddo.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Thank you! This is helpful. I've read some poor reviews about the a/c for Sequoia, which is too bad as it was my first pick. I'll take a deeper dive into the reviews. I think if we stay on property and pool would be good for the kiddo.

For such a short trip, is a pool really necessary? When will your trip be? If you were doing a similar trip in WDW, how much would you use the pool.

I did a multigeneration trip in October 2023. We stayed at Santa Fe, and my 8 year old niece was exhausted every night. We did a 4 night trip , 2 full days in the park, arrival day and departure day and there was so much to do and see that there would have been no time for pool time if our hotel had one.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

For such a short trip, is a pool really necessary? When will your trip be? If you were doing a similar trip in WDW, how much would you use the pool.

I did a multigeneration trip in October 2023. We stayed at Santa Fe, and my 8 year old niece was exhausted every night. We did a 4 night trip , 2 full days in the park, arrival day and departure day and there was so much to do and see that there would have been no time for pool time if our hotel had one.

We just came back from WDW and Universal Orlando. 8 full days in the park, not even warm out, and every night my daughter asked to go in the pool. She finds a different gear for vacation! Sometimes she just wants a swim break, and oen of us will take her back, and one can stay on their own in the park, which we like to do for an hour or so as well.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

We just came back from WDW and Universal Orlando. 8 full days in the park, not even warm out, and every night my daughter asked to go in the pool. She finds a different gear for vacation! Sometimes she just wants a swim break, and oen of us will take her back, and one can stay on their own in the park, which we like to do for an hour or so as well.

Then I would advise Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay for you. Newport Bay pool is in the main building, Sequoia Lodge pool is in a separate building, not the main building. You would need to research the pool opening times and make sure the pool in the hotel choose will be open during your dates.

 

[Karin1984]

When is your trip? AC will never be as strong as it is in the US, so adjust expectations that you might get warm during the night.

I had a look for the opening times of the pools, Sequoia Lodge' & Newport Bay's pool are both open from 7:00am to 10:00 pm. During the Summer months the park is open till somewhere between 9 and 11pm depending on the day of the week and the month. But even if the park is open till 9, before the fireworks is over, you are back in the hotel, it's at least 9:30-9:45. So if she wants to go swimming it won't be after park hours.

If the pool is important, have a look at pictures/videos of the pools. Newport Bay's pool is in the main building, but I think Sequoia has better atmosphere.

When you book your hotel on the DLP website, don't forget to switch the country in the top right corner. US website usually has the most expensive prices.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

When is your trip? AC will never be as strong as it is in the US, so adjust expectations that you might get warm during the night.

I had a look for the opening times of the pools, Sequoia Lodge' & Newport Bay's pool are both open from 7:00am to 10:00 pm. During the Summer months the park is open till somewhere between 9 and 11pm depending on the day of the week and the month. But even if the park is open till 9, before the fireworks is over, you are back in the hotel, it's at least 9:30-9:45. So if she wants to go swimming it won't be after park hours.

If the pool is important, have a look at pictures/videos of the pools. Newport Bay's pool is in the main building, but I think Sequoia has better atmosphere.

When you book your hotel on the DLP website, don't forget to switch the country in the top right corner. US website usually has the most expensive prices.

I did check that, thank you! UK site is significantly cheaper. The pool isn't necessary, more a bonus if it works out. Are EMH worth it vs staying offsite? I'm looking at L'Elysee as an option.

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[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I did check that, thank you! UK site is significantly cheaper. The pool isn't necessary, more a bonus if it works out. Are EMH worth it vs staying offsite? I'm looking at L'Elysee as an option.

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Yes the EMH are a huge advantage. They let hotel guests in from around 8.15am and off site have to wait until 9 am. Even just being in the parks and being able to to rope drop the lands gives a huge advantage.

Ive stayed L'Elysee Hotel. I did an overnight there when I did a solo trip in 2006 on my departure day. For me, doing offsite defeats the purpose of going to the parks.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Yes the EMH are a huge advantage. They let hotel guests in from around 8.15am and off site have to wait until 9 am. Even just being in the parks and being able to to rope drop the lands gives a huge advantage.

Ive stayed L'Elysee Hotel. I did an overnight there when I did a solo trip in 2006 on my departure day. For me, doing offsite defeats the purpose of going to the parks.

Okay, thank you. That makes sense. We did DL California offsite (only time every truly offsite, since Swan and Dolphin get perks in WDW), and it was painful watching people get to go in early.

 

[Karin1984]

I did check that, thank you! UK site is significantly cheaper. The pool isn't necessary, more a bonus if it works out. Are EMH worth it vs staying offsite? I'm looking at L'Elysee as an option.

Most headliners are open during EMH, and being there right at opening will knock out 2 or 3 headliners within one hour.

 

[zavandor]

I did check that, thank you! UK site is significantly cheaper. The pool isn't necessary, more a bonus if it works out. Are EMH worth it vs staying offsite? I'm looking at L'Elysee as an option.

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During early entry in the main park you can easily do both Peter Pan and BTMRR (and possibly with repeats), those will have 45-90 minutes wait most of the day. If you pay once each for Premier Pass it would be around 30€ per person. For a family of 4 that would be a "value" of 120€. Add the cost of the RER tickets back and forth for everyone
How cheaper is staying offsite for your dates?

Then, also add not monetary benefits like staying in the bubble and booking restaurants earlier so you can get your favorites.

 

[zavandor]

Cheyenne recently increased their prices, it is now also considered a 3 star hotel. Santa Fe is 2, Seqouia is also 3. So now Cheyenne is often as expensive as Sequoia Lodge, but then further away and less amenities, as in Cheyenne has no pool for example.

Oh no!
Cheyenne is nice, but nice for a Value. It's not in the same league as the Sequoia, I'd book that every time if price is the same.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Thanks everyone. I ended up booking the New York one. This is a once in a lifetime (probably) trip, falling close to my 40th bday, so I want to treat myself but the DL hotel is a bit (a lot!) too much! I think I'd regret not staying right in the disney bubble, and it sounds like EMH are going to make a big difference

 

[Karin1984]

Oh no!
Cheyenne is nice, but nice for a Value. It's not in the same league as the Sequoia, I'd book that every time if price is the same.

Yes, I am really confused how they hand our stars in France. Sequoia Lodge might feel tired, but in amenities it is leagues better than Cheyenne.