first visit-good neighbor hotel

[disney minnie]

We have never been to Disneyland and don't know the hotel layout.

If we book a good neighbor hotel, which hotels are the closest and have good reputations?

 

[chickapin parterre]

how much do you want to spend, how close to walking or driving, what degree of quiet, depending on a chain lodging, what is clean to you, what is interior upgrade for you? And, when are you visiting?

 

[Canuck16]

Most across the street to the parks are motels if that makes any difference to you

 

[figment_jii]

There are three "on-site" hotels: the Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, and Paradise Pier. It's about a half mile walk from the center of the Esplanade (the area between DL and DCA) to the DLH entrance and about 0.3 miles to the lobby of the GCH. I'd guess most folks could walk from the Esplanade to DLH in about 5 to 10 minutes depending on how fast you tend to walk. Another Dis'er was asking about walking routes to DLH and PP...the blue route cuts through the GCH to get to PP and the red route goes to DLH. You can get a rough sense of where the hotels are located on property.

In terms of the Good Neighbor Hotels, there are several of them. The most common ones you'll hear about are located along Harbor Boulevard from just north of Ball Rd to just south of Katella. All are motels (at this point), but most are fine. I've stayed at the Fairfield Inn, Ramada Maingate, and Best Western Park Place Inn. The rooms were pretty similar in terms of quality and size. They are motels, so nothing really fancy or special, but they weren't horribly dirty or awful either. I pretty much always stay at the BWPPI now because it's one of the two closest motels to DLR (the walk to the Esplanade is actually shorter than it is from the DLH). Disneyland.com has a list of some of the Good Neighbor Hotels on a map:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_nextgen/SiteCatalog/PDF/GoodNeighborHotelsMap-1.pdf

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Here's a list of Good Neighbor Hotels on The DIS. Also, scroll down for my reviews (podcasts & blogs).

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/disneyland-resorts/#goodneighbor

 

[kirstie101]

The absolute closest non-Disney property to the entrance of the parks is the Best Western Park Place Inn. Second would be Park Vue Inn. Those are both on either side of the crosswalk to the entrance to the Esplanade.

Here is a link to a map that shows the different properties around the park.
http://anaheim-attractions.10-best.info/disney_map.html

On Harbor I've stayed at the BWPPI, Desert Inn and Suites and the Hojo. All of these are easy walking distance. BWPPI would take you under 5 minutes, Hojo would take you under 10. Hojo is currently our favorite due to it being a hotel rather than a motel, the free parking, awesome beds, great kid pool and in room keurig coffee makers. However I wouldn't hesitate to stay at BWPPI or DI&S again as both were clean, comfortable, super close to the parks and they suited our needs just fine. Most of the hotels close to the entrance on Harbor are fairly well reviewed.

 

[LoriLovesMickey]

I usually book BWPPI or DI&S based on price. BWPPI is slightly nicer but they are so close that I would stay at DI&S if it was cheaper. DI&S has bigger suites and double connecting rooms. BWPPI suites are not really suites. For a large party I would probably go with DI&S.

 

[bcwife76]

This map gives you a good indication on where everything is situated and which hotels would be considered walkable to and from the parks:
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

 

[starjazz]

We always stay at the Tropicana. It usually comes in below the BWPPI and DI&S, but all depends on when you're going and when you book. We've loved it. Great pool (nicely heated) and hot tub. Very nice staff. Rooms are large and clean.

As another poster said, all of the ones directly across the street typically get good reviews, though. I'd stay at any if they were drastically cheaper. If it was only $5-15 per night, I'd just stay where I know.

 

[Kristina4109]

There are two Good Neighbor hotels that I recommend, depending on what you're looking for.

If you're looking for a place you'll want to head back to during the day, to use the pool, and to relax at, I'd pick the Howard Johnson Anaheim. It's within walking distance of the parks, although not as close at the BWPPI&MS. The pool has a really fun pirates theme that kids like, and a view of the Matterhorn. You can also watch the monorail whiz by. There is no onsite restaurant but Mimi's Cafe is right next door. The grounds are pretty with lots of greenery and the lobby is done up in a retro "Disneyland on opening day" style.

If you're a park commando and only need a hotel to sleep and shower in, I'd pick the Best Western Park Place Inn and Mini Suites. It is directly across the street from the pedestrian entrance to Disneyland. (As Tom mentioned above, he recently did a review of this place on the DL podcast.) The pool is a boring rectangle and there is no view at all. But it is hard to beat the location! Included in the price is a free breakfast buffet at Captain Kidd's next door - this is not fancy, but it's free with plenty of standard breakfast options. We've always found the front desk staff to be very nice. We've stayed here for my daughter's birthday twice, and each time they gave her a cute Disney birthday pin. (NOT the birthday button they give onsite.) This has become our go-to off-property hotel.

 

[disneydreamer74]

We have stayed at 2 across the street. Fairfield Inn and Hojos. We are staying at Hojo's this time because we plan to use the pool. Otherwise, we choose FFI. We absolutely love both and the walking is a non factor for my family, either way it is close!!