Good Neighbor Hotels

[doombuggy]

Any advice on which hotel to choose, in case we cannot get a week on the time share from RCI? We are looking to go in either late April (after Easter) or mid-May. There are two of us, so we are looking for a room that has two beds and is reasonably priced (ie under $100 per night). I was thinking of making a ressie in case the timeshare does not pan out. We will need something that can be cancelled, within a reasonable time of course. Any suggestions?

 

[AFMom]

I always recommend the Candy Cane Inn - wonderful rooms, their own shuttle, and a very comprehensive breakfast every morning. We've always enjoyed ourselves there!

 

[Albertan mom]

We stayed at the Park Inn in "04. It was very close, clean, friendly, Okay breakfast, good gift shops, and we liked it fine.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort Area last week. It was not close, clean, good restaurant and we won't stay there again, because it is too far away for our liking.

We will never stay off Harbor Blvd. again!!

 

[ZeusNike]

I'd agree with both above, Candy Cane Inn or The Park Inn are our favourites...clean, comforable and close! The Candy Cane has a better breakfast, down comforters and a shuttle. The Park Inn is a bit shorter walk and has suites available....

 

[crasher11]

We stayed at the Tropicana Inn in June and it was way handy to run back and forth to rest or swim in the afternoon. We liked that it was a quick walk and no shuttle to wait for. We will stay there again. JMO

 

[doombuggy]

Thanks guys, and keep those opinions coming! Rikersmom & I are just trying to cover our bases. I am going away for the holiday, but she'll be around to keep an eye out for your opinions! Thanks!

 

[robinb]

You might also be able to get the Howard Johnson's or even the Hilton for under $100 per night. I know that Mousesavers has a discount code for the HoJos.

 

[LukenDC]

You might also be able to get the Howard Johnson's or even the Hilton for under $100 per night. I know that Mousesavers has a discount code for the HoJos.

I was able to get a $99 rate at the Hilton for the last weekend in January. The great rate was through AAA.

 

[robinb]

I was able to get a $99 rate at the Hilton for the last weekend in January.

We paid $99 at the Hilton for our October trip . It's about a 20 minute walk to the front gate, or a shorter walk to the Disneyland parking lot to catch a tram to the gate, or you can take the ART for $3 per day.

 

[joanne1968]

I keep answering this question, and never get an answer, what are the benefits of staying at a Good neighbour hotel?

 

[NancyIL]

I keep answering this question, and never get an answer, what are the benefits of staying at a Good neighbour hotel?

That's what the off-site hotels are called that have Disney Travel Company packages. To my knowledge, there are no special benefits to booking a "good neighbor hotel" without a package.

 

[joanne1968]

Thanks Nancy, so that means you can get the EE packages is that correct?

 

[ter-moo]

Any advice on which hotel to choose, in case we cannot get a week on the time share from RCI?

Another vote for the Candy Cane Inn!
www.candycaneinn.net

I've stayed at Carousel Inn, and Desert Inn (both across the street from the park entrances). Not bad, but nothing special. I've also stayed at the DL Hotel and the Grand Californian. DL Hotel is more expensive than it's worth, and quite a hike to the parks. Grand CA is lovely, but it's definitely a splurge hotel. Neither of these would fit your budget.

Candy Cane has nicely decorated rooms, comfy beds, a private shuttle, a pretty good free breakfast, and is an easy walking distance to the parks. You'll love it!

 

[ter-moo]

I keep answering this question, and never get an answer, what are the benefits of staying at a Good neighbour hotel?

The benefits are:
1. Price--most are under $100 a night, some in the $50-60 range even.
2. Location--several are right across the street from the main park entrances, and others are within a block or two. The Disney hotels (with the exception of Grand Californian, which is INSIDE California Adventure) are quite a hike.
3. Free Breakfast--the majority of them serve a continental breakfast. Many have microwaves and fridges, too.
4. Family suites--several of them offer cheap suites for families, with separate rooms.
5. Shuttle Service--Many offer shuttle service for when you're just to tired to walk after a day at the parks. Some of this is for a fee (ART shuttle); some is free, but shared with several other hotels, so it's time consuming; and some have private, free shuttle service (Candy Cane Inn, for one.)

I've never booked a package (it's just cheaper to do everything separately) so I don't know what the benefits are to that, other than price.

Hope this helps!

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Depends on what you are looking for in a hotel. We were looking for a clean, comfortable place to sleep, keep a little breakfast and snack food, within easy walking distance that had a suite for 4 adults and one child. The Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites fit our bill just fine. It was no Bellagio, but we got a two bedroom suite with two full baths, a microwave, fridge and sitting area for $129 a night in mid-December (Mon-Thurs). It was no "experience" hotel, but we weren't interested in "experiencing" the hotel.

DI&S also has a great fireworks viewing "sun deck" if you aren't in the park for them. We liked that for our first night when we were going to start our hoppers the next day. We missed the soundtrack and the projections, but we couldn't beat the view of the pyrotechnics themselves!

Just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Since you mentioned RCI, I assume you've put in for Dolphin's Cove? We stayed there over Halloween and fit our needs really well. The exchange came through about 3 weeks before we left but we had a 24-hour cancellation on the reservation we had made at the HoJo's so it all worked out fine. Let me know if you have any questions about Dolphin's Cove.

 

[doombuggy]

I've also stayed at the DL Hotel and the Grand Californian. DL Hotel is more expensive than it's worth, and quite a hike to the parks. Grand CA is lovely, but it's definitely a splurge hotel. Neither of these would fit your budget.

I have stayed on property a few times (well, actually every time I have been there) and it gets expensive, even with a discount. We put in for both RCI timeshares in anaheim, and also three others a bit farther out, b/c my dad has a free week to give us. nothing has hit so far, but hopefully soon, since the year is about to come to a close. We wanted to check out some of the other nearby places, in case we need to book something. We will probably go up to the LA area at least once to visit Rikersmom's son, so we won't be spending huge amounts of time in the room. The idea of watching fireworks from the room, however would apreal to her!

 

[Judy from Boise]

The benefits of booking a package at a good neighbor hotel vary from year to year and vendor to vendor, but usually from Disney involves a lanyard and pin, some preffered seating, an extra early entry etc. It is usually the same as on-site but much cheaper.

 

[doombuggy]

any other opinions are most welcome.
SeattleRedBear, might try what you did - how was dolphin's cove?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Given the opportunity (and, okay, based on price) I never hesitate to stay at a Marriott property - there's a Fairfield Inn maybe a block away from the entrance.