Harbor Hotels Advice

[mouschievous]

Sept 2020, we're going to DLR to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. It will be H & me in one room and my parents in a second room. I'm getting ready to book 3 different hotels because we can't decide We're likely splurging and staying at DLH, but in case we change our minds I'm also booking Homewood Suites and one of the Harbor hotels. We'll figure out which one to stay at when we get closer.

Priorities are a firm bed and shower with high water pressure and not-short shower head (Dad and H are both over 6'). Breakfast is a bonus, but not a deal breaker. The quieter the location, the better.

Given that, any advice from the experts? I know somewhere there is a chart that compares all these things but I couldn't find it today. We've never stayed in any of those hotels - the last time Mom and Dad were at Disney, all the hotels still had their own shuttles to the parks!

 

[lalasmama]

My first thought is always Park Vue Inn; it's the closest there is to the pedestrian entrance. It's relatively quiet (as quiet as any Harbor motel can be with kids running around). The beds are just firm enough, but they do have a pillow top if I remember correctly. Park Vue has breakfast. I don't remember how high the shower head is; I'm short so it's not a big point for me, ha!

Desert Inn and Suites is *very* budget, but they have *very* firm beds, and some rooms have high shower heads. Room 331 (or maybe it's 330?) has a normal shower head plus a hand-held shower. You can turn them both on to get a higher water pressure. Otherwise, most places have pretty weak water pressure because it's the whole water conservation thing.

There's several hotels and motels that might be better, though. I haven't stayed at them, but you might want to check out Fairfield (it's an actual hotel!), Courtyard, and HoJo (another actual hotel). HoJo specifically is a bit longer of a walk, but I hear good things to it. They have a discount (10%? 15%? for Disboard'ers).

 

[disneylover102]

I know this is a mile away, but Anaheim Carriage Inn has worked really well for us multiple times. It’s a quiet place a mile south of Disneyland and the price isn’t too bad.

 

[VandVsmama]

Park Vue Inn, Hojo, or Candy Cane Inn. We've stayed at Park Vue and Hojo. But I don't know if the shower heads in the bathroom were high or not. My DH is 6' tall and he didn't complain.

Park Vue Inn has breakfast + if you have a car, there wasn't a fee for parking there. Hojo doesn't charge for parking either. no free breakfast at Hojo's, but all of the rooms except for the cheapest rooms have a fridge & microwave (cheapest rooms only have a fridge). And there are some decent breakfast options between Hojo's & the crosswalk at BWPPI.

Candy Cane Inn has a free continental breakfast but they also have a shuttle, which your parents might appreciate!

With the $$ you'll save on lodging compared to on site hotels, you'd potentially have extra $$ in your trip budget to splurge for some extras, like the WOC dessert party. Or a fancy celebration dinner at Napa Rose or Steakhouse 55.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Give the Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn a try. It's right by the crosswalk. It's clean, the breakfast is good, the rooms have been recently renovated, and the room rates are pretty reasonable.

 

[EsmeCullen]

Be careful about booking multiple hotels because you can’t decide. I did that and ended up forgetting to cancel a reservation and they charged me for one night

 

[mouschievous]

I know this is a mile away, but Anaheim Carriage Inn has worked really well for us multiple times. It’s a quiet place a mile south of Disneyland and the price isn’t too bad.

I'll look into it! Is it close to the Toy Story lot, or is this an Uber/Lyft situation? We're trying to avoid that if at all possible, which was why I chose Homewood for a hotel that's further away.

Park Vue Inn, Hojo, or Candy Cane Inn. We've stayed at Park Vue and Hojo. But I don't know if the shower heads in the bathroom were high or not. My DH is 6' tall and he didn't complain.

Park Vue Inn has breakfast + if you have a car, there wasn't a fee for parking there. Hojo doesn't charge for parking either. no free breakfast at Hojo's, but all of the rooms except for the cheapest rooms have a fridge & microwave (cheapest rooms only have a fridge). And there are some decent breakfast options between Hojo's & the crosswalk at BWPPI.

Candy Cane Inn has a free continental breakfast but they also have a shuttle, which your parents might appreciate!

With the $$ you'll save on lodging compared to on site hotels, you'd potentially have extra $$ in your trip budget to splurge for some extras, like the WOC dessert party. Or a fancy celebration dinner at Napa Rose or Steakhouse 55.

No car, so no problem there. We looked at CCI but none of us loved the look of it, and it's too far to walk for Dad. Not that he *can't* - he just doesn't want to Understandable - he has 2 artificial knees and arthritis, so he wants to save all his steps for the park. We're leaning toward on property or one of the Harbor hotels at the crosswalk so we don't have to rely on a shuttle; I've heard stories about people not being able to get back and forth in a timely manner.

Give the Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn a try. It's right by the crosswalk. It's clean, the breakfast is good, the rooms have been recently renovated, and the room rates are pretty reasonable.

Thanks, I'll look into it more closely!

Be careful about booking multiple hotels because you can’t decide. I did that and ended up forgetting to cancel a reservation and they charged me for one night

OH NO!! I just added a cancellation "appointment" to my phone calendar with multiple alarms so that I won't forget. Thank you for the warning!

 

[Disney_Alli]

The CCI shuttle runs every 30 minutes (on the hour and half hour from the hotel, on the quarter hours from the park I believe) and is reportedly the most reliable shuttle basically in the history of the world from every report I've ever read.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Agree about the CCI shuttle -- that shuttle runs On Time! And the drivers are courteous, friendly, and helpful. They help my parents in and out of the shuttle every trip. The shuttle is reliable enough that you can schedule around it going to and coming back from the parks. But, it isn't so rigid that that drivers won't help you out. For the last run of the day (when we've notified the driver ahead of time about a possible delay) or when there is no one else waiting and the driver can see us coming, the driver has waited for us.
And as for the "look of the place," look at the Premium Rooms. We always book those, and it really makes a difference. The Premium Rooms are larger, come with amenities baskets, bath robes, DVD players (free rentals at the front desk), a small refrigerator and microwave, breakfast delivered to the room (on time every time and made exactly as requested). etc. We get two connecting rooms so that we can create a sort of suite with two bathrooms and two sink areas. By saving hundreds of dollars over the GCH per night, we can splurge on lots of luxury perks in the parks, especially on treats for my parents.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I think your idea of staying at the crosswalk or onsite is a great idea. Park vue is right a the light from the entrance. Very close to where CCI shuttle drops off and you don’t have to wait, which is a huge plus. I guess I’m the only one who had a bad experience with their shuttle. It was late once and another time didn’t show up at all until we called them asking where it was. For the same price I’d rather stay at the crosswalk or pay more to stay on property. Have fun!

 

[disneylover102]

I'll look into it! Is it close to the Toy Story lot, or is this an Uber/Lyft situation? We're trying to avoid that if at all possible, which was why I chose Homewood for a hotel that's further away.

It’s not right next to the Toy Story lot but it’s pretty close (maybe a few minutes walking). What we tend to do is walk to the park in the morning straight from the hotel (about a mile) and when returning at night we take the shuttle to the Toy Story lots and walk to the hotel from there. We’ve never taken Uber/Lyft on a Disney trip because we hate it .

 

[kirstie101]

My in laws love Park Vue Inn. It has a breakfast and is right at the crosswalk. Rooms are clean. I’ve never stayed there but I’d consider it. Hojo is my preferred hotel but sounds like it might be too far a walk for your Dad.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Be careful which Best Western you book. There are two on Harbor.

 

[MillauFr]

The CCI shuttle runs every 30 minutes (on the hour and half hour from the hotel, on the quarter hours from the park I believe) and is reportedly the most reliable shuttle basically in the history of the world from every report I've ever read.

Yep it is always on time. We've gotten to the bus drop off area at 16 or 46 after the hour and it is pulling away.