Help Choosing Hotel

[clb79]

Stanford Inn & Suites vs Desert Inn & Suites...

Our last trip (3 years ago) we stayed at Stanford Inn & Suites and didn't have any issues or concerns. The only real "issue" with Stanford Inn & Suites is the distance to the Parks. On our previous trip we paid to park at Mickey & Friends a couple of days and also did the walk to the Toy Story Lot and it wasn't too bad. There is also the ART stop which we haven't tried before.

There were a few minor things, but nothing that would make us not stay there again, in fact we were booked there again in 2017 before we had to cancel our entire trip. We are finally making it back in Oct and have booked Stanford Inn & Suites again in a Kids Suite w/ 2 baths. However, I have found a similar rate at Desert Inn & Suites for the same dates (It would be about 100.00 difference on the quotes from both webpages, it looks like parking is more at Desert Inn too.)

Is being right across the street worth being cramped into a smaller (Parlor A) size room, paying more for parking, etc. I have also seen a lot of negative reviews for Desert Inn & Suites on Facebook, Yelp, Trip Advisor mixed in with 5 star reviews. Their cancellation policy (and credit card holds) seemed to be one of the big complaints. So it makes me a little nervous to go from something we are familiar with to an unknown.

Has anyone stayed at both or have an opinion to help me decide whether its worth the gamble/risk to change?

EDIT: We are a family of 6 (2 teenagers and 2 children). Stanford has two queens and then a bunk bed in a kind of separate room. Is a Parlor Suite going to be way to cramped for us?

 

[Cal-Pie]

Proximity is priority #1 for us, and we stay at DI&S regularly. It's nothing fancy, but the parlor suite accommodates our family of five just fine. Their cancellation policy is 48 hrs last I checked? That's pretty standard. They do charge your card for the 1st night 48 hrs before check in. I've never stayed at Stanford, so I really can't compare the 2, but we love being within close walking distance.

 

[Geemo]

For off-site we stay at the Tropicana or Desert Inn & Suites.
The Tropicana is our choice if we plan pool time.
Otherwise the DI&S is where we will stay for a trip. Mainly because the rates are generally less.

Being right across the street is so nice.

 

[cinnaminny]

I think being directly across the street is almost always the right choice. Although, I have never stayed at either of these.

 

[avalon451]

I've stayed at DI&S twice. It is definitely basic, but it's clean. The breakfast is lame, but I prefer to eat our own groceries in the room anyway-- faster, tastier and more convenient. The best thing about it is that you are literally 5 minutes from the turnstiles. At the end of the day, you just can't beat it! Easy to go back for midday breaks, too. No shuttles, no ubers, no walking for a mile when you're worn out. Plus it is generally the least expensive of all the Harbor Blvd hotels.

That said, I think the parlor suite would be cramped for 6 of you. I've stayed in one, and it's nice, but I wouldn't cram 2 kids in the hide-a-bed in the "parlor" (read: tiny tv room by the front door). I'd look into their "family suite" which is just 2 connected rooms with 2 queens in each, and of course each with its own bathroom.

 

[clb79]

Does anyone know if they have renovated all of the suites at Desert Inn now or is it just luck of the draw?

 

[clb79]

I did a little more number crunching. The Family Suite at Desert Inn is an additional 600 dollars, so it’s not in the cards/budget this time around.

Stanford doesn’t show if their reservation includes a resort fee or if that would be tacked on later. With their parking fee added they are 30 dollars cheaper for a lot more space.

However, unless we walked to the Toy Story Lot everyday or all the way in to the parks we would come out ahead at Desert Inn by not having to pay to park at Mickey & Friends or ride ART.

So I guess it really is down to if 2 adults, 2 teenagers and 5 & 8 year old can squeeze into a Parlor...

 

[smartlabelprint]

I’d squeeze in.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

These two threads have lots of helpful information for you:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/
Read through them and ask any questions in the choosing-the-right-hotel thread. At DLR, location, location, location is key -- and it can be well worth the money to invest in your convenience, peace of mind, and less wear and tear on your legs and feet. What you might invest in money, you will save in time, sanity, and energy.

 

[clb79]

These two threads have lots of helpful information for you:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/
Read through them and ask any questions in the choosing-the-right-hotel thread. At DLR, location, location, location is key -- and it can be well worth the money to invest in your convenience, peace of mind, and less wear and tear on your legs and feet. What you might invest in money, you will save in time, sanity, and energy.

Thanks for the advice, I had read HydroGuy's posts several years ago, but it was good to go back and read them again, should have done it sooner. That made the decision an easy one. We are going with Desert Inn & Suites.

When we spend so much money on a trip we want to get every last penny out of it when we are there, so we spend all day in the parks and are typically only in our room to sleep, so I think it is worth squeezing in (if its to cramped then we know for next time). The time savings by not having to drive in each day and park means more time to sleep in the morning or get ready. The money saved by not using the Parking Structure can go towards other things like MaxPass or Food in the Parks.

 

[Cal-Pie]

That made the decision an easy one. We are going with Desert Inn & Suites.

That's a good decision. Just a suggestion with the parlor suite; my 3 teens refuse to share beds so we bring a twin sized air mattress along. It fits perfectly in the front room between the fold out sofa and the dresser. Then we just prop it up against the wall during the day.