HELP - Good Neighbor Hotels

[nnyl_irret]

We will be at DL for 6 nigths before heading on the Hawaii cruise. Because this is a three week vacaiton we cannot justify spending the big $$$ and staying at a DL property. Can you please tell me which DL good Neighbor hotels you'd recommend? As much as we want to save money we don't want to end up somewhere that we'd regret. It'll be DH, DD7 and myself. My daughter will want to swim for sure, but the fanciness of the pool doens't matter.

Thanks a lot.

 

[jcarwash]

I'm new to the Disneyland area hotels, but in my research these are the ones that stood out for me.

Best Western Park Place Inn -- This is where I am planning to stay on my upcoming trip. Deciding factor is I get a good rate via my employer. But it's one of the closest to the east-side gate and breakfast is included. Parking is a daily charge. There is a pool but I expect it to be on the smaller side.

Howard Johnson -- For swimming and water play this appears to be the standout, because they have a themed kids play area. Breakfast is not included. They offer special rates for disboards.com using the code LNDB.

Candy Cane Inn -- This appears to be popular. Breakfast and parking is included. I'd like to try staying here but their rates are just okay and didn't ever budge.

Fairfield Inn -- I like other Fairfield Inns and so I'm intrigued by this one, but the rates and amenities didn't all match up for me. No breakfast, parking is extra.

Park Vue Inn -- This one is right next to the Best Western I plan to stay at, and it looks really nice with special amenities. But their rates didn't match what I wanted and I was turned off by their (apparently) charging your first night upon reservation.

Sheraton Anaheim -- I mention because this is the hotel I stayed at during my previous trip to Disneyland. I really enjoyed the hotel, but this time I found them too expensive and I want to be closer to the property. I had stayed here previously because of a good employer rate at the time.

 

[gatorfreud]

I have been very happy staying at HoJo many times.

 

[Cielei]

We have stayed at the Hilton, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn and found them all to be very pleasant. We liked the Hilton so much that we chose to stay at the Hilton in a Disney View room again for our upcoming trip. I am sure you will have a magical trip no matter where you choose to stay!

ps ... Hawaii is the plan for 2013 for us!

 

[chrissiecutie]

OP- The HoJo seems to be the most popular here on the boards. I can tell you that the HoJO is the only place my family stays when visiting DLR.

We keep coming back because:

The awesome ET/Retro Discount rates starting at $59/night.

The Castaway Cove pirate water park and nice big pool.

Big rooms, clean, comfy beds, fridge, micro & Keurig coffee makers!

Mimi's restaurant right next door is super yummy and offers $5 kids meals! Sign up on their website for coupons!

Close to park gates, about a 10-15 min walk. ART shuttle is avail if needed/wanted.

It's more of an actual Hotel vs Motel. Most other DL area you'll find motels.

The staff has always been very nice & helpful. Never had a bad customer service experience here.


I would also say that it's important to know that HoJo's is not a 5 star hotel. It's a great value, excellent location and nice, family friendly place to stay. But I think with any hotel/motel, its always good to know what to expect and to NOT expect before going.

IMO, the only thing HoJo's is missing is a good, hot, FREE breakfast. Ahem...HoJo folks...AHEM....anyone out there...hint, hint, wink, wink.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Oops....Will try again below.

 

[tiffjoy]

I like the HoJo. I was just going to book it for our September visit but it was full. I booked the Fairfield Inn instead, which we also like. The pool is not as nice as HoJo's though. Since we are spending the first few days of our vacation at the beach, I decided this won't be a limiting factor for our three year old.

The upside to the Fairfield is that it is a little bit closer to the parks and cheaper.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I'm new to the Disneyland area hotels, but in my research these are the ones that stood out for me.

Best Western Park Place Inn -- This is where I am planning to stay on my upcoming trip. Deciding factor is I get a good rate via my employer. But it's one of the closest to the east-side gate and breakfast is included. Parking is a daily charge. There is a pool but I expect it to be on the smaller side.

Howard Johnson -- For swimming and water play this appears to be the standout, because they have a themed kids play area. Breakfast is not included. They offer special rates for disboards.com using the code LNDB.

Candy Cane Inn -- This appears to be popular. Breakfast and parking is included. I'd like to try staying here but their rates are just okay and didn't ever budge.

Fairfield Inn -- I like other Fairfield Inns and so I'm intrigued by this one, but the rates and amenities didn't all match up for me. No breakfast, parking is extra.

Park Place Inn -- This one is right next to the Best Western I plan to stay at, and it looks really nice with special amenities. But their rates didn't match what I wanted and I was turned off by their (apparently) charging your first night upon reservation.

Sheraton Anaheim -- I mention because this is the hotel I stayed at during my previous trip to Disneyland. I really enjoyed the hotel, but this time I found them too expensive and I want to be closer to the property. I had stayed here previously because of a good employer rate at the time.

I think you meant to say Park Vue Inn instead of Park Place Inn. It is next door to Best Western Park Place Inn.

 

[Stitch35]

I really like the Del Sol inn, just a couple doors down from the crosswalk, clean, parking is extra, breakfast so so, but great rates and a clean pool. I also like the ramada maingate at the park. They have done some major remolding and improvements. They have a fun pool for kids that have a beach enterence and water squirters. Breakfast room is small, but the food is ok. Still very close walking distance. You can get some great rates at this hotel too.

 

[nnyl_irret]

Yay!!! I went for lunch and came back to all these great responses - thank you so much. I will look at them all and let you know what we choose.

 

[smiles33]

I love HoJo (their Kids' Suite in particular, but they may be overkill for your family of 3). Read my long detailed review linked in my signature for details, but it's the best value, in my opinion.

I also recommend you read HydroGuy's tips on DLR (pinned to the top of the DLR forum) because I think walking distance hotels save SOOOO much more time than driving or taking a shuttle. Your 7 year old isn't napping anymore but you might want to return to your hotel in the afternoon anyway to play in the pool/water park when crowds are heaviest at DLR.

Have a great time!

 

[jcarwash]

I think you meant to say Park Vue Inn instead of Park Place Inn. It is next door to Best Western Park Place Inn.

Yep -- fixed it.

 

[Spassvogel]

Motel 6 is our go-to place for cheap accommodations. We usually ride the ART from there, but that route only has 2 stops. (RV Park & Motel 6).

 

[mouseymommy]

We really like the BWPPI. We have stayed there 5 or 6 times, and we are going back next week. We really like being so close to the crosswalk. The breakfast is fine and they have a microwave and fridge in the rooms. They have always been very friendly. If you don't have a car, I think they have a special room rate.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, I love the Anabella. It's on Katella a walk away from Paradise Pier. I've heard that some people are put in buildings that aren't nice, but we've only had the nice buildings in the beautiful grounds, and the pool is simple but lovely.

And if you're OK with walking, you get to start the day taking a gorgeous walk along half of a gigantic hidden Mickey (take a look at a satellite view of the street between Anabella and the Grand), past Paradise Pier, through the best part (lobby) of the Grand, and into Downtown Disney to bagcheck to the gates of the parks. The walk home at the end of the day is very peaceful. A bit long, but WE find the motel to be well worth it.

 

[rramstad]

Be aware that "Good Neighbor" is just a designation for a marketing partner with Disney. Many of the hotels in the area are NOT Good Neighbor hotels -- some fairly mediocre hotels are GN, some great hotels are not GN -- so it's not the be all and end all of seals of approval, I guess is what I'm saying.

(I'm fairly certain that there are rec's on this thread that are hotels that are NOT official Good Neighbor hotels... If that particular accreditation is important, be sure to check it yourself before booking.)

 

[sunny45]

Be aware that "Good Neighbor" is just a designation for a marketing partner with Disney. Many of the hotels in the area are NOT Good Neighbor hotels -- some fairly mediocre hotels are GN, some great hotels are not GN -- so it's not the be all and end all of seals of approval, I guess is what I'm saying.

(I'm fairly certain that there are rec's on this thread that are hotels that are NOT official Good Neighbor hotels... If that particular accreditation is important, be sure to check it yourself before booking.)

Just out of the few I have been researching The Desert Inn, Castle Inn,Del Sol Inn and Anaheim Plaza Hotel are not GN Hotels but are mentioned on the boards.

We are thinking about the Anaheim Plaza Hotel. Seems to have gotten pretty decent reviews both on here and Tripadvisor.

 

[lorieintucson]

I've stayed at DLR hotels for our trips with kids, and the last time 'cruised' Harbor and looked at some hotels that i've been researching on line for our next trip. With that highly unscientific analysis as well as reading this board, trip advisor and other review sites, we decided on Fairfield Inn. It is a GN and I booked it through a Costco/Disney travel package.

 

[KCmike]

Here are my top three.

1. Fairfield Inn. Proximity to DL, McDonalds for cheap eats, and nice and clean.

2. HOJO. Don't like the extra steps from FFI but pool area is nice especially for little ones. Clean rooms.

3. Best Western Park Place Inn. Closest location. Clean Rooms. Pool even smaller than FFI.

 

[aspen37]

I just stayed at the Tropicana inn and suites. I enjoyed staying there. The beds were comfy, they had a fridge and microwave. They counter where the sink was was huge. the towels were large and soft.