Help me pick a hotel!

[Lavender_and_Roses]

Do you live in SoCal? If so look into the Annual Pass, it is pretty much the same price.

We are also hurriedly planning a DL trip prior to deployment (May 8-14th). This is #4 for us but the first time we've gotten to do anything beforehand as it is the first time my husband has been able to get any leave before he left or he only had 2-3 days notice of a deployment.

I've heard good thing about the Candy Cane from friends. We were using Hilton points so I was limited to one of those hotels and we chose the Homewood Suites since it has an almost full kitchen, free breakfast, and free dinner 4 nights a week.

 

[maryland24]

We live in Hawaii.

 

[garettdoyle]

Just for the record, there is no way you can walk from the HoJo to the DL/DCA park entrance in 8 minutes. It is more like 15 minutes. The traffic light takes 3 or more minutes!

I am not complaining as we did for 6 days last year during our stay. If you have toddlers, I would definitely recommend using a stroller. I carried my 7 year old on my shoulders many nights on the walk back.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Just for the record, there is no way you can walk from the HoJo to the DL/DCA park entrance in 8 minutes. It is more like 15 minutes. The traffic light takes 3 or more minutes!

Since I am the one that posted it takes about 8 minutes, I thought I would clarify that I don't know that I have timed it to the actual turnstiles, but getting to the security gates take us about 8 minutes. We sometimes cross at Manchester (I think that's the name of the street) and walk on the park side. It does not take us more than 10 minutes (and that is walking at a regular pace).

 

[maryland24]

another question from a newbie are you allow to enter food to the park? like a sandwich, chips, cookies, fruit? and water?

thank you!

 

[rentayenta]

You can bring food but not coolers.

 

[LavenderPeach]

You can bring food but not coolers.

You can bring small coolers (think 6-pack size) but not big ones. I thought maybe they had to be soft-sided but i saw several people with small hard-sided coolers (in their strollers) when we were there last weekend.

 

[rentayenta]

You can bring small coolers (think 6-pack size) but not big ones. I thought maybe they had to be soft-sided but i saw several people with small hard-sided coolers (in their strollers) when we were there last weekend.

Really? Good to know. I would love to keep my water bottles cold throughout the day.

 

[DisneyFairytale]

So is our first trip to disneyland and I keep changing my mind about where to stay! We are planning to go june 2 to june 8. My husband is going to Iraq mid june. Wish I had plan before but just got the block leave dates. We are traveling from Hawaii with our two girls 7 and 3. Any tips and suggestions would be appreciated!!

Anyway I am torn between this hotels:

Hojo (like the pool, but they only have a double room available)
Fairfield Inn (seems close)
Sheraton Park (has a shuttle, looks really nice and clean)
Candy Cane Inn (it looks like is really close to the park)

We don't need a fancy hotel but also want to go to a decent place I am a little nervous because I know that this kind of trips should be plan in advance and now I feel desperate!! haha I am writing a list with the hotel options for when my husband comes home. Also how many days you suggest for going to the parks? for now I am thinking 3 day park hopper. So it would be 3 days disneyland 1 day pool at the hotel. 1 day universal studios and 1 day for driving around and take some pictures.

I know this post is long so thank you!!!

I would suggest the Best Western Inn. The routes and the room service/cleaning and front desk customer has always been a dream for us(and we're used to normally staying at places like Embassy Suites).

It's directly in front of the Disneyland Park entrance and next door to a few family friendly restaurants.

 

[GrandBob]

Just for the record, there is no way you can walk from the HoJo to the DL/DCA park entrance in 8 minutes. It is more like 15 minutes. The traffic light takes 3 or more minutes!

Yes, it does depend somewhat on the light, though there's no way the light is 3 minutes long.

I disagree with the above quote. I'm sure it took no longer than 8 minutes or so with our 7 yo granddaughter in tow. When I do it by myself, it's about 5 minutes - but I walk fast.

-Bob

 

[NancyHawaii]

We live in Hawaii.

Also from Hawaii. Will be there on 6/13. I'm in the same shoes. Still trying to decide on a hotel.

The last trip, we stayed at Best Western Park Place which is directly across from the pedestrian entrance. Was thinking about Portofino this time, although it is further down.

 

[maryland24]

Also from Hawaii. Will be there on 6/13. I'm in the same shoes. Still trying to decide on a hotel.

The last trip, we stayed at Best Western Park Place which is directly across from the pedestrian entrance. Was thinking about Portofino this time, although it is further down.

Aloha! we will be there 6/1. I made reservations with candy cane but still thinking of changing it. Because I can save $245 staying at fairfield inn. with that money we can pay for the car rental. and because the offer is with costco I would also have a free character dinning. So decisions decisions! haha

Portofino looks nice but I want to be a little closer to the park. Good Luck

 

[maryland24]

Another question! sorry but you guys are good!

I am thinking of doing the Ariel's Grotto Character Meal but I am not 100 percent sure yet. For the meals you call for a reservation and pay when you get there? or you need to buy the meal ticket ahead of time?

Costco offers a "free" characther dinning with the package I supposed Ariel is included? thank you so much you have been really helpful

 

[NancyHawaii]

Aloha! we will be there 6/1. I made reservations with candy cane but still thinking of changing it. Because I can save $245 staying at fairfield inn. with that money we can pay for the car rental. and because the offer is with costco I would also have a free character dinning. So decisions decisions! haha

Portofino looks nice but I want to be a little closer to the park. Good Luck

A friend of mine who's also going booked thru Costco for Fairfield. I was thinking of doing that also but still thinking of a little bit closer hotel.

 

[maryland24]

A friend of mine who's also going booked thru Costco for Fairfield. I was thinking of doing that also but still thinking of a little bit closer hotel.

yes is kind of confussing some reviews say is 5 min walk and some say more like 10 I am worried about walking with the little ones in the afternoon. But thinking about it my 3 year old climbed Diamond Head walking all the way up and all the way down. after eating shave ice she wanted to go back up again!!haha so I guess she should be fine.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I am thinking of doing the Ariel's Grotto Character Meal but I am not 100 percent sure yet. For the meals you call for a reservation and pay when you get there? or you need to buy the meal ticket ahead of time?

Costco offers a "free" characther dinning with the package I supposed Ariel is included? thank you so much you have been really helpful

You pay at the end of your meal ~ I reserved Ariel's earlier today for 7/3 *DD's 7th B~day* I went ahead and purchased meal vouchers from www.lastminutetravel.com ~ I like to prepay and these save $$ as well. Yes the Costco voucher should cover Ariel's.

 

[maryland24]

Oh my God! I keep changing my mind, I go back and foward with Candy Cane Inn and the Fairfield Inn. Fairfield is cheaper when we book tru costco with a free character meal but Candy Cane gets really good reviews free parking and breakfast.

My husband is not helping he told me to picked the one that I like the best. But once I did book a hotel online and it turn out really really bad and he always reminds me that! so that makes me nervous.

suggestions? what should I do?

thanks

 

[NancyHawaii]

Oh my God! I keep changing my mind, I go back and foward with Candy Cane Inn and the Fairfield Inn. Fairfield is cheaper when we book tru costco with a free character meal but Candy Cane gets really good reviews free parking and breakfast.

My husband is not helping he told me to picked the one that I like the best. But once I did book a hotel online and it turn out really really bad and he always reminds me that! so that makes me nervous.

suggestions? what should I do?

thanks

You sound just like me. I think Portofino & Stovall are too far for me.. now thinking of going back to BW Park Place (where I stayed last time), which is directly across from the entrance, but now charges $8 parking per day.

but then I also checked Desert Inn and Camelot. Have you check these? what size room you looking for? i can give you the rates i found.

 

[maryland24]

You sound just like me. I think Portofino & Stovall are too far for me.. now thinking of going back to BW Park Place (where I stayed last time), which is directly across from the entrance, but now charges $8 parking per day.

but then I also checked Desert Inn and Camelot. Have you check these? what size room you looking for? i can give you the rates i found.

we are 4. 2 adults and 2 kids. We don't need a suite (army family we stay in regular size hotel rooms a lot!) but I want a decent place and a clean room with nice beds and of course a place where I feel safe. Thank You

 

[VallCopen]

I hate to even throw this out to you but it is very clean, onsite and currently a great price, but have you looked at Paradise Pier which is across the street from the Grand Californian? The total price for your nights before tax is 1106.00, I know that is a few hundred more than the other hotels but there is something very magical about staying on the Disney properties and they usually don't have this type of special for the summer months so I just wanted to let you know about it. The rooms are actually pretty good size and they have 2 queen beds and you can cancel up to 5 days before your trip and not pay anything. I am sure what ever you choose will be great - it is Disney....