Help, Please! Portofino Inn or Desert Inn

[chloesmommi]

I've narrowed my hotel search down to the Portofino Inn & Suites or the Desert Inn & Suites. I'd really like to hear from anyone who has stayed at either of these hotels. The Portofino is a newer hotel, so the rooms are probably in good condition. The Desert Inn is older, but the rate is less, breakfast is included, and it is right across the street from DL. Desert Inn is also a traditional style motel with the rooms exiting to an outside corridor, where the Portofino has inside corridors. The safety factor has me concerned. How safe is the Anaheim area? I need any imput you can give. We are leaving in 2 weeks. Thanks

 

[Luv2Roam]

Good luck choosing!
Maybe you can hotel hop and try them both!
--Barb

 

[minnieandmickey]

We have stayed at the Desert Inn a few times and we love it there. We find it safe and very convienent to not only DL but there are many restaurants around it. Please note that you don't get a full breakfast there,just danishes and juice/coffee etc. The rooms are clean and spacious and we never had problems with outside noise. If the price is cheaper try it .

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

We stayed at the Portofino last April...we liked it and would stay there again. Here is a link to my previous post...If you have other questions please let me know.

Susan http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75809

 

[Luv2Roam]

Just curious if you have decided and what you are thinking. Either way, you will have a great time!

 

[chloesmommi]

Luv2roam,

We have decided to stay at the Desert Inn. In addition to the other perks it has over the Portofino, I just found out the suites at the PI are only 350 square feet, pretty small. (DI is 450). If we were only staying one or two nights, it wouldn't matter, but for 5 nights, I think that would be a little cramped. I have to say the deciding factor is Location, Location, Location! Being able to walk to DL in 5 minutes is a big plus. The PI would have been a 15-min. walk. They do have a shuttle, but you can waste a lot of time waiting, (4-year olds are not the most patient people) and the shuttle also serves 3 other hotels. After searching all the posts for the past 6 months, no one had anything bad to say about either hotel, so the DI it is. I don't think I have any other questions, but if I think of any I will post or email you. I will also post when we return.

Your help has been invaluable. Many, many thanks, Diane

 

[phins_jazy]

I'm in the midst of trying to make hotel reservations as well. How many people are in your party? We've got 4 adults and a 2 yr old. Sometimes the hotels that say they only allow 4 people will allow us to stay in one room since dd is only 2. But others make us get 2 rooms. I've thought about the Desert Inn and Suites. I like it because they're the only ones that I've found in the area that have an indoor pool. We aren't going until March and we can't make ressies there until Feb 2. (30 days before) That's with the entertainment card rate. 50% off. So please post how your trip was when you return. I'm anxious to hear about the rooms. Have a great trip!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

phins_jazy

Did you check out what the DI regular rate is for the time you want?
We stayed there the last week of May. I made my ressies in February. The rate was only $54 a night. (2 adults - 2 Q beds)

 

[phins_jazy]

Yes, I did contact them. We would need to stay in a parlor suite and it would be $69 with AAA. And if they had availability it would be $50 with the entertainment card. So we'll see. It's not a lot of difference but when you stay 7 nights it does make a big difference. $483 + tax for the $69 rate and $350 + tax for the $50 rate.

 

[chloesmommi]

Phins Jazy,

We are 2 adults and one child. The Parlor suite sounds fine for you. It has 2 Queen beds in the BR and a sofa bed in the living room, so it sleeps 6. You got a great rate. We are paying $89 per night, but it's Disneyana Convention so they are probably still at or near summer rates then. I will definitely post a report when we return and let you know how it is.

P.S.: If a moderator is reading this post, can you tell me why there is a black dot on the envelope icon by my posts? I don't see this on anyone else's posting icons but mine, and I'm curious (and getting a bit paranoid about it.)

 

[TigerBear]

Not to worry chloesmommi, the black dot just means that you have contributed to the thread.

 

[lminster]

While I haven't stayed at either hotel, I can tell you two things: 1) The Dessert Inn is DEFINATELY closer to the Disneyland main entrance and 2) The Portofino Inn looks like a newer property.

Hope this helps.

Have fun.

 

[Lindateddy]

chloesmommi, We are going to DL in May 2002, and we've also decided on the Desert Inn Suites...we are a fairly large group, and the rates seem so reasonable for the room size and type, as well as an indoor pool and continental breakfast...I've read nothing but praise for this hotel on this board, so I'm excited to see what it will be like!!!

Phins_jazy, I was very interested in the Entertainment Book rate...I've already called for the AAA rate, and the Family Suite would cost $89. From what I can read in your previous post, it seems as if the Entertainment rate is 50% off the highest published rate? (In this case, highest published is $139 for our suite, so 50% would be $70-fantastic deal!!) I just wanted to make sure I understood, because I don't have an Entertainment book, but for that kind of discount, I'll get one!!

 

[phins_jazy]

Lindateddy~ How the entertainment card works with the Desert Inn is that you have to make your ressies within 30 days of your stay. IF they have availability, they'll give you the 50% discount. The big question is the IF they have availability. I decided against going with them strickly because I wanted ressies NOW!!! I have no patience. We decided to stay in Buena Park at the Innsuites for a weekly rate of $299 for a 2 bedroom executive suite with kitchenette. Couldn't pass up that great deal. $100 rooms ended up being $43 a night!!! Not within walking distance but they have a shuttle so I was happy. Good luck to you.