Help! What is YOUR favourite area hotel and why?

[seobaina]

Hi all

I've been asked for some advice on hotels in the area but I don't really feel qualified as I tend to go just as adults and we stay anywhere nearby as I always have a car. This group going don't want to have to drive and are a family. So I need some help please. Where do you like to stay and why?

Also, any tips on getting from LA area to Disney without a car? As I say, I've only ever driven myself.

Thank you

 

[chickapin parterre]

Price?? comfort level? how many rooms? need some more details

How close to Union station? Mass transit? ART is now servicing railway services.

 

[VandVsmama]

Hi all

I've been asked for some advice on hotels in the area but I don't really feel qualified as I tend to go just as adults and we stay anywhere nearby as I always have a car. This group going don't want to have to drive and are a family. So I need some help please. Where do you like to stay and why?

Also, any tips on getting from LA area to Disney without a car? As I say, I've only ever driven myself.

Thank you

Need some more input in order for us to give some good suggestions.

• How many people total?
• Are there any kids?
• If so, how many kids & what ages?
• If they're flying to Southern CA, which airport will they be arriving at?
• If they are starting their trip in another part of LA area, which part of LA exactly?
• What time of year are they looking to go?
• Is a room with free breakfast a priority or just a nice to have?
• How many nights do they want to stay?

 

[Aladora]

Hi all

I've been asked for some advice on hotels in the area but I don't really feel qualified as I tend to go just as adults and we stay anywhere nearby as I always have a car. This group going don't want to have to drive and are a family. So I need some help please. Where do you like to stay and why?

Also, any tips on getting from LA area to Disney without a car? As I say, I've only ever driven myself.

Thank you

It depends on what they are looking for in a hotel.

Top end, I would go with one of the onsite hotels, with kids I would go for the DLH.

For location, I prefer Desert Inn & Suites. If you book 6 months in advance you can get a really great deal plus they have suites for up to 10 people.

If an included breakfast is important then maybe look at Park Vue Inn, it is more expensive than DI&S but their breakfast includes hot elements and if there are more than 3 people then in my opinion the extra cost is worth it.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

Yes, more details would be helpful.

If they're looking for something within very close walking distance, one along Harbor Blvd., just across from the DLR crosswalk to the entrance, will be what they want.

As for price, it will range anywhere from about $100 to $150 for most rooms in that area. The prices fluctuate depending on many factors, so it is best to compare all prices for their specific dates.

If they are a large family (or even if they aren't), I would recommend the Desert Inn & Suites, as they have large suites that sleep up to 10 people and are also right across the street from DLR. Often I find that they have the best, or at least very competitive, prices. However I have also stayed at the Camelot Inn and Tropicana, and liked those hotels as well.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

If you want proximity to the park, Carousel and Tropicanna are my favorites I think. They are the nicest hotels on that little strip on Harbor.

I stayed at BWPPI but I feel like traffic was pretty loud.

Del Sol isn't bad. They have a decent suite if you need multiple rooms and more beds, but it feels dated.

Hotel Menage is pretty nice, tries to be swanky. It has a shuttle which is convenient. 24 hour heated pool and the bar area is nice. We used to stay there because a website had a "mystery deal" for like $90 per night but you weren't allowed to see what hotel it was. You could always tell it was Menage because the description said it was within a mile or 2 of the park and it had a heated pool.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I personally love BWPPI (Best Western Park Place Inn). It's a good, clean basic motel close to the parks. It's pool is nothing fancy, and their WIFI can suck sometimes, but it's a really decent motel. The soundproofing in the rooms is really good, which is nice for a motel. I've stayed in Building 4 at HOJO's (Howard Johnsons Anaheim) in the past, and personally found BWPPI to be alot quieter than what you would have in HOJO's buildings 3, 4 5 & 6. I wouldn't hesitate to stay at BWPPI again, simply for it's location and it's a really good motel. If you are looking for a better pool HOJO's is a better fit, but is a 7 to 10 mins walk to the parks.

 

[Aladora]

I personally love BWPPI (Best Western Park Place Inn). It's a good, clean basic motel close to the parks. It's pool is nothing fancy, and their WIFI can suck sometimes, but it's a really decent motel.

That's another thing the Desert Inn & Suites has going for it, the last time we were there in March the wifi was amazing, even though we were in the very back of the motel!

 

[nannyz]

The only place I will stay is HoJo, because I do not like exterior corridors. We used to stay at Desert Inn but having people walking up and down outside my door at all hours of the night creeped me out. At least with interior corridors the carpeting muffles the sound.
And the staff at HoJo seems more businesslike and definitely more friendly.

 

[luulu1999]

Park Vue Inn for us, we stayed this summer the rooms have just be re done, it is outside corridors but there is free parking, an AWESOME free breakfast every morning, and the entrance is directly across the cross walk it was very clean and we never had any problems and we were there for 7 days

 

[Malcon10t]

Everyone is different, and everyone has their requirements. For me, depending on length of trip and what we are doing:

1. Disneyland Hotel
2. Hilton Anaheim
3. Candy Cane Inn
4. Residence Inn Maingate
5. Paradise Pier
6. Carousel Inn
7. Hojos


Places I prefer not to stay, but will..
Anaheim Plaza, Camelot, Alpine Inn, Motel 6 (actually very clean! and well maintained), Anabella, Grand Californian, and the Best Westerns

Places I will not stay again:
Del Sol, Eden Roc (or what every they call it today), Desert Inn and Suites

 

[seobaina]

Hi guys

Thanks for the replies. TBH I don't have more info at the moment but I can get some and get back to you on that asap. I'm pretty certain the airport will be Los Angeles LAX because of flying from the UK. I will check out the amount of people/ages because I'm not sure how many relatives they are thinking of bringing with them. I will get more info and post in the next 24 hrs.

Thank you

 

[seobaina]

Ok, I got some more info:

Group 1/Room 1 - A couple and there baby (currently 1 month)
Group 2/Room 2 - A couple and their kids; 13 yr girl and 10 yr boy. Prefer for the four of them to be in 1 room rather than 2.

Looking at feb 28th-march 8th inclusive so 9 nights.

Ideally with a pool for the kids I guess as none at Disney

Pref to include breakfast (although personally I don't think it's necessary with Ihop/Dennys etc around. They've only ever been to WDW so aren't used to the 'on the doorstep' nature).

Is it poss to do universal, los angeles, etc by public transport? I honestly don't know as I drive out there. If not then they'd potentially rent 2 cars and do non Disney stuff from the 6-8th as they have free cast member access but will probably not be able to enter the parks on these tickets during spring break (6th).

Flying into lax. Is there a shuttle that runs from there to Disney? Prebookable?

Price range up to $1500 for the 9 nights for the room (i.e. for group 1) inclusive of tax ideally (so up to $3K max). However, they would prefer it cheaper (especially with one on maternity leave at the moment) and are looking for a 'middle of the road' hotel really. Her quote was "Hotel doesn't need do be 4 star but just decent and reasonable reviews and walking distance to Disney". I've never paid anywhere near this amount myself but I'm not travelling with kids.

Thank you!!!!

 

[cmpeter]

On Harbor I have stayed at Best Western Park Place inn and Tropicana. I would stay at either again. BWPPI is going to be the closest Harbor hotel to the park entrance. They offer free breakfast upstairs at the Captain Kidd restaurant next door. Nothing fancy, but hot items (scrabbled eggs, potatoes and meat) along with pastries, fruit, etc.

We took Lansky's car service from LAX to DLR. $95 for the trip in and $85 for the trip back. No experience with other shuttles or car services. We had considered Disneyland Express, but our arrival time was too late and departure too early.

 

[Geemo]

Ok, I got some more info:

Group 1/Room 1 - A couple and there baby (currently 1 month)
Group 2/Room 2 - A couple and their kids; 13 yr girl and 10 yr boy. Prefer for the four of them to be in 1 room rather than 2.

Looking at feb 28th-march 8th inclusive so 9 nights.


Price range up to $1500 for the 9 nights for the room (i.e. for group 1) inclusive of tax ideally (so up to $3K max). However, they would prefer it cheaper (especially with one on maternity leave at the moment) and are looking for a 'middle of the road' hotel really. Her quote was "Hotel doesn't need do be 4 star but just decent and reasonable reviews and walking distance to Disney". I've never paid anywhere near this amount myself but I'm not travelling with kids.

Thank you!!!!

Are the dates for 2015 or next year 2016?

There are SEVERAL things happening during this period of time in 2015. Both at Disney Parks and around the Convention Center.

If you're talking 2015, they will probably find some hotels are SOLD OUT for many of the days between 2-28 and 3-8.

They might want to seriously look into booking pretty soon, if they are wanting to stay close to the parks.


Geemo

 

[Indiana Scott]

For us it's Park Vue.
It's closer than any other hotel (Same as BW Park Place) and it's got everything I want or need in a place to stay with free breakfast and reasonable rates too. They are continuously upgrading the place and it's extremely comfortable and has great service.
I might have said GC but thier rooms are nothing terribly special and it just isn't worth well over twice the price.

 

[seobaina]

Are the dates for 2015 or next year 2016?

There are SEVERAL things happening during this period of time in 2015. Both at Disney Parks and around the Convention Center.

If you're talking 2015, they will probably find some hotels are SOLD OUT for many of the days between 2-28 and 3-8.

They might want to seriously look into booking pretty soon, if they are wanting to stay close to the parks.


Geemo

Yeah I was shocked they were booking so late. Still seems to be some good availability right now though. What things are going on?

 

[VandVsmama]

Ok assuming they are going this Feb/March and since they are from the UK, I suspect the reluctance in renting a car is due to us driving on the opposite side of the road. Los Angeles is difficult without a car. Public transportation is not really advisable...don't take the city bus if you can help it. It's not like the London Underground for sure.

So you are kind of left with staying at hotels next door to the attractions you are going to see. If you want a tour of popular LA/Hollywood stuff, I would recommend looking into something like a Grayline bus tour which might pick you up at your hotel.

LA and Orange County are really too cold at that time of year for swimming. So they should not plan on doing a lot of sunbathing if you get my drift. Rain is more likely at this time of year but not rain like in the UK. Rain at DL can be used to your advantage...scares the locals off and the queues are practically empty.

All of the hotels/motels mentioned are good options. Candy Cane Inn is a top rated Anaheim motel and has a free breakfast.

 

[Geemo]

Yeah I was shocked they were booking so late. Still seems to be some good availability right now though. What things are going on?

You can check these out for what go'n on.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358090
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/events.html
http://www.anaheimconventioncenter.com/eventCalendar.aspx

The longer they wait the less options they will have for a place close to the parks. Plus the cost per night will go up in price.

Geemo

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

I always stay at Super 8 on Disneyland Dr. - but I haven't travelled with kids, but I see a lot of kids at the hotel Stayed 9 nights in December (16-25) for a REALLY low price! $63.99/night + tax for a very large room with two queen size beds that could fit 4 adults! The rate is usually higher, but I've stayed there a few times before and I always get a discounted rate when emailing the hotel and asking for extended stay rates
The hotel is a standard Super 8. Very clean and newly updated and renovated rooms. Simple continental breakfast with toast, danish, donuts, cereals, juice and coffee. Really nice staff. Hot tub and pool (we always sit in the hot tub in the evening and watch the fireworks on our non-disney days).
About 20 minutes walk to DTD and 15 min to the tram from M&F parking. (10 if you cross the road and walk thru the parking structure... But that's probably not a good idea with kids - I did it with a wheelchair though, so it is possible )

I see that the family have a much higher budget than I do If I could afford it I would either stay at GC or BWPPI...

I know the Disneyland Express bus runs to and from LAX to DLR but don't know the price.
Heard a family at Super 8 talk about a shuttle to both Knott's and USH - but don't really know much about it! With their budget I would probably rent a car and spend a little less on the hotel. A car just makes everything easier!