help with hotel choice - pregnant wife

[Cartcanuck]

First post! Thanks for all the great information throughout the boards!

This Disney-rookie needs help

I'm visiting for the first time in October with my 4 year old and my pregnant wife (she'll be about 5 months pregnant at the time). A concern for us will be location as my wife is a "napper" and will want to head back to the room part way through the day for a rest and a nap. The little critter and I may go with her or we may continue on and meet up with mommy later on for supper or whatever.

So hotel choice and location is paramount, as is budget. We'd love the Grand Californian just for the location, but unless someone knows how to get a room there for under $150 a night, I'm afraid we're going off-campus for our hotel.

There are so many options and I've read so many reviews that it almost makes my head spin. I've kind of narrowed down the choices to The Carousel, Camelot, or the Best Western that is across from the maingate. Maybe the Tropicana, but I haven't seen much from recent reviews for the Tropicana.

I'm looking for advice from the grisled veterans of Disney. We have 4 days at Disney and can't wait. It's our first visit. I want to make the most of our money, even sacrificing luxury so we can spend more in the park for our little girl. But mommy's gotta be comfy!

Moms, you've been pregnant before Knowing what it's like at 5-6 months along, which hotel would be the most comfortable? What would you choose? These hotels are so close together, so it's just a matter of a few steps more from one to the other.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? I want to make the best hotel choice for my wife so she can enjoy this as much as possible. Personally I'd be fine sleeping on the sidewalk outside the maingate so I could get in as early as possible, but that's just my inner child wanting to get to Disney since I was a kid!

Thanks for any insight that may be forthcoming

 

[DahliaRW]

She may actually be able to do less walking if you stay where there is a shuttle, but then you're tied to the shuttle schedule and down times and it takes longer (sometimes) to get to the park.

This map here might help:

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

You may want to try the candy cane inn. Walking distance AND they have their own shuttle. So you could do it either way.

 

[letthembelittle]

I just got back from two days and am 5 months pregnant, we stayed at the Ramada Plaza on Katella. It was just under 10 minutes to walk to the park so I think any of your choices will be fine since they are closer. Just make sure she drinks plenty of water and gets to sit down frequently and she should be fine, I had a great time and we were there from park open to park close on Thursday.

 

[skiingfast]

I'd stay right across the street, so when she wants to rest it's right there for her.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I haven't tried any of the three hotels you listed as your likely choices, so I can't help you there. We have stayed at the Tropicana though, and it was definitely fine. Clean and close. That was a few years ago. I hear that the place has been updated since and is even nicer. My in-laws stayed at Tropicana during summer 2009 with two of their grandkids and loved the room and location. I think you are definitely right to be thinking of staying close.

I agree with the previous poster who says that the Candy Cane Inn also is a nice choice, but it is definitely further away which may end up forcing you (or your wife at least) to use the shuttle a bit. It is a dedicated shuttle, but still... If you want absolute freedom to come and go as you please without too long a walk, right across the street is probably the way to go in this case.

 

[wdwfan22]

I think all 3 of your choices would be good. They are all very close. I have stayed at the Camelot and liked it just fine. Clean rooms, spacious. But I think any of the 3 sound good. The BW Park Place Inn I think is the closest. It's gets pretty good reviews and it sounds like they recently upgraded their continental breakfast. I think it looks pretty good.

 

[kailuagirl]

I've stayed at BWPPI 2x and really liked both times, the location is wonderful, so close to the parks. Rooms were clean, never saw any bugs, I'm kinda a germ freak, and I was okay LOL. Ask for a room on the bottom floor, so there is less walking and easier with DD's stroller and stuff. The first time we stayed in the very front of the hotel and this last time we were the last room, it really made a difference being closer to the front. Sometimes people have complained about the noise from being up front or on the bottom floor but I didn't have a problem either time, so I guess it's a chance you take. They also have a nice size fridge and a microwave. If you are a costco member you can book through their website and get about $10 off per night. I've read here though that the tropicana was newly renovated and the new pics look great. But when we are going it was like $20 more per night. Have fun and just make sure your wife takes lots of mini breaks sitting down and enjoying the view and drinks lots of water. You are a great husband by the way!!!

 

[dreamerliz]

The Candy Cane has a very reliable shuttle but I was too pooped to walk by day 2! Also there were no restaurants close enough that we felt able to walk to after a day at the park. We did run across the street for some pizza and we ordered in chinese food but both were kinda yucky. I would do the Tropicana or those closer for sure! I had great shoes and walked before I went. Even my teenagers were too tired to walk at the end of the day. Ok we are wimps!!

Liz

 

[sasywtch]

We've stayed at the BWPPI numerous times and love it. Parking is a little tight but if you're parking your car and not moving it; no worries. I had a few people over the years when we walked across the street tell me they wish they were staying there as they'd be at their motel already. Super close. You also have a choice of eateries right there including ice cream.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'd try for the CCI, it's got a FREE shuttle just for that hotel and it's guests. It's definitely doable for $150 a night. Otherwise I'd try for the GCH (we have stayed there for as little as $170 per night, off season), or the PPH or DLH, either of those would be just a slightly longer walk then the GCH. Off-site I can suggest the Trop or the BWPPI, we stayed at both, they are right across the street and nice places to stay.

 

[Cartcanuck]

Wow. Great responses.

Another wow, my wife's boss just agreed to cover our hotel in the Grand California while we are there!!! We are totally blown away! And now 10x excited to get there!

Thanks everyone!!!

I can't wait to go and be a kid with my kid for 4 days!

WWWHHOOOOPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

(and I just told my wife that we need to stretch our little girl to make sure she's over 40 inches tall so we can do a few rides together.....i'm going shopping for platform shoes for her!)

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd stay right across the street, so when she wants to rest it's right there for her.

That's what I would do as well.

Wow. Great responses.

Another wow, my wife's boss just agreed to cover our hotel in the Grand California while we are there!!! We are totally blown away! And now 10x excited to get there!

Thanks everyone!!!

That's very cool. Before you get there and when you check in, request a room that is CLOSE to the lobby. The room we had there, when all the walking was counted, was just as far from the center of the esplanade as it would have been from the sidewalk outside HoJo. It was NOT close, it was VERY frustrating, and I probably would have just stayed in my room if I were pregnant and having a pregnancy like the one I had with DS (my joints disappeared at around 4 months and it got worse as the months went by, I could barely walk at the end, nor could I hold myself up as my wrists, elbows, and shoulders were "toast" as well).


I would have gone with Tropicana or closer. The Grand is only closer to DCA...it's not closer to Disneyland than the the immediately-cross-Harbor hotels.

 

[pixiewings71]

Ya, you'll LOVE the GCH!!!!!!! How totally awesome of your wife's boss!!! Where can I find a job like that? LOL I'd go with the GCH over the Trop any day, no matter how much closer the Trop might be. I've stayed at both and the GCH is the BEST hands down!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I know many folks say stay across the street but I would go with the Grand Californian. Close for the most part, very comfy beds, very relaxing and most of the rooms a very quiet.
My family has been very spoiled by staying there and hard to stay some place else, but you have to make the decision not I.
Best of luck,

Jack

 

[Cartcanuck]

That's very cool. Before you get there and when you check in, request a room that is CLOSE to the lobby.

Great tip. I'll make sure we do that as soon as we get the reservation confirmed through her boss, I'll make a call down to ensure that is noted on our reservation and I'll specify that at the desk when we check in.

The room we had there, when all the walking was counted, was just as far from the center of the esplanade as it would have been from the sidewalk outside HoJo. It was NOT close,

Seriously!!?!?!? Wow. A room near the lobby for sure then!

it was VERY frustrating, and I probably would have just stayed in my room if I were pregnant and having a pregnancy like the one I had with DS (my joints disappeared at around 4 months and it got worse as the months went by, I could barely walk at the end, nor could I hold myself up as my wrists, elbows, and shoulders were "toast" as well).

Oh my. So far so good with Mrs.'Nuck. We'll hope it doesn't go this way for her. But she's already told me that even if I have to push her around in a wheel chair, we're doin' Disney!

I would have gone with Tropicana or closer. The Grand is only closer to DCA...it's not closer to Disneyland than the the immediately-cross-Harbor hotels.

yeah I could see that on the maps, but it's free and it's luxury that we'd never afford, and it's on-site, which for a family of rookies, is super-duper-cool.

Mrs.'Nuck is bouncing off the ceilings she's so excited. I showed her the other hotels that are closer, but her exact words were "M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E WOOOHOOOO!!! WWEEEEEEE!!!!" So I think she's ok with the extra walk

But thanks for the room near the lobby tip and that we need to be aware of the walking distances even though we are in the California. It's nice not to be surprised once we get there.