Help with hotel choices

[ChristieJA1971]

I just posted a question about Anaheim hotels and as I was reading threads on the board I learned about low rates at the Howard Johnson. I feel so helpless because we've never been to Disneyland and I just want to organize an affordable but nice trip for our family of five. Please give opinions on my choices...

Howard Johnson-$417/4nights Includes free parking but no breakfast (premium room with refrigerator and microwave)

Ramada Maingate-$511/4nights Includes free parking and complimentary breakfast + microwave and refrigerator

Desert Palms-$535/4nights includes free parking and complimentary breakfast

Park Vue Inn-$595/4nights includes free parking and complimentary breakfast and social hour + microwave and refrigerator

At this point the money we save at HOJO of about $100.00 will be decreased with the need to buy breakfast so it really comes down to the best place to stay for our family. I'm overwhelmed, please help!

 

[BayAreaMom]

I have been really happy with HoJos. I stayed at PVI and found the breakfast/dinner inedible. So not worth any more $$ IMHO. I don't miss not having breakfast at HoJos since we can easily eat in our room.

I love the pirate pool area at HoJos. For me that's the main attraction. My kids love it. However, it does reduce our time at DL. That can be a negative if you want to spend all your time at theparks.

I can't comment on Ramada Maingate or Desert Palms. Maybe look at the trip advisor reviews?

 

[ChristieJA1971]

I appreciate you sharing your experience. I really have looked at a lot of the reviews on Tripadvisor and it's still a difficult decision for me because my choices all rank quite high. At the moment I'm leaning toward the HOJO because you're that the no continental breakfast isn't a big deal. I'm also thinking the Disney view room will be good for the kids???

 

[skiingfast]

5 people 4 days is 20 meals. 20 meals x $5 for breakfast is 100 savings on every other one than the hojo.

At Park Vue 20x $7 for the water, cookie/fruit snacks is another $140 saved.

At Park Vue 10x $10 for dinner, you may not make social hour every day, but it's another $100 saved.

This is why Park Vue Inn is the best hotel near the parks.

 

[ChristieJA1971]

We most likely won't be at the hotel for dinners but I'm curious about the water/cookies/fruit snacks you mentioned? Also, the room rate with tax and hotel charge is actually $655.20 at Park Vue. Seems quite high but the first night is $153 and other 3 nights are $133.

 

[DizNee Luver]

You need to figure out if you will be doing breakfast somewhere in the parks (like character meals) or if grabbing & going is what you need. Same goes for dinners.....do you plan on eating back at the motel or do you want to try something in DTD or in the parks. How important is the walking distance or the pool/water play areas.

Most of the motels will run pretty equal in prices & most are pretty equal in amenities & comfort.

Once you decide what you're looking for in a motel, that should narrow it right down. My family loved HoJo's, but others are looking for a free breakfast & closer walk.

I'll be staying at the Ramada Inn Maingate at the end of February.....it looked nice but can't really comment on it.

We had looked at staying at the Desert Palms, but read lots of reviews about noise issues.....depending on where your room was in relationship to the elevators & laundry areas.

I've read decent reviews of Park Vue but again, have never stayed.

Our family doesn't pick a motel for the food.....we enjoy meals at the parks. Good luck!!

 

[skiingfast]

We most likely won't be at the hotel for dinners but I'm curious about the water/cookies/fruit snacks you mentioned? Also, the room rate with tax and hotel charge is actually $655.20 at Park Vue. Seems quite high but the first night is $153 and other 3 nights are $133.

Right that is why I said 10x instead of 20x, assuming you only make it half the time.

In the lobby you can ask for bottles of water if they aren't out, and they will have out cookies and a fruit. So you can grab them as a snack as you go back and forth from the hotel. In the park fruit $1.79, water $2.79, cookie varies in type and size but call it $3.

 

[HeatherD]

Have you considered the Best Westerns? (I can't remember if Park Vue is a BW) We stay at either the Best Western Park Place (same location as Park Vue - right at the crosswalk) or the Best Western Anaheim Inn. Park Place offers a continental breakfast that we weren't impressed with and they charge for parking, which is why we recently switched to Anaheim Inn, only a few clicks down Harbor (on the other side of the IHOP). The Anaheim Inn is about $100/night (just over) and there's no charge for parking. I just priced it for a March 2-4 weekend trip and it would be $238+tax for 2 nights. It would probably be about the price of the HoJo, but it's closer, which I appreciate after a day in the park!

We also don't worry about breakfast costs or included, because we stop and get breakfast foods on the way to the hotel and eat in the room. I can get the kids ready, set them up eating while I finish and DH and I can grab food as we alternate with shower and sink and blowdryer, etc. We also frequently go with his parents, and this gives us time to eat while they finish getting ready and then we can all go to the park! I like not having to build in extra time for sitting down and eating as group when we are all eager to get to the park. And we don't take time out of the park eating once we get there (unless we're doing something special, like getting beignets from Ralph Brennan's in DTD!)

 

[geekypeach]

When we stay at HoJo, we pick up cereal, milk a box of instant oatmeal, some fruit and a couple cheap/dispoable dishes. Not only do we save a ton of money, we end up eating things that we know we like.

I just hate hotel breakfasts. Even concierge continental stuff. Barf. To each his own though!

 

[ChristieJA1971]

Ok, so I've read all of your posts and here's where I'm at:

1. Walking distance of 2 minutes up to 10 minutes is acceptable so all hotels appear to fall into that time frame. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

2. Breakfast in the room would be easy as we too can finish getting ready while the girls eat. We'll have a car to stop at Target or Costco for breakfast, snacks and bottled water. I only know about those two places close from reading all your posts so if there's a better place to stop prior to getting to our hotel Saturday afternoon please let me know.

3. Weather came to mind. Other than price, HOJO's appeal is the little water park for my 3 and 5-year-old daughter's. Is swimming generally doable in Anaheim at the end of April? If it's likely it'll be too cold to enjoy the water areas, maybe I should look at a place even closer to Disneyland with a breakfast?

4. Now that's I've called back to Park Vue and gotten a complete price quote, the difference between HOJO's and PV doesn't seem worth it do you all think-$238 more at PV. Do they have any discount rates such as Costco?

5. Unfortunately I have no idea if we'll want to eat dinner at the park. I'm thinking my 3 and 5-year-olds (I also have a 13-year-old) may be pooped out and want to return to the hotel later afternoon/early evening but it's hard to know?? Does anyone know how long the pools stay open at HOJO because the kids will want to swim after returning from DL and we may want to hot tub as well?

Sorry guys that I'm a big indecisive mess but I really do appreciate these boards so much!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm not sure about the hours at the water area for HoJo's.....I do remember during the summer kids & adults playing during the fireworks. As for swimming in April....yes it's highly probable that the weather will permit it. We've been in February and swam before.

Here's HoJo's website & maybe you could find more info on the hours. The hot tub is in the water play area...so that's convenient. The thing that isn't is the pool.....its in an entirely different area.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

You will find restaurants & fast food restaurants mixed between the motels on Harbor....so if you don't want dinner at the parks or DTD....you will have choices just out the door of any of the motels.

The Premium rooms are very spacious. We had 2 adults, 1 child & 2 cribs in our room....as well as 2 strollers & all our luggage & stuff & still had tons of room for the twins to play. We also had a wonderful view of the park from our small balcony. We could see World of Color lights & laser lights going off & see the fireworks at night.

 

[PigletSeeker]

We stayed in Park Vue last night and paid $103- $122 with tax. They said it was $10 more on Fri and Sat. That was a returning guest rate, but the first time we stayed there I think we paid $116/night- that was in August of 2010. Two Queens.

We loved the breakfast, but we're not very picky. They had cheese omelets, biscuits & gravy, bacon, belgian waffles, donuts, cold pancakes and french toast (microwave there to reheat), toast, juice, cereal, and a few other things. For our family of five, it was well worth it- it would cost us $40+ to eat at IHOP or Mimi's.

We stopped in on our way back from the parks last night and had lemonade and cookies in the lobby. You also get a bottle of wine, a few pieces of fruit, and 2 waters in your room.

It took us less than 5 minutes to get to Park. Park Vue's definitely our place...I hate to recommend it because I don't want everyone to go there

 

[codimouse]

we have stayed at the motel 6 before..exactly last year..and just made reservations for a quick trip in march for $75/night with 2 queens and mini fridge.
we did not have a problem last year. comfy new rooms, pool was large and fun for the kids. shuttle to the parks as well but only half block walk so no need really.

 

[WestWind]

We love HoJos - a lot of people do. The walk to the park is a little longer - 10 minutes at the most but that is fine with us. We are not big breakfast eaters so we get a muffin or cereal at the store in HoJos and eat in our room. You will love the water park. You will also like the Disneyview rooms (at an extra cost). They also have kids suites that a larger with bunk beds, but they are not Disneyview.

You will likely also enjoy the Ramada Maingate. The Best Western Park Place Inn (BWPPI) is the closest to the park entrance and is okay. I have not tried the others.

 

[ChristieJA1971]

I love, love all the info and advice. I'm leaning toward HOJO for the price with Entertainment Card and pool area.

Thanks again everyone. I appreciate the time you all took to write.

 

[mouseymommy]

Have you considered the Best Western Park Place Inn? They have continental breakfast, and a microwave/fridge in the room. They also have a little sitting area with a couch that pulls out into a bed. We have stayed there 3 times, and we love it. It is right next door to the PVI.

 

[crystalanne79]

we are at the Park Vue right now and we would definitely stay here again. We have a room with a queen bed and bunk beds. The bunk beds are super solid and very nice and each of the beds has a great night-light already here. The beds are all comfortable and the shower is great. Breakfast today was well worth it for us. We made waffles, there were scrambled eggs, sausages, hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, cereals, pancakes, donuts, toast, juices, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, fresh fruit salad and oatmeal so there was plenty of choices for everyone. There are always fresh soft cookies in the lobby, water bottles, lemonade and fruit punch. We weren't here for the dinner last night but heard it was mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and salad (there might have been something else but I forget). The money we are saving on food is great! It literally is right across the crosswalk from Disneyland so it took only a couple of minutes to walk there. We haven't received the welcome basket or little birthday cake that we heard others get but maybe they'll bring it today as we just checked in yesterday afternoon.