Hotel Dilemma - WWYD?

[loladelorean]

Sorry, I keep going round in circles with hotel choices for June 2011. I thought I had decided on Cheyenne but BF didn't like the look of it so we were going to go for Sequoia Lodge.
Just looked on travelrepublic though and there are some good prices for offsite hotels. Bearing in mind that BF is a serious Disney sceptic and *might* prefer to get away from the magic, what would you do?
(Prices are for 2 people, 2 nights, BF with hopper tickets, I'm going to buy an AP on arrival but thats not included in the prices I've calculated below)
Sequoia Lodge - £313
Dream Castle - £299
Radisson - £285

Any perspectives from people who have stayed in these 2 offsite hotels would be welcome. I love being onsite but are those 2 offsite ones substantially more luxurious than SL?

 

[Ware Bears]

I personally wouldn't stay at the Radisson as I think the shuttle service wouldn't be frequent enough for me ...... so if it were me it would be between the Sequoia and the Dream Castle. I've not stayed at either but the Dream Castle always has very good reviews. I think it probably is the more luxuriant and has the extra touches like tea & coffee in the room but the Sequia is being refurbished, isn't it. I don't know how much you would be able to escape the Disney bubble there ~ it's got a Disney shop and I think there'll be lots of children (and adults) walking around with ears on just no character photo op.

If you're definitely planning on going back within the year (so will use your AP) and aren't worried about missing EMH then I'd say go for the Dream Castle. If not, then I'd save the extra pennies and stay at the Sequoia.

Good luck with your decision! If only all decisions were as pleasurable as deciding which hotel to stay in!!

 

[loladelorean]

Thanks for your reply - I was thinking the shuttle services were about the same for the 2 offsite ones I'm looking at, but are there less for Radisson?
That price for SL is for 1 adult, I'm buying an AP either way because I'm going back at least once, hopefully twice, so it will be worth it. There wasn't much point in me listing the prices because there's so little in it! It was just to illustrate that that's not really a factor
I've showed BF all the hotel photos (he is such a patient soul) and he says he likes the look of Dream Castle inside but isn't sure about the idea of farting about with buses, so he's basically said it's up to me. Which doesn't help at all. So yes, given his response and yours Ware Bears I think the Radisson is out and it's between Dream Castle or Sequoia Lodge.
Hmm, I always love EMH but I've been wondering whether I'd be able to get him up anyway! There are equal amounts of pros and cons both ways

 

[DLPdaft]

Have you asked your BF if he'd prefer to be offsite rather than onsite?

This is probably not going to help you, but with onsite you don't have to take the shuttle buses (so walking you could escape the bubble for a while at least) but with the Dream Castle you really do (unless you want a half-hour walk each way). The Sequoia Lodge is a hotel I do want to stay in sometime though, as is the Dream Castle, so it would be a tough choice for me (but then I don't have another adult to consider in the process, the kids will just go where I tell them !)

In your shoes as an adult couple, and in June, assuming you'll use your AP again in the year, I'd probably stay offsite at the Dream Castle or Magic Circus. The only reason I'd not recommend the Explorers for you is that it is large and more children-oriented than the others, in my opinion. I'd even think about the Kyriad, but it doesn't have a pool, and you might use that in June when the evenings are light for longer.

I wouldn't pay more than about £60-£70 per night at any of the associated hotels though, if you look around you can get prices like these (well maybe a tiny bit more for the Dream Castle).

 

[DLPdaft]

Ah just read your BF isn't sure he wants to deal with the shuttle buses - in that case I'd go for the Sequoia Lodge, because he doesn't have to get on one at all if you stay there.

 

[loladelorean]

Ah just read your BF isn't sure he wants to deal with the shuttle buses - in that case I'd go for the Sequoia Lodge, because he doesn't have to get on one at all if you stay there.

Yes I think you're right. Weighing it up there's not much in it, but I know I'll be happier not having to leave the Disney bubble even a little bit The rooms look a lot nicer at Dream Castle which was making me doubt my choice, but as Ware Bears points out the rooms at SL have been recently refurbed. And it has a great pool too.
Right, I'm sticking to my decision. We're staying at Sequoia Lodge. I should just book it already so I can't change my mind again!
Thanks both of you for your input, it helped clear things up for me

 

[Ware Bears]

Hmm, I always love EMH but I've been wondering whether I'd be able to get him up anyway!

Another plus for the Sequoia ~ as you'll be closer to the parks you could always pop in for EMH on your own!!

 

[petentaz]

Weve always stayed in Disney hotels, Santa Fe and Hotel New York...were at Sequoia in two weeks.

We got the Shuttle from Santa Fe (our first time) it was ok. New York was walking distance and we enjoyed that alot more. Sequoia isnt that far about 15 minute walk (20 if your slow and spend some time together)

We werent really Disney fans, it was originally for the kids but now we cant get enough. Disney is not for everyone, but I think that there is enough there for the non disney fans. Especially with rides like Terror Towers, Rock n Roller coaster.

Above all enjoy each others company in a place that (some) dreams are made of!!!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Yay!!! Booking another trip!!! When are you thinking of going?

I would go for Sequoia Lodge, I've not stayed off-site so can't comment on hotels, but even though my DH is Disney Sceptic he would chose to be on-site! Sequoia Lodge is pretty close too, we enjoyed our stay there. The evenings are what you make of them, the bars aren't necessarily OTT Disney are they? And Sequoia Lodge does do excellent cocktails!!

 

[loladelorean]

Yay!!! Booking another trip!!! When are you thinking of going?

I would go for Sequoia Lodge, I've not stayed off-site so can't comment on hotels, but even though my DH is Disney Sceptic he would chose to be on-site! Sequoia Lodge is pretty close too, we enjoyed our stay there. The evenings are what you make of them, the bars aren't necessarily OTT Disney are they? And Sequoia Lodge does do excellent cocktails!!

Thanks, I think that is what we are going to do! Even though Dream Castle looks gorge, I don't like the thought of being away from Disney
So we are going 15th-17th June (wednesday to friday), to celebrate my graduation. Just going to book SL for one person (my bf) and i'm gonna get myself an AP - hoping to return for xmas 2011 with my sister and some friends, then again in May or June 2012 with sister and parents for 20th Anniversary! I know, talk about forward planning lol, but need to know buying an AP will be worthwhile
I'm gonna book SL in the next couple of weeks I think, and then I'll be plaguing the boards with plans and worries until June - I'm so hopeful my BF will love it, and terrified he'll hate it, it could really go either way.....

 

[Mum to Belle]

I'm hoping to book 6th June next year with DH and I would really love another Christmas trip, with my Mum next time though! Hmmmm, how to persuade DH it's a good idea that I go back to Disney without him again.....???

I'm sure that as long as you're happy your BF will be happy, loving it like we do is not compulsory!! Just try and get his input before you go so you know what he wants to get out of it i.e. rides, food, bars, etc?!

 

[loladelorean]

I'm hoping to book 6th June next year with DH and I would really love another Christmas trip, with my Mum next time though! Hmmmm, how to persuade DH it's a good idea that I go back to Disney without him again.....???

I'm sure that as long as you're happy your BF will be happy, loving it like we do is not compulsory!! Just try and get his input before you go so you know what he wants to get out of it i.e. rides, food, bars, etc?!

On our last trip i was making a mental checklist of things he would like, and was pleasantly surprised actually. We drive down to Alton Towers quite often because we both love thrill rides, he is a restaurant manager so he likes nice meals (I'm thinking Walts and Steakhouse)...as we are only going for 2 days, if I bypass all the younger rides and character meet and greets and just do thrill rides, funny shows, leisurely meals and one parade, we will be able to fill our time with all the things he likes. (he probably won't like the parade but I'm not missing it!)
Can you tell I've thought about this a lot we've been together for 4 years and I've been trying to get him to DLP all that time! We even spent a weekend in paris and didn't visit DLP
Hope your trips next year go ahead too, I'm sure they will. Your DD is so lucky to be able to visit DLP so often