Hotel Help! New to DL Planning

[bdtracey]

Hey everyone!

I'm brand spankin' new to DL planning but I consider myself fairly proficient at WDW planning. That being said I like to plot and scheme my way to finding the absolute best at the best prices .

DW, DS (3 mo) and I are planning a fairly last minute trip at the beginning of December. We'll be arriving at LAX on Dec. 7, driving to San Diego, spending 2 nights there, arriving to DL on Dec. 9 and departing on Dec. 14.

Firstly I'm looking for some place at DL for the 5 nights and have gotten my list down to:

Anabella*
Candy Cane Inn*
HoJo*
Disneyland Hotel
Camelot Inn & Suites
Carousel Inn & Suites
Desert Inn & Suites

The ones with the * by them mean that from what I can see they're likely my top three choices just based on what I've read in the Unofficial Guide. We're looking for something close to the parks within walking distance. We were initially seriously considering the DLH but I don't think we're going to be using all of the amenities to make it worth the extra costs. What are your thoughts?

Also, we're looking for a decent place to stay in San Diego for our first two nights. We'd like something near the San Diego Zoo for sure and we're contemplating going to SeaWorld (went in Orlando but weren't overly impressed).

Sorry for being so long winded but I figured I'd give you the whole story for starters.

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Mycutekitties]

:


Anabella*
Candy Cane Inn*
HoJo*
Disneyland Hotel
Camelot Inn & Suites
Carousel Inn & Suites
Desert Inn & Suites
!

I have been to HoJo, Carousel and Dessert Inn and next week will stay at DLH. Out of the 3 I have been to my first choice would be Carousel. Right across the street and it's a nice, clean motel. The room we were in was updated and has nice wood floors. I like HoJos too and have been there a few times. It's REAL good when you get the $59.00 entertainment rate. HoJos rooms are very large and the rooms we have been in have clean. Oh and HoJos beds are WONDERFULL!!! DO NOT stay at Dessert Inn. Our room was very old and dirity. I would rate it as a 1 star. If you are picky about your hotel I would skip that one. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I agree that if you can get the Hojo rate, your plotting and scheming to find the absolute best at the best prices would be solved. However, I just looked and your dates are not currently availalbe. However, I would most definalty keep checking as new dates seem to come available every few weeks. Here is the link
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

I have heard really nice things about CCI. I believe their rooms are smaller than Hojo. They do have a shuttle, so if you wanted a ride you could easily get one. Grounds are as nice as Hojo.



Oh and all my info/opinions are from what I have learned here. I wont be staying at Hojo until next april

 

[avalon451]

I'd say HoJo if the Entertainment rate were available for your dates, but they are not currently showing as available for your dates (although they could be added later): http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14 Depending on the cost, the very nice pool and water-play areas could be worth it anyway, for your kids. Otherwise, I'd probably say CCI. They're very nice and have a free dedicated shuttle. It's walkable, too, but the free shuttle is nice when you're tired and the timing is right.

Desert Inn, Camelot and Carousel are right across the street. I have heard both good and bad things about all of them. You might want to look on tripadvisor.com for more reviews of your hotels.

Unofficial Guide is great, but I'd also recommend Hydroguy's Tips compilation, if you haven't already read it. It has some good threads on there for WDW vets, comparing the differences between WDW and DLR. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Hope that helps! Have fun planning!

 

[bdtracey]

Thanks for all of the tips!

I've heard only good things about HoJos but this Entertainment rate sounds even better! It'd be great to get but it wouldn't break the budget if we didn't get it.

At least I've got it down to two hotels now instead of three...

 

[tinkermell]

I'm pretty sure that HoJos gives DIS board members a 15% discount. You might check on that.

I also want to encourage you to look at the stickeys at the top of this page, and use Hydroguys tips for WDW vets. Really good info there. A must read if you ask me. MaryJo has alot of good info too.

Have fun!!

 

[tink2dw]

Here is a map of the DL area hotels and the closeness to DL entrance.
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

We Stayed at Desert Inn and Suites. They are at the Entrance of DL. They let you chose your suite type. Here is a look at their rooms,
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/room_suites.htm

The Staff are always friendly and ready to help. Rooms are not themed. But they are nice and clean. They have a Micowave and fridge.

For your dates a deluxe room is $89. a night all nights.
For the A-Parlor $109. a night all nights.
This is with out taxes added of, Room Tax - 15.00 %.

And Limited FREE parking - one vehicle per room or suite.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We stayed @ Desert Inn in April ~ it was fine, loved how close it was to DLR! I'm excited to try HoJo's in Dec. I have both HoJo's & Desert Inn booked for early March ~ if we don't get the ent. rate @ HoJo's we'll stay @ Desert Inn for $69 per nite!!

 

[ter-moo]

The Candy Cane Inn is a particular favorite of mine--rooms are similar in feel to POFQ.

Since you have a little one, you might look more seriously into the Camelot, since the location is right across the street from the park entrances--making it easy to get back to your hotel for naps, etc.

Another thing to consider is the free breakfast at several of your choices. Anabella and Hojo and the Disneyland Hotel do NOT offer one. Also, of your choices, Candy Cane is the only one with a free shuttle to and from the parks (although the walk is very easy.)

You are going at a really great time! Have fun!

 

[bdtracey]

Thanks again for all of the replies!

I'm still going back and forth between HoJo and Candy Cane. I was really close to booking the HoJo yesterday but they didn't have any Disney Views left. Also, the week that we'll be there (Dec. 6-15) doesn't have the Entertainment Rate; any reason for this? I'm wondering if for some strange reason it's going to be crazy busy that week....any ideas?

If I can't get the Ent. rate for HoJo it'll be ~$101/night + taxes. I think that Candy Cane is a little more expensive than that but I'm not totally sure.

I think what I might do is book both of them and if a Ent. rate comes out for my week I'll cancel CCI but if one doesn't come out I'll cancel HoJo. I've heard so many great things about both hotels but my gut is pushing me towards CCI...especially if it has a similar feel to POFQ at WDW! Love that resort!!!!

 

[JaneJetson]

Did you already book your plane tickets? If not, you might want to look into flying to John Wayne airport (also called Santa Ana, Orange County, SNA.)

Of the places you listed, I've only stayed at the Anabella. The walk to the parks wasn't too bad. The rooms are nice. And the grounds of the hotel are lovely. They have two swimming pools (one if for adults only.) They have a restaurant and a hair salon on site (I got my hair done there on the day of my wedding.)

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

We flew into San Diego and stayed at a Homewood Suites that was just North of the City. Then travel to DL and stayed at HoJo. If I had seen the following thread prior to our stay, I may have stayed at one of the hotels closer than HoJos...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1745747

Have an AWESOME time! We are WDW veterans and found that we now LOVE DisneyLAND so much more!!!

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks again for all of the replies!

I'm still going back and forth between HoJo and Candy Cane.

MANY PEOPLE DO. THEY'RE BOTH GOOD CHOICES.

I was really close to booking the HoJo yesterday but they didn't have any Disney Views left. Also, the week that we'll be there (Dec. 6-15) doesn't have the Entertainment Rate; any reason for this? I'm wondering if for some strange reason it's going to be crazy busy that week....any ideas?

IT WILL BE BUSY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. PLAN ON GETTING TO DL EARLY EACH DAY....HOP TO DCA (or not).....TAKE A BREAK.....THEN RETURN (to either park) IN THE CROWDED EVENINGS RELAXED BUT NOT EXPECTING TO GET AS MUCH DONE.

If I can't get the Ent. rate for HoJo it'll be ~$101/night + taxes. I think that Candy Cane is a little more expensive than that but I'm not totally sure.

I'D GIVE THE CCI A $30-40 PER DAY "VALUE BUMP" (OVER HOJOs BECAUSE OF THE FREE B'FAST & BECAUSE THE DEDICATED SHUTTLE, WHICH COMES IN HANDY...ESPECIALLY FOR MID DAY BREAKS & FOR FOLKS STAYING 2+ DAYS. By the third day that dedicated 2 min. 2/3rds mile shuttle starts looking like "your friend".

I think what I might do is book both of them and if a Ent. rate comes out for my week I'll cancel CCI but if one doesn't come out I'll cancel HoJo. I've heard so many great things about both hotels but my gut is pushing me towards CCI...especially if it has a similar feel to POFQ at WDW! Love that resort!!!!

It's a very nice motel....it has a PO feel, but i wouldn't put it in a WDW moderate class. But both the HOJO & the CCI are good choices.

 

[bdtracey]

It's a very nice motel....it has a PO feel, but i wouldn't put it in a WDW moderate class. But both the HOJO & the CCI are good choices.

Thanks a bunch Hound!

I ended up booking HoJo through a Canadian travel agent because their prices were ASTRONOMICALLY better than I could find anywhere else. PLUS I won't get hosed on the exchange rate ($CDN to $US) as our dollar isn't as strong as it once was. For around $1450 CDN I ended up getting 9 nights at HoJo and 6 day hoppers for DW and I. Basically that boils down to a little more than $1200 US. Otherwise I was staring at close to $2000 CDN for a hotel room and tickets

I really can't believe at how good of a price that I got out of a Canadian travel agent. It seriously blows me away!

WRT how busy it's going to be that week....I'm really torn on what to expect. Everywhere I read says that It'll be slow but on here it sounds like it'll be comparable to mid-July. What gives? Maybe it'll just have a lot of people there that actually have a clue on how to tour Disney and have a bit more inside knowledge. I'm not sure. When it really comes down to it though we'll be there with a 5 month old baby so our agenda will be quite a bit different than most people.

Thanks again for all of the info. I really don't think I've seen DW this excited about a trip before! I'm usually the one that's off the walls...she keeps telling our little guy that he's going to meet Mickey. He just smiles and laughs...realistically he has absolutely no idea what we're even telling him, he just likes the attention!

 

[ter-moo]

It really won't be AT ALL busy during the day (except the weekends). You are going at my favorite time for lack of crowds/beautiful decorations/special stuff. You'll see crowds pick up in evenings, but other than that you won't see crowds. Just go early each morning and you'll be fine, and try to avoid the weekends. PLUS the fact that you have 6 days is great--you can really take it easy. I usually go about this same time of year and spend 2 1/2 days and manage to do just about EVERYTHING. So, you'll be fine.

 

[bdtracey]

Thanks Terri! That really boosts my spirits...not that they needed boosting because I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!!

I just hope our little guy decides that he wants to be up early enough in the mornings so that we can get there early. Right now the little guy is sleeping from 10pm until 8am . DW and I love it right now but if I'm going to turn him into a Disney trooper I need him waking up at least an hour earlier!

 

[ter-moo]

Well, the good thing is that the parks don't open very early at that time of year. (somedays 8 and somedays 9; CA Adventure doesn't open until 10!) And, since a 5-month old is still pretty portable, you can always just stick him in the stroller and go, whether he's awake or not!