Hotel Pool Recommendations, Pls. & Thx.

[Maddysdaddy]

Hi all.

Just managed to convince my boss to let me have the last week of August off so I can fly down with the family to DL.

Of course, by this time, I'm far too late to have used my DVC points to snag a room at the Grand Californian, and the prices at all three Disney Hotels are significantly higher than what I am prepared to spend - between $700 and $1000 a night (Canadian).

In the entire time we've been coming to DL, we've always been lucky enough to stay on-site, but since I've given up my career as a corporate attorney to start teaching, money is certainly much tighter (although I'm a much happier human being, so it's well worth the trade-off).

Since my wife is not as big a fan of Disney as my daughter and myself, there will be a few days where we will go to the park and she will want to enjoy the sun and (surreptitiously) drinking wine by a pool.

Which leads me to my question - which nearby hotel (4*/ 3* if the reviews are really good) property has the best/nicest pool deck for my wife to de-stress, decompress and imbibe a few glasses (bottles?) of pinot.

I'd prefer walking distance (although having never stayed off property, I do have concerns about safety late at night around the parks), but, if we have to Uber or take a hotel shuttle, that's fine.

Also, since my wife will be at the hotel more than I will, I'd prefer something a little better than "reasonably clean, comfortable bed". We're not Four Seasons people (i.e. we've been perfectly happy at many Homewoods over the course of our marriage), but from when we've driven around Anaheim in the past, there seems to be a fair number of marginal looking properties close to the park. In terms of pictures from their websites and what I've seen on Tripadvisor, the rooms at Ayres and Indigo look nice enough (although it's hard to tell how nice their pool areas are), but I'm certainly open to suggestions.

Sorry for the long post - and thanks in advance to everyone who responds.

 

[ChrissyLou]

We have had great experiences at the Park Sheraton. It is also my favorite offsite DL area hotel pool. It's a decent sized pool, has a hot tub, it's somewhat tropical with the palm trees surrounding it (versus one of the parking lot pools - ugh), has a pool/snack bar and there is a nice seating area with fire pits on the other side of the pool snack bar (through a gated area). The hotel is one that has the indoor corridors, has a couple onsite restaurants, a lounge off the lobby and a little market. It does get mixed reviews, it is an older property, but as I said we've always been really happy there, you can't go wrong (or your wife can't) with the pool area, but of course there are other things that make or break a guests experience. It's a good leisurely 15 minute walk to the park which is not bad in the morning, it's a little tougher after a long day, but it's never deterred us. We were supposed to be at Disneyland last September (but had to cancel due to injury) and we were planning on Hotel Indigo (for the first time) but I was never really excited about their pool area. It certainly looks nice and new, but lacking plants/trees and from pictures looks like it ends up getting shaded in the late afternoon, I don't know anything about Ayres. We also like HoJo's for the indoor corridors, closer walk to park (from the Sheraton) and their garden pool is nice.

 

[crystal1313]

I know the courtyard Marriott has a nice pool area with slides and such. Not sure if that hotel has a bar or pool service. This is a hotel that is walking distance. I have also heard the actual pool is not very big. Do not know how much that matters to her...

A new hotel just opened with a neat pool area, Cambria. Looks like they have a slide area too. This hotel is not walking distance. I am not sure if they have a bar or pool service either.

We stayed at the Hilton Convention center in September and did a pool day. I never saw anyone walking around taking drink orders, but there is a bar right next to the pool. We had a couple drinks there. I would say this hotel is walking distance, but at night, it is a LONG walk back. LOL. You might walk in the morning and uber on the way back at night.

**edited to add, the pool at the Residence Inn Convention center looked nice and that hotel is newer. It would be walking distance, but again, not staying there myself I am not sure of a bar or pool service.

Hope that helps!

 

[Going2DisneyAZ]

Take a look at the Hilton Anaheim. My wife loved sitting at the pool bar there. Rooftop. If there is no convention in town you can get really good prices on hotwire or priceline.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I second crystal1313's suggestion for the Residence Inn. It has a nice pool and its a fairly new property. They have a generous free breakfast. The walk is about 12 minutes or so. They do have a bar in the lobby.

Hyatt House is also another good option. When we stayed we didn't check out the pool, but they do have a small hotel bar in the lobby. Not sure if there is a bar at the pool though. They also have a free breakfast, if that matters.

I've stayed at Hotel Indigo a few times and the main reason we love it is for the price. While it is an updated hotel, you can still tell it has been refurbished and is not completely new. Last time we stayed DH was unhappy with the room deodorizers/fragrance they use, as he is pretty sensitive to that. I didn't notice it at all though, and that was only one time we visited. They have a bar in their lobby (with SUPER nice bartenders). No free breakfast here, but you can purchase food items from the bar/cafe. Their food is surprisingly good.

If an actual pool bar is important, the only ones I can think of (there very well may be others though...) are the Sheraton & Hilton as mentioned above. I haven't stayed at either though, only researched when looking offsite.

Also, have you checked prices for PPH? Sometimes PPH can be a pretty close price to the Courtyard (mentioned above). I know a lot of people don't like PPH, but I think the rooms are bright and airy (and large). And we LOVE EMH! I know the pool there can be a bit busy though. However, there are some standard rooms that have a small little patio with a gate connecting to the pool. They are called cabana rooms (or at least that's what I've seen them referred to as). It's not a bookable category, only a request. Here is an old post about it: https://www.disboards.com/threads/paradise-pier-cabana-room-trip-report.2483256/

 

[crystal1313]

Also, have you checked prices for PPH? Sometimes PPH can be a pretty close price to the Courtyard (mentioned above). I know a lot of people don't like PPH, but I think the rooms are bright and airy (and large). And we LOVE EMH! I know the pool there can be a bit busy though. However, there are some standard rooms that have a small little patio with a gate connecting to the pool. They are called cabana rooms (or at least that's what I've seen them referred to as). It's not a bookable category, only a request. Here is an old post about it: https://www.disboards.com/threads/paradise-pier-cabana-room-trip-report.2483256/

Super good point about the PPH! We booked one night for our upcoming stay and got a good rate on undercover tourist. We haven't stayed at the PPH in years, but always really enjoyed it in the past. We are looking forward to enjoying the pool on arrival day (and DH and I will get a drink for sure from the pool bar). We had a cabana room once, it was AWESOME!

 

[Aurora0427]

Marriott is opening a brand new hotel this spring. It’s a full service hotel- not within walking distance to the parks but I bet they will have a great pool and restaurant options. It’s called JW Marriott Resort- Anaheim. They are plugging it on their website as a luxury hotel, but it’ll be way cheaper than GCH or DLH.

Westin is opening a 4 or 5 diamond resort in August, but I think it’s been delayed until October.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

When you say family, will you have kids with you? When we can’t stay on-site, we stay at either the Courtyard across from the park entrance, or the Residence Inn by the convention center. Or if either of those are available, we stay at the Springhill Suites next to the Residence Inn so we can have access to the RI pool. Neither have poolside service, but they both have bars to purchase drinks to drink at the pool. My husband and daughter spend more time in the parks than I do, I prefer hanging at the Residence Inn pool more than the Courtyard. You should definitely look into the new JW Marriott. I have been waiting for that hotel to open - looking forward to a Marriott with pool service walking distance from the parks.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Many thanks to all who have replied so far - I will certainly do some more research based on your suggestions. As an fyi, yes, I did look at PPH (stayed there when I took my daughter down for her 13th bday - it was more than acceptable) - it's still about $700nt Cdn, so... nope.

 

[lcp9]

We have stayed at the RI convention center and the courtyard both a number of times - we love both for different reasons, but I would say the RI feels a bit more adult-friendly to me. the courtyard has a nice, large pool area with plenty of seating, but it's also a water park so there's potential for lots of kids. We actually haven't used the pool at RI, but just in general it doesn't scream DISNEYLAND VISITORS like the courtyard does so it would probably be a bit quieter.