Hotel recommendations needed

[GoofyforDisney3]

I'm planning my daughter's graduation trip and it feels like I'm planning a trip to Myrtle Beach when looking at hotels. You know the type of trips that even the crappy hotels get recommended just because it's beach front AND cheap?!?! For DL, I totally understand wanting to be close to the gate; but, what I'd love to know is what hotel would you recommend for reasons other than that. I don't want to pick a hotel just based on just the proximity to the gate and the cost of the hotel (although I'd like for it to be walk-able and not $500 a night ). I want to make sure I'm picking a hotel that I'm going to feel proud to have stayed at and puts some magic in the trip for my DD.

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you want to be sure of what you are getting, stick to the name brands. You'll find Hiltons, Marriotts and Hyatt all within a 20 minute walk to the parks. If 20 minutes is too much for you, many have shuttles for a fee available.

There are tons of "hotels" on Harbor Blvd that are highly recommended and frequented by many people. To me, they are all glorified motels, but I have no problems with staying in a glorified motel since I don't hang out at the hotel. If I am going to the parks all day, I will pretty much just eat and sleep in any ole place.

When I want to have 24 room service, a hot breakfast on property or I think I'll be hanging out in my room for any reason and I don't want to pay over $500/night, I stay at the Hilton brands.

 

[goooof1]

"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

This thread (above, in the quote) is very helpful.... lots of information and well organized to give you a real sense of the area and what is available.

 

[CastAStone]

The Hyatt House was built from scratch in 2017, is well built, nice rooms, comfortable beds, a very nice hot breakfast buffet (very nice as free breakfasts go), and has a real Starbucks in the lobby (not a Courtyard pretend Starbucks with like 4 drinks). I’d recommend it to anyone.

It’s probably an 8-15 minute walk depending on your pace and how you catch the 2 lights.

 

[Whistlebee]

If your budget is $500 a night I’d check pricing on Paradise Pier or Disneyland Hotel first! Other “better” hotels in close walking distance: Marriott Courtyard Theme Park Entrance is very nice, great customer service and about 8 minutes walking distance. I like the FFI next door too, although it has outdoor corridors and is definitely not as nice. Hotel Indigo gets very good reviews and is on my radar. The Residence Inn Convention Center is very nice and I’ve never stayed at the Hyatt House but I would be plenty happy there as well. It sounds like your kids are older...if that is the case you could always stay at nicer hotels farther away and Uber to the parks. Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Orange County, etc.

 

[Imdboss]

I’d recommend Homewood Suites. Rooms are clean, modern, spacious, and have comfortable beds. It’s close to the Toy Story parking lot if you want to just walk there and hop on the shuttle or if you want to walk the distance to the park it’s about 15min. My second choice would be DoubleTree Suites, it’s about an additional 5 min walk. We prefer Homewood because it’s (1) newer, (2) includes breakfast (3) close to Toy Story lot.

When DH joins the kids and I on our trips we are pickier about where we stay. When it’s just the 3 of us we’ve tried a few new places just to see if we can find a hidden gem. Our last stay was at Hotel Indigo and I won’t go there again. Prior to that we tried out Staybridge Suites on Ball Rd which was a nice stay but probably won’t go back just due to the location unless it’s a great price vs one of our preferred places.

 

[lcp9]

We have a Marriott gig so we typically stay in those, and I have found both Courtyard theme park and the residence inn convention center to be nice in different ways. Courtyard - fairly new, great space for families (bunk beds in every room, which sounds like not necessary for you), large bathrooms with two showers, about as close as you can get to the gates. Nicer than typical Courtyard Marriotts IMO. Definitely not a motel feel. RI - new within last couple of years, suites, full kitchen, free full breakfast, very modern decor. RI is probably fancier but Courtyard holds its own. RI is about 12 min walk to gates. I am a total snob - would not stay in most Harbor hotels/motels - and I really like both of these.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Courtyard is nicest off site IMO. As another Marriott and former IHG guy my go to are Fairfield Inn, Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express which are all nice and close to gates...then if you are good with a bit longer walk, Springhill Suites, Residence Inn and Hyatt Place are all nice and new. Rest fall into the "budget" category for me and are usually a hard pass.

HoJo and Candy Cane Inn are other DIS Board favorites but I was VERY underwhelmed with both.

 

[mamamary]

The Hyatt House was built from scratch in 2017, is well built, nice rooms, comfortable beds, a very nice hot breakfast buffet (very nice as free breakfasts go), and has a real Starbucks in the lobby (not a Courtyard pretend Starbucks with like 4 drinks). I’d recommend it to anyone.

It’s probably an 8-15 minute walk depending on your pace and how you catch the 2 lights.

We stayed here back in September and liked it very much. Usually a 15 minute walk for us. I would stay here again.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Thanks everyone for the info. I’m like lcp9 and a bit of a hotel snob. I don’t require 5 Star accommodations, but at the same time I don’t want to feel like I’m staying in a rat hole either. I’ll be checking out the other Hotels mentioned. It’s just me and my 17 year old DD so a slightly longer walk isn’t going to be the worst. I mean it sounds like the walk from some of these aren’t much worse than the combination of the walk to and from the bus stops at resort and park at WDW. I think the walk at DS was a mile last time I was there.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Ah...."magic in the trip"....there lies the rub. Well for many folks the magic is to wake up and see the Matterhorn and the Monorail buzzing by. For others the Guardian tower beckons folks north after they leave Walgreen for that last item needed for a magical day. McDonald's offers magical calories for large groups of folks.At night, the north end of the Garden has fun lights to see and Disney in the morning drawing them west down the sidewalk.. Foe me, it is the lack of noise in the lodging that is most magical, to lay one heads down on a pillow and not hear or sound....or even remember my eyelids closing.

 

[Aurora0427]

If you want to be sure of what you are getting, stick to the name brands. You'll find Hiltons, Marriotts and Hyatt all within a 20 minute walk to the parks. If 20 minutes is too much for you, many have shuttles for a fee available.

There are tons of "hotels" on Harbor Blvd that are highly recommended and frequented by many people. To me, they are all glorified motels, but I have no problems with staying in a glorified motel since I don't hang out at the hotel. If I am going to the parks all day, I will pretty much just eat and sleep in any ole place.

When I want to have 24 room service, a hot breakfast on property or I think I'll be hanging out in my room for any reason and I don't want to pay over $500/night, I stay at the Hilton brands.

We just stayed at Hotel Indigo and loved it. 15 minute walk from hotel to the gate, even quicker Uber. It’s upscale, has a fantastic restaurant, staff is friendly, great rooms, great decor, upgraded toiletries, nice cool vibe. My husband said he heard the people next door, I didn’t hear a thing, and I was up frequently with a sick child. Ask for a quiet room that doesn’t face Katella. Starbucks is across the street, and you’re a three minute walk to the Garden Walk and those restaurants.

I would also consider the Residence Inn Convention Center, which is right down the street from Hotel Indigo, and the Courtyard Marriott Anaheim Themepark on Harbor which is across from the park entrance.

 

[RedVines2001]

Another vote for Hyatt House. Besides the points already mentioned, there's a 24 hour Walgreens and a Blaze Pizza that's open late built right into the hotel. Rooms are spacious and new. Very much walk able to the main gate.