How important is it to stay "close?"

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

I get hotel discounts through my work, and these are the options that are available through work for our stay 4/1-4/3... We have a car, and do not care to drive, if need be... I know that will add in a parking charge one day, so that may impact price...

I can stay at the
Doubletree on Harbor (1.5 miles away -we've stayed here before) for $103/night
Embassy Suites North for $93 with free breakfast (6 miles)
Sheraton Anaheim for $103 +$6 parking (1/2 mile away)
Hilton Anaheim for $109 (2 blocks away)

Which one would be the best deal? We will be going to DL 1 day pre-cruise on the Wonder.

 

[FlameGirl]

The prices are all so similar that I wold stay at the closest one.

 

[skiingfast]

If it's just one day why don't you stay right across the street so you can go back and forth real easy?

 

[DizNee Luver]

With the prices you showed, you could probably get a motel on Harbor across from the entrance at the same price or even lower.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

Honestly, I would forget those hotels and get one on Harbor Blvd across the street. Our family cannot stand waiting for shuttles. People are rude and cut in line. In the morning the first shuttle fills up and you have to wait 20 minutes for the next one. It can be frustrating and leave a bad taste in your mouth for the whole trip.

I would recommend HOJO or Park Vue. You will pay about the same as the prices above and be within walking distance. It's easier to take a mid day break when you don't have to deal with shuttles too!

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

If it's just one day why don't you stay right across the street so you can go back and forth real easy?

The picture of how close the hotels really are in the info thread will not open for me... I know that 2 blocks to DL might not mean to the entrance, and that was part of my question. (at least the one in my head - I wasn't very clear)

To Clarify:
Are any of these hotels really in walking distance? (We have a 7 year old and an infant in a stroller)
We'll be there 2 nights, but only 1 day in DL.
Does it benefit us to stay closer (for convenience) or are one of these hotels much better, and therefore worth the extra drive?


Also I checked the HOJO and there are no more entertainment rates and the rate on the website (wiht the 15%) is still $149! I will check park vue - thank you!

Thank you again!

 

[tzeitel]

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp
This is a great link, has a map of what could be considered walking distance.

 

[HydroGuy]

I get hotel discounts through my work, and these are the options that are available through work for our stay 4/1-4/3... We have a car, and do not care to drive, if need be... I know that will add in a parking charge one day, so that may impact price...

I can stay at the
Doubletree on Harbor (1.5 miles away -we've stayed here before) for $103/night
Embassy Suites North for $93 with free breakfast (6 miles)
Sheraton Anaheim for $103 +$6 parking (1/2 mile away)
Hilton Anaheim for $109 (2 blocks away)

Which one would be the best deal? We will be going to DL 1 day pre-cruise on the Wonder.

If you are staying only one night at the hotel and one day at the parks, then being close will not matter much. The close hotels - which I am a firm believer in - really help on multi-day trips.

See this link and the links it has to hotel distances:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

 

[Hound 109]

To Clarify:
Are any of these hotels really in walking distance? (We have a 7 year old and an infant in a stroller)

We'll be there 2 nights, but only 1 day in DL.

Does it benefit us to stay closer (for convenience) or are one of these hotels much better, and therefore worth the extra drive?

No, none are walking distance.

No, none are worth a drive (& the pain of parking etc.) or riding the bus (which is SO WDW thinking ).

& Yes, it benefits the visitor to stay within walking distance.


We understand that many have hotel points or preferred hotel rates(i have Hilton, Marriot & Sheraton)....many read trip advisor.....& like a 3 star hotel over a 2 star property. (99% of all Dis'ers who STAY ACROSS THE STREET also have points, read TA & like nice hotels.)

Even so.....we like to stay where our feet are the transportation.


And you only have one day! Get to Security 40 min. before opening......take a mid day break at a hotel that's a quick 5-6 min. walk from the turnstile......& then go back & enjoy the rest of the day w/o having to worry about busses or parking lots or anything else.

That leaves the nearby Harbor Hotels & the DLR onsite hotels as the best choices. (not the ones on your list.)

(Is staying onsite NOT an option? & have you priced the Candy Cane Inn...where you get a dedicated shuttle AND it's within walking distance??)

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[Hound 109]

If you are staying only one night at the hotel and one day at the parks, then being close will not matter much. The close hotels - which I am a firm believer in - really help on multi-day trips.

See this link and the links it has to hotel distances:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Hydroguy.....your hotel rule (imo) is even MORE important for the ONE DAY, two night visitor.

That ONE day should be about Walt's park.....not parking & riding busses.

 

[skiingfast]

Are any of these hotels really in walking distance? (We have a 7 year old and an infant in a stroller)
We'll be there 2 nights, but only 1 day in DL.
Does it benefit us to stay closer (for convenience) or are one of these hotels much better, and therefore worth the extra drive?


Also I checked the HOJO and there are no more entertainment rates and the rate on the website (wiht the 15%) is still $149! I will check park vue - thank you!

It not that you can't walk from those hotels. It's just that with such a limited amount of time how much do you want to spend traveling to the parks.

If you stay at Hojo or PVI and it would take 5 minutes to get to the gate, you probably wouldn't bat an eye.

But if you stay at the hilton and I say you are going to spend 30 or 40 minutes walking outside the parks, it might raise an eyebrow. That a big portion of useful hours.


Park Vue might work great. With a baby you may want to go back to the room and rest and that may make it more likely that you can take advantage of the snacks at the social hour they have.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Normally I would totally advocate staying close and being able to walk. However, you are only going one day, so I can see how the staying close isn't quite as vital. Here are the things to consider. Will you get up extra early in the morning for your one Disney day? Do you plan on staying in the park from 8AM-midnight or 9AM-11PM, whatever the hours may be? Are you the type of person who absolutely needs time away from the people, noise, and hubbub of the parks in the middle of the day to recharge? Are you able to "travel light", i.e. fit your needs for the day into one or two backpacks to either carry or stash in a locker, or are you the type who needs to go back to the hotel for a snack, a sweatshirt, a change of clothes or shoes, etc.?

If you stay at a non-walking distance hotel, you need to be prepared to arrive very early, well before park opening and possibly walk from the parking structure to the park rather than waiting for the shuttle. You will lose too much time driving back to your hotel and back to the park during the middle of the day, so you need to take "breaks" by sitting on benches and people-watching, going to a meal, going to a show, visiting Downtown Disney for an hour, trying out one of the chairs in the lobby of the Grand, and so on. You need to carry with you only what you are most likely to need during the day; if it's more than you want to constantly lug around, there's always the possibility of a locker. If you stay for the fireworks, stick around in the parks at least 30-60 minutes afterwards so you're not leaving with the main crush of people. Even then don't be surprised if you can't just hop on a shuttle back to the parking lot, so be of the mindset that you might have to walk or wait.

We have only driven to the park a couple of times, but those were for quick one-shots such as yours. These were not "un-busy" times since they were Columbus Day weekends during Halloweentime in 2009 and 2007. The key was to get there early, be patient, and be willing to do things a little more commando style than we are used to. We found that it was easy enough to manage though because it's the duration that gets us eventually. We are way more tired staying across the street and taking breaks but visiting 3 days in a row than we were driving in and out and not getting a real break for one day.

 

[Amysita]

The Sheraton Ahaheim has free shuttles that run to & from the parks. They leave the hotel to the park every hour & half hour (9:00, 9:30, etc.). Then they run from the parks back to the hotel every 1/4 & 3/4 hour (9:15, 9:45, etc.). Every time I've stayed there, the buses were prompt and kept to that schedule. If they fill the initial bus, they have a 2nd that if a driver cannot take all guests waiting to come back from the parks, he will call the hotel & have the 2nd bus dispatched immediately. So, no waiting another 1/2 hour for the next bus.

PS...if you go to the Sheraton...I highly recommend getting a slice of the seven layer chocolate cake & sharing it one nite with your family...it was heavenly indulgence!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm also on the "with one day it's more important to stay close" side.

We started our adult DLR trips with one day visits, and the time in the park is VITAL. If you stay further away, you either don't take breaks or you spend far too much time just getting to the break place. So you're either miserable in one way or the other.

Now, our one-day trips were done when we were actually staying in San Diego, LOL. Not just a further way down the street.

But when I did my first solo trip, I stayed at Carousel, so I could be a hop, skip, and a jump away! I didn't want to waste ANY of my time in the "commute".

I personally would think of checking out Tropicana and Desert Inn, both right there.

 

[Dobie]

I second the Sheraton Anaheim. It is very easy to access DL with their Shuttle, and the facility is lovely.

 

[PinkBudgie]

If you do decide to stay at one of these, we really liked Embassy Suites South. It was about a mile away and is a 30 min walk. You can see my review in my sig link. We drove and parked everyday. I much prefer CCI for long trips because of the easy walk. However, if you plan to stay all day in the park and wouldn't want to go back to your room anyway since you only have one day, you could leave some extra clothes or whatever in your car. If you really needed it, you could go back to the car to get it without the long trip back to the room.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

non try hojos maybe but with there new policy im not sure any morre, but also ive heard good things bout park val, also desert inn is an ok one that ive read about

 

[kiwitravel]

This link has the walking distance and times for the nearer hotels so you can compare actual walk times as opposed to hotels advertised times...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2639647

 

[nana50]

I love the sheraton anaheim. I always only stay one day. We love their shuttles and they run often enough so we never wait. We often go back and rest and for a swim. The Sheraton is a much nicer hotel and luxury feel if that is important to you, (it is to me). If you really don't care then definitely use one of the harbor ones where you can run back and forth. It is all personal preference.

 

[NVDisMom]

If you must stay in one of your listed hotels I would suggest the Sheraton and use their shuttle. But, I am of the opinion, especially with young children, that you should stay within walking distance. CCI and a few others will be in the same price range. That way you can easily go back to the room for a break, nap, change of clothes etc. Easy is the key here and staying closer makes it sooooo much easier!