Hyatt or Hilton? Or somewhere walkable?

[nancy drew]

Since it doesn't look like Disney is going to have a Summer hotel deal () we need to find another option. I'd love to hear opinions on the Hyatt or Hilton, or any other "nice" but walkable hotels (I know Hyatt and Hilton are not walkable, but if you can convince me to stay at a walkable hotel I'm listening!). We *do* spend time at the hotel, so we do need more than "a place to sleep at night". We swim, relax, and enjoy the hotel property. Last time we stayed on site and it was wonderful and I am really sad that we can't make it work again this year. So I want to stay somewhere nice, because this is our one and only vacation of the year.

Oh, I know we can get a kid's suite at the Hyatt, which is appealing, but I can get a better price at the Hilton which is also appealing. But any input on staying at either property is greatly appreciated!

We've also stayed at Hojo and Park Vue, and I don't think either will work this year (Hojo because we can't get the entertainment rate or a family suite and PV because it just wasn't a good experience).

 

[bumbershoot]

Hi there!

I'm sorry you can't stay onsite this year, what a bummer.


You know, we are pretty big fans of the Anabella. Their main pool is lovely, and the kids in it were having a really good time, while the adults around it seemed to be enjoying their surroundings as well. You can get some neat rooms for not too horribly much (and if you guys got APs they have AP rates, too). I've found good rates on hotels.com as well for them.

Now that's a motel, with the doors right out to the parking lot. The walk is further than from PPH, but it's a pretty walk on a gigantic hidden Mickey (google maps, satellite view), and you have their restaurant, Tiffy's, and Coco's nearby.


I also stayed one night at the Ramada on Katella (the one with the restaurant downstairs), and found it to be nice as well. It's a hotel, with interior corridors. The walk is along Harbor, from right near the intersection with Harbor. So it's not as close as HoJo, but the one evening we did it, it was decent.


Of course, there's always ART from those places.



Oh duh, Hilton, I've stayed one night there, too. It's something like a solid block further from the Ramada, if the map in my head is correct, and if we're both talking about the convention center one. It was really pretty inside, the beds were comfy, and I remember wishing I could have stayed there longer. We had pricelined it (at the time, at least, it at the Hyatt are the only ones in their category, but you'd want to check one of those "how to priceline" sites to make sure of it, if you want to go that route) for something like $50, for the one night before our PPH reservation.

Now, it is a convention hotel, and when we went it was sort of a grownup party feeling outside the entrance and in the lobby. But once we got past that, the hallways were quiet and we heard NOTHING from outside all night.


Speaking of that, the Ramada was quiet too. I was there at the same time as a cheerleading convention, and I was at that hotel b/c that's where my dad's family was staying, including my sister who was one of the cheerleaders, and apart from one "woohoo!" down the hallway, we heard NOTHING from the corridors.

 

[taaren]

We weren't terribly impressed by the Hilton when we stayed there. I haven't stayed at the Hyatt yet (almost booked it in March, ended up DH couldn't get the time off), but I'd go for that over the Hilton simply for the dedicated shuttle if you're not going to stay in a walkable distance since I don't really care for ART. And there really aren't any "nice" hotels in walkable distance other than the PPH/DLH/VGC that I've discovered yet ... also a hotel snob here, since our trips are more regular now we do like to take advantage of the amenities the resorts offer and lean towards the nicer ones now.

 

[lightweight]

I am having this exact same issue right now. So far I have a reservation with Hilton that I can cancel in a fireworks view room. I am only leaning that way because although far, it seems that in a pinch I could walk it if absolutely necessary whereas I couldn't with the Hyatt...

 

[mrswh]

If you search you will find a couple of recent threads about the Hyatt - but I will sum up by saying that the Hyatt is a great alternative to a DLR hotel. We have stayed there several times and it is very nice. Beautiful hotel, very clean, full service Starbucks in the lobby, comfortable beds, dedicated (and on time!) Disneyland shuttle, and great service. There is really nothing to complain about at the Hyatt. Also, check out the price for the two bedroom queen suite - it is more space than the kids suite and is sometimes less expensive. The pool at the Hyatt isn't as exciting as the GCH or DLH pool, but it's perfectly nice. I would recommend it without hesitation!

 

[DSNY4ever]

We like the Anabella too, but it seems like whenever I look now their prices have gone through the roof!! Last time we stayed there we paid $80, I just looked and it was $188. Anyway, the Hilton is walkable if you don't mind walking about 15 minutes. We just stayed at the Hyatt and it was very nice (definitely not walkable). The shuttle now has a small fee, you buy tickets daily, I think they were $4. Hilton has a good prices on Lastminutetravel.com and I have found that the Hyatt has the best prices directly through their own website.

 

[nancy drew]

Thanks for all of the replies so far.

Molly, I'll look into the Anabella. It may fit our needs, but I'm thinking the Hyatt or Hilton might be better. I'm very glad to hear your positive review of the Hilton. I can definitely get a room there cheaper than Hyatt (because we would do a suite at Hyatt) but I wasn't sure how it was since the Trip Advisor reviews are kind of mixed. The little splash pad looks like fun, and they don't have anything like that at the Hyatt, but the Hyatt has Dive In Movies and the kids would really like that, I think. Argh! Decision making is not my forte!!

Taaren, Yes, I feel like I've become a hotel snob now! I'm bummed that you weren't impressed with the Hilton. The reviews are so mixed online, it makes it really tough to make a decision!

lightweight, That's the issue, I feel like we could walk to the Hilton if needed while we definitely couldn't walk to the Hyatt. That makes the Hilton so much more appealing. But sharing a shuttle (ART) is not appealing.

mrswh, I'll search for the Hyatt posts, thanks. Glad to hear a good review!! It really does sound nice, and I'll look into the queen suites too, thanks!

DSNY4ever, Thanks for the input. I'll have to think about it some more, and see which one ends up outweighing the other. Walkable (Hilton) vs fun Dive In Movies... Cheaper (Hilton) vs Kids Suite... Argh!

 

[T0rrent]

I stayed at the Annabella once for a convention 3 years ago, and honestly for the price, i wasn't impressed. Room was large enough but the Best Western 3 blocks down I felt was just as good and saved some money. After a long day at Disney though I wouldn't consider any of those walkable lol. I'd seriously look into an ART pass. The route for them is pretty reasonable (bout every 20 minutes they come by) and felt it was worth the cost for the Wife and I.

 

[lightweight]

We stayed at te carousel last year because it looked really nice (and I'm sure it's great for a refurb motel) but what a bad experience. We were jetlagged and were up until 11 local time (2am our time) and when people would run on the walkways above our room (went on very late) it literally sounded like they were right in the room. Also 4 of the 6 days nobody cleaned the room and we had to all down and even then the cleanliness was ok but the hidden stuff was not done (dirt in corners and behind bed - everything swept to corners, and a few inches of dust ontop of the armoire). Place was nice enough but it kind of turned me off from the across the street properties

I also considered Anaheim Sheraton with the castle theme and own shuttle but scared off by mixed reviews on cleanliness (ds has allergies and hotels gross me out enough as it is lol)

 

[nana50]

I love the Hilton. I have stayed there numerous times and you can often get a great deal. I also like the Sheraton, (the castle one) as they are pretty cheap and have a dedicated shuttle.

 

[HeyItsNickCA]

The Hilton is a nice hotel. I've stayed there many times. The beds are comfortable, the hotel is quiet at night (at-least in the rooms - I've never heard a party, or, anything like that) and the staff is nice and very helpful. The only downside is the walk - it is walkable, a long walk, but, you can do it. We did both, walking and taking a taxi. Taxis are ALWAYS in front of the hotel. You won't have a hard time finding one. You also have the ART shuttles. $16.00 for a 5 day pass for adult and $4.00 for kids.

The hotel has a heated pool and a few Jacuzzis. Overall, the Hilton Anahiem is a really nice hotel and I suggest staying here. You can get really good prices on Priceline, too.

 

[mystic_path]

We stayed at te carousel last year because it looked really nice (and I'm sure it's great for a refurb motel) but what a bad experience. We were jetlagged and were up until 11 local time (2am our time) and when people would run on the walkways above our room (went on very late) it literally sounded like they were right in the room. Also 4 of the 6 days nobody cleaned the room and we had to all down and even then the cleanliness was ok but the hidden stuff was not done (dirt in corners and behind bed - everything swept to corners, and a few inches of dust ontop of the armoire). Place was nice enough but it kind of turned me off from the across the street properties

I also considered Anaheim Sheraton with the castle theme and own shuttle but scared off by mixed reviews on cleanliness (ds has allergies and hotels gross me out enough as it is lol)

That is a terrible experience, and very strange. I've stayed at the Carousel many many times, and I have always had a very clean room, and the room cleaning service has always been around and has done a decent job. I'm sorry that happened to you.

But I hear from three different family friends of mine who have been to the Anabella have loved it, and would go back. I have never stayed here, but from what I have been told, the rooms are a good size and clean and it is in a walkable location. Easier first thing in the morning, but depending on how tire you are at the end of the day especially if you have little ones with you, you may want to shuttle it back.

From my personal experience, another place I stay at that I enjoy is the Tropicana. It's basically right on the Disneyland entrance crosswalk. Clean, close, no car or shuttle needed, nice sized pool area with hot tub. It's worth a check out in my opinion.

 

[lulugirl1968]

We stayed at The Homewood Suites(a Hilton property) in May, about a mile from Disneyland, and we loved it!

We had a 2 room suite, with 2 queens, A living room with a sofa bed, and kitchenette.

We paid a rate of about $100.00/night. Included a daily, free hot b-fast.

M-Th, they also offer a free dinner, along beer and wine

There was a charge for parking(12.00), and a small charge for the shuttle that ran every 1/2 hour.

There is a Target right across the street, and several restaurants close by.

Check the reviews on Tripadvisor!