If we weren't happy with Desert Inn and Suites, would we be happy at BWPPI?

[motor58]

I know I am in the minority but we had a pretty terrible stay at Desert Inn last year. Noise levels, service, beds, bedding, showers, felt dirty. Mostly the noise levels and poor quality of beds/bedding really made our stay awful. Only good things I could say about it was proximity to gate (!) and price (!!). Either we were extremely unlucky at Desert Inn or I am a hotel snob and never knew it.

I am now in the early planning of our next trip and I'd like to book hotel now as it's the cheapest when you book so far out. I thought our next hotel would be BWPPI but now I am worried it is too similar to Desert Inn? The location is amazing of course but if we have another bad hotel stay I don't know if I could ever get my husband to go back again.

Our only other trip to DL we stayed at a family suite at HOJO when it was pretty new (about 3.5 years ago) and got a great rate. I was totally impressed-and if it weren't for their crazy prices now, and hearing how the rooms are getting run down, and the walk time to the gate--we would be there every single trip.

I've come to this forum for so much, you guys are so wonderful and I thank you in advance for your thoughts. Any thoughts on BWPPI or any other suggested hotels are welcome. We all know how hard it is to balance budget, location and hotel level. Those hotels right at the crosswalk are just amazing location-wise, I don't want to give up on all of them just because of this one bad stay.

thank you!!!!!!

 

[motor58]

oh! if it helps we have 3 kids. Time of travel they will be 7, 9, 11.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Here now. Watch for my review on the podcast & DIS blog next week.

 

[DSNY4ever]

That's a tough call because I think of them as pretty similar quality wise, but I haven't been to either in years so listen for what Tom says in the podcast. Try looking into the candy cane, or the Hyatt if you are willing to shuttle to the parks. The Sheraton is nice and we like the Annabella too, but noise can happen there too. The nicest we have had overall is the Hyatt.

Eta: you can walk from the candy cane or anabella.

 

[keltiesmom]

Depending on when you are going you could see if there are any conventions happening, such as gay days or dapper days that you could get a good rate at a disney hotel.

 

[motor58]

Hey Tom--I will check out your podcast thanks, but which hotel are you at now?

Keltiesmom: Dapper days has a great rate but I don't want to go that time, and even though it's a great rate it's still expensive. Scary. I had no idea gay days had a rate-need to check that out.

And thanks Dsny4ever--that is exactly what I started getting worried about. Similar quality and a bit more $ for BWPPI. I am looking at candy cane inn for sure-seems like a good compromise.

 

[tanyaegangibson]

I'm not sure what the price differential between desert inn and hojos is, but we love being at Hojos bc even though we're technically offsite, we still feel like we're in the Disney "bubble." The walk is only incrementally longer, and the water play area makes the "back at the hotel" time feel special for our kids (9 and 6). It's the only offsite hotel we like (though, to be honest, we can't wait to try the new Courtyard with the waterslides opening next door to it). IMO, walking a few extra minutes to get home (who notices how long it takes in the morning anyway?) is worth having great pools, etc., after you get back "home."

 

[bethwc101]

I must say that Best Western is my favorite hotel to stay in. When we stay we always get the top floor which is nice so not to deal with people running around above our heads, but the noise level was surprisingly low. Our room was facing Disneyland so there was plenty of traffic, but didn't hear it. The breakfast was good and free. The room was nice and very clean. Overall it is my favorite hotel to stay at.

 

[lalasmama]

I've always heard good things about BWPPI. Of course, it's still a motel on a busy street, and it caters to families going to Disneyland who want to be close, so you aren't going to be getting a resort-quality stay (but you aren't paying resort-quality prices for it either!). However, from reading reviews around here, I never hear people complain about the beds at BWPPI, and for DI&S, someone always mentions the beds! If they had suites, our family would totally try them out. But, alas, they don't have real suites, and DD needs a separate sleeping area.... We stay at PVI. It's equally close, the rooms are newly renovated, the beds are oh-so-comfy, the pool feels pretty private for being in the middle of a parking lot, the towels are large enough to actually dry and cover me after a shower or dip in the pool, so it's our go-to place now (usually about $150/night for a basic room).

 

[ddwlms]

I've stayed at both, and it almost seems like the luck of the draw on noise level. I had the worst experience at BWPPI, but I've had bad at DI&S, and just fine levels at both.

I personally prefer the "hard" beds at DI&S.

I love staying at 5 star hotels, and WILL NEVER stay at a Motel 6, (point being that I have some point of standards ) but I've never been dissatisfied with the cleanliness of DI&S, so I have to wonder if your stay was a fluke. (new maid, not getting the job done?) But I do think that BWPPI is a half a step (or maybe just a quarter of a step) above DI&S.

I wouldn't expect much service from either place based on what you pay and how close they are to the parks.

Overall, I don't think the increase in price justifies any increase in benefit if you were to stay at BWPPI. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I think pretty much all hotels have the potential of noise. Not really anyway around that.

 

[motor58]

I know noise can happen anywhere, but this was bad. We could hear entire conversations from our neighbors and the maid's cart literally shook the walls. It was crazy and bad and darkly funny. Also I think noise from neighboring hotels was bouncing off our exterior wall-like our room was 'catching' all the noise from across the parking lot. It was really extreme.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Hey Tom--I will check out your podcast thanks, but which hotel are you at now?

Sorry. I was at BWPPI.

 

[rentayenta]

Good luck OP. I am struggling with offsite options too. Noise, cleanliness, location etc.....

 

[lvdis]

I must say that Best Western is my favorite hotel to stay in. When we stay we always get the top floor which is nice so not to deal with people running around above our heads, but the noise level was surprisingly low. Our room was facing Disneyland so there was plenty of traffic, but didn't hear it. The breakfast was good and free. The room was nice and very clean. Overall it is my favorite hotel to stay at.

bethwc101, do you happen to remember what type the room that faced Disneyland was (2 doubles, 2 queens, king?). I would love to try for one of the upper rooms that faces Disneyland, but I wasn't sure what room type to book. Thanks!

 

[kirstie101]

I've stayed at both and think they are very similar. I actually think DI&S was cleaner and quieter and prefer it over BWPPI. I dont think you'll be happy at BWPPI if you were not happy at DI&S.

 

[bethwc101]

bethwc101, do you happen to remember what type the room that faced Disneyland was (2 doubles, 2 queens, king?). I would love to try for one of the upper rooms that faces Disneyland, but I wasn't sure what room type to book. Thanks!

2 Queens