JW Marriott recently?

[Huskerpaul]

We are going to DLR the last week in August and booked the JW Mariott. A recent post on another thread said they didn't have a great experience. So, I checked recent reviews and they are very mixed. It looks like they also charge you $25 per day for food/wine/drink, regardless of if you use it or not. I'm now thinking of switching to the Westin instead, but it costs $50 more per night. Westin also looks like it is a little farther walk. A co-worker and my family have stayed at the Westin and had nothing but good things to say.

Anyone have any recent experiences at either place or know someone who has?

 

[Suzabella]

DIdn't Marriott buy Westin?

 

[Huskerpaul]

DIdn't Marriott buy Westin?

They are under the same Marriott brand yes. JW Marriott and the Westin are two hotels near Disneyland that opened in the last couple years.

 

[pharmama]

I don't think the Westin is farther than the JW- just a different route (and a good part of the walk to/from the Westin is through DTD which, for me anyway, was a plus). Google maps walking directions to La Brea Bakery (because if you do walking directions to Disneyland or the esplanade the ending spot is very bizarre and is inside the park) say 1mi from the JW and 0.9mi from the Westin but La Brea is on the Westin "side" of the esplanade so let's call it a wash. Walk back to the Westin can be made faster by cutting through GCH as well (but you can't do this going TO the parks). Personally, I also like going through security by the DLH/end of DTD vs. through the Harbor entrance too.

We enjoyed our stay at the Westin last year but haven't stayed at the JW.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I haven't stayed at either, but if it were me, I'd pick Westin for the entry by DLH and DtD vs Harbor (as the PP pointed out). I just find that entrance less crowded and DtD is very pleasant to walkthrough, so I wouldn't mind that part of the walk at all.

 

[Kenshin21]

The walk from Westin a little bit longer going to the parks, as you have go to the Disneyland hotel basically and walk the entire stretch of DTD. On the way back, you can cut through the Grand (only onsite hotel guests can go through the Grand). The walk to/from the Westin is "safer" as most of it is on property.

 

[bardays]

We were at the Westin last month and the walk is more pleasant than the Habour Side. There is also an ART stop right outside and we utilized ART a lot!

 

[GoldeneyezCA]

We are going to DLR the last week in August and booked the JW Mariott. A recent post on another thread said they didn't have a great experience. So, I checked recent reviews and they are very mixed. It looks like they also charge you $25 per day for food/wine/drink, regardless of if you use it or not. I'm now thinking of switching to the Westin instead, but it costs $50 more per night. Westin also looks like it is a little farther walk. A co-worker and my family have stayed at the Westin and had nothing but good things to say.

Anyone have any recent experiences at either place or know someone who has?

Hello, we stayed at the JW over the weekend. Here’s the info sheet we were provided explaining the “destination fee”.

The hotel is very modern, clean, airy, and trendy, and the lobby bar and pool area looked swanky, though we didn’t use them. The breakfast buffet was tasty! We had concierge lounge access, though they ran out of food before 7 pm on Sun night. The fireworks were cancelled due to winds, so I can’t comment on that aspect. We walked across the street to the Toy Story lot (about a 5 min walk) and took the shuttle to and from the parks. Overall, it was comfortable and very nice for the price point. I would rather stay at the Grand on a discounted weekend like Dapper Days, for a little more magic, but it was an enjoyable stay.

I haven’t stayed at the Westin yet, but I’ve attended work meetings there, and it is very nice. I prefer the design and dining options at the Westin to the JW, based on my limited experience, but either would be a great option for an upscale, more reasonably-priced stay!

 

[Huskerpaul]

Wow thanks for the very complete report!

 

[gelatoni fan]

Hello, we stayed at the JW over the weekend. Here’s the info sheet we were provided explaining the “destination fee”.

The hotel is very modern, clean, airy, and trendy, and the lobby bar and pool area looked swanky, though we didn’t use them. The breakfast buffet was tasty! We had concierge lounge access, though they ran out of food before 7 pm on Sun night. The fireworks were cancelled due to winds, so I can’t comment on that aspect. We walked across the street to the Toy Story lot (about a 5 min walk) and took the shuttle to and from the parks. Overall, it was comfortable and very nice for the price point. I would rather stay at the Grand on a discounted weekend like Dapper Days, for a little more magic, but it was an enjoyable stay.

I haven’t stayed at the Westin yet, but I’ve attended work meetings there, and it is very nice. I prefer the design and dining options at the Westin to the JW, based on my limited experience, but either would be a great option for an upscale, more reasonably-priced stay!

What time was the evening cocktail + hor d'oeurve in the lounge? Would it be substantial enough for a dinner so should I be saving some of that $25 forced food credit for an evening snack assuming I actually arrive in the lounge when it starts?

 

[GoldeneyezCA]

I think after 5 pm, but we didn’t experience it. They said that there were pizza and burgers, among other offerings, but I’d contact the hotel for more info.

 

[Mister Skellington]

We just stayed at the Westin and had a fantastic stay. I was concerned about the walk but never felt it was a burden even after spending all day at the parks.
The rooftop bar has great views of the park and fireworks as well.

 

[Huskerpaul]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm thinking Westin might be the way to go. Having the ART stop right out front seems handy for taking the bus back to the hotel at the end of a long day.

 

[bardays]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm thinking Westin might be the way to go. Having the ART stop right out front seems handy for taking the bus back to the hotel at the end of a long day.

From the park, you can take the Katella Line or the Ball Line to the hotel, but don't expect assistance from the front desk on ART. They were no help.