Looking for best walking-distance motel/hotel w/ criteria

[jmainaz]

Looks like I'll be returning to Disneyland on September 25th.
I'm looking to stay 5 nights at a motel/hotel
* Within walking-distance (Harbor Blvd). The closer the better.
* Free breakfast (prefer hot options)
* Not a dump
* Rooms aren't too small.
* Price isn't that big of a concern since I am not staying on property (I figure I'm saving by not staying on property so I can splurge a bit on the cheap room... if that makes sense).
* Free Wi-Fi / Internet

I'll be traveling with my wife and 4-year old.

Thanks in advance!

-Jason

Also, has anyone stayed at the Homewood Suites. Is there a shuttle that goes by and how convenient is it?

 

[skiingfast]

I think you are limited to.

The Park Vue Inn.
The Best Western Park Place Inn.


Near the Homewood Suites will be ART pickup. It has a stop within a block of every hotel. However the shuttle will eat up a good amount of time compared to the two hotels I listed above. Which by the way are the two closest hotels to the DLR entrance on Harbor.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I would suggest Candy Cane Inn.

The rooms are a tad smaller than some, but with only 2 adults and one small child that shouldn't be a problem. We stay in a deluxe room with 2 adults and 2 teens.

The breakfast is free, but the only hot options are the toasted bagels and toast. I prefer eggs, but I make do because the walk is so short.
The grounds are very nice and pretty.

You can see pics in my review in my sig.

 

[BecBennett]

I'll also recommend Parkvue Inn. Amazing location, free breakfast, average size hotel rooms, free wi-fi.

We've stayed there twice, and if we can't afford to stay onsite next time we go, I'm certain we'll be back to Parkvue Inn again.

 

[jmainaz]

Thanks all for your responses!

Things have changed. It looks like my in-laws might join us!
So now we are looking at:

Me
My Wife
My Mother and Law
My wife's sister
Wifes's sister's husband
My daughter
Her two cousins.

So 5 adults / 3 children.
I found a "suite" (more like two adjoining rooms) at the Anahiem Desert Inn.
It seemed like a great rate. What do you guys think of this place?
It seems old but clean and accommodating.
I understand that it has free wi-fi and breakfast (not hot).

Should I look somewhere else?

Thanks
-Jason

 

[skiingfast]

So 5 adults / 3 children.
I found a "suite" (more like two adjoining rooms) at the Anahiem Desert Inn.
It seemed like a great rate. What do you guys think of this place?
It seems old but clean and accommodating.
I understand that it has free wi-fi and breakfast (not hot).

Should I look somewhere else?

Thanks
-Jason

Obvious by my suggections above it wouldn't be my first choice. Should work great if you need a suite and that's what you found.

I'll only mention that most people say the wi-fi is very spotty there.



Also if you have questions about DL, the parks, tickets, hotels, schedules.... Feel free to ask on the main DL board for a bigger response.
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26

 

[tinkcollector]

With your changes I still believe Park Vue Inn to be a great choice. They have Family Suites and adjoining rooms. The breakfast offers "hot" choices as well as a Happy Hour of sorts that offers a hot entree and lots of other goodies. Location can not be beat. The friendly, helpful staff, decent pool, and clean rooms. The wi-fi works fine. And they do not charge an extra parking fee.

 

[Jen&Trenton]

Have a peek at the Residence Inn Maingate on Clementine. Depending on how many beds you would prefer, this might be a nice option. We normally stay in the penthouse suite. It's a loft with a king size bed and bath, then downstairs there is a separate room with two queens (and bath), in the living room is a sofa bed and a kitchen with a full-size fridge and almost anything you need. The hot/cold breakfast is larger than most with tons of variety. They also will get your groceries for you with no extra charge. Pool, basketball, tennis (I think). The only thing you may not prefer is the distance, a little bit far but definitely walkable. We are staying there again in July. I'd say if distance was a huge factor go with any of the other suggestions. Good luck!

 

[starshine514]

With your changes I still believe Park Vue Inn to be a great choice. They have Family Suites and adjoining rooms. The breakfast offers "hot" choices as well as a Happy Hour of sorts that offers a hot entree and lots of other goodies. Location can not be beat. The friendly, helpful staff, decent pool, and clean rooms. The wi-fi works fine. And they do not charge an extra parking fee.

Park Vue's largest Suite only accommodates 7 (or, that was what I was told earlier this year when I was looking at staying there). Adjoining rooms might still be an option, but that was out of our price range... Our party of 8 ended up staying at Desert Inn and Suites (next door). We were generally happy with it. The room was clean, the beds were fine, the Wi-fi worked for my computer (Windows 7) but not for my sister's (Windows XP). Breakfast had no protein, but was fair (plenty of danish, toast (well, bread and a toaster) w/ jelly and butter, cold cereal, milk, OJ, raspberry lemonade, regular and decaf coffee (which was awful in my opinion), apples or oranges (when we were there, the oranges were amazing). We brought our own peanut butter and made PB & J's for the kids w/ their bread and jelly for a quick on-the-go breakfast. We didn't use the pool, but walked by it daily (smelled like it had a lot of chlorine in it). They do charge a $4 resort fee and $8 parking fee. If there are no parking spots, they offer valet for the same price.

 

[Jen&Trenton]

I knew I forgot to mention some things. The WiFi worked great, there is no charge for parking, there is protein in the free breakfast, and the suite can accommodate up to 8.

 

[tlovesdis]

I would suggest two rooms at the Park Vue Inn. We stayed there in March and loved it! We had a regular two queen room and it was huge! There were four of us and a scooter we had to park and charge each night and there was still plenty of space. The sink is on the outside of the bathroom, which is great when getting ready in the morning.

Their breakfast was great. We had waffles, hash browns, yogurt and fruit each morning, but there was plenty of cereal and other things as well.

You cannot beat the location either, literally right across the street!!!

 

[pigby]

We stayed at the Candy Cane in April - there has been a few comments about room size but we were 3 adults in a deluxe room (hardly more price wise than a standard) and we found it to be perfectly acceptable with plenty enough closet and drawer space for a weeks stay. The breakfast was pretty good, the pool was warm enough for me to swim in in April (and I don't do cold pools) and a hot tub if you want to use this maybe at the end of the day, rooms were spotless, staff were extremely friendly and the shuttle bus (even though we had said we wouldnt use as it's only a 10 minute walk to the parks) was a godsend.

 

[Sjwillia]

I agree with checking out the Residents Inn Maingate. We stayed in the Penthouse suite last September. There were 7 of us and plenty of room. The breakfast was filling and included protein. We usually took food back to the room for the kids because the breakfast area can be congested in the mornings. We walked most days but had a shuttle pass too. We just did not have the patience to wait and one morning the bus was too full for all the people waiting. The walk was OK but we had a stroller for the 4 year old. I would not want to carry a sleeping child that far.

 

[specialks]

I would recommend the Park Vue 2 connecting rooms because of the location and reviews. They also are in the process of putting new carpet in all the rooms. Hot breakfast, not just continental. The RI maingate would be another option but I doubt it would be a fun walk for your party, so you would be looking at ART and that can be a big time waste. We've stayed at the HS and loved it but not since the new private shuttle service so I don't know how well it operates.

 

[RedRosie]

We are staying at Desert Inn (checking out on Sept 25!) but if hot breakfast and good WiFi are important to you, you should not go there. We have stay there before and will continue to go back, but the breakfast and WiFi were the only 2 "problems". They say they have WiFi, but it is very slow and stops all the time. My DH is a "techy" and was going nuts. (But the 4 queens and super low rate if you book well in advance win over that.)

PS - The 4 queen suite is considered one room since it has only one front door. So they may only allow one car. Not sure if that is a problem for your group.

 

[kirstie101]

Park Vue's largest Suite only accommodates 7 (or, that was what I was told earlier this year when I was looking at staying there). Adjoining rooms might still be an option, but that was out of our price range... Our party of 8 ended up staying at Desert Inn and Suites (next door). We were generally happy with it. The room was clean, the beds were fine, the Wi-fi worked for my computer (Windows 7) but not for my sister's (Windows XP). Breakfast had no protein, but was fair (plenty of danish, toast (well, bread and a toaster) w/ jelly and butter, cold cereal, milk, OJ, raspberry lemonade, regular and decaf coffee (which was awful in my opinion), apples or oranges (when we were there, the oranges were amazing). We brought our own peanut butter and made PB & J's for the kids w/ their bread and jelly for a quick on-the-go breakfast. We didn't use the pool, but walked by it daily (smelled like it had a lot of chlorine in it). They do charge a $4 resort fee and $8 parking fee. If there are no parking spots, they offer valet for the same price.

I agree...this motel works well for our large group. It is close, clean and reasonably priced. The even have a nice viewing area to see the fireworks at night. And if you're lucky you may even be able to see them from your room. DD used the pool our first day there and had no complaints about it. But then again she's 4 and any pool is fun for her. We will be staying there again this October.

 

[summer0407]

I would also suggest Park Vue they just put in new carpet and it's clean beds are comfy and breakfast and social hour are very good.

 

[rivey]

Dessert Inn and Suites offers a very basic basic breakfast, but has those big room/connected suites options. Pool here in indoors and pretty small (if you care about that). Haven't poked in here in person in about three years, but the rooms at that time were started to show wear.

Park Vue could also be an option- they have room now that are queen(or king) beds w/trundle and bunk- (sleeps 5), various options.... Never stayed at Park Vue but it is one of the top on Trip Advisor, better kept and more consistent service than Dessert Inn and Suites. They have hot breakfast.

Two big (deluxe rooms) at the Candy Cane Inn also might make you happy (and cost less than Park Vue and DI&S)... never stayed there, but know folks who have and really love it. Lovely breakfast, FREE shuttle to and from Disney and it's already w/in walking distance.

OVERALL, I think you would NOT be disappointed in Park Vue, you MIGHT be disappointed a bit in DI&S, and probably happy as a clam in two rooms at CCI.

 

[bnbheartdisney]

Thanks all for your responses!

Things have changed. It looks like my in-laws might join us!
So now we are looking at:

Me
My Wife
My Mother and Law
My wife's sister
Wifes's sister's husband
My daughter
Her two cousins.

So 5 adults / 3 children.
I found a "suite" (more like two adjoining rooms) at the Anahiem Desert Inn.
It seemed like a great rate. What do you guys think of this place?
It seems old but clean and accommodating.
I understand that it has free wi-fi and breakfast (not hot).

Should I look somewhere else?

Thanks
-Jason

We've stayed here with 4 adults and 2 kids and it suited us quite well. The location to the parks is perfect and the room was spacious enough for the lil' ones to run around. However, the breakfast is pretty basic. We'll be spending a night here next week in a 2 bedroom suite with 6 adults and 2 kids and are expecting another great stay.

 

[starshine514]

Here are some picts from our recent stay at Desert Inn and Suites: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63234721@N04/sets/72157626774391639/