Marriott?

[Minderbinder5]

I've been going to DLR each year for several years now, and we always stay at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott across the street from DL. You know, the one with Millie's in the parking lot. I've always had a wonderful stay there, and it has some great views of the park from the upper rooms. But, I don't think I've ever heard it mentioned on these boards...

Is there a reason people don't favor it? Anyone else stayed here and like it? Are there reasons you all like the other hotels on Harbor Blvd. better? I'm just curious...

I'll be going back with a new group of friends next October, and I'm considering trying something new if it comes recommended by experienced DIS-ers!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I would love to hear more about it. I think after months of changing my mind, we decided to stay at Embassy Suites South in June for our anniversary. But I'm always interested in hearing about other places for other trips. Things like: free breakfast? free parking? walking time to DLR? comfy beds? What did you like about it?

 

[Minderbinder5]

Things like: free breakfast? free parking? walking time to DLR? comfy beds? What did you like about it?

The Marriott is very comfy and clean, and the staff has always been very accommodating and friendly. Like I said, it's located across Harbor Blvd. from the DLR main entrance and down about half a block. McDonald's is basically in it's parking lot (although technically in the parking lot next door). The beds are normal motel beds. Not great, but certainly adequate after a long day in the parks. Parking is free, and it's about a 2 minute walk to the DLR. The rooms are big enough for 4 adults to put on our mouse ears comfortably in the morning, too!

I don't think there's a free breakfast, but there is a little café that sells juice and snacks. We always make a quick stop at McDonald's anyway. There's also free wi-fi in the café, and they use Millie's outside as their hotel restaurant (although, I MUCH prefer Mimi's just one more property down the street!). There's a small pool, but I'm always too tired from the parks to enjoy it.

I think my favorite thing about the Marriott is that it's a pretty high building compared to the surrounding hotels, and if you request a room with a park view on the upper floors, you can see all of DLR from your room. You can watch fireworks, you can see the crazy people on ToT, everything! The lights at night are so beautiful, and unless your in one of the tall Disney hotels, I don't think you can beat the view.

Too much info?

 

[LoveDopey]

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn this past February and I agree with all the good comments. It's a short walk to the parks and one hint I picked up on these boards is to cross the street and walk that way avoiding crowds coming out of the hotels and restaurants on Harbour Boulevard.

The rooms are basic but clean. Not the usual Marriott rooms but I think that's because they have such a high turnover of guests. Staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.

On the 3rd floor (?) there is a small restaurant. They sell breakfast, lunch and supper items as well as grab and go items so it was convenient but Mimi's also delivers to your room.

The pool is small but well maintained. It's right in the parking lot but they have vines growing up the fence so it's somewhat sheltered.

The only negative I can think of is if you use a shuttle bus to/from the airport they can't come in the parking lot so you have to stand on the street with your luggage for your pickup time. If you go on a tour you have to meet the tour bus there too. It's not far at all to walk just inconvenient when you have luggage. OUrs had wheels on it, I wouldn't have wanted to carry my suitcase across the lot.

You can view the fireworks, etc. from the top floor. Seems to me there was even music at fireworks time.

 

[blue donkey]

On the 3rd floor (?) there is a small restaurant. They sell breakfast, lunch and supper items as well as grab and go items so it was convenient but Mimi's also delivers to your room.

Oooh Mimi's delivers to your room? One reason I never stayed at the harbor motels is that there was no room service. This gets me thinking. Is the food still hot when you order from mimi's?

 

[bumbershoot]

Oooh Mimi's delivers to your room? One reason I never stayed at the harbor motels is that there was no room service. This gets me thinking. Is the food still hot when you order from mimi's?

I do believe they do. You'll generally see the info in the booklets in your room; I know at HoJo they have a room service menu with menus from places like that.

But for me it's more worth it to just grab it myself. I don't like paying for delivery. We stopped at Millie's on our way from the park to HoJo one night, and it was all still hot by the time we got back to our room at HoJo. But with a deliveryperson that would depend on if there were others ordering and getting their food before you.


I hear Fairfield mentioned a lot. Seems a good motel!

 

[SeattleTink]

Hi, just to clarify....room service at the Fairfield is provided by Millie's, not Mimi's.
We stayed at the Fairfield at the end of August for 7 nights this past summer and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

I thought the beds were VERY comfortable. At least they were in our room. They had a pillow top and lots of pillows.

In the past we have stayed at GC and DLH, comparatively speaking the Fairfield is more modest but the quality for the price was spot on.

I would not hesitate to stay there again!

 

[DW2DH&DS]

I would love to hear more about it. I think after months of changing my mind, we decided to stay at Embassy Suites South in June for our anniversary. But I'm always interested in hearing about other places for other trips. Things like: free breakfast? free parking? walking time to DLR? comfy beds? What did you like about it?

We are locals with annual passes. If we can't stay on propery, we stay at the Embassy Suites South (usually we just stay one night). It is a little off the beaten path meaning not walking distance. It seems to be just like any other hotel with the exception that a made to order breakfast is included, and they of course are all suites. keeping in mind that we are local, we have no issues parking in the Mickey and Friends structure. Yes, it does take a few extra minutes to get into the park but not usually to any extreme. 90-95% of the time we make the next available tram which drops you at the end of Downtown Disney security bag check. The Embassy Suites offers a shuttle service as well. I am not sure if it is complimentary though.

 

[LoveDopey]

We ordered from the restaurant right in the parking lot -Millie's and had it delivered to our room. Yes, it was hot but keep in mind it was a limited selection for room service. We did eat supper in both restaurants and I had no issues with either.

Oh, yes, as mentioned above it was pillow top mattresses -- comfy!!! We actually bought a new pillow top mattress when we got home.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Minder- Nope, not too much info. Just what I wanted to know. Thanks!

DW- Thanks for the info on Embassy. We will be driving to the park. We actually like having our car there and have always found the tram to be quick. I refuse to take any kind of a shuttle again!

 

[avalon451]

There's a few people on here who swear by the Fairfield as older, but clean and reasonably comfortable, with good prices. Like $69 a night for a standard room. It's a ways down the block from the crosswalk, but only about 3-4 minutes farther than Best Western Park Place or Park Vue.

But if I'm going to walk down the west side of that block (to avoid all the foot traffic on the east side of Harbor) and cross at the light at Manchester, I'd just as soon jaywalk across Manchester and stay at HoJo across the street. With the Entertainment book rate the standard room is even cheaper--$59-- or you can get a deluxe room for $69 or a premium Disney View room for $79. They are also older, but newly renovated, with fantastic beds, and they have the new water play area for kids, by the hot tub, that even my DD13 had a blast in.

It's a better hotel, across the street, and IF you can get the Ent rate it's cheaper.

My 2 cents--

Website with info about Ent. rates: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We will be staying here for the first time in dec. My husband gets the stay free from his work so we decided to try it out. We have not stayed off property since I was 7 so I am not sure what the hotels are like but many do like the HOJO. I would only stay there if I got the ent rate which seems to be a decent deal. I would tell you that it doesn't hurt to try somewhere new...most of the places along that street seem okay. The only one that gets some pretty harsh reviews at times is the desert inn.

 

[IBLarsen]

We just stayed at the Fairfield using our Marriott Rewards the first week of October. I was hestitant about staying there, but hey it was free...well we would definately stay there again without points. It was nothing special, but it was clean, had plenty of room for our family of 4, convenient walk, and the beds were comfortable (suprisingly so). With having little ones, it was very nice to be able to walk back and forth. We are planning another trip and will be comparing the Hojos and Fairfield, depending on pricing. I would not hesitate to stay there again.

 

[Hound 109]

I've stayed at the Farifield twice & recommend it as a nice clean motel. It's basically the same number of steps from the park as Hojo (maybe a couple of steps closer)...an easy 6-8 min. walk. Benefits include McDs in the parking lot (very handy with a kid who eats 6 meals a day), a non-descript pool & it's part of the Marriot family.

Negatives would be it's not fancy, no free breakfast (which is mitigated by the cheap McDs next door) & the last time I checked....Marriot increased it's Reward's Club "level".

I stayed there twice when it was a 3 (on a scale of 1-5)....but I think Marriot bumped it to a 5 last year (because of it's location)....putting it in the same class as say the Marriot San Antonio Riverwalk hotel...which is a deluxe hotel. Personaly, wouldn't "blow" that many points on just a "nice clean motel"....I can stay 3-4 separate nights at Fairfields in little podunk Texas towns (which i have to do for tennis tournaments) for the same number of points as 1 night at the Fairfield on Harbor.

If the prices were similar, I'd stay at the Hojo, BW or CCI before the Fairfield......But it IS a nice place & if the others were booked I would definitely stay there again.

EDIT....it looks like i was responding to Larsen's post .....but actually we were posting on similar thoughts at the same time.

.

 

[Husker Mickey]

We have stayed at the Fairfield several times, the most recent was Oct. 21-25. (You can see that from my siggie) We have always been very satisfied with our stay. Our room was comfortable & clean. One nice plus is that if you have 5 in your party, there is a nice pull out for the 5th member of your party. Our DS - 19 now, has slept on this the last several times we have stayed there and has no problems with sleeping. The staff have always been very helpful.

The third floor has a Pizza Hut, sandwiches, salads, etc. . . That was convenient. We also had a package from GAT for pizza and movie this last time. When the parks closed at 8:00pm we went back to the room, had supper and watched a movie. They even included the bag of popcorn.

We'll stay there again on our next trip!

 

[disneylove69]

Never stayed at the Fairfield but I love Millies. Inexpensive, hot and tasty. The cater to families and I have never had bad service. They even have teaser games on the tables.