Nearby hotels for Sick Mom

[Larissa]

Hi,
My family and I are going to Disneyland in December over Christmas. We are super excited but also terrified of the crowds...when we went for New Years a couple of years ago the place was a madhouse.
My mom has just finished chemotherapy and radiation on a large tumor in her chest, so this trip is part 'hurrah!' and part 'last-hurrah', because she thinks the end is near.

We're looking for nearby hotels because we want to walk to and from Disneyland. She has lung damage and nerve damage in her feet and legs, so walking is not fun for her. She also wants to book the trip more or less entirely with loyalty points.

It looks like the hotel options, should we use the points, are as follows:
Desert Palms
Best Western Plus Anaheim
Best Western Plus Park Place Inn
Anaheim Camelot Inn
Anaheim Islander Inn
Ramada Plaza Anaheim
Ramada Anaheim Maingate
Howard Johnson Anaheim and Water Playground
Castle Inn
Carousel Inn
Super 8
Sheraton Park Hotel
Hyatt Place
Doubletree
Hotel Indigo
Ramada Maingate North
Quality Inn & Suites

Does anyone have any comments on those hotels (bed bugs, breakfast, etc...) or recommendations for how to navigate the park (especially in PEAK season) with a weak/sick/easily-tired person? We've always been runners, going from opening to closing, but clearly that will not be the case this trip!

Also, any tips from people who have been there Christmas Eve/Day would be appreciated, as wrell as information about the best places to experience the 60th anniversary magic.
Thanks!

 

[Disneyland1084]

I've only stayed at the Howard Johnson. I highly recommend it to most people, but with people in poor health like your mom, it would be a miserable walk for her. The ART transportation takes so long. For people leaving the park, they're better off just walking back to the hotel instead of waiting for the shuttle....Anyway, although I've never stayed there, I do know that Best Western Park Place Inn is directly across the street from Disneyland. If I could do my trip this summer all over again, I would have stayed there instead of HoJo. When you go to DL, you should probably rent a wheelchair for your mom. I went there during Christmas of 2004 and although I had a good time, the crowds were too heavy. But with enough planning and fast passes, it will make your trip more enjoyable.

 

[Sorcerer Jody]

I've stayed at Best Western Park Place, and it was fine - clean, close to the parks, but didn't have breakfast there. I hope you have a magical trip!

 

[VandVsmama]

The absolutely closest one is BW Park Place Inn. Your mom can rent a scooter from Deckerts Medical Supply in Anaheim and they will deliver it to your motel.

I'm sorry about your mom's tumor. My mom passed away a few years ago from pancreatic cancer and we did a "last hurrah" trip with her to Hawaii. It was fun but also tough emotionally at the same time. Hang in there.

 

[ADLFAN]

We have stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn before and found it quite convenient. I expect that a few of the other hotels on your list are probably prettier than BWPPI, but you cannot get closer to the parks, it is right across the street from the entrance on Harbor. They offer a free breakfast, expanded continental with ham or other meat, egg patties, premade toaster waffles, and the standard fare. It was being served upstairs above Captain Whoever's restaurant (universally NOT recommended by anyone...). The pool and hot tub were small, surrounded by the building, and clean.

If it was my last hurrah however, I think I would go for the Hojo just because it seems a bit more resort like, has a bigger pool, and looks a lot nicer around the grounds, as in, they HAVE grounds to landscape!

I would very much recommend looking into a scooter company who will drop off and pick up from your hotel. I can't recall their names right now, but I know there are a few with great service and reviews.

Maybe to make it extra special, look into a character meal or Fantasmic or World of Color dining package, there are a lot of good options! If you are adventurous eaters, people highly recommended the Chef's Counter or just a table service meal at Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel.

Maybe buy Photopass+ a month before you go, and spend a little time in the less crowded mornings getting a slew of family pictures! All the ride pictures are included too, so you can make as many silly faces as you want on Splash Mountain! Character meal pictures are included as well, they actually bring you a nice printed set in a folder, and even the shots that they didn't print went on our Photopass card.

Have fun planning! Is your mom into the Dis? Maybe she could develop a planning addiction with you! I love having a fun trip to ponder and plan!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I'm with ADLFAN. Best Western Park Place Inn is the closest, but Hojo is the least motel-feeling. If you get a scooter, that will make the walk less of an issue.

 

[xlxo]

I too have a loved with Lung Cancer.... hope you have a wheelchair. I got her a transport wheelchair that we take with us when on cruises and travelling. Makes a huge difference in moving her during those weak moments.

A transport wheelchair are the ones with 4 SMALL wheels.

 

[lorijohnhill]

In my opinion, the ONLY thing BWPPI has going for it is the location. I wouldn't stay there again.
I liked the Castle Inn, it's a little farther, but the room was large and clean, the staff was friendly, and the parking was free.
The Carousel Inn was fine. It doesn't work for my family, as I need a roll-in shower (or at the very least, grab bars in the tub) and their accessible rooms only have one queen size bed. (My husband ended up staying in a separate room - it was strange). The room was clean, friendly staff, bell service is always a plus to me, and we booked through WDTC so got a discount on the parking.
I haven't stayed at any of the others, so can't comment on them.

Have a fabulous trip! I know you will cherish all those memories.

ETA: I wanted to add that my mom has a serious lung condition and with use of a scooter, she has been able to enjoy DLR. I highly recommend getting your mom a scooter or a wheelchair to get around. Renting from an off-site company is the way to go, so that she can take the scooter/chair back to the hotel room. The companies will deliver and pick up from the hotel. Personally, I use ScootAround and have always had good results. Deckerts is also highly recommended.

 

[bellrae]

Sorry to hear about you mum, but hopefully this is a great way to make some memories with her.

I did both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day last year. The best piece of advice I can give is to start early. The crowds in both parks were far more manageable in the morning. By dinner time both parks had turned feral. Also good to get the Christmas themed rides out of the way early in the day or get fast passes. The line for Small World was out of control on Christmas day!

The only one of your hotels I have stayed at was the Sheraton, and I found the trolley service great for getting too and from the parks, particularly at the end of the night when your feet are starting to get tired.

 

[mgd]

Sorry to hear your situation. Don't want to be a downer, but maybe you should move the trip up and during a less crowded time. Without knowing anything about your case, metastasis, etc... but since you said large tumor, december is a long way away and time is of the essence with cancer.

 

[offwithyourhead]

No matter where you stay you should definitely rent her a wheelchair or power scooter. No matter what, that's going to make your lives so much easier.

 

[bumbershoot]

No matter where you stay you should definitely rent her a wheelchair or power scooter. No matter what, that's going to make your lives so much easier.

Absolutely. No doubt about it, getting her a power scooter is THE way to go. And Deckert's is the one most often mentioned on this board.

For closeness, Park Place Inn. But I do agree with others, that HoJo would be nicer. And with the scooter, it's not any further to walk.

 

[VandVsmama]

Hojos may have more atmosphere but one really needs to consider how sometimes for a cancer patient, little things that are not a big deal for a healthy person are a huge ordeal. A close hotel is essential because your mom is going to get really tired very quickly and Hojos is a 10 minute scooter ride from the main gate on a day when it isn't packed.

In terms of how to manage between Xmas and New Years's, get there early and take breaks. Schedule a sit down meal every day. Expect that it will be totally mobbed and the enormous crowds will make it really hard for someone in a wheelchair or scooter to get around.

 

[VandVsmama]

I forgot to add...if you are terrified of crowds, then go before Xmas. don't go between Xmas and New Years. Because this is how crowded it will be...

https://www.google.com/search?q=disneyland+on+christmas+day&biw=1280&bih=883&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIr-6A5rO_xwIVgkSICh08Eghy#imgdii=zPLhRaRgdhL-xM:;zPLhRaRgdhL-xM:;d3_Mpi9IoM01XM:&imgrc=zPLhRaRgdhL-xM:

It's a WDW photo, but DL crowds during that week are the same.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

If you are planning to go over Christmas you might want to book soon. I just looked on the Best Western site and for the Park Place and Anaheim Inn (the two closest Best Westerns) it said there were no available rooms. So maybe some of the other closer hotels are also booked. I know you want to stay with using points but you might want to consider the Grand Californian. I have never stayed there (I want to) and I know it is pricey, but it is really close to the parks and if you explain your mother's health problems to Disney they might be able to assign you a room close to the walk way to Downtown Disney (and to the parks). If it is really a last hurrah it might be worth the extra money. I would also recommend a scooter rental, also look into the disability pass as your mom might have difficulties standing in line for long periods of time. I really have no idea how that pass works but I know it can help out to those who need it. I wish your family the best it is very difficult to lose a loved one especially a mom.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

I would strongly recommend picking one of the on-site hotels OR one of the Harbor hotels in the first block (Between Disney Way and Manchester). Even with a scooter, the trip is likely to be very tiring for your mother, and the closer, the better. I think the BWPPI is just fine. It's clean, and it's impossible to be closer. Nothing fancy, but perfectly serviceable. They were great with the scooter my mom rented. I would stay there again with no qualms. The Tropicana is also decent, and it's right next door (I know that's not on your list, but it is a nearby option). The Carousel is one down from the Tropicana. I've stayed at the sister property (Anabella) and it was also clean and comfortable, and the pictures of the rooms look very similar.

Deckerts is the way to go for scooters. My mom has rented one twice, and they're super easy to work with. You have to call them, and they'll ask questions to make sure you get the right one for her. I believe that if she has a scooter, she does not need the DAS. You should be able to get a "wheelchair return time" for rides. The DAS came into being after our most recent family trip, so I'm not sure of the particulars, but I am pretty sure the DAS is for issues that can't be remedied with a scooter.

I would STRONGLY recommend a "practice scooter rental" at home prior to the trip. It is going to be packed in the parks, and the scooters take some getting used to, especially to figure out how long they take to brake and how tight they can corner. While this does vary from scooter to scooter, any prior experience will help a great deal, and help to make the trip more enjoyable.

 

[Indiana Scott]

BWPPI is very nice - not a 4 star thotel but your not paying for it either. It is very clean, modern and in great condition and the free breakfast can't be beat. After traveling for work for many years, I consider myself somewhat of a hotel "snob". BWPPI isn't fancy but it's very pleasant and comfortable.
It really is the easiest hotel to get to.
I would call ahead and ask for a bottom floor room for your Mom.
I wish you and your Mom the best.

 

[DCDisney]

We've stayed at the Ramada Maingate a few times and have been very happy with it. I think it is maybe 3 hotels away from the entrance so a very close easy walk. Most of the rooms are newly renovated. The breakfast is pretty simple but it is free. If you do go at that super busy time of year I would try and get there very early in the morning and take a long mid day break.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

May I ask, how old is your mother and what, aside from the recent chemo and radiation, is her health and stamina like now? Is what she has lung cancer, or some other type of cancer, and does she have metastasis anywhere, if so, to where? Sorry for all the questions but it will help us all assess the situation.

Given what little you've said, it is concerning for a wait from now until December. A lot can happen between now and then. I guess my biggest concern is whether she'll even have enough energy to drive a scooter herself through large crowds and back to the hotel? When I was going through chemo myself, in my early 40s, with no metastasis and generally great health, there was a day I remember I couldn't walk several feet into a restaurant, I was so out of breath. I understand she'll be done then, but if she has other "processes" going on (which I assume she does if she thinks she's toward the end ), often fluid collects in the lungs and/or stomach cavity and it's both painful and debilitating, and sometimes it needs to be drained.

So my recommendation right now is to plan on a wheelchair - something that she doesn't have to "work" at herself - and short trips to parks with long rests in between. When you have cancer, naps don't help a lot, and generally you wake up feeling as crappy as when you laid down, which makes a trip like that very challenging. Getting ready to go, and getting there, will likely suck up an awful lot of what little energy she has. She won't want to spoil others' trip, though, so plan to let her take it at whatever pace she can tolerate, and let her rest in the room if that's what she wants to do, without pressure to go out again, etc.; just go on your way without her if she requests it. (Often people will push themselves to please others, but it's really not great for the person.) If there's any way you can "bring the fun to her" with an in-resort meal, or something like that, it could be something she really enjoys without expending a lot of energy.

I would also research where there is a hospital nearby that could meet her needs if she has to be suddenly hospitalized, and keep her medical records and doctor's numbers with you, etc. (Sorry, should have said I'm an RN who takes care of people in these states in the hospital as well as having personal experience with cancer myself.) We see this happen a lot when people are visiting from out of state, and even out of their country, etc.

See how she feels going forward. The American Cancer Society has a lot of resources. There are also "Make a Wish" type groups for adults, it might be worth looking into. Sending hugs for you and your mom.

 

[VandVsmama]

I second everything that Pea-n-me said.