Need help with hotels-On property or off

[jessandtwo]

We will be going to Disneyland arriving on 8/11 and leaving on 8/18. I have 2 boys, ages 5 & 7. I'm trying to decide between the Paradise Pier, the Disneyland Hotel (where we stayed last year and loved), Hampton Inn & Suites or Fairfield. The Disney Hotels are about obviously going to be more than the Fairfield or the Hampton. At the Hampton you get breakfast but have to take ART or drive yourself. The Fairfield is closer, (walking distance) but more expensive than Hampton and does not include breakfast.

I guess my question is staying on property worth it during the summer due to crowd levels and the fact that you get EE all the days it is offered, instead of just one? We are only planning on going to the parks Mon-Fri, so we'd only get 2 extra EE days.

Does the fact that you are guarantied entry if the parks fill up really important during that time frame? If we stay off property is there a good chance we won't get to go to the parks any of those days?

Any advice about the pros/cons of staying on property vs. off plus pros/cons about those two hotels would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Disneyland1084]

If you can afford it, it's SO worth it to stay at a resort hotel. I liked PP, but Disneyland hotel is a lot closer to the monorail. I wouldn't worry about the park reaching capacity on the dates you mentioned. It usually only happens around major holidays or events. The pros of staying on sight is all park merchandise can be sent back to your hotel, and of course EE. I've never stayed at any of the off sight hotels you mentioned, but I know McDonalds is right next to Fairfield and they have cheap breakfasts. Wherever you stay I hope you have a magical time.

 

[DLR29]

Personally, I'd stay offsite. But not at the Fairfield. Maybe the Hampton. The hotels on site are not worth it because there are plenty of much cheaper hotels that are within a closer or same walking distance. Also an extra day of EE really isn't worth an extra $100 or whatever. Although breakfast may be a priority for you, I would rather stay at a closer hotel w/o breakfast and maybe bring muffins from home to eat while standing at the gates waiting for the park to open (assuming you get to the gates before opening).

I don't think you will have a problem with the parks closing due to capacity. It is a very rare occasion, only on major holidays (Christmas, NYE) or special events.

 

[mystic_path]

In my own opinion I would stay offsite for the fact that it is cheaper and you can save that extra money and put it towards something extra special in the park. There are more options of cheaper, and really nice hotels that are closer (Walking distance) to DL then the Hampton or Fairfield. Personally in my own opinion the suttle from farther hotels have pros and cons.
PROS
- A great way to meet people where you can have conversations about your upcoming day in the park (This gets you hyped)
- Takes a great deal off your feet from walking at the end of the day and it drops you off near your hotel, if not at your hotel.
CONS:
- in my general opinion its more of a hassle to have to wait around for the busses, and not be garunteed a seat as the bus might be full,
- You dont have the leisure of walking around DTD for more then an hour after park closes due to the fact the shuttles stop running an hour after the park closes. I just find waiting for shuttles several times a day can take up a great deal out of your wonderful day. Especially if you want to go back to your hotel for a swim or a nap in the afternoon. It just requires more waiting.
- This is just an added expense you dont need to pay for if you dont have to. $3 a person per day

So I would pay a little extra and stay at PP or the DH or stay at even closer hotels right across the street for cheaper. Some hotels that are across the street on harbour are even closer then the major hotels, some are even closer then the disneyland parking lot. Some even come with free breakfasts.

All in all it all depends on what is best suited for you. If you have stayed at the Hampton or Fairfield and love it there, then I am sure you will have a great time either way.

 

[dbanzai]

I'd be on the stay on site side if price isn't an option, but that would be only for GC or DLH. The former has an entry gate into CA and the latter is an easy ride on the monorail to the park, that being a ride/attraction on its own... And it will get you to the Tomorrowland/Fantasyland EE rides as opposed to walking down Main Street like everyone else.

 

[RMH]

I would stay offsite. To me it isn't worth the extra money to get the little perks of staying at the DLR hotels. I figure the admission price to the park is a lot of money so I don't need to further enhance their bottom line by paying overpriced hotel bills.

I've never stayed at any of the hotels you are inquiring about so I can't speak to those, but there are nice options (BWPPP and Hojos) that are close, reasonable, and a good hotel.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

If money really isn't an issue, I'd stay onsite. With the park open such long hours in the summer, we like to head back to the hotel for a swim and a break in the afternoon. Pools play an important decision in choosing a hotel when the weather is warm like it is in August for our family. With 2 boys 5 & 7, I'd choose PPH or DLH if you want to stay onsite or Hojos if you want to stay off site. I know hojo's wasn't one of your choices, but our kids love the pool there.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We will be going to Disneyland arriving on 8/11 and leaving on 8/18. I have 2 boys, ages 5 & 7. I'm trying to decide between the Paradise Pier, the Disneyland Hotel (where we stayed last year and loved), Hampton Inn & Suites or Fairfield. The Disney Hotels are about obviously going to be more than the Fairfield or the Hampton. At the Hampton you get breakfast but have to take ART or drive yourself. The Fairfield is closer, (walking distance) but more expensive than Hampton and does not include breakfast.

I guess my question is staying on property worth it during the summer due to crowd levels and the fact that you get EE all the days it is offered, instead of just one? We are only planning on going to the parks Mon-Fri, so we'd only get 2 extra EE days.

Does the fact that you are guarantied entry if the parks fill up really important during that time frame? If we stay off property is there a good chance we won't get to go to the parks any of those days?

Any advice about the pros/cons of staying on property vs. off plus pros/cons about those two hotels would be greatly appreciated.

Have you checked to see what is available?

Jack

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

If money isn't an issue I would stay onsite, absolutely. It really depends on what your looking for, a more resort type feel. Where you'll be spending at least some time there beyond sleeping to enjoy the perks. EE all days offered is also nice. We love the more resort feel, feeling like we never left DL. But I know for others they just want a room to sleep in basically, so the extra costs would not be worth it.

Were staying offsite next month, only because money IS an issue for that trip. There are quite a few within walking distance. Were staying at the Carousel Inn right across the street. I've been very happy with the reviews it's gotten, and it does have free breakfast. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful stay even though it's not onsite, but if I could choose, it would always be onsite! Good luck, and make sure you get your reservations soon. Summer months book out pretty quickly.

 

[ZachsMommy6]

We will be there next week and are staying off property at the Holiday Inn, cant remeber the street but its the one with the western theme. Hopefully it was a wise choice and of course i will give a review when we return. ANyone been to the one I am talking about?

 

[abby]

We have stayed on site at DLH twice and off site once at HOJO. Love DHL for the themeing, the pool, the grounds. and the walk through dd disney to the parks (when we didn't take the monorail) HOWEVER we can go more often staying off site because it is cheaper. We enoyed HOJO's. the walk was about the same, the kid loved the pool, they have a cool gift shop. and food was cheaper outside the park.

Had we not stayed at DLH first, I probably would have felt like I was missing something staying off site, but once we had done that twice, it was worth it to stay off site to go more often.

It just really depends on your finances, and if this is a once in a life trip (then stay at DLH) or something you can do more often.

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

Personally, if I were staying off-site I'd pick different hotels. We enjoyed Candy Cane Inn with their dedicated shuttle every 30 minutes and free breakfast. They also had a cute little pool. The Carousel looks to be a good value for families also and it is right across the street from the main entrance so you don't need to drive and park.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

We will be there next week and are staying off property at the Holiday Inn, cant remeber the street but its the one with the western theme. Hopefully it was a wise choice and of course i will give a review when we return. ANyone been to the one I am talking about?

We stayed there in February 2005, and got a MAJOR deal on the price. You can walk to the parks, though it's a little bit of a hike, but it's through Disney's parking lot areas, so there's no heavy intersections or traffic to navigate. The room was perfectly comfortable, and the restaurant had one of the BEST BREAKFASTS I've ever had, anywhere, ever!! Maybe I was just really hungry, and goodness knows if it's the same chef when you go, but boy was it good.

For the rock bottom price we paid (can't remember now, but it was around $80 after taxes) we were thrilled with it.

 

[kiwitravel]

We stayed offsite because of cost ($100 a day more!) and location, the hotels near the crosswalk are far closer than the DL Hotels. We have stayed at the Carousel Inn and the Tropicana. While not the flashest rooms we did not spend much time in them, with the money we saved we could afford 14day passes, stay longer and pay for dinners etc

 

[ter-moo]

Personally, if I were staying off-site I'd pick different hotels. We enjoyed Candy Cane Inn with their dedicated shuttle every 30 minutes and free breakfast. They also had a cute little pool. The Carousel looks to be a good value for families also and it is right across the street from the main entrance so you don't need to drive and park.

I was going to recommend Candy Cane, also. It's a very nice, peaceful place with lovely rooms and comfy beds. The breakfasts are great and FREE! You can walk to and from the parks, or take the free Candy Cane shuttle which runs every 1/2 hour--a nice option that very few hotels around offer.

They have three room types: Standard, Deluxe and Premium. Standard and deluxe both have two queens and a fridge, but deluxe is larger in square feet. Premium is just a deluxe room with a microwave, VCR, cookies on arrival, turn-down service, and the option to have breakfast delivered to your room. (Not worth the extra $$ in my opinion, but some people really love this.) Here's a picture:

www.candycaneinn.net Their best prices are their online ones, or call and ask the hotel itself if they can offer anything better.

I've stayed at DLH, GC, Carousel, and Desert Inn--I actually like this hotel best (well, GC is my favorite, but the price is hard to swallow...)

 

[kiwitravel]

Had friends stay at the Candy Cane whilst we were at Carousel Inn, they preferred the CI as it was closer, quieter and cheaper. CC has lovely grounds but request a room away from the main rd as the hotel is right on Harbour Boul, the walk to the main gate is about 20 - 30 minutes, a long way with young children. The pool is very small but the staff are friendly. The CI is about a 5 min walk to the main gate, the hotel has only a narrow road frontage so no road noise unless you are in one of the suites. The pool is also small and the staff friendly, certainly not as attractive grounds but rooms were a little bigger. We have also stayed at the Tropicana next door, nice pool area but that was the only thing better, a little more expensive than CI. Breakfasts at CI and CC were very good, only average at Tropicana.

 

[LLS]

We are trying to make the same decision: offsite or onsite? We're choosing between Disneyland Hotel and Hojo's. We're willing to spend the extra $$ for DLH if it's worth it -- we just can't decide whether or not it's worth it! This is our first trip to DL and I'm sure it will be some time before we're back. We'd really like to be able to bop back to the hotel for a mid-day break. I know both of these hotels are close to DL, but I really don't get how close. 10 minute walk? 20 minute walk? (We're fast walkers when crowds don't slow us down ).

Please give a DL newbie some perspective on how close and/or spread out the various parks and hotels actually are. Thanks so much!

 

[LLS]

I forgot to ask...

Are fireworks visible from DLH or Hojo's? Thanks!

 

[kiwitravel]

They are about the same distance from gates, about 10 - 15 minutes, a lot of people have spoken about the feel of staying onsite. You will have to decide if thats worth the extra dollars. For us the decision was based on location so we stayed much closer (only 5 minutes away) and felt that it was really worth while as we came out of the Park for lunch, dinner and a bit of recovery time. HoJos would see the fireworks from side on, don't know how good that would be, can't comment on Disneyland Hotels view

 

[LLS]

Kiwitravel -

Where did you stay and did you like it? I think I like the idea of being very near DL (DCA not as important) for quick access between park and hotel. Are the hotels right across from the maingate the closest of all? It's really tough to tell from a map -- everything looks close but I'm not sure where the actual access points are for entering the parks.

Thank you!