Need info on BW Stovall's

[lalasmama]

I won 2 free nights at BW Stovall's. Yay! However, I've never stayed there, so I need details! TripAdvisor reviews are allllllllll over the place ("terrible, flooded room" followed by "this is great!"), and I really prefer to hear from people I "know" here

How bad is the walk? Would you feel comfortable walking it after closing? Is there a shuttle? (I'm seeing varying reports on the shuttle.) What's the breakfast like? What's the property like (clean? run down?)? What are the beds like?

Clearly, I'm a creature of habit. I love the fact that I won two free nights, but now freaked out at not being across the street at Tropicana or Park Vue.

 

[julesann]

I can't speak to the hotel, but I can speak to the location. I've often stayed at the Anabella which is right next door. I find the walk safe and comfortable after closing--I much prefer it to walking down Harbor. I like walking from the corner where the hotel is situated towards DTD...and from what I've read, it is not much longer even with not being able to cut through the GCH.

 

[spacemermaid]

BW Stovall's has been my go-to hotel for 8 years now

How bad is the walk?
The walk is about 12 minutes if you take the shortcut through the Grand Californian lobby.

Would you feel comfortable walking it after closing?
I've done so countless times either solo or with another female. I've never felt creepy or threatened, as there are usually plenty of others walking the Disneyland Drive path.

Is there a shuttle? (I'm seeing varying reports on the shuttle.)
The ART bus picks up/drops off right in front of the hotel. It can be kind of hectic in the morning or if you choose to stay until closing, but no complaints otherwise.

What's the breakfast like?
There's a breakfast buffet full of hot and cold items. There's an assortment of cold cereals, oatmeal, yogurt, pastries, scrambled eggs, pancakes or waffles, fresh fruits, juice, milk, coffee, and a meat item (bacon or sausage...depends on the day). It's quite convenient and saves time and $$$.

What's the property like (clean? run down?)?
It's a 1960s (remodeled) motel with exterior corridors. It's nicely landscaped, with a cute topiary garden around the pools and the perimeter of the property. The rooms were redone a few years ago, I think they're better than average for a motel. Every room I've stayed in has been clean, with no bedbug issues like some places nearby.

What are the beds like?
I have a bad back due to an accident I was in, so I may not be the best judge. The beds aren't super soft, but are comfortable (to me) to fall asleep in...though I do wake up sore, because I wake up anywhere that isn't my own memory foam bed with aches and pains. Friends and family I've stayed with have had no complaints, though.

Hope that helps

 

[minneylovesmicky]

We stayed here last visit, would have again this visit but they were full on our dates. We had no problems at all. Staff were wonderful and so helpful to us. Rang transportation for us, gave us good tips on where to shop, what to see, tours to take ect.

As for comfort, we slept like a log each night, beds were really comfortable.

We walked back each night from the parks, no problems, were not afraid ever, the path is lit and is quite quick, we never thought to be worried or afraid.

As for entry, not sure now with not taking the short cut, as to how much longer it makes it, others have and will help you there.

We didn't eat the free breakfast there, we don't go for fried foods much and found the smell of fried sausages and bacon that early in the morning, quite off putting, we walked in one door and straight out the other....lol

On nights that we didn't go to the park that day, we went up to the higher levels, and we could see the fireworks.

Yoh and you have Cocos Bakery right next door too. It has the most amazing pies....there were delicious, you gotta try them, if you haven't already.

Have a great time.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

BW Stovall's has been my go-to hotel for 8 years now

How bad is the walk?
The walk is about 12 minutes if you take the shortcut through the Grand Californian lobby...

Please be aware that the shortcut through the GCH is no longer an option. Only GCH guests and those with restaurant reservations (have your confirmation number handy because security will check) are allowed through the front entrance as of now. All other guests are being directed across the street to the DtD security checkpoint between ESPN Zone and EOS.

 

[VandVsmama]

We stayed at BW Stovall's about a little under a year and a half ago. We really enjoyed our stay. The room was REALLY REALLY clean. Spotless. I remember there being 2 pools there. Towels are available at the pools so you don't have to use 1 from the room.

Our family enjoyed the breakfast. They usually had pancakes or waffles & it would rotate. Sausages or bacon and that would rotate, too. 1 day sausage, the next day bacon. Eggs, too, but the eggs were these weird circle shaped things. Plus the normal assortment of breakfast pastries, bagels, cereals, a good amount of fruit...we usually took 1 banana each with us when we were done with breakfast and we'd use that as a mid-morning snack while in line for a ride.

 

[mamapenguin]

I stayed there from 2/3-2/6. The walk was not bad, and it felt safe. Security was super efficient entering DTD. I would not want to do that walk multiple times per day, but f you are just going to the parks and back when you are done for the day, it's fine. The room was clean and the beds were comfortable. Breakfast was good. I thought that the potatoes were better there than BWPPI, and they have a machine next to the coffee machine that dispenses creamer which made a major improvement in my morning coffee. We took the monorail back into the parks one of the days after eating at Earl of Sandwich, so that saved some walking. I did see the bus stop out front, but didn't want to waste the time to investigate it. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Would I stay there again? Absolutely! That being said, in the summer it's probably back to BWPPI, because my travel buddy ( teen daughter) needs a break to swim when it's hot. For the cooler months or if you don't take breaks, Stovall's is a great choice.

 

[ImDMous]

We stayed there for Avenger's Half weekend last year for the first time. I thought it was great. The walk was good to the races and to the parks it was fine. We ended up doing it at least twice a day with walking to race and back, walking to park and back, etc. We would have breakfast after we got back from the race and showered, it was fine. I slept great and the staff was always very nice. Parking can get a little tight here, if you don't get here early you might not be anywhere near your room.

 

[kirstie101]

I won 2 free nights at BW Stovall's. Yay! However, I've never stayed there, so I need details! TripAdvisor reviews are allllllllll over the place ("terrible, flooded room" followed by "this is great!"), and I really prefer to hear from people I "know" here

How bad is the walk? Would you feel comfortable walking it after closing? Is there a shuttle? (I'm seeing varying reports on the shuttle.) What's the breakfast like? What's the property like (clean? run down?)? What are the beds like?

Clearly, I'm a creature of habit. I love the fact that I won two free nights, but now freaked out at not being across the street at Tropicana or Park Vue.

I'll tell you about myself so you can see where I'm coming from....I've stayed there twice, both times for rundisney race weekends. One time was with my kids and mom and the other time was with a friend. Our preferred hotel is Hojo for our trips. But I do always check the prices at Stovalls and will stay there again if the price is right. I'd say its my next pick after Hojo. Though I'm willing to pay more for Hojo.

I haven't stayed since they changed the security checkpoints so we were able to walk through the Grand as a short cut. With the short cut I felt the walk was about 15-20 minutes for our group depending how fast we were moving. Unless we were entering DCA and then it was a shorter walk since we entered through the hotels entrance. Now that you can't go through the Grand I imagine it would add about 5 minutes to our walking time. I think I read its about a mile now. Its walkable. For my group its probably the furthest they'd be willing to walk. The good news is there is an ART stop out front of the motel so you can take the shuttle if needed. I've never actually used ART so I can't comment to it.

Both stays I loved the breakfast as did the people I was traveling with. The breakfast room is big with lots of tables but can still get crowded. If it was too crowded, we just brought it back to our room. Breakfast items included toast, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, ham or bacon, potatoes, bagels, english muffins, different flavors of muffins, cereals, oatmeal, yogurt, cheese sticks, coffee, tea and juice. And they had the flavored creamers I like for the coffee so that was nice. Its a good breakfast. No waffle maker if I remember right.

Both times I've stayed there the beds were nice. Not as comfy as Hojo (IMO) but some of the better motel beds I've slept on. We found the property to be clean. I had no complaints about cleanliness. We did have ants in our bathroom one morning on our first stay and they were quickly taken care of with a call to the front desk. It was just a few, not many, but I still wanted them gone! The pool area is really nice for a best western. They even have cabanas. There is a small store off the lobby but they close really early. Like before 5:00pm. Fortunately there are vending machines with gatorade and water and sodas so we used that when the store was closed.

I understand where you're coming from...I was hesitant to stay there for the first time as I was so used to Hojo and Desert Inn and the shorter walk from those. But I was happy I tried Stovalls. It met all my standards. The breakfast was a nice bonus and the walk was doable. Yes its longer than the Park Vue or Tropicana walk. But its not bad. And especially considering you have 2 free nights I think you'll be happy. You might be like me and end up with a new hotel alternative for Disneyland when the price is right!

ETA: I felt very safe making the walk. I walked it during the day, at night, with others, by myself and very early on race mornings and never felt uncomfortable. The walk down Disneyland drive is actually pretty as all the trees have lights in them.