New Homewood Suites is $700 more than our usual hotel. Is it worth it?

[RobertaMomof2]

Hi everyone! We are going during a popular week in June (never fails). I want to try out the new Homewood Suites since it is ranked #1 and seems like lots of fun, but it is $700 more for the 5 nights than Candy Cane Inn (where we normally stay). Is it worth that much more? I know they have the great free breakfast, and evening dinner (two nights we are there, the other 3 it isn't offered). I love the idea of the pool and movie each night by the pool for the kids. the access to the free Disneyland Shuttle (we are going to the convention center most days, and DL only one day of our visit). Just wanted everyones opinion. It is $1,740 for the 5 nights, or $1,040 at Candy Cane Inn. Hard choice, but we would have a suite vs. just a room at CCI... decisions decisions. All the DL hotels are WAY more...

Thank you for your help!

 

[MacMama0930]

Tell me more about Homewood Suites...I can't find anything on their website that talks about a shuttle or evening dinner, or movies by the pool. Where did you find this information?

 

[RobertaMomof2]

Oh the shuttle is the Disneyland Shuttle from one of the lots, it is a short walk from the hotel. The movies by the pool was mentioned in a review of the hotel on Tripadvisor (they call it the movie wall on their website) and the evening dinner is the social hour they call it, M-Thurs. The hotel link is here:

http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/e...?WT.mc_id=zLADA0WW1HW2OLX3DA4HWB5TABL6ANADLHW

 

[minnieralyks]

I don't have personal experience with either of those hotels (we try to stay across the street from Disneyland). Would the $700 be worth the added extras (dinner, shuttle for one of the days, better breakfast)? I don't know if it would be worth the added $$ for those extra amenities, at least for our family. I know we wouldn't end up catching the evening dinner or even breakfast since we're in Disneyland during that time anyway. If the Homewood Suites is closer to the Convention Center, that might be worth it since you're only at Disneyland for one day. The movies by the pool sounds like a fun way to relax in the evening, too.

Either choice should be good! I've heard good things about both hotels.

 

[debdreamsofdis]

I haven't stayed at that particular Homewood Suites (we've been to others), but I have stayed at Candy Cane Inn. Honestly, you probably wouldn't really go wrong with either one. I think HS has a better hot breakfast with more choices than CCI. HS would also be newer and overall I think a nicer, roomier set up. But are you really planning to be in the room that much though? If it were me, I think I'd save the extra $700.

 

[Pintail]

A new hotel is always nice because of the new beds.
I think being able to have a short walk to the parks is nice, so the Candy Cane Inn is good and affordable.
If you can spend a little more, the Marriot Courtyard across the street on Harbor is new and very nice.
There is not a free breakfast, but there are a Panera and McDonalds right there.
It also has a waterpark, which your kids will love. That will keep them happy while your are at the Convention Center.
The rooms sleep 6, and are 530 sq. ft., with a mini-fridge and microwave.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, with the Convention Center as a main focus, I would look at those near the Convention Center but close to Disney.

Three new Hotels on Katella near Harbor, Hyatt House, Springhill Suites (on top of the CVS) and the Residence Inn on Katella.

Older Hotels, I would look at the Sheraton Park, Red Lion and Hotel Indigo.

I like the search price engine at TripAdvisor.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g29092-Anaheim_California-Hotels.html

 

[Angrose]

You would be getting a suite at Homewood vs just a room at CCI so that explains the price difference right there. If more space is important to you then go with Homewood.

 

[kathy884]

Hilton beds are my favorite -- the best for sleeping. And Homewood suites of course would have those wonderful comfy beds. That alone could be worth it.

We're not going to be able to answer this for you, of course. Everyone has different value judgements on these things.

For my stay next week, I'm going for an older Harbor Blvd. motel just because there are some of those that are perfectly acceptable to me and being able to walk over trumps other things for me. The one I'm getting has a mini frig and microwave too., has reports of very comfortable beds (but not quite as comfortable as Hilton ones), and no breakfast. That's fine with me. We'll just do cereal and fruit in our room for that, but for others a breakfast is a big plus. The only hotel breakfast I really go gaga for is Embassy Suites.

How much does $700 mean to you? Changing things up if you go a lot can be really fun. A bigger room and those pool movies might be nice, especially since you are staying for five days. My stay next week in Anaheim is just three nights. Just go with you gut/what feels best for you and your family. // I do have to say that I am pretty keen on most Hilton properties like Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, and Homewood Suites. I often pay a little bit of a premium for those vs. others, especially when well rated on Trip Advisor. // The fact that you are only doing Disneyland one day means close walking access isn't as big a deal. Also, how much time do you anticipate being at the property? I'll fork over a little more for more amenities fairly easily (even with my bean counter personality) if I'll use them. Not sure about the Homewood suites layout, but I like gathering space for the family other than beds if we'll be spending a bit of time in the room/suite too.

 

[AussieNSW]

Personally we love the space at Homewood we have stayed there 3 seperate times now. We did see the movie wall but did not stay and watch it. It was thanksgiving week 2016 and a little cold after our swim although they did have a lovely fire pit going. The location was perfect for us to the left was Denny's and the right was the toy story parking lot with the shuttle also IHOP and Walgreens. We often walked to Disney in the morning and got the shuttle back. We also walked to Cheesecake Factory that walk was fine for us. In the evenings we would sometimes get some food from Walgreens or the hotels shop and heat it up in the kitchen after a late night at Disney.

 

[tarheelalum]

I'd stay at the hotel Indigo.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I haven't stayed at either one, but would stay at both of them. Candy Cane Inn for the ease of walking to and from the parks and if I wasn't going to be in my room much would be my first choice.

If I had a larger group, having a bedroom separate from the living room is very helpful for dressing and for those who maybe have a mix of stay up late and go to bed early in the group. The cost of eating breakfast out can make a difference, but not sure it would be a difference of $700. Would you be there in the evenings during the evening reception? I find I am never at the hotel during the evening happy hour/reception and so that I can't factor in that as a savings. You'll also have a kitchen which can save time and money as opposed to eating out all the time. My family likes having the full kitchen.

 

[Imdboss]

Did you look at prices for just a day or two of your stay? We only stay at Hilton properties so I've become quite experienced in booking tricks with them. A lot of times what happens is one or two days are more expensive but when you put in a date range of say 5 nights all 5 nights will be raised to that higher amount. I always check rates for one night at a time, 2 nights, etc. Then if I find one or two nights are higher I make separate reservations in order to get the other nights at the lower price. Hope that makes sense!

 

[RobertaMomof2]

Thank you so much everyone for the replies! The suite vs. room only does make sense price wise.

Angela, the price is with the full 5 days and a couple days are less than others, so I think that is ok.

The price has gone up quite a bit since I last looked at HS (glad I booked a month or so ago). I think because of the convention we are going too, it just has all the hotels raising prices. Will talk to the kids tonight more. I am not sure how much time we will be in the room since I don't know what to expect from VidCon (the convention we are going to the kids are coming to the convention too, since it is more for them than for me). Glad to hear there is a Denny's nearby, it is one of the only places everyone can agree on in my house since they have something for everyone.

Thanks again you all!

 

[az4boys]

It is $1,740 for the 5 nights, or $1,040 at Candy Cane Inn.

I haven't read all the responses, so I'm sorry if this has already been covered. We have stayed at the new Homewood Suites. I really liked it, and wrote a review awhile back (November 2015 was our trip, right after it opened). I was just researching their rates for this June and I discovered that their weekly rates were drastically different than their daily rates. I looked up a 6 night trip, and it was quoting me $342 per night. I looked up a 7 night trip and it was quoting me $159 a night for the exact same room. I even chatted with customer service about it. I couldn't believe the discrepancy. They didn't seem to understand why I was shocked. Basically, if you are going to stay more than 3 nights you might as well book 7 and get the cheaper rate.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We stayed at the new Homewood during Star Wars race weekend last year and wasn't impressed at all.

-The walls are paper thin, you could hear what is going on in the room beside you and if someone shut a room door, everyone knew a room door was shut.
-Does the Candy Cane Inn charge to park? Add that expense as the Homewood was $15/day. In addition, there isn't enough space for everyone to park. We had to create spaces to park at night in the fire lane.
-Breakfast was decent, but the attendants could not keep up with the volume. If you arrived near the end(like after running), the food was gone. Even with free breakfast, we ate at IHOP twice.

This year the hotel has been running $199-219. That's crazy high considering the prices of comparable hotels around it. First we decided to stay at the Homewood 2 blocks down Harbour at $95/night and take ART to the parks, then we found the Holiday Inn Express near the entrance for $123 a night, easily walking distance to the parks.

I would not spend $700 more for the Homewood.

 

[RobertaMomof2]

Thanks so much you guys. Going to check the 7 day rate now az4boys!

Will also look into the Holiday Inn Express kydisneyfans. THANK YOU!

 

[RobertaMomof2]

I haven't read all the responses, so I'm sorry if this has already been covered. We have stayed at the new Homewood Suites. I really liked it, and wrote a review awhile back (November 2015 was our trip, right after it opened). I was just researching their rates for this June and I discovered that their weekly rates were drastically different than their daily rates. I looked up a 6 night trip, and it was quoting me $342 per night. I looked up a 7 night trip and it was quoting me $159 a night for the exact same room. I even chatted with customer service about it. I couldn't believe the discrepancy. They didn't seem to understand why I was shocked. Basically, if you are going to stay more than 3 nights you might as well book 7 and get the cheaper rate.

You were right! If I book end my trip, it went down $250! Crazy!!!! Thanks for the info, rebooking now!