off-site hotels

[dopeydays]

What off-site hotel offers the most for the best price? Our family is planning a trip to disneyland, and we are overwhelmed by our options (Disney hotels are out of our price range). We would like to be able to see the fireworks from our hotel, and would like to be able to walk to the park, a continental breakfast would also be nice. Please help I am so confused.
Thanks

 

[LuvTigger]

I'm not sure about the fireworks view, most of the hotels around DL are more like "motels" (not in a bad way, just low to the ground!).

Best Western Park Place Inn is right across the street, you can walk there. It's probably one of the most expensive off-site, but still way less than a Disney Hotel. I think I read here that they offer a continental breakfast too. Rooms are nice size and nicely appointed.

Btw, you don't mention whether you've been to DL before, but if you haven't, it's not like WDW where a lot of people feel that it's a MUST to stay on-site. At DL it's nice, but not a necessity, so don't feel bad!

Another favorite of mine is the Howard Johnson's. It's slightly farther away, but still walking distance, and they offer a shuttle as well. This one's a little taller, I think 6 or 7 floors. This one costs less than BW, but rooms are still nice, and a little more "hotel-like." Last time I was there, no breakfast included, but like I said, the room price is less. They also have a restaurant right there (something like a Denny's, but it's not a Denny's...sorry, can't remember the name!). There's also an Acapulco Restaurant across the street that I really like.

You'll have lots of options, not to worry!

(I've also heard great things about the Sheraton in the area, but haven't stayed there. I think it's slightly farther away, but not much. www.themeparks.com has some kind of a deal with them, something like $100 per night. You may want to look into that if it's within your budget.)

 

[pattievers]

We stayed at the Desert Inn in December, and Carousel in March.

You can see fireworks well from the roof of both buildings. We could see them from our room at the Desert Inn. They also have a "fireworks" deck.

At the carousel, the pool is on the roof, and there is good viewing from there. I even saw Tinkerbell!

They both have "continental breakfast".

Depending on the wind, the smoke from the fireworks will be blocked, some. I remember being able to hear the music as well.

Good luck!

Patti
Lexington, KY

 

[klfrech]

I too am curious about the quality of some of the offsite hotels. We'll have a car so wouldn't mind driving a bit if necessary. Quality of the pool area is essential. Any have poolslides?

 

[Luv2Roam]

We are booked for five nights at the Desert Inn this month.
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/
I made ressies last February for four nights. With a AAA discount, $54 per night is our cost for a standard room.
I called today and added one more night. The same rooms are now (I think) $84 a night. (I still get four nights at $54.)
The lesson -- call ahead as much as possible for ressies!
My understanding from the Desert Inn is that the standard rooms surround the pool area.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

We got back last month from a stay at the Portofino Inn & Suites on Harbor Blvd. We used the shuttle primarily, but we walked to the park twice. I'd say its about 3/4 of a mile or so.

Its a newer hotel, about 7 months old I believe. We had a "kids suite" which is 2 separate rooms. One room has bunk beds, couch, kid sized activity table, tv, microwave & fridge. The next room had a king size bed, amoire, another TV, desk, nightstands, etc. There is a sink in the bathroom where the shower/bath and toilet is, then there is a vanity/dressing room area with another sink outside of that. The rooms are seperated by sliding glass/french style doors and a curtain on top of that. If you push the doors away it just looks like one big room.

It was very nice, new and clean. We don't have any kids (just got the kids suite because that's all they had left) but if we did have kids I think the extra room would be really nice. They also give kids a bucket of popcorn at check in.

We got 3 nights with a 3 day pass for $570 total (not per person, that was for 2 adults). I thought it was a great deal, I believe without the package the cost is around $99/night with a AAA discount. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it or stay there again.

Susan

 

[Mattsmom]

Luv2Roam,
We just stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites 5/2-5/6. The pool is indoors by the front office area and parking lot. It also isn't very large. My DS still enjoyed it though. We would stay there again and you can't beat the price! Just wanted you to know about the pool. Have a great trip.

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

LuvTigger, the restaurant that's at Hojo's is called Coco's, and the Hojo tower has 7 floors. I have ressies for May of next year, and am looking forward to my stay. Do you have any pics (other than what's on the website) of the hotel or pool area?? From what I've seen, it looks great!!!

Jules

 

[LuvTigger]

I'll have to check if I have pictures. I'm pretty sure I do, but the trick is, my computer is so ancient that it may not have enough memory to accept them!

But I can say that the pictures in brochures and websites should represent pretty well what it actually looks like! (You know how sometimes they beef up the pictures a little to make a place look great.)

We've stayed there several times and have always been happy. I like that it's not as much of a motel as the others, almost like a hotel. And check in is always a snap! It seemed like I wasn't even at check-in for more than a minute!

 

[druzicka]

Hi-
I might be barking up the wrong tree here, but--
have you considered renting a timeshare from someone? There are two right by DL--Peacock Suites(like a hotel-no kitchen)- and Dolphin's Cove. They have 1 and 2 bedrooms plus a kitchen. They are both within a mile or two of DL. There are sometimes for rent on the TImeshare Users Group board. www.tug2.net
I have seen them for as low as $500-800 for a week.People sometimes just can't use them and would rather rent them than they go to waste.
We have stayed at Dolphin's Cove and it is a converted apartment complex, but the condos are very recently redone, they have a Gold Crown rating(the highest)very nicely kept--they have a pool, game room, fitness room, etc. WE got 2 Disney tickets for taking the tour.
We haven't been to Peacock, but it is a little closer to DL, and I have heard they are more like hotel rooms than condos (I think no kitchens???)
HOpe this helps, and have a wonderful time!!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

Please be careful to note that there are 2 motels with very close names.
The Desert Inn and Suites is a motel located on Harbor blvd. It is a nice motel that has the small indoor pool, fireworks deck and very basic cold breakfast. We did enjoy our 2 stays there.

The Desert Palm Inn and Suites is on Katella ave. I have never stayed there, so I am no help !

 

[SteveH]

Twice now we've used Priceline to bid for our rooms, both times we landed the Marriott for $40.00/night. We've also stayed at the GC and Carousel Inn. For the money I'll go Priceline unless I know we can stay on property.