Offsite Resort Options-California

[BOTL76]

My family and I have been to DW many times and for at least the last 6 trips before COVID (last one was in 2019), Windsor Hills has been our offsite resort of choice to stay at.

We are hoping to visit Disneyland and parts of California in 2022 or 2023.

I was wondering if anyone has stayed at or knows of any type of offsite resorts similar to Windsor Hills that are in California within an hour or less of Disneyland?

Note: I have read various platforms on staying at Disneyland Hotels and their partner offsite hotels. I haven't been able to find anything that resembles a Windsor Hills style gated community in California near Disneyland (maybe there aren't any?).

Thanks for any feedback and input.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Omg we loved Candy Cane Inn .. simple basic well priced easily walkable no crazy parking fees or resort fees and by far the best continental breakfast I have ever seen .. I’ll see if I can find pics

 

[TammyLynn33]

Omg we loved Candy Cane Inn .. simple basic well priced easily walkable no crazy parking fees or resort fees and by far the best continental breakfast I have ever seen .. I’ll see if I can find pics

I may have brought the ham and cheese croissants to my room fridge for lunch they were amazing .. and who has cheese for breakfast .. it was lovely
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[Chickinvic]

My family and I have been to DW many times and for at least the last 6 trips before COVID (last one was in 2019), Windsor Hills has been our offsite resort of choice to stay at.

We are hoping to visit Disneyland and parts of California in 2022 or 2023.

I was wondering if anyone has stayed at or knows of any type of offsite resorts similar to Windsor Hills that are in California within an hour or less of Disneyland?

Note: I have read various platforms on staying at Disneyland Hotels and their partner offsite hotels. I haven't been able to find anything that resembles a Windsor Hills style gated community in California near Disneyland (maybe there aren't any?).

Thanks for any feedback and input.

There really aren't any comparable villa rentals, etc. And VRBO in the Disneyland vicinity is very expensive. Better to just find a cheap offsite hotel in easy walking distance. I have never bothered staying on site at DL as there are so many other walkable hotels. I truly love DL far better than WDW, but I do like the villa rentals offsite near WDW. I stay at one in Emerald Island resort - for $90US per night lol (and for an extra $10 she throws in pool heat). 4 bed, 3 bath, pool and hottub. Can't beat it!

 

[Nagle]

I will second the vote for Candy Cane Inn. It was years ago, but the price was excellent, it was a short walk to the parks and Downtown Disney, and the staff were great.
I don’t remember the continental breakfast being rave worthy, but it was good. We had a large room with a small fridge.
I would definitely stay there again.

 

[Carolynleanne]

Yeah, Anaheim shut downs those kind of rentals many years back. We had a place we loved and they were forced to sell - it was so sad! We LOVE Staybridge Suites or Hampton Inn. Both are suite styles so more rooms and they offer full hot breakfasts!

 

[SaraMc]

We stayed at the Hojo on Harbour. It was great. Newley renovated and really close.

 

[kuhltiffany]

We stay here, king bed for us and a separate space with bunks for the kids! https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/hyatt-house-at-anaheim-resort-convention-center/anaxa

 

[bcwife76]

We've stayed at the HOJO, the Best Western Park Place Inn, the Castle Inn....a few others plus the Grand Californian. So many great little hotels and motels right outside the gates if you don't want to stay on site.

 

[marchingstar]

We've stayed at the HOJO, the Best Western Park Place Inn, the Castle Inn....a few others plus the Grand Californian. So many great little hotels and motels right outside the gates if you don't want to stay on site.

with so many hotels in the immediate vicinity, would you still stay at a disney hotel in the future?

we’ve been talking about a disneyland trip, but i haven’t been since i was a small kid. i am much more familiar with disney world. we always stay at a disney resort, but i know disneyland is so different!

 

[bcwife76]

with so many hotels in the immediate vicinity, would you still stay at a disney hotel in the future?

we’ve been talking about a disneyland trip, but i haven’t been since i was a small kid. i am much more familiar with disney world. we always stay at a disney resort, but i know disneyland is so different!

Unless we can get the GC at 7 months out with our dvc points (our home resort is Aulani, have only been able to snag the Grand once so far), we will stay offsite, probably at the BWPPI (can't beat the short walk!)

 

[marchingstar]

Unless we can get the GC at 7 months out with our dvc points (our home resort is Aulani, have only been able to snag the Grand once so far), we will stay offsite, probably at the BWPPI (can't beat the short walk!)

thanks! that’s kind of what i figured. now it’s time to dream a bit about a west-coast trip!

 

[Aladora]

As you can see in my signature, we have done DL a number of times. We have stayed both onsite and offsite.

For close and clean, Park Vue Inn
For close, clean, and larger rooms, Desert Inn and Suites

You really can't get closer than those two but they are motels so not fancy. Good wifi though and at least when we stayed there, both offered included breakfast. DI&S was a continental and at the time, PVI had a hot option as well but they may have changed that since we were there last.

The only offsite we have been to that we would think twice about going back to was Castle Inn. Nothing wrong with the motel but we were there in September and it was 40C most days, the walk was brutal, especially since we always take a mid-day break so we were doing the walk there and back twice a day.

We have also stayed at all 3 onsite hotels and that is where we prefer to stay, specifically the Grand Californian. PPH was nice and had really bright big rooms but ever since they removed the ability to cut through GCH, PPH was off our list.

DLH is classic and we love staying there but for us, you can't beat GCH. DS and I love GRR so the ability to get soaking wet and then be back at your room in a couple of minutes is amazing. We rented points for a 1 bedroom DVC last trip and that worked out really well for us. The extra room, full kitchen, laundry ensuite, and 2 bathrooms was great! For my 50th birthday trip next year we absolutely want to do that again, I just need to find someone who has enough points, otherwise we are just going to book a room at the GCH instead of VGC.

 

[jeepwreck]

we like to stay at places along S Harbor Blvd.
so we have stayed at
Howard Johnson
Camelot inn
Tropicanna Inn
Castle in

they all have ups and down but for the location you cant go bad with any of them but basically they are all right across the street

 

[BOTL76]

As you can see in my signature, we have done DL a number of times. We have stayed both onsite and offsite.

For close and clean, Park Vue Inn
For close, clean, and larger rooms, Desert Inn and Suites

You really can't get closer than those two but they are motels so not fancy. Good wifi though and at least when we stayed there, both offered included breakfast. DI&S was a continental and at the time, PVI had a hot option as well but they may have changed that since we were there last.

The only offsite we have been to that we would think twice about going back to was Castle Inn. Nothing wrong with the motel but we were there in September and it was 40C most days, the walk was brutal, especially since we always take a mid-day break so we were doing the walk there and back twice a day.

We have also stayed at all 3 onsite hotels and that is where we prefer to stay, specifically the Grand Californian. PPH was nice and had really bright big rooms but ever since they removed the ability to cut through GCH, PPH was off our list.

DLH is classic and we love staying there but for us, you can't beat GCH. DS and I love GRR so the ability to get soaking wet and then be back at your room in a couple of minutes is amazing. We rented points for a 1 bedroom DVC last trip and that worked out really well for us. The extra room, full kitchen, laundry ensuite, and 2 bathrooms was great! For my 50th birthday trip next year we absolutely want to do that again, I just need to find someone who has enough points, otherwise we are just going to book a room at the GCH instead of VGC.

Thank you for the feedback and details of your trips!


I am curious if you could recommend from your experience which month was best to visit DL? We are thinking of going during our "school year", so not going to visit during July and August. We are thinking November (after American Thanksgiving) or March/April. Thank you.

 

[BOTL76]

we like to stay at places along S Harbor Blvd.
so we have stayed at
Howard Johnson
Camelot inn
Tropicanna Inn
Castle in

they all have ups and down but for the location you cant go bad with any of them but basically they are all right across the street

Thanks for your feedback! Curious if you have ever visited DL in November/December or March/April. We are probably not going to be able to visit DL during "summer" months. So we are looking at the late Fall or early Spring as this is normally when we visit DW, but will be going to DL next time! Thank you

 

[Aladora]

Thank you for the feedback and details of your trips!


I am curious if you could recommend from your experience which month was best to visit DL? We are thinking of going during our "school year", so not going to visit during July and August. We are thinking November (after American Thanksgiving) or March/April. Thank you.

We've gone in Feb (1X), March (2X), April (2X), August (6X), and September (2X).

September was by FAR the hottest trip. March is busy but it is my birthday in March so I love going there then! Out of all the months, we prefer August TBH. We always go in the 3rd week of August, after many US schools have gone back and before Canadians start. It's hot in August but not like FL or Ontario summer hot, there isn't the humidity that just kills me so I don't mind the heat. Also, it makes going on GRR a ton more fun!

 

[jeepwreck]

Thanks for your feedback! Curious if you have ever visited DL in November/December or March/April. We are probably not going to be able to visit DL during "summer" months. So we are looking at the late Fall or early Spring as this is normally when we visit DW, but will be going to DL next time! Thank you

I have gone just about every time of the year
when you go offseason some rides may be down for maintenance, but the crowds are some what lower too

 

[ronandannette]

Thanks for your feedback! Curious if you have ever visited DL in November/December or March/April. We are probably not going to be able to visit DL during "summer" months. So we are looking at the late Fall or early Spring as this is normally when we visit DW, but will be going to DL next time! Thank you

Consider late May. The weather is lovely and the jacaranda trees are in bloom - a spectacular sight you might never see elsewhere. Our Victoria Day is the only civic holiday that doesn't also coincide with an American long-weekend and we've had great trips going that week.

 

[shaycamp21]

Another vote here for the Candy Cane Inn, though it's been a while we really did enjoy our stay. It was clean and comfortable but nothing fancy. There was a free shuttle but we found it was fairly easy to walk and as others mentioned the breakfast options were great. Also our girls loved the pool. The motel is currently closed due to rennovations but should be open for your trip in 2022. Rooms would be new and updated which is a plus. We are hoping to go in March.