Paradise Pier vs Disneyland Hotel vs Fairfield Inn, Long...

[Shell4624]

We're going to DL 4/2-4/5 with our daughters (8, 3). We will need to return to our room occasionally for nap and maybe a swim (weather permitting). We will most likely have an umbrella stroller in tow in case our little one gets tired. This is our first official family vacation outside of visiting family, so this will be a very special trip for us and I want to make the best of it, while still being budget conscious.


*However*, if the Disney properties far outweigh the non Disney properties as far as once in a lifetime experience, we will bite the bullet and pay more.

Here's what is important to us
1) Ability to return to the hotel quickly, conveniently without issue
2) We want our girls to have the fullest Disney experience possible
3) We will be doing both the character breakfast and Princess lunch/dinner (<~ is that overkill)
4) Both girls have taken swim lessons, yet I would not let them go in the water without me.

We are driving in from Colo > Las Vegas (visit in laws) > SOCA

Fairfield Inn is the cheapest package with Disneyland Hotel being the priciest +$750.

Last question... in your opinion will a 3 yo enjoy DL as much as an 8 yo?

Thanks so much for reading and I will greatly appreciate your honestly, opinion and response. TIA

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I can't answer your questions about hotel but I can answer your last one about the 3 year old and the 8 year old.

Yes! My kids were 2, 4, and 6 last time we went. My youngest had one of the best times. He loved everything. He wanted to ride the everything that everyone else rode and loved the characters. He really had such a great trip and loved it just as much as everyone else.

I was really surprised that he was as willing to do as many things as he did. He really loved it though. I am not sure how much he remembers but he is very excited to be going again.

We even went to an outdoor mall at Christmas this year and they had a big tree right in the middle and he asked, "Is this Disneyland?" so I think his memory is pretty good.

 

[Shell4624]

Dorky, thanks for responding. I appreciate it. You've eased one of my many worries. I want the girls to have the best possible time and if we do things right it seems as if they will! Thanks again!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I forgot to say it's great here and you will learn more than you ever thought possible.

I helped my kids get excited by watching YouTube and ordering the planning DVD.

We also brought an umbrella stroller for the stroll back. It was much easier than trying to carry my son or trying to make him walk if he was tired. We rented strollers from Disney because they were better than our umbrella. We have the Disney Visa so it was free. We just checked our umbrella when we rented the Disney stroller and then would retrieve our umbrella at the end of the night for the walk back. It worked really well for us and we had no problem checking our stroller.

 

[Shell4624]

Dorky, do you mind sharing what hotel you've stayed at and give your opinion on it?

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Dorky, do you mind sharing what hotel you've stayed at and give your opinion on it?

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We loved it. My mom helped pay for it so it wasn't too big of an expense for us. We didn't use the pool except for one night because it was December and I thought a little chilly and rainy.

The walk from Downtown Disney was not hard. We like the perk of using the Magical Mornings we used all of them when they were offered. The bed were comfortable and the room was big enough to fit all of us. We also had an adjoining room with my mom and sister.

It was a great stay and I am glad to have done it.

I see that you are talking about your kids being immersed. We never left property the whole time we were there. So for me I felt immersed. It was nice to have the variety of restaurants right there and we even saw a movie one night.

We checked rates this time and we are staying at The HOJO just because it gets pretty good reviews on here. They have free parking and we will have a car with us this time. They are close to Mimi's cafe which is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at. They have done some renovations so I feel pretty confident in staying there. I didn't get the Entertainment rate because it's not available yet for when we are staying. I am hoping it will but it won't be tragic if it doesn't.

I see that The Fairfield is getting good reviews too.

The PDP offers Magical Mornings for you too. So that is a big perk but as far as getting back to the hotel during the day I am not so sure.

We never left during the day for naps or anything. My son didn't take naps at the time so we didn't really worry about it. We did use the monorail a few times and it worked fine.

I am sure others will be able to answer your questions too.

 

[bigpuma]

We stayed at the PPH in December with a 3 y/o and a 4 month old. We had a great time there. It really depends on if the price difference is worth it. I have never stayed at a non-disney hotel so I can't really comment on the differences. To me it is not worth paying a premium for the DLH over the PPH.

Here's what is important to us
1) Ability to return to the hotel quickly, conveniently without issue

This was no problem and we even pushed a double stroller back and forth.

2) We want our girls to have the fullest Disney experience possible
3) We will be doing both the character breakfast and Princess lunch/dinner (<~ is that overkill)

We only did one character breakfast but my 3 y/o really liked it even though he was a bit scared by some of the characters. If your kids really like the characters I would say go for it.

4) Both girls have taken swim lessons, yet I would not let them go in the water without me.

One thing I like about the PPH is that they have life jackets for the little ones next to the pool. I feel comfortable letting my 3 y/o swim with the jacket on as long as I am watching him. I assume the DLH has these as well.

ETA: My 3 y/o loved being at Disneyland so I am sure your 3 y/o will as well.

ETA again: I forgot to mention that we would go into a park in the morning for several hours then head back to the hotel for naps/relaxing, then head back in the evening for a few more hours. My 3 y/o was able to handle it pretty well for 4 days. Even staying up until 9 or 10 each night, well beyond his normal bedtime. We didn't do much swimming because it was December. Also the other advantage of PPH is that you get a great view of the fireworks show from the pool deck. They even have the music piped in so it is a great and uncrowded place to watch the show.

 

[Brygida]

We rented strollers from Disney because they were better than our umbrella. We have the Disney Visa so it was free.

??? How do I get free strollers with Disney Visa? Or was that a one time deal?

 

[Shell4624]

Big, thanks for you response. You've made some very valid points. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Brygida]

We're going to DL 4/2-4/5 with our daughters (8, 3). We will need to return to our room occasionally for nap and maybe a swim (weather permitting).

*However*, if the Disney properties far outweigh the non Disney properties as far as once in a lifetime experience, we will bite the bullet and pay more.

Here's what is important to us
1) Ability to return to the hotel quickly, conveniently without issue
2) We want our girls to have the fullest Disney experience possible

The absolutely quickest return to hotel is to stay at one of the Disney properties, Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier, or Grand Californian. There are direct sidewalks through the pedestrian mall (Downtown Disney) to the big entrance area for Disneyland and California Adventure parks.

Paradise Pier is usually the least expensive. I actually liked the room at the Paradise Pier better than Disneyland Hotel. Disneyland Hotel has a great Peter Pan / Captain Hook themed swimming pool though.

However, because the cost (depending upon when you go) can easily be 2x, 3x, 4x the cost just 1 mile down the road, I don't think it is worth it. You will NOT be happy with Disney hotel rooms when compared to let's say a new Residence Inn suite. This next trip we are staying at a Residence Inn down the street. We will drive and park somewhere at Disney.

I think that staying on-property at Disneyland is not that important a factor. Whereas at Walt Disney World, if you don't stay on-site, it definately affects you because it is so huuuuggge! I have been staying at Disneyland every year since my son was 1 year old.

 

[bumbershoot]

??? How do I get free strollers with Disney Visa? Or was that a one time deal?

If you have the Disney Visa, you wait in line for the stroller rental each morning, show your Visa, and you get up to two free strollers each day of your trip.



The main thing we seriously disliked about staying onsite and having to traverse DTD is that our son gets a MAJOR case of the "I wants" when near shopping areas. Lego store, WOD, everything...he wanted. So it was a bit miserable for us.

Because I don't particularly enjoy shopping malls, and DTD is one, that part of the walk is really NOT enjoyable to me, and takes me out of a good mood, or makes me use a lot of energy to keep the good mood. So for me, staying on site isn't immersive in fun, but rather is stressful.

I like staying offsite more, because I don't have to trek through a shopping mall. We'll have enough "I wants" in the parks...don't need to start and end each day with it as well.

 

[bigpuma]

The main thing we seriously disliked about staying onsite and having to traverse DTD is that our son gets a MAJOR case of the "I wants" when near shopping areas. Lego store, WOD, everything...he wanted. So it was a bit miserable for us.

Because I don't particularly enjoy shopping malls, and DTD is one, that part of the walk is really NOT enjoyable to me, and takes me out of a good mood, or makes me use a lot of energy to keep the good mood. So for me, staying on site isn't immersive in fun, but rather is stressful.

I like staying offsite more, because I don't have to trek through a shopping mall. We'll have enough "I wants" in the parks...don't need to start and end each day with it as well.

One nice part of staying at PPH vs. DLH is that you can walk through the Grand Californian to get to Disneyland so you only pass through the last third of DTD. You also can use the DGC entrance to DCA so you don't have to pass through DTD at all.

 

[SANDIEGOFAN]

My two cents...

PPH and DLH have more Disney atmosphere and larger rooms than Fairfield. Fairfield is actually closer from DL main gates than PPH and DLH. Pools and jacuzzi are much better at DLH and PPH. My family loves walking through DTD, it's part of the experience and they miss that when we stay off-site. We stay on property 4-5 times a year, on AP special rates. Other times we stay at HoJo's or Fairfield.

Love the character breakfast/lunch/dinner but my daughters are too old now.