Park Vue or Desert Inn & Suites?

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I'm trying so hard to decide between these two!

I have had Park Vue Inn booked since last October- for our trip in April. I have the bunkbed w/trundle room $129 a night.
It seems kinda high from what I'm reading here, there, everywhere. LOL (if I look now for same dates- it's $139 but from what I've heard you can call instead of online and get a cheaper rate and I'm also on their facebook now to see if any deals come up that I can take advantage of)

It's really only the 4 of us for 4 nights and then DH will join us the last night before we cruise. However, I prefer a place with fridge/micro so we can save a ton of money on food. We can eat cheap with that- no reason to spend a fortune at DL or surrounding restaurants for us! I was going for somewhere closer than HOJO this time (and compared prices- same, since we have no discount for HOJO this time) and I thought the bunkbed and trundle would work to keep kids sleeping seperately.

However- now I think my son might not fit on bunk or trundle- he's taller than me now! haha (and eldest daughter is my height)
Also I keep reading that the room is small.
And while there is a fridge/micro- doesn't seem to be anywhere in the room to eat food made in the room other than sitting on the queen bed?
And... also realized we aren't going to be spending as many days in the parks as I thought- spending more time going other places during this trip and/or in the room (to eat, etc) So the room set up and space may be more important than I thought.
The breakfast sounded good at Park Vue- although you can't leave with food so that means no one can bring me food back to the room while I'm getting ready for the day (myself, our bags, etc. LOL) -and heard about the social hour although I'm not sure we'd ever take advantage of that mostly because of timing and our plans on this trip plus even if we're there it might not be something the kids like anyway. (IOW I planned on spending less on food by buying food and eating in room rather than depending THAT much on breakfast and social hour. More like an added benefit we may, or may not, take advantage of much)

so then I saw Desert Inn is just right next door- not really further by much... and we can get a room with 2 queens and then a sofa bed which might work better than bunkbeds and trundle for older kids. And seems like it's more "room to live in" with the sofa/coffee table seperate and 2 tvs and all that.
I checked the price and it's about $60 less for our 5 nights- vs the price we're paying now for Park Vue.
I'm not sure we'd eat $60 worth of food to make Park Vue the same cost- or less if we ate more than that on their breakfast vs the continental cereals/fruits breakfast at Desert Inn.

And then we have pool issue. Kids will want to swim a bit in the pool sometimes- and I generally have issues with my face in the sun more than I have to.... so the inside pool is more out of the sun, right? but then at Park Vue I can be OUTSIDE meaning I can smoke while keeping near the pool in case they have "issues" with a 17yr old, 14yr old who looks older since he's taller than 17yr old haha and almost 11yr old there by themselves even if they are behaving themselves. Some pools require an adult at all times regardless if they are behaving themselves or not. So indoor pool means they'd have to leave the pool for me to step outside somewhere to smoke? IDK where you can smoke at Park Vue or Desert Inn- anyone know if they have a specific smoking area or bench somewhere like HOJO does? But smoking issue aside, seems like I could sit there to abide by "adult supervision" rules reading a book or something and stay out of the sun better at Desert Inn?

But all things considered- Desert Inn seems like the room would fit us better and is slightly cheaper (even with parking fee included btw)... but Park Vue has breakfast and social hour that may save us some money there.... they are both about the same distance from DL -although that's not a huge issue since we'd only be there 2 days.... someone help me choose! Anyone stayed at both that could tell me which they preferred?????????????? please? oh decisions decisions.

 

[Maddie2]

We stayed in a PVI bunk/trundle room last week and my DS16 is 6 foot tall and it was perfectly fine. Our 2 teen boys really dislike sharing a bed of any size - so the bunks were very helpful.

Even if you don't take advantage of the social hours, I do think that you would get at least a $60 value out of just having the breakfast, especially with the ages your kids are. I know what you mean about not being able to take food out - that's what we usually do too. But, it was nice to send the kids ahead of us to start eating while we/I finished getting ready.

The fridge and micro are very nice to have, but you're right, there isn't much living space in this type of room. We found that when we are on vacation that we don't really need 3 meals/per day. We ate when we were hungry, which added up to about 2 meals and a shared snack per day. This was in January - and would likely be even less in a warm/hot weather month.

I'd be happy to answer at questions about PVI. Will check back again this evening.

Not sure about the smoking issue. We used the pool, but we are not smokers and don't recall anyone smoking while we were in the pool area.

 

[azdisneylover]

On Facebook, Park Vue Inn has listed this 'We're offering a special discount rate for Facebook fans! Book a reservation with us and mention that you are a fan on Facebook to receive 25% off your room rate, now through February 17th!' This was posted around the 20th of January. Maybe that would help make you decide.

 

[DisSarahK]

We have stayed at the Desert Inn & Suites on our last two trips and plan to stay elsewhere (most likely the Park Vue Inn unless I can get a great deal at a Disney property) for one main reason--the beds KILLED our backs. Seriously painful after the third night.

The rooms are clean, the property is well cared for, but the beds were SO painful.

We didn't let our children use the pool at Desert Inn and Suites. It is indoors and the room it is in is VERY warm and just seems like a breeding ground for bacteria and all sorts of bad and yucky things.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Aw man.... the layout seems like it would be better for us at Desert Inn but I don't want my bed to be painful!

And I suppose if we wanted to we could make our microwavable food in the room and take it up to the top floor area (at Park Vue Inn)? I'm not sure if that's only open during breakfast and social hour though- can anyone say? The one at Desert Inn they mention their sundeck on top floor as a place to enjoy anytime. Park Vue only mentions it in reference to eating breakfast there. And if it's not open/available for use other times, are there tables anywhere else on site that we could eat? I'm just not fond of the idea of all of us sitting on my bed holding food in our laps. LOL

the park vue discount mentioned on facebook- I called when I saw it and they said on the phone it's for stays THRU that date... we're staying in April. The way it's worded seems if you book until that date but when I called they said it meant if you're stay was anytime up thru that date.

They had another deal for $89 a night if you booked that day or the next day- and wouldn't you know it I found them on facebook and saw it the DAY AFTER that special. grrrr LOL

That's good to know the trundle/bunks are okay for "adult sized" teens. If we booked Desert Inn the girls would sleep together and DS would stay on sofa bed, so we wouldn't have a problem with sleeping together.

and I'm confused by Desert Inn's website now. I had compared prices with what they included the resort fee, parking fee, 2% TIDI, and 17% room tax. That's the total I went with- but on the next page right before you pay on the terms you have to agree with- it says rate does not include 15% bedding and state tax. That's sounds like it's on top of all the other fees that are included.... that's ridiculous. I mean $4 per night resort fee, $8 a day parking fee, 2% TIDI fee, 17% room tax AND then also 15% bedding and state tax? I have never seen fees to that extent on any room we've ever booked. that's a total of 34% extra in % fees PLUS $12 resort and parking fee. crazy.... if that's the case then while it costs less per night than Park Vue before fees- after fees it's far more per night.

Aw man why couldn't Park Vue have a little table with 2 chairs or something in there? We don't need a lot of space- cramped is okay with us... but I'm having serious issues with the idea of having to eat for 6 days on my bed.

I appreciate everyone's help...y'all are the greatest. I still wonder if maybe I could call Park Vue again and ask them what's the best deal they could give me because I'm considering switching to another hotel that is cheaper right next door.. think that would work? LOL

 

[michelleh1]

does it depend on your room type for the beds you get at Desert Inn? It seems like others haven't liked the beds in the Parlor A suites. we stayed there in the C-1 suite and I LOVED the beds. I thought they were so comfortable!! I even tried to look at the mattress to see what type it was (but couldn't because they had it encased in a full mattress covering).

here's my review for the OP.

 

[heather_sue_98]

We stayed at Park Vue with 3 adults and 1 child in the two queen bed room. I did wish that it had a table, as we did eat in the room quite a bit. One thing we did is move the beds so that we had a fairly large area in the middle of them, and then asked for an extra blanket and ate picnic style.

I think all the rooms at Park Vue have a desk and chair. At least one of you could eat sitting there... Maybe more if you asked the front desk for some extra chairs or scooted the bed over to the desk.

I would be turned off by all those fees at the other hotel too.

Good luck!

 

[luckycharms2010]

I called Park Vue and told them I'm a facebook fan. For July 9th-16th they gave me the rate of $698 no including tax.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We stayed at Park Vue with 3 adults and 1 child in the two queen bed room. I did wish that it had a table, as we did eat in the room quite a bit. One thing we did is move the beds so that we had a fairly large area in the middle of them, and then asked for an extra blanket and ate picnic style.

I think all the rooms at Park Vue have a desk and chair. At least one of you could eat sitting there... Maybe more if you asked the front desk for some extra chairs or scooted the bed over to the desk.

I would be turned off by all those fees at the other hotel too.

Good luck!

I'm not sure I even see a desk in the pictures of the bunkbed rooms. But if so, I suppose I can sit there and kids can eat picnic style- just not on my bed! LOL

I called today and they did say that you can use the outer eating area anytime of the day... it's not just opened for access during breakfast and social hour. So that's good- if the weather is okay we can make food and take it out there to eat at tables like civilized people. LOL

does it depend on your room type for the beds you get at Desert Inn? It seems like others haven't liked the beds in the Parlor A suites. we stayed there in the C-1 suite and I LOVED the beds. I thought they were so comfortable!! I even tried to look at the mattress to see what type it was (but couldn't because they had it encased in a full mattress covering).

here's my review for the OP.

The room I was looking at is Parlor A suites- I think. I'll have to recheck to make sure.

I called Park Vue and told them I'm a facebook fan. For July 9th-16th they gave me the rate of $698 no including tax.

How many nights? Checking out 16th or staying overnight the 16th? And what type of room is it? Either way is way cheaper than I could get.. and I called and told them I was a facebook fan and asked what was the cheapest rate they could give me for my dates. They said $139 a night. At that point I told them I already had a room booked for $129 a night but that I'd heard others had called, plus seen deals on facebook and was considering cancelling with them and booking with Comfort-- still wouldn't budge. In fact he acted like he did me a favor (because I then also cancelled 4/21 since we decided to come in on the 22nd) because once he took off the 21st- it tried to change our rate for all nights to the "now" rate of $139 and he changed it back to $129 and just kept repeating that he'd done me this huge favor....... Why won't they give me a break too? wahhhhh LOL

 

[CandyMouse]

BibbidyBobbidyBoo, My Family and I are going to be at the Park Vue the first week of April and we have the same rate as you. I'm assuming that's the best we'll get because of spring break. Everybody says spring break is the busiest time in disneyland and I'm sure the hotels are filling up, so that's probably why we can't get a cheaper rate. I'm still really looking forward to our stay, and with the breakfast and dinner, I think it will be worth it! We also will have the queen--bunk room, so maybe thats another reason for no discount.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Spring break is THE busiest time at Disneyland? Like of all busy times?
Well that's lovely. LOL Ofcourse I'd be going to Disneyland that weekend... couldn't help it though, it's before our cruise! LOL

I was able to get a place so much cheaper, bigger, nicer, etc. in WDW before our summer cruises. *pout*

If it just had a table.. just a little table with like 2 chairs or something.... or a little cheaper because then Comfort wouldn't be cheaper and tempting me like this. LOL

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We just stayed at Desert Inn for the first time last weekend.


The only reason we would ever return to DI is the location. It was especially convenient on our one rainy day.

The hotel is okay. The rooms and public areas were clean. We never got close to the breakfast area because there was always a line/crowd.

The pool looked awful! We went inside once to look around. Even my swim crazy kids did not want to try it. It was very smelly and hot. The hot tub was full of foam and hairy adults. It seemed to be just a big steaming pot of bacteria.

Our room was in the back courtyard. We loved the quiet. We always stay at Hojo and there always seems to be some street noise. (nothing too bad) The room was small, but clean. There is no curtains, just plantation shutters. I actually liked these better, less dirt and dust.

I do have to share our first night experience. I know this isn't typical, but we woke up at 3am by noise in the courtyard. I couldn't see from our room, but it seemed there were many young adults hanging out. One woman/girl seemed to puke in the courtyard for a good 20 minutes.

We would stay again only if the rates was better than Hojo.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Before I even read the last post of this thread.. I was coming back to the thread to say I've decided to go with HOJO's again.
We're only going to DL for 2 days of our stay- and I found out today that I can get the ET rate during our stay- and with free parking- this will save us hundreds over PVI.... and we definitely wouldn't eat that much in breakfast/social hour. Not even close.
I've stayed HOJO before.... I know what to expect.. and the price can't be beat. $129 or $59 a night? no comparison.

 

[azmommyx2]

We were just at the PVI for one night last weekend. We are DVC members at the Grand Californian but decided to go up one day early so we got a room at the PVI. For $100 I was very impressed. First the walk to the park can't be beat. It seemed closer to us than when we stay at the Grand. The actual rooms are nothing spectacular but they have all the necessities that we needed including a safe, refrigerator and a microwave. The TV is not flat panel but it worked just fine. They even delivered us a fruit basket with a bottle of wine (it was oak tree but still a nice touch). We ate at the social hour (chicken sandwiches, two soups, salad and a few more items). We also did the breakfast the next day (toast, eggs, waffles, bacon, fruit, donuts and more). We only stayed the one night and than moved over to the Grand but from my experience I would definetely recommend and stay at this hotel again.