Please Help a First Timer Pick a Hotel!

[cloudnut220]

I'm currently planning my first visit to DL for the DL Half Marathon Labor Day weekend. We're planning to arrive very late on August 29 and stay through Labor Day, September 3.

I'm having a really hard time picking a hotel. While I know WDW like the back of my hand I have no idea about the layout in Anaheim. And I know that things like "city blocks" have a slightly different definition out West than they do on the East Coast! I'm currently leaning towards booking the Red Lion, mostly because I can get a fireworks room with breakfast for $119. Is this a good price for that? I was looking at the HoJo, and a similar (it seemed to me) room would have been about $30 more per night, after I used a D23 discount. Are there any other gem hotels out there that I'm missing? I don't mind walking a bit--we are WDW veterans, the land where you can walk almost a mile from your room to the bus stop, then more from the bus stop to the park--but I also don't want to be too far away.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[skiingfast]

Take advantage of not being so far from the bus stop or needing a bus at all. It's a big plus at DLR compared to WDW.

For Red Lion that seem like a typical rate, but there may be better ones.

Don't put much weight into a fireworks view. The standard DLR show is much better than Wishes, and you may catch it. However it is much better viewed inside the park.

I would suggest looking into...
Park Vue Inn
Candy Cane Inn
Best Western Park Place
Ramada Maingate

Before booking anything please read the DLR Guide for WDW vets in the link.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[8timesblessed]

Ive seen the Red lion for $71 and $99 so I would look around.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm currently planning my first visit to DL for the DL Half Marathon Labor Day weekend. We're planning to arrive very late on August 29 and stay through Labor Day, September 3.

I'm having a really hard time picking a hotel. While I know WDW like the back of my hand I have no idea about the layout in Anaheim. And I know that things like "city blocks" have a slightly different definition out West than they do on the East Coast! I'm currently leaning towards booking the Red Lion, mostly because I can get a fireworks room with breakfast for $119. Is this a good price for that? I was looking at the HoJo, and a similar (it seemed to me) room would have been about $30 more per night, after I used a D23 discount. Are there any other gem hotels out there that I'm missing? I don't mind walking a bit--we are WDW veterans, the land where you can walk almost a mile from your room to the bus stop, then more from the bus stop to the park--but I also don't want to be too far away.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

IMO there are a few classic mistakes that WDW vets make at DLR. One is that they allow their experience with the larger layout of WDW (the hotels, the bus system, etc.) to think it does matter if their hotel is further away at DLR. It matters at DLR, and a hotel choice too far away can give up one of DLR's greatest strengths - really close hotels.

I have never stayed at Red Lion so I am not saying it is too far. I am saying be careful in your choice. I would recommend a solid walking distance hotel or, second best, a hotel with a reliable and frequent dedicated shuttle.

Here are some links that may help. The interactive Wikimapia link is especially helpful in seeing the layout around DLR and you can see for yourself the distance.

"How Far Is It?" (shows actual distances in feet from hotels to DLR entrance plaza) www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as

"Walking Distance Accommodations" (shows hotels within walking distance) http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/maps/...g_distance_map

"Accomodations Near Disney" - http://www.accommodationsneardisney....nd/default.asp

Anaheim Resort Map - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.ph...84&postcount=1

Interactive Map of DLR - http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.809...2&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[DisneylandDeeDee]

HydroGuy gave some great advice. If you can, stay within walking distance to the parks. We have stayed at a variety of hotels, including all three Disney hotels and those across the street from the main gates on South Harbor Blvd with great success.

 

[8timesblessed]

We walked from the Red Lion for 2 nights and that was enough for me and it was just my DH and I, we didn't bring the kids this time. Then we drove our car to PPH and stayed there for 2 nights. I would've rather been at a hotel alot closer or taken the ART bus.

I've looked recently at the Fairfield because they recently renovated some rooms to DIsney themed and they look good. I need a hotel to be clean not fancy and have comfortable beds. I can't stand dirty carpet or mold anywhere in the shower.

 

[cloudnut220]

The standard DLR show is much better than Wishes, and you may catch it. However it is much better viewed inside the park.

Better than Wishes?!!?? Is it better than Hallowishes, my all time favorite WDW show (I am such a sucker for that 180 fireworks effect, and as Bay Lake Tower DVC owner who goes a lot in the fall, I see it a lot!!) Now that is a fireworks show I MUST SEE!

Just kidding about Wishes. I'm really ready to be awed by DL, since I'm not expecting it to be a WDW clone. Thank you so much for all of your advice! I'm thinking that maybe we should look at the Park Place. I know there will be a lot of walking plus the half marathon. At WDW I don't mind sitting around before a half marathon, but mainly because I've been so many times! I know I'm going to want to maximize my DL park time!

 

[saysay]

We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn...which was a great little place including breakfast and FREE parking. Short walk to front gate too. AND if you are checking out, they will let you keep your car in the parking lot if you are going to the parks. Would def go back there. Very friendly staff as well.

We stayed another time in the Sheraton at Garden Grove which was not bad either. Rooms were nice - very clean, recently renovated, beds very comfy and they had a shuttle to get to the park - ran right on time. We had an incredible deal on this place.

 

[skiingfast]

Better than Wishes?!!?? Is it better than Hallowishes, my all time favorite WDW show (I am such a sucker for that 180 fireworks effect, and as Bay Lake Tower DVC owner who goes a lot in the fall, I see it a lot!!) Now that is a fireworks show I MUST SEE!

Yes better than wishes. It's a little hard to tell right now but you may be there for the Summer Fireworks, and not the better Remember Dreams Come True.

Halloweens Screams is the best show and in DL it the same as MK Hallowishes.

 

[cloudnut220]

Yes better than wishes. It's a little hard to tell right now but you may be there for the Summer Fireworks, and not the better Remember Dreams Come True.

Halloweens Screams is the best show and in DL it the same as MK Hallowishes.

Well, maybe we'll be lucky and they'll do the Remember Dreams Come True show for the half marathon!

I'm now REALLY excited about the fireworks, because they're one of my favorite things about WDW. One of my biggest disappointments on both the DCL and Disneyland Paris were fireworks related--on DCL the "fireworks at sea" were not Disney caliber, and at DL Paris there were no fireworks when we were there :-(

 

[skiingfast]

Well, maybe we'll be lucky and they'll do the Remember Dreams Come True show for the half marathon!

It's hard to say at this point. Last Summer they extended the Summer Season through Labor day week, which was later than usual and were running Magical. This year Labor Day fall earlier, but with DCA changes it may be a bigger crowd and more reason to promote the Summer Season.



If you happen to be going back to DL Paris, they are getting a possibly better show than we have in the US. It's MMaY+fireworks+WoC, called Disney Dreams.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...urns-20-with-exclusive-high-tech-show-parade/

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn...which was a great little place including breakfast and FREE parking. Short walk to front gate too. AND if you are checking out, they will let you keep your car in the parking lot if you are going to the parks. Would def go back there. Very friendly staff as well.

We stayed another time in the Sheraton at Garden Grove which was not bad either. Rooms were nice - very clean, recently renovated, beds very comfy and they had a shuttle to get to the park - ran right on time. We had an incredible deal on this place.

We stay at the Candy Cane Inn every year. LOVE it. We walk to the parks in the morning early enough to make opening - one year I got to open the park! - and take their dedicated free shuttle back when we are tired at night.

Have a great trip!

 

[cloudnut220]

If you happen to be going back to DL Paris, they are getting a possibly better show than we have in the US. It's MMaY+fireworks+WoC, called Disney Dreams.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...urns-20-with-exclusive-high-tech-show-parade/

Thanks! Must have missed that one on the Parks Blog. Hopefully they'll run it for like a year and a half, since my next trip to Europe ends on March 31, 2012.