Portofino or Desert Palm or Park Vue or BWPPI or? Suite needed

[smiley_face2]

When we were there the entree was different each night - mini chicken sandwiches, nachos, sliders and chicken wings. There was also salad, baby carrots, soup (chicken noodle & tomato) & crackers and jello. We stayed there 7 nights, but we were away from the area 3 of those evenings. We were there in January. The menu may be different during the warmer months.

I doubt they do any substitutions as they don't have a restaurant, just a large dining room and a small prep room. The dining room opens up to a large outdoor terrace.

Just had a second thought - I don't think they would do evening meal substitutions, but if your child was able to eat the breakfast food, maybe they would allow you to take more food back to your room (in the a.m.) to reheat later in the day? The breakfast is all-you-care-to-eat, but it must be eaten in the dining area and you cannot take the food back to your room.

Breakfast consisted of waffles, fruit, pancakes, yogurt or cottage cheese, eggs, a breakfast meat (changed daily - bacon, ham, sausage), toast, donuts, rolls, danish, bagels. I think there may have been hashbrowns on some days too. Of course, the earlier you got there, the more selection there was. We like our sleep, so sometimes we were pushing the clock, but still always had plenty to eat. It was a great start to the day.

thanks for posting this! It sounds great, especially if you have children, and most especially if you have teens! I do plan on taking pictures to post when we are there.

 

[mmlover74]

Thank you for listing the food options. They are a big help. With him unable to have dairy, pork, or gluten...that eliminates a lot of the menu. I will be bringing him muffins and banana bread to eat.

 

[MommyLove]

This is really helpful. Hoping I can get some more help...

Currently we're booked at HoJo (ent rate premium room, there were no kids suites avail) for Oct. 13-21, but despite dh's arguments, I know we must have more room than just a 2-queen room. We have four kids ages 14, 12, 4, and a baby. So I'm looking for a bigger room no further away than HoJo and that looks like I have three options: HoJo, BWPPI, and Park Vue. Am I missing any other possibilities?

Park Vue: I emailed asking if they have a suite avail either Oct 13-21 or Oct 20-28. Any tips on geting the best rate there?

BWPPI: The 2-queen + sofa sleeper will work. Sara, do you mind if I ask you what the rate you got for BWPPI by booking through Costco? Also, can anyone tell me if there are parking fees on top of rates quoted by BWPPI's website?

HoJo: In-house ressies closed today, so I need to wait for tomorrow to ask when they have kid suites available (if I can't get ent rate, at least I'll get AP rate).

Just trying to get the best price and stay close to Disneyland! Any tips/inside info appreciated!

 

[limace]

MommyLove, my total after taxes at BWPPI, two queens plus a sleeper sofa, was about 155 a night (it was 130 or so before taxes). Remember, though, that's high season, mid-August. I would think you could get a cheaper rate for your dates. And yeah, I'm with you, no way I'd want four kids in a two queen room. Three kids, only one a teen, seems crazy to me .

Desert Inn is another option you might try.

 

[smiley_face2]

I agree, we had our 3 in the double queen room at Hojo's when the 2 oldest were teens. We had a roll away cot and it was pretty crowded in the room. Yes there is a parking fee at Best Western Park Place Inn, I believe it was $8. when we were there last summer. the rooms even though they have a sofa sleeper are not that much bigger than the Hojo's room though, a bit, but not much. We are only paying $163. for our seperate bedroom suite with the kitchen at Park Vue Inn, in July and there is no parking fee. there are 2 queen beds in the seperate bedroom, and the sofa sleeper in the living room, and a full kitchen. there is another suite that has 2 queens in the main room and 1 queen in the seperate bedroom, but only a microwave and fridge, not a full kitchen. I would think you might even get a better rate at that time of year? with 4 kids I would try for a 2 room suite or 2 seperate connecting rooms at Hojo's at the entertainment rate if available. Another thing with 4 kids are the included meals at park vue, could save you a lot of money. there is no parking fee extra at park vue.
something else I just thought of, technically due to fire regulations you can only have 5 people in the room at Hojo's. you would either have to get 2 rooms, or not tell them you have 4 children.
I am an obsessive micro manager by nature.... lol... park vue inn only has the suite available for a few of the days you were looking for. We had decided to stay an extra night with them, and our suite was not available, so we are booked into the other suite for one night. I keep checking to see if ours comes up on that extra night so I can switch it, but if not we will just not unpack for that one night. I do see Hojo has the entertainment rate available for the 21,22,23,24,25th. 2 of the standard connecting rooms at that rate would be 120. for the difference to the park vue, you could pay for your own breakfast at mimi's. You could book your days then keep watching to see if the ent rate comes up and change it, or at least on the other days you would still get the annual passholder rate. I will now quit trying to plan your holiday for you..... Lol...

 

[mad hatter fan]

The breakfast is all-you-care-to-eat, but it must be eaten in the dining area and you cannot take the food back to your room.

Hey Maddie,
Did they let you take a bagel/donut (something portable) with you to eat on the way to the parks?
Thanks

 

[lulugirl1968]

We stayed in a kids suite at The Portifino 3 years ago.
GOOD:
-loved the set up of the room.....bunk beds, and a pull out couch
-nice, but small pool area ( I think there were actaully 2 areas, come to think of it)
NOT SO GOOD
-things were a bit worn/rundown.
-the walk was a bit long for us (our kids were 4 and 9 at the time)

Overall an ok stay. Don't know if I would stay again though....

We leave on Saturday for D-land, and are staying at the Homewood Suites in Garden Grove, which is about a mile away (we will shuttle to the parks.) We got a great rate on a room with 2 queens, a seperate living area with pull out couch and kitchen. Each room with a TV.
-free breakfast daily, and evening reception M-T, with a light dinner and beer and wine. Looks nice, and was rated #1 on Tripadvisor.

Good luck!

 

[mysteriouspnai]

My family stayed at Desert Inn and Suites when we last went to DLR. There were 6 of us, 2 queens and a double sofa sleeper. The room was clean, the breakfast was very basic, but it was very inexpensive compared to the surrounding hotels, and just as close to the park. It's right next to PVI. I'd stay there again because of the closeness and the price. However, I would suggest bringing some extra food items for breakfast, as I really feel the hotel was lacking in that area.

 

[obias]

I also say desert inn and suites. Very basic but very convenient at a great price. We tried to book a suite at Park view but they were sold out. I compared the prices and the size of room we needed to the other hotels in the same area and desert inn an suites fit our needs the best. We have stayed there before. I knew their breakfast was not that great so we just brought our own food for breakfast and had plenty of room in the mini fridge for it. I hope this helps....I know it can be hard trying to decide where to stay.

 

[limace]

The one thing has kept me from deciding on Desert Inn and Suites is their pool. We don't need fancy-just a rectangle full of water is fine for us - but the indoor pool at DIS gets crummy reviews. My kids definitely require a daily swim when on vacation, so that's a big drawback. However, I really like that, unlike BWPPI, Desert Inn has an available suite with a door between the living space and the bedroom. Argh. So hard to decide.

 

[MommyLove]

Thanks Sara. And wow smiley face, so helpful! Thank you!

I couldn't get the nights we wanted at HoJo but I lucked out and got the 2Queen + bunk bed room at Park Vue (for a different week) in Oct! (last week, they didn't have all the nights avail. but today they did!) We've stayed there before so we know what to expect. LOVE that we will be so close and the extra food they have there will def'ly help. Got a decent price too... $128 for the weekday nights and $148 for the weekend nights.

Can't wait!!

 

[smiley_face2]

Thanks Sara. And wow smiley face, so helpful! Thank you!

I couldn't get the nights we wanted at HoJo but I lucked out and got the 2Queen + bunk bed room at Park Vue (for a different week) in Oct! (last week, they didn't have all the nights avail. but today they did!) We've stayed there before so we know what to expect. LOVE that we will be so close and the extra food they have there will def'ly help. Got a decent price too... $128 for the weekday nights and $148 for the weekend nights.

Can't wait!!

So glad you are all booked and got all your nights! I keep trying to find ways to alter our travel plans to add yet more days onto our stay there.... the snowball effect I think it's called.... we are "bookended" by stays in San Francisco and Vegas so it does not leave much room unless we skip 2 days in Carmel and Big Sur which we really don't want to do. For myself Vegas is totally cancellable!! lol...but other family members say it is not Ah well. We have a free airfare through my airmiles plan and I am already thinking when the next trip will be and should I book the Park Vue now because it books up so quickly

 

[kristenhh]

The one thing has kept me from deciding on Desert Inn and Suites is their pool. We don't need fancy-just a rectangle full of water is fine for us - but the indoor pool at DIS gets crummy reviews. My kids definitely require a daily swim when on vacation, so that's a big drawback. However, I really like that, unlike BWPPI, Desert Inn has an available suite with a door between the living space and the bedroom. Argh. So hard to decide.

I really like the pool because I don't have to put sunscreen on myself and all of the kids!

 

[tallpkb]

What does the PVI serve for the light supper? My son has multiple allergies. Are we able to ask for substitutions for him?

I highly doubt that you could make requests for substitutions. We stayed there last September, and I found the food VERY pre-packaged. Nothing is cooked to order. Premade plain egg omletes, hard boiled eggs, cold cereal, toast and bacon so thin you could see through it. For evening snacks, think chips/dip and Costco type hors dorves (only one type tho). That was my experience.

That being said, I LOVED the location! The beds were as comfortable as Grand Californians! Oh, and don't forget to go on their web page and look up the Welcome Basket that you get. Fresh fruit and a bottle of sparkling cider or wine. If someone is having a birthday, there is also a free birthday gift (PVI coffee mug filled with candy, a coupon for a free sundae at Cold Stone, and all wrapped up in celophane with helium balloons). ALL FREE. You just need to ask for the birthday/anniversary/etc when you book.

 

[limace]

So, had to change our dates to August 2-9-and my BWPPI reservations went up a couple hundred bucks :/.

I am keeping my reservation through Costco for BWPPI while I look, but am still struggling with my choice. Park Vue does have a bunk room, queen bed room available for the same price, but man, those rooms look small. Argh!

 

[Cal-Pie]

So, had to change our dates to August 2-9-and my BWPPI reservations went up a couple hundred bucks :/.

I am keeping my reservation through Costco for BWPPI while I look, but am still struggling with my choice. Park Vue does have a bunk room, queen bed room available for the same price, but man, those rooms look small. Argh!

I've stayed in the 2 Queen/bunk at PVI and loved it. But I did peek in the window at a 1 Queen/bunk and the room was tiny, and I mean TINY

 

[MommyLove]

I've stayed in the 2 Queen/bunk at PVI and loved it. But I did peek in the window at a 1 Queen/bunk and the room was tiny, and I mean TINY

Good to hear you loved the 2Queen+bunk. That's what we've booked for October.

 

[limace]

Now I have both the BWPPI and the Desert Inn and Suites booked for August 2-9. I think I'll probably cancel the Best Western, but keeping my options open for a little while since I have until a couple days before to cancel. They were each about 1200 including taxes, for either the mini suite at the BW or the Parlor Suite at the Desert Inn. I still don't love the indoor pool at the Desert Inn, but I like the door between the two rooms and the fact that there's a TV in each room-we aren't huge TV watchers, but it'll be nice to put the kids to bed in the queen bed room and watch a show on the couch, or hit the sack and let my teenager stay up and watch TV. Also love the fireworks viewing area at the Desert Inn.

If Park Vue has a 2 queen, bunk bed suite open up then we might be changing ....

 

[nannyz]

I've done the 5 people and one bathroom thing -- not fun.
Now we get two connecting rooms so we have two bathrooms.

 

[squirrel]

Since so many seem to like the Park Vue Inn, I checked my dates and found they were much higher than BWPPI. I'd rather keep BWPPI and spend the savings on food that I know I will like and eat it whenever I feel like.

BWPPI has upgraded their breakfast offerings and now include scrambled eggs, sausage and waffles.

I have a King suite for 4 nights at $102 a night including taxes. The Queen suite would have been $20 more for the 4 nights. We decided to save the $20 and share a King bed.