Proximity or more space?

[KalamityJane]

Which do you prefer for a longer trip? I currently have a 1 queen, 1 bunk room booked at Park Vue, so very close, but I am intrigued by the new Homewood opening up near the Toy Story lot. Both hotels are the same price, and we will be staying 7 nights.

I'm leaning towards Homewood for the extra room since we spend a lot of time in the room and don't do open to close. Kids are 7.5, 4.5 and almost 3.

I'm a little concerned about the distance and relying on the trams though.

 

[VandVsmama]

Go for proximity. We just got back yesterday from staying at BW Stovall's, which was a great hotel for us. We walked to & from the parks every day, but some families used ART and there were times when they were waiting a looooong time. Given the age of your 2 younger children, stick with Park Vue.

 

[Bud Ice]

Would venture to go with the gut feeling. If the room has more importance, go with Homewood.

Also note: Not all new hotels always open "on time". Some have had to scurry for alternate accomodations.

 

[coaches24]

If I don't have to worry about budget than proximity is the easy choice. But if the budget doesn't allow than I look for the closest place that's within my budget. So still proximity. Space is not a need for me. I spend little time in the room other than to shower and sleep.

 

[Girimama33]

Proximity for me...I prefer not to deal with the shuttles if I do not have to.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Proximity and accommodations (I say that because PVI is perfectly nice) for us as well and we'll be staying there in 3 weeks - again.

 

[KalamityJane]

It would be the trams from the toy story parking lot, not ART or a hotel shuttle, if that makes a difference. I'm just unsure of if the room will be big enough so we won't be up in each other's space with a regular size hotel room vs the suite at Homewood.

We've stayed at Stovalls and loved it but this was pre-#3 kid and the other 2 were much younger. Even then it was cramped, which is why I'm a bit concerned about space. I'm trying to get a suite at PVI but they are pretty booked up.

 

[peanutmomma]

With those ages, proximity would be important. I'd have to go for the extra space though - especially if you're going to have some down time at the hotel during the week...if for no other reason than a lack of "mom, he's elbowing me!"

 

[ZoZo]

I'd definitely go for the extra space. OP, you say you aren't "open to close" people, so with that many kids, the extra space will be a real help.

If you were going to be in the parks all day, and only really use the hotel to sleep and shower, I'd say proximity would win out But go for the extra space!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I'm usually all about proximity, but with kids those ages I would go for extra space. The biggest pain for me though would be dealing with the stroller on the buses and I would probably complain about it every time. Plus, I would lament all the park time "lost" to dealing with lengthier transportation. When we're sitting around in the room in the early evening though because the kids are all tired out and we came back early, I would be ever so grateful to just not have us all on top of each other in the same small space. So as always, there are pros and cons.

 

[GenGen22]

More space. We have 3 kids they are all older but they do get on each other's nerves a lot & we have realized if they have more room to spread out in they get along better. Helps with our sanity for sure. If I were you I would book both of them just in case the new hotel doesn't open in time that way you have a back up plan on case it doesn't open & cancel the other one once it gets closer to your arrival.

 

[Canuck16]

Proximity is always key for us.

 

[Angrose]

I hear ya...I'm waffling between the Park Vue family suite or Homewood for our March trip, but it will only be for 2 nights. We really do enjoy having a suite so that when our DS7 goes to bed, we can stay up later, or one of us adults can pop back over to the parks. PVI will be a little more for the weekend we are there, $540 vs. $485 at Homewood. PVI is winning out though because of proximity AND they are closer to the McDonald's which is great for my picky son who doesn't like much of the park food. Thankfully they have a suite available since I'm looking so far in advance. So, we are lucky and will get proximity AND space!
I hope a PVI suite opens up for you. Have you called them? Keep checking! I have also considered Camelot's family suite, but PVI looks much nicer. Maybe try Camelot?
Good luck!!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

You can have proximity and space! Best Western Park Place Inn and Suites has very large rooms with two queens and sofa bed. Desert Inn and Suites has several layouts. Some have parlor areas with sofa beds so you can put little ones to bed in a separate room while you stay up longer. Camelot has a great suite with two queens and a king. I've stayed at all of these places and would recommend them. All are within easy walking distance to the parks.

 

[texasgingerbread]

You can have proximity and space! Best Western Park Place Inn and Suites has very large rooms with two queens and sofa bed. Desert Inn and Suites has several layouts. Some have parlor areas with sofa beds so you can put little ones to bed in a separate room while you stay up longer. Camelot has a great suite with two queens and a king. I've stayed at all of these places and would recommend them. All are within easy walking distance to the parks.

If I'm a hotel snob and want my room looking updated and most importantly clean would I like any of these that are close? I'm booked at the Homewood right now too but want to make a backup reservation just to be safe. I just made one at DoubleTree but it's pretty far away (planning on using Toy Story lot just like I would at Homewood). I would like to be closer but not at the expense of a crappy looking non updated dirty room. Most of the pictures on tripadvisor scare me. Even at nice hotels that's why I picked a new one. I wish I wasn't a clean freak. Hotels are hard to choose for me. Is there one closer you think I might like? If not, I'll keep the newest one I can find.

 

[GenGen22]

If I'm a hotel snob and want my room looking updated and most importantly clean would I like any of these that are close? I'm booked at the Homewood right now too but want to make a backup reservation just to be safe. I just made one at DoubleTree but it's pretty far away (planning on using Toy Story lot just like I would at Homewood). I would like to be closer but not at the expense of a crappy looking non updated dirty room. Most of the pictures on tripadvisor scare me. Even at nice hotels that's why I picked a new one. I wish I wasn't a clean freak. Hotels are hard to choose for me. Is there one closer you think I might like? If not, I'll keep the newest one I can find.

Have you looked at HoJo? Don't let the name scare you away. I'm pretty snobby too. I like Hilton Honors hotels best but I stayed at the HoJo & really liked it. The beds are really comfy & rooms are clean & they have Keurig coffee machines too. It's a 10 minute walk.

 

[meggles]

I have chosen hotels for both proximity and space on various trips to DLR and proximity wins out for me. Parking or shuttles is so much harder with kids in tow. I love being able to walk a few minutes and be at the parks. When we stayed a couple of miles away I felt like I had to bring everything but the kitchen sink when we left in the morning, which in turn made getting out the door more difficult. It's so convenient to return to the hotel room midday when it is closer to the parks.

Unless your youngest is still napping and will need a quiet, separate space to do so away from the older kids, I'd do with the PVI.

There's lots of places to occupy your downtime while not in the parks- you don't have to be in the room the whole time. Explore DTD, go to the pool, hang out in the hotel lobbies, etc.

 

[taniahappy]

For me, I would go with the room BUT we don't have kids, if that was the situation than proximity, no doubt.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If I'm a hotel snob and want my room looking updated and most importantly clean would I like any of these that are close? I'm booked at the Homewood right now too but want to make a backup reservation just to be safe. I just made one at DoubleTree but it's pretty far away (planning on using Toy Story lot just like I would at Homewood). I would like to be closer but not at the expense of a crappy looking non updated dirty room. Most of the pictures on tripadvisor scare me. Even at nice hotels that's why I picked a new one. I wish I wasn't a clean freak. Hotels are hard to choose for me. Is there one closer you think I might like? If not, I'll keep the newest one I can find.

I also prefer updated rooms and they must, above all else, be clean. None of the really close places look like much from the outside, but the rooms are nice. We just stayed at BWPPI in August. I was very pleasantly surprised by the size of the room and the nice furnishings. There were little touches that I really appreciated such as the extra blankets and pillows stored in bags in the closet, rather than just sitting on the shelf. We stayed at Camelot last December in a family suite. It was also very clean, with nice furnishings. I can forgive things looking a little worn, as long as they're generally in good repair and clean. We haven't stayed at Desert Inn and Suites since 2009, but the suite we had was also clean and in good repair.

We have stayed at PVI twice. The first stay was less than stellar (a large cockroach and very poor housekeeping). The second time we experienced the worst and most apathetic customer service I've ever had at a hotel (we were overcharged by one night and the manager refused to discuss it with us, refused to return calls and emails, and was just downright awful!). I will never stay there again and cannot recommend the place to anyone.

 

[Imdboss]

If I'm a hotel snob and want my room looking updated and most importantly clean would I like any of these that are close? I'm booked at the Homewood right now too but want to make a backup reservation just to be safe. I just made one at DoubleTree but it's pretty far away (planning on using Toy Story lot just like I would at Homewood). I would like to be closer but not at the expense of a crappy looking non updated dirty room. Most of the pictures on tripadvisor scare me. Even at nice hotels that's why I picked a new one. I wish I wasn't a clean freak. Hotels are hard to choose for me. Is there one closer you think I might like? If not, I'll keep the newest one I can find.

We stayed at DoubleTree last Oct and loved it. I'm picky about certain things when it comes to a hotel also, such as I won't stay in a motel, I want more than just a tiny room when traveling with the kids, updated furnishings, and nice linens just to name a few. Using ART doesn't really bother us. We walked most mornings to the park and took ART back at night. If we were to stay there again I'd try the Toy Story lot. Next trip we make though we'll likely try the new Homewood Suites.