Recommend an off-site hotel, please

[mlggator]

Please help. I feel a bit overwhelmed with the number of off-site hotels.

We will be staying overnight again early summer 2011. We usually stay at the Grand Californian when we go and sometimes Disneyland Hotel. With the economy being what it is, I don't think we can justify the cost of staying on property this time and I need to explore other choices.

It will be two families with children ranging from 6 to 10. I would like to have the hotel be within walking distance. We like to be able to come back in the afternoon and enjoy the pool, so good pool is also a must. Finally, I am a bit of a clean freak when it comes to hotels, so that would also play into our needs.

So tell me about off-site hotels that may work for us.

Michele

 

[MinnieMama09]

Now granted, I am definitely not an expert, but I have heard really good things about HoJo. And I know a lot of people on this board recommend it. It is within walking distance (actual "walking" distance) and has what appears to be a really neat pool play area for kids and everything. I know more will have more details and suggestions, that's my thought though!

 

[Shimmer]

We LOVED the Hojo when we stayed there in May of this year. My kids were 10, 5, and 3 and enjoyed themselves so much there.

Their regular pool is nice, a typical outdoor pool. Their water play area is amazing! Slides, splash bucket, sprayers, etc. What I loved about it was that my kids could play and I could sit on deck in my swimsuit and not be in the water the whole time. I got to rest and relax during that time.

We stayed in one of the kid suites and it was perfect. Very clean, very good service, just right.

The walk with kids and 1 stroller took us about 12 minutes to security check. One time I booked it with a kid in a pack on my back and a kid in a fully loaded stroller. We made it from Main Street train station UP to the room on the 7th floor in 15 minutes. (I was tired!) We never had a problem with the walk, even with tired and sleepy kids. They don't know there are options to stay closer so I think that cuts down on whining.

Good luck!

I am very picky about hotels as I travel for business and tend to stay in nicer hotels. This exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to stay there again!

 

[mikayla73]

If the pool is important, I'd say the HoJo for sure. It has the most "themed" pool outside of the DL hotels. I am pretty sure that the other hotels may have OK pools, but really no "themes" to them other than palms trees and stuff.

You can also look for the entertainment rate for the HoJo which starts at $59/night. They also have a 20% discount for DL AP's (I think, might be 15%) when the ent rate isn't offered. You have to call the hotel direct and ask for in house reservations to get the ent rate though. You can't get it from the web site or by calling the 800#.

It's clean and comfy. Not the closest hotel that is in walking distance, but it is still walking distance. It's on the other side of Mimi's on Harbor.

I have also stayed at the Tropicana, Park Vue, Best Western Anaheim Inn, and a few others around Harbor/Katella. Most of them I would stay at again, but if a pool is important, these just have a regular ol pool. Nothing wrong with it, just regular. The Best Western Anaheim Inn's pool is very small though.

 

[Cagirl767]

I can't think of a better kids' pool either than Hojo's. My son is almost 6 and would have a problem though with walking back and forth, back and forth during the day and then the walking around DLR. The second day would be even tougher.

Hojo's isn't my favorite property, but it depends on what your expectations are. If the pool is your main criteria, it may work for you.

 

[mlggator]

I can't think of a better kids' pool either than Hojo's. My son is almost 6 and would have a problem though with walking back and forth, back and forth during the day and then the walking around DLR. The second day would be even tougher.

Hojo's isn't my favorite property, but it depends on what your expectations are. If the pool is your main criteria, it may work for you.

What is your favorite property and why?

 

[Cagirl767]

I prefer the extended stay hotels on Harbor Blvd. They are a bit more upscale for the area and suit our needs for space with 2 young kids. We like the complementary breakfasts and weeknight dinners at Residence Inn when it's easier for us to just come back to the hotel for a light dinner, not have to wait for a waitress or check, eat then just go up to our room. We snack a lot in the park, so a light dinner is good for us. And when it's free, even better. In actuality, if I didn't have kids, I'd prefer the full service hotels such as Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, or even DLH but we just need the space right now.

My hotel of choice is Homewood and also Residence Inn. I like Doubletree also and Embassy Suites. At Homewood, I sort of feel like I know the GM Joe, he's great and I feel like if I ever have a problem, the staff is very efficient. I also like the proximity of Homewood and Residence Inn to Ralph's on Chapman and also the restaurants on property: Oggi's (has great take out and gives a super big kids milk), Red Robin and Joe's Crab Shack.

Residence Inn offers free parking, and a grocery shopping service (we always like to have fruit and organic milk on hand) and taxes in Garden Grove are a smidgen cheaper, last I remember.

You can always take a cab or ART from Hojo's.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

I have stayed at the HoJo, Park Vue and the Desert Inn and Suites.

The Park Vue has clean rooms and an okay breakfast and a basic pool, much like the old holiday inn pools I remember from my childhood. Parking is ample and there is no problem leaving your car there the day you leave.

Desert Inn and Suites has a less okay breakfast, a rather dismal indoor pool, think horrid swim team indoor pool that kind of scares you, and very limited parking.

HoJo, no breakfast, very fun water play area and a newer basic pool and very ample parking that allows parking the entire day you leave.

The walk to and from the HoJo is farther, I stay on the non-hotel side of the street and keep the kiddo walking. When my DD was 4 we would have tons of whining before we got back to the hotel, but by 5 and 6 she had gotten over it.

So, the HoJo is my pick if I can get the ET or AP rate. If I am getting rack rate or can get a closer hotel cheaper, then I rethink.

 

[bettymae1121]

I don't care for the motels accross from the pedestrial crosswalk, they're okay but DH and I prefer something a bit nicer when on vacation. Here is a link to my review of the Sheraton Anaheim from last spring.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2445348&highlight=sheraton+anaheim

 

[Cagirl767]

Thanks Bettymae for the Sheraton review! I've been wondering about that hotel since I know it has its own shuttle. Do they have microwaves and fridgs?

I too am not a fan of the pedestrian crosswalk motels, but a lot of people are.

 

[wdwfan22]

I have not stayed at HoJo's yet, I will be in November, but just to let you know, it is not a motel. It is a hotel. It has indoor corridors and balconies on the room. The Disney view rooms get great reviews around here. The 10 min walk does not seem bad to me, or you can always take the ART if you are tired.

 

[bettymae1121]

Thanks Bettymae for the Sheraton review! I've been wondering about that hotel since I know it has its own shuttle. Do they have microwaves and fridgs?

I too am not a fan of the pedestrian crosswalk motels, but a lot of people are.

No nuke box but i'm almost positive they had a fridge. DH needs a fridge for his medicine so it would have stuck out if they didn't.

 

[kylie71]

I stayed at the Sheraton Anaheim last July, and Yes, it has a frig, but no microwave.
We brought our dog... they allow dogs, nice hotel!

 

[Cagirl767]

Thanks for the replies! Is that a mini fridg?
Ugh, dogs. Do they have a specified dog wing, or are they all over the hotel?
Are the fireworks deafening from there? At Hojo's it sounded like a canon being shot outside our door. My kids go to sleep before the fireworks - or they try at least.

 

[AndyLL]

I'd say Fairfield Inn or HoJos.

HoJos has the better pools. Fairfield is closer.

Even though we want to try different hotels every trip we've ended up at the Fairfield the last 5-6 times.

Andy

 

[kylie71]

Special dog wing.
Mini fridge

 

[Panonim]

I have only stayed at one hotel in the area, so can't really compare to others. We stayed at the Tropicana, and overall, were very happy with it. 7 minute walk from our room to the park gates. Pool was nothing special, but perfectly sufficient for us. Rooms were clean and decent. Small fridge & microwave were nice to have. Nice to have the little mini mart convenience store right in our motel parking lot. We would stay there again!