lalasmama
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2011
- Messages
- 3,476
Post in case anyone searches for this motel. I had meant for it to be a quick review, but I'm bad at being concise, apparently!
Background Info: I needed a cheap place to stay on a recent, quick DLR trip. It was only for 2 nights, and I'm trying to be budget-conscience. I have a Magic Key, but live in Oregon, so every trip requires lodging, airfare and ground transportation in addition to the obvious stuff like eating. I often stay at Desert Inn and Suites, but 4 weeks out, the prices were more than I was willing to pay ($169/night for their basic room
). Hopped on my frequent flier app, and looked at Stovall's (another reasonably priced place, typically), but prices there were more than I wanted to pay directly or through my app, which usually has a minor discount. I looked around on the app and found Discovery Inn. TripAdvisor rating was 4/5 dots (they may have a correct name, but I just call them dots). Newly updated. Right next to Stovall's, so I knew the walk wouldn't be any big deal. So, I made my reservation, figuring "it's only 2 nights."
Review:
To be VERY clear, I was expecting a Super 8/Motel 6 level motel. Basic. No frills. Clean. Minor cosmetic issues. I wasn't even expecting Desert Inn and Suites level place.
Good Things:
-Rooms had clearly been recently updated. Dark laminate wood looking flooring. Large distressed wood headboard. New countertop in the bathroom.
-The walk was no big deal, as expected.
-Sheets were really bright white-- no visible stains-- and not scratchy.
-4 pillows of varying firmness, so it was easy to find a pillow that I liked. So often, there's extra-extra fluffy or extra-extra flat, so I appreciated 2 middle options!
-They had a luggage storage area, so I could leave my bags there when I went to the parks before my room was ready. (Only mention this since DI&S charges.)
Neutral Things:
-Front desk/lobby is only open a few hours each day; by 2:00pm, the lobby was locked up and they were using the "check in window" on the side of the building. Not a big deal, but for the number of motels I have been in since the pandemic, I've never had one with a lobby locked up so early.
-Early check-in fee. I think it was $15. No biggy, just hadn't ever experienced it actually being charged when I have reached my motel around noon. Maybe my room wouldn't be ready, but if they were going to charge me at noon, they must have had some clean rooms.
-Really small pool in the front of the parking lot, so anyone walking past on Katella could see the people in the pool. I don't usually use the pool, so this wasn't a big deal to me, but could bother someone else.
-A small sign in the lobby notes "we reserve the right to enter the room daily," and indeed, they did despite me hanging the "privacy please" sign on the door. Again, I understand. I just don't like people up in my space without expecting it; other motels I've stayed at just skip my room if that sign is out. Had they interrupted a child's nap, I would have found it more annoying.
-When I was checking in, the guy had to go check the room to make sure it had been cleaned. It was 2:30 pm, so past the official check-in time, so I was surprised that he had to leave the window, grab the key, and run to my assigned room to make sure it had been cleaned. Just seemed odd.
-The floor in the room "buckled" or "bubbled" as I walked in certain places. I assume it just wasn't glued down adequately. Not a big deal at all, just startled me each time I stepped out of bed and heard this sticky noise.
Not Good Things:
Minor:
-Scratched up furniture (like large, deep gashes in the table). We're next to Disneyland; I totally expect furniture to be dinged up, but this was beyond the normal wear and tear.
-Nail polish in several spots on one of the bedside tables. It was pretty-- clear with golden sparkles-- but it made me feel like there was something on the bedside table, so I didn't use it.
-Gunk around the seam where walls meet the floor. Again, it's minor, but it was clear they just recently updated the floors, so I wasn't sure how grime was already there.
-Shower curtain was in bad condition. You know how some blankets have that satin stripe across the top, and then a kid (or adult) rubs it too much and it frays and comes undone? That was every edge of the shower curtain. There was also a knot in the end, not sure why, but made me wonder how it could get really clean.
-Chrome fixtures in the bathroom were peeling, so the drain and overflow valve thingy looked rusty.
-The TV remote only worked half the time, and I needed to use one thumb on top of the other to get the remote to respond at all. Totally minor issue, but annoying when I couldn't easily watch the news at 9:00 pm (parks closed early).
-Street noise and neighborly noise was easily heard. I completely expected this, but if I had my daughter with me when she was younger, it would have kept her up.
-The heater/AC worked fine, however, the temps didn't match the feeling of the room. For example, it would blow cool air at 74º, but sweltering hot air when set to 71º.
-When I attempted to stop by the lobby/check-in window at 8:00 pm, no one answered the door bell. I had a minor billing issue (gave them the wrong card to charge, so I wasn't going to get my airline miles, yikes) and couldn't talk to anyone to see if they would be able to change it. What if I had forgotten/lost my room key and they weren't answering the window??
Bigger issues:
-Cleanliness. I take my shoes off as soon as I walk into my motel room so I don't track dirt and germs and general yuckiness all around my room. I always check my socks when I do this, to make sure they are clean on the bottom. 10-15 minutes after removing my shoes and unpacking my bag, my socks were gray on the bottom. Again, it was hard laminate floors, so a quick dust/mop is all it takes, yet my socks went from pink to gray on the bottom.
-In the bathroom, the backsplash had dust and dirt on it, along with Fred, who was a dead bug sunning himself via the bathroom light. The dirt and dust on the backsplash ledge made me wonder if they cleaned the bathroom well. After all, it would take less than 20 seconds to wipe that ledge and send Fred to his final resting place.
-There were 2 chairrs in the room. One was covered in dried... I don't think I want to know what had dried on the fabric, but it was clear multiple liquids (juice? water?bodily fluids?
) had been on the seats and dried. Maybe it had been shampooed, but it still looked seriously unclean. So, all I had to sit on was the bed.
I usually bring a black light to check for general cleanliness when I stay at a motel; I just forgot to pack it this time. Probably best that I forgot it!
Background Info: I needed a cheap place to stay on a recent, quick DLR trip. It was only for 2 nights, and I'm trying to be budget-conscience. I have a Magic Key, but live in Oregon, so every trip requires lodging, airfare and ground transportation in addition to the obvious stuff like eating. I often stay at Desert Inn and Suites, but 4 weeks out, the prices were more than I was willing to pay ($169/night for their basic room
). Hopped on my frequent flier app, and looked at Stovall's (another reasonably priced place, typically), but prices there were more than I wanted to pay directly or through my app, which usually has a minor discount. I looked around on the app and found Discovery Inn. TripAdvisor rating was 4/5 dots (they may have a correct name, but I just call them dots). Newly updated. Right next to Stovall's, so I knew the walk wouldn't be any big deal. So, I made my reservation, figuring "it's only 2 nights."Review:
To be VERY clear, I was expecting a Super 8/Motel 6 level motel. Basic. No frills. Clean. Minor cosmetic issues. I wasn't even expecting Desert Inn and Suites level place.
Good Things:
-Rooms had clearly been recently updated. Dark laminate wood looking flooring. Large distressed wood headboard. New countertop in the bathroom.
-The walk was no big deal, as expected.
-Sheets were really bright white-- no visible stains-- and not scratchy.
-4 pillows of varying firmness, so it was easy to find a pillow that I liked. So often, there's extra-extra fluffy or extra-extra flat, so I appreciated 2 middle options!
-They had a luggage storage area, so I could leave my bags there when I went to the parks before my room was ready. (Only mention this since DI&S charges.)
Neutral Things:
-Front desk/lobby is only open a few hours each day; by 2:00pm, the lobby was locked up and they were using the "check in window" on the side of the building. Not a big deal, but for the number of motels I have been in since the pandemic, I've never had one with a lobby locked up so early.
-Early check-in fee. I think it was $15. No biggy, just hadn't ever experienced it actually being charged when I have reached my motel around noon. Maybe my room wouldn't be ready, but if they were going to charge me at noon, they must have had some clean rooms.
-Really small pool in the front of the parking lot, so anyone walking past on Katella could see the people in the pool. I don't usually use the pool, so this wasn't a big deal to me, but could bother someone else.
-A small sign in the lobby notes "we reserve the right to enter the room daily," and indeed, they did despite me hanging the "privacy please" sign on the door. Again, I understand. I just don't like people up in my space without expecting it; other motels I've stayed at just skip my room if that sign is out. Had they interrupted a child's nap, I would have found it more annoying.
-When I was checking in, the guy had to go check the room to make sure it had been cleaned. It was 2:30 pm, so past the official check-in time, so I was surprised that he had to leave the window, grab the key, and run to my assigned room to make sure it had been cleaned. Just seemed odd.
-The floor in the room "buckled" or "bubbled" as I walked in certain places. I assume it just wasn't glued down adequately. Not a big deal at all, just startled me each time I stepped out of bed and heard this sticky noise.
Not Good Things:
Minor:
-Scratched up furniture (like large, deep gashes in the table). We're next to Disneyland; I totally expect furniture to be dinged up, but this was beyond the normal wear and tear.
-Nail polish in several spots on one of the bedside tables. It was pretty-- clear with golden sparkles-- but it made me feel like there was something on the bedside table, so I didn't use it.
-Gunk around the seam where walls meet the floor. Again, it's minor, but it was clear they just recently updated the floors, so I wasn't sure how grime was already there.
-Shower curtain was in bad condition. You know how some blankets have that satin stripe across the top, and then a kid (or adult) rubs it too much and it frays and comes undone? That was every edge of the shower curtain. There was also a knot in the end, not sure why, but made me wonder how it could get really clean.
-Chrome fixtures in the bathroom were peeling, so the drain and overflow valve thingy looked rusty.
-The TV remote only worked half the time, and I needed to use one thumb on top of the other to get the remote to respond at all. Totally minor issue, but annoying when I couldn't easily watch the news at 9:00 pm (parks closed early).
-Street noise and neighborly noise was easily heard. I completely expected this, but if I had my daughter with me when she was younger, it would have kept her up.
-The heater/AC worked fine, however, the temps didn't match the feeling of the room. For example, it would blow cool air at 74º, but sweltering hot air when set to 71º.
-When I attempted to stop by the lobby/check-in window at 8:00 pm, no one answered the door bell. I had a minor billing issue (gave them the wrong card to charge, so I wasn't going to get my airline miles, yikes) and couldn't talk to anyone to see if they would be able to change it. What if I had forgotten/lost my room key and they weren't answering the window??
Bigger issues:
-Cleanliness. I take my shoes off as soon as I walk into my motel room so I don't track dirt and germs and general yuckiness all around my room. I always check my socks when I do this, to make sure they are clean on the bottom. 10-15 minutes after removing my shoes and unpacking my bag, my socks were gray on the bottom. Again, it was hard laminate floors, so a quick dust/mop is all it takes, yet my socks went from pink to gray on the bottom.
-In the bathroom, the backsplash had dust and dirt on it, along with Fred, who was a dead bug sunning himself via the bathroom light. The dirt and dust on the backsplash ledge made me wonder if they cleaned the bathroom well. After all, it would take less than 20 seconds to wipe that ledge and send Fred to his final resting place.
-There were 2 chairrs in the room. One was covered in dried... I don't think I want to know what had dried on the fabric, but it was clear multiple liquids (juice? water?bodily fluids?
) had been on the seats and dried. Maybe it had been shampooed, but it still looked seriously unclean. So, all I had to sit on was the bed.I usually bring a black light to check for general cleanliness when I stay at a motel; I just forgot to pack it this time. Probably best that I forgot it!
