Santa Fe Hotel reviews

[AKB146]

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but I'm looking for more info on the Santa Fe hotel. I've read some glowing reviews and some dreadful ones (I'm itching at the thought of the bed bugs that one review mentioned) and now I'm wondering if I should see about upgrading?

My DS and I are going for his (surprise) Christmas present from 4-6 Jan and I thought I'd got a good deal from AirMiles. We've done DLRP 3 times before but always camped/caravanned or stayed in Serris hotels.
I'm not expecting the Ritz at all but am hoping someone can ease my fears about it being dirty/smelly etc. We'll be in the parks all the time we can or at Disney Village or Val D'Europe so the hotel is very much just a place to sleep/wash etc but I really couldn't cope with it being dirty/smelly etc.

Is it really that bad? Is it worth changing to the Cheyenne or another hotel? I've not much money but would rather spend a little more to guarantee a good time rather than risk what will probably be our last trip to DLRP being spoilt.

Thanks in advance for any opinions/advice you can offer,
A
xx

 

[DLPdaft]

In my opinion, you won't be able to guarantee that your room will be spot-on in any hotel - and that includes the more expensive onsite Disney ones.

I've stayed at the Santa Fe, Cheyenne and Newport Bay Club - and the worst room we had was at the Newport Bay . The furniture was shabby, the room lights didn't work, the patio door didn't lock properly, and the bathroom grout etc was dingy and mouldy in spots. We had to get a maintenance guy in to fix the lights, patio door etc at 10.30 at night, and he still wasn't done half an hour later (and he left a light switch completely bare, exposing live wires, for all that time, next to my daughters bed).

You will get conflicting reports from everyone who has stayed at all the hotels, including the Santa Fe.
We've had very recent reports here saying it was fine, and others saying it wasn't.

I've stayed at the Santa Fe 3 times, and I'm staying there again at the end of this month. I love the beds there, I think they are sooooooo comfy . And personally, in those 3 visits so far, I haven't had a dirty or smelly room.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

we went in nov of last year, and we loved it. the beds were sooo comfy, room was lovely and warm.. new towels every day, bathroom and bedroom nice.. the tv was a bit dodgy, but that didnt matter to us, as we were too tired to watch tv!! if its somewhere to sleep and wash...then its fine.

i am also wondering about upgrading to cheyenne for this feb trip... just because we went to santa fe last time, just for a change.. i may ring and find out how much ti would cost ... just fo the change.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I think most, if not all, hotels have dud rooms. The Santa Fe does get a bad rap on here but then again there are plenty of people who have been more than happy with it, as shown by the posts above.

If you're really concerned, I would consider staying 'off-site' hotels (in quotations because they're barely much further on than the Santa Fe). I've only stayed at the Magic Circus but it was much cleaner and much more modern than either Newport Bay or Sequoia Lodge, both of which you can pay a fortune for, depending on the time of year.

If you absolutely must stay on-site then I would consider upgrading to the Cheyenne, as I've heard nothing but glowing reports about it. I'll see for myself tomorrow!

 

[MummyMinnie]

We've stayed at the Santa Fe a few times and going back again in Jan, - which says it all really. Never had a problem with any of the rooms, they have always been clean and well maintained.

The theming at the Cheyenne is better but room wise I think is just the same. And as when I stop at any hotel if it were dirty, had bugs etc I would be straight down to complain and asked to be moved. I think it's always best to make your own opinions of these things.

Enjoy your trip

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I would personally upgrade to the Cheyenne its a thousand times nicer and the theming is excellent.

The Santa Fe......well................stayed there on my first ever trip and it was ok, stayed there this week and never ever ever ever ever again. It seems to me there maintence people just don't give a toss. They never did fix the plug for the bath or the telephone in the 4 days i stayed there. Also had a picture missing off the wall.

 

[mummybear]

On site we have stayed at Santa Fe, The Cheyenne and The Disneyland Hotel.

Of the 3 hotels, I would go back to Santa Fe before the other 2. The rooms were clean and I prefered the breakfast area compared to The Cheyenne. I loved the theming in the Cheyenne and the bunk beds. To me the ONLY benefit The Disneyland Hotel had for us, was the proximity. We went Jan 4th this year and it was VERY cold and snowing. So with a 8yr old and 2yr old it was good to go back to the room during the day. I personally found the cast members at the Santa Fe more friendly. I can't explain it, I just didn't get the whole "The Disneyland Hotel is Great" feel (Nobody shoot me, it's just my opinion )

Now, having said that, we have stayed at The Magic Circus, The Dream Castle and Davy Crocket Ranch. Of ALL the hotels, The Dream Castle is our overall favourite. I know it can be a pain having to get the bus, but I liked the atmosphere here and felt it had as much LUXURY as DLH.

But, we want to try all the hotels so we can make our minds up which one we think is best.

I would recommend the Santa Fe

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

To me the ONLY benefit The Disneyland Hotel had for us, was the proximity. We went Jan 4th this year and it was VERY cold and snowing. So with a 8yr old and 2yr old it was good to go back to the room during the day. I personally found the cast members at the Santa Fe more friendly. I can't explain it, I just didn't get the whole "The Disneyland Hotel is Great" feel (Nobody shoot me, it's just my opinion )

I echo your statement here about the DLH, I'm glad i stayed there but i wouldn't stay there again. For me i would choose the Cheyenne or Hotel New York over the DLH.

 

[jillrobinson]

Personally I'd upgrade to the Cheyenne, for the theming and actually I prefer the hotel layout to that of SF.

We stayed at SF once and the room was clean with no problems apart from a smell which convinced me someone had left a dirty nappy in the room although I never found it and our room was a long way from reception.

Unlike DLPdaft I had a superb room at the NPB, but then both my stays at SL (I returned a 2nd time because everyone raves about it and I thought we'd just been unlucky) were disappointing, with shabby rooms and almost non existant housekeeping, so as pointed out above all the hotels must have 'dud rooms'.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Personally I'd upgrade to the Cheyenne, for the theming and actually I prefer the hotel layout to that of SF.

We stayed at SF once and the room was clean with no problems apart from a smell which convinced me someone had left a dirty nappy in the room although I never found it and our room was a long way from reception.

Unlike DLPdaft I had a superb room at the NPB, but then both my stays at SL (I returned a 2nd time because everyone raves about it and I thought we'd just been unlucky) were disappointing, with shabby rooms and almost non existant housekeeping, so as pointed out above all the hotels must have 'dud rooms'.

I liked the NPB aswell Jill even if my room was a 10 minute walk But i couldnt complain as the porch doors opened onto the lake, it was beautiful.

I'm deffo thinking about another stay there if i cant get to the HNY.

 

[AKB146]

Dear Everyone,


Thank you all very much for your helpful comments - as I booked with Airmiles I'll call them tomorrow to see if it's possible to change my booking to the Cheyenne and more importantly how much it would cost. Though I must admit I'm not quite so scared that the SF will be horrid now - I must admit the recent tripadvisor reviews have been most positive and added to your opinions I'm a lot less worried.

I was very interested to hear about the Disneyland Hotel - DS would love to stay there but I can't justify the price - didn't win the Euromillions
I'm in two minds about snow in January - I bet it'd make the whole Christmas visit even more magical but I'm not fond of the cold - we were there at Halloween 08 and it was very very cold.

I hope it'll still be Christmassy - this is DS's Christmas present - he's had a tough year one way and another but as a chorister and in the town panto he's busy every day (even 25th and 26th!!) until the day before we go.
Silly question but will Santa still be there (we go 4th Jan)? Do they leave the tree/decs up etc? And most importantly can I still buy Ben & Jerry's ice cream from the Gibson Girl? I'm addicted to Chunky Monkey cones

Thanks again,
A

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

All Christmas decorations will stay up untill the last day of Christmas in the hotels and parks.

 

[PrincessKins]

Hi!
Disneyfoo and I have stayed in both Santa Fe and Cheyenne, and I personally didn't mind either. Neither were all that fantastic, but as they're just a base for sleeping/washing we didn't really mind. We had a lovely room at Sequoia lodge (which was gorgeous, lake view Montana room) and a very bad room on Admiral's floor at Newport Bay... We're staying in Sequoia Lodge (Montana) and Cheyenne when we go in a month, but I really wouldn't have minded Santa Fe again! I think it depends on your luck whichever hotel you go to, but Cheyenne theming is much more obvious.

 

[ChristinaDK]

the hotel aswell, but like SL more

 

[milomummy]

We stayed in the Santa Fe back in 2007 and our room was a bit grim..mould all over the bathroom ceiling, awful disgusting carpet, dirty bed throws (only the top throws not the sheets).....We said we wouldn't stay there again, it wasn't just the shabby room, it didn't have much of a 'feel' about it. Plus, it was SOOOOO noisy! People stamping up and down the corridors, walls seemed paper thin etc etc.
We went to the Davy Crockett back in July, and I'd read some truly dire reports on the place, but we were very pleasantly surprised by it, and would go back there.

I think the trouble is, that we all have differing standards/opinions/expectations when it comes to things, so what one person views as unaccepatable, another will say was just fine.

When we went to Florida last year, we had 3 different hotels booked....I (rather foolishly) read Tripadvisor reviews AFTER booking and it spoilt the run up to the holiday because I was fretting so much about it...as it turns out, yes one of the three hotels was grim - we walked in, looked round, then walked straight back out again, found another hotel at considerable cost! - but the other 2 were fantastic and we couldn't understand the negativity.

Go with an open mind, and if you are unhappy, make noise about it!

 

[Stitch's Girl]

I think it all goes on the person's expectations.

If you expect it to be perfect as it's a disney owned place then you maybe let down. If you just want somewhere that is decent enough to lay your head then you won't be disappointed, infact you maybe impressed.

I have only stayed at Santa fe and Hotel New york. Stayed 4 times in the Santa fe and have had no problems with it. My mum loves it because of the garage being beside it that you can walk to to stock up pn refreshment. Our rooms were always clean, beds made everyday and clean towels, I don't think we have ever really had a problem with it.