Solo female - Anaheim Desert Inn or Hotel Indigo?

[automaticsoap]

I'll be staying at Disneyland solo for 2 nights later this month. I already have a room booked at the Anaheim Desert Inn but can stay at the Hotel Indigo for a bit cheaper. While I like the convenience of how close the Anaheim Desert Inn is to the parks, I prefer the hotel and room style of Hotel Indigo. How is the walk down to Katella at night (post-park closing, so around 10pm-midnight) for a solo female?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Not a bad walk to the Hotel Indigo, on the walk back, I would cross over to the east side of Harbor when leaving the park (cross the street), and then head south down Harbor to Katella, and make the left. This will have the most traffic and well lit and lots of places open and doing business, plus the Hotel properties have security, so the area is well protected. If you don't mind the extra distance, I would opt for the Hotel Indigo. You also have a lot of shopping choices at the corner of Harbor and Katella, including the new CVS, Walgreens, Subway Sandwiches and much more, and also the Anaheim GardenWalk a bit more east down Katella.

The Anaheim Resort District has increased police presence due to the fact that the Tourism business is very important to the city and does a great job in the area in preventing issues.

 

[starshine514]

The Desert Inn is one of our favorites due to its location. That said, we are staying at the Ramada Plaza this trip due to price and availability. I don't find the walk down Harbor to be scary at night and wouldn't hesitate to walk it alone at park closing. However, the Desert Inn location is wonderful after a long day in the parks!

 

[Darkbeer1]

While the Desert Inn has a great location, the Hotel Indigo is a nicer property in general, a former Holiday Inn Express got a major makeover/remodel recently and highly ranked at TA.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...-Hotel_Indigo_Anaheim-Anaheim_California.html

 

[lalasmama]

It's been 4.5 years since I've done the walk as a solo female, staying at the Super 8 next to Indigo. The rooms are MUCH nicer at Indigo (and the beds probably much softer!). However, that walk was tortuous at night. Every hotel I passed, especially when I did a 7-day trip, I thought, "I'd be home now if I picked that motel." Over and over and over again. I typically walk 11-12 miles a day at Disneyland, so packing on nearly another mile made me want to cry.

As a single woman doing that walk with a child, and without depending on the trips that year, I felt "safe enough." I made sure to walk near other groups walking back. I walked on the side with all the hotels so I could pop into a lobby if I felt something was "off."

 

[automaticsoap]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! I'll probably switch over to Hotel Indigo.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Here is a marked map of the walk, 3/4 of a mile from the Main Entrance Plaza, and two times crossing the street, which places you on the side of the street with the Hotels, which is also the side I recommend walking. (Cross at the Main Entrance Crosswalk to the IHOP, and then cross Disney Way at Harbor (Between the Grand Legacy and the Anaheim Plaza), and then you just stay on the sidewalk.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6991938

 

[prestoncaldwell]

You could also take the Toy Story shuttle, walk out the North Entrance, cross the street and head the half block back toward Harbor to Indigo.

 

[Darkbeer1]

You could also take the Toy Story shuttle, walk out the North Entrance, cross the street and head the half block back toward Harbor to Indigo.

That makes no sense (ART Route 20 to Toy Story), lots of more walking, backtracking, etc. And the walk up Harbor towards Katella has a long stretch of nothing but a long fence, which might be a bit less secure than the busy parts that have businesses and private security along the way.

You could opt for the ART Route 12 to the Anaheim GardenWalk, but that drops you off on the Disney Way side (North end), and then walk through Anaheim GardenWalk to Katella, and then make a right on the sidewalk to the Hotel Indigo. But it doesn't save much in time or walking.

 

[prestoncaldwell]

That makes no sense (ART Route 20 to Toy Story), lots of more walking, backtracking, etc. And the walk up Harbor towards Katella has a long stretch of nothing but a long fence, which might be a bit less secure than the busy parts that have businesses and private security along the way.

You could opt for the ART Route 12 to the Anaheim GardenWalk, but that drops you off on the Disney Way side (North end), and then walk through Anaheim GardenWalk to Katella, and then make a right on the sidewalk to the Hotel Indigo. But it doesn't save much in time or walking.

Nevermind, that's the cast member side of the lot I'm looking at. So no, it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[tarheelalum]

Lots of people will be walking that way after closing so just go with the mass of people and you will be fine. We love staying at the Hotel Indigo.

 

[minnieralyks]

wrong thread

 

[bumbershoot]

I would stay closer.

 

[Canuck16]

We stay at hotels down that way and never find the walk back to our hotel after park closing to be of any concern and we walk down Harbour on the same side of the street as DCA.

 

[minnieralyks]

I would stay as close to Disneyland as possible, especially if you're travelling alone. Last time we stayed at Desert Inn (probably 6 years ago), they had a private security guard out patrolling the grounds overnight, which made us feel safer. The advice that I tell my family when they plan trips is to stay within the borders of Ball Rd and Katella Ave on Harbor Blvd, unless you take a shuttle. This "section" of the Anaheim Resort is where I feel most comfortable traveling with my family, but I prefer to stay directly across the street. The walk back can also feel a lot longer than it really is, especially at the end of the day.

If you do decide to stay at Hotel Indigo, maybe head back to the hotel at least 10-15 minutes before park closing. That way, you can be sure there is a constant flow of people walking back at the same time.

Regardless, hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Duckie42]

Hi, I am a solo female traveller staying across the road from the hotel Indigo. I haven't felt unsafe walking down Harbor, there are lots of other people walking at park closing and at other times. But, boy I wish I had picked one of the myriad of hotels I had considered that are closer to the park! I think the walk probably seems even longer when you are walking alone without anyone to chat to!

 

[felice]

It is good how the immediate area of Anaheim (particularly around Disneyland) is policed well. Even for couples and groups as well as single people of either sex, myself and my wife have certainly not felt unsafe while walking within the area.

Mind you, when we were there in October '16, we did notice quite a few more people begging. Whilst the majority of these people were no problem, you do wonder how long that will stand. Hopefully the local police service will be able to help these people (guys and ladies) to get off the streets and make something of their lives.

 

[tarheelalum]

It is good how the immediate area of Anaheim (particularly around Disneyland) is policed well. Even for couples and groups as well as single people of either sex, myself and my wife have certainly not felt unsafe while walking within the area.

Mind you, when we were there in October '16, we did notice quite a few more people begging. Whilst the majority of these people were no problem, you do wonder how long that will stand. Hopefully the local police service will be able to help these people (guys and ladies) to get off the streets and make something of their lives.

Visitors to Disneyland are the golden goose in the City of Anaheim and the police department take good care of the tourists. Some parts of Anaheim, away from Disneyland, are actually pretty rough but the APD knows where its bread is buttered. You are very safe walking up and down Harbor BLVD around Disneyland.

 

[nikerbokers]

I will be going solo in the spring. I chose Candy Cane Inn. Not only because of the great reviews but because of the shuttle. I feel just fine walking by myself during the day but at night, I would like the option of the shuttle. The shuttle is every 30 minutes.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I stayed at Hotel Indigo last August. While the quality of the hotel seems slightly better than some of the hotels directly across the street, I would definitely trade that for a shorter walk. At the end of the day when your feet are throbbing, it can be difficult (at least it was for me) to keep walking past hotel after hotel. However, I suppose it does depend on the price difference. If it's a significant savings it may be worth it if you can use that extra money for a nice restaurant, souvenirs, etc.