Welcome to team October.. . I learned that the scheduling is slightly different during October and maybe it can affect your plans. It's more of a family-event based evening. Don't forget to add yourself to the october list, in case any other DIS families are around and you feel social! LOL. If you're going to this, schedule will be released within a few days and you need to purchase early from what everyone is telling me.
*IF* you're going in October don't forget that it's Mickey's Halloween Party season.. which probably means day folks get shuffled out of the park around 3-4pm for MHP. During MHP the kids can still go on rides with less of a wait, and there's more Characters and trick-or-treating. Seems to be a slightly cheaper, better way to enjoy
Disneyland during October for a non-AP holder.
I'm presuming you're going based on Marriot points or member rates..?
Almost anything is cheaper than Marriot Courtyard Themepark... Fairfield is a very reasonable family-stay. Won't argue with you for taking Courtyard Themepark - it's one of the absolute best. Great family photos, looks massively better than Howard Johnson in every way. You figure, if you're going to do a Disney trip - do it right. This hotel is good enough for families to have fun entirely onsite during the day, if they wanted to save money for MHP runs by late afternoon.
Howard Johnson is also still available in October on most dates for a reasonable price. You get a waterpark, and it's closer than Springhill Anaheim Maingate. However, looking at this and then looking at Courtyard Theme Park, the only reason you'd choose this is to save money. No marriot points either.
Springhill Suites Anaheim Maingate has a $14 parking fee I believe. Watch out for those hidden resort fees and parking fees when tallying up bottom line room rate. They do have a shuttle - just use that. The Springhill people really want is at Convention Center - still cheaper than Courtyard by quite a bit and on a more vibrant-looking block. It *is* walkable though you'd still probably want to shuttle.
For a Marriot family-suite type of experience at low price, Marriot townplace about 2 miles away... Full suites with kitchens and living rooms, fitting 6 easily and not tight. Cheaper and more value than the smaller rooms you'd get in Maingate North/South and Convention center for the same price. You can shuttle.
If you're considering non-marriot options, there are quite a few that will beat springhill anahem maingate also.
