Stay at Disney hotel or not?

[silvaohana808]

Too me, the "bubble" encompasses the entire resort area. All of the local hotels are full of Disney guests and they hotels themselves basically revolve around Disney. Even the streets are modeled after Disney with their streetlights, hardscape and plantings. When you're going to and from the parks, you're with lots of other families doing the same thing.
I don't feel out of the bubble at all on Harbor.

that's so great to hear! I love being in that bubble! Thank you!

 

[silvaohana808]

Has anyone stayed at Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites?? That seems pretty close to the parks as well.

 

[Buson808]

If I cant get a room on property than IT IS A NO GO!

On property is part of the Disney experience.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Has anyone stayed at Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites?? That seems pretty close to the parks as well.

It is very close and while I haven't stayed there myself, it looks nice.

 

[silvaohana808]

If I cant get a room on property than IT IS A NO GO!

On property is part of the Disney experience.

i feel the same way...but man...it breaks the bank! totally understandable though!

It is very close and while I haven't stayed there myself, it looks nice.

thanks! the reviews online seem like it s a good place.

 

[VandVsmama]

So your room config is 6 + 2? Or 4 in 1 room and 4 in a 2nd room? If it's 6 + 2, then that changes the options a bit.

 

[silvaohana808]

So your room config is 6 + 2? Or 4 in 1 room and 4 in a 2nd room? If it's 6 + 2, then that changes the options a bit.

I'm thinking more so 4 & 4 but not sure where my boys will want to sleep...with us or with their grandma and aunty. lol

 

[mamapenguin]

Too me, the "bubble" encompasses the entire resort area. All of the local hotels are full of Disney guests and they hotels themselves basically revolve around Disney. Even the streets are modeled after Disney with their streetlights, hardscape and plantings. When you're going to and from the parks, you're with lots of other families doing the same thing.
I don't feel out of the bubble at all on Harbor.

I mostly agree with you. The guy with the parrot and people selling water, pan handling and/ or preaching on either side of the crosswalk is a turn off. (The Harbor crosswalk) The one by Stovall’s has none of that. I can ignore them, but it definitely isn’t Disney bubble. For the price difference I deal with it.

 

[Etonduf]

Yes! I was looking at nearby hotels as well. It doesn't cost as much as the Disney hotels and yes! I don't have to deal with the parking. I'm just nervous that it may be too far of a walk?? Maybe I'm just being too paranoid. LOL. I will definitely look into those hotels for sure!

I'm really just looking for a hotel that'll be comfortable for everyone, free parking is a plus, and also free breakfast! We're not really picky about hotels but as long as they're clean and customer service is good...then we'll be happy!



We've stayed on property before and loved it! I was still a cast member at the time so the discount was really nice...no discount this time and also a bigger travelling party! LOL. Which hotels nearby would you recommend? That aren't tooooo far. Thank you!

In a few weeks we're staying at Fairfield Inn, but I haven't stayed there before. There is no free breakfast (unlike most FFI properties!) and there is a parking fee, but we have enough Marriott points to stay for free.

We've stayed twice at Camelot Inn & Suites, which is slightly closer than FFI. I believe we paid for parking, but I don't remember for sure. We enjoyed it both times and that would be our choice if FFI wasn't free with our points. It's right next door to McDonald's (as is FFI) which is a bonus with my kids.

We stayed once at Park Vue Inn once before that. Even better location. I don't remember a lot about this one. We switched to Camelot the next time for a reason, but I can't remember what about PVI made us want to change. It certainly was fine.

All of this comes with the disclaimer that we have pretty low hotel standards. We spent very little time in the rooms. On some trips we use the pool on arrival day, but otherwise all of our time is at the parks.

There is a great thread on local hotels but I don't have the URL handy.

 

[VandVsmama]

Also, if the +2 come with you on the trip, will you be parking 2 cars or just one? The reason I ask is because there are places like Desert Inn & Suites that have larger suites which can sleep 8-10 people, but usually you're only allowed to park 1 car per room.

BWPPI can sleep 2 adults & 4 kids in 1 room in one of their mini suites. Tropicana can fit up to 5 in 1 room.
Hojo's has family suites which can fit more people in them. Those tend to go quicker than the standard rooms.
Fairfield Inn can fit 6 in 1 room. It's running $329/night for your dates.

There are also some new hotels opening in 2020...https://disneylandwithkids.info/new-hotels-disneyland-2020/.

 

[Choirmom]

Has anyone stayed at Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites?? That seems pretty close to the parks as well.

We stayed there this past May. It was clean and close to the parks. We had a two room suite that had 2 queen beds in each room, a little sitting room and 2 bathrooms. It was pretty bare bones and had an indoor pool that we didn't use. There were 5 adults and there was plenty of room for all of us...especially for the price. I would definitely stay here again if going with a large group.

We have stayed at BWPPI, the Camelot Inn (2X), the Carousel (before it closed) and the Disneyland Hotel. The Camelot Inn also has suites which are decent and most have a small kitchenette area.

 

[silvaohana808]

Also, if the +2 come with you on the trip, will you be parking 2 cars or just one? The reason I ask is because there are places like Desert Inn & Suites that have larger suites which can sleep 8-10 people, but usually you're only allowed to park 1 car per room.

BWPPI can sleep 2 adults & 4 kids in 1 room in one of their mini suites. Tropicana can fit up to 5 in 1 room.
Hojo's has family suites which can fit more people in them. Those tend to go quicker than the standard rooms.
Fairfield Inn can fit 6 in 1 room. It's running $329/night for your dates.

There are also some new hotels opening in 2020...https://disneylandwithkids.info/new-hotels-disneyland-2020/.

just one vehicle! i think I'm liking the Desert Inn family suites!

you are amazing. thank you so so much!!

 

[silvaohana808]

In a few weeks we're staying at Fairfield Inn, but I haven't stayed there before. There is no free breakfast (unlike most FFI properties!) and there is a parking fee, but we have enough Marriott points to stay for free.

We've stayed twice at Camelot Inn & Suites, which is slightly closer than FFI. I believe we paid for parking, but I don't remember for sure. We enjoyed it both times and that would be our choice if FFI wasn't free with our points. It's right next door to McDonald's (as is FFI) which is a bonus with my kids.

We stayed once at Park Vue Inn once before that. Even better location. I don't remember a lot about this one. We switched to Camelot the next time for a reason, but I can't remember what about PVI made us want to change. It certainly was fine.

All of this comes with the disclaimer that we have pretty low hotel standards. We spent very little time in the rooms. On some trips we use the pool on arrival day, but otherwise all of our time is at the parks.

There is a great thread on local hotels but I don't have the URL handy.

great info!! thanks so much! yeah..our hotel standards are low as well...lol. just as long as they're decently clean.

 

[ahhhshmatthew]

2 schools of thought here:

1) It's your vacation. If you want to remain in the Dis Bubble and splurge, then do it to it! We splurge for our Disney vacations and there's nothing wrong with spending your hard earned money exactly the way you want to.

2) If you're going to stay off-property, definitely perform an alternate search and check out your options closer to the parks. We have stayed off property millions of times and never opted for driving distance. No reason it should have to be hassle to exit the parks for nap time (and honestly, there are probably 4-6 hotels (or more) that are closer to the parks if you're walking when compared to Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier).

 

[DisTXMom]

We stay onsite because we know we will use the extra hour each morning. If we didn’t do that or it we wanted to save $$$, we’d do one of the close walking distance hotels. We would not consider anything requiring driving due to the extra hassle.

 

[silvaohana808]

2 schools of thought here:

1) It's your vacation. If you want to remain in the Dis Bubble and splurge, then do it to it! We splurge for our Disney vacations and there's nothing wrong with spending your hard earned money exactly the way you want to.

2) If you're going to stay off-property, definitely perform an alternate search and check out your options closer to the parks. We have stayed off property millions of times and never opted for driving distance. No reason it should have to be hassle to exit the parks for nap time (and honestly, there are probably 4-6 hotels (or more) that are closer to the parks if you're walking when compared to Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier).

LOL so true! Right now I'm doing research on all but I think Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites is perfect. It has a family suite and it says its a 7 minute walk to the parks. And cost effective! Thank you!

We stay onsite because we know we will use the extra hour each morning. If we didn’t do that or it we wanted to save $$$, we’d do one of the close walking distance hotels. We would not consider anything requiring driving due to the extra hassle.

Awesome...thanks so much!

 

[Zerzura]

I love staying at the DIsneyland Hotel and feel it is worth the splurge. We stayed offsite at the Fairfield Inn Marriott once (which was perfectly nice, but motel style), and even my husband said “I’d rather spend the extra money for a Disneyland property to feel more on vacation”. We like to take it easy and take an afternoon break. The walk was no problem for us. I might try Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance even with it being a further walk if it saved a substantial amount of money, mostly because you can still walk to the parks, it is a proper hotel, and I like the room layouts (at least looking at them online).
I agree that it pulled me out of the bubble dealing with the Harbor hawking.

 

[silvaohana808]

I love staying at the DIsneyland Hotel and feel it is worth the splurge. We stayed offsite at the Fairfield Inn Marriott once (which was perfectly nice, but motel style), and even my husband said “I’d rather spend the extra money for a Disneyland property to feel more on vacation”. We like to take it easy and take an afternoon break. The walk was no problem for us. I might try Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance even with it being a further walk if it saved a substantial amount of money, mostly because you can still walk to the parks, it is a proper hotel, and I like the room layouts (at least looking at them online).
I agree that it pulled me out of the bubble dealing with the Harbor hawking.

I'm hoping we'll be able to!! We loved Disneyland hotel. Felt so magical. Thanks for the info! I've never been on Harbor so I'm hoping if we do end up staying somewhere along there, it'll be okay.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

I'm a bubble fan too but when the cost is SO much less I have a hard time pulling the trigger on property.

We stayed off site once at HOJO- the room and the staff were beyond compare wonderful but that walk was a killer. At night especially but even toward the end of our vacation, the thought of that walk in the morning brought me to tears (exaggeration but you get it!). And I agree about the panhandlers being really obnoxious when leaving. Some were confrontational and made the cross walk uncomfortable waiting for the light to change.

We are doing a split stay for our trip in Nov- Dec though purely because of cost. BWPPI 11/26-11/28 and moving to GCH 11/29-12/3 because I couldn't do $1000 a night at GCH.

Have so much fun planning!

 

[Captainkidd76]

Hotels such as the BWPPI are geographically closer than the DLH and PPH.

It's lovely to stay on-site, especially to take advantage of EMH at DCA, but it's far more cost effective to stay along Harbor.

To me it's more about the hotel itself. There are so many mixed reviews for 90% of those closer motels. Some say very nice, clean rooms. Others say dirty, smelly, uncomfortable. And most have pools that are almost depressing. At least with any of the Disney Hotels, you know you're geting something very nice. I hate the cost, but I would always be too worried to chance it.