Stovall’s vs Hyatt Place?

[happygirl5644]

Help me choose please! Stovall’s was always our go-to but our last stay was about 2 years ago. Has anyone stayed recently?

Hyatt Place consistently has good reviews. We can stay there for the same price as Stovall’s (4 nights in September). Both include breakfast. We don’t mind walking but I see Hyatt is close to the Toy Story shuttle. We often like to go back to the room mid-day. Is the new security at DTD a pro or con?

Appreciate any insight!

 

[OlliePop27]

I haven't stayed at Stovalls in about 10 years, but always used to love it. Back then you could cut through GCH and security was at the Esplanade.

I used the new DLH security in July and found it slow. Maybe it's improved. Harbor was consistently fast.

One thing about Toy Story is that it's kind of out of the way for Hyatt Place. You have to walk pretty deep into the lot as opposed to just walking towards the parks.

Between the two would probably choose Hyatt just because it's newer.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We used to stay at Stovall's a lot and liked it a lot and then started staying on Harbor at the BW's there because it wasn't as far to walk. Anyway for our last trip that included the D23 event we stayed at Stovall's again. It was good and not much had changed from our last trip in 2015. The walk wasn't as bad as we remembered, it was a little quicker to cut through the Pixar hotel to the DTD security gate and from that gate. We often took the monorail back at night because it was close to that security gate and we would get to ride the monorail. The night we watched World of Color we exited the park at the exit/entrance touted for Pixar hotel guests, but anyone can use it on the way out, that saved some steps to get back to the Stovall's.

As for the speed of the DTD security, we used it one morning and we got there a little before 6:30 am and we were about 10 groups back in line. Only 3 or 4 lines opened right away and of course we picked the slowest line and as we were getting checked they opened a couple more lines. We arrived in the Esplanade about the same time as the Harbor security groups were getting in, maybe a little after as we didn't rush. Anyway, it seemed slower to us (and more walking silly to say with all the walking we did) but we didn't like the DTD one in the morning so we paid about $6-7 and Ubered to the Harbor drop off the next two mornings and we were happy with that.

With all that rambling, I would look into staying at the Stovall's again as it is a similar quality of rooms as staying at the BW's on Harbor, just a bit longer walk. Plus I saved $900 by staying at the Stovall's. As for the Hyatt, I can't help with that but I've heard good things from friends.

 

[DontSpamMe]

If it's the same price than it must be the Hyatt Place. We also do mid-day breaks and prefer the Toy Story lot to all others.

We used to stay at Stovall's all the time and just stayed at the Hyatt Place last weekend and enjoyed it. The breakfast, hotel and location are superior to Stovall's. We just can’t do outer facing doors and Stovall's was always so loud. Then add the long walk back from a long day of hoofing it.

We love using the Toy Story lot over all the others and having access to that makes it a nice perk. I would stay away from that downtown Disney security; we walked through the updated area last week and noticed it had a long line at 7pm where the Harbor security had no wait in comparison.

Now there are cons with using the buses and the Hyatt Place. If you leave right after the fireworks you may have to wait a little longer for a bus, but it sure beats jostling for position at the trams for the Mickey and Friends structure. The Hyatt Place can also be loud. Try to get a room as far from Harbor as you can.

As we wind down our Disney trips as the kids get older, we just stay in Garden Grove and utilize the cheaper hotel rates to take Ubers in to the park.

 

[happygirl5644]

Appreciate the replies… sounds like we really can’t go wrong either way!

As we wind down our Disney trips as the kids get older, we just stay in Garden Grove and utilize the cheaper hotel rates to take Ubers in to the park.

@DontSpamMe - great idea! Will definitely consider this for our next trip

 

[ter-moo]

We stayed at the Hyatt a couple of years ago. It was nice and the walk is easy--no need to go to the Toy Story lot! It's a lot closer, and IMO a little nicer than staying at Stovall's.

 

[DontSpamMe]

We stayed at the Hyatt a couple of years ago. It was nice and the walk is easy--no need to go to the Toy Story lot! It's a lot closer, and IMO a little nicer than staying at Stovall's.

For comparison, here is the breakdown of steps from each location.

Hyatt Place to Toy Story buses = 950 steps (1931 ft)
Hyatt Place to drop off of Toy Story buses at DL = 2100 steps (4318 ft)
The Toy Story buses drop off on the main walkway to security off Harbor where all guests entering from Harbor go.

Stovall's to DL Esplanade (through DTD) = 2200 steps (4472 ft)
Stovall's to DL Esplanade through GCH (if you are daring) = 1800 steps (3610 ft)
Hyatt place to DL Esplanade = 2400 steps (4,928 ft)

You'll take an average 15,000 steps during a day at Disney. Save them where you can I always say.