Super overwhelmed with hotel choices

[mel2014]

I am a female, most likely coming solo in December. Did you feel the walk down Manchester to Home2Suites was well lit/others walking back from the Parks? (I would be walking back after Park close - debating Home2Suites vs Stovalls on Katella, which is a longer walk, but I like that most of the walk is on Disney property.)

I agree with the previous poster. We felt totally safe, so much so that I let my 13 yo and her friend walk back by themselves at 10:00 at night, though I did tell them to cross over at the main entrance so they were on the more populated/brighter side of Harbor.

 

[Didi8367]

I’ve stayed at the HoJo, the Courtyard by Marriott, and the Fairfield Inn, all on Harbor, all within a 7-15 minute walk. All were very clean and well-maintained. The Fairfield is the closest of those three. And, while it’s not a significant difference in distance, at the end of a long day at the parks, I was grateful to not have to walk those additional 50-100 yards.

 

[BeachtoDisney]

I just stayed at the new Westin and it was excellent! It is about .5 miles on Disneyland Drive to the GCH, an easy walk. Brand new hotel with an excellent staff, great restaurants, and beautiful rooms. I highly recommend it.

 

[evilmommie]

I just stayed at the new Westin and it was excellent! It is about .5 miles on Disneyland Drive to the GCH, an easy walk. Brand new hotel with an excellent staff, great restaurants, and beautiful rooms. I highly recommend it.

OH MY GOSH! That Westin is gorgeous. That’s where I would stay, if not staying in the Disney bubble.

 

[Ladyslug]

I'd try to stay within a 10 minute walk. My favorite hotel (other than the Disneyland Hotel) is the Courtyard Theme Park Entrance. It's a newer hotel. Not only is it very clean, but the rooms are very spacious, too. And distance-wise, it's less than a 10 minute walk to Disneyland and California Adventure. I've stayed there twice now and loved it both times.

We just stayed here last week, and my 6YO loved it (he might have loved the bunk bed and the waterslide park at the hotel even more than Disneyland). It was clean (though they were only doing housekeeping upon request), the walk was reasonable for us at the end of the day, and I walked home by myself after midnight and never felt unsafe -- there are many well-lit parking lots and businesses right along the sidewalk.

 

[Poohsmommi]

I can't tell from the pictures - the kids suites at the Element - is there a bedroom door to the parents rooms?

 

[pharmama]

I can't tell from the pictures - the kids suites at the Element - is there a bedroom door to the parents rooms?

This photo from the Marriott Bonvoy app does not look like there is a door or hard separation between the kids bunk area and the other sleeping area.

 

[RedVines2001]

The Hojo was one of my off site go to hotels. Building 1 is the main building that is renovated and I found it very clean during my stays. The walk back to the Hojo is right along Harbor Blvd so it's shorter than the newer hotels back on Manchester and you can always walk along the west sidewalk of Harbor along the Disney fence line and avoid any transients that might be hanging out in the bus stops (I've never had a problem with any of them). I've also stayed at the Fairfield Inn which was fine but it was a while ago and I feel like the Hojo was a little cleaner. Have a good trip!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The Hojo was one of my off site go to hotels. Building 1 is the main building that is renovated and I found it very clean during my stays. The walk back to the Hojo is right along Harbor Blvd so it's shorter than the newer hotels back on Manchester and you can always walk along the west sidewalk of Harbor along the Disney fence line and avoid any transients that might be hanging out in the bus stops (I've never had a problem with any of them). I've also stayed at the Fairfield Inn which was fine but it was a while ago and I feel like the Hojo was a little cleaner. Have a good trip!

Just to add on, building 2 at Hojo has now also been completely renovated. The project was interrupted by the pandemic but did get completed. The rooms are fresh and bright with new furniture and redone bathrooms. The remodel is very similar to what they did with building 1 some years ago.

 

[DonMacGregor]

When I was a CM in the 80’s and 90’s, the tiny lounge at HoJo’s was one of the go-to places for after work “relaxation”. There, and Acapulco’s, which sat where the Mimi’s is now. Acapulco’s for happy hour and big fun, HoJo’s if you were on a closing shift. Louise (Weezy) was an awesome bartender there. Ah, the memories.

 

[goooof1]

When I was a CM in the 80’s and 90’s, the tiny lounge at HoJo’s was one of the go-to places for after work “relaxation”. There, and Acapulco’s, which sat where the Mimi’s is now. Acapulco’s for happy hour and big fun, HoJo’s if you were on a closing shift. Louise (Weezy) was an awesome bartender there. Ah, the memories.

I miss Acapulco's...... lots of fun and yum yum !

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

We just stayed at the Fairfield on Harbor drive and it was clean/decent. They have vinyl flooring instead of carpet which helps with the cleanliness IMO. The walk wasn't bad at all and nothing felt sketchy about the area (well lit and 98% of the people are fellow tourists).

Only thing I'd mention with younger ones is the pool at the Fairfield is pretty much nothing. The Courtyard next door has a splash pad and a few slides. If the kids would like that, may want to go there instead.

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

I loved hearing your review of the Element Hotel. I have booked this hotel for our upcoming November trip. It will be just me and my 14 year old son. Did the walk feel safe and well lit, returning to your room in the evening? Thanks for posting about your stay!
Dawn

Revisiting this post, would love to hear what you thought of your stay! Happy Holidays all!

 

[bookgirl]

I agree with all this. I'd try to stay within a 10 minute walk. My favorite hotel (other than the Disneyland Hotel) is the Courtyard Theme Park Entrance. It's a newer hotel. Not only is it very clean, but the rooms are very spacious, too. And distance-wise, it's less than a 10 minute walk to Disneyland and California Adventure. I've stayed there twice now and loved it both times.

I have not stayed here but it's right by the Panera Bread and that is my favorite offsite place to eat on Harbour. Easy, quick and the food was always good (plus coffee). I'm going to add this to my list of places to look at.

 

[SpringBreak]

I just stayed at the new Westin and it was excellent! It is about .5 miles on Disneyland Drive to the GCH, an easy walk. Brand new hotel with an excellent staff, great restaurants, and beautiful rooms. I highly recommend it.

The Weston looks great! Question: Google shows a 1.1 mile walk from the Weston to DL. The route heads N on Disneyland Dr, then west on Paradise Wy toward the DH. Is that because I can only enter the Esplanade from over there? Can I enter it through GCH?

 

[BadPinkTink]

The Weston looks great! Question: Google shows a 1.1 mile walk from the Weston to DL. The route heads N on Disneyland Dr, then west on Paradise Wy toward the DH. Is that because I can only enter the Esplanade from over there? Can I enter it through GCH?

yes thats correct. General public pedestrian access is from the Downtown Disney entrance opposite Disneyland Hotel. Only people who are staying at Paradise Pier Hotel, or who have a reservation for the restaurants at Grand California Hotel can enter through the front door of Grand California Hotel.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Depending on how much cleanliness and datedness are issues, a lot of the hotels in the Disneyland area are not going to be suitable. I guess the JW Marriott and Westin are probably the main choices. The Element or Home2Suites would be the cheaper options. With the exception of the Westin, you're going to have to walk past a lot of dated looking hotels to get to the park entrance.

I consider the Howard Johnson as borderline dated. The interiors are a bit more modern but the exteriors definitely show age. The Courtyard interiors are a bit dated. The Fairfield is even below that.

As for other hotels people have mentioned, I think Hotel Indigo, Best Western and the Suncoast Hotel are dated.