Tell me about the Desert Inn & Suites

[DizNee Luver]

We stayed here in 2005 & wasn't super impressed by the cleanliness or the beds....they were hard as rocks. I've seen a few reviews since & it sounds like maybe they've done some upgrading.....I'd love to hear from people that have stayed there recently.

We had a nightmare stay at a place off Ball & my twins (who were crawling) we're covered in black stuff after just a few minutes....I want to make sure we don't have a repeat performance from filthy carpets. I also want to make sure the beds are comfy (firm is fine as long as they're pillow top)

Also....if the room is paid in full prior to arriving, do they still put a large hold on your credit card for your stay. This always puts a kink in the works when they do that.....already on a tight budget.

Do they have free wi-fi? How's the service?? Had to pay for this at the Carousel Inn & the connection was weak & very slow.

Thanx for any insight you can give me.....we're thinking about a week's stay with 8 of us & need to make sure it will fit our needs. (breakfast's are not something we care about as we like do the character meals)

 

[ddwlms]

The last two times we stayed there they put us in the back section in the two story building. The rooms seemed to be either new, or newly remodeled and a definite improvement in the room we had three DI&S trips ago. I don't know if the entire place has been remodeled.
I've always thought the beds were very comfortable, but others still comment about them being too hard, so I'm guessing that's a preference thing and you might still not like them.
Free wi-fi, but slow.
I don't know about the credit card question.
You can't beat the walking distance!! (well, you can if you want to pay for the GCH )

 

[kirstie101]

We just returned a couple days ago from a stay at DI&S. Stayed there last year too. Wi-Fi is free and worked good in our rooms. We had 2 C2 suites. Both were very clean. Carpets were clean, we traveled with a 7 month old and a 12 month old so that was important. Beds are firm, but IMO not rock like firm. We all slept fine and no one in our party complained about the beds. I really dont think they are pillow top mattresses though. You might want to call the front desk and ask. I would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and we are already planning two more trips and plan on staying there again. Only complaint would be the elevator can take a long time if you're leaving in the morning at the same time as everyone else with a stroller.

ETA: Last year we were on the 4th floor, and this year on the 3rd. Both times towards the front of the property.

 

[DizNee Luver]

The last two times we stayed there they put us in the back section in the two story building. The rooms seemed to be either new, or newly remodeled and a definite improvement in the room we had three DI&S trips ago. I don't know if the entire place has been remodeled.
I've always thought the beds were very comfortable, but others still comment about them being too hard, so I'm guessing that's a preference thing and you might still not like them.
Free wi-fi, but slow.
I don't know about the credit card question.
You can't beat the walking distance!! (well, you can if you want to pay for the GCH )

The location is excellent......I have concerns about the beds. I have fibromyalgia & last time we stayed I felt like someone had beat me with a club after sleeping on the beds there. Was hoping they had upgraded the mattress types.....lol

We just returned a couple days ago from a stay at DI&S. Stayed there last year too. Wi-Fi is free and worked good in our rooms. We had 2 C2 suites. Both were very clean. Carpets were clean, we traveled with a 7 month old and a 12 month old so that was important. Beds are firm, but IMO not rock like firm. We all slept fine and no one in our party complained about the beds. I really dont think they are pillow top mattresses though. You might want to call the front desk and ask. I would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and we are already planning two more trips and plan on staying there again. Only complaint would be the elevator can take a long time if you're leaving in the morning at the same time as everyone else with a stroller.

ETA: Last year we were on the 4th floor, and this year on the 3rd. Both times towards the front of the property.

Glad to hear the carpets were clean!! We've had issues with other places across from the entrance & the slow, really slow elevators....but we'll deal. We can always carry the twins down the stairs & then open the strollers. Not a huge fan of elevators anyways......lol

 

[ddwlms]

The location is excellent......I have concerns about the beds. I have fibromyalgia & last time we stayed I felt like someone had beat me with a club after sleeping on the beds there. Was hoping they had upgraded the mattress types.....lol

Since the mattresses never bothered me, I didn't notice if there was any upgrade. (sorry, so not helpful)

Are you driving down? Can you pack a mattress top?

If you request a room in the back right section there are only two stories, so it's real easy to just take the stairs. When we were loaded down and had a stroller, so didn't take the stairs, we never had any wait on the back elevator. The front elevator is overworked.

Is this for your family, IRS refund trip? (ya, I'm a lurker. Know all about you)

 

[DizNee Luver]

Since the mattresses never bothered me, I didn't notice if there was any upgrade. (sorry, so not helpful)

Are you driving down? Can you pack a mattress top?

If you request a room in the back right section there are only two stories, so it's real easy to just take the stairs. When we were loaded down and had a stroller, so didn't take the stairs, we never had any wait on the back elevator. The front elevator is overworked.

Is this for your family, IRS refund trip? (ya, I'm a lurker. Know all about you)

I'll remember that.....wonder if you can request if you do everything online? I hate calling people

YES!!! All the monies was released today!!!! Funny how quickly that money seems to go. We're moving in the next few weeks & have to come up with deposits, double rents during the moving phase, rent a truck, dump runs, fix up place we're in now (landlords have unusually high expectations on how the place should look when we leave)....need some furniture, helping a kid pay off his car loan (he'll repay us, minus the interest), paying back my mom for a loan to help us get into this place, etc. etc. This trip is seeming to be harder to make happen....so trying to find cheap lodging so we can still do the fun stuff we want.

We're looking at Feb 26 to Mar 3.....hope we can pull this off!!

 

[ddwlms]

Well best of luck to you! I'm rooting for ya to pull it off. (The money does go fast, especially when you've waited so long for it that you've had time to figure out how to spend it 3 times over. )

We'll be staying there 2 weeks before you on our girls only trip. My mom, sisters, daughters, nieces and myself.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Well best of luck to you! I'm rooting for ya to pull it off. (The money does go fast, especially when you've waited so long for it that you've had time to figure out how to spend it 3 times over. )

We'll be staying there 2 weeks before you on our girls only trip. My mom, sisters, daughters, nieces and myself.

Thank You!!

I'm going on the 22nd for the Dis Girls Only Trip & it basically gets over on Sunday, so the family is driving down & we'll spend a week there together. (at least that's the plan!)

Have fun on your girls trip!!!

 

[starshine514]

Only complaint would be the elevator can take a long time if you're leaving in the morning at the same time as everyone else with a stroller.

Here, here to that! I carried the stroller down the stairs and the girls walked, but DH had to wait multiple cycles with his ECV (nope, I can't carry a several hundred pound piece of machinery down the stairs, and nope, none of the people with strollers who were crowding up the elevator would get out and carry them downstairs so DH could get on). He ended up having to push the UP button and get on an empty elevator, ride it up and then back down again in order to get on...crazy...I hope they put us on the first floor next time.

The elevators are an issue there.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Here, here to that! I carried the stroller down the stairs and the girls walked, but DH had to wait multiple cycles with his ECV (nope, I can't carry a several hundred pound piece of machinery down the stairs, and nope, none of the people with strollers who were crowding up the elevator would get out and carry them downstairs so DH could get on). He ended up having to push the UP button and get on an empty elevator, ride it up and then back down again in order to get on...crazy...I hope they put us on the first floor next time.

The elevators are an issue there.

That's just sad! I much prefer the stairs to a crowded elevator & can't see taking up room from people that HAVE to use one. Maybe next time you can request the first floor due to the ECV (and past issues with the elevators).

 

[scrappinbear78]

I am hoping that everything turns out and you are able to pull the trip off. I know all too well how money just flies out. Both my husband and I are disabled and when I applied it took me 3 years to get the money. So I had a good size back pay....well at least it was money that I had for about a month. ugh! We had the moving expenses (we were homeless at the time because hubby had lost his job because of the downturn in the economy and I couldn't work and was out of work for 3 years), pay all deposits to get utilities turned on, get clothes for the kids and furniture. It was nice though because they had held out attorney fees and we got a letter this summer stating that the attorney fees were now being released because the attorney didn't ask for the money. So we got a nice back pay check a month ago (it has been 3 years since I was approved so it was a nice surprise) but it quickly went as well because our car broke down last Nov and we hadn't had money to get a new one, we had just moved again to a larger home now that the kids are older and had the deposits again, and then we paid DL off. Now I am scrimping and scraping to be able to make sure we have enough money for gas going down, souvenirs, and any extra snacks/meals that the dinning plan won't cover (this will be cut to a minimum because we will be taking stuff down too). This is my first trip to DL, I am 33, and both of my girls' first trip 10 and 12. My hubby and my dad have both been there but it was back in the 80's. Will be sending positive thoughts your way that everything will work out and that you will be able to make this a magical trip.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I am hoping that everything turns out and you are able to pull the trip off. I know all too well how money just flies out. Both my husband and I are disabled and when I applied it took me 3 years to get the money. So I had a good size back pay....well at least it was money that I had for about a month. ugh! We had the moving expenses (we were homeless at the time because hubby had lost his job because of the downturn in the economy and I couldn't work and was out of work for 3 years), pay all deposits to get utilities turned on, get clothes for the kids and furniture. It was nice though because they had held out attorney fees and we got a letter this summer stating that the attorney fees were now being released because the attorney didn't ask for the money. So we got a nice back pay check a month ago (it has been 3 years since I was approved so it was a nice surprise) but it quickly went as well because our car broke down last Nov and we hadn't had money to get a new one, we had just moved again to a larger home now that the kids are older and had the deposits again, and then we paid DL off. Now I am scrimping and scraping to be able to make sure we have enough money for gas going down, souvenirs, and any extra snacks/meals that the dinning plan won't cover (this will be cut to a minimum because we will be taking stuff down too). This is my first trip to DL, I am 33, and both of my girls' first trip 10 and 12. My hubby and my dad have both been there but it was back in the 80's. Will be sending positive thoughts your way that everything will work out and that you will be able to make this a magical trip.

I'm so sorry to hear about all the misfortune you've had over the last few years. I know a lot of people we're hit hard & it shows your resilience to be able to come through that & still be positive!!!

Yay for your first trip!!!! I hope your trip is *+*+*Magical*+*+*!! It's amazing how all your troubles seem to melt away when you walk under the train tunnel & on to Main Street. Nothing seems to matter anymore. Enjoy that feeling & everything else will fall into place.

When are you going?? Your dates actually look somewhat close to the time I'm getting a quicky trip in. I'll be there Dec 6-8....alone!! Have to see the holiday decorations!!!!

 

[MND]

We stayed here in 2005 & wasn't super impressed by the cleanliness or the beds....they were hard as rocks. I've seen a few reviews since & it sounds like maybe they've done some upgrading.....I'd love to hear from people that have stayed there recently.

We had a nightmare stay at a place off Ball & my twins (who were crawling) we're covered in black stuff after just a few minutes....I want to make sure we don't have a repeat performance from filthy carpets. I also want to make sure the beds are comfy (firm is fine as long as they're pillow top)

Also....if the room is paid in full prior to arriving, do they still put a large hold on your credit card for your stay. This always puts a kink in the works when they do that.....already on a tight budget.

Do they have free wi-fi? How's the service?? Had to pay for this at the Carousel Inn & the connection was weak & very slow.

Thanx for any insight you can give me.....we're thinking about a week's stay with 8 of us & need to make sure it will fit our needs. (breakfast's are not something we care about as we like do the character meals)

I don't know if this link works, but TouringPlans.Com blog has a review of Desert Inn

http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/10/29/desert-inn-suites-disneyland-good-neighbor-hotel/

Mike

 

[disneychrista]

We didn't have any problems with our room at DI&S a couple of weeks ago. Though I did find the bed to be a bit to "firm" for our liking. I have thought about buy an "egg crate" mattress pad to take with us. My daughter complained about her back the entire trip.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I don't know if this link works, but TouringPlans.Com blog has a review of Desert Inn

http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/10/29/desert-inn-suites-disneyland-good-neighbor-hotel/

Mike

Thanx for the link!!

We didn't have any problems with our room at DI&S a couple of weeks ago. Though I did find the bed to be a bit to "firm" for our liking. I have thought about buy an "egg crate" mattress pad to take with us. My daughter complained about her back the entire trip.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of......might have to look into a pad but space is limited when there are 8 of us in a vehicle. Might have to rethink staying here.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Thanks for that link from me too We're staying here in June and are excited to be staying so close to the park. I, personally, am glad to hear about hard mattresses but that's because mine is horribly soft and I want a new one haha

If a mattress is that important to you I'd probably stay elsewhere too..I've heard that 'complaint' numerous times. If it'd ruin your vaca because of your fibro I'd def consider somewhere else. I hear HoJo's mattresses are superb? I also really liked Desert Palms. Bit more of a walk (both of them)..Desert Palms breakfast is 'hot'. There was 'real food' LOL.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thanks for that link from me too We're staying here in June and are excited to be staying so close to the park. I, personally, am glad to hear about hard mattresses but that's because mine is horribly soft and I want a new one haha

If a mattress is that important to you I'd probably stay elsewhere too..I've heard that 'complaint' numerous times. If it'd ruin your vaca because of your fibro I'd def consider somewhere else. I hear HoJo's mattresses are superb? I also really liked Desert Palms. Bit more of a walk (both of them)..Desert Palms breakfast is 'hot'. There was 'real food' LOL.

We've stayed at the HoJo & love it but it would run about $1000 more for our stay.....was trying to go cheaper on the motel. Do you figure the walk from Desert Palms is about the same as the HoJo? We've looked at this motel as well....haven't priced it for this trip yet.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I think it's about the same. It took us about 10 min with two kids? It might be around the same as hojo. I liked it because we didn't have to cross the street and is right next to a convenience store. Worth a check on price.

What about getting the suite at Desert Inn and Suites and sleeping on the couch (not undone into a bed..just the couch)? Maybe it'd be softer??

 

[DizNee Luver]

I think it's about the same. It took us about 10 min with two kids? It might be around the same as hojo. I liked it because we didn't have to cross the street and is right next to a convenience store. Worth a check on price.

What about getting the suite at Desert Inn and Suites and sleeping on the couch (not undone into a bed..just the couch)? Maybe it'd be softer??

Oh, I didn't think about that!! Great suggestion!! It's kinda hard to pass on $1100 for 6 nights/8 people.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Oh, I didn't think about that!! Great suggestion!! It's kinda hard to pass on $1100 for 6 nights/8 people.

Exactly my thoughts Even if someone needs the couch bed, you could pull off those cushions and sleep on the floor. I've done it and they're almost always softer than a bed