The Santa Fe Hotel

[blue eyes]

I have just booked my first trip to DLP staying at the Santa Fe in January. Can anyone who has stayed there give me their opinion - I have read mixed reviews. I am only expecting something basic (as long as it is clean) as I do not intend to spend much time in the room. I have two girls aged 2 and 5 (it is her 6th birthday while we are there). Can anyone give me any good tips on things to do and not to do. Can anyone recommend a character breakfast?

 

[Verity Chambers]

Hi! We have stayed at santa Fe and although it is not amazing we thought it was fine. As you say it does get mixed reviews, but don't worry, it is 100 times better than many of the places you would stay in the UK! It is so handy for the parks, much better than staying off site. As you say you are hardly ever in your room. It was clean and the breakfast was good! As I remember there were some characters in reception some mornings. Your kids will love it there I'm sure, the theme is great for kids. Have fun, I'm sure you will!!!
Love Verity.xxxxxxxx

 

[blue eyes]

Thanks for that - you have put my mind at rest!!

Sandra

 

[marlouwrig]

I agree with Verity.

We stayed there last bank holiday weekend. It was pretty much as we expected. Smallish room. Very basic. However it looked as if it had recently been refurbished and I couldn't fault it for cleanliness.

My only gripes were no shampoo and 30euro deposit if you wanted a kettle but you had to BUY your own cups from the giftshop if you wanted a cuppa!!!

I would probably stay there again if I was looking for a budget option

 

[Ang1e]

Hi

we spent 2 nights there last October - myself, DH, DD 10 & DS 7.

We've also stayed there when DD was a baby.

The rooms are basic & clean - but can't say we spend much time in them - have stayed at the Sequoia once and even though the room was 'posher' all we did was sleep there!

If we were going again I would personally book either the Santa Fe or the Cheyenne - both very similar - because of the way we use the rooms I can't justify paying for one of the other hotels. We all enjoyed the food in the restaurant.

It DOES get rather busy at breakfast time - the dining hall is huge and get packed. If you can, book to have your breakfast in the park on one morning (this is included in your B & B package) - the food is the same as in the hotel but you should be able to ride a couple of rides in Fantasy land before the crowds arrive.

Chef Mickey in Disney Village does character breakfasts which we did a few years ago and all loved. Last year we had a character dinner there which was fab - esp the buffet deserts and having my hand kissed by Pluto or Goofy (I was so overcome with emotion I can't remember who it was!).

We really enjoyed the walk from the hotel to Disney Village and the parks - even when it was chillier, just wrap up warm! There are busses to and from the parks which I'm sure will come in handy if you stay late at the parks and the little ones get tired.

Apologies for waffling so much!

Ang x

 

[Princess minnie x]

Hi, I've stayed in the Santa fe on all three visits in 1992, 2002 and i was there for five days over new year 2004!

I am sure that you will not be disappointed! Although basic it is clean and the staff were friendly and helpful, for the time you wil spend in the room it is hardly worth the money for the higher rated hotels, especially with it being your 1st visit, you will have loads to do!

I would recomend trying to reserve breakfast in the park, the fantasyland breakfast (I think that is what it is called) is free for guests in Santa Fe and you can get on the popular Fantasy land rides (Dumbo and Peter Pan) without any long waits.

Also Cafe Mickey in the Disney Village is where to go for a character meal in the evening, the food was great (desert buffet...yum!). I have been to character meals in disney florida and nothing comes close to cafe mickey. I was there with my boyfriend (both 18) and I think we had about 40mins worth of private character time and multiple visits to our table! (including Mickey, best time ever). Also tell you waiter/waitress it is your childs birthday, when we were there the characters came out and sung happy birthday to a young child and do dances when certain songs are played...I really cant rate it high enough! It does get busy so i would make a reservation when you arrive at the hotel, go to the front desk and they will do it all for you!! Walt's on mainstreet is also great for character breakfast!!

There are also characters in the hotel lobby each morning, on previous visits have seen Mickey, Pluto and Goofy!!

Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did

 

[Princess minnie x]

Hi, I've stayed in the Santa fe on all three visits in 1992, 2002 and i was there for five days over new year 2004!

I am sure that you will not be disappointed! Although basic it is clean and the staff were friendly and helpful, for the time you wil spend in the room it is hardly worth the money for the higher rated hotels, especially with it being your 1st visit, you will have loads to do!

I would recomend trying to reserve breakfast in the park, the fantasyland breakfast (I think that is what it is called) is free for guests in Santa Fe and you can get on the popular Fantasy land rides (Dumbo and Peter Pan) without any long waits.

Also Cafe Mickey in the Disney Village is where to go for a character meal in the evening, the food was great (desert buffet...yum!). I have been to character meals in disney florida and nothing comes close to cafe mickey. I was there with my boyfriend (both 18) and I think we had about 40mins worth of private character time and multiple visits to our table! (including Mickey, best time ever). Also tell you waiter/waitress it is your childs birthday, when we were there the characters came out and sung happy birthday to a young child and do dances when certain songs are played...I really cant rate it high enough! It does get busy so i would make a reservation when you arrive at the hotel, go to the front desk and they will do it all for you!! Walt's on mainstreet is also great for character breakfast!!

There are also characters in the hotel lobby each morning, on previous visits have seen Mickey, Pluto and Goofy!!

Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did

 

[raptor1982]

Pictures of the buildings and rooms can be found right here:

http://www.photosmagiques.com/hotels

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

Stayed in the Santa Fe in Nov last year with DH and DD (3). The hotel itself is ok.

The room we was given was a smoking room and it was terrible - had to leave the windows open all night to get the smell out, it was clean and the beds were nice and cosy, but the bath is not big enough for an adult, so if you like your bubble im afraid your out of luck - there is a shower though. There can also be a long walk from your hotel room to the main reception area or bus stop.

The restaurant is a madhouse at breakfast time, on saying that the bar area is nice in the evening if you want to get away from the husstle of Disney Village.

One tip is that after breakfast go into the reception area and every morning there is a different character to have your photograph taken with.

On the whole, given the choice I would not stay at the Santa Fe again, but saying that the hotel did not spoil our holiday...

Sorry I cannot be more positive, but I am sure you will have a great trip - it is Disney after all.

 

[NIK]

I tend to endorse most of what has been said before. Santa Fe is a good basic hotel. Why waste money on a hotel when you probably won't spend that much time in it? The food was good although I would support the comment that breakfast is a bit of a scrum!

I was lucky in that my room overlooked a little stream which did make it rather pleasant. Facilities were basic but clean, nothing to make your toes curl. I was quite amused by their definition of international channels! 1 english news channel, 1 disney channel and a sports channel - nothing much else, however that's not such a problem if you aren't spending much time there during your stay.

Staff were friendly - which was nice. The little shop was nice too - again, nice chatty staff.

I'm giving the Sequoia a try this time - mainly coz I like the idea of the little forest or whatever and I thought I would treat myself. However I would not have a problem going to the Santa Fe again.

The only downer I would say that I had - as someone with a minor disability - I was a bit surprised to find rooms set away from the main building with stairs and no lift. After about 14 hours on a coach getting there, it was a bit of an effort getting the cases up the steps to the rooms on the 1st floor! Even more so tottering up the steps after a day spent plodding round the parks. That would not necessarily be a problem for everyone though - I was just unlucky.

 

[gilld]

Sorry to disagree but when we stayed there last Septemer, it was very dirty. Our rooms looked as though they hadn't been properly cleaned in ages, the bedding was torn and stained, the bathroom was full of mould, although a nonsmoking room, it reeked of smoke and we were horrified. The bed was also extremely small and lumpy. I would NEVER stay there again.
Having said all that, the CM's were friendly, mostly.

 

[NIK]

Originally posted by gilld
Sorry to disagree but when we stayed there last Septemer, it was very dirty. Our rooms looked as though they hadn't been properly cleaned in ages, the bedding was torn and stained, the bathroom was full of mould, although a nonsmoking room, it reeked of smoke and we were horrified. The bed was also extremely small and lumpy. I would NEVER stay there again.
Having said all that, the CM's were friendly, mostly.

REALLY!??! I am sorry to hear about that. There's nothing worse than staying in a filthy room it just about spoils the hols for you.

Did you complain? What was the response?

I travel on my own most of the time and usually end up paying the dreaded single person supplement and ending up with a broom cupboard, so it is possible that the room I had was better than I usually get.

A shame you had a rotten time though!