Those that have stayed on site, favorite off-site hotel?

[countofmc]

So we've stayed at the DLH on all our previous visits, and loved it! But we have APs now so want to visit more frequently, and frankly my wallet cannot handle staying at the DLH every single time we go.

I'm wondering for those that have stayed both on-site and off-site, which is your favorite off-site hotel? Most importantly, which hotel do you think at least comes close to matching the DLH's level of cleanliness, general service, amenities, and relative proximity to the parks?

Thanks!

 

[nicolispicoli]

I'm in the same boat. We usually always stay at the DLH and last time the GCH. While it becomes too easy to want to stay at those, my wallet can't be an AP'er and an on'siter!

Back in November I stayed directly across the street from the pedestrian entrance at the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites. While it's nothing fancy, it's about $119 a night and feels SOOOOO CLOSE!! I was blown away at how nice the walk was, even compared to the walk to the DLH. The dapper day rates at DLH are only $199 a night and I still passed it over next month to stay at the Desert I&S. I know everyone has their favorite over there, but this one is cheap, comfy and close. Can't beat that...

 

[jclancy658]

So we've stayed at the DLH on all our previous visits, and loved it! But we have APs now so want to visit more frequently, and frankly my wallet cannot handle staying at the DLH every single time we go.

I'm wondering for those that have stayed both on-site and off-site, which is your favorite off-site hotel? Most importantly, which hotel do you think at least comes close to matching the DLH's level of cleanliness, general service, amenities, and relative proximity to the parks?

Thanks!

I vote for the Fairfield Inn. Very close, and a Marriott hotel. Even have a pizza hut in the hotel that is fast and cheap for feeding boys.. in my case!

 

[julesann]

I think that the Anabella is the closest to me for on-site comparable as it has a 2 pools--1 very large and a smaller one for adults only; outside bar and bar service; pretty outside seating and beautiful grounds right around the hotel. It is definitely a motel--you'll walk through a parking lot to get to your room, but most hotels in walking distance are also like this and I sure am not crazy about staying off Harbor.

It isn't quite as close as the DI&S, but I feel like I stay in the Disney bubble because you enter the park through the GCH on a twinkly lit road and it is definitely walking distance. I've read some complaints about the rooms, but I sure liked them and thought they were the nicest of all places I've stayed. I was impressed with the customer service recently when calling them--very cordial and helpful. We are staying there for one night next week before we move to the GCH for 2 and I'll post what this stay is like. I've also stayed off site at the FFI (I thought it was nice--very clean, cute rooms, quick walk, but didn't feel like a Marriott); Embassy Suites South (liked it, but never want to shuttle again); Hilton Suites (another shuttle); Marriott Residence Inn (liked this hotel, but very small pool, and a little too far to comfortably walk).

 

[Rubygoose]

We've stayed at DLH twice, and the last time we did a split stay between Hojo and DLH. The walk is about the same length - but definitely not the same quality! The kids loved the water park at the Hojo. You can get an AP discount at several of the offsite hotels, and I think it was 20% off Hojo. Ramada Maingate has an AP package with late checkout, room category upgrade and some other perks, but I"m not sure if they offer a discounted rate.

 

[Spacepest]

Ramada Maingate--the one across the street from the parks (there are actually two "Ramada Maingates" in Anaheim, one within walking distance of Disney, the other...not.).

Its a basic, no frills hotel across the street from Disney. Its clean, affordable, and offers AP perks. If you're just going to sleep in your room, and want a free, cheap cold breakfast, this is the place to stay. Rooms also have small fridges and microwaves. Staff is ok, and will provide maps of the local area attractions and info on check in. We've stayed here a few times, and the one time we had a problem with a room, the staff had someone in there to fix it within 10 minutes. Also, it has a 24 mobility scooter rental on property, which is great for when I have a relative or party member with disabilities join us. If you don't want to eat their crappy cold breakfast, a pancake house is on the way to the parks. It has a pool but I've never used it.

Cons:
There is alot of construction going on right now.
Parking is limited--but once we park here, we don't get in our car or leave the lot until our trip is over. (Its across the street from Disneyland, why the heck wouldn't you walk there if you could?!)
It can be noisy during the early morning and early evenings--basically when the families get up to leave the parks and return.
Wifi is slow.
Rooms are really bland looking inside.

I love the Disney hotels, but can't justify the price if I'm having a really busy park schedule and won't be spending much time in my room (especially the cost! one night at the grand californian=one week stay at the Ramada).

 

[DizMe]

I like the Carousel if you don't worry much about grounds and pool. The rooms are very nice but it's a motel, no getting around it.

I've stayed at Hojo, FFI, Carousel, Anaheim Plaza, Desert Inn and Suites, and the Anaheim Marriott. My favorite was the Anaheim Marriott for everything except proximity. While it's not that close, it's very walkable for us, and ART stops right outside the door if you don't want to walk. You can also walk over to the Toy Story parking lot and ride over from there. The rooms are very nice, with upgraded amenities. There are restaurants, Starbucks and resort-worthy accouterments on site.

If you have any rewards built up, I like to go with their Disney Package. You get parking, room, ART tickets, and a $100 Disney gift card for each night of your stay. You do pay more for the room, but it's still a good deal, especially, as I said, if you are a Marriott member. They will also buy back the ART tickets from you if you don't want them! I got $20 that way

I've heard the Hilton is really nice, too, but I've not stayed there. It's in front of the Marriott so somewhat closer to the resort.

If you have young children, Hojo is nice for the water play area, but my kids are past that now and when I go with the kids we always stay onsite.

 

[KCmike]

Fairfield Inn for me too! Pool and hot tub are small but location is great, rooms are very nice, pizza hut express, close to mcdonalds, and beds are comfy.

 

[DZLVR]

We are partial to the Candy Cane, very clean, very pretty, good breakfast, great view of the fireworks on the right side of the building. Free Parking and Free shuttle although it is right behind DCA and easy walking distance but at the end of the day a shuttle is nice. Trust me we love the GCH but ka-ching and the walk from the DLH is just as far as some of the good Neighbor Hotels. We are trying the Anaheim Plaza saving us about $30 a night we will see if it is worth it. The Motel 6 well you quickly understand why your paying so little......

 

[jenjersnap]

We have only stayed at Hojo's and GCH. Nothing can compare to GCH, in my mind, but we really enjoyed Hojo's and the view of Disneyland from our premium room was awesome. We are trying CCI next trip, just a bit cheaper, shuttle and breakfast put us over the top.

 

[GatorChris]

We've stayed at PPH and at the HoJo. I can tell you that our stay at HoJo was as good as the stay at the PPH. Same distance in walk. Clean and spacious rooms. Fun water park for kids under 12, I'd say. Customer service was good. Elevator worked faster at HoJo. FREE FREE FREE parking. The con was the freeway being close. But the sound of the all the cars helped drown out the screaming baby that was next door for a few nights. And it was decorated for Christmas fairly nice as well. Also you can get a good view of the fireworks when they're not CANCELLED.

Trying the Anaheim Camelot later this year. Rooms looked nice and reviews were good. Plus it's closer than the HoJo and cheaper by about $40/night. No water parks and parking costs a bit, but we're hoping for a good stay. And we're going with the DLH next month. Hope it doesn't spoil me too much. But it would have to be a lot better than PPH to do that. A lot.

 

[Geemo]

We use to stay on-site, GCH 4times, DLH 2times and PPH once. In 2013, after reading Dis member's reviews for places on Harbor I decided to give DI&S a try.

We have stayed at DI&S three times since 2013.

Due to the cost savings, it makes it easier to take a trip each year. Especially now that I have four grandkids that like to tag along. Booking early locks in a nice room rate.

The grandkids and I are just as happy at DI&S as when we have stayed on-site.

The walk to and from the parks is so easy. Every night on the way back to the room we stop in at Coldstone for ice cream.

It works for us.

Geemo

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Best Western Park Place Inn & Suites (BWPPI). It is NOT DLH or GCH level at all but it is clean and super close and has a fair hot breakfast -- and it is 1/3 to 1/4 price per night of DLH.

Just don't compare your cheap hotel to DLH and you will be fine! Wear that AP out!

 

[Malcon10t]

1. Hilton Anaheim
2. Candy Cane Inn
3. Fairfield Inn
4. Carousel Inn and Suites.
5. Hojo

 

[hjgaus]

The Indigo Hotel on Katella.
It's # 2 on TripAdvisor....
Check it out.

 

[bumbershoot]

I adore Anabella.

I also like Hilton Anaheim.

 

[jkpmac]

Anyone ever try the Holiday Inn and Suites on Walnut St?

 

[jina]

We've stayed at GCH twice, HoJo's twice and Residence Inn once. We have AP's this year so since then we have been 100% HoJo's so we can go more often. We love HoJo's - the walk is very easy and DD5 loves the water playground. The other less crowded big pool is nice too. Service is very friendly and prompt when there are issues. Rooms have an in room safe, little fridge and coffee maker (maybe microwave too - can't remember). We always stay in building 1 (the tower) and have never heard the freeway - the rooms facing the freeway have their patios "glassed in" so there are 2 layers of glass with several feet of air in between us and outside. Not sure if the park view rooms in that same tower have the same double glass.

We've been in a 1 queen 1 bunk bed room but now prefer (when we can get it) a kids suite so DD5 can sleep in her bunk bed in a separate room and the 2nd bathroom comes in handy. Wish those suites had park views (freeway only) but honestly I'd rather spend time at the parks than looking at them from my room. AP discount of up to 30% comes in handy too.

Residence Inn was fine but a long hike compared to HoJo's. I was going to try Carousel but decided against it until DD is older- having a great pool/water area is so important to us as we only like to go to the parks first thing in the morning for a few hours, then a few more hours in late afternoon/early evening so we need a property where there's a nice pool.

We do want to say at DLH someday to try it out (and the monorail water slides) but we'll save that for a year when we don't have an AP and am doing a single trip over multiple years instead of this year where we're going 4x. We also love GCH but after doing HoJo's it's just not 3x as good as HoJo's, maybe 1.5X given it's so Disney + the DCA entrance.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

I've now stayed at the HoJo, Ramada, and PPH. And.... PPH is at the bottom of the list because of the cost. I'm happy to pay it, but no working WiFi, a TWENTY MINUTE WAIT (with 30 of my closest friends on the 11th floor), for an elevator, a toilet that didn't flush properly, and alternating hot/cold water? And I paid an extra $100 a night over and above the Hojo? No thank you.

I did like the Hojo, and the Ramada, though bare bones, had a working washroom and wifi. I did like being able to charge to my room card and then just give the cash to the front desk, eliminating dealing with change, but, I don't think I'll ever stay at one of the Disneyland hotels again. Which is a shame. I love Aulani in Hawaii for the kids, but after the PPH experience, I'm just not willing to try the other two.

Hojo is a little further than Ramada, but next to a decent restaurant for breakfast. It has a nice waterpark for the kids. Ramada might be nice once the construction is done.

 

[DizMe]

I've now stayed at the HoJo, Ramada, and PPH. And.... PPH is at the bottom of the list because of the cost. I'm happy to pay it, but no working WiFi, a TWENTY MINUTE WAIT (with 30 of my closest friends on the 11th floor), for an elevator, a toilet that didn't flush properly, and alternating hot/cold water? And I paid an extra $100 a night over and above the Hojo? No thank you.

I did like the Hojo, and the Ramada, though bare bones, had a working washroom and wifi. I did like being able to charge to my room card and then just give the cash to the front desk, eliminating dealing with change, but, I don't think I'll ever stay at one of the Disneyland hotels again. Which is a shame. I love Aulani in Hawaii for the kids, but after the PPH experience, I'm just not willing to try the other two.

Hojo is a little further than Ramada, but next to a decent restaurant for breakfast. It has a nice waterpark for the kids. Ramada might be nice once the construction is done.

I feel your pain. That was somewhat my experience at PPH as well. However, that isn't the usual report I hear from others, just to be fair.

What I did want to say is that IMO, there is no comparison between PPH and the other 2 hotels. PPH is just a mediocre hotel that happens to adjoin the resort and so it's kinda sorta part of the DLR. It lacks all of the grounds and many of the superior amenities of the other 2 hotels. Some of the rooms have gorgeous views, but aside from that, it's not the same quality. Don't lump all 3 hotels together because they're definitely not in the same category. I also stayed in it before it was turned into PPH and became a Disney property, so I still think of it as an adjoining hotel.