Where would you stay?

[luvsmickey1968]

I have friends going to Disneyland from September 29th to October 7th.
They are a family of four with two boys, 14 and 10.
Due to being able to use points, they want to book a package with a specific airline so the accommodations are limited. Staying on-site is not an option.
All rooms are standard-two queens with the exception of the Doubletree.
The Clarion is the least expensive so I have indicated the total difference for the other hotels. The choices are:

Clarion
Hilton Garden Inn (Garden Grove) + $15.00
Best Western Pavilions + $45.00
Hampton Inn (Garden Grove) + $82.00
Castle Inn + $113.00
Holiday Inn and Hotel Suites Anaheim + $157
Tropicana Inn Suites +227
Doubletree Suites Anaheim Resort + $285
Hilton Anaheim + $325
Camelot Inn Suites + 362
Crowne Plaza Anaheim (Garden Grove) + $362
Anabella Hotel + $406
Sheraton Park Hotel +$507
Carousel Inn + $836

Would love all your opinions on which would you would choose and why.

 

[dcraytho]

I would not book at Castle Inn, very dated and I found a **** roach in my room 3 years ago. I will not go there again.

 

[WINTER]

We just returned last week. We stayed right across the street at the Best Western. Great room & service PLUS right across the street. free b'fast next door.

027 by dsnylvr63, on Flickr[/IMG]


This was taken standing in front of the sign (above pic).


028 by dsnylvr63, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[NVDisMom]

I am going to make a couple of assumptions here. 1) They are doing Disney the entire week 2)they can afford any of them

I would eliminate any properties that are not within walking distance. Then eliminate any properties that fail to fulfill your amenities requirements(pool/hot tub/breakfast/etc). And choose the least expensive of what is left.

If this is more a So Cal vacation and they are only spending three days in DL, then I would probably choose the Doubletree. Separate rooms would be a nice plus for a week+ vacation experience.

 

[MommyLove]

We just returned last week. We stayed right across the street at the Best Western.

That's a different Best Western than the one the OP listed.

I definitely wouldn't stay in a hotel in a different city. Check THIS THREAD for reasons why not to stay too far away. So on that list, I'd probably choose Tropicana or Doubletree.

 

[interstate70s]

I don't think the BW Park Place was the one the OP was talking about. I believe there are 4 BW in the immediate area. The Pavillions one is not right across from the main entrance. I'm staying at the one a few doors down from the Park Place one at the BW Plus Anaheim Inn for a few days before I check into the GC, but I haven't stayed there before so I can't comment on quality of it yet, but the Pavillions is farther still from that one. The reason I chose that one was it was the cheapest/closest with decent reviews on Trip Advisor.

I've stayed at the Tropicanna and wouldn't stay their again. Wasn't bad just, meh.

 

[luvsmickey1968]

Thanks to whomever fixed my double-post!

Thank you for all your replies.

Unfortunately, Best Western Park Place is not on the list!

I too prefer to stay within walking distance but none of the hotels on the list are ones that I have stayed at which makes me nervous.

I am also unsure as to what one should consider walking distance. I have always considered only the hotels directly across the street from Disneyland ranging from the Hojo to the Ramada Maingate to be within walking distance but I don't know a lot about the areas on the other side of the parks. For example, I have read that some people consider the Best Western Pavilions walkable but I have never been in that area so cannot judge.

NVDisMom, would the Doubletree be considered within walking distance? Have you stayed there and walked it?

MommyLove have you stayed at the Tropicana?

 

[hlbtimes2]

So much of it depends on what their personal requirements are. For us, at Disneyland, we need a clean room that is walking distance. We dont want to be bothered with shuttles (except the Candy Cane), ART, parking, etc. We dont require a upscale hotel, or a great pool. A pool is nice, but our last trip we never used it, so not a requirement. We dont care if its a hotel (doors up to hallways) or a motel (doors open to outside).

What are their needs?

 

[BlueBayou]

We have stayed at the Camelot twice and the Tropicana once (I believe owned by the same group).

I would not go out of my way to stay at the Tropicana again. It was just okay. Part of my opinion is colored by the fact we got a room with a shower - not a bath tub. Two of us are bath people. But the room was clean and the staff from friendly and the breakfast was fine.

I just think the Camelot is a better choice. You can watch the fireworks from the pool.

 

[pixiewings71]

Do NOT stay at the Castle Inn!!!! We stayed there and had absolutely horrible service, rudeness beyond compare and no response to my complaints. We had 6 people in a room and they gave us 4 towels, no pool towels, it was ridiculous. You can find my full review if you do a search here.

Tropicana is good, very walkable, it's right across the street, the rooms are decent, nothing spectacular, just a basic motel type room but I'd stay there again.

Crowne Plaza is also very nice, nicer than the Trop but not walking distance. You'd have to catch a shuttle. Last time we stayed there we had a free shuttle through the hotel but I'm not sure if the still do that.

CP & Tropicana will charge you to park.

 

[NVDisMom]

If I remember correctly, the Doubletree is down towards the Convention Center. Definitely not walking distance for most people at the end of a long day. But, if they are only spending a few days of their week in Disneyland it doesn't matter as much, especially if they do not plan to take afternoon breaks. If they plan on driving to Universal or San Diego or where ever the majority of the week for other adventures, then the walking distance isn't nearly as important. The inconvenience of ART is mitigated. BUT having privacy for the boys vs the parents might be VERY welcome over that week. KWIM?

I haven't stayed there...we spend our entire vacation in Disneyland unless its the day of arrival or departure, so walking distance is a must. With 13 and 15 yo girls, I'd love the privacy, but its not a high priority. Daddy is good at closing his eyes during the morning mad rush.

 

[GrandBob]

I am also unsure as to what one should consider walking distance. I have always considered only the hotels directly across the street from Disneyland ranging from the Hojo to the Ramada Maingate to be within walking distance but I don't know a lot about the areas on the other side of the parks.

I've always found this map to be fairly accurate:

www.accommodationsneardisney.com

Walkable motels in the green. Some of the ones in the yellow zone may be walkable, but mostly the walk from them gets old in a hurry; especially if you're taking afternoon breaks, and hence doing the walk 4 times a day.

-Bob

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I have friends going to Disneyland from September 29th to October 7th.
They are a family of four with two boys, 14 and 10.
Due to being able to use points, they want to book a package with a specific airline so the accommodations are limited. Staying on-site is not an option.
All rooms are standard-two queens with the exception of the Doubletree.
The Clarion is the least expensive so I have indicated the total difference for the other hotels. The choices are:

Clarion
Hilton Garden Inn (Garden Grove) + $15.00
Best Western Pavilions + $45.00
Hampton Inn (Garden Grove) + $82.00
Castle Inn + $113.00
Holiday Inn and Hotel Suites Anaheim + $157
Tropicana Inn Suites +227
Doubletree Suites Anaheim Resort + $285
Hilton Anaheim + $325
Camelot Inn Suites + 362
Crowne Plaza Anaheim (Garden Grove) + $362
Anabella Hotel + $406
Sheraton Park Hotel +$507
Carousel Inn + $836

Would love all your opinions on which would you would choose and why.

those are the 2 i would recommend out of the bunch

 

[disneegrl4eva]

ah i should have read up above it was a double post lol

 

[goofyfordisney]

those are the 2 i would recommend out of the bunch

Although I have never stayed at Sheraton Park - this what I would choose. You can walk across the street to Toy Story parking garage and catch the Disney parking lot bus to front gates of DLR. It has a nice pool, more upscale, larger rooms and nicer queen beds. The Hilton or Doubletree Suites would work for our family too.

If they want a walk able motel, I've heard the most favorable reviews for the Carousel. I think you can watch fireworks from the rooftop pool. : I noticed its the most expensive of the walk able motels...they might want to save money and try Tropicana - although, it seems to get mixed reviews on the boards.

 

[mystic_path]

After being on multiple vacations to the DLR and have stayed at quite a few places, I now tend to only stay at either the Tropicana or the Carousel. The location is FABULOUS! Right on the crosswalk. Pretty much the same distance at the Best Western as shown by a previous poster, but in the opposite direction. The rooms are comfy, clean and the service, especially at the Tropicana is really good.