Which Hotel for Us - all suggestions welcome

[JeannieNM]

Hi,
First off thanks in advance for your help.

We are a party of 6:
Myself, Jean
DD -age 13
My nephew and his wife (30 somethings)
their DS 10
Their DD 4

We are all going together, I will take the 4 year old around and the others will go together.

We are looking for suggestions of the best Disney Hotel and also the best non Disney hotel

We need to be an easy walking distance from the parks.
We need nice. clean pools not to small as we are going in mid July. We are doing the 3 for 5 special which is a long time in DL so we can pace ourselves and really take advantage of the hotel we are staying at.

Thanks for the help

jean

 

[BC Disney Lover]

We stayed at the Camelot and thought it was great for our family. We travelled with my DH and I , our 3 kids(8,4,3) and my teenage brother and sister so we needed 1 room.

We stayed in the Deluxe One Bedroom Family Suite so there was a seperate bedroom with 2 queens and there was a queen and a sofa bed in the main room with a fridge and a table w/chairs.

I also noticed that you wrote that you would be taking the 4 yr while everyone else went together. We gave the option for the teens and/or 8 yr old to go on their own and we were surprised they didn't really feel the need to. Most times when there was a ride we couldn't all go on there was something close by to occupy the little ones while waiting.

Have fun!

 

[JeannieNM]

Thank you.

What was the pool like at the Camelot? Is there a chain hotel you can compare it to so I have a feel for it (ie Holiday Inn, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.) Is their drink and food service and your lounger at the pool? The #1 question- are the beds comfortable?

 

[firefly87]

This is the 3rd time I've posted this website link today but it's very helpful as to where hotels are located in comparison to the parks. With the size of your group, you might want to look into some suites (or 2 separate rooms that adjoin maybe?). Either way, you can see what hotels are where and then maybe do some more digging into hotel reviews on Trip Advisor......or ask here! Giood luck to you!!

http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Disneyland/default.asp

 

[JeannieNM]

Thank you for the link. I saw it on another posting you made, so double thank you.

Here is the problem if I want to be totally honest, my nephew and family have not stayed at a Disney hotel and I thought that would be fun for them even if I had to help with the cost. I have stayed at the Disneyland hotel but the last time was 11 years ago. I have stayed at the Grand Californian several times. I liked it for what little time we were in the hotel. I really liked the restaurant, Napa Rose. I have also stayed at the Best Western across from the entrance, it was OK but barely. My daughter stayed at one of the Marriott suite hotels when she went with another family and she said it was good, nothing special but comfortable but they had to take the bus. I am a paraplegic and not all the buses are wheelchair accessible. I need to easily get back to the hotel for a nap with the 4 year old.

I think I am suffering from being 50 and a bit of a hotel snob. So that is why I need help!!! LOL I want to pick the hotel that my nephew's family will enjoy. If it was just me and DD we would stay at DGC.

Thanks again everyone for your help!!!!

Thanks,
Jean

 

[avalon451]

Hi, Jean! The only problem with the 5-for-3 deal is that the "good neighbor" hotels that are participating are not within walking distance, except possibly the Anabella, and it's a bit of a hike. According to GetawayToday travel, the following hotels are participating, May 1-Sept 30th:

· Clarion Hotel
· The Anabella Hotel
· Red Lion Hotel
· Anaheim Marriott Suites
· Raffles Inn and Suites
· Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

I guess it depends on how much your companions are willing to spend. The GCH is fabulous, of course, and the closest, as you know. DLH is also a nice alternative, though a bit farther. I don't think, given your experience with staying at Best Western, that you'd be very happy with any of the hotels at the crosswalk. They are all mostly clean but plain, with service varying from good to somewhat poor. None of them have room service or hotel restaurants, although there are several restaurants in the parking lots, i.e. Millie's, Mimis, Dennys, McDonalds.

I think the nicest hotel on Harbor is HoJo, but it is one block up from the crosswalk, and might be farther than you are willing to go-- although, really, it's on a par with DLH for distance. It's about a 7 minute walk to the entrance. HoJo has a fabulous pool (and a new water play area called Castaway Cove, right by the hot tub), wonderful service, and very comfortable beds. It's a favorite on these boards. They also have a 50% off rate with the Entertainment book card, although they tend to offer only a very few days at that rate in the summertime, and they often don't post those dates till the last minute. Right now there are none showing: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14 However, you can still get 15% off for being a DISboards member, by calling the hotel directly and talking to IN HOUSE reservations. If you price out what kind of a deal you can get by doing 5 for 3 at DLH, and then price out hotel and tickets separately at HoJo, you might still find yourself saving money. Again, though; no onsite roomservice or restaurants, like the rest of the Harbor hotels.

I'd price out a few different options and see what you come up with. Maybe Bumbershoot can give some perspective on the Anabella; I know she's stayed there.

Hope that helps!

 

[firefly87]

I would suggest the Disneyland Hotel then for you. The pool area would be fun for the kids. And it's easily accessible from the parks.......walking takes about 10 mins but you could also ride the monorail to the DTD station and that puts you that much closer.

Walking through DTD just kind of puts you in a happy Disney mood too!

If they have never stayed at a Disney hotel, that might be fun & exciting for them!!! And that is really generous of you to possibly help out with the cost.

 

[JeannieNM]

Avalon 451 - that information helped a lot. Thank you. I will call HoJo's on Monday. I am curios what we can pull together there. It will be hard not having room service in the am or later with a little one. I guess there is no waiters at the pool either. Oh the things we give up for the little ones. LOL I think I am done to HoJos or a Disney Hotel. Thanks again.

Firefly87- Thank you again for your continuing help, it is much appreciated. I am just making sure I understand... We are particular group you would recommend Disneyland Hotel of Grand Californian? IF that is the case can you elaborate on why? Thanks for the help.

Do you know if the monorail is wheelchair accessible? it was not years ago.

Jean

 

[teatime]

we got the 5 for 3 at the fairfield inn. free internet and you can see the park across the street.

 

[JeannieNM]

Teatime thanks. I think my nephew stayed there last time. How is the pool? Beds? Service?

Thanks

 

[tohono2000]

An important thing to remember is that if you stay in a Disney Hotel, you will get to use the early entry every day it is available versus just one for an off site hotel. The early entry only works if you are up early, so, if you sleep late consider the off site. The Annabella has worked for us...they have bigger rooms. It is a hike for some, but we go through The Grand California as a short cut. We have also stayed at the others across Harbor, but most are 4 walls...although the HO JO is much nicer, but again, a longer walk.

 

[colbybug]

Just trying to help....but I think that even though Howard Johnsons' doesn't have room service, that Mimi's Cafe next door will deliver to your hotel room. I'm sure others that have stayed there can chime in about that. The food is delicious and the portion sizes are pretty generous. We have stayed at the Howard Johnsons once and the Candy Cane Inn several times. My husband prefers the Candy Cane because of they have their own private shuttle that runs every to and from the park every 15 minutes. (like it leaves the motel at 12:00 and 12:30 and from the park at 12:15 and 12:45) and compared to other continental breakfasts' theirs is by far the best. It is also very quaint and beautiful. Both properties are the same distance away from the DL entrance - just opposite directions of each other.

Colbybug

 

[JeannieNM]

thanks for all the suggestions.

I called Candy Cane Inn and they do not have a wheelchair accessible shuttle.

I do know the 4 year old is up early and so I will be up early and can take advantage of the early mornings.

What I really want to do is what all of us would want, I want to stay at DGC for the price of HoJos. I may just have to open up my wallet.

 

[Escape2Disney]

The monorail is now wheelchair accessible. I've used it quite often.

Have a great trip!

 

[JeannieNM]

Wonderful news about the monorail!!!!