Which hotel...really can't decide!?

[SFMommy]

Me again...I already posted a which hotel question a while ago. But now that the Spring room offerings are available, here are my choices for 4 nights in mid-May.

Hojo - 2 connecting rooms - $1,780
Courtyard Main Gate - 2 rooms (they do not have connecting rooms) - $2,495
Westin - 2 connecting rooms - $2,765
Paradise Pier - 2 connecting rooms - $3,200
Disneyland Hotel - 2 connecting rooms - $4,200

Travelers are me, DH, DD16 and DD's BFF16. This is BFF's first time to DLR. And this is a very special trip to celebrate DD's 16th birthday.

I am leaning towards the Westin. My main concern is safety of the 16 year old girls walking back to the hotel by themselves at night. Any thoughts on this walk through DTD and then down Disneyland Drive?

My DD16 loves the PPH because she has fond memories of past trips there when she was little. But reviews have been pretty MEH about the hotel since it opened post-Covid. And without early entry into the parks and with no restaurants in the hotel, I'm not sure that it's worth it. I would be very disappointed to pay more for PPH (vs. Westin) and stay in a run-down, dated room with no added on-site perks. Any recent experiences there?

I would love to stay at the DLH, but ouch that price point hurts!

Courtyard seems like a good compromise, but I was disappointed that they don't have connecting rooms. That means that the 16 year old girls will be in their own room, possibly on the same floor, but maybe not.

I would love to hear any thoughts on these choices! Thanks so much!

 

[DLgal]

Just want to make you aware. None of the Disney hotels will guarantee connecting rooms, no matter what. So, if this is a MUST, cross those all off your list.

I don't know that I'd allow two 16 year old girls to walk back alone to the Westin late at night.

 

[SFMommy]

Just want to make you aware. None of the Disney hotels will guarantee connecting rooms, no matter what. So, if this is a MUST, cross those all off your list.

I don't know that I'd allow two 16 year old girls to walk back alone to the Westin late at night.

Yes, I realize that is the case with most hotels in terms of the connecting rooms.

Thank you for your input!

 

[SFMommy]

One more thing...I heard that the GCH is now allowing PPH guests to walk through their hotel into DTD and DCA. This was the case many, many years ago. Then they stopped it and we had to walk around where Earl of Sandwich was. Is it now the case that we can cross and go through the GCH?

 

[smartlabelprint]

If it were me I’d pick courtyard.

 

[DLgal]

If it were me I’d pick courtyard.

Me too.

 

[Pluto468]

Are you booking a 2 bedroom suite at DLH or just asking for connecting rooms? Same question for Hojo.

If that's the priority I'd go with whichever hotel can guarantee the connecting rooms. I know Hojo has a 4 queen bundle. Courtyard has 1 bedroom suites that could possibly work for you.

I know what you mean about paradise Pier, but their suites are 10% off with the new promotion.

I'd probably rather have my teen walking home through Downtown Disney rather than an off site hotel. But that may depend on the child, of course, and she wouldn't be alone since her BFF is going.

 

[sophy1996]

I love the Westin, and have 3 stays booked there for later this year. But not for two teenage girls walking by themselves late. The Disneyland Drive walk wasn’t nearly as populated as the Harbor walk.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'd pick HOJO. 1k difference between that and the Westin is huge. That's a lot of food in the parks. We have stayed at HOJO many times. It's clean and comfortable, I've never questioned safety. I do feel a bit better about the walk to HOJO, just because that is always a very crowded area with tourists.

 

[Magic2000]

We are currently booked at the HoJo, but I am a little concerned about the reservation system for the pool. I am just not 100% sure what time we'll be going back to the hotel for a break. And we had one day for just staying at the hotel and letting the grandkids swim.

 

[lalasmama]

You asked about the safety of walking from the parks to Westin. I do this walk each time I'm solo in the parks staying at Stovall's across the street from Westin. I've never had a problem.

Would I let my teen do the walk? I'm a little more hesitant. I think it all depends on the teens.

Are the teens in question generally aware of their surroundings? Do they listen/behave/mind well when it's important? Are they comfortable with the idea? Would they go straight there without any pit stops? Are they used to going places on their own?

Our 18yo has ADHD and can be completely oblivious to the world around her. But if she's told to "watch out" or "be aware" or "pay attention to _____" then she hyper-foucuses, and her anxiety gets so high that she would consider a 6yo a "safety threat." But we also live in a town of 8,000, so it's not like she's on her own in a "big" city either.

Realistically, the walk is all DLR property until they get to Katella. It's only 5-8 minutes straight past PPH. I have zero doubt that the area is well- monitored with video servailence. Traffic is light, and foot traffic is even lighter. Sometimes I see others walking my same way, but often I don't.

It is definitely a tough decision to make!

 

[tdhickey]

Stayed at the Hojo a few times, it's always been good. I'd jump on that price any day, not too far of a walk, 2 pools, decent rooms.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Here is why I wouldn’t stay at the Westin and let 2 girls walk home alone. “
I also had a balcony park view room at the Westin and it was WONDERFUL! Check out my room! That was a free upgrade, too (Bonvoy Gold status).

The walk wasn't too bad, but it was a little scary last Saturday at midnight walking back. Not many people around and there was a crazy lady ahead of us yelling and behaving erratically. It was a lovely walk during the day. And security wasn't busy on the DTD side.

We also easily got a 2pm late checkout, too, which is usually not that doable with just Gold status. That helped out a lot on our last day.”
Quote is from this thread. https://www.disboards.com/threads/looking-for-a-hotel-with-a-balcony.3876390/#post-63865717

 

[SFMommy]

Thank you so much everyone for all the input. I have to prioritize the safety of the girls walking alone, since this is the first time that DD is traveling to DLR with a friend and she is so excited to not have to hang out with Mom and Dad for the whole trip. I don't want to be worrying about them at midnight every night or having to meet them in DTD to escort them home.

And I am realizing that we might not get connecting rooms at any of the hotels that have connecting rooms. So I now I am leaning towards the Courtyard. The reviews are outstanding. And we have stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Hojo, so I agree that the walk will be heavily populated and safe.

I'm also thinking that the Courtyard is a smidge "nicer" than Hojo? And just a tiny bit closer. Last time we stayed in that area, the Courtyard was being built.

I guess we will save our stay at the Westin for when it is just the three of us!

Thanks again!

 

[DLgal]

If your #1 priority is the safety of the girls, and you are okay without connecting rooms, just book the Disneyland hotel. Honestly, the walk along Harbor is "generally safe" but there ARE going to be homeless people camped out and they can occasionally get aggressive. Having other people around does not stop them sometimes from harassing young women.

Quite honestly, I would not be comfortable with two 16 year old girls walking back at midnight alone to ANY of the offsite hotels. I would spend the extra for the peace of mind of them not having to leave Disney property so they can have the freedom they are looking forward to.

I have 16 and almost 18 year old sons with autism, so they are kind of on the more socially immature/vulnerable side, and there is no way in the world that I would be okay with them walking back to the Courtyard at midnight alone. Maybe that makes me overprotective, but we have had very scary run ins with homeless/drug addicts in the past and I would not want to put them in a situation like that alone. I assume the SF in your name means San Francisco, so you know what I'm talking about here. If you feel like these young ladies are street smart enough to handle a potential confrontation, go ahead and book the Courtyard without hesitation, but please make them aware that they should not let their guards down while walking back alone, day or night.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I know this isn't on your list, but have you considered the Candy Cane Inn? I would feel completely comfortable with the girls walking there at night, as it's the first hotel directly outside of Disneyland. You can't get much closer. You don't even have to cross the street. It is being renovated, so all the rooms should be in excellent condition, and they are known for good service and a nice breakfast.

 

[GoBears79]

I would chose the Westin, with the Courtyard Theme Park Entrance as a backup, but are these the only four hotels you looked at? What about the JW Marriott? Hyatt House? Homewood Suites? Residence Inn? Clementine Inn?

 

[sophy1996]

I know this isn't on your list, but have you considered the Candy Cane Inn? I would feel completely comfortable with the girls walking there at night, as it's the first hotel directly outside of Disneyland. You can't get much closer. You don't even have to cross the street. It is being renovated, so all the rooms should be in excellent condition, and they are known for good service and a nice breakfast.

Candy Cane Inn also has its own shuttle. But OP said mid-May and I don’t think it will be reopened by then.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

Thank you so much everyone for all the input. I have to prioritize the safety of the girls walking alone, since this is the first time that DD is traveling to DLR with a friend and she is so excited to not have to hang out with Mom and Dad for the whole trip. I don't want to be worrying about them at midnight every night or having to meet them in DTD to escort them home.

And I am realizing that we might not get connecting rooms at any of the hotels that have connecting rooms. So I now I am leaning towards the Courtyard. The reviews are outstanding. And we have stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Hojo, so I agree that the walk will be heavily populated and safe.

I'm also thinking that the Courtyard is a smidge "nicer" than Hojo? And just a tiny bit closer. Last time we stayed in that area, the Courtyard was being built.

I guess we will save our stay at the Westin for when it is just the three of us!

Thanks again!

If you have street smart teens that are used to urban environments and the people from all walks of life found in most urban environments, go with the Courtyard. The Courtyard is definitely WAY nicer than the HoJo. It’s my 3rd favorite hotel outside of DLH and GCH. The rooms are humongous. If you’re worried about the teens being placed far away from you, call the hotel and ask which room types would be best to book if you want rooms right next to each other. Make sure you book the rooms together (you can book 2 rooms at the same time), and then call a day or two before you arrive and ask them to place you in rooms either next to or across from each other. If you don’t have street smart teens, I’d go with DLH for peace of mind. I know it’s expensive but it is a fantastic hotel and you won’t have to worry about them walking back by themselves.

 

[chezcurrie]

Agree with @DLgal assessment. The walk back to Dland Hotel is almost completely still in the security zone, with just steps after exiting security onto hotel property.

Also as this is a special 16th bday trip I vote splurge on the Dland hotel. I can just hear the teenage squeals of joy at the headboard… my sister and I (fully grown women with kids of our own) slept with the headboard on our entire stay. LOL