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

[DLgal]

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

My best friend and I are staying there next month for a couple nights. It will be her first time and I haven't told her about the headboards yet. She is gonna LOVE it. She's 44. LOL.

 

[chezcurrie]

My best friend and I are staying there next month for a couple nights. It will be her first time and I haven't told her about the headboards yet. She is gonna LOVE it. She's 44. LOL.

Yaaas! I actually surprised my sis with our stay in September. The look on her face was priceless. Have so much fun!

 

[DLgal]

Yaaas! I actually surprised my sis with our stay in September. The look on her face was priceless. Have so much fun!

It's so funny. She texted me last week and was like "thinking about a quick late April visit so I can finally get back to Disneyland."

Within 2 minutes, it went from "sure, you can crash at my place and we'll hit the parks for 2 days" to "Let's blow this mother out with a 2 night deluxe hotel stay!" I mean, once I looked at the park reservation calendar, I was like, we aren't getting into the parks without a hotel reservation anyway...

I honestly didn't expect to be able to get a room at the DLH, never mind one at 35% off (military rate) once we settled on the dates and I realized the confluence of events that weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised!

 

[chezcurrie]

It's so funny. She texted me last week and was like "thinking about a quick late April visit so I can finally get back to Disneyland."

Within 2 minutes, it went from "sure, you can crash at my place and we'll hit the parks for 2 days" to "Let's blow this mother out with a 2 night deluxe hotel stay!" I mean, once I looked at the park reservation calendar, I was like, we aren't getting into the parks without a hotel reservation anyway...

I honestly didn't expect to be able to get a room at the DLH, never mind one at 35% off (military rate) once we settled on the dates and I realized the confluence of events that weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised!

Oh the best! I am so excited for you! After all we’ve all been through I say do it up! My trip with my sis was the first time I’d seen her in almost 2 years (I’m currently in Canada but in the process of moving the fam back to Cali.)

OP, if you needed more ammunition for the DLH look at how these 2 strangers are geeking out over their stays. Lol Not sure you get that at the Courtyard. Just sayin’.

 

[sweethannah]

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!

Have you considered the Residence Inn by Marriott Convention Center? Not a connecting room but they have a family suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, kitchen and living area but the second bedroom is just bunkbeds which the girls might like, or not lol but it's still quite private. Buffet breakfast as well. It might fit within your price point, date dependent. Enjoy the trip! We had planned to do a similar trip for DD16th with her bestie but alas, Covid.

 

[sweethannah]

Have you considered the Residence Inn by Marriott Convention Center? Not a connecting room but they have a family suite with 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, kitchen and living area but the second bedroom is just bunkbeds which the girls might like, or not lol but it's still quite private. Buffet breakfast as well. It might fit within your price point, date dependent. Enjoy the trip! We had planned to do a similar trip for DD16th with her bestie but alas, Covid.

Just replying to myself and as an FYI; I was looking into the family suites and the bunkbeds might not fit teens or adults comfortably.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Just replying to myself and as an FYI; I was looking into the family suites and the bunkbeds might not fit teens or adults comfortably.

It’s also not a super safe walk for the teens alone, which seems to be her highest concern.

 

[sweethannah]

It’s also not a super safe walk for the teens alone, which seems to be her highest concern.

I would let my 16 year old and her friend do the walk to the Residence It's closer than the Westin (google maps says about 8 minutes but that seems a bit long) and closer to a major intersection which means more traffic and passersby. I think it depends on the kids and their upbringing; some kids have grown up in an urban environment and it might not phase them at all. We watched a woman attack a tree sitting at Mimi's (Hojo area) in the middle of the day on one trip.
I asked my DD if she wanted to stay at the DLH again and while she liked it her honest answer was that really the hotel doesn't make too much of a difference outside of having a nice place to sleep and a pool. I think we as adults care a lot more and assume kids care as much as we do. The only hotel she really thinks worth a premium price is the Grand because it was so easy to enter/exit the Park.
Based on the prices presented, I'd stick with the Hojo hands down. Adjoining rooms, the service is second to none, and the walk is short and sweet. The money saved between the HOJO and DLH could be spent on more memories than a hotel room alone could provide; teens really aren't going to care that much about a light up headboard but they'd probably remember the dessert party for WOC or other special treats along the way if your budget wouldn't allow for these things + the DLH.

 

[maleficent55]

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.

Your third favorite? Now just out of curiosity I want to know your first and second

 

[Malcon10t]

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!

I just wanted to add, you know your child, and how they handle themselves. I would not have had an issue with my daughters making that walk (they are now in their 30s and do walk it) at 16-18. But they aren't intimidated easily. Also, I can't remember the last time we walked back to the DLH between 10 and midnight, and Anaheim PD didn't have officers parked at the light to the DTD parking area. The employees walk to this area, and APD is very well seen.

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.

Just to add, there are almost always at least 3+ APD officers hanging out at the exit.

Your third favorite? Now just out of curiosity I want to know your first and second

I think she was saying DLH and GCH.

To the OP, if you are looking at 2 rooms connecting at DLH, consider getting a 1 bedroom suite.

 

[Dizzy4DL]

Just tacking on with something that happened to us on Harbor during our trip in September. We were staying at the BW Anaheim. Not too far from the crosswalk into DL. As we left DL property, there was a "preacher" yelling into his loudspeaker at a woman, who seemed completely out of her head, that she was an abomination and other choice words. And after crossing the street, we had another woman who was extremely out of it (drugs?) try to follow us. We darted into the lobby of our hotel and she finally left. Once you leave DL property, anything goes.