Why is it so hard for me to pick a hotel??!

[gabsandalex]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place - still finding my way around here

I am so bad at committing to a hotel - no idea why this is so hard for me! We will be a party of 5 (taking our 2 kids - ages 4 & 7 - and my mother) driving from Utah to Disneyland in Oct. for a quick stay. Last time we stayed at CCI and loved it, but have decided that it is too much/too small for this trip. We are on a budget, leaning towards using Get Away Today because they seem to have the best hopper rates and deals, but open to other ideas too. We are trying to just all squish in either a standard room or an inexpensive suite with an air mattress brought from home.

So here is what we have found so far (all prices includes 5 3-day park hoppers & 4 nights accommodations).

1. Fairfield Inn for $1286

2. Crowne Plaza for $1312

3. Ayres Inn for $1271

4. Comfort Inn for $1266

5. Peacock Inn for $1316

6. BW Stovalls for $1195

Any opinions/suggestions/preferences - I haven't stayed at any of these before? Where does everybody find the best park hopper ticket rates? And a last question about ART: Has anybody ever had a problem with the shuttles getting too full and having to wait for the next?

Thanks!

Stephanie

 

[becstr]

I stayed at fairfield inn last year. I liked it. It is clean and easy walking distance. The standard rooms sleep 5 with 2 queens and a chair that folds out to a bed.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I'm from Utah and have used GAT a lot. I like them also This time we found it was WAY cheaper to go to Desert Inn and Suites. I hear good and bad about it..and I know it's not on your list. But thought I'd toss it out there. For 7 nights we got 4 queen beds and a parlor for 1200 (that includes tax/parking/resort fees!). This, obviously, does not include tickets..and we have a bigger party (3 kids and 4 adults). You can also buy the tickets through GAT still. They are a bit cheaper than disney's site. I think our biggest reason in choosing Desert Inn and Suites (aside from price) is that it's RIGHT across the street. You ALSO don't have to do the ART. You just quickly walk across the street

Anyway, again..sorry I'm not more help on those specific properties!

 

[gabsandalex]

Please no apologies - Your advise is very helpful and I appreciate it! I love the internet, but at least for me, the overload of information can sometimes make it so hard to decide. Just had the same experience in Carlsbad last April lol.

As for this trip, I am open to whatever is going to be most affordable for us so I will check the Desert Inn as well. As far as I am concerned, our splurge for the trip is the over $900 in park tickets, NOT the hotel. I have even considered staying further away and paying for parking if the savings are substantial enough.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yup. Tickets are gonna KILL us. LOL

For sure, if you're considering further away for price, please check out Desert Inn first. They have a website too. http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/

Plus they have a continental (tho most do nowadays) AND a mini fridge and microwave We're staying in the parlor family suite C-1.

GOOD LUCK! Choosing stuff like this is fun for me but it's also sorta stressful. I'm the same way..I get TONS of info and then get a little overwhelmed LOL

 

[eduk8r26]

If it's the Ayres Inn in Anaheim, they get top reviews on Trip Advisor.

 

[DahliaRW]

Did you price it all seperately? Because a lot of times it's cheaper to not buy a package. But of the ones you listed I'd choose the fairfield because it's walking distance.

 

[momjkm]

we stayed at Towneplace Suites across from Angel Stadium last weekin a queen suite for $89 night for 6 nights. The room was immaculate, hada full kitchen. It includes breakfast in am- cereal, bagels, hard boiled eggs, juice, coffee, muffins, yogurt. All very fresh. Free parking. There are various fast food options in the parking lot. It took us 6-8 minutes to get to the park by car. Our GPS took us around the congested area where all the good neighbor hotels were. We got our park hoppers from AAA which had a small discount but included parking so that was $75 for 5 days. Worth it imo.

Good luck!and happy planning!

 

[endy]

We've stayed at both Ayres - Anaheim & Orange.
Loved them both, Orange has their own shuttle, Anaheim has ART stop in front.
Just stayed at the Anaheim one this month. Fridge, micro, excellent breakfast, laundry & a smallish pool. You could see the fireworks from the front doors.

 

[nbliss]

When are you going in October? Have you considered Howard Johnson? They just posted some late October rates again for the Entertainment Book Rate.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

I found booking separately was cheapest. I was able to get airfare and hotel for 4 nights and 4 people for under 1k, and those darn park hopper tix are costing me more than that!

 

[MxFarmgirl]

In September of 2010, we stayed at the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn and Suites.
We had a mini suite, with two queens and sofa bed.
It was clean, and pretty much right across the street from the entrance way to Disneyland.
So easy and quick to go back and forth.

Don't expect a good breakfast at this place. We always ate elsewhere.

The staff were great, helpful and our room was always cleaned before we got back.
We are going to book again for 2012.
In 2008 we stayed at the Park Vue, almost next door to the Best Western.
they had a better breakfast. Again, right across from the main entrance way to Disneyland.

 

[rentayenta]

Out of your choices, I would choose the Fairfield Inn. The reviews are consistently good and some the local hotels can be so hit and miss.


We live in Utah too.

 

[gabsandalex]

When are you going in October? Have you considered Howard Johnson? They just posted some late October rates again for the Entertainment Book Rate.

I found booking separately was cheapest. I was able to get airfare and hotel for 4 nights and 4 people for under 1k, and those darn park hopper tix are costing me more than that!

Thanks for the advice! Where do they sell the Entertainment Books? I have seen people with them, but never known where to buy them.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Out of your choices I'd choose Fairfield too. I have yet to stay at a Marriot I've hated. It always gets really solid and consistent reviews.

We did Hojo and loved it. I got my Entertainment card from someone on here.

Check here for the book if you want it.

http://www.entertainment.com/discou...inment book&cm_mmca1=17163276&LinkName=GOOGLE

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Like some of the previous posters have said, I would definitely price it out seperately from some of the hotels' websites. We have never found a package that is cheaper than just doing it seperately ourselves. Guess it depends on where you stay, and any perks you might want that come with the packages.

I had a friend stay at Stovalls, and they said they would not stay there again as they thought the walk was too long.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[gabsandalex]

I think that the reason some were popping up cheaper in the package is because of a 3rd or 4th night free. I can certainly look for that myself. And now I think that I can get the park hoppers cheaper locally - (just need to double check to see if there are any exp. dates), so pricing out separately will likely be the route to go.

One thing though: I don't think that the 3 day park hoppers will come with the one day free toon town morning madness. I have never done the MM thing - is it worth paying more for park hoppers just to get the free MM entrance?

 

[gabsandalex]

The good news: I *am* going to be able to buy the tickets locally for a total savings of $125 less than the best price I had found before.

The not so good news? No entertainment rates for the dates we are going. Still a great suggestion though!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Oh wow, that's a good savings!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I think that the reason some were popping up cheaper in the package is because of a 3rd or 4th night free. I can certainly look for that myself. And now I think that I can get the park hoppers cheaper locally - (just need to double check to see if there are any exp. dates), so pricing out separately will likely be the route to go.

One thing though: I don't think that the 3 day park hoppers will come with the one day free toon town morning madness. I have never done the MM thing - is it worth paying more for park hoppers just to get the free MM entrance?

Some packages come with TTMM, MM(magic morning) is early entry into the parks on selected days and all 3+ park hoppers come with one day. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Jack

 

[gabsandalex]

Some packages come with TTMM, MM(magic morning) is early entry into the parks on selected days and all 3+ park hoppers come with one day. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Jack

Is the MM a separate ticket? I think that I am going to be buying our tickets from the university because they are cheaper. Guess I may need to find out from them whether they automatically come with a MM.