Originally Posted By nickapoohiluvu Getting ready for our trip with the kids and Grandma in February. Am concerned about the Hotel situation. Grandma is "fluffy," smokes and has a hard time handling a long walk. Have two kids, a five year old with asthma and a 1 year old. I have only a single stroller (besides the jogger and that won't fit when we drive out!) so my son will probably be up on Daddy's shoulder's when its time to go back to the hotel. I want to be as easy on my husbands back as possible, so I want to be in the closest most reasonably priced walking distance hotel we can find, for my husband's neck and my mother-in-laws knees. ART really isn't practical because I want to be able to go back to the hotel on our schedule, not theirs. I'm not fond of BWPPI because in order to get 2 Queen sized beds, I have to get the Mini Suite. The price for the Mini Suite just isn't worth it. I have Hojo's reserved tentatively (QQ Roll Away, DL View for $124.50/night and I know it'll go down by Feb), but am thinking about changing. From an aerial view on google earth, it looks no farther to the main gate than the Paradise Pier. If that's the case it shouldn't be too bad, and I could always put my son and Grandma on the ART going back to the hotel while my husband and I walked with the baby. I also noticed the Fairfield Inn had QQ with a sofabed rooms for AAA rate of $119 a night with a walk similar to BWPPI and not too bad of reviews. Haven't checked for an Entertainment rate. Does anyone else have any better suggestions for lodging? Because I am just not sure at this moment in time. Thanks!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer FYI, HoJo's, Candy Cane Inn and the Paradise Pier are all about the same distance to the Main Gates.
Originally Posted By funnygarcia I have stayed at the Fairfield in the past. The sofabed is very short,they list it as a twin size but my teen SIL at the time looked very uncomfortable, feet nearly hanging off the end and she was very petite. For the five year old it would be just fine. The hotel itself isn't too bad. Exterior corridors, long hallways with opening at bottom of wall (possible hazard for young kids). Door was very hard to open and shut if any wind. Wind whistled under door (used a towel as a draft buster and that was better for sleeping). Room was dark, low level lighting. Beds were ok, room was clean, fridge in room, seperate vanity/sink area was nice for mornings. Staff was polite and pool was just ok (located in parking lot). Personally, I prefer HoJo's even with the slightly longer walk.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Hojos really isn't a bad walk. 5-7 minutes. It might be long for Grandma, but I think your idea of putting her on ART is good. It is the final stop (of 3 total) on the route.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM Hey nick, if you really wanted to stay at the BWPPI the rates for a mini suite in february are 118 a night...
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan Last year we stayed at the Park Vue Inn (note different spelling - they have a website), and will stay there again this month. It is literally RIGHT AT THE CROSSWALK, so you can't find a closer hotel on the east side of the park. Except for the one right next door, which I can't remember the name of. We reserved a room (not a suite) with 2 queen beds for less than $90 a night, or right around there. They offer breakfast but it is very skimpy. We had to suppliment or go to IHOP (in hotel parking lot). I have read both good and bad things about this hotel on LP forums, but we enjoyed it. The rooms have a small fridge and microwave.
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan ^I should add that my 4 year old and almost 2 year olds walked the distance just fine, because we rented a stroller and could only use it in the park. Although the little one proabably rode on shoulders at night. Its a convenient distance for a napper if you plan on returning to the hotel for naps.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I have stayed at the Fairfield Inn and found it clean, reasonably comfortable and roomy and not a bad walk. I stayed at HoJo's on my last trip having heard great reviews and was really disappointed - I would recommend the Fairfield over it any day. It was actually cheaper when we stayed, the hotel and rooms looked nicer and the staff were friendlier - plus it is ever-so-slightly closer to the park. Have fun, wherever you stay!
Originally Posted By nickapoohiluvu Thanks all! I'll keep your thoughts in mind while I watch for falling prices.
Originally Posted By drawbridge We were happy at the Tropicana last time. They had the lowest rates then and it was clean and super close. Does anyone have the link for the map of Harbor hotels? I thought I bookmarked it but now cannot find it.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Here's the map: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/ashps yche/DisneylandLinkMap.html</a>
Originally Posted By Disney Joy Staying at Ho Jo this past summer - it's nice but for the walk - not again. I will be staying across the street next trip.Each day - on a 4 night stay -I think Ho Jo's was moving farther and farther away each day. :O)) I did walk back. I looked inside both hotels right at the light and they both look nice, and very very nice at park closing time....I thought GEE I could be home now. :O)))
Originally Posted By nickapoohiluvu Just wanted to say thanks for everyone for posting suggestions. DH and I stayed at the HOJO's the night of 11/10. We got in around park closing time (flight was delayed). HOJO's was very nice and the staff was very accomodating. There was high speed internet in our room, IMACS available for use at the front desk (and you could print off your boarding passes to!) and wireless access in some common areas, I think. Grounds were gorgeous and the pool looked inviting. No hint of bedbugs anywhere. Bed's were a little hard and I do NOT recommend staying freeway side as its very noisy. Anyhow, what convinced me to not stay there was seeing all the tuckered out families make their way from the park to the hotel at midnight. Children asleep in parents arms. The walk itself isn't too bad, but, with the baby and Nick, it might get a little tough with only a single seated stroller, especially since we'll leave for a rest at least once in the day. So, I went ahead and reserved the BWPPI mini suite for $118 a night. Am a little irritated with their front desk, again. The mini suite was available online through their website, but they couldn't reseve it for me directly. Online, I couldn't get my entertainment discount or my AAA discount. Most other hotels I've stayed at, the hotel reservations system has been tied into central reservations, so that I can look it up online and, if I'm eligible for discounts that I don't know the codes for, the hotel can punch it all in. Am still hoping for rates to fall at the Resort Hotels. Best rate I can find so for is $215 a night (all taxes included) at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Not horrible, but I know it can get better. Anyway, thanks all!
Originally Posted By raer Remember that all the DLR hotels are non-smoking now. If she smokes, that may not be a good choice for your family.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice You can get a AAA rate at Candy Cane Inn AND two queen beds AND a 'dedicated' free shuttle AND a nice, free continental breakfast. But it IS a smoke-free property. A sample date of February 20 gives the rate of $159 for a premium (larger) room, plus $10 for a rollaway bed if needed. With AAA it would probably be cheaper by $10-20, but they can quote the rate if you call.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I meant to add... I also recommend the Park Vue Inn. The location is the best and my room in July was no-frills, but clean and comfortable. Had a not-so-mini fridge - big enough to hold anything you'd want, a microwave and coffee maker (with real mugs!) too. I paid an average of $99 per night for two queen beds. There was room for a roll-away, too.
Originally Posted By nickapoohiluvu Thanks for the heads up about smoking. Thankfully its not too much of an issue. She's really good about finding the smoking areas, well away from my son (he has asthma). I'll have to check up on the CCI too. Thanks all!
Originally Posted By chickapin HoJo at night isn't bad at all--on the nights DL was open late we used the ART shuttle. At the Entertainment rate, free parking, a fridge, and great customer service I am willing to spring for ART passes if we are tired at night.
Originally Posted By redlegtwo wonderingalice - when did Candy Cane Inn become smoke-free? We stayed there in July 2005 and I needed another room at the last minute. All they had was a smoking room. Glad to hear they're smoke-free now and I don't have to worry about that happening again.
