Originally Posted By Jenn31 So after much research and narrowing down our list (it was a long one!) we've narrowed it down to the following properties. We need your help to help us decide where to stay. We like them all equally! So tell us where we should stay and why. Below are the Hotel names with the price of stay and a 4 day hopper. Holiday Inn Express $451.34 2 Qs or 1 K, Hot breakfast, Gym, Pool, No Fridge or Microwave. ART. (We can Upgrade at counter to suite with fridge/micro for $45) Hilton Garden Inn $545.00 2 Qs, Gym, Pool, Microwave, Fridge, Room Service, ART. Fairfield Inn Marriott $565.00 1 k w/ sofa, Gym, Pool, fridge, room service, Arcade, Pizza Hut, & Coffee shop onsite. Hampton Inn And Suites $585.00 2 Qs, Gym, Pool, Hot Breakfast, Microwave, Fridge, ART. Park Vue Inn & Suites $664.00 1 K w/Jacuzzi, Pool, Microwave, Fridge, Continental Breakfast. Sheraton Anaheim $675.00 2 Qs, sitting area, Gym, Pool, Room Service, Fridge, Arcade, Restaurants onsite, pond, free shuttle, babysitting.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip If you truly like them all equally, I would stay at the Holiday Inn Express because it is $100-$200 less expensive than the others.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Well first when are you going. Will the pool be important(warm enough to swim)? Will you need room service? Holiday Inn Express I really like and now being so close to the Garden Walk you have lots of food choices - so I would go with that one... Did they change the micro/refridg deal - I have always had one in a 2 queen room.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 2 of my adults kids and their others have stayed at the Fairfield and they liked it. It is within walking distance (a bit closer than HoJo's) and they found the rooms to be of the quality and cleanliness of other Marriot's. The corridors are outside, the hotel is set back closer to the freeway, one "wing" is not next to the freeway but they were next to the freeway and didn't have a problem with noise. Just mentioning that because it's not right at the sidewalk and you do have to walk across the parking lot to get to the hotel.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 We are going this April 26-30th, so for four nights. It's me and my 18 month old son, just the two of us. A fridge is REALLY important as we need it for his milk. We have never traveled by ourselves before so I want everything to be as convenient as possible! Breakfast is also important to us so if it's not included in the package, I think we'll just room service it. I don't know how difficult it would be to get me and my son and all of our stuff (stroller, etc) on and off the ART bus. I'm just not sure. Really nervous about traveling by ourselves. Hope it's not difficult.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I have been traveling to DL alone with between one and 4 of my kids for years now. My DH is not a disneyfan. Do you have AAA? If you do and can book through them or at least buy your tix through them you will get free parking at DL. My rule of thumb when traveling with the kids when they were little was no outside corridors. I only stayed in hotels. I just felt safer - especially in the evening. With that I would suggest then Holiday Inn Express, Hampton, or the Sheraton. Did you look at the residence inn - it has full kitchens, and a free hot breakfast. I would call Holiday Inn Express and find out if you can request a refridg in your room -
Originally Posted By dlkozy The problem that I have with many residence inn's is that they tend to have very long corridors and if it was my DW and child this would be a concern.
Originally Posted By dlkozy So, I travel alone at times for business as well. I like to be close to an elevator, inside rooms-no direct access from the outside, and I try to stay as hands free as possible going to and from my room. Meaning-don't use a purse, but a backpack, don't get yourself loaded down with packages AND the baby=too much in your hands. Have your room key in your HANDS before leaving the lobby to head to your room. Don't use your cell phone while you are going and coming from your room-keep your eyes and other senses aware to your surroundings.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 gottaluvdavillains thanks so much for the tip! How old was your child when you first started taking him/her by yourself? How did you juggle a stroller, luggage and everything else? He's been walking for a few months now, but there's no way he could walk disneyland or to/from the room and he's too heavy and tall for me to cary. He's 16months is 3 feet tall and weighs 30lbs. I'm only 5'1. How did you tackle the parks? Did you go back for naps or just pull off into a corner of the park that was quiet while the little one was napping?
Originally Posted By avromark Sheraton tends to treat it's Platinum/Gold members badly. My company uses the Starwood system as their preferred hotels, but I've pretty much switched to Hilton on company dime. The Sheraton has large rooms, onsite staff is good, but I've had billing problems with them (Overcharging/Not granting already booked SPG nights, no Elite upgrades on low occupancy nights, rate changes without modifying res). The Sheraton has nice TV's but they are stretching 4:3 picture to 16:9 aspect ratio last time I was there (very nitpicky for me) Oh and on-site dining options are a bit on the pricy side. That said an unrelated Westin location I used to go to has dropped prices to a quarter they were last year. Starwood seems to be struggling. Also I've had reservations at locations that went bankrupt (Won't happen in Anaheim) and had to fight for my money back (They offered a room at another hotel in a different city for a higher rate with a discount because it's the hotel operators fault not Starwoods) The Garden Inn has a beautiful atrium (If it's the location I'm thinking of) and the breakfast is very hearty (Choose your own Omelet) They also have free drinks during manager hour Your mileage will vary however.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Great tip dlkozy! "Have your room key in your HANDS before leaving the lobby to head to your room" I could picture myself with baby in arms, packages in hand trying to figure out how to get the key out of my pocket!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains My DD was under 2 the first time I took her and my son was had just turned 4 - I left the older boys at home as they were in school (it was before I started pulling them out to go) I always took my own stroller so I didn't have anything to carry and could easily get in and out of my room. That trip was summer with long hours so I went back and rested. But during the winter after that I just let her fall asleep in the stroller - I liked my own stroller for that since it reclined. I also took their favorite snacks - and their cups.. I like those new cups they have now that have the built in straw that collapses so it stays clean.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Ohh and for luggage I put her in the stoller and only used one regular rolling suitcase and a smaller duffle type - I put the diaper bag across my body - put the duffle on the top of the stroller - and pulled the suitcase behind me. If he is walking I would suggest one of those new baby backpacks with the long tail (leash) - He will want to get out of the stroller in the park and for me saftey was most important so if I was alone I would use the hand-holders for my older kids (actually put through the back of their overall straps) or a harness. I didn't want to worry about a runner! This would have been good for a mother I saw this weekend in DL - she had let her about 18-24mo old out of the stoller and let her about 3 - 4 year old in - the baby took off laughing and the mother had to chase her and it was in a crowded area so she left the stroller. Me and another couple watched her run after the baby and kept an eye on the toddler in the stroller... I could only think OMG that's where those harnesses are such a good idea!
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Did you have to check the stroller? Or were you able to bring it as a carry on?
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Ahh you are flying... You should be able to use it in the airport and use it as carry on. I am not sure of the procedure - but I have seen many people do this.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer >>The problem that I have with many residence inn's is that they tend to have very long corridors and if it was my DW and child this would be a concern.<< FYI, the are two styles of Residence Inn's, one is the older style, which is basically a condo/apartment complex like place, a bunch of 2 story buildings with doors opening to the outside. The Residence Inn Maingate on Disney Way next to AGW is the Condo like style. The other is a tradtional multi-story Hotel building with interior hallways. The Residence Inn Garden Grove on Harbor Blvd is the style that has the hallways. I prefer the Maingate location, both for the style of the buildings, plus the fact it is close to AGW and fairly easy to walk to the parks.
Originally Posted By charming husband +I prefer the Maingate location, both for the style of the buildings, plus the fact it is close to AGW and fairly easy to walk to the parks.+ If I am understanding your post-the Maingate opens to the outside. If that is the case, this is not where I would want my DW to stay if she were traveling by herself.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 ok, so I'm booking today and narrowed it down to three: The price includes hotel, Airfare, Tickets, Food, Spending, Airport Parking, and Disney Magical Express Transfers. DISNEYLAND HOTEL = $2005.00 AYRES HOTEL (NEW ONE) = $1257.00 FAIRFIELD INN MARRIOTT = $1317.00 Which should I book? Wed love the DLH but is the $688 price difference worth it? We've stayed before and loved it. We've stayed at the Fairfield inn before and it was nice and it's close. We've never stayed at the Ayres but have heard wonderful things. ??? I dunno. You guys have to help me pick one.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Ayres is down by the block at orange and you would have to use the ART - so that adds $3 a day for tickets. Does the Fairfield have indoor corridors? If the Fairfield has indoor corridors I would go with that, it's not that much more and is walkable. How are you booking this? Have you looked at it through getawaytoday.com - through them the GCH is less than the DLH. It would be $1309 for the room and your tickets through them. Not sure about your airfare. The price includes taxes. Through Getawaytoday the Ayres with your hopper is $702. The Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort offers the 4th night free and a free hot breakfast for getawaytoday customers - they are also on the ART system. The Hampton is $709 with a hot breakfast too. I would really check this out... <a href="http://www.getawaytoday.com/HotelListing.aspx?dest_id=2&checkin=20090426&nights=4" target="_blank">http://www.getawaytoday.com/Ho...nights=4</a> They have a lot of 4th night free specials - and this one - Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn - has a breakfast and a couple of the nights hamburgers and hotdogs for the guest.
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Ok, we're booked! Went to book Fairfield and the deal was gone. The new deal was for the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel at $80 a night. It's a great deal since rooms during that week start at $149. Has anyone stayed here? It looks really nice and it's gotten really good reviews on tripadvisor.
