[geeman]

My nephew is moving back home after living in California for 4 years, and to cap off his time there, I am visiting him during the last week in October. Since there won't be an urgent need to visit Ca. after he leaves, we are working in 3 days at Disneyland as a birthday treat for me and a sendoff for him.
Now- here's my dilemma. Through my workplace, i can get a discount at a nearby hotel that would be a package including parkhoppers for a perfect price. However, if I pay 200 more, I can actually STAY at, say Paradise Pier, and enjoy the luxuries of Disney. I know Disney is having a 5 day for 3 promotion that would be great - but I will only be in the area for 3 days (2 nights). And he's seen Disneyland enough times and thinks 5 days is too much (though I disagree).
I know we're all kind of biased here, but should I opt for my work package and save 200 bucks, or should I go for it and go Disney. THe work package includes most of the hotels in the general vicinity. But that of course, means having to hike or shuttle back every day. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
:-)

[mickey]

Personally, I don't like Paradise Pier. It wan't a Disney built hotel, and I thought it was a dump. Dark hallways, bad pool, small rooms, cheap furniture and bad restaurants. Really, it is a 30 year old hotel that hasn't been touched, for the most part. The only plus is that it is on property, though a ways from anything. There is a private entrance to California Adventure, but it is still a walk.

If you can update to the Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian, then it would be worth it. Unless your hotel is a dump, or far away, I would stay where you are rather than go for Paradise Pier.

[geeman]

Thanks for the input. Mickey. That does help a lot- and I definitely would take your word for it. So, it sounds like you're saying that even though it's being offered by Disney - it doesn't mean that one of the surrounding places isn't as good or better. Plus- being that we just need a hotel to plop down at the end of the day and sleep for only 2 nights, we might as well save the dough and go for one of the cheaper package ones.
And since it's just the two of us, and since he IS in the process of moving, it probably makes more sense just to stay offsite and save the cash for other things...
But may I ask- do you have any suggestions? My Work offer includes everything from The Castle Inn to the Ramada. I'm not sure if you're allowed to suggest any of these, but if so - it would definitely help to have a white gloved finger point us in the right direction.:)
If I do choose the special work offer, then I have to decide asap.

[mickey]

I am not too familiar with the off site hotels. I know that most of them are kind of cheesy and run down, but there are some nice ones. If are just looking for a place to sleep, definitely don't go for Paradise Pier. Go out to dinner one night at the Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney, that will be money much better spent.

Disney has some Good Neighbor Hotels, which are all nice and in good shape. Here is the list, I would go from that.

Superior
Anaheim Marriott Hotel
Crowne Plaza Resort
Sheraton Anaheim Hotel
Doubletree Hotel
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Hilton Anaheim (avoid!)

Moderate
Courtyard by Marriott Buena Park
Anabella Hotel
West Coast Anaheim Hotel
Anaheim Fairfield Inn by Marriott
Howard Johnson
Radisson Hotel Maingate - Anaheim
Park Inn Anaheim
Candy Cane Inn
Holiday Inn Anaheim at the Park
Hilton Garden Inn
Best Western Park Place Inn
Hampton Inn & Suites
Best Western Anaheim Inn
Carousel Inn & Suites
Portofino Inn & Suites
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites (formerly Conestoga)
Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort Area
Quality Hotel Maingate

Suites
Embassy Suites Hotel Anaheim
Hilton Suites Anaheim/Orange
Residence Inn by Marriott-Anaheim
Embassy Suites Buena Park
Embassy Suites Anaheim South
Anaheim Marriot Suites, at Garden Grove
Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Hawthorn Suites Orange
Hawthorn Suites Ltd., Anaheim
Marriott Residence Inn of Orange

I know that the Portofino Inn and Suites is very nice, and not far from the main gate. If you can't get any of the suites or superiors, that would be a nice option. All of these resorts offer shuttles to the parks, but I would check out where they are located, some of them are a ways away.

[geeman]

Mickey, you're the best. Thanks for the comprehensive list. I'm home sick today and was searching through a few listings late last night during a kick of insomnia. Some of the ones I thought sounded interesting are on your list, so that helps very, very much.

[mickey]

Sure, no problem. Just let me know when you get back where you stayed and how it was.

Thanks!

[mmouse67l]

FYI... I believe the Park Inn is now almost directly across the street from where you catch the shuttle buses which is right by the main gates. We stayed there several times before the California Adv. renovation and had to walk a block down the street and then cross and walk across the parking lot. Now they added the street that I mentioned before. It is one of the more reasonable hotels and I have never had any complaints.

I'm pretty sure this is the same hotel... it used to be called the Park Place Inn.

We also stayed at the Anabella Hotel last December. It was OK but quite a walk to the parks.

[geeman]

Hi Mickey,
Well, I hedged a bit too long over where to stay and just missed getting to save 50 buck a day on some of the Disney deals, as I think their prices went up on October first. We also had to work out on what days we wanted to go and for how long. Though the 5 days for 3 deal sounded great- I wasn't planning on staying in that part of California all week long - my nephew lives in San Jose and we wanted to do a few things there, too.
So, after much consideration, and thorough checking around -I decided instead to go for the less cost effictive, but more practical approach. Since this will most likely be my last trip to California in a while (Jen doesn't like the idea of being on a plane for so long), I decided to stay in the (albeit refurbished) hotel that Walt built, the Disneyland Hotel, based mostly on your input.
I actually got a deal there that was better per night than what I was getting for Paradise Pier. Though it came out to more than I wanted to pay - it will be a nice sendoff for my trip to CA. We are only staying for 2 nights, and I decided that if we SHOULD want to stay one more night, we'll do one of the dramatically less expensive ones for that remaing night before we drive back up North.
I'll give a full report when I return. Looking forward to it!
Thanks again for the input!

[dianedisney]

:) Actually...Walt didn't build the Disneyland Hotel. It was built by a company that Walt oked. Disney didn't buy the hotel until the early 1980's. But getting back to the hotel itself...GREAT CHOICE.
I have stayed there before and after the renovations. Disney did a wonderful job on the refurbishment. The pool area is now Never NeverLand Lagoon and it is great. The rooms have natural finish 4 poster beds with the castle etched into the headboard. The cabinet has the Disneyland map etched into it. The light fixtures in the bathroom, the wall sconces are Mickey Mouse Gloves and the tissue has Sneezy on it. The ceiling light fixture are the stars of Fantasia. The wall border is blue w/Tinkerbell pixie dust on it that glows in the dark when you turn off the lights. The shops at the hotel are great to shop in plus you have Goofy's Kitchen just a short walk away. The hotel consists of 3 Towers; Marina Tower (main check-in tower), Sierra Tower (closest to Monorail Station and DTD) and the Bonita Tower (the to be refurbished). I would suggest requesting to be put in Sierra Tower, my favorite. Hope this helps you a little.

[geeman]

Wow, Diane, thanks for the details. I am REALLY looking forward to it. Just got my reservation confirmation in the mail. I hope to take lots of pictures, and it sounds like the room itself will be something worth a bunch of shots. I am beginning to think I will want to stay more than 2 nights three days. I might just book one of the non-Disney ones that fall in the budget category if I can't catch one of the great last minute deals.
I was also told by the reservation agent that since I will be celebrating my birthday while I'm there, I have to be a good sport and get "badged" at City Hall. I'm in my late 30's and have no children, so I'd feel rather "goofy" about doing this, since it's just my (adult) nephew and me. (When we were kids we used to dream about Disneyland, so now as adults, we're going to enjoy it once last time while we're out there together). But all of my friends are insisting that I must! (My best friend insists that I'll be his 4 year old daughter's hero if I do this!). (My girlfriend's not too keen on the idea, though).
I'm rather the low-key type, so this doesn't really thrill me - but who knows - it might be my last time at Disneyland for years (until i can bring a child of my own) :p
Badge or not, I'm sure to have the birthday blast of my life.

[dianedisney]

:) Geeman...This is true. Go to City Hall and get your birthday sticker and if there is someone that is a first timer at Disneyland they can get a sticker too. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time if you want to eat at the Blue Bayou Restaurant. It is the one located inside "Pirates of the Caribbean". You can go and not make reservations but you will wait 30-45 minutes to get a table. There is a number to call for reservations up to 30 days ahead but I don't have it here at home. sorry. It is the same number to use to make reservations also at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. Have a great time.

[challandusa]

When going to Disneyland...the good neighbor hotels are nice, but there is nothing like waking up in the Disney Magic. Disney knows how to treat its people and the service at all the Disney Hotels is amazing.

I can say the Disney Hotel and the Grand California are thruly awesome, but I've never stayed at Paradise Pier.

If you want to really experience the Disney Magic, spend a little more and stay in one of the Disney Hotels.:)