Opinions/ help with these Good Neighbor Hotels

[Zummi Gummi]

Hi, DL-ers!

I don't venture in to this forum much, but I'm thinking about planning an April trip to the DLR, since I discovered today it was actually cheaper to fly in to Santa Ana than it would be to Orlando during the dates I was going to go.

So....now I'm thinking it might be time to visit DLR again. My last visit was during the first D23 convention, and I've been anxious to head back.

Anyway, I wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel again, but the rates were kind of exorbitant. Paradise Pier was better, but still significantly more than any of the Good Neighbor Hotels. Unless I can find a good deal for these two, it's going to be an "off property" stay.

I'm looking right now at the Tropicana, Fairfield, and the Best Western. I chose them because they're listed as being "across the street", have really good rates, and two of them have a free continental breakfast. Any opinions on those hotels? Also, are there any coupons or discounts that you all know of that would further reduce their rates?

I have a WDW AP, so if I decide to go, I would be upgrading to the fancy Premier Passport. If I did that, are there any good room discounts for DLR that come with it (like you get with a WDW AP)?

 

[Victoria]

I doubt I will be much help...both times to Disneyland (the best place on the whole planet!) I have stayed in a Disneyland Resort hotel. The first time I was at Disney's Grand Californian and loved it. Last summer I did Disneyland Hotel and was blown away by how awesome it is post-renovation. I've spent hundreds of hours of my life investigating every hotel in the area though. Fairfield Inn and the Best Western have always been my front runners. The "free" breakfast was an attraction for sure. My biggest hang up by staying somewhere non-Disney is the additional walking. I know that makes me sound incredibly lazy but I found the walk through Downtown Disney annoying even though I was already as close as humanly possible to the two wonderful parks of Disneyland. I guess I am spoiled by the bus system at Walt Disney World that drops me off at the turnstyles. :shrug:

As for Annual Passholder discounts, I was able to snag a great deal last summer at Disneyland Hotel. I kept calling and every time the Cast Member was able to find a way to knock more money off. In the end I managed to save nearly $1,000.00. One thing I did learn about the Disneyland Resort is that the discount rates there are constantly changing and they aren't always released that far in advance. In fact, about 10 days prior to arrival I was able to save even more money.

 

[TP2000]

If the AP prices don't work out, and there's some great advice from tiggerific above, I would vote for the Fairfield. There are several Best Western branded motels on Harbor or Katella, so you can be anywhere from a 5 to 20 minute walk from the main gate depending on which one you stay in.

The Fairfield is a 7 minute walk to Disneyland. The rooms were just redone this past Fall, and it's adjacent to Mimi's Cafe for good off-site meals. There's also a big McDonalds right on the walk to or from the park for quick breakfasts or a late night snack.

If you get a west-facing room on an upper floor at the Fairfield you are looking directly at Space Mountain, Matterhorn, DCA skyline, passing monorail trains, etc.

But if you get a north or east facing view you have a noisy freeway and generic Orange County views.