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fullsail
01-19-2003, 06:48 PM
Hi,

My family (me, the wife and two girls, 7 and 10) will be visiting Disneyland for the first time this spring. We're thinking about the week of April 28 for our visit. We'll spend six nights, and will probably try to see Seaworld and Universal Studios while we're there. I'm thinking about staying at the Fairfield Inn on Harbor.

I chose the Fairfield Inn because, from what I've read, it seems to have the best combination of proximity to the park (walking distance), decent sized rooms (there will be four of us for six days so a little room to spread out will be nice), cleanliness, adjacency to restaurants, and price. I also expect that we'll take advantage of the pool during our stay. The Disneyland Hotel sounds nice but I'd rather have the extra money to spend on fun while we're there - wouldn't I? I'd appreciate any feedback on my choice of lodging - any recommendations on other properties?

I chose the dates to avoid the crowds, but I understand that that means that more rides will be closed, the park closes earlier, and the events will be fewer. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this tradeoff. Am I making the right choice?

Thanks for your help.

Lost Boy
01-19-2003, 07:17 PM
First off, welcome to the site.

As to the hotel you chose, I have never stayed there but I hear it's very nice. 6 days should give you plenty of time to see both Universal and Sea World. Just be aware that Sea World is about 100-150 miles south of Disneyland (I thnk - I do know it's pretty far), so you may want to spend the night around there or the drive is going be pretty rough down and back in the same day. It can be done, as I have done it, but to see the night shows (if any at that time of year) you won't get back to Anaheim till very, very late.
Anyway, April will have a lot of stuff down, but the crowds shouldn't be all that much at that time of year. Unfortuantely over the last few years, the "Off Season" at Disneyland has pretty much dissapeared. The Park seems to be crowded no matter when you go, but just before the Summer Season kicks in, it won't be as crowded (or hot) so that's the trade off. I wish I knew exactly what attractions will be down then, but things change so fast there now you never know when something will be closed until after it's closed. Keep checking back here from time to time and when it gets closer post and see if anybody has heard anything.
I know you will have fun anyway, it's just a shame that so much of the Park is down right now, but some attractions (like Haunted Mansion, Small World, Matterhorn and the carrousel should be up by then - I hope). The closer it gets to your time of arrival, the more we should know.

DisneyGuy03
01-19-2003, 07:57 PM
Sea World is approximately an hour away from Disneyland (I live past there and it take me about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Disneyland, assuming no traffic)

dsnylndmom
01-19-2003, 09:02 PM
I stayed at the Fairfield in this past November and it was not a good experience at all. Our rooms were TINY first off, when the sofabed was open there was NO walking space at all. The **** was a cube, not even an under the counter type model. There is no breakfast of any sort offered, there is a "cafe" but it's not worth much.

In our room our A/C was broke and it took them more than a day to get to it and fix it. We were charged for bottles of water that no one ever touched($2.50 a pop).

In our friend's room their toliet broke, took forever to get someone up there to fix it. Then their door lock broke, again took forever. Then the door lock broke again and they had to be "escorted" to their room to be let in because the hotel was booked. They tried to fix it by just popping open the front window, not very reassuring considering it's external hallways, then they had no door at all.

It was just not worth the money at all.

If you are looking for a cheaper hotel and want to be walking distance to the park I'd suggest Desert Inn, www.anaheimdesertinn.com or the Tropicana or the Best Western Park Place Inn.

If walking distance is not a consideration, I have read great things about the Anabella, Portofino and the Dupre and they all have shuttles.

HTH
Tina

MammaSilva
01-19-2003, 09:02 PM
I've stayed at the Fairfield many times and it is always clean, the staff helpful and it is about two blocks from the cross walk, it isn't broken into 2 blocks but distance wise think two 'normal' city blocks and that's about right, it has a Mimi's on one side and a McDonalds next to the entrace drive way......the rooms are spacious and have a sofa in them with 2 queens...the pool is a typical outdoor pool with pool towels available so you don't have to bring the ones from your room...the spa is on the small side and we've had trouble with younger kids jumping/splashing in while we were sitting in there, last time I finally had enough and pointed out the age limitation on the spa... it angered their parents but their parents were busy sipping whatever over on the far side of the pool and not supervising but that's the only trouble we've had.. Parking is easy but no guarentee to be close to your room if you are on the ground floor...

disneydana
01-19-2003, 09:12 PM
FYI: Easter is April 20th. The week before and after Easter are VERY busy. Spring break will start about the last week of March and will go through the last week of April.

doppio
01-19-2003, 09:16 PM
You might want to check out the Hilton Anaheim. Great views of the resort and a professional and friendly staff. Their is shuttle service and it is free for hotel guests. Very handy. The Cafe Oasis
cafe located in the lobby has great food.

tiggerandtink
01-19-2003, 10:24 PM
We went on Easter Sunday a couple of years ago and everything was open and the park had extended hours as well. I don't know if this was due to it being Easter or the fact that it was around Spring Break, but it was fun:D .

EandCDad
01-20-2003, 05:42 AM
Sea Worl is 91 miles straight South on the 5 freeway. In theory, it would take an hour and a half going 60 with no traffic. It takes us a little over an hour to get from about 20 miles North of the Sea World to Disneyland (about 70 miles). I would expect some traffic either coming or going so be prepared to make a full day of it, driving down early in the morning and back late at night.

If you go during the week, do NOT drive back to Anaheim during rush hour (4-6pm). Wait until about 7. You will sit in a significant amout of traffic in both the Del Mar and Carlsbad areas if you go during rush hour. If you go on Friday, you will sit in some of the worst traffic you can imagine. If you wait till later and drive back, say, after dinner, you will be much happier.

I would recommend breaking up your Disney portion with a Wednesday trip down to Sea World. If you check out Sea World and don't think you would spend an entire day there, post a request for San Diego type things to do, there are quite a few people on the boards from that area.

Nancy
01-20-2003, 10:32 AM
The Desert Inn & Suites is right across the street at the cross walk, as is the Tropicana. They are both nice and clean and serve the cont. breakfast, have micros and fridges. The Desert Inn & suites has a tiny parking lot ( try not to park underground if you can help it, can be hard to get out ) and indoor pool and hot tub( which was brown and foamy the last time we stayed). The Tropicana has a nice big outdoor pool and hot tub and a huge parking lot and you can usually park in front of your room if on the bottom floor. They run off good season special too. Good luck.:)

hbquikcomjamesl
01-20-2003, 03:33 PM
If you check out Sea World and don't think you would spend an entire day there, post a request for San Diego type things to do, there are quite a few people on the boards from that area.Might I suggest the San Diego Zoo? Or its sister facility, the San Diego Wild Animal Park (the largest enclosure there is big enough to completely contain the original Zoo).
http://www.sandiegozoo.org
If you end up in San Diego on a Sunday, you might find the Spreckels Organ Pavilion interesting, and it's only about a 5 minute walk from the Zoo.
http://www.serve.com/sosorgan/
Balboa Park also includes a number of museums, including the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.

EandCDad
01-20-2003, 03:47 PM
Originally posted by hbquikcomjamesl
Might I suggest the San Diego Zoo? Or its sister facility, the San Diego Wild Animal Park (the largest enclosure there is big enough to completely contain the original Zoo).


I agree with the Zoo recommendation. If you are gonna pair this with a Sea World trip, I would think the Zoo would be better than the Wild Animal Park just because it is closer to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park would be a bit of a trek from Sea World.

Morrigoon
01-20-2003, 03:50 PM
My parents like the Fairfield Inn.

jrsharp21
01-20-2003, 05:14 PM
I have stayed at the Faifield Inn four time now and have a pleasant stay every time. I always get the ground floor and it is always right out front. The staff has been friendly and more than go out of their way to help. The rooms are decent size, but not big. If you want a big room for around the same price and same location try the Howard Johnson. The HOJO has rooms that are about 1/3 bigger and they have a balcony/porch for each room that comes in handy when you want to sit and relax. Plus the atmosphere is nice, water fountains and little lights in the trees. The game room and shop are pretty convenient too. They have two pools also. It is right behind Millies. Not too much farther than the Fairfield Inn.

fullsail
01-20-2003, 05:15 PM
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!