Help me pick a hotel please!?! About This Page:

[Renee1970]

We are planning to go on a Southern Cal tour from Feb 21 - 28ish, give or take a day or two. We would like to stay in a hotel around DL that has:

a suite - a room that seperates us from our daughter or she does NOT sleep!
deluxe continental breakfast (not sure if I'm naming it right but one that offers some protien and fresh fruit daily)
free parking (we're driving 30 plus hours to get there!)
pool (do I need it heated this time of the year?)
free wireless internet

Some other questions are:
We're planning to tour DL and DCA for 3 days, then go down to San Diego for SeaWorld. Would you suggest we get a hotel near there or is it feasible to think we would drive from DL to SD for a day trip?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[SOmommy]

Originally Posted by Renee1970

We are planning to go on a Southern Cal tour from Feb 21 - 28ish, give or take a day or two. We would like to stay in a hotel around DL that has:

a suite - a room that seperates us from our daughter or she does NOT sleep!
deluxe continental breakfast (not sure if I'm naming it right but one that offers some protien and fresh fruit daily)
free parking (we're driving 30 plus hours to get there!)
pool (do I need it heated this time of the year?)
free wireless internet

Some other questions are:
We're planning to tour DL and DCA for 3 days, then go down to San Diego for SeaWorld. Would you suggest we get a hotel near there or is it feasible to think we would drive from DL to SD for a day trip?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Okay, here is a link to a hotel I saw online and always thought looked nice just for the kids suites: Anaheim Accommodations - Hyatt Regency - Disneyland Hotel Rooms & Luxury Suites
And it looks like there is a heated pool but I didn't look up anything else about it, and I've never stayed there so I can't give a first hand report or anything, but its a start. It can be chilly (from a So Cali's point of view) at that time of year so the heated pool is great.
I would not recommend you drive to San Diego. If you want to visit the attractions down there you should probably book another room closer to what you want to see. It can be a couple hour drive from Anaheim and if you're going during the week you'll hit some crazy rush hour traffic. I don't have any recommendations for hotels down there, but we stayed in Carlsbad a few years ago which is only 45 minutes away (depending on traffic) at the Ramada and we got a suite so the boys wouldn't be in the same sleeping room as us. That was nice and rates might be cheaper there than in San Diego. Also, Legoland is in Carlsbad if you wanted to check that out.
I hope this helped you a little bit! Good luck!

[eff051102]

We stayed at the Anabella Hotel when we visited DL in 2005. We had a King
bedroom with a small side room (door closed off the room) with a twin daybed,
tv and dresser in the other room. It was great for our Foster Daughter to have
her own space and we could still be awake when she wasn't.

This hotel has several options from the Kids Suite to the Casita Suite. This is a
moderate price hotel and across the street from DL/DCA. It was really nice and
clean with parking right outside the door and a great breakfast in the restaurant
that seemed always be busy.

The Anabella Offers Standard and Deluxe Hotel Room Accommodations in Anaheim

I would get a hotel near SD for when you are there. The traffic is NUTS in
CA and while the mileage might be low, the time won't be. We couldn't believe
how long it took us to drive from Anaheim to Temecula. UGH we were in the
car for 4 HOURS (to go 60 miles) because it was also a late night rush hour time.
Your looking at just over 95 miles from Anaheim to SD.

*On a side note (it's late here and I can't sleep so I notice strange things and
ramble) my middle name is Renee' and I was born in 1971....interesting.*

[LGuthery]

I was going to mention the Annabell my two Sil's stayed there and they enjoyed but also depending on cost Marriott Suites could also be an option but they don't have free breakfast but there is a Starbucks, free parking and Target is across the street and there are a few restaurants in the same parking area.

[DopeyGirl]

Carousel Inn and Suites is a Boutique Anaheim, California, Hotel

My parents stay there every time they go to DL and this last trip stayed in a suite. They have a free continental breakfast and a lovely rooftop pool. The only thing they don't have is free parking, but I believe that it is only $5 per night in addition to your room reservation.

[Tink8726]

We like the Portofino (however they're pool is outside, so I'm not sure how that would be in Feb) but they're suites are very nice, king bed and a TV in one room, pull out couch (mom says is very comfortable) and TV in the other and very reasonable at least as of 2 years ago, and in April we stayed at the LaQuinta suites, IMHO not quite as nice as the Portofino, however, pool is covered and heated nicely, the continental breakfast was tastey and plentiful with all breakfast food groups covered daily. And La Quinta does have free internet, I don't remember if the Portofino did or not. Both are a very short walk from the parks, free parking (both have covered garages). The La Quinta also is right across from the Anaheim Garden Walk, with good restaurants and shopping.

As far as driving to SD for a day, we did it and didn't find traffic too horrendous and it didn't take near as long to get there and back as we had anticipated (we were a bit disappointed with Sea World though). My sis and here DH did Legoland last spring and highly recommend that though

Good luck and let us know what you choose!

[Papa Mouse]

Renee I have a question for you that could affect a better reply to you. You did not say it directly but are you going to DLR and then only to Sea World and no place else for one day and coming back to DLR? You did not mention doing anything else in San Diego of which there are many attractions to see if you have not been to S.D. before. You led me to believe you were trying for one day to visit Sea World only and then back towards DLR.

Rereading your post it appears you have an extra 4 days....8 days total.

If your schedule allows you more time there are also attractions in our area and Los Angeles.

Please give us a better idea of your time frame and places you want to see and things to do. Then possibly we can give you some constructive recommedations and suggestions as well as knowing which links to send you for your consideration.

Let us know which city and route you are taking home as possibly we can suggest attractions while you stretch you feet, walk, rest and eat.

Would Vancouver, B.C. be a good guess?

[Renee1970]

Wow! Thanks for the great replies!

Good question - yes, our itinerary looks like this:

Fri night - sleeping in Lethbridge Alta, Canada (10 hrs driving)
Sat night - Sleeping somewhere near Salt Lake City (is there anything we should ABSOUTELY see on a Sunday in Salt Lake City??)
Sunday - tour and sleep in Las Vegas (thru a childs eyes)
Monday - tour and sleep in Las Vegas (thru a childs eyes)
Tuesday - travel into Annaheim mid afternoon
Wed - tour DL
Thurs - tour DL
Fri - finish DL and drive to SD
Sat - SD - go to Sea World??, maybe the Zoo??, Legoland?? B Park??
Sunday - finish SD
Mon - To LA and/or Univeral Studios and hope to do some tours (hollywood/Beverly hills) You can tell I haven't did a lot of reading around this part of the trip yet
and then head up to San Francisco for just a day and either come home thru Reno or go along the coast in Oregon and then East...
So... any tips/ideas??

[mechurchlady]

Originally Posted by Renee1970

Wow! Thanks for the great replies!

Good question - yes, our itinerary looks like this:

Fri night - sleeping in Lethbridge Alta, Canada (10 hrs driving)
Sat night - Sleeping somewhere near Salt Lake City (is there anything we should ABSOUTELY see on a Sunday in Salt Lake City??)
Sunday - tour and sleep in Las Vegas (thru a childs eyes)
Monday - tour and sleep in Las Vegas (thru a childs eyes)
Tuesday - travel into Annaheim mid afternoon
Wed - tour DL
Thurs - tour DL
Fri - finish DL and drive to SD
Sat - SD - go to Sea World??, maybe the Zoo??, Legoland?? B Park??
Sunday - finish SD
Mon - To LA and/or Univeral Studios and hope to do some tours (hollywood/Beverly hills) You can tell I haven't did a lot of reading around this part of the trip yet
and then head up to San Francisco for just a day and either come home thru Reno or go along the coast in Oregon and then East...
So... any tips/ideas??

First off your itinerary has uneccessary driving. I would do San Diego first or last. You can take a tour bus or drive from DLR area thus saving having to check in and out of hotels.

When asking for advice please list any disabilities and the approximate ages of the children and if there are going to be seniors. Legoland is great for kids but teens rather do SeaWorld probably.

Salt Lake City
Lagoon Amusement Park is popular.
L A G O O N - Fun Starts Here!

Drive up the coast or across to Reno?
I liked the Redwoods and going up the coast. There are tons of things to do like gonig up the river up in Oregon, Cannery Row, Monterrey Aquarium, and Hearst Castle. There is also a small amusement park somewhere between here an San Francisco. It is something the kids normally would not get to see and you could always have a time out for a few minutes romping on the beach.

Touring LA?
There are lots of tours but I would avoid the stars homes type of tours. Find tours that are of interest to you. You can also make your own tour. There are Dash buses in LA that will take you around town and stop at some great places. Kids would like Universal Studios.

[Sue M.]

I would go first to San Diego too. Stay somewhere in Mission Bay Area. San Diego is beautiful. Love Sea World, Old Town, Balboa Park, La Jolla. Then make your way up to LA for DL & Universal, etc. I'd drive along the Oregon Coast, so beautiful.
Have a great trip.