Has anyone stayed at the Castle Inn?

[dizneygirl]

Hello,
We are planning a trip with our family to Disneyland in November and I wanted to know if anyone has stayed at the Castle Inn across the street from Disneyland. If you did, could you let me know how you liked it or didn't like it, what restaurants are around there and any other info you may have. I would really appreciate it!
Thanks!
Dizneygirl

 

[weluvdizknee]

We've stayed at the Castle Inn several times in the past years. It's a nice place. If you have small children, the castle decor is fun for them. No extra Disney atmosphere here, but fun exterior scenes.

There's one pool, and it's located in the middle of the parking lot, so no real privacy and not conveniently located near any room your reserve. It's small, but clean, heated and well maintained. There's also a laundry area available in the pool area.

We've always stayed in what they call the Family Suites. They sleep 6 people, 2 queen beds in one room, and a king bed in the other, both areas have their own TV, and the bathroom is between the two rooms. There's an additional sink and vanity area in the room that has the 2 queen beds. This motel is older than most of the area motels, but it is always clean, and the beds are comfortable. The rooms are very basic, small table, couple of chairs, and dressers.

There's a small refrigerator, small microwave, and a coffee maker in the Family Suites that we've stayed in. All are clean and come in handy.

Also, there are several big elevators you can use for the higher level rooms. The rooms all exit outside towards the parking lot.

We've never had problems with finding a parking space close to our room, no matter how late we came back from the parks. A lot of the motels on Harbor Street have parking problems. The Castle Inn parking lot is very well lit up at night. It has a very safe atmosphere, although, I can't recall seeing security around. (not to say there isn't any)

The staff there have always been very friendly and helpful. Check in is quick.

The walk to Disney Resort isn't bad, but it's very tiring returning to the Castle Inn after being at the parks all day. It's down a few blocks, on the opposite side of the street. Also, keep in mind that there is still quit a walk to and from the parks, even after you enter or exit the Disney Resort entrance. And Downtown Disney is even further. You can see some of the California Adventure rides from the Castle Inn, so it looks like the park is just right there, but the Castle Inn is not directly across the street from the resort entrance.

I'm not sure if the bussing system stops at Castle Inn, it may be something to look into for the return back. On our last 2 trips, we stayed at Howard Johnson's, and used the busses for the ride back. It was so worth it!!! The Castle Inn is about the same distance away from the park entrance as HJ's. I think the tickets cost $2.50 each.

There is no restaurant on the Castle Inn site, but there are several places to eat along Harbor Blvd, including a McDonalds and some sit down coffee shop style restaurants, a Denny's, and a nice family restaurant called Mimi's. Most are a short walk from the Castle Inn.

The Castle Inn is worth the money you pay. It's not our favorite off-site motel, but we've never been disappointed with our stays there.

Have a grand time!

 

[TrixieMaguee]

Recently, over the weekend of July 17th... I stayed at the Castle Inn suite.

I can not tell you how AWFUL my experience was.

Everything in our room was our of order or broken, it smelled musty and the carpet was muchie and it was to the point that my boyfriend and I would not step bare foot on it. We had to call for service several times our lights went out, the bathroom water was brown, the bathtub was squirting out hair and white gook from the focet. The pillows smelled like dirty hair and I was afraid to take the bead spread off the bead for fear of what the sheets might look like. It was GROSS!

When we finally called to complaine the man at the desk said, 'That sounds like the room from hell, but I can't do anything about it. We're full. Sorry' the proceded to make fun of my boyfriend who got on the line calling him a 'sissy for being dragged to disneyland' (when it was HIS idea!!)

Later that night, (when I was too grosses out to stay another night) we checked out, the night clerk asked me if I had any 'coke' connections and then winked at me. To which I responded, sorry I only drink diet coke.

Upon my return home, I called the manager Donna, she gave me a free night,a nd told me that her night clerk has a 'sense of humor' I needed to learn to appriciate. I'm sorry that asking me for drugs and making fun of my boyfriend is NOT my choice in humor.

However, I can recomend the Red Roof Inn as the most fantastic and economic hotel available. They are clean, comfortable and nothing more then a place to sleep. But the staff is kind and constantly helpful. Once, en route to the hotel; the night clerk stayed on the phone with me for 20 minutes attempting to redirect me AROUND a massive traffic jam (one we were caught in for 9 hours! I kid not!) Upon our arrival to the hotel, not only did she hug us both, but sent up snacks and coffee a maid to make sure we were comfortable after a 9 hour traffic jam. (and arriving at 4 in the morning) (Thank you Wendy!! You are the BEST!!!! ) I could NOT recomend this place anymore. EVERY time we stay off sight we check into the Red Roof and feel safe, comfortable and at home

 

[PattiPB]

Hi!

It's not a really big thing, but the Castle Inn doesn't have a free continental breakfast, while most of the other Harbor Blvd hotels (we've stayed in) offer one.

It is also a fine walk in the morning from there to DL/DCA, but a REEEEAAAAALLLLLYYYYY long walk at midnight! If you stay there, there is a pizza/sandwich shop in the strip mall next door (bordering Harbor and Katella) that is really good. We got dinner from there one night and ate by the pool.

BTW---our accomodations were fine when we stayed there this summer. No problems to report.

 

[tallpkb]

We were supposed to stay there a couple years ago. They advertise "across the street from DL". What they don't say is that they are across the street and down about 2 miles from DL! We got there, and once we saw the place, got our room, we decided to pack up and LEAVE! The room smelled bad, looked dirty and the outside of the grounds were just as bad. We lost our first night charge, but it was so bad we didn't care. We went down the street to our fav, Best Western Park Place, and enjoyed the rest of our trip.