great deal and brkfast- a little too far from DL
We stayed at the garden grove Holiday Inn Express oCTOBER 9-13, 2007. I was very impressed with the hotel as a whole. We booked it through Get Away Today and got the 4th night free, total 280 for 4 nights with taxes and fees! Its a brand new hotel, medeteranian style, beautiful lobby, very clean, 3 star establishment. When I booked online in the comments section I added that we would like to be upgraded to the jr suite, on arrival we were complimentary upgraded to the suite, but not just any suite, the balcony suite-there are only two. It was very nice, huge, and slightly odd. The bathroom was in the middle becasue of the wedge shape of the room, which seperated the small kitchen, sitting area from the king bed, balcony area. It was all enclosed instead of the vanity being accesible form the room. It wasn't a big deal, but it felt like a cave in the front portion of the room becasue of the lack of windows. It was nice to have the fridge, micro, and extra sink, and the couch folded out into a bed for the kids, ages 6 and 4. It was also very nice that the kids cave room was so seperate from the bed area.
HOWEVER- sure it looked great upfront, but about 12am, and again at 3am we were woken by sirens and the street noise that I hadn't noticed before kept us awake. Apparently the hospital was just down the street. In the morning we asked to move and the very helpful front desk people- no service complaints whatever- gave us the key to another room to check out. The regular room was very nice, typical, spacious and clean, and away from the street, but the kids could bear leaving the balcony room, so I agreed to give it one more night. Disneyland did the trick- I slept like a log the rest of the trip and never heard a single sound.
The breakfast was great- heavy on the carbs, but hey this is disneyland! There were donoughts, waffles, toast, boiled eggs, bagels and crem cheese, 3 kinds of juice, coffee, cocoa, milk, cereal, YOGURT a nice selection of fruit and of course the fabulous hot cinnamon rolls that all hi expresses brag about. The breakfast room was nice and spacious and there was also an exterior pool side patio adjacent.We loved the pool, nice and warm and big and pretty. I actually swam which I rarely do! The kept things very well stocked and it was open till ten of weekends.
We used the ART shuttle to get to the park and back all 3 days which totaled $18 (KIDS UNDER 9 ARE FREE) instead of the 30++ parking would have cost. It was great on the way there, we were the last stop and got to DL in about 12 minutes. It left an hour before opening which kept us on schedule and ahead of the crowds. HOWEVER on the way back it took 3o minutes becuase we were the 5th or 6th stop. This is my only real complaint about the hotel. When your exhausted and especially with kids half an hour is too long to wait. Also the last shuttle was 30 minutes after closing so you didn't have the option of jumping in line for nemo etc. at the last minute to stretch early closing hours.
My husband was also able to do his online masters courses from the (gorgeous!)lobby located computer for free. Very convenient as we wern't traveling with a laptop.
Great friendly prompt service.
oVERALL- A GREAT DEAL, WISH IT HAD BEEN CLOSER, if your driving to the park it would be near perfect. Don't pay the regular prices, look for a bargain, there are always bargains in anaheim for those who don't mind doing their homework.