Laughing Lindsay

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Disney World Little Mermaid Rooms Review

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Back in December, my mom and I spent four nights in a Disney World Little Mermaid Room at Art of Animation. So, I thought I would provide an updated review of the experience.

Disney World Little Mermaid

Disney World Little Mermaid Rooms

The last time I stayed in these rooms (and this resort) was back in 2019! I shared about that experience in my Art of Animation Resort Review. Since it had been several years, I thought I would offer another glance at those rooms since I had my mom with me, who had another perspective.

Standard Room

These Little Mermaid rooms are the standard rooms at this resort. All of the other sections feature family suites. I’m still hoping to stay in one of those rooms some day. However, they are always so expensive. Maybe someday. Nonetheless, I really like that these rooms come with two regular queen sized beds. That’s become more important as my mom and I both get older. My mom has back issues and needs a good mattress to sleep on. I’m not old yet, but am getting older and appreciate a regular bed too.

The Little Mermaid theme was perfect for us. The animated film came out the year I was born. So, it was definitely nostalgic for us to stay in this room. Plus, being an older film, my mom actually knew who all of the characters were. Besides, who doesn’t love sleeping in a clam shell?

We also enjoyed using the Skyliner for transportation to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. However, the real problem with this stay was the walk. My mom really struggled this trip. We were thankful to discover several benches along the walk to the Skyliner for my mom to sit and rest. Several of them had nice views of the lake too. Unfortunately, it is just too long of a walk for my mom now.

Pros

  • Fun theme – It was so much fun to show my mom the little themed details in the room.
  • Nostalgic movie – We were happy to be staying in a room with characters/setting from my childhood. It was great for bonding.
  • Two real beds – Again, I hate that Disney has put pull down beds in the value rooms elsewhere. I love having two real beds here.
  • Skyliner access – I’m a big fan of the Skyliner. It’s so convenient.
  • Fun character waffles – You can get Mickey/Minnie waffles at lots of places. This is the only place I know of that gives you random character waffles.
  • On-site Perks – I’m partial to the perks of staying on-site including 60 days advance dining reservations, early park entry, and free park transportation!

Cons

  • Far removed – These rooms are located in the back corner of the resort and are far removed from everything. It’s definitely not ideal for anyone with mobility issues.
  • Long walks – Again, expect long walks coming and going. It doesn’t matter if you are taking the bus or Skyliner. It’s a bit of a hike. There are benches to rest on, though some are in smoking sections.
  • Price – These are the most expensive standard value rooms on property.

Are the Disney World Little Mermaid Rooms worth it?

I think these rooms are great for millennials to stay in. However, I encourage you to use judgement when bringing boomer parents/grandparents due to all of the walking here. Personally, I love staying here by myself. It’s just a little too much for my mom. If you like this movie and/or want access to the Skyliner with two queen beds, then I recommend checking it out.

Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge Hotel Review

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Back in November, my mom and I stayed a few nights at the Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge Hotel. Seeing as how it’s a newer place, I wanted to be sure to review it.

Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge

Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge

Back in November, my mom and I took a last minute long weekend trip to Pigeon Forge to see Dollywood for Christmas. While researching hotels in the area, I came across the newly opened Drury Hotel in Pigeon Forge. With an ideal location that is off the main road but close to everything we wanted to do, we decided to try it out.

Free Food

I feel the biggest perk of staying at Drury Plaza Hotels is the free food. There’s free breakfast every morning and a free “kickback” in the evening! We eyed the kickback on arrival day, but decided to go out to eat instead. However, it was nice to have the option of eating something for free from the hotel. We did eat breakfast on the morning of our park visit since we didn’t want to waste time going out to get breakfast. I’d rate it as an average free breakfast. Nothing particularly stood out as amazing, but it certainly wasn’t bad either. I think the free food is a fantastic benefit if you don’t have picky eaters or dietary restrictions.

Two Queen Room

Given that the hotel had been open for just a few months, the room was still in immaculuate shape! We were certainly pleased with the large size of the room. We had ample space to spread out in the room and to sort out our outlet mall purchases! I enjoyed the tree wallpaper behind the beds given we were in the Smoky Mountains.

I will say that we found the room a little dark and lacking lighting. Also, my mom wasn’t wild about the shower since it doesn’t have a door that closes. Rather, it’s open and can allow a breeze to flow into the shower. I also didn’t care for the shower gel as it’s a thin blue liquid. Thankfully, I brought some from home to use.

I was a little surprised by the lack of outlets. I’m used to that in old hotels, but given how new this one is, I expected more outlets. They do have a clock that has additional outlets. However, there weren’t many in the room overall. Additionally, we found the number of elevators a little lacking. We had to wait several minutes to catch one around breakfast time both mornings.

Pros

  • Newly built – Staying at a newly built (or refurbished) hotel eliminates lots of issues and concerns around hotel stays. Everything was in great working order and the place was clean.
  • Good size rooms – Our room was spacious, particularly compared to some other, older hotels.
  • Great location – We were close to Dollywood and other places in Pigeon Forge, but enjoyed being off of the main road.
  • Free food – I think this is probably the biggest perk of staying here. It’s a great thing for families to save some money!
  • Budget friendly – We paid $353.56 (including tax) for our two night stay here. That’s very reasonable!

Cons

  • Dark rooms – There wasn’t an overhead light in the bedroom. That made it a little dark in the room and would make it difficult for anyone with limited sight.
  • No shower door – It can make the shower a little breezy and chilly if you stand by the open space.
  • Few electrical outlets – If you have several people staying in the room with multiple devices, you may not have enough outlets.
  • Morning elevator waits – Leave earlier than you need to if you are leaving during the busy morning hours as you will probably find yourself waiting to get on a crowded elevator.

Should you stay at the Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge Hotel?

I think this hotel is ideal for families on a tight budget. The included food can really stretch your dollars. If you want more upscale accommodations or plan on eating out, then you will probably enjoy staying somewhere a little pricier.

The Garland Hotel Review

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Back in September, I spent a night at The Garland Hotel while visiting Hollywood. So, I thought I would do a review of my stay.

The Garland Hotel

The Garland Hotel

Prior to my stay in Anaheim back in September, I spent the night in north Hollywood. I selected The Garland Hotel for my one night stay due to its location, history, and calm vibes. Plus, I appreciated the on-site restaurant.

The History

For those who don’t know, The Garland Hotel was initially built by actress Beverly Garland and her husband, along with a Las Vegas hotelier back in the 1970s. It was built to be an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. Today, the hotel is run by Beverly’s son James. So, it’s still a family run business.

The Location

One of the reasons I chose this hotel is for its location. I flew into Burbank airport so that I would be closer to my plans for Sunday, which included going to Bob Gurr’s home and meeting him! So, I wanted something in between Burbank and Anahiem. This hotel stuck out as something in between the two locations, but with a relaxing vibe.

Let the Good Times Roll

The Garland is truly a relaxing oasis outside the hustle and bustle of LA. I instantly felt more relaxed when I got out of the car and entered the property. If you are someone like me who isn’t accustomed to the city life or someone who wants a break from the traffic, then this may be a great option for you.

Garland Hotel Premium King Bed

Since this was a solo trip, I indulged with a king bed. It felt wonderful to have a huge bed all to myself. The room was more than adequate for my one night stay. Although, I did have some issues getting the sliding glass door to the patio to close securely. Also, the shower was interesting without a door to close. I also heard some loud people in the hallways since I went to bed earlier than some folks (I’m from the East Coast and this was during Halloween Horror Nights season). Overall though, I’d say it was a comfortable place to stay.

Front Yard Restaurant

A quick note on the hotel’s on-site restaurant. Eat there! The hotel special that I booked came with a dining credit that I was able to use at the restaurant. I got a grilled chicken sandwich (the Socal Chicken Sandwich) and a Wildberry Pop Tart at brunch when I arrived. I was starving and it filled me up. In fact, I saved the majority of the tasty Pop Tart for breakfast the next day and it was still good. I highly recommend trying this restaurant if you are staying here. It’s definitely worth it.

Pros

  • Relaxing vibes – This was a nice change of pace from the crowds and chaos of Hollywood.
  • Location – It’s excellent for a visit to Burbank and/or Hollywood.
  • Cool history – There’s even a documentary on the hotel tv about Beverly Garland. I recommend checking it out during your stay.
  • Great food – The Front Yard is a great restaurant. It’s super convenient too.
  • Friendly staff – Everyone I encountered here was really friendly and helpful.
  • Luggage storage – Since I had plans in the area on Sunday, luggage storage was very important to me. I was pleased that they were able to store my luggage securely.

Cons

  • Balcony door – I had housekeeping look at my door and they had to get maintenance to come close it securely. I was afraid to pull too hard on it to check to see if was closed securely afterwards. However, I consider that door a con as it’s difficult to know it’s closed for sure.
  • Shower doesn’t have a door – The shower set up is interesting, but I have since had another shower without a closing door on it at another hotel. So, I assume this is fashionable now.
  • Some noise – While this was definitely quieter than staying in Hollywood, I still heard some loud people in the hallways. However, that’s almost par for the course at hotels these days. Also, it didn’t go on for too long.
  • Tad pricey – Then again, all hotels in this area are expensive. I paid $315 for the daily rate, which came to $377.80 after taxes. However, that also includes a dining credit that I used for two meals.

Is The Garland Hotel worth it?

I found The Garland Hotel to be a relaxing experience with good food. I’d stay here again. I think it’s worth it if you are doing things in the area and want a break from Hollywood.

Westin Anaheim Resort Review

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On my most recent trip to Disneyland, I had the pleasure of staying at the Westin Anaheim Resort! Here’s a review of that experience.

Westin Anaheim Resort

Westin Anaheim Resort

Last year, I stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and enjoyed the close proximity to the park. This year, I opted to stay at the Westin Anaheim Resort due to the hotel‘s location and wonderful amenities! Having stayed here 3 nights, I think I can give a fair review of the experience.

The Location

I had read a few reviews mentioning the walk being a little long. However, the map made it look straight forward. Plus, I liked that most of the walk was on Disney’s property, so it felt safer. I walked over via Disneyland Dr versus taking Harbor Boulevard to avoid dealing with the unhoused. Most of the time, I was able to cut through the Grand Californian Hotel to make the walk shorter. However, you can’t do that during park opening. Additionally, one afternoon of my trip, there was a security guard who wouldn’t let me on property since I didn’t have a hotel or dining reservation at the hotel. So, just something to keep in mind if you stay here.

The Resort

I will say, this was a really nice place to stay. Everything felt luxurious and comfy. In fact, I noticed immediately how cushiony the carpet was! I feel most of the time, it’s just carpet over concrete. This was soft and plush!

The bed was very relaxing and the pillows didn’t go flat! The shower even had good pressure! I can see why this is a highly rated resort with all of the deluxe amenities.

The room also features some high tech fancy light switches. It was neat on the first day, but lost a little something by the last day. Also, I couldn’t get the light on the mirror to go out completely, so it lit up the room at night.

Upon arrival, I noticed that there wasn’t any soap at the sink. I notified the front desk on the way to the parks and when I returned to my room that night there were two bars of soap! So, I was pleased with their speed and ability to handle this issue.

Pros

  • Luxe accommodations – This felt like a deluxe resort without the pricetag. It was several hundred dollars cheaper per night than the Disney resorts but was a really nice hotel.
  • Wonderful bed – The bed was so comfy! The bedding was soft and the pillows didn’t go flat!
  • Good water pressure – Not every hotel (particularly in California) has great water pressure. I was pleased to discover the water pressure here was great.
  • Has several restaurants – I like staying somewhere that has at least one restaurant on property for arrival and departure days. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try out all of the restaurants here. However, I did grab a Chicken Biscuit Sandwich from the Blossoms Market and Cafe before my departure to the airport. It was tasty!
  • Most of the walk to the parks is on Disney property – I appreciated how safe the walk to and from the park felt since this was a solo trip.

Cons

  • More expensive than some closer hotels – This hotel is nicer than most found on Harbor Blvd. However, it’s also more expensive than most of them.
  • Longer walk – The first day or two didn’t seem so bad. However, I was starting to drag by the third day. It’s about 1.0 to 1.1 miles each way.

Is the Westin Anaheim Resort worth it?

I truly enjoyed my stay at the Westin Anaheim Resort. The amenities were amazing. However, I might pick somewhere closer to the parks next time just for convenience. If you don’t mind a longer walk to/from the parks, this is a top pick!

The Inn at Apple Valley Sevierville Review

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Back in June, my mom and I stayed two nights at The Inn at Apple Valley in Sevierville. So, I thought I would write a review of it.

The Inn at Apple Valley

The Inn at Apple Valley

The Inn at Apple Valley is now a member of the Ascend Collection of Choice Hotels. This means it has extra touches that makes it nicer than a standard Choice Hotel. It’s in the same category as the Graystone Lodge I stayed at in May. Both of them have been recently updated and offer a free breakfast. This location was previously the Comfort Inn Apple Valley but the name changed after the refurbishment.

Double Queen

All of the rooms in this hotel are considered suites due to their size. We stayed in a standard room, which we preferred. This came with two chairs and ottomans in addition to the beds. We also had a view of the orchard from the balcony. The Superior rooms appear to have a sleeper sofa and a view of the parkway or outdoor pool. Personally, we preferred a view of the orchard and the chairs. However, it’s nice to have options, particularly for larger families.

You can tell that the hotel recently underwent a refurbishment as all of the furniture looks newer. However, we did have an issue with the shower not draining properly. We never did notify the front desk though. We just handled it ourselves. The free breakfast was a nice perk that we enjoyed one morning of our stay. However, it was a busy breakfast with lots of folks partaking.

Pros

  • Affordable – This was a last minute trip and we encountered lots of elevated room prices. Thankfully, this was $202/night.
  • Good location – It’s about middle of the strip on the main drag. It’s not far from anything in Pigeon Forge/Sevierville.
  • Spacious rooms – It appears that every room here is a suite, so you get extra space compared to other hotels.
  • Recently updated – The beds were pretty comfortable and the furnishings were in great shape.
  • Free breakfast – We enjoyed the waffle maker that created an imprint of an apple on it.
  • Extra sink – There’s an additional sink and mirror outside the bathroom. That was useful for both of us getting ready.
  • Free apple cider – There’s free apple cider at breakfast and in the lobby!

Cons

  • Heater in bathroom fan – I’m not sure why, but they added a heater inside the bathroom fan. Unfortunately, you can’t run one without the other. That wasn’t ideal for a hot summer day.
  • Tub drainage issue – It was a slow draining tub and you ended up standing in water.

Is the Inn at Apple Valley worth it?

There’s a lot to like at The Inn at Apple Valley and it’s easy to see why it’s a popular place. It’s got affordable rooms with free breakfast. Plus, it’s been recently updated. Overall, it’s a solid choice.