A Few Questions

[themick]

We have been to Walt Disney World many times and now we are going to Disneyland for the first time. We will be staying for a week in October (Saturday to Saturday). We would really appreciate any recommendations on which Good Neighbor Hotel to stay; the best shuttle options from LAX to the hotel and back; and any information on a day tour that we could take to see some of the sites around Los Angeles.

[BrerGnat]

There are many options for offsite hotels on Harbor Blvd.

I would personally recommend one of these:

Howard Johnson
Fairfield Inn-Anaheim Resort
Best Western Plus-Park Place Inn
Candy Cane Inn

If you want to be a bit further out on Harbor (would require a shuttle to/from the parks):
Sheraton Park Hotel
Hilton at the Convention Center
Double Tree Suites Anaheim Resort

As for the shuttle, you can do the Disneyland Express or you can just hop any shuttle that happens to be lined up at LAX when you arrive. That is actually the better way to go as it's cheaper and you can also schedule a pick up the day before you need it (most shuttle drivers will give you a card with a number to call). Super Shuttle and Prime Time are the big players in the area. Both are good.

[CleveSJM]

We stayed at Candy Cane Inn and enjoyed it. It's on the same block as Disneyland so you dont' even have to cross the street to get to the entrance. Carsland is their backyard. Kinda cool to stay so close.

[tinkwest]

I enjoyed my stay at the Fairfield Inn. The check-in staff was very accommodating and friendly. The room was spacious and newly refurbished. This hotel does NOT offer continental breakfast, which to me was not a big issue. Did not visit the pool so no opinion.

I have stayed at Park Place Inn several times. You just can't get much closer to the Resort entrance than from this hotel. It is directly across the street. The rooms could stand a refurbishing. They are clean but could be brightened up a bit. A continental breakfast is complimentary to guests at the Captain Kidds restaurant next door. A fairly small pool area next to the laundry room and parking lot.

I have had up and down visits at the Candy Cane. Some better than others. I wouldn't tell someone not to stay there based on my experience as I think I just had a bit of bad luck with some minor issues. I would not consider their rooms spacious by any means but they are clean and comfortable. A nice continental breakfast is provided by the pool. Not a large pool, but has areas both sunny and shaded by landscape. If you don't feel like walking they have their own shuttle to the Resort.

I have never taken a tour in LA (having lived the first 12 years of my life there) and don't know anyone who has but you might want to check out A Day in LA Tours, which I found on TripAdvisor.