We recently stayed at the Katella Palms Hotel. We were quite worried after seeing the reviews. We were very happy with our stay. We were there Oct 9-19th 2005. The lobby was spacious and check in staff very friendly. We found our rooms were on the lower level in the pool courtyard where we had requested. The pool closed at 10 so it was quite quiet back there. With the A/C fan on in our room we found we all slept very well. On multiple occasions we requested more towels or pillows and were always accommodated quite quickly.

The Room was tidy every day and the double sink outside of the bathroom served us well. The beds were comfortable and sheets fresh every day. We did not see any critters of any type during our entire stay. I do not know what the previous report on that was about. The ladies did a great job in the room. We could tell by the folding of the towels which lady had been there. My son liked the one who layed out his outfits from Build a Bear which he had left in a mess on the bed. Fresh coffee was left every day as well as shampoo, soap, q-tips etc...The carpet was well vacumed and surfaces wiped. The water pressure was fantastic and we noticed no fluctuation in temperature at any time during our stay.

The giftshop in the lobby has the essentials so that if you have forgotten anything you can pick it up for less money than at Disneyland. The Shuttle stop is cute and if the shuttle is full they send another quite quickly. I think it is a shame for people to complain about this. It is a free service and the hotel pictures depict the size of it. It is a quick trip to DL so you are never waiting long. We found the drivers polite and frequently gave the boys a dollar to tip when getting off. The driver was always on time and never left before his designated departure.

The lobby staff was very helpful in booking all shuttles to various destinations and giving directions to other locations. The Shark tanks thoughout the Restaurant and lobby were enjoyed by our sons. The only dissapointment in this area was the lack of internet in our room. Hardwire would be OK. There was internet in the lobby and wireless in some rooms. We did use the computer there and emailed home a few times. I would like to see that upgraded if it is not a major expense. The lobby was always clean and we frequently saw staff polishing the brass and wiping down the refuse cans outside. The waterfall near the entrance was pretty as well.

The restaurant was a huge plus. Every morning we ate there. The boys often had Mickey Mouse Pancakes that came with an egg and sausage or bacon along with whip cream and chocolate chips. Their meal included a drink too. The adults had eggs/bacon etc. The kids ate free so all we had was our bill which was usually 11 dollars or so not including tip. That is feeding 4 people very well. We usually ate a meal at Disneyland and then had a late dinner at the restaurant again. The boys loved food and staff. We found the prices great and food good as well. Our server was very friendly everytime we went. The food was on the table very quickly and was tasty. I had a roast beef dinner/burger/sandwhich/homemade soup and enjoyed it all. We did not spend much time in the Sports Bar but I did pop over to check the score on a game and grab a beer.

The Pool was large and clean. We did spend a fair amount of time in it. They do need to keep and eye on the amount of towels as there was often none. We took our room towels and would just call for more and they brought them to the room. We saw the pool being cleaned frequently.

The price on the hotel was great for what it offered us. I would not hesitate to stay again. Very close to DL/Stadiums and Hockey. We are an average family who are middle class wage earners. THere were two boys and two adults on our trip. A vacation is what you make of it and I do not need the luxury of having my bags carried or chocolates on my pillow but will add that had we have asked for assistance the staff probably would have been more than willing. Happy Travels!