The New York hotel is second closest to the parks after the Disneyland Hotel. It has a large conference centre, so many guests are there on business. It has quite adult art deco/ Manhattan type theming, so not as ' Disneyfied' as some of the others. I am staying there for the first time on Monday, as we have always stayed in the Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay in the past, but my ( now adult) son said he would like to try the NY this time.I have read reviews about some of the rooms looking rather tired, but the Disney hotels are now 18 years old, and in the process of slowly being refurbished.
If you want close location to the parks without DL Hotel prices, then this is the one to go for.You can pay a small amount extra and have a Character breakfast in Cafe Mickey if you prefer.The breakfast is hot and cold buffet, and I don't think you have time tickets for it in this hotel, like you do in Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay standard rooms.
The hotel pool is rather adult and deep.
No kettle in the room, but you can ask for one at reception or take a travel kettle with you, with plastic mugs, teaspoon, drinks sachets etc.if you want a hot drink before bed.
I personally think the Newport Bay is a far more attractive and elegant hotel,( book the Admirals Floor for extra facilities and central room location)and the Sequoia Lodge has cosy wood/ stone theming,( book a Montana room to be in the main building, rather than a lodge) but that is just my own preference. It only has a cold breakfast buffet, but you can order a cooked breakfast for about ?6.The Sequoia Lodge indoor pool has a slide, and the pools in the Newport are the nicest IMO, but all the Disney hotel pools seem to be rather cold.
You would need to catch the bus to/from Newport Bay at the moment, as they are building a new Earl Of Sandwich on the Village side of the lake, and have closed that lakeside route from NBC hotel.It takes longer to walk the other way round the lake past Sequoia Lodge and New York hotels.
So if you want the option of walking from/ to your hotel easily, rather than catch the shuttle bus each time, especially as you have a 3yr old, the New York or Sequoia Lodge are your best choices.
We always have early breakfast, around 7.15am so we can go into the park for EMH at 8am.A few rides in Fantasyland and Adventureland are open for 2 hrs for Disney hotel guests only.
Disneyland Summer season ends on 29th August, so that is when Fantillusion parade and fireworks will end, and the parks will close earlier.It also means they will be quieter, with shorter ride queues.The daytime Once Upon A Dream Parade, and Stars N cars Parade in the Studios continue all year round, so you will still see them. Also Disney Showtime Spectacular on Central Plaza Stage. The number of shows will be cut though, so check the parks programmes for times of all the shows in both parks, so you don't miss them.
Minnie's All Stars Express Train will also continue.
You can read reviews and see travellers photos of all the hotels on Trip Advisor.