Christy, I prefer to shop during the day when I have some down time (like waiting for a fastpass window). Everyone waits until closing, but then it’s crowded and you’re tired, so decision making is questionable, lol! At Disneyland, you can make use of package check. They will hold your purchases at the newsstand by the entrance. I think DCA might have it in one of the shops (it used to be in the toy shop with the mr potato heads), but I haven’t used it there in years. You might also be able to use package express and have it sent to the bell desk at the resort hotels. WDW also has this option, which is great since I always stay on-property. 😉

Fairfield Inn (near the new Panera bread) – They have suites here that will fit 6 and the prices are probably the best out of all the ones I have personally used.

Best Western Park Place (right across the street) – we reserved 2 joining rooms (the extra bathroom was a big help).

Grand Legacy at the Park (couple hotels down from Best Western, super easy walk) – They have suites here. We rented the 3 room suite. I wouldn’t say it was cheap but it gave us a ton of room really close to the parks. My husband had an annual pass so that helped us save even more. The pool here is great too! Many of the pools at the closer hotels are really small.

Staybridge Suites – This one is not walking distance, but it is a great option for larger families. We have stayed here twice. The free breakfast is a good one.

Here are a few others you may try: Camelot Inn & Suites & Desert Inn & Suites,

I highly recommend using the Getaway Today website to see what the cost would be and then pricing what it would be individually so you can see how much you can save. I have been impressed with the amount of savings. https://www.getawaytoday.com/?referrerid=6170

This post has an example of our savings: https://www.thriftyandthriving.com/our-kidless-disneyland-trip-report-may-2014/