$400 more for two nights!!!!

[son3disfan]

Yes, $400 dollars more to stay at the GC then it it will be to stay at HOJOS.
Am I crazy?
Is it REALLY worth it for two nights? Especially since we plan to be at the park anyway??

I booked it, and when I compared prices I feel as though I have lost my mind. Must have Disney fever!

I am a WDW vet, and love the Poly and Beach Club (usually booked with a pin code, so $200-$220 or so a night), but also enjoy Port Orleans Riverside, where we regularly stay ( for $120-$180 a night depending on time of year).

In WDW there really aren't other options if you want to be close to the parks. In DL, I dont really know if I can justify paying that much much more....since everyone here raves about HOJOs, and it is pretty close.

I am drawn to GC, and this is a once in a lifetime visit to California...
We are on a MR Disney cruise and this is just a quick visit so the kids can see the parks.....what to do.... what to do!

Who thinks it's worth it? Yes we can afford it. Im just a very frugal penny pinching nut.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

IMO it's not worth it. We can afford it too, but I just can't bring myself to do it. We don't spend enough time in the room for it to be worth it.

 

[son3disfan]

IMO it's not worth it. We can afford it too, but I just can't bring myself to do it. We don't spend enough time in the room for it to be worth it.

That's how I am feeling....

I just love the idea of walking out to the park from the hotel though. Being able to come back to the room for a bite to eat, or swim. All the Disney Magic.....
But I keep thinking with my luck it will rain for the two days that we are there!! Or be too cold to use the pool!

$150 even $200 more I would say yes for sure. But $400????
Oh and I guess I pay to park the rental car too....

 

[SplashMo]

It is worth doing at least once...

 

[son3disfan]

It is worth doing at least once...

Tell me WHY you think that!!
Convince me!

 

[SplashMo]

The hotel is beautiful, Its locaton is great. You have a shorter stay. I think it is the perfect oppurtunity. If you were going for longer it would be really expensive. So this is an oppurtunity for a shorter stay.

 

[silence]

Tell me WHY you think that!!
Convince me!

We stay offsite on most of our visits. We splurged due to a PIN code in October and stayed at the GCH. SOOOO worth it and we didnt' even have a park view.

For us, being THATCLOSE to the park, especially when we like to take lunch breaks at the hotel was worth it. It totally didn't kill my feet at the end of a long day at the parks to make it back to the room!

If I could afford, it, we would stay there all the time.

 

[DahliaRW]

Why not compromise and stay at PPH or DLH if they are less than GC?

 

[d1sneymom]

it's worth it if it is a once in a lifetime vacay. The hotel is gorgeous. The convenience of the rooms being that close. I stayed there with my family when DS was 7 months old in January (3 years ago). It was lovely to be able to pop back into the room when DS went down for a nap instead of trekking back to the room and laying him down only for him to get a second wind.

The rooms were nothing to write home for. Decorated like a cabin but really it wasn't anything I would be super impressed about (remember this was 3 years ago, so it could have changed). Our room looked over DTD (right above Jamba Juice) and it was pretty just to sit out there and "people watch".

We have also stayed at Hojo's and thought the rooms were great. The kiddie pool was awesome. And it is very close to the Maingate. 10-15 min tops.

I would only book GCH if this were to be the only time I would ever set foot at DL. Hojo's is a great hotel and I would only book GCH for the convenience of proximity. It's a beautiful hotel with great CMs and you wouldn't get the "Disney" experience at Hojo's but for $400... i would rather spend that on Dole Whips, Churros, Marchelines, LOL... well not $400 worth of Dole Whips but you know you could find other uses for that $400.

 

[Heymy]

Yes it is a lot of money. But for me, I always think it's worth it, yet DH disagrees wholeheartedly

You can't beat the proximity to EVERYTHING. The rooms are nice, not spectacular. But I love being able to have a cocktail in the Hearthstone Lounge or better yet Napa Rose Lounge and either go up to our room or into the parks. Listening to the piano player. Nightly turn down service with the Disney chocolate coins (these are golden for my DDs). Using MM any day it's offered. The pools...wow, they are just lovely and the chairs are even better.

I was always a fan of the DLH over the GCH because it's where we've stayed since I was a kid and there was so much nostalgia. But with the renovations, I may have changed my preference

We're staying at HOJO for our upcoming quick trip and I know I'm going to be so sad not being onsite. But I haven't been able to convince DH this time...still 2 weeks left to try

 

[skiingfast]

I am a WDW vet, and love the Poly and Beach Club (usually booked with a pin code, so $200-$220 or so a night), but also enjoy Port Orleans Riverside, where we regularly stay ( for $120-$180 a night depending on time of year).

In WDW there really aren't other options if you want to be close to the parks. In DL, I dont really know if I can justify paying that much much more....since everyone here raves about HOJOs, and it is pretty close.

Compared to where you have stayed at WDW keep in mind that the GCH is styled like the WL but is nicer than the GF. It is indeed close, not Poly close more like when you get off the Resort Line Monorail close.

As far as the Hojo, many of the raves happen for two reasons, People get the entertainment rate and stay for $59 a night, the other is it is a sponsor of the DL side of the boards. Would I stay there for the regular price which is over $100, No!, it's just a reagular hotels with a fancy pool and no other perks.

Keep in mind if you've done the walk from BC to the international gate of Epcot. There are several hotels on Harbor that are closer to the gates of both DL and DCA than that.

 

[tdashgirl]

As far as the Hojo, many of the raves happen for two reasons, People get the entertainment rate and stay for $59 a night, the other is it is a sponsor of the DL side of the boards. Would I stay there for the regular price which is over $100, No!, it's just a reagular hotels with a fancy pool and no other perks.

I agree with this. I won't pay over $100 for the HOJO. I stay there when it's under $100, which is nice because so many of the other hotels on Harbor within walking distance are more $ for the same quality room.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I stay at HOJO for the price and the fact that I get a clean, comfortable room within walking distance (yes, I know it's not the closest but it's fine for our family). I am also a regular AP visitor to the park, so the hotel is not so much part of the magic for me. Room cost is more important. If this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I would choose the GCH. We really loved staying there in early June. The amenities are super nice, and it's a lovely experience to walk right into DCA from your hotel.

 

[zeitzeuge]

It's totally worth it if you're spending more than 2-3 days at the parks. When we're there only 2-3 days, we usually spend open until close at DL, so splurging on a Disney Resort hotel really isn't worth it since we only use it to sleep and shower in. Now the rare times we go for 5 days or more, we'll stay at the resort since we end up spending more time at the hotel then normal.

Try it, even if it's just for this one time. Live a little.

 

[bumbershoot]

For such a short trip, I would NOT do it. You're not going to have time to barely even LOOK at the hotel, let alone get that amount of money's worth from it.

We stayed in an unfortunately-sited room at the Grand...using mapmyrun to get an approximation of how long the walk was, it was as long to get from the center of the esplanade to the sidewalk of HoJo as it was to get to our room at the Grand. I cannot tell you how annoying that walk was, especially the day that a fork was on the floor ALL DAY LONG (yay, great service, right? I watched a CM step right over that fork, even).

Our trip was 4 nights and we didn't get a chance to swim or look around or anything, because our trips are focused on the parks.

Remember, unless you are already in the further back part of DCA already, the way in to the Grand is to walk halfway through DTD, then backtrack into the hotel. If there were an entrance right there where La Brea is, it would be MOST excellent, but there isn't. To me, there's a perception that it's super-close, and physically the building is, but the actual entrances aren't that convenient unless you are "deeper" into DCA than Grizzly...

I'd go with HoJo.

 

[blackjackdelta]

For such a short trip, I would NOT do it. You're not going to have time to barely even LOOK at the hotel, let alone get that amount of money's worth from it.

We stayed in an unfortunately-sited room at the Grand...using mapmyrun to get an approximation of how long the walk was, it was as long to get from the center of the esplanade to the sidewalk of HoJo as it was to get to our room at the Grand. I cannot tell you how annoying that walk was, especially the day that a fork was on the floor ALL DAY LONG (yay, great service, right? I watched a CM step right over that fork, even).

Our trip was 4 nights and we didn't get a chance to swim or look around or anything, because our trips are focused on the parks.

Remember, unless you are already in the further back part of DCA already, the way in to the Grand is to walk halfway through DTD, then backtrack into the hotel. If there were an entrance right there where La Brea is, it would be MOST excellent, but there isn't. To me, there's a perception that it's super-close, and physically the building is, but the actual entrances aren't that convenient unless you are "deeper" into DCA than Grizzly...

I'd go with HoJo.

Do not want to hijack, but have a most excellent trip Bumber.

Jack

 

[kcchica]

We are the HOJO right now!!! (WOOO HOOO) and I have been debating this issue myself for an upcoming quick weekend trip in Feb (without the kids)... even with a pin code it's like $300 more for 2 nights. I love the location of the GCH but that is the only part... and I just can't justify the cost.

However we do go at least once a year (unless we get an AP and go several times)...and have stayed there a couple times (which gives us the knowledge about how tiny the rooms are)...so we do have a little different situation.

Oh and the HOJO kids suite is so awesome at the ent rate of $99. Seriously. Awesome.

 

[Funball]

Ok I have never stayed at GCH, but from what I have seen of the rooms(have had friends stay there), that $400 is not worth it for such a short trip, if that $400 was for 4 nights it be worth it. I’d rather take the hojo because they are more affordable and they don’t charge an arm and a leg for parking (they don’t charge at all infact)…in understandable that you want to be near the parks, but hojo is only a 8min walk, it’s not really far at all!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

$400 means different things to different people and it only depends on what $400 means to you... If paying $400 means you have to buy fewer souveniers or cut back on other spending then by all means, stay at Hojo. If $400 is an insignificant ammount to you then go for GCH...

In other words... If you are going to stress about the cost the whole time you are there then go for Hojo!

 

[son3disfan]

Thanks for your replies...


Still deciding.

 

[SplashMo]

One advantage of GCH is that you get early admission into the parks

Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun (Typically)

You get admitted to DCA one hour early to grab FP for WOC.

HoJo

Entire party Leaves at 9AM (Already fed somehow) arrive at DCA 40-45 min early. Stand in line. Gates open at 9:30. You obtain FP for WOC after waiting in line. Finish about 9:50. Fast Pass SOARIN. and ride SOARIN or get in late for rope drop for TSMM.

GCH

Entire Party arrives at private gate in GCH hotel 9AM. Everyone enters gate. They hand yoiu the FPs and re-enter the hotel and Eat at White Water Snacks. You stroll over to WOC fast pass machine that is very close to private entrance and grab tickets. Join party back at restaurant. Eat (Maybe entire party avoid grill as it can be slow, just saying). At 9:30 FP SOARIN and ride SOARIN or get in line for rope drop for TSMM.

It does not get much better than this...