A DIS hotel VS HOJO 1st week of Dec

[CandMmommy]

please spell out for me the advantages of staying on property vs HOJO. Visiting either 3rd week in Oct or 1st week in Dec.
my kids are girls. 10, 7 and 3 at the time of travel. We will be spending 6 night, and 4 days in the park.
Can you swim at this time? Other activities for older girls while little sister naps?
Older girls have been twice, both in March.

 

[GatorChris]

If you go in October, it will be warm enough to swim. December, it could get pretty chilly, but kids will want to swim anyway.

As for your kids, they'll love either one of the places you go. However, at 10 to 3, they're just about the perfect age to still enjoy the HoJo water park. It's fairly small and great for kids at that age. A few years older and your 10yo (who would be 12) would consider the water park a little childish, IMO. But you're hitting it at the perfect time. And the rooms are pretty big for a family of 4 or 5. I would recommend spending the extra money for the Superior room with a view of the parks. Your kids will love that more than the water park.

As for the Disney hotels, they're very very pricey. The advantage is that you can get into the parks an hour early. But if your kids are like mine, you'll be luck to make rope drop at the normal hours. The GCH is very close, but you'll have to get a second mortgage to afford it. The DLH is still very pricey, sorta close, has the best waterslides of any Disney resort in America, and feels very Disney. The PPH is the same distance to the parks as HoJo is, costs more, doesn't feel very Disney, but does have one cool waterslide.

I don't what your $$ situation is, but if it's similar to my middle-class income, then HoJo would be a great pick. Of the 8 hotels I've done in the area, it's the only one I've returned to. That has to do with location, price, water park, cleanliness and customer service.

 

[sherilaine]

With kids that age you might want to try the kids suites at the HOJO - they make all the difference for us travelling to Disney. They fill up quick but you still have plenty of time for your planning.

They have 1 king sized bed in the parents room and then a bunk bed in the kids room. Alongside the bunk is a good sized pull out single bed which I am sure would work great for your 3 year old. My MIL slept on it (we bought a cheap mattress pad from Walmart and it made it very comfortable even for an adult). I find that any pull out even in the most expensive hotels can be hit or miss though.
This would give you 2 tvs, so they can watch Disney and you can watch whatever you want, two bathrooms which makes getting ready much faster and easier and more space - You can even close the door between the two rooms which is I know a crazy idea when on vacation right!!

The water park is fun for the kids - last time we were there my kids were 11 and 10 and they still had to spend some time in there getting dumped on with a big bucket of water even, I don't know why they still love it but it seems you don't have to be a small kid to enjoy it. Their garden pool is much nicer now with new pool chair pads - and we've never found it very busy when we've stayed. It is also heated.

The walk is not much further unless you choose to stay at the Grand. As already stated the main benefit (as we have done the pros and cons before believe me) is the extra hour in the park. This is a weighted benefit depending on park hours when you plan to be there - if most of your park days will be 8AM-Midnight and you know you can get your family in line early for the 7AM extra magic hour then that will make a huge difference for busy park days. But if you are going when park opens at say 9 or 10AM - then it's not as big of a benefit as the parks likely are not as crowded but the extra hour is going to be a lot busier as it's much easier to get up and ready for 8 or 9 than 7. It all depends on each person, I find some people have to stay on site as it's just part of their experience - if the girls have gone before, what do they think?

Another consideration is how will your days work - are you early risers/mid day break/go back for the evening types or do you go until you drop and then leave and naps happen in the stroller - how many times you want to go back and forth to the room is a factor and if that is the case then onsite would likely win.

Have fun planning! It really can be just as much fun as going - if you try hard enough!

 

[CandMmommy]

If you go in October, it will be warm enough to swim. December, it could get pretty chilly, but kids will want to swim anyway.

As for your kids, they'll love either one of the places you go. However, at 10 to 3, they're just about the perfect age to still enjoy the HoJo water park. It's fairly small and great for kids at that age. A few years older and your 10yo (who would be 12) would consider the water park a little childish, IMO. But you're hitting it at the perfect time. And the rooms are pretty big for a family of 4 or 5. I would recommend spending the extra money for the Superior room with a view of the parks. Your kids will love that more than the water park.

As for the Disney hotels, they're very very pricey. The advantage is that you can get into the parks an hour early. But if your kids are like mine, you'll be luck to make rope drop at the normal hours. The GCH is very close, but you'll have to get a second mortgage to afford it. The DLH is still very pricey, sorta close, has the best waterslides of any Disney resort in America, and feels very Disney. The PPH is the same distance to the parks as HoJo is, costs more, doesn't feel very Disney, but does have one cool waterslide.

I don't what your $$ situation is, but if it's similar to my middle-class income, then HoJo would be a great pick. Of the 8 hotels I've done in the area, it's the only one I've returned to. That has to do with location, price, water park, cleanliness and customer service.

We stayed at HOJO in 12 and 13, before the baby. We were on a tighter budget then and didn't do the kids bunk room. With the 3, we would for sure.
I was just curious if it makes our trip more special and worth the extra $. But I think the bigger room will help. I know the girls will want utilize the pool area.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I always pick HOJO now after staying for years at onsite hotels. In October, it will probably be hot, so swimming definitely. December is hit or miss. You may or may not get a chance. In either case, I'd suggest bringing some entertainment for your older kids like a tablet or a 3ds to play games on. That way, you're covered. We find this is very useful with our oldest.

Onsite perks--early entry every morning, more "Disney magic", and never stepping out of the bubble. There are more activities for kids, too, like the Mickey cartoons at PPH, which would keep the older kids somewhat entertained.

HOJO perks--the water play area is way more fun that any of the Disney pools in my opinion, it's a lot cheaper, and the rooms are surprisingly comfortable and spacious. We are a family of 5 and are much more comfortable at HOJO, even if it is a bit of a walk.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Enjoy!

 

[mummabear]

We did a split stay in Sept 2014 between the Hojo and DLH. I am glad we have stayed at DLH and it was lovely but not worth the extra $ over Hojo.
We also found the walk back to Hojo shorter and more way less crowded then trying to get through DTD.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would say HoJo if Oct, onsite if Dec. Oct good chances of swimming, water park big + with kids. Dec the Christmas decorations will be up at the DL hotels and weather is so variable I would not count on being able to swim.

I went 2nd week of Dec this year and it was COLD. (Ok, CA cold but I'm Californian so 50 at night is COLD in my book.) We hit the hot tub and saw a few really young children in the pools at GCH but that was it. Even the lifeguards looked like they were freezing... But just a week or 2 before people were reporting 80 degree weather.

 

[Meemoo]

We did a split stay this year, half onsite at The Grand Cal & half at Hojos. I loved the Grand Californian for its convenience. Stroll in and out, and exclusive entry into the parks for guests of any of the Disney hotels. We liked going back for a rest in the afternoon, grabbing a Fastpass on the way and easily running back down to use it when it was time for our ride! My 2 kids are 7 & 9. We then switched to Hojo, which I cannot fault for the comfort and cleanliness of the room. But, the location for us was a bit too far. It was hot during our trip, unseasonable hot and we did not like coming back for our rest and then having to walk back to the park. You can use the ART but its hardly worth it once you wait for it. I think if money isn't an issue I'd stay onsite. My BIL traveled with us and stayed at Hojos the entire trip with their 4 year old. They didn't enjoy the walk but they preferred to save the money. Having said that, you could still save heaps at Hojo if you don't want to walk but have a car and pay for daily parking at Disney. It depends how you want to plan your day, how the weather shapes up and what you guys are willing to do, ultimately how you like to enjoy your vacations.

 

[CandMmommy]

We've stayed at HOJO twice, and didn't mind the walk. I'll probably rent a stroller once there for the little.

 

[5forMickey]

I'm not getting drug into this fight again

 

[CandMmommy]

I'm not getting drug into this fight again

Ha ha! I don't understand what you mean

 

[CandMmommy]

Thanks all for your help!

 

[Lucysmom2]

I would only consider a DLR resort. The EMH makes the extra cost worth it for us. You can get on so many rides in the morning. Then in the afternoon head back for a nap or swim. Save nighttime for dinners and shows.