and yet ANOTHER question about the HOJO!

[mousiemom]

i learn something every day i am on these disboards. we will be staying @ HOJO in june so i will take this shortcut. at wdw i have my shortcuts but i've never been to DL so i will have to learn from you guys!
thanks,
mousiemom

 

[pixiewings71]

I know it may not be a popular way to get across for safety reasons, so don't throw anything at me, but I normally just cut through Mimi's parking lot to the sidewalk on Harbor and walk along that side.
There is a road that runs through the area, but in all the years we've done this, I've only had to stop and wait for a car to pass a couple of times, and it's usually earlier in the day/night. It's not a busy street. I see a lot of people doing it. At night coming back to the hotel, after park closing, there is literally no traffic. One could very safely cross right over there and avoid a few extra steps as long as the stay aware and look both ways before crossing. We've been going since 2001 and doing this and have never had a problem yet. It really shaves a big chunk out of your walking time, and beats walking all the way up to the Manchester crosswalk only to have to walk back down again to Hojo anyway. Again it's up to you all as individuals to decide what's best for you.

No offense but with kids I won't cut through any streets. We would rather be safe and use the sidewalk. Maybe with an adult only trip but even then I doubt it, I'd much rather walk on the sidewalk then cut across a street. I really don't see how it could be faster but maybe that's because staying in bldg 1 we just walk past the lobby, down the sidewalk to the crosswalks. Maybe you're thinking of the wrong crosswalk? Manchester is the street the HoJo is on, you turn on Manchester to get into the HoJo lot.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

No offense but with kids I won't cut through any streets. We would rather be safe and use the sidewalk. Maybe with an adult only trip but even then I doubt it, I'd much rather walk on the sidewalk then cut across a street. I really don't see how it could be faster but maybe that's because staying in bldg 1 we just walk past the lobby, down the sidewalk to the crosswalks. Maybe you're thinking of the wrong crosswalk? Manchester is the street the HoJo is on, you turn on Manchester to get into the HoJo lot.

I always stay in bld 1 and it seems like it's closer to me to just cut through Mimis parking lot. On the other hand, I have never walked to the crosswalk, and everyone in party are adults or young adults. Really, in all the times I've done this, I have had to stop for a car probably twice. However, I go early and stay all day until closing. I just thought I'd throw it out there as an alternative for those who say the walk is too long... Anyway, it gives me a good reason to stop in at Mimis for their fantastic food!

 

[pixiewings71]

We go from start to finish too, most days. If we there for the weekend we sleep in on Sunday and hit the park after checking out. If we are there for longer we will pick or two days to sleep but usually we are there by 9 at the latest. We love Mimi's and love to stop there on our way in as well, if we do that we just walk down that side, otherwise we go down the other side. It seems shorter to me....maybe I'll time it this trip and see if it really is.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well Molly, if you would just get your butt down to Anaheim in April, I'd be happy to take your hand and show you the way.

From your typing fingertips to the being in charge of random money coming to our mailbox.

That makes sense then DM. Thanks The bushes aren't thick enough to hide anyone, they are pretty closely cut to the fence. And Molly, I'd be happy to show you around too.....I think we were even there the same weekend once and I looked but didn't see you.

See above.

Very cool, I really thought it was all grass on that side which is why I never walked that way. I will give it try next time I'm there. I could have sworn there was no sidewalk, that's so strange. You learn something everyday on the disboards!

Obviously there's some serious optical illusions going on for you and me b/c we each were sure we knew what was over there, and we were both wrong!

 

[XTinabell]

I always stay in bld 1 and it seems like it's closer to me to just cut through Mimis parking lot. On the other hand, I have never walked to the crosswalk, and everyone in party are adults or young adults. Really, in all the times I've done this, I have had to stop for a car probably twice. However, I go early and stay all day until closing. I just thought I'd throw it out there as an alternative for those who say the walk is too long... Anyway, it gives me a good reason to stop in at Mimis for their fantastic food!

This is the way I go every time, and yeah I dont' think I have ever had to wait for a car and it does save time from having to walk all the up to the crosswalk, but now I'm gonna try the other way, I think I'll race someone in my party to see who gets there first.

Obviously there's some serious optical illusions going on for you and me b/c we each were sure we knew what was over there, and we were both wrong!

Yeah, I always looked at that side when walking to the park thinking it would be better if there was a sidewalk over there so I could walk that way.

 

[pixiewings71]

You two are cracking me up!! LOL
And I'm wondering about time, maybe DBF and I should time it, he can take one kid and cut across and I'll take the other kid and walk to the crosswalk....altho cutting across the street is something I really try to avoid teaching my kids to do. lol I'm a safety freak......remember I'm the one who kept her now 11 y.o in a booster until she was almost 10 and the 8 y.o was in one until she was 8! LOL AND we measured them last night to make sure they were both big enough to continue to be out of them due to the new regulations. LOL I think if I could wrap them in bubble wrap I just might have to do it....LOL

 

[bonita_babe232]

I was looking at the map posted and it looks alitte far from disneyland for my 3, 5 and 69 year old grandma (the 3 and 5 are my sons ) to be walking. Has anyone tried the walk with a senior or little little guys? I don't mind doing the shuttle, just i was under the impression it was only a few feet down from best western park place... Do you think it would be to far for them to walk after walking disney all day?

 

[pixiewings71]

It might be too far, my kids are 8 and 11. I've ridden ART from other hotels, not from the HoJo. It's not that bad really but I'd rather walk.

 

[bonita_babe232]

Well we rode the shuttle with the last one hotel we stayed at and didn't really mind it, I'm just worried they will get to tired!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I was looking at the map posted and it looks alitte far from disneyland for my 3, 5 and 69 year old grandma (the 3 and 5 are my sons ) to be walking. Has anyone tried the walk with a senior or little little guys? I don't mind doing the shuttle, just i was under the impression it was only a few feet down from best western park place... Do you think it would be to far for them to walk after walking disney all day?

When my Grandma was 88, she did the walk with us and never complained once. We did both parks from morning to night. However, she is very fit, still wears 1" high heels everyday (refuses to wear 'practical' shoes), and has strong legs from daily gardening. After one day at DL she had enough. She said she would much rather stay in the room and watch TV. So DH, who isn't into DL as much as me and my DS are, would take her to out to eat or take her some food from Mimi's and then come back and join us. She loves her some TV! She could've handled the walking, she just isn't into Disney as much as we are.

My MIL came with us once. (She has since passed...) She was about 69 at the time and had some health issues. Her feet swelled up so bad from all the walking that we ended up renting her a wheelchair the last few days. She used to wear SAS brand shoes, which she said were comfortable, but I can't see how they would be. There was no padding in the sole or anything. We also found out later that she was wearing shoes about a whole size too small for her w/ nylons, no socks. She bought them for when her feet were normal and then when her feet would swell, they would literally fold over the tops of her shoes. She refused to believe me that you're supposed to buy shoes when your feet are swollen, at the end of the day, not at the beginning before they swell up. Then I bought her a pair of New Balance walking shoes at least one size larger (IIRC) along w/ some coolmax socks, and her feet never swelled up like that again. She said it was much better. (This is well before Crocs was even created!) She was a trooper though. She came with us every day and stayed all day/night. It was easier for her after we got her the wheelchair though.
I think it all depends on the person and their strengths, weaknesses, and stamina. With a 3 & 5 year old, I would still probably rent a stroller or bring one for the kids as they tend to get pooped out at that age. When my son was 9 he still fit in a WDW double stroller with a friend the same age! (Does DL have Double strollers like WDW?IF so that would be the one to get.)
With a senior along for the experience, you may want to consider staying somewhere a little closer. Are you going to have another adult there to help you with the kids in case your grandma gets too tired? Better to be safe than sorry.
BWPPI is a lot closer to the main crosswalk than Hojos. A healthy young adult can do the walk in 7 minutes to the main entry. BWPPI is actually probably 2 minutes from the main entry barring waiting at the light and in security lines. Small kids and seniors probably require more time.

 

[mAlien13]

Getting to and from HJ really wasn't that difficult.

And last Jan I thought I had a good rate at Carousel and thought it would be made up by the continental breakfast. Too late I found out HJ had just put the ent rate for my date up, and I started to wonder if a $50 difference would be worth the b'fast.

Oh man, no. Undrinkable coffee in tiny cups, yucko donuts, sad fruit. Yes, the b'fast room was pretty, but it was in no way worth it.

The only place I've heard really good things about their cont b'fast is CCI, and that's much further away than HJ.

Sorry, I have to disagree with this...the breakfast at Carousel that you describe is exactly the breakfast that we experienced at CCI. Coupled with an inefficient system and really, really bad customer service, we skipped it after the first two mornings.

I have sort of decided after reading all the posts here that there is no good breakfast at any of the close hotels. Now, we just expect it, and bring something hearty if we want to have it. I think it is still an advantage to have some fruit and pastry's, but I definately miss the days when continental breakfast meant eggs, meats, toast, bagels and all....

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry, I have to disagree with this...the breakfast at Carousel that you describe is exactly the breakfast that we experienced at CCI. Coupled with an inefficient system and really, really bad customer service, we skipped it after the first two mornings.

I have sort of decided after reading all the posts here that there is no good breakfast at any of the close hotels. Now, we just expect it, and bring something hearty if we want to have it. I think it is still an advantage to have some fruit and pastry's, but I definately miss the days when continental breakfast meant eggs, meats, toast, bagels and all....

Well my goodness, disagreeing with me. tsk tsk tsk.

Now I've definitely heard some opposite things than what I had heard before about CCI's breakfast! I won't say it anymore.