Anyone else heading to Disneyland in October?

[AussieMumma]

We're doing the Pacific Coast cruise on the Disney Wonder from the Sun 30th Sep until Sun 7th Oct and then we're heading to Anaheim until Sat 13th.

I've been to DL three times and dh and kids twice and we've all been to WDW once, last year.

We can't decide where to stay this time, thinking of trying somewhere different. We've stayed at the Camelot Inn & Suites and the Residence Inn Maingate and when I went with my sister we stayed at the Sheraton.
I've gotten good prices from the del Sol Inn and , Desert Palms & Castle Inn, I'm leaning towards the del Sol for the location.
The Camelot and Residence were both good but their prices can't compete at the moment, maybe some specials might come out in the next few months.

Where is everyone else staying?

 

[disneynut11]

Have you looked at the HOJO in Anaheim? I really like it there and the location is great!

 

[LizfromOz]

We will be in Anaheim Sept 29 - Oct 10 staying at Park Vue Inn for 5 nights then Hojo for the last 6 nights. Our travel dates changed and the PVI couldn't accommodate us in the room I wanted for our whole stay, so back to the Hojo we come. I was lucky enough to get 2 x rooms at the entertainment rate of $59 per room. We stayed there on our 2009 trip and had a great time. The kids suites are great, but my 14 yr old DD has grown so tall and would be a bit squished in a bunk bed, so I've requested interconnecting rooms so we can all have some space.

Happy planning, oh - and Happy Easter

Liz

 

[AussieMumma]

Liz, wow that's a great rate for Hojo, how did you get that? Also how do you go about booking inter connecting rooms, do you have to email/phone them directly? I know that's how we've had to do it with other hotels and the usually you don't get the cheap online rates.

 

[becpee]

We'll be there on the 9th October ( i'm pushing for the 8th as well) and flying home that night.

It'll be the end of our massive trip

We have 4 days in L.A at the end so I don't think i'm asking much to have 2 days at DL

 

[Aust]

We're arriving on 20th September but will be there until 3rd October. We're staying at Paradise Pier - our first family trip we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel (nice but further away than I expected) and last time I went with my sister and neice we stayed at Grand Californian (loved it, loved how close it was, but I shared the cost with my sister and it was 1 week, so no way we can afford it for 2 weeks when we are paying the whole lot!)

 

[LizfromOz]

Liz, wow that's a great rate for Hojo, how did you get that? Also how do you go about booking inter connecting rooms, do you have to email/phone them directly? I know that's how we've had to do it with other hotels and the usually you don't get the cheap online rates.

Well....first of all you need to check the Hojo Anaheim discussion boards on their website to see if your dates are eligible for the entertainment rate discount. You need to be able to show an entertainment card (the ones you get in the Entertainment Books with all of the discount coupons in them). It doesn't matter where you get your card, an Aussie one is fine.

Then you call the Hojo Anaheim direct and ask for inhouse reservations. If you get put through to the Howard Johnson call centre reservations line they will not know what you are talking about Now, they will not guarantee you connecting rooms, but will do their best to accommodate your request. The lovely lady I spoke to when booking said that they have quite a few dbl/dbl interconnecting rooms so we should be fine. If we don't get one it doesn't matter - my eldest DD is pretty responsible and trustworthy.

I have just checked the Hojo boards and nothing seems to be available at the Entertainment rate at the moment. It can't hurt to give them a call and check anyway, I think the inhouse reservation office is only open Mon-Sat.

Good luck,

Liz

 

[ExcitedSam]

We're staying at the Park Vue from 22-28 Sept and HoJo's from 9-14Oct.

Lizfromoz, great prices at HoJo's. We have booked a kids suite, our girls will love it.

 

[Kangarucci]

We will be at HOJO 10-12 Oct.

 

[Feej]

We're at the GCH from Oct 21-28. Can't wait!

 

[AussieMumma]

A question for those that have stayed at hojo before, apart from the kids water park and pool what is the great attraction of hojo that sets it apart from the rest of the hotels? Is it just purely for the water park?

 

[Caroline NZ]

A question for those that have stayed at hojo before, apart from the kids water park and pool what is the great attraction of hojo that sets it apart from the rest of the hotels? Is it just purely for the water park?

Hi, we stayed at Hojos in both 2009 & 2011. For us a large part of the attraction was the water playground. We won't go back on our trip next year though, as the kids are now too old to really enjoy it. Other than that price was a big factor, we got the 50% off entertainment card discount both times.
Hojos also has internal corridors so feels a bit more secure perhaps than those hotels that have rooms opening directly to the outside. The grounds are also nice, and there was plenty of free parking.
In summary it is a decent, clean and safe hotel, but nothing really special.
Next trip the intention is to stay at the Residence Inn Maingate, as they are apartments with full kitchens, and with the kids getting older I think we will appreciate having a bit more space.

 

[meandmygirl]

We will be at Hojo from Sept 30 - 3 October. Staying there after our Disney Wonder cruise for a few days before flying home.

 

[AussieMumma]

Caroline NZ, Thanks for your thoughts on hojo, we don't have much spare swimming time so I feel it would be wasted on us and also we'd be arguing with the kids to get them away from it!! We stayed at the Residence Inn Maingate in Dec 2010 and it was great. I would stay there again this time but so far the cheapest I'm getting quoted for 6 nights is just over $1800, we like the bi-loft suite so we have two bathrooms (4 kids including a 14 yr old dd).

meandmygirl, are you doing the Pacific Coast cruise? We are doing that cruise from the 30th Sep to 7th Oct!

 

[meandmygirl]

Yes we are doing the cruise before yours. We are staying at Park Vue Inn for 8 nights before we go on the cruise.

 

[AussieMumma]

I've had to get over the two bathroom thing for Anaheim, it is just not worth the extra $500+, that's alot of Disney shopping
So I've gone ahead and booked at the del Sol, we got a Kids Suite which has 2 x queens and a set of bunks, 6 nights for $753, what a bargain! It only includes a continental breakfast but for that price it's still fantastic value. The location is fantastic too.
If anything else comes up I can always cancel, they don't charge any fees up until 48hrs before your stay, I love that about US hotels!

All I have to do now is book hotels for Las Vegas & Grand Canyon and hang out for some sale airfares!

 

[Melbourne5]

I've had to get over the two bathroom thing for Anaheim, it is just not worth the extra $500+, that's alot of Disney shopping
So I've gone ahead and booked at the del Sol, we got a Kids Suite which has 2 x queens and a set of bunks, 6 nights for $753, what a bargain! It only includes a continental breakfast but for that price it's still fantastic value. The location is fantastic too.
If anything else comes up I can always cancel, they don't charge any fees up until 48hrs before your stay, I love that about US hotels!

All I have to do now is book hotels for Las Vegas & Grand Canyon and hang out for some sale airfares!

Wow you sure got a great special! Well done!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I've had to get over the two bathroom thing for Anaheim, it is just not worth the extra $500+, that's alot of Disney shopping
So I've gone ahead and booked at the del Sol, we got a Kids Suite which has 2 x queens and a set of bunks, 6 nights for $753, what a bargain! It only includes a continental breakfast but for that price it's still fantastic value. The location is fantastic too.
If anything else comes up I can always cancel, they don't charge any fees up until 48hrs before your stay, I love that about US hotels!

All I have to do now is book hotels for Las Vegas & Grand Canyon and hang out for some sale airfares!

Have you stayed there before i was looking at Del Sol last night for September and i like the idea that it has bunk beds and not a sofa bed?

 

[AussieMumma]

Have you stayed there before i was looking at Del Sol last night for September and i like the idea that it has bunk beds and not a sofa bed?

No we haven't stayed there before but the reviews are pretty good and I firgure it is probably similar age/condition to the Camelot where we have stayed before so we have an idea of what we'll probably get. We don't generally spend a lot of time in our room other then to sleep so I think it will be perfect.

 

[hjd0411]

AussieMumma - we are going to be boarding the Wonder the day you get off!! Our plan is 3 nights at HoJo's 4-7Oct, then the Wonder from 7 Oct!
I am starting to get a wee bit excited now!!
I haven't stayed at HoJo's before, so it is interesting to hear the responses from others. In face I've only been to Disneyland once before so I'm looking forward to seeing it again!
We are also going to Las Vegas after the cruise. Hoave you stayed at the Grand Canyon before? I went a few years ago and stayed at Yavapai Lodge and it was great! There are a few options there, but that was the best for us. I would do that again in a heartbeat - I loved the Grand Canyon!!
Happy planning!