Best Western PPI or Howard Johnson Water park

[longtimedisneylurker]

Just finished a stay at the HOJO, I've stayed at both and I would choose the Hojo over BWPPI anytime the prices were similar.

Here's my HOJO feelings.

Pros:

• HOJO is an 8 minute walk to the front gate, a few convenient restaurants/stores on the way back to the hotel make it even better (Pizza Press anyone?). Plus the rooms are all close, unlike some hotels where a room at the back is almost more of a walk than the walk to this hotel
• Waterpark is good, big pool in the back is really nice and tropical feeling with very few small kids since they are in the waterpark.
• Rooms are decent size, clean, never had issues with anything in the rooms
• Great fireworks viewing from parking lot area
• Free Parking
• kCup coffee maker, fridge
• Express room cleaning, makes it quicker and less invasive
• Fairly short walk over to the Starbucks on Harbour, just on the other side of the freeway

Cons:

• Wifi is awful, barely worked during our trip
• Waterpark is great, but for younger kids (like 7 and under)
• You now have to wear a plastic wrist band to access the pool (although it's not seemingly enforced)
• No breakfast, but I find the free breakfasts on Harbour to be so awful that I never bother anyway. A quick grocery trip takes care of this.
• No microwaves in the room
• Some noise from the freeway, but never hear inside the rooms.

We are big fans of Hojo and have stayed there many, many times. I think your summation of pros and cons are excellent. The WiFi is my biggest complaint; it is indeed awful. My DH also was irritated by the wrist band access for the pool when we encountered that for our first time last trip, and he stated flatly that he wouldn't be using the pool if he had to wear a wristband. I'm not sure why it's a dealbreaker for him, but admittedly I don't swim. On the microwave comment, did you stay in one of the standard rooms in one of the smaller two story buildings? We have only stayed in buildings one and two and have always had a microwave. Just want to point out that Hojo does have rooms with microwaves but they are probably just not in the lowest priced rooms. Overall, because the pros are so great with this hotel I chalk the cons up to minor annoyances that certainly won't prevent us from returning. The rooms at Hojo are spacious, clean, and comfortable, parking is free, and the staff in my experience has been great.

 

[Disney Dider]

The breakfast at BWPPI is very decent. Hot meats, eggs, potatoes , breads, yogurts, cereals , oatmeal, fruits, etc.

 

[tdhickey]

We are big fans of Hojo and have stayed there many, many times. I think your summation of pros and cons are excellent. The WiFi is my biggest complaint; it is indeed awful. My DH also was irritated by the wrist band access for the pool when we encountered that for our first time last trip, and he stated flatly that he wouldn't be using the pool if he had to wear a wristband. I'm not sure why it's a dealbreaker for him, but admittedly I don't swim. On the microwave comment, did you stay in one of the standard rooms in one of the smaller two story buildings? We have only stayed in buildings one and two and have always had a microwave. Just want to point out that Hojo does have rooms with microwaves but they are probably just not in the lowest priced rooms. Overall, because the pros are so great with this hotel I chalk the cons up to minor annoyances that certainly won't prevent us from returning. The rooms at Hojo are spacious, clean, and comfortable, parking is free, and the staff in my experience has been great.

Good point about the different rooms, we usually get the smaller two story building rooms.

 

[avalon451]

Can some one give me a distance of he walk from Howard Johnson? Maybe compare it to a walk at WDW?

Contemporary to Magic Kingdom?Epcot to DHS?

We are currently booked then and an idea would really help decide if I should keep this hotel or move.

Thanks!

This is an old article, but I've always liked it for the googlemaps visual and the distance comparisons (in feet!) https://www.mouseplanet.com/7280/How_Far_Is_It

 

[heybets30]

Question for HoJo previous stayers ... is Castaway Cove open year-round? The main phone line help says that it is and heated, but looking at videos, others comments, maybe it isn't? We'll be there first week in October - deciding between trying HoJo for a first time, or staying at our usual FAVE - Grand Legacy/Ramada (been there about 10 times, absolutely love it). ONLY reason we would stay at HoJo is to let kids 9 & 7 have fun in the water stuff AFTER 6pm - after returning from our LA/area travels.

They say the water features are also open until about 9pm/10pm every night. Does that sound right? We're visiting from Chicago, so even if it is about 60 degrees out in CA at that time, that's swimming weather for the kids

 

[tdhickey]

Question for HoJo previous stayers ... is Castaway Cove open year-round? The main phone line help says that it is and heated, but looking at videos, others comments, maybe it isn't? We'll be there first week in October - deciding between trying HoJo for a first time, or staying at our usual FAVE - Grand Legacy/Ramada (been there about 10 times, absolutely love it). ONLY reason we would stay at HoJo is to let kids 9 & 7 have fun in the water stuff AFTER 6pm - after returning from our LA/area travels.

They say the water features are also open until about 9pm/10pm every night. Does that sound right? We're visiting from Chicago, so even if it is about 60 degrees out in CA at that time, that's swimming weather for the kids

I've never seen it closed, however you may want to check out the new Marriott next door as the waterslides and waterpark are bigger and better suited for the ages.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Castaway Cove is open year-round except for scheduled refurbishments. I think they try to announce a little ahead of time and it's usually at a colder time of year such as February. My recollection is that Castaway Cove and the pool are open until 10 PM daily.

 

[heybets30]

Thanks, tdhickey! I looked it up & it looks really nice! Now I'm torn. For the $$, maybe not worth it - this trip. Sounds like everything is additional, $20/night valet parking only, no breakfast. SO HARD. We're so used to having great service & rooms at the Grand legacy/Ramada, it's hard to beat that ~$140/night for premium rooms with a very decent heated pool for kids to splash around. The Courtyard goes up on Friday night to over $300/night. Decisions, Decisions to try somewhere new - or not. We decided against Great Wolf Lodge - we can go to one around us in the WI Dells if we want to make the drive. I think I'm trying to talk myself out of the courtyard, as we'd just be staying there for the water features, and seriously, may only use them the last Saturday morning we're there, or after 6pm on 1 night after Universal (though last time we didn't get back to Anaheim until 8pm when we left at 6, darn CA traffic!).

We absolutely lucked out with our airfare ... on a whim 3 weeks ago, I checked Chicago ORD to SNA on American for the first week in October ... usually $379 or more per person. Came up as $156 PER PERSON ROUNDTRIP!!! We booked it so quickly my head spun. We have AA platinum card, so free baggage for all 4 of us. Didn't even really stop to ask hubby. Of course now I'm thinking - how can I make this not a $4000 week like it usually is - keep the momentum of the inexpensive airfare. We spend the first 4 nights with my father-in-law outside Anaheim, lucked out with holding a minivan for less than $300 for the week at SNA (now up to $420 on Costco). This shouldn't be such a hard decision!!!! I think I'm also leaning towards GL, because saving the $400 is almost admission for 4 people to Universal. Looking at it that way. ARRRGHHHH. I still have almost 4 months where I know rates can change significantly if rooms still available.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

One more vote for HoJos. We stay there every 6 weeks or so. I think the BWPPI is ok but my husband hates it. It's a little Smelly and the a/c is loud and cuts in and out loudly throughout the night. But, It worked well for us when I had a friend that needed a wheelchair/scooter and had to go back to the room for naps (going through chemo)

 

[Joel0917]

i did stay BWPPI a few months back...after staying here 2 years ago. i for sure got an updated room. new carpet. new decor.. Supposed to have all rooms done by the fall. I have an 12 and 8 year old. I have one free night at BWPPI and i could use 2 free nights at HOJO. just torn on what to do. pay or stay free and walk the extra few minutes. For my 8 year old that is like torture some times.

 

[Indiana Scott]

For us it would be BWPPI. Much shorter walk and great free breakfast with fresh food. We have found the rooms and hotel in general to be updated, clean and well kept. Beds are very comfy! The only down side we've seen is the pool is overcrowded and cold.