Decisions..feeling anxious & frusterated

[granismith]

Ok, 1st trip to DL in 12 years. Flight booked April 25-30.

Hotel: I can get the Ent. rate at HOJO at that time and this is where we would like to stay UNLESS we can stay at a resort hotel. I really want to stay at one of them but, the rooms are 315 night for PP.

I have been waiting & hoping a special will come out but I can't too long or I will miss out on the HOJO rate. And since we can't cancel...uhhgg!

Also I tried to go on the Disney site to make a reservation for resort Hotels and they say they are all full. How can that be? I can go on Expedia and still get one! I thought the end of April was a relatively lower season.

Any thoughts?

 

[cloudconnected1039]

I just did a brief search on Kayak for the dates you mentioned, and $315 still seems like the lowest offer Strange considering when I booked my March weekend vacation through Orbitz, I got about $150 cheaper per night for the GCH. Its possible they still consider the end of April Spring Break season, as I know alot of schools are out that week. Onsite hotels are pricey, but they've got benefits and can be worth the price.

If price is your biggest concern, I'd stick with a great deal when you find one There's no shame in that!! I'd kill for a great deal

But the most important thing is not where you stay, it's that you're going to Disneyland!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Strange considering when I booked my March weekend vacation through Orbitz, I got about $150 cheaper per night for the GCH. Its possible they still consider the end of April Spring Break season, as I know alot of schools are out that week. Onsite hotels are pricey, but they've got benefits and can be worth the price.

If price is your biggest concern, I'd stick with a great deal when you find one There's no shame in that!! I'd kill for a great deal

But the most important thing is not where you stay, it's that you're going to Disneyland!!

Easter is late this year (April 24th), hence the price hike during that time.

OP, you're not going to find a deal anywhere close to HOJO's entertainment rate on-site, so I agree that if cost is your big factor, just book HOJO's now. The reason there are still rooms on Expedia but not through Disney is because Expedia buys a number of rooms in advance and sells them through their site, which is why sometimes the Disney hotels sell out through Disneyland.com, but you can still find rooms on Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.

 

[DizNee Luver]

A lot of spring breaks are set up around the Easter holiday....that would explain the prices & lack of rooms. I'd go with a good price at HoJo's. You won't be disappointed in your stay there!!!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Do you spend all day at the park or spend some of each day at the park and some at the hotel for naps pool time etc?

If you spend most of each day at the park then book HoJo no point in spending money on a resort hotel if you won't spend much time there. The ent rate is about the best you are going to get close by and obviousy HoJo gets great reviews here on the DIS but I don't have personal experience there.

If you are really going to take advantage of what the hotels onsite offer then by all means try that but your dates are blackout dates for the calif AP holders so for some reason they aren't considered off-season Disney is expecting a crowd for some reason and that being true it doesn't seem like the rates will go down until close to your trip if they aren't getting the bookings they expect.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Have you considered potentially seeing if a dvc member can rent you points? It may be a way to stay at the GC for less.. though it may be hard at this point.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Ok, 1st trip to DL in 12 years. Flight booked April 25-30.

...I thought the end of April was a relatively lower season.

Any thoughts?

Your dates are right in the middle of the storm, if you will allow the analogy. Your thought that the end of April is a "relatively lower season" is the key to your situation. Due to the fact that Easter is a "moving holiday," it is important to look at when Easter is when planning a Spring trip. Most schools will have their break either the week before or the week after Easter.

In your situation, Easter this year is April 24th, making the dates that you are there one of the two busiest weeks for that time of year.

So... could it be that the hotels are sold out? Absolutely. I understand that you have found some availability through Expedia. I am guessing that is where you are getting the $315/night that you mentioned? I would not base any decisions on waiting for a special. This is absolute peak time and two of the busiest weeks for DLR. There is no need for them to run a special during those dates. I just ran a search on disneyland.com during your dates and found a rate of $365/night at DLH so they do have availability there. (By the way, that is the same rate they are asking for this week --- so it's not inflated due to your dates.)

I hope this helps you see the bigger picture, understand why you are encountering what you are, and realize why, if it were me, I would not hold out hope for a special rate.

I would say either book through Expedia or go with offsite and enjoy your time in the Parks to the fullest extent. Or... ask yourself if it's worth $250 to stay with the magic around you every moment. That answer will guide you to your decision.

- Dreams

 

[Hound 109]

Here's a third option that could:

- work well for you....or
- complicate things further.

Stay Mon/Tue/Wed night at Hojo (doing MM on Tues). Then switch to one of the 3 DLR hotels for 2 nights. Why...you ask ?? :

- Enjoy Thurs & Sat MM because of your DLR stay. (along with Tues)
- You get your "on site" experience for part of the stay.
- Perhaps later in the trip lower rates become available at some point. (because it's further away from the holiday) & you can take advantage of them.

 

[cjnix29]

have you checked Southwest's site for hotels. I have been really surprised at their rates, especially for the disney hotels.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Here's a third option that could:

- work well for you....or
- complicate things further.

Stay Mon/Tue/Wed night at Hojo (doing MM on Tues). Then switch to one of the 3 DLR hotels for 2 nights. Why...you ask ?? :

- Enjoy Thurs & Sat MM because of your DLR stay. (along with Tues)
- You get your "on site" experience for part of the stay.
- Perhaps later in the trip lower rates become available at some point. (because it's further away from the holiday) & you can take advantage of them.

I agree with Hound, start at HoJo and swap to an on-site hotel *we've done this several times. If not just go with HoJo ~ the $59 per night is a great rate for a great hotel.

 

[sierranevada]

Here's a third option that could:

- work well for you....or
- complicate things further.

Stay Mon/Tue/Wed night at Hojo (doing MM on Tues). Then switch to one of the 3 DLR hotels for 2 nights. Why...you ask ?? :

- Enjoy Thurs & Sat MM because of your DLR stay. (along with Tues)
- You get your "on site" experience for part of the stay.
- Perhaps later in the trip lower rates become available at some point. (because it's further away from the holiday) & you can take advantage of them.

I think this is a great solution - the best of both worlds!

 

[granismith]

Thank you everyone for you suggestions, I went ahead and booked HOJO because they were starting to run out of rooms. I only got the ENT rate for the 1st 3 days. Still it's a pretty good price.

I was just a bit upset because we were suppose to go last Sept. and because of difficult family situation we couldn't. I was all set to book a Disney hotel 5n for 3, it was such a good opportunity to get to try possibly GC. I was just trying to hold out for another great deal.

Oh well, I will be happy just to go and I am glad I got HOJO before they were completely sold out.

Maybe will get to do a Disney Resort some other time.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Maybe will get to do a Disney Resort some other time.

Just don't wait another 12 years though!