Did Hojos Cancellation Policy Change?

[Sherry E]

I just read chrissiecutie's suggestions after I posted - I like her ideas too. I still like the idea of charging something up front when the reservation is made, but I think chrissiecutie has a good idea about charging for cancellations, no matter what, but not charging for changes to the bookings.

 

[disney-super-mom]

What I would implement (and frankly, I HAVE done this before) would be the following:

1. NO fees to change, modify, add to etc an existing "retro rate" reservation. Meaning, once you make the reservation, you can make changes AT ANY TIME without a fee. Note, this is for making changes only.

2. A fee equal to one nights stay should you cancel, at any time.

This way the HoJo's doesn't loose any business if you want to make changes...it's no skin off there back, you're still staying, right! This wouldn't affect there cancellation rate so there shouldn't be ANY FEE to make changes.

I just read chrissiecutie's suggestions after I posted - I think chrissiecutie has a good idea about charging for cancellations, no matter what, but not charging for changes to the bookings.

If you re-read what Jonanthan explained, this is indeed the policy in place now.

 

[BealsRwe]

I am so thankful that the policy was further clarified, and that I booked our room a few weeks back. DH and I are flying out from Orlando to run the Disneyland half marathon. We were able to book a room for the dates we THINK we will be out there. DD is staying with my in-laws as school is already in session for 2 weeks already here in Florida. I picked a Thurs-Tues, hoping flights will be less on those days. We know we will for sure be arriving on Thurs, as we want to enjoy the expo and everything on Friday. We were able to book our last night in town (we think) at the ENT rate (rest of the nights are at a different rate). That rate is incredible. I am so thankful we are able to take advantage of it for 1 night, as the cost for us to fly out, rent a car, pay the half marathon registration fees, etc. is a huge expense for us this year.

I can understand why HoJo's is in need of implementing a policy. However, even DL hotels have a no charge cancellation fee is you cancel greater than 5 days out. In fact, once we found HoJo's, thanks to the DISboards, I called to cancel our DLH room. Sure I had to pay 1 night's deposit to book, but since we cancelled greater than 5 days out, there was no charge, and that charge is being refunded. I commend the hotel for trying to stop people from booking reservations they never intend to use, and I am sure that HoJo's will work with everyone on a case by case basis (seems to me their customer service has been pretty top notch for us so far-as they actually adjusted from our room rate to the ENT rate for 1 night when I contacted them).

We are looking forward to our stay...just wish the dates fell more in with the ENT rates, and not having to be there over Labor Day weekend, but the half marathon is our reason for heading out.

 

[Sherry E]

If you re-read what Jonanthan explained, this is indeed the policy in place now.

I did read it when it was posted the first time, but I think that even the clarifications and amendments were a little confusing in certain parts! I like my idea of charging something up-front at the time of booking better than these latest amendments, but I think that charging for cancellation no matter what is better than what the initial proposed policy changes were.

 

[Sherry E]

I am so thankful that the policy was further clarified, and that I booked our room a few weeks back. DH and I are flying out from Orlando to run the Disneyland half marathon. We were able to book a room for the dates we THINK we will be out there. DD is staying with my in-laws as school is already in session for 2 weeks already here in Florida. I picked a Thurs-Tues, hoping flights will be less on those days. We know we will for sure be arriving on Thurs, as we want to enjoy the expo and everything on Friday. We were able to book our last night in town (we think) at the ENT rate (rest of the nights are at a different rate). That rate is incredible. I am so thankful we are able to take advantage of it for 1 night, as the cost for us to fly out, rent a car, pay the half marathon registration fees, etc. is a huge expense for us this year.

I can understand why HoJo's is in need of implementing a policy. However, even DL hotels have a no charge cancellation fee is you cancel greater than 5 days out. In fact, once we found HoJo's, thanks to the DISboards, I called to cancel our DLH room. Sure I had to pay 1 night's deposit to book, but since we cancelled greater than 5 days out, there was no charge, and that charge is being refunded. I commend the hotel for trying to stop people from booking reservations they never intend to use, and I am sure that HoJo's will work with everyone on a case by case basis (seems to me their customer service has been pretty top notch for us so far-as they actually adjusted from our room rate to the ENT rate for 1 night when I contacted them).

We are looking forward to our stay...just wish the dates fell more in with the ENT rates, and not having to be there over Labor Day weekend, but the half marathon is our reason for heading out.

Only the specific "Room-Only" (Central Reservations" reservations at DLR hotels have the no charge policy prior to 5 days policy (though I have a strong hunch that's going to change soon and they will revise that policy). But because they also require one-night's stay plus tax paid up front, this will deter some people from booking rooms "just in case." HoJo's, thus far, has done required anything up front, and nothing to cancel. Also, at DLR, anything that's booked in such a way that they consider a 'package" - and you can even have packages without Hoppers, so it can get confusing - which can sometimes include special PIN offers or other promos, has a whole different cancellation policy. That's how my $100 got eaten! Sometimes people don't even realize that what they've booked is considered a package until, BOOM! They try to cancel or change something in a certain time frame and they get charged.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

if room hording has been a problem perhapse they should limit the amount of rooms you can put revations on like not let you have three diffrent times a year or soemthing.

I still say they need to think about things a review there new policy

3 mos. or more before date of arrival, change or cancel with no penalty

89-31 days before date of arrival, $20 or so penalty

30-3 days before date of arrival, $30 or so penalty

48 hours before date, one night's stay

I agree to this sugestion I hope you guys think about it

 

[ShaunaM]

looks like the have cleared the waters a bit..it now reads on their forum...

Update::
Due to the high demand of our "Retro Discount" we have implemented a non cancelable policy on these reservations to prevent "date hoarding" by making multiple tentative reservations.


•Retro Discount room reservations are charged at checkout.
•RD reservations cancelled prior to the arrival date will be charged 1 night's charge.
•If you add or subtract nights from a reservation (changes) we will not charge a fee.
•Mixed rate reservations will revert to the standard 48 hour cancellation policy
•Additional RD days may be added as they become available.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Maybe I'm in the minority on these boards, but I think that this is a fair policy, and if I'm flamed off these boards because of it so be it. Adiios Amigos!

 

[aidan04]

Maybe I'm in the minority on these boards, but I think that this is a fair policy, and if I'm flamed off these boards because of it so be it. Adiios Amigos!

I'm with you.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Maybe I'm in the minority on these boards, but I think that this is a fair policy, and if I'm flamed off these boards because of it so be it. Adiios Amigos!

This does not seem unreasonable. The original wording of the policy was much harsher.

 

[smiley_face2]

Lol... well as the saying goes "You can make some of the people happy all the time, all of the people happy some of the time but you can't make all of the people happy all of the time"
judging by the changing responses here, I think they have the new policy tweeked just about right! (seems about half or maybe a bit more happy now)
Thanks again to Lorealle and Jonathan and anyone else involved in the decision making for actually responding to people's concerns
and I still say losing one nights deposite (only $59. - $99.) for the opportunity to lock in these awesome rates is worth it....I'm looking at it as the cost of cancellation insurance!

 

[Sally_fan]

looks like the have cleared the waters a bit..it now reads on their forum...

Update::
Due to the high demand of our "Retro Discount" we have implemented a non cancelable policy on these reservations to prevent "date hoarding" by making multiple tentative reservations.


•Retro Discount room reservations are charged at checkout.
•RD reservations cancelled prior to the arrival date will be charged 1 night's charge.
•If you add or subtract nights from a reservation (changes) we will not charge a fee.
•Mixed rate reservations will revert to the standard 48 hour cancellation policy
•Additional RD days may be added as they become available.

This sounds good to me now! I have ET dates booked in December & have every intention of making it down there at this point but as others have stated...life does happen. I am perfectly fine with having to pay one night if we have to cancel (although this year we got in before they put this new policy into place) & I like being able to modify without a penalty. I have also had to pay $100 to cancel a Disneyland hotel pkg (as SherryE previously stated) & didn't think anything of it. I wasn't thrilled to be out $100 by any means, I can think of many things that I can do with $100! lol but I knew perfectly well making that reservation with them that I would lose that $$ if I cancelled.

Last year when booking our hotel I found that many places had really great rates if you booked 30, 60 or even 90 days out BUT you had to pay up front....no cancellations. This is nothing new. But with that being said, I chose not to book with those hotels & booked at the HoJo, waiting for the ET to come up. It never did but our rate was pretty good so I was okay with that. I will continue to stay with the HoJo & am hoping that this new policy will mean that the rates will be available for longer periods of time & not snapped up as soon as they are released. Only time will tell I guess..... I will just have to change the way that I book with them (if going with the ET rate) & be sure that we are going before booking the room the same way that I would do with any other hotel that is giving me an awesome deal.

ETA: Thank you to Lorealle & Jonathan from me as well for making the changes to the policy!

 

[jory29]

if room hording has been a problem perhapse they should limit the amount of rooms you can put revations on like not let you have three diffrent times a year or soemthing.

I still say they need to think about things a review there new policy

3 mos. or more before date of arrival, change or cancel with no penalty

89-31 days before date of arrival, $20 or so penalty

30-3 days before date of arrival, $30 or so penalty

48 hours before date, one night's stay

I agree to this sugestion I hope you guys think about it

I'm the one that made that original suggestion, mentioned above. (Thanks, JadeDarkStar, for reposting. ) I would venture to guess that a HUGE majority of Hojo's guests are from far, far way, (judging from all of the Aussie accents we heard when we were there last! ) and need to book flights in to Anaheim. When booking flights, some people need to wait for a seat sale, and seat sales can hardly ever be purchased well in advance. It can take a period of time and planning before one can purchase a decent sale priced airline ticket. I know I have always planned our annual weekly trips around the Retro Rate. As I admitted before, I generally have booked 2, 1 week reservations for 2 different times, months in advance at the Retro Rate. It's very helpful to be able to have a couple of reservations for 2 different times of the year (while seeing which flights will be able to match up with one of those reservations) and to have been able to cancel the other reservation not needed, several months before the date arrives, so someone else has the opportunity to book then. This is where my ideas above could be beneficial to those who live so far away that they need to get flight tickets to match up with their reservation date.

I also like JadeDarkStar's idea about limiting reservations to 3, but perhaps instead of stating in a year, it could be at any given time...

That being said, I trust Hojo's to work out something manageable for everyone. They didn't lose my faith. I still love Hojo's

Edited to add: Just re-read more postings, and from the policy having been revamped, (see point format of the new policy below, from Jonathan) I have a couple of questions...

•Retro Discount room reservations are charged at checkout.
•RD reservations cancelled prior to the arrival date will be charged 1 night's charge.
•If you add or subtract nights from a reservation (changes) we will not charge a fee.
•Mixed rate reservations will revert to the standard 48 hour cancellation policy
•Additional RD days may be added as they become available.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ty jory i jsut hope they change it an fix it to satisfy every one.
I know that after this year i wont be back to disney land for a few years but hope to still call hojos home

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Does this mean that if we had to change dates to a Retro Rate ressie for the same number of days (not adding or subtracting days, but changing dates to another month) that we would be penalized the price of one night's room? Just wondering, thanks.

I would consider this a cancellation and a new booking, not a change (adding or subtracting nights). This would be subject to 1 night's charge as a cancellation.

Also: Mixed Rate reservations; when booking online, you have to make 2 different ressies to get a mixed rate, such as the Retro Rate and the Disboards 15% discount... so then, would that be considered a mixed rate by considering both reservations, if the dates line up with each other? Or would we have to start to book by phone to try to get one ressie initially with a mixed rate?

Our recommendation is to book the standard discount for the entire stay and then contact our in-house folks to make the modifications or combine the two reservations into one. This would be subject to the less restrictive 48 hour cxl policy.

Keep the questions coming!

Jonathan

 

[jory29]

I would consider this a cancellation and a new booking, not a change (adding or subtracting nights). This would be subject to 1 night's charge as a cancellation.



Our recommendation is to book the standard discount for the entire stay and then contact our in-house folks to make the modifications or combine the two reservations into one. This would be subject to the less restrictive 48 hour cxl policy.

Keep the questions coming!

Jonathan

Thanks for your reply!


Actually, the more I think about it, a flat out paying for the first night's stay as a deposit upon booking (someone here on the boards posted this suggestion) makes a lot of sense, with the usual 48 hour cancellation policy. If someone had to cancel well before the 48 hour time period, a credit for that one night's stay could still be issued. I am positive that this type of plan could work. The new policy is terrific, I feel, for those who can plan with a couple months or so notice, but not so much for those who are flying in or out, and need several months to prepare. Just my 2 cents.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I have a question (only because this actuallly happened to us before):

What if we called to book a kids suite using the Retro Rate, but all the kids suites were already booked, so we booked a Premium Disney view room instead.

Then as we kept checking online, we see that a kids suite becomes available for our dates, so I call back to change our reservation to a kid suite.

Same dates, just changing to a different room type (the type of room we wanted in the first place). Would this be considered a change or a cancellation?

 

[hojogm]

I have a question (only because this actuallly happened to us before):

What if we called to book a kids suite using the Retro Rate, but all the kids suites were already booked, so we booked a Premium Disney view room instead.

Then as we kept checking online, we see that a kids suite becomes available for our dates, so I call back to change our reservation to a kid suite.

Same dates, just changing to a different room type (the type of room we wanted in the first place). Would this be considered a change or a cancellation?

That'll just be a change. You're keeping a reservation for the same dates, just changing the room type = No Charge! See, we still have a heart!

Jonathan

 

[poohnpigletCA]

I am so confused.

No i have not read all 7 pages. I bought an Entertainment book 2 days ago with the intention of booking an EB rate. I have never stayed at the HOJO before and was looking forward to trying it based upon recommendations on this board.

However, I have 2 small children who get sick a school that has not finalized it schedule for this fall. I understand a 45 day cancellation policy or having to purchase trip insurance. The October dates that I need have been released under the retro rate. If I wait until the school finalizes its calendar than the dates will probably be gone.

So if I understand this correctly as the first day of our trip would not be the retro rate then the entire trip is under the regular cancellation policy?

 

[smiley_face2]

I am so confused.

No i have not read all 7 pages. I bought an Entertainment book 2 days ago with the intention of booking an EB rate. I have never stayed at the HOJO before and was looking forward to trying it based upon recommendations on this board.

However, I have 2 small children who get sick a school that has not finalized it schedule for this fall. I understand a 45 day cancellation policy or having to purchase trip insurance. The October dates that I need have been released under the retro rate. If I wait until the school finalizes its calendar than the dates will probably be gone.

So if I understand this correctly as the first day of our trip would not be the retro rate then the entire trip is under the regular cancellation policy?

That's what I understand.... But...if you book before Feb. 1st, I think the old policy is still in effect until then. But you should phone the hotel directly not book online to confirm this.....and they are closed on weekends, and after 5 and next tuesday is Feb.1
You did get a card with your book correct? because it's the card you need when you check in.