Disneyland Hotel or HOJO

[diznefreak]

UGH!! Such a tough choice. We have ALWAYs stayed at he DIsneyland Hotel for our big trips. Well I am looking at prices and we can save a $1000 dollars staying at the HOJO. Just wondering if we would completely feel like we were missing out. Especially with the remodel. Our last trip was almost 2 yrs ago and it was a horrible trip. Our entire family got sick!! I just LOVE the Disneyland Hotel. It is where I grew up going...having a hard time not feeling like I would miss out.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

This exact question just came up - actually thought yours was the same thread and wondered where all the posts went!

What is even more strange is that this thread below didn't show up when I did a search to find it - but it has the same title as yours, and some good input:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2840454

 

[Tommy_B]

Only you can answer if that $1,000 is a big deal or not. If it is $1,000 over 3 days, that is a huge saving. If it is $1,000 over 8 days, it isn't as much.

HoJo's is much beloved by a lot of people, but it isn't the DLH.

 

[larina]

If you will be disappointed, and you can afford to stay at DLH, do it. I would if I were in your position, and I could pull off the extra money.

 

[skiingfast]

$1,000 to stay at the newly remodeled DLH over the Hojo is well worth it if you can afford it.

 

[ToodlesRN]

We are DVC members and when I run out of points to use we stay at the hojo, I do miss staying on property but once when you have done it so many times a change isn't bad. If you never have stayed onsite before I would stay at the Disneyland hotel to experience it, but if you have stayed a few times already, I'd say save $1000 and stay at the hojo.

 

[rentayenta]

$1,000 is a nice chunk of change. I am a total fan of staying on property. How many days is your trip. Like a PP, if it's 3 nights it might be hard to swallow. If it's a week, then it's not so bad.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I am in the exact same position! For our five nights in July, the DLH is about $2000 before taxes, the Hojo is around $850 total with taxes. So for me, it will be well over $1200 for five nights. I LOVE the DLH. Its my favorite Disney owned hotel in either DL or WDW. But as much as I wanted to stay there, see the newly redone rooms and pool, I find myself unable to commit to paying that much. We do enjoy the Hojo very much and our last stay there (January of this year) was perfect. Even if I get a pin or discount, the DLH will be far more, and I may be able to get an Ent. rate at the Hojo.

The things I will miss by staying offsite is Magic Mornings, the walk up DTD vs. Harbor, and just the Disney feel. The pool is also better at DLH, although we love the garden pool at the Hojo. The things we love about the Hojo are the savings, being next to Mimi's, being able to stop along the way for beer or snacks that are inexpensive, the extremely comfortable beds and having a balcony.

I was so certain we'd stay at the DLH but once it came time to book and pony up the extra money, things changed. But for us, that savings is huge right now. As much as I love the hotel (stayed there seven times in the past seven years), I just have a hard time justifying it. Partly because our stay at the Hojo in January was so great and I am afraid I'll regret spending so much extra.

I will add that one thing that makes my decision a bit easier to make and swallow is that we have an 11 night trip to WDW in March and we will stay onsite there. This five night trip to DL in July is an extra bonus trip dh and I decided to take with the kids in honor of our 20th anniversary. If this was the only Disney vacation I was taking in 2012, I'd be more apt to book the DLH. But given the price of our 11 nights over spring break at WDW, well that makes saving money on our July trip more important!

Good luck with your choice, in my opinion you can't make a bad one because they are both great hotels.

 

[KCmike]

Like everyone else has said $1000 is a lot of cash. That being said staying on site is almost always worth it compared to staying on Harbor Blvd. We have stayed at HOJO, Fairfield Inn, and BWPPI to save money on some of the trips. We have also stayed onsite at DLH and GCH. Our onsite stays were better. Was it really staying onsite vs. offsite? It probably was. Now you must consider is it worth the extra $$$ to stay onsite. For us it almost always is. We only get to visit once a year so we try to save as much as possible to get to have the best we can afford. How many days are you looking at? They always have specials to stay onsite too. Unfortunately they don't release them till it gets closer to the dates you want to go. Keep your eyes out. Good luck.

 

[Malcon10t]

I am one of the few that seriously cannot fathom staying onsite. My kids don't like how small the rooms are and when they were younger I would offer "We can stay X number of days at DLH or x*2 at the Hilton or Fairfield" and they would always prefer off site. We prefer staying at the Residence Inn where I get a 700sf room to the 250sf DLH or GCH and a large hot breakfast. (And at about 1/2 the price...) Everyone has the option on how they want to spend their vacation funds. My choice is usually offsite and eating in the parks (and Fantasmic! seating and WoC viewing...)

 

[DangerMouse]

I stayed at both properties 2 weeks ago. We MUCH preferred the kids' suite at the HoJo over our standard room at the DLH. I have stayed at all 3 on-site properties, and I can honestly say I won't ever waste our hard earned money again. HoJo is a perfect fit for our family.

 

[Malcon10t]

I stayed at both properties 2 weeks ago. We MUCH preferred the kids' suite at the HoJo over our standard room at the DLH. I have stayed at all 3 on-site properties, and I can honestly say I won't ever waste our hard earned money again. HoJo is a perfect fit for our family.

We really like Hojo also. It works great for the kids who like the Pirates cove play area. I like the indoor hallways. And the rooms are nice sized.

 

[diznefreak]

Thanks everyone!! I am really hoping a deal comes out. We are staying 4 nights June 1-5. I am just having a hard time with the idea of not staying there but $400 a night is tough to swallow. I think the main reason I can't let go is because we haven't been for 2 yrs and when we werethere our whole vacation was ruined because everyone got sick. I feel like I need a redo at the DLH. We don't go every year. We won't be back for awhile. We will be going to DW after this trip. But that isn't until 2014
I am just going to hope a deal comes out then I won't feel so bad spending the money. Thanks for the replies

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks everyone!! I am really hoping a deal comes out. We are staying 4 nights June 1-5. I am just having a hard time with the idea of not staying there but $400 a night is tough to swallow. I think the main reason I can't let go is because we haven't been for 2 yrs and when we werethere our whole vacation was ruined because everyone got sick. I feel like I need a redo at the DLH. We don't go every year. We won't be back for awhile. We will be going to DW after this trip. But that isn't until 2014
I am just going to hope a deal comes out then I won't feel so bad spending the money. Thanks for the replies

Since you have many months, you might consider booking the room now, knowing that you will be able to cancel it a week ahead if you find something better. Early June may very well have promotions, as it's not quite full Summer season. This will depend a bit on how things progress in DCA, if Carsland opens earlier, nobody may be needing deals to fill thier hotels.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with skiingfast that for your early June dates, a deal is probably a good bet. I also agree, with the idea of booking now, you'll have to put down a deposit of $200 for a package, and I think one night for a room only. Then if a deal comes out great, if not you can always cancel. I'd also book a room at the Hojo. They have a direct number that is listed in one of the posts in that link Coloradomom gave you and you can ask for the disboard discount which is 15% but you have to call their direct number. Also keep checking with them to see if Entertainment rates are out for your dates (that won't happen for a few months but you can get the disboard discount now). This way, you have your bases covered for the best deal regardless of which one you end up at!

For my mid July dates, I am pretty sure I won't get a deal onsite but I bet and hope you do!

I do agree with others that onsite is always wonderful. And back in the days when I never had to pay more than $200 full price for the DLH or $150 for the PPH, it didn't seem like much more to pay for what you get even without a discount. But with rack rate now at $400 for a standard for the DLH and the way DLR in general is becoming more popular with the DCA changes, even a good deal, if you can get one is still a lot of money over offsite. I haven't seen the offsite hotels jump over the years the way the onsite ones have. There was a time I would never even consider offsite for DL. But if I have to pay over 2K for our five nights, another 1K for tickets and airfare each, by the time I add in meals, well my five night vacation is going to cost me 1K per day. No can do.