Disneyland Offsite?

[aussietravellers]

OK, I have been thinking to myself and throwing some ideas around. Just say we go to DL in December, where would we stay. Now if we went, it would be a budget trip. If anybody who knows me IRL is reading this, they will be at that statement as I am not known for budget travel. But this would be a budget trip. This is just a hypothetical trip at the moment. I just want to be ready if I suddenly decided that it will move from hypothetical to booking and adding a ticker.

I have enough FF points for our flights, so won't have to pay for those, it would just be accommodation, meals and tours (oh and shopping, but not much). Well I am thinking surely I don't have to eat at 3 TS meals a day like we always do when we travel, surely we can have just one. I just had coffee with a friend this afternoon and said I'm thinking I might try and do a budget trip to DL in Dec for 14 nights, flights with FF points, stay at a motel style accommodation and eat on a budget, not much shopping. Well she burst out laughing, raised her eyebrows and said, sure, I'll believe that when I see it!

So is it possible? Is it possible to do a trip to DL for two people, 14 nights, an adult and a child (DL adult), not including airfares, for about $5000 to $6000? I think it is or am I dreamin'

I've never stayed offsite before so am not overly familiar with the offsite hotels/motels on harbour. I have looked at & narrowed it down to.. HoJo's and Park Vue Inn and Candy Cane Inn. I think I am leaning away from Candy Cane Inn, only because I have heard the wifi is bad. I need decent wifi when away because of business, I need to be online daily (and to do TR's of course )

HoJo's -

Hope to get the entertainment rate if not there will be an entertainment discount of 15 or 20%.​

Able to request bedding without feathers for allergies (we need that).​

Internal corridors (don't know why that makes me feel safer, but having never stayed at a hotel with external entry, I'm not sure if it makes any difference to security I think that paranoia is in my head ).​

Has really good reviews.​

Pool makes no difference, will be too cold in Dec for we Aussies.​

Worried about the walk back at night on our own.​

Park Vue

Has some really good reviews​

Really close to the parks​

External doors ​

Have read some reviews of cockroach problem ​

Candy Cane Inn

Cute Looking​

Has a free shuttle, good for nightime walking back to hotel​

Lots of good reviews​

Have heard the wifi can be bad if not in a front room​

Has breakfast included, which is not a deal breaker as we are not pastry/muffin breakfast eaters​

So has anybody stayed at any of those three? Can anybody offer any advise on them, good, bad.

Thanks

 

[Kangarucci]

Don't be worried about the walk back to HOJO at night as there are plenty of people around. Have stayed three times at HOJO and have been very happy. Used mousesavers.com for their rate.

 

[becpee]

There are so many places to stay and so many discounts to be found, I think it could easily be done!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I definitely think it sounds like it can be done. I've read reviews on Hojo's and Candy Cane Inn over the past 3 years and mostly they all seem to be good. I think it will be a fun and unique experience for you to bring it in on budget since that is different from your normal experience. The more I think about it the more I am certain you can stick within budget. I don't think you should worry about external access to rooms, as someone else said, there is always lots of people around.

 

[aussietravellers]

Don't be worried about the walk back to HOJO at night as there are plenty of people around. Have stayed three times at HOJO and have been very happy. Used mousesavers.com for their rate.

Thanks for that It does get nerve wracking wandering around unfamiliar streets. Thanks for the mousesavers tip, will check out their rate

There are so many places to stay and so many discounts to be found, I think it could easily be done!

Thanks I have been thinking it can be done but was second guessing myself. Will see what happens in the upcoming months and if the trip becomes a reality

I definitely think it sounds like it can be done. I've read reviews on Hojo's and Candy Cane Inn over the past 3 years and mostly they all seem to be good. I think it will be a fun and unique experience for you to bring it in on budget since that is different from your normal experience. The more I think about it the more I am certain you can stick within budget. I don't think you should worry about external access to rooms, as someone else said, there is always lots of people around.

Thanks Ms.Shuttergirl. I've been crunching numbers, HoJo's about $1400 to $1900, park tickets $500, then that leaves about $3500 to $4000 for food, souvenirs, some tours. Mmmm, it is a tight budget, maybe my friends reaction was accurate We will see .

 

[Kalice]

We stayed at HoJo's in December, the walk was easy. I really don't understand what the fuss is about. As already mentioned the path is busy and felt safe.

The staff were great, they put our Von's order in the fridge when we were at the parks. They organised a very reasonable car for our party of seven to transfer to Amtrak, found a cheap hire care for us, everything we asked without a second thought. They even had kettles as they have so many English and Aussie guests. They happily applied the 'entertainment card' rate to our room rate when our dates came up.

Our room was great, best of all it is so close to Mimi's which was our kids favourite restaurant. We stayed in building one, which had a laundry in the basement and the little store. The vanity/basins were outside the bathroom/toilet which was great for the morning rush. Didn't use the pool not just because of the weather, but we were so busy. We saved our swimming for when we got home.

Can't comment on the others sorry. Although, doesn't the Park Vue include breakfast?

 

[aussietravellers]

We stayed at HoJo's in December, the walk was easy. I really don't understand what the fuss is about. As already mentioned the path is busy and felt safe.

The staff were great, they put our Von's order in the fridge when we were at the parks. They organised a very reasonable car for our party of seven to transfer to Amtrak, found a cheap hire care for us, everything we asked without a second thought. They even had kettles as they have so many English and Aussie guests. They happily applied the 'entertainment card' rate to our room rate when our dates came up.

Our room was great, best of all it is so close to Mimi's which was our kids favourite restaurant. We stayed in building one, which had a laundry in the basement and the little store. The vanity/basins were outside the bathroom/toilet which was great for the morning rush. Didn't use the pool not just because of the weather, but we were so busy. We saved our swimming for when we got home.

Can't comment on the others sorry. Although, doesn't the Park Vue include breakfast?

Thanks so much for your report

It's not really a big fuss, but when you are travelling on your own with a child, walking around at night in unfamiliar areas can be a little nerve wracking and as I have only ever wandered around DL parks and DTD at night I don't know what to expect on Harbour, I only know what I read, but it sounds like it's ok. I just read a couple of reports recently of homeless people and also one that said the homeless person jumped out of the bushes and scared his wife and that kind of freaked me out But it does sound like that may be a rare occurance and I guess if I get there and am worried then I can catch the ART, but it should be fine

HoJo's does sound like it's the best place to stay, all I seem to read is about how great the customer service is there. Thanks so much for mentioning the groceries We ordered from Von's last time to GCH and if we go again, I will definately be doing a grocery order from Vons again, so it's great to hear that they look after the delivery as I hadn't heard reports of that before

 

[kyl]

Hey Aussietravellers...how exciting to be thnking....ha ha sounds more like planning a trip to DL! We walked across the road to Mimis cafe when we stayed at the GCH just to check out harbour drive. It felt so totally safe...the walk was not far at all and lights around so no dark spots. Also you know you can check out the Hojos website they have a web cam of disneyland....I visit it every so often and dream. The walk would honestly be about 10mins max from your door to the park entrance. It would be my pick of hotes if I was staying off site. Plus our meal at Mimis was really nice...

 

[aussietravellers]

Hey Aussietravellers...how exciting to be thnking....ha ha sounds more like planning a trip to DL! We walked across the road to Mimis cafe when we stayed at the GCH just to check out harbour drive. It felt so totally safe...the walk was not far at all and lights around so no dark spots. Also you know you can check out the Hojos website they have a web cam of disneyland....I visit it every so often and dream. The walk would honestly be about 10mins max from your door to the park entrance. It would be my pick of hotes if I was staying off site. Plus our meal at Mimis was really nice...

Thanks Kyl, I'm sure it will be fine doing the walk on my own.... If we go that is

I have been known to head off on a Disney trip in 4 or 5 days, so I guess I always have a trip planned, so when the time comes, my business will allow me to go, we can book and go

 

[Kalice]

Hi. Sorry , I didn't mean to imply that you were making a fuss. It was more directed at the trip advisor reviews that talk about the distance and other issues. I'm sure there are issues, but the path is so busy I guess I never worried. I did walk it a few times with just one of my kids or on my own. I would do what I do here, and just walk with purpose and not make eye contact. However, I think that Disney vibe just made it all a non issue. I found the homeless far more confronting in LA and SF. Perhaps they get moved on more in the Disney area?

I hope you do get to go. I'm sure it can be done on a budget. Although, I guess we like most throw out our usual spending habits when we're on holidays.

 

[Caroline NZ]

Hi, we have stayed at Hojos, in 2009 and then again in 2011, for 2 weeks each time. We found it very comfortable (not flash but perfectly okay).
Next trip we are going to try Residence Inn ( only because the children are getting older and we would like more space ).

 

[aussietravellers]

Hi. Sorry , I didn't mean to imply that you were making a fuss.

Oh I didn't take it like you were thinking I was , No offence taken at all
I hope we get to go too. I'm kind of getting excited now with all of this research.

Hi, we have stayed at Hojos, in 2009 and then again in 2011, for 2 weeks each time. We found it very comfortable (not flash but perfectly okay).
Next trip we are going to try Residence Inn ( only because the children are getting older and we would like more space ).

Thanks Caroline
Seems to be a unanimous vote for HoJo's. And also a unanimous vote for doing it on a budget, which I am really pleased to hear that others think it is possible, I was beginning to think I was living in fantasy land.
When/If we get there, I bet once I'm there my budget goes out the window.... when I get to South Coast Plaza.... and walk into Tiffany & Co and Gucci (I have never been on an OS trip and not come home with something from Gucci and in the last 10 years never without something from Tiffany. They are my very very good friends )

 

[Travel Mum]

We have stayed at Ho Jo's several times over the years but the last time we went to Disneyland (5 years ago I think it was), we stayed at the Candy Cane Inn. The reasons were: 1) At the time it was number one on Trip Advisor so I was curious to see what it was like 2) it still had its own dedicated shuttle to Disney whilst Ho Jo's had moved to ART and 3) it included breakfast. We really enjoyed Candy Cane Inn and the staff are lovely and very proud of their hotel. And I did enjoy having the dedicated shuttle that's for sure. However, when comparing it to Ho Jo's, Candy Cane Inn is more of a very nice motel whilst Ho Jo's (with its pools) tries to be more of a resort.

I voted for Ho Jo's on your poll but I'd actually happily stay at either of them