DLR or HoJo's

[HomeinWyo]

We are planning our trip for the end of Sept, but I can't decide between the Disneyland Hotel or the HoJo's. Is there an advantage of staying at the DLR? Is the walk from HoJo's to bad? I've seen good reviews of both places and I'm just trying to decide. Thanks!!

 

[mickeymark34]

Well if you stay at the Disneyland Hotel, you can get into the park and hour early, just give your room key to the Cast Members at the Monorail Station. Also if you do alot of shopping you can have your bags delivered to your room, by staying at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. The walk to HoJo's may be bad, especially if you leave the park after closing and your feet are killing you.

 

[bumbershoot]

The benefit of a Disney hotel is that you get to have Magic Mornings every day it's offered during your stay, including the day of check-in (if you're there very very early) and check-out, if those days are MM days.

You can charge to your room.

You can, if they have the paperwork (they never did when we tried), have your purchases sent to your hotel, and they will be available the next day for you.


And there ends the big "pros" for me.

Many people love DownTown Disney and enjoy walking through it. I'm not one of those people. So walking through DTD on my way to and from the hotel is NOT my fave thing.

Unless you are planning to start and end each DL day in Tomorrowland, you'll either walk extra to or from the monorail station in T'land, or you'll be walking through DTD.

And the walk from DLH to the esplanade is about the same distance as HoJo's distance, but HoJo is straight-forward, not curvy and twisty (and full of shops for my almost-5-year-old to drool over). When you walk along Harbor, to HoJo, on the Disneyland side, you can still hear Disneyland's music, which is kinda fun.

DLH is expensive, HoJo is not as expensive, and sometimes can be had for rock-bottom prices, with the Entertainment Book rate specific to the Anaheim HoJo.

DLH's expense is compounded with the $12/day plus tax Resort Fee that you pay on top of the rate, unless you book with a package or use DVC points to stay there.

HoJo has a fun-looking waterplay area that is pirateship themed, and a lovely pool in a garden area.

DLH has a fun-looking pool that is pirate themed.

HoJo has a mainly wonderful and kind staff. I don't know about DLH's staff, though they were nice enough to point out a comfy couch for me to sit on while waiting for the Grayline Disneyland Express bus.

DLH has free coffee in the lobby.


All that said, we're forgoing HoJo on our upcoming trip and staying at the Disneyland Hotel, partially because of my experience sitting on their couch. I kinda fell in love with it, and became intrigued by it. I also stayed there once as a child, have only the vaguest memories of it, and wanted to see if I can re-find more memories.

So even though I've absolutely enjoyed HoJo (mega-value!), and even though I don't see huge benefits of staying onsite (though I have done so twice now), I'm not adverse to trying out the DLH.


It's a HARD decision, especially for the first trip! Best of luck!

 

[DangerMouse]

I second everything that Bumbershoot wrote above. I've stayed at both, and when it comes to price, HoJo wins hands-down. I prefer to save money on the hotel in order to have extra money in the parks, or even extra days in the parks. I love the HoJo and don't think the walk is any worse than the walk through DTD to the DLH.

If they were the same price (which is unheard of), I might choose the DLH, but that would be only for the benefit of the extra MMs.

 

[smiley_face2]

Yup, what they said.... if you have the extra money, I say stay at the Disneyland Hotel, it really is much nicer over all than Hojo's. But if it's a matter of going and staying at Hojo's or not going at all, I'd stay there again. I'd take a slightly shorter vacation to afford the DLH though. Last time we split it and stayed both places, thus getting a longer holiday while being spoiled at the DLH as well. Truly..... at least for us... you really feel you are right in Disneyland when you stay at the hotel, there is no seperation if you know what I mean.

 

[DangerMouse]

Yup, what they said.... if you have the extra money, I say stay at the Disneyland Hotel, it really is much nicer over all than Hojo's. But if it's a matter of going and staying at Hojo's or not going at all, I'd stay there again. I'd take a slightly shorter vacation to afford the DLH though. Last time we split it and stayed both places, thus getting a longer holiday while being spoiled at the DLH as well. Truly..... at least for us... you really feel you are right in Disneyland when you stay at the hotel, there is no seperation if you know what I mean.

I actually prefer the comforts of the HoJo over the DLH. The new beds at the HoJo are so much nicer than the old ones at the DLH. And you get a fridge and micro in most of the premium and deluxe rooms at the HoJo now. I like to be able to eat breakfast in my room and this makes it possible.

The theming at the DLH is nice with the bedding, armoir and bathrooms, but not worth the extra money for me. If I really want theming, I just walk over to the parks.

 

[teatime]

I actually prefer the comforts of the HoJo over the DLH. The new beds at the HoJo are so much nicer than the old ones at the DLH. And you get a fridge and micro in most of the premium and deluxe rooms at the HoJo now. I like to be able to eat breakfast in my room and this makes it possible.

The theming at the DLH is nice with the bedding, armoir and bathrooms, but not worth the extra money for me. If I really want theming, I just walk over to the parks.

I second this and all bumpershoot said!! There are other " just as nice" hotels out side the gates with in walking distance. If money is no object then go disney hotels, but if you want to save money and still have a great trip got hojo or the fairfield ( down from the hojo ) both are super nice

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've spent 1 night @ Paradise Pier & 1 night @ DLH. PP was in early Dec. 08, our trip started at HoJo's and our last night was at PP. I very much prefer HJ to PP. Early last month we started out at the Crowne Plaza (got it through priceline.com) and spent our last night @ DLH. We did this both times (spent our last night @ DLR hotels) mostly to get the MM. We were (will be again next month) AP holders so no MM's for us unless we stay onsite. I do prefer DLH over PP but HoJo's (especially with the ent. rate) is preferred over both. Perhaps you could do a split stay ~ start out at one then switch to another, we used a taxi to switch hotels (we fly and don't rent a car when we visit DLR).

 

[KCmike]

This will be our first time staying inside the resort. I enjoyed Fairfield Inn over Hojo but I know I am in the minority on the dis. We are staying at the DLH this time mainly because of the 5 for 3 deal. We are excited about early entry, neverland pool, the history of DL hotel and all the artifacts, and the view. Time will tell if we made a good decision.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

We are planning our trip for the end of Sept, but I can't decide between the Disneyland Hotel or the HoJo's. Is there an advantage of staying at the DLR? Is the walk from HoJo's to bad? I've seen good reviews of both places and I'm just trying to decide. Thanks!!

I see your from wyoming are you flying ? If you are I assume you will from from salt lake city? If your trip is before sept 26 I would say check out jetblue vacation deal you can get airfare,5 day tickets and 5 nights in disneyland hotel for about the same as booking separate.

I already had my flight booked for may but for what Im going to pay 2 adults and 1 child that is 4 for airfare, 5 day tickets, 5 night hotel I could of stayed in disneyland hotel for about the same price. $1300.00

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Is the walk from HoJo's to bad?

This link has the walking distances for the HoJo and DLH:

"How Far Is It?" by Alex Stroup
http://www.mouseplanet.com/7280/How_Far_Is_It

Howard Johnson's Anaheim
From Closest Rooms: 2,648 feet
From Farthest Rooms: 3,063 feet

Disneyland Hotel
From Closest Rooms: 2,413 feet
From Farthest Rooms: 3,158 feet

The Unofficial Guide (walking times in minutes:seconds):
Howard Johnson Hotel: 10:15
DLH (Marina/Magic Tower): 10:00
DLH (Sierra/Dream Tower): 11:00
DLH (Bonita/Wonder Tower): 12:00

 

[bumbershoot]

The new beds at the HoJo are so much nicer than the old ones at the DLH.

I am very lucky in that on the 2 family trips where we stayed at hoJo, we've only had the OLD bedding. (not sure what sort of beds were in the room on the ladies trip, but honestly I fell to sleep almost immediately b/c of exhaustion...no time to figure out if it was new or old) So I won't know the difference. Yet.

This will be our first time staying inside the resort. I enjoyed Fairfield Inn over Hojo but I know I am in the minority on the dis. We are staying at the DLH this time mainly because of the 5 for 3 deal. We are excited about early entry, neverland pool, the history of DL hotel and all the artifacts, and the view. Time will tell if we made a good decision.

I'm not sure I've really seen a detailed comparison between Fairfield and HoJo! I'd be interested to; nothing wrong with earning or redeeming some Marriott points, right?

The things you're excited about with the DLH is just what's getting us there!



I just love DLR b/c there are so many options that are so varied! WDW has tons of options, too, of course, but I think I like the extreme variety in what you can get at DLR. If you have to do something on the uber-cheap, there's Motel 6 a block or two over...if you want to do it up tremendously you have the GCH. And in between there are umpteen ways to go about it, and so much of it is within walking distance!

 

[HomeinWyo]

Thanks everybody. I am still trying to decide. We are doing the 5 for 3 deal, and the prices are coming up less than $125 difference for the time we are going to be there, so I'm having a really hard time trying to decide. Guess I better decide soon though so I can get it booked!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ok i want to stay at DLH once an for 125 diff i would that isnt bad at all

but Hojo is lovely an the beds were so heavenly.

 

[MickeyManiac]

Thanks everybody. I am still trying to decide. We are doing the 5 for 3 deal, and the prices are coming up less than $125 difference for the time we are going to be there, so I'm having a really hard time trying to decide. Guess I better decide soon though so I can get it booked!

We love Hojo and were more than happy to stay there for our upcoming trip. But when they announced the 5 for 3 deal we decided to jump on it and stay at the DLH this time. Since we have a high schooler who can't miss school to go in the off season we thought DLH may not be this affordable again during the summer months.

Also, don't forget if you book through Costco you also get a free Character Breakfast for everyone in your party and a $20 gift card. That may help you come out almost even on the $125.