Fairfield Inn Anaheim or Howard Johnson? convince me

[becpee]

We will be staying 7 nights in November 12-19
Fairfield Inn would be $999 AUD which is about $820 USD (tax inclusive) and Howard Johnson would be $735 USD tax inclusive ($896 AUD) using the Micechat discount code.
The $ difference is not alot, so which is a better hotel?
There will be 2 adults and a 3 year old, not sure if November is swimming weather or not, so would the pool be something to compare?
Which facilties are better for a family? Which is more comfortable?
Anything else I may not know about that would lean me either way?
Please help, as we will be there for a period of 7 nights, any other hotels I should consider that I have not?

 

[firefox2]

I have never stayed at the Fairfield inn, but have stayed at HoJo's several times. They have recently renovated, and now have dreamy pillowtop mattresses, so the beds are super comfortable at HoJo's. If you have kids, HoJo's now have pirate themed rooms and a pirate water playground, and overall, their guest services have always been awesome when I have stayed there.

 

[Kiwianna]

Did you know that Howard Johnson has most of your dates available at the Entertainment Card rate, which might be more of a discount than the one you get through Micechat. Details are on the hotel website on the discussion board.

 

[becpee]

Did you know that Howard Johnson has most of your dates available at the Entertainment Card rate, which might be more of a discount than the one you get through Micechat. Details are on the hotel website on the discussion board.

Thanks Kiwianna, my problem is getting my hands on an entertainment card, otherwise I would have a look at that also, i'll just head over and have a peep now

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

While it is easier for those of us in the U.S. to get ahold of an Entertainment Book (sold by scouts, soccer teams, high school bands), you can order them online. I would suggest buying the Orange County version for your trip for you to use around the Disneyland/Anaheim area unless you will be making another stop along the way. If, for example, you are going up to San Francisco for 3-4 days after Disneyland, you might want to consider buying that version of the book -- The Entertainment Card that comes with any version (glued to the inside cover) is what you would need for the HOJO discount. I don't know if the Entertainment Book company mails overseas, but if they don't (and I'd be surprised), you could have them mail directly to the HOJO so that the book and card are waiting for you on your arrival. Here's the link to the Orange County version:

http://orange-county.entertainment.com/discount/browse.shtml

We are scheduled to stay off-site this year for our trip in December. No Entertainment Rates while we are there, but we'll be staying in one of HOJO's new Kid Suites! I was really vacillating on this decision for the past few days, when the rates for the Disneyland Hotel started dropping for stays of at least four nights. I like the thought of staying on-property, but even with the special deal for the Disneyland Resort properties and without the Entertainment Rates for HOJO, it was almost double the cost to stay at the DLH (ouch!).

I actually booked the FFI before canceling and subsequently booking with HOJO's. I liked the fact that FFI was closer to the DLR entrance and had read some very pleasant reviews of the FFI. However, the glowing reviews of HOJO's, the Kid's Suite, the possibility of using their outdoor water play area (iffy in December), the great You Tube videos that showed what the rooms looked like (a nice touch that also illustrates their very personable staff), the reviews of the new and incredibly comfortable pillow top beds, and the overall cost savings are what made me ultimately decide that's HOJO's is where we will be happiest. Here's a great thread that I read again yesterday that helped me settle in my mind that HOJO's was going to suit our family best:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2202478&highlight=hojo

And the You Tube videos of HOJO's rooms:

http://www.youtube.com/user/hojoanaheim

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

HOJO 100%.

We have stayed at both, HOJO just last week. We were VERY impressed! And your 3 year old will LOVE the new pirate water play area. I think my 2 year old had more fun there than she did at DL.

Seriously, I can not say enough positive things about HOJO. We are staying there again in a couple of months.

ETA: We had 2 rooms booked with the Entertainment card and they didn't ask to see it when we checked in either room (different days for family). Not sure that happens to everyone but it happened for us.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Either FFI or Hojo would be great! Just compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Not all rooms at Hojos ar 2 Q, some are 2 Double. So if your room will cost almost as much as a 2Q room at FFI, then I'd rather stay at FFI. FFI also has room service from Millies, an onsite Pizza Hut, free wireless acces and a desk -- so I can log on from the desk or the bed if I so desire. At Hojos you have to sit on the bed as they have done away with the desk and armoir they used to have. That was a big mistake imo because now the TV is so low you can't see it unless you are propped up by many pillows..and it's no longer in between the 2 beds. It's on one side of the room. The other side had better be sleepy because there's not much for them to do in this situation. Most people know not to use the laptop on their beds as the battery heats up and it fries them. We ended up having to pull the little dinette set in between our beds so we could sit on the bed and do work on the laptop. A nightmare...Wish they'd go back to the old way w/ the tv in the armoire and a real desk & chair.
All the small stores in the area are overpriced as they know they have a primarily captive audience. We've enjoyed many stays at Hojos and hope to enjoy more at either Hojo or FFI. We loved how much closer the walk was from DL to FFI.

 

[labattblue]

I've never stayed at Hojo, but here is a review of our recent stay at FFI...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257192

 

[Kayla's Mom]

We had 2 rooms booked with the Entertainment card and they didn't ask to see it when we checked in either room (different days for family). Not sure that happens to everyone but it happened for us.

We have stayed there 6 times in the last 4 years and they have never asked to see our card either. I do see that some people have been asked before though, so I always bring our card, just in case!

 

[Brady's Mom]

We have stayed at HoJo 3 times since Dec. 08 and EVERY time have been asked to show our Ent. Card. Send a PM to ballarinamom - she works for the Ent. book people and she can probably give you some good advice.

You don't have to have the Ent. card to book the room - just when you arrive and check in. We love NQQ2 rooms. They have 2 queens, face the garden pool in bldg. 2 and have the upgraded mattresses and bedding and a fridge and microwave in the rooms. We get the room for $69 a night. Can't beat that deal!

 

[Kiwianna]

If you ask on the Aussie planning thread, someone there will know where you can get an Entertainment book for your area. You don't have to buy one from the U.S. We are using the card from the New Zealand book that we purchase from a school that sells them as a fundraiser.

 

[teatime]

Look here.... you can see both Hojo's and fairfields rooms.... I prefer closer to the park since by the end of the night I want to get to my motel..... ~!
here is the hojo..... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33108637&postcount=332

Here is the fairfield inn ( to me it looks nicer ) ... ( And closer to the park ..http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32626025&postcount=286