First DL Trip and Hojo Review =)

[emacat]

We always get the ART shuttle when we stay at the Hojo. It's so inexpensive, and after a long day at the park, I don't want to lug kids and packages period, whether it's an 8 min or a 15 min walk. It's nice to sit and relax on the shuttle, and talk to all the other families at nearby hotels.

As for the lifeguard, I certainly sympathize, but while we were there, a little boy started climbing up the slide, and was hurt when another child slid down from above. So I'm sure the lifeguard was quickly trying to make sure your son wouldn't get hurt, and making sure other kids also realized that trying to climb up wasn't allowed. I always figure safety is the most important thing of all.

I'm glad you had an overall great time at DL! It really is a wonderful place.

 

[nana50]

As I said in another post the ART runs on a regular schedule so just leave your hotel when the shuttle is due and leave Disneyland when the shuttle is due to pick up. No biggie.

 

[billwendy]

As I said in another post the ART runs on a regular schedule so just leave your hotel when the shuttle is due and leave Disneyland when the shuttle is due to pick up. No biggie.

Do you happen to recall how often it ran? Also, are you on the bus for a long time? Im just info gathering!!lol....do you have to buy your tickets ahead of time, or on the bus or ????

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Hi ajloops!

We're so glad that you stayed with us during your recent visit to the Anaheim Resort, and want to thank you for taking the time to post a review!

The walk from our Lobby over to Disneyland's Main Gates can definitely take a smidge longer when you're pushing a stroller, walking with grandparents or walking with little ones who have a shorter stride- so I think this is really great feedback for guests with families like yours who might need to allow a few extra minutes to get across the street. [It's true that I don't have kids myself, so I know that I forget when I'm telling my friends who do have kids that their walk over and my walk over are a little bit different!]

And for families who stay with us that don't have a car or the option of parking in one of the Disney lots- we do sell ART shuttle tickets at our Front Desk, and that means you can get picked up right in front of our hotel and dropped off at Disneyland on your way to the Parks, and get picked up at the Park and dropped back off in front of our Lobby on your way home for the night- so that's another possibility for you!

Also- excellent point about the lines from the bag check area! I always forget about these myself, and then end up being surprised [every single time! ] when I am encountered with a long line! So this is a really great reminder for people planning their trip, too! Make time for the bag check lines!

With regard to the experience with the Castaway Cove attendant at the hotel- we're so sorry that your son was embarrassed when the attendant shouted! The safety of our children guests is our highest concern, and so when our attendants see a child doing something that could potentially cause them to injure themselves, our only thought is do whatever we can to try to stop that from happening. Our attendants are trained to blow their whistle to get the attention of the children and their parents, and if we do tend to be a little over-enthusiastic about this, it's because we have had two separate incidents in which kids climbed back up the slide and fell on their face, knocking out teeth- one child even required oral surgery to repair her jaw.

Our General Manager and his family were walking to the Parks one day and they overheard a guest explain that she and her husband enjoyed Castaway Cove primarily because they can bring their kids to play and not have to keep an eye on them. While we do have an attendant on hand to make sure that the children using the slide are being monitored to make sure they don't go down too closely together, our attendants are not and have never been intended to replace the watchful eye of a parent. Castaway Cove is a great place for families to play together, and its a safe place when parents help make sure that their kids are following the safety rules.

I will definitely ask our Front Desk and General Manager to follow up with our attendants to make sure that we are trying to blow a whistle as our first means of communication! And thank you again for taking the time to let us know about your stay- I hope that we'll be able to see you and your family again sometime!

Lorealle

PS- Your Tinkerbell is absolutely adorable! That picture is definitely one for the scrapbooks! So cute!

 

[pigby]

HOJO Review:
We got a premium disney view room. If anyone remember I started a thread weeks ago and asked for room suggestions with a good view of DL w/o the trees covering the balcony. One suggested a rm# I believe her/his name is pigby??? Anyway I did get the room you suggested... ROOM #1613 .... and there is a big tree RIGHT INFRONT of our balcony!!! We were too tired to request another room so we just stayed there. Yes we can still see DL but the tree covered half of our view! Good thing the tree isnt "full" its like half bald lol so it was fair. I would have been ticked off though if it wasnt.

Oh no, feel really bad that you didn't like this room - we stayed there 13
nights and loved it - the tree (which was probably in full bloom at the time - it was July - but the branches were still very 'sparce' then) was to the side of the balcony if I remember rightly (to the DCA side) and didn't spoil the fireworks or Matterhorn view - in fact I watched the fireworks a few times from this spot. To be fair, wasn't too interested in looking over to the right to DCA but still we could see landmarks like the Funwheel and TOT.

We would have requested the room again for our April trip but can't get in HoJo's for our dates - nothing at all at the hotel except one king room which is no good to a family of 3 so we have booked Candy Cane this time - hope we'll have as good a time there.

Also didn't mind the walk back to HoJo from the parks - it was a breeze compared with walking back to your onsite hotel at DLRP (we can't afford the really expensive ones there)

Just shows - different strokes for different folks

 

[billwendy]

Can someone compare what the walk is like compared maybe to one of the WDW resorts or a themepark to a bus stop? Concerned hubby's bad knees wont cooperate. How much is a pass that would do all 4 days for us, or do you buy daily? Can your purchase on the bus? Does the bus have a schedule? How much are the passes they sell at HoJo's????

Getting so excuted!!

 

[aussiegirls]

Billwendy, you can buy your ART passes from the front desk at the Hojo. You can either pay for it then or they can put it on your room tab. You can buy a weekly pass which is what we did. You can then use the ART as many times as you like within that period of time. You can pay on the ART but you will be paying for each trip because I don't think the driver sells the passes.

The Hojo is the last stop on the way to DLR, so it takes about a minute or so to get there - depending on the traffic lights. It is the last stop on the return trip, but it still doesn't take that long - it never took us more than 10 minutes to get back because although Hojo is last there are only about 2 or 3 other hotels before you and they are all around the same area. So the ART return trip will probably only take the same amount of time it would if you were walking.

I don't think they have a schedule as such, but it comes every 15 (or it might be 20 minutes). So if you wait for it the longest it will be will be that long, but we never waited more than a few minutes and found it to be very regular.

Personally, I think the ART is great, and will definately be using it again. It can also take you to a few other places if you feel like going somewhere different, for eg, we felt like Bubba Gump for dinner so we just jumped onto an ART to the Gardenwalk.

Good luck

 

[nana50]

totally agree with above post. I'm 60 with bad feet and I don't want to waste my feet walking to and from Disneyland. The ART is the way to go.

 

[pbbecker]

I've always taken the short cut, I never thought to actually walk to the main entrance. Also, when walking back to the hojo after a long day or in our experience a really rainy day, we have taken a cab from where you come out of the park right past where the cast member buses pick up and drop off. The cab costs $5 and takes you right to the closest entrance to your room. We've done this only when we juct could not walk anymore. I have a 4 yr old in a stroller and I have never mind the walk from Hojo. I'll be there on the 29th, I can't wait!

 

[ajloops]

Oh no, feel really bad that you didn't like this room - we stayed there 13
nights and loved it - the tree (which was probably in full bloom at the time - it was July - but the branches were still very 'sparce' then) was to the side of the balcony if I remember rightly (to the DCA side) and didn't spoil the fireworks or Matterhorn view - in fact I watched the fireworks a few times from this spot. To be fair, wasn't too interested in looking over to the right to DCA but still we could see landmarks like the Funwheel and TOT.

We would have requested the room again for our April trip but can't get in HoJo's for our dates - nothing at all at the hotel except one king room which is no good to a family of 3 so we have booked Candy Cane this time - hope we'll have as good a time there.

Also didn't mind the walk back to HoJo from the parks - it was a breeze compared with walking back to your onsite hotel at DLRP (we can't afford the really expensive ones there)

Just shows - different strokes for different folks

Hey its you!! I am going to haunt you! JK! I still thank you for suggesting a room# even though its not ideally my 'perfect' view room, I appreciate you for PM'ing me for it Maybe I am just that picky Or perhaps the tree magically expanded to block half of my balcony Either way we still enjoyed the stay! PS. i cleaned pcs of your hair left in the tub.

 

[ajloops]

I wish I knew about the ART

Lorealle,
Yes I do sincerely understand and appreciate the lifeguard's duties and concerns. Just pointing it out that yelling on top of her lungs weren't exactly needed at that point, as DS was right across her. It was a bit extreme imho. Also, could you pass a message to them? "Put a smile on your face."

 

[dizneedoll]

Huh??? I dint know this!! Is this even legal to do? I mean it says no pedestrian sign???

Uh, wellll...the drive goes to a security gate into the backstage areas of DL but if you head toward that drive then hustle yourself around that corner you'll be on the sidewalk area where the cabs used to pick up.

I've always taken the short cut, I never thought to actually walk to the main entrance. Also, when walking back to the hojo after a long day or in our experience a really rainy day, we have taken a cab from where you come out of the park right past where the cast member buses pick up and drop off. The cab costs $5 and takes you right to the closest entrance to your room. We've done this only when we juct could not walk anymore. I have a 4 yr old in a stroller and I have never mind the walk from Hojo. I'll be there on the 29th, I can't wait!

Cabs are no longer allowed in this area. They now have to pick up and drop off way over on the DTD side but I don't know exactly where over there. So not very convienent for those of us on the Harbor side to grab a cab.

Great info everyone on the ART. I admit even with shortcuts, at the end of the day and pushing a stroller I get pretty tired. I think I'll give the ART a try next visit.
Does anyone know where in the shuttle area the ART picks up for HOJO? I'm wondering if it's toward the end of the area or nearer to the front. Thanks!

 

[aussiegirls]

dizneedoll, I don't remember the exact number of which stop the Hojo shuttle is but it is one of the first ones you come to. It is right on the bendy bit where they turn around

xxx

 

[kiwitravel]

Cabs are no longer allowed in this area. They now have to pick up and drop off way over on the DTD side but I don't know exactly where over there. So not very convienent for those of us on the Harbor side to grab a cab.

We needed a cab for a trip to the emergency room and were directed to the DTD drop off area which was a complete waste of time, ended up walking over to DH and got one there no problem... Mind you he took us to the wrong ER, despite me giving him the name and address!!! Must have been my accent...

 

[Funball]

Dear Op,

I Just want to say that I am so glad for you that you had a great time at the hojo, as a dis member, that is like a true favorite member with most of us.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

I wish I knew about the ART

Lorealle,
Yes I do sincerely understand and appreciate the lifeguard's duties and concerns. Just pointing it out that yelling on top of her lungs weren't exactly needed at that point, as DS was right across her. It was a bit extreme imho. Also, could you pass a message to them? "Put a smile on your face."

I can absolutely pass that message along!

And I'm so sorry that no one told you about the ART Shuttle! I'll let our Managers know that we might need a refresher on that as well!

Lorealle

 

[pigby]

PS. i cleaned pcs of your hair left in the tub.

 

[billwendy]

Lorealle or anyone else - how much is the ART?

 

[ajloops]

Lorealle or anyone else - how much is the ART?

Curious about this too.

 

[skiingfast]

Lorealle or anyone else - how much is the ART?

Curious about this too.

$4 and $1 adults and child. Multiday passes avaiable.

ART site pass pricing.