HELP- I arrive in 3 days and STILL can't make up my ind..

[ginnyhowes]

Hi all

We leave OZ in 3 days for a 6 week holidays to UK via Disneyland!

I am booked into Hojos with the entertainment rate but still am not sure if I have made the right choice!

Other hotels I have booked and then cancelled are... Embassy Suites South, Grand Californian and Hyatt Orange County.- As you can see I am very changeable!

I cancelled Hyatt and Embassy suites as I want to be close to park as we have two little ones that will need afternoon naps. I cancelled Grand Californian because I thought it was very expensive for what you got.

I love all the Hojo reviews but am concerned about freeway noise and distance from park. ( i know its not that far but on site is closer!)

Now I am thinking of Grand Californian again- its twice the price but this is a once in a lifetime trip but on the other hand I hate to think that I am not getting my moneys worth if you know what I mean...

Also any views on renting a house and car instead??? there are some gorgeous ones out there with pools for not much more than a room at GC but would the driving be a pain?

Sorry to ramble but time is running out and I need to make a decision so PLEASE HELP ME !!!!!!

Nat

 

[ginnyhowes]

sorry that should read, make up my mind- see I am so stressed I can't even type properly!

 

[kazbar]

I would stick with HoJos. It is very close and the savings will be very welcome for the other parts of your trip

Have a great time

 

[GrandBob]

What kind of room did you book at HoJo's? As long as you're not in building 1, which is where the "Premium" Disney-view rooms are, road noise should not be a problem. We've stayed 4 times in the Deluxe pool-view rooms in building 2. We love them! And no noise in any of our stays.

As you can tell, I we love HoJo's! That said, if it's truly a once in a lifetime trip, and you can afford GC, I'd seriously consider staying there. I've always wanted to, but couldn't justify the expense. But then, we go fairly often.

-Bob

 

[darph nader]

I would stick with HoJos. It is very close and the savings will be very welcome for the other parts of your trip

Have a great time

What kazbar said. Relax,(mellow,mellow,mellow)

 

[CMHusband]

Stick with Hojo's. You won't hear the freeways from your room because they use such good windows. and if you are at the pool, you won't even notice it either. Regarding the distance from the park, its about a close as walking to the trams for a ride to the car. In other words, its close. maybe 5 to 10 minutes at most.

 

[skiingfast]

If you have the Hojo at that rate I'd take it over the GC. But the GC is much better than those othe places.

FWIW I wouldn't rent and then drive, that would just be a pain to do on your trip.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Stick with Hojos. We have stayed there for ten trips now and never been dissatisfied. The walk is really reasonable. You will be able to enjoy so many meals, activities, and souvenirs with the money you're not spending on the GCH.

 

[farmfresh]

So I'll vote for onsite just to make it worse! You could always try the DLH or PPH, if you 're not sure about the GCh (but it really is the nicest)

 

[CMHusband]

So I'll vote for onsite just to make it worse! You could always try the DLH or PPH, if you 're not sure about the GCh (but it really is the nicest)

True, but you really don't spend that much time at the hotels. Mostly you are at the parks, then a really nice room is sitting empty for your suitcase to enjoy.

 

[karylrocks]

No worries, you made a good choice! Stick with HoJo. 10 minute walk, same as Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier. Grand Californian is nice and a couple of minutes closer, but not really worth the extra money unless you have unlimited funds. You will be glad you saved the money sticking with HoJo. Definitely not worth renting a house and driving - way too much trouble in my opinion.

 

[QueenDoOver]

How about a split stay? We did that our last trip and although it was only 2 nights at each (hojo and PPH), it was great! I really love both. I would do The Grand second though.

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

Now I am thinking of Grand Californian again- its twice the price but this is a once in a lifetime trip but on the other hand I hate to think that I am not getting my moneys worth if you know what I mean...

If it is truely just twice the price, go with the Grand Californian it will totally be worth the splurg and you will get your money's worth just in memories alone.......

 

[CrazyDuck]

Once in a lifetime.....

 

[Ariel224]

You can probably cross renting a vacation home off of your list due to your time restraints. It can take several days to make contact with the owner, get all of your questions answered, receive the contract, sign and return the contract, etc. I just secured a rental for a week of our November trip, and it took about a week to get everything completed, using email and fax. I know it can be done more quickly, but it's not usually (from my experience with this and one other rental) as simple as a single phone call to make a reservation.

We are splitting our stay and will stay 3 night at HOJOs...simply because I can't imagine NOT staying at least part of the trip at HOJOs. I love them!! The rooms are clean and comfortable, the water play area is fabulous for the kids, and the customer service is wonderful. If you booked a room type with the fridge and microwave, that comes in very handy with kids. If in building 1, you will get freeway noise....but it's cars whizzing by, so it's more "white noise" than anything. When you're exhausted from a day at the parks, it becomes barely noticeable. It won't be horns honking at 2am or anything like that. Other than that, we have always found HOJO to be extremely quiet.

DLH and PP won't save you any walking time. The closest DLH tower is about the same distance as HOJO from the entrance gate. GCH is slightly closer, and if you can spring for it, I can certainly understand why you're tempted! I'd like to stay there myself someday....just to say I did it.

My vote: split your stay between HOJO and GCH and get a little of the best both have to offer.

 

[ginnyhowes]

thanks for all your responses.

I am still unsure !!!

I dont think a split stay will work for us as we are only there 3 nights and are spending the next 6 weeks staying with lots of different people so it would be nice just to check in and know we are there for the full 3 days.

I alo noticed that PPH concerige price is really reasonable at the moment too- just to add that to the mix- lol !!!

Realistically I know I SHOULD stay at Hojos for money reasons ( this trip is costing us a small fortune!) but part of me wants to stay in style too- My husband despairs at me because I am so extravagant but I think that lifes too short !! ( plus the credit card will pay for it- and everyone knows you never have to pay those off !!!!!!!!!)

mmmm, decisions decisions, at least its distracting me from the thought of a 14 hour flight from Australia to LA with a one year old and a two year old

Nat

 

[Amommy21]

THe Grand is our favorite place to stay and the absolute closest for little ones and worth the cost to me. Go for it!

 

[Yukonjack]

We stayed at the DLH once and the GCH once. I liked the GCH much more (surprise!), but the DLH is really close too and not much more of a walk than the GCH. That being said, for convenience of access to the parks with little ones (naps and impromptu clothes changes), the GCH cannot be beat. We went on GRR with our 5 year old daughter, who got SOAKED (seriously, it looked like she had been dunked in a pool!), and we were able to walk right off the ride, into the GCH and change her clothes. She was back in the park in 15 minutes and ready to go again. Totally worth it. Plus, the feel of staying in parks and having full submersion is really a nice treat for us (though we do not go that often).

My wife and I are going solo in February for a trip and staying at a villa at the GCH. We rented points from a member through a broker on the boards here.

Good luck, either way your family will have a blast!

Greg

 

[mrswh]

Just to stir the pot a little . . . I'd reconsider the Hyatt! Cross off house renting at this point - too much hassle with the planning and the driving. You're traveling a long way so you might as well have convenience once you arrive.

I will admit I am a hotel snob - I like new, updated hotels. We have stayed at both the Hyatt OC and the GCH and they are both fantastic. I would say the Hyatt is a nicer hotel - it has just been renovated and is gorgeous throughout. It also has a Starbucks in the lobby which I love. Restaurant is great. Target is across the street for essentials. The shuttle is pretty easy, runs every 30 minutes reliably and takes only about 5 minutes to get to the parks. Over 4 trips, we've used it tons of times to go back and forth for afternoon naps. Not a big deal. The other perk of the Hyatt is that it is very reasonably priced - you can get a spacious 2 BR 2 bath suite with living room (3 flat screen TVs, plenty of place to spread out!) for under $200 a night. I love that.

The GCH is nice but I'll be honest, it's not as nice as the Hyatt. Also, you will pay literally 3 times as much for ONE small room at the GCH as you would for a 2 bedroom suite at the Hyatt. However . . . you are 90 seconds from DCA and 5 minutes from DL! That's huge. We stayed concierge at GCH and I would do it again - not sure if I would stay there again without concierge (at a discount - not worth $175/night) - that's what put it ahead of the Hyatt for me.

Yes, it's the trip of a lifetime, but no hotel is worth going into debt. If you stay at the Hyatt you will have a beautiful, comfortable room with easy transport to and from the parks - very convenient and comfortable. You will have a great time!

 

[sierranevada]

Another one for the GCH! If it is a once in a lifetime trip, only 3 days and with little ones, the convenience of the GCH can't be beat!! We love it and go back and forth between staying there and at the DLH.

Have fun!