Ho Jo's Entertainment Book Question

[Just2DisneyKids]

I read about many people getting the great entertainment book rates for Howard Johnson's. I'm wondering how it works. Are there coupons for HoJo's in the book? Would you only get one discount per book? Or is there a card that comes with the book that entitles you to the discount and you would get discounts throughout the year? And finally, if I purchase the 2008 Las Vegas Entertainment Book, would that get me the discount in Anaheim?

For anyone that actually followed that and can help, I sooo appreciate it!

 

[DangerMouse]

Yes, your Las Vegas book will work. You don't need a coupon, just the plastic card that comes in the front. The discounts are only offered at certain times when the Hotel is under a certain occupancy for bookings. The card can be used for the discount through Nov 1, 2008.

 

[bigrich]

Go to hojoanaheim .com Use SD50 for the code.

 

[Just2DisneyKids]

Hey DangerMouse and bigrich - thanks so much for the info.
I'll be purchasing that Entertainment Book now!

 

[LauraAnn630]

Ive been trying the SD50 discount. Im still getting 119 a nite either way.
hmmmm?

 

[bumbershoot]

It's not offered all the time.

However, it will pop up for some dates as you get closer.

I coudln't get anything better than my rate at the Carousel, and then 48 hours before my stay I put SD50 into hj and got THE rate, the 59 dollar rate. Alas, Carousel (I booked through Travelocity) needed 72 hours to cancel without one-night penalty, and since I was only staying there one night...just didn't make much sense!

Be aware of the cancellation policy of any hotel you might have booked (and be happy with that rate, just in case), and keep checking up until that cancellation time shows up. And then do NOT check any more.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Oh ok, I will try again when Im going to book. That will be in 2 weeks. Maybe Ill get lucky. Ill let you know. Thanks!

 

[CoronaGuy]

My family and I are going to DLR the third week in February and when I tried using the SD50 discount on the hojo-anaheim website in early January it would not list the entertainment book price $59 or $74/night, depending on room quality - it listed something like $89 or $99/night.

I had decided I wanted to stay at HOJOs anyways based on several other factors, so I called in house reservations for hojo-anaheim and asked if the entertainment book rate was available, and they said YES it was, so I booked 6 nights with them at $59/night (plus taxes).

Based on my experience, I would suggest everyone call in house reservations at hojo-anaheim to confirm that the entertainment book rate is not available, even if the SD50 discount isn't appearing for you on the hojo-anaheim website.

One caveat to that approach, as discussed by bumbershoot and others on DIS, is when you call the Hojo-anaheim at 714-776-6120, even if you specifically ask for "in house reservations" you may get rolled over to the national reservations center for Hojo if Lorealle and her reservations people don't answer your call fast enough. If that happens (and it did to me), just ask them to transfer you back to the local hotel's in house reservations.

Good luck!

 

[J. Galt]

I second the suggestion to call in-house reservations instead of using on-line reservations. I kept plugging in my dates online and not finding entertainment rate. When I called the in-house reservations, they said that the entertainment rate was available for only part of my stay right now, that is why it wasn't showing up on the website. They gave me the entertainment rate for 1/2 my stay and the dis rate for other half. I'm going to keep calling back to see if the entertainment rate gets extended for the other half of my trip.

 

[tortugaverde]

where can I find an entertainment book? And what is it exactly...
Can you get the discount without the book online? I am guessing if one called the hotel to get that rate, you would have to have the book right??

Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

When I called the in-house reservations, they said that the entertainment rate was available for only part of my stay right now, that is why it wasn't showing up on the website.

That is an excellent point. And I feel like a dingbat for not suggesting to others what I do as rote. Put your dates in one at a time. That way you see exactly what is available.

I've done that...I don't know why I haven't said that.



About the in-house thing; the very first time I called, I asked if they were "in house" and she LIED and said she was. I could tell from the number of rings and the click before she answered that I'd been shunted over, but it took two + pointed questions before she finally admitted that no, she was not AT the HoJo Anaheim itself.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Okay, I just called and asked if the entertainment rate was available for my stay in August and she said no but she would offer me 15% off and that would bring it down to $109.60. I was going to stay at Carousel and that would be $110 so I was wondering which is the better place to stay at between the two? Which hotel has less walking? Does HOJO's have a complimentary breakfast available?

 

[bumbershoot]

Less walking and b'fast of sorts at Carousel.

But I just stayed at Carousel and had to supplement the yuck donuts they had for b'fast*, and the coffee as well, once I got to DL.

This picture is as I stepped onto the sidewalk from Carousel, looking to the right. There IS a bit of zoom, so it's not THAT close, but the HJ sign was totally visible (I have 20/20 most days...a bit less than that some days if my eyes are dry or not enough sleep, LOL) with the naked eye from the driveway/sidewalk of Carousel.

You can see a guy way in the background. For perspective, he's crossing the street between Mimi's and HJ. That crosswalk is actually quite long, but in that picture it's very shortened. So put a longer crosswalk where he is to add more proper distance.


I personally would stay at HJ, and would continue to check to see if the Ent. Rate was available (and be sure to check day by day). Also, if you have, or are going to get, an AP, HJ offers a 20% discount for AP holders.



*they also had fruit and cereal and juice, but I did not partake in those as they didn't look very good to me. and they had the option to pay $2 for a Quiznos breakfast "sammie".

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Less walking and b'fast of sorts at Carousel.

But I just stayed at Carousel and had to supplement the yuck donuts they had for b'fast*, and the coffee as well, once I got to DL.

This picture is as I stepped onto the sidewalk from Carousel, looking to the right. There IS a bit of zoom, so it's not THAT close, but the HJ sign was totally visible (I have 20/20 most days...a bit less than that some days if my eyes are dry or not enough sleep, LOL) with the naked eye from the driveway/sidewalk of Carousel.

You can see a guy way in the background. For perspective, he's crossing the street between Mimi's and HJ. That crosswalk is actually quite long, but in that picture it's very shortened. So put a longer crosswalk where he is to add more proper distance.


I personally would stay at HJ, and would continue to check to see if the Ent. Rate was available (and be sure to check day by day). Also, if you have, or are going to get, an AP, HJ offers a 20% discount for AP holders.



*they also had fruit and cereal and juice, but I did not partake in those as they didn't look very good to me. and they had the option to pay $2 for a Quiznos breakfast "sammie".

Wow, thanks. That picture really put things into perspective for me. I read a lot of complaints about the highway noise at HOJO's, if Carousel is right down the street from HOJOs wouldn't they have highway noise as well? Also sounds like the Carousel doesn't have the greatest of breakfast....guess I will be stopping by McDonalds first!

 

[bumbershoot]

I didn't have highway noise when we stayed at HJ, and I don't even know what room or area we were in, except that our 1st floor room overlooked the little pool.

Carousel is further away from the highway over passes and exits and such. And I found Carousel to be really quiet, except for the plumbing, and the evil person who set off the smoke detector after midnight. Oh wait, that was me. Because of the steamy shower without turning on a/c and the bathroom fan timer running out. Shower steam setting of the smoke detector, who would even *think* of that? (and this was the night after the Monte Carlo in Vegas caught fire, so the front desk was a bit concerned when I called them to see what to do to get it to turn off AND let them know that it was just steam)

If you go to McDs from Carousel you'll be walking towards HJs, by the way. Then back down Harbor towards the crosswalk to go to DLR.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Thanks bumbershoot for all your help.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Thanks for the tip on calling for the SD50 discount. Will they ask for the card at check in?

My sister has it. Id better ask her for it anyways.

 

[mousiemom]

so, i've put my dates in on the website and the code and the good rates are coming up. i would like the $74/disney view but i don't have a book! where do i get a book, do you have to present it at checkin? i'm from alabama!!
mousiemom

 

[Snoodles74]

Ok I must be totally blind...where would I put the "sd50" discount code?

 

[Snoodles74]

Ok I finally figured out where to put the code, but BUMMER the prices stayed the same, even after clearing cookies.
The best price I can get from HoJo Nov 26-30 is $119 the first night and $149 the next 3 nights for a Disney view room

Erika