HOJO ? Don't laugh...

[Mom2Joce]

Ok, I know you guys LOVE this place and the Entertainment rate as well and that is SO attractive but that walk (ok I only walked to Mimi's) but dang...after a long day at the park I'm more of a BWPPI kind of gal...hehehe!

So my question is...has anyone ever driven over the to the parking garages from HOJO? Is it worth it?

I know you're all laughing...but I'm just curious!!

 

[DangerMouse]

With the current sad state of parking at the resort, I would take the ART before even thinking about dealing with driving and parking myself.

Have you read about the short cut? It's a much easier walk if you cross Harbor at Manchester, and then walk under the Monorail tracks on the West side of Harbor down to the taxi entrance, and then up through the shuttle area to the bag check.

 

[sonnyjane]

No laughing here! I assure you, you're not the only one to have that thought!

Dangermouse is right though, with the parking situation the way it is, I wouldn't.

 

[davidsprincess]

1 - could your signifigant other piggyback you back to HOJO?

2 - also, depending on what building you stay in at HOJO cut through the parking lot at the hotel. We stayed in building 4 and did it that way. It was much quicker. Ofcourse I would just chant to myself: "almost there, almost there. you can do it." or if it was really bad I just told my family to pick me back up in the parking lot in the morning on their way back to the park.

3 - stop off at MIMI'S on the way back for a rest and some of their DELICIOUS muffins.

or if all else fails, do all 3.

 

[Mom2Joce]

thanks for all the tips...i'll consider them all as I really want a cozy place but need the lower price.

 

[Mom2Joce]

With the current sad state of parking at the resort, I would take the ART before even thinking about dealing with driving and parking myself.

The ART, yes, but isn't HOJO's like the last stop or something crazy like that?

 

[rszdtrvl]

That is why we are staying at BWPPI in March. I loved Hojo - but the walk. Oh..... the walk. And we don't even have a young child (ours is 13). It was too much for us to walk back and fourth.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I have often seen people walking back to Hojo's and thought, "Wow, that seems like a long walk to me after a full day at DLR." Glad to finally hear it's not just me.

OT: Your signature picture made me do a double take. Your doxie looks a LOT like my little boy. Soooo cute.

 

[jory29]

We're the kind of family that goes here, and there and everywhere in the parks, back and forth all day long from one land to another, with (seemingly) no rhyme or reason... perhaps because of that, (ALL the walking when in the parks during the day) we feel that walking 7-8 minutes isn't hard to do at the end of the day. We also LOVE that McD's is RIGHT there on the way 'home' and it's so inexpensive to grab a quick snack, whether it be burger and fries, or simply cookies and soda.


Actually, we make that trip 4 times, (there and back, there and back, each day), as we grab a short break in our room before supper at Mimi's. So even with walking there and back twice in a day, it still feels o.k. to us.

I agree, the ART would be better than driving and parking. DangerMouse has a good point, too, about the shortcut. For the record, we always walk down the Harbor Blvd. side (no shortcut.)

 

[Mom2Joce]

That is why we are staying at BWPPI in March. I loved Hojo - but the walk. Oh..... the walk. And we don't even have a young child (ours is 13). It was too much for us to walk back and fourth.

I'm sitting here saying the same thing and just can't bring myself to book...I have been wanting to try Desert Inn and I think this is the year to do it.

48 hour cancellation just like HOJO...and not far from the cross walk!!

 

[Mom2Joce]

I have often seen people walking back to Hojo's and thought, "Wow, that seems like a long walk to me after a full day at DLR." Glad to finally hear it's not just me.

OT: Your signature picture made me do a double take. Your doxie looks a LOT like my little boy. Soooo cute.

Well now I'm glad it's not just me...I think the same darn thing.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

the walk is alot for me too it is the only thing besides price sometimes, is what would make me plan some where else.

The walk just hurts some times. But my feet got messed up in accident about 5years ago now an still have just a pinch of pain some times.

 

[mybestieismickey]

This conversation makes me laugh just a little. We usually stay at a hotel that is far enough away that we park at the structure or with family an hour away. This means either waiting for the tram or walking back to the structure. We are not usually patient, so we choose to walk (No kids yet, so no dead bodies to haul at the end of the night). No big deal. We're tired, but we just want to get "home" at that point. On our last trip we stayed at Desert Inn right across the street and we now have a new way of travelling to Disneyland. It was wonderful to walk to the hotel and be done. No driving.

I recently suggested we try HOJO and DH shot that down so fast I didn't even have time to check prices. The walk was too far. Really? Suddenly I'm married to a whimp. HOJO has to be closer than the parking structure...

 

[sonnyjane]

This conversation makes me laugh just a little. We usually stay at a hotel that is far enough away that we park at the structure or with family an hour away. This means either waiting for the tram or walking back to the structure. We are not usually patient, so we choose to walk (No kids yet, so no dead bodies to haul at the end of the night). No big deal. We're tired, but we just want to get "home" at that point. On our last trip we stayed at Desert Inn right across the street and we now have a new way of travelling to Disneyland. It was wonderful to walk to the hotel and be done. No driving.

I recently suggested we try HOJO and DH shot that down so fast I didn't even have time to check prices. The walk was too far. Really? Suddenly I'm married to a whimp. HOJO has to be closer than the parking structure...

I used to feel the same way, until I went to Disneyland for three days with my sister last year. I'm typically the person who thinks any hotel within about a mile is walkable (for any destination). But when you're walking that mile four times, (to the park in the morning, to the hotel for a break in the afternoon, back to the park at night, and back to the hotel at the end of the day) it gets to be horrendous! We were literally hobbling around the hotel room by the third day and ended up cutting our trip short because we couldn't bare to think of taking any more steps. I'm only 26, I didn't expect to fall that hard lol! This year I decided to try the Camelot (0.4 miles) since it is MUCH closer than the Clarion (1.0 mile), which is where we stayed last year. I don't think I'll be disappointed!

 

[rossip]

You know I would normally read a post like this and scoff - humph 7-8minutes walk for goodness sake , whats wrong with you !

I'm a fairly fit sort of guy I run marathons , Ironman triahlons etc etc so to me 7-8 minutes is real easy - nothing in fact - piece of cake

BUT having just spent time at DLR I know exactly what you mean , I hear you loud and clear

The closer to that cross walk the better , after a hard day in the park the quicker you can get home and crash into bed the better !

However surely it would still quicker and easier to walk from HoJos than jump in the car , fight the traffic , find a spot then walk to the gates

 

[Tink91]

I wouldn't think it would be worth driving, the ART would be your best bet if you didn't want to walk. Also, its not exactly fair on the families driving miles to get to Disneyland who need a carpark and have no other option.

 

[sportbettor]

We buy ART passes every time we stay there.

 

[Mom2Joce]

We buy ART passes every time we stay there.

What is the pickup times like (how often?)

And what is the bus time like? How long are you on the bus before you are dropped off at the park AND the hotel?

 

[julw]

Oh, this is so me! We stayed at HOJO last March, and are getting ready to book a hotel for March this year and I have been wavering on where to stay because of the HOJO walk! I'm so glad to hear I am not the only one. Then to top it off last year I got a couple of horrible blisters that made that walk even worse! I think that if we do stay there and I'm hurting at night after a long day I might jump in one of the taxis that park at the end by the shuttles?

I'm a BWPPI girl too...our favorite because of location but, I think the prices of BWPPI have really gotten too high recently, so we might try the Desert Inn also.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Our first trip we stayed at the BWPPI our second trip we stayed at the Hojo. We have 4 little girls and a double stroller and after being in the park all day and walking here and there and everywhere. I have come to the conclusion that we either need to stay right across the crosswalk or go somewhere that the hotel has shuttle service to the park. So you just sit at the benches and wait. Because let me tell ya I was pretty jealous of those people who stopped at the benches when I was making the trek with my 6 year old whining the whole way that she wasn't going to make it! Not to say I wasn't doing some whining of my own!
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the hotel is just where you sleep while you wait for the park to open for the next day of fun and joy! As long as it is clean and safe. Actually the Park Vue is suppose to be really nice and all though ($99 sometimes) they are a little more they have a continental breakfast that would save us on money from having to buy breakfast for all 6 of us. I have a friend who said that Homewood suites does breakfast and dinners for free with the cost of the hotel. So you just have to weigh your options, really do the math and take a lot into consideration when you make your choices. Everyone's perfect fit will be different and may vary by trip depending on who is with them!
PS I do find we get a better deal by calling the hotels directly and telling them I found this deal on expedia (or whatever) and was wondering if they could beat it or match it. We got 30 dollars off a night at BWPPI the first time doing that!