Hojo Entertainment Rate

[CourtFool]

Is it my imagination or did the Hojo just pull a fast one? The 50% rate is no longer available unless you are signed up to get their e-mail, correct? They only post dates for 20% discount. When did this start?

I can understand why they did this. I have seem some pretty disgruntled people posting about the dates. Maybe they are trying to cut down on some of the entitlement people seem to build up. Plus, now they can channel some of that desire to some spam, er...ahem...free advertisement of their own. Tricksey, those Hojo people are.

 

[skiingfast]

They just changed it a few days ago from 50 to 20%. The rate if dates are not available went down to 10%


I wonder if this means the AP, and fansite discounts will drop too.

 

[CourtFool]

Obviously a sign of the impending apocalypse. Well, it was a good run while it lasted. Nice knowing you all.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

yeah...i like hojo a lot but there are many hotels much nicer and cheaper than hojos rate even with a 10% discount...i mean come on...$183 a night???? it looks like AP holders can still get the 20% discount but i was just curious to see what the rates would be but its not letting me put the usual code in there ...so who knows...FFI and BWPPI are closer than hojo to the park and somewhat cheaper as well

 

[GrandBob]

Thanks for pointing this out. I had received the email, but trashed it, figuring I could always go onto their web site to find the current Retro Rates. Didn't realize they had pulled that -- I usually don't read junk email thoroughly. Based on this thread, I fished through my Trash and signed up for the updates; so thanks, OP.

On one hand, I'm getting kinda fed up with HoJo's. They've had very few retro rates in the past year or two, and I agree with the PP that at rack rate, or even 20% off, there are better hotels. OTOH, there could be a silver lining here. I'm guessing that a lot of people, like me, just tossed the email, and now don't have access to the Retro Rates. If I'm right, that means that there may be less competition for those rates in the future.

-Bob

 

[MommyLove]

I talked with Raphael in in-house reservations today (was calling about one of my reservations) and he said the 50% retro rate was cancelled "about two or three weeks ago" because there were just too many cancellations with that program.

So now you can get 20% off all the time with the Annual Pass or 10% off all the time with the Entertainment card. Or 20% off at certain times of the year with the Entertainment Card (see the old retro rate page for those dates - currently, they have "N/A" listed for all the dates).

On their website regarding 50% discounts:

These "SUPER FAMILY RATES" are only available during select dates of the year. Please join our email list below for email alerts whenever these rates are open!

I just signed up for their email alerts. I sure hope I get some 50% offers... once we active our AP's we will have our "year of Disney" and we're going to try to go as often as we can during those 12 months. The more often we can get that 50% rate, the more often we will be able go. The bummer for us is that it seems that the Kids Suites book up quickly and we need that for our family of six. I'm afraid we won't be getting many opportunities to get a Kids Suite at 50% off. Maybe we'll have to do two rooms instead...

 

[larina]

I'm glad I got my January dates when I did.

 

[NVDisMom]

I just noticed this myself this morning as I started planning our fall trip. I agree with others that HOJO's isn't worth it at rack rate and 10% doesn't do much to help that situation. I will happily go back to CCI where I get breakfast and a shuttle for $40 less per night. Sorry HOJO, we probably saw you for the last time over Mother's Day.

 

[kirstie101]

Current reservations for the retro rate will still be honored though, right?

 

[MommyLove]

Current reservations for the retro rate will still be honored though, right?

Yes. Raphael confirmed that to me today.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Oh Say It Isn't So...

I have a current rez that I was unable to book at the Retro Rate but did get a great discount. I was holding out hope that some of my dates would open up for the Retro Rate but of course, now, it's unlikely.

Personally, I have to say that this will give my family the push we needed to try the GCH. By renting DVC points, I can get the GCH for around $150/night! With HoJo's being about the same price...sorry Hojo's but I'm staying someplace fancy!

I have a feeling this may change things for many other devoted Hojo's fans. Or perhaps HoJo's wanted it this way? Get rid of all those "discount" people who just book up all their rooms....who wants to be sold out night after night anyways, right?

 

[BayAreaMom]

Current reservations for the retro rate will still be honored though, right?

Oh yikes, I hope so. I have Retro Rates booked for November & January. We also have April & May booked at 20% off.

We are like "MommyLove" and need the kids suite. It's amazing!! I am so bummed to lose out on the Retro Rate, but its not neccesarily a deal breaker for us. The retro rate on the kids suites had increased to $129/nite (we never got the $99 rate but it was that for a while- wow). We are booked at $175/nite in April and Map- this is with the 20% AP discount. That's only a $46/nite difference. Still a bummer, but not a deal breaker for us. We would likely stay 3 nights instead of 4.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Oh yikes, I hope so. I have Retro Rates booked for November & January. We also have April & May booked at 20% off.

We are like "MommyLove" and need the kids suite. It's amazing!! I am so bummed to lose out on the Retro Rate, but its not neccesarily a deal breaker for us. The retro rate on the kids suites had increased to $129/nite (we never got the $99 rate but it was that for a while- wow). We are booked at $175/nite in April and Map- this is with the 20% AP discount. That's only a $46/nite difference. Still a bummer, but not a deal breaker for us. We would likely stay 3 nights instead of 4.

I don't think this change is a "deal breaker" but more of a reason to look elsewhere- at least for me it is. In the past, we've always checked HoJo Retro Rates first & then planned around them because the price was SO good.

While we do love the HoJo, what really made it our "go to hotel" was the price. Frankly, if I'm going to be spending upwards of $150/night for a standard hotel- I expect a LOT more in terms of amenities. So my hope is that with this change, HoJo will also be adding some extras. Free breakfast would be a good place to start. I have a feeling that if they don't- they may lose some business.

What I'm most irritated by is that this seems to have all been done with a bit of secrecy so as to not upset the loyal Retro Rate folks.

About a week ago I was in contact with a HoJo's staff member. We discussed my upcoming reservation & I asked if she knew if any of my dates would open up at the Retro Rate. Not ONCE did she mention this program had been cancelled 2-3 weeks ago. She encouraged me to sign up on their website for the emails & deals & was very helpful & kind. Exactly the kind of customer service that I've come to expect from HoJo's. However, I'm wondering now why she never mentioned that the Retro Rate was now a goner?? It's disappointing to say the least...

Why not make some announcement here on the boards? Or post something on their website? By merely putting N/A on the ET rate section & telling folks to sign up for deals- this explains nothing. Its very misleading & not what I've come to expect when dealing with the HoJo.

HoJo- how do I go about getting a rate similar to what I was paying a year ago at $59?? Are you lowering your standard rack rates to make up for the loss of discounts? Will you be offering more amenities like FREE breakfast & FREE shuttle to justify the higher room rates? Do you anticipate that guests will now pay $100 and up to stay at your hotel? What's the lowest rate that we can expect you to offer during the year?

While having people sign up for emails & special discounts sounds great...the reality is less then. HoJo's can easily jack up standard prices only to appear to "slash" them by 50% in a great email deal to you. KWIM? This system is also very unreliable. How can I now plan my vacation around staying at the HoJo just like I've always done? The answer is that I can't...unless of course I'm willing to book a room only to cancel it when I can't get a decent price. Which seems to me that this defeats the entire purpose of what HoJo's has set out to do here...

 

[MommyLove]

I'm also very bummed about this. How I wish I'd just gone ahead and booked the nights in February that we were thinking of while those 50% rates were still available... *facepalm*

Since our family has expanded since the last time we got to vacation at Disneyland three years ago, it's pushed us over the edge into needing something more than just a two-bed room. Since we have little ones and a double stroller, we want to stay within walking distance (taking ART with a stroller... no thanks) so we can easily go back to the room mid-day and nap. The 50% rate at $129 for the Kids Suite at HoJo is such a good option for us. But the two-queen-plus-bunk suite at Park Vue is a great option too. It's so close to DL and they have the breakfast... two huge pluses for us. When we compare Park Vue's suite price (in October we're getting 4 nights at $128 and 2 nights at $148) with the 20% off rate of $183 at HoJo... well, in that case, we would have to choose Park Vue.

So bottom line... if we can get the 50% rate at HoJo's, we will stay there. If not, we're going to opt for elsewhere.

 

[chrissiecutie]

I'm also very bummed about this. How I wish I'd just gone ahead and booked the nights in February that we were thinking of while those 50% rates were still available... *facepalm*

When we compare Park Vue's suite price (in October we're getting 4 nights at $128 and 2 nights at $148) with the 20% off rate of $183 at HoJo... well, in that case, we would have to choose Park Vue.

So bottom line... if we can get the 50% rate at HoJo's, we will stay there. If not, we're going to opt for elsewhere.

I think alot of folks will be doing this very same thing!

I know that HoJo will still be able to sell it's rooms & while they may get more money for each room- I just bet that their occupancy rate will take a dive after all the dust has settled.

Personally, I'm pretty grateful that my family was able to enjoy the awesome ET/Retro Rates for SO long. It was a pretty fabulous deal! However, I'm sad they chose to make such drastic changes to their program. And I fully believe they will face quite a bit of fallout for such a decision. Especially in how they chose (NOT) to address the issue.

I will continue to look to the HoJo first when making my vacation plans. However, I fully intend to price check them with other hotels. Which is something I never did before... And like I said earlier- this may just be the push my family needs to perhaps stay at the GCH!

 

[Ingrid0382]

Our family really enjoyed the retro rates while they lasted and we were incredibly conscientious about never booking dates that we weren't 100% sure we could make. It's frustrating that people abused the system and ruined a great thing for everyone else.

 

[Disney Dory]

Please let me know if I am reading this correctly....HoJo is no longer offering retro rates? Wow, if that is correct, then they need to update their website. I know they have nothing showing for retro rates for the entire next year, but they should just take the whole retro rate info off thier site because that is very misleading. I agree with you that HoJo's rack rates are too high since there are so many other options out there that are closer and just as clean (or cleaner) than Hojo's. I really hope they will still offer retro rates or we will book elsewhere next trip.

 

[MommyLove]

They are still offering 20% discount to Entertainment Card holders on certain dates and they're still using the term "retro rate" on that page on their website. The dates are all currently "N/A" but I imagine they would update that as dates open up just like before.

The 50% off rates are now called the "Super Family Rate" and are only available via email (you need to get on their email list). I just noticed a new post on their message board dated yesterday about the Super Family Rate. Complete with video promoting it. There is a 30-day cancellation policy for the 50% off rate.

 

[NVDisMom]

I think the real question for HOJOs is, How will this affect their profitability? In the short term they will probably earn more per room, especially thru the summer because of Carsland. But once things settle a bit after the hoopla of Carsland, occupancy rates are going to level out. Then HOJOs will discover how their loyal fans are unlikely to return (they will have found new favorites) and how those same loyal fans are no longer recommending the property to their friends, family and on boards like these as well as the numerous blogs that are out there that reach some astounding numbers. That just takes into account the positive word of mouth that they will be losing. The negative word of mouth is not as easily quantifiable. But that general rule of thumb probably applies. Positive gains one new customer, Negative loses three...

I have personally brought them a lot of business over the years (granted NEVER at rack rate). I will be taking my guests elsewhere.

On a side note...how many people will discontinue purchasing Entertainment Books now?

 

[MommyLove]

I created a NEW POST that I hope clearly explains the new changes.

Maybe the HoJo people will see that one. Let's discuss there...