Hojo Experts...

[Queenbillabong]

OK - need some help here please!! We're coming to DL October 13-17 for a redo trip (May ended badly with DS very sick and a hospital visit). Disney is being totally great and will let me upgrade my 5-day park hoppers to AP still because of what happened (were going to upgrade on the last day so we could use the MM, then DS got sick....), so that's great!

My dilemma is this - I don't know if we should stay onsite at the DL hotel ($234/night) or go with the Hojo at the entertainment rate for the first four nights ($59/night) and the AP rate for the last night ($95/night). This is a HUGE savings. However, we won't get any MM this way - although I'm not sure that it's as much of an issue at that time?? If we stay at the DLH, we would get three Magic Mornings. Is the walk all that bad from the Hojo? For reference, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza last time and our hotel shuttle was about as far as a shuttle can be in the transit area - almost to the crosswalk.

Hojo only has building one rooms available for the first four nights, so we would either have to change rooms for the last night or just stay in building 2 altogether....

We want to do a couple of character breakfasts - Lilo and Stitch and Goofy's. Is the walk so bad to those hotels from the Hojo? I know the parks open later than when we were there previously (10 a.m. or 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, I believe), so we should be able to do breakfast comfortably before going to the parks.

It's not completely an issue of money - yes, we can afford the DLH, I just have a very hard time justifying FOUR times the money per night if there is really no difference with respect to proximity, features, etc. It was a fair hike to the DLH when we were there in May to go to Goofy's for dinner, so I know it's not that convenient, but in comparison - I have no idea. HELP!!!

 

[avalon451]

Queen Billabong-- we'll be there the 12th-16th! And at HoJos, too!

So do you already have your 5-day hoppers? (all 3-day or more hoppers come with 1 MM, regardless of where you stay.) Or still going to purchase them and DL will let you upgrade? I wasn't real clear on that. Because we bought our 5 day hoppers through GAT so we could get 2 MMs. Same cost as through DL website.

edit--ok, wait, I read it a couple more times and get it now-- you now have APs. duh. Hmmm... tough dilemma-- if money isn't that big a deal, it would be nice to stay at DLH-- much closer to Goofy's and PP for Lilo & Stitch.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

That time is a busy time of year. Lots of schools are on fall breaks in the surrounding states. We went exactly that week in October last year, and it was PACKED. So if you can take advantage of having MM days, I'd say it's worth it!

The walk from Hojo's isn't bad at all. Although I would find it a pain to walk thru security, and then down DTD to the character breakfasts and back. That's a bit of a hike, because both of those breakfasts are at the other end of DTD.

We stayed in building one last week at Hojo's, with a Disney view and had a lot of noise in our room. From buses, to people talking below, the city working on the little street next to the hotel, and then Grad night was loud (you won't have that problem in Oct though). If we stay there again I'd ask for one of the quieter buildings. Apparently we are light sleepers and like quiet! LOL

Personally when I can afford to stay onsite I always find it worth it. It's like being surrounded in Disney, and makes our trips more magical. We always have wonderful stays onsite too. Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm of several minds on this.

First, it was the walk from HoJo to Paradise Pier, the evening before we went to the parks, that messed up my feet on our visit.

Though really, it was my decision to wear "cute" brand new heels that really caused the problem.

I've only stayed on site as an adult once, and we FAR preferred HoJo when we were done with our PP stay.

MM was OK, but in the subsequent visits we just do Fantasyland on non-MM days when we're on equal footing with everyone else, and on MM days we go to Adventureland while everyone else is still in line for Nemo, LOL. MM hasn't been important enough to us to pay the beaucoup bucks for a Disneyland hotel since the first visit.

That is SO cool that they are letting you upgrade still!

If by chance you were renting a car, I'd drive to the Lilo breakfast, personally, if staying at HJ. Though the other option is to have a LATE b'fast, go and do the parks for a couple hours, then go to b'fast. You could either walk, or make sure your last ride before b'fast is in Tomorrowland and take the monorail out.

 

[Queenbillabong]

The only problem with the late breakfast is that I believe the parks only open at 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, so it would be lunch time ;-) I believe the hours, if they are anything like September, will be 10-8 DL and 10-6 DCA until Friday. We enjoyed the MM for one day, but I'm wondering if we're going to be in the parks for five days if we really need it?

This is a huge difference in price - four nights at Hojo is the same as ONE night at DLH. I probably overthink everything, but I want this trip to be a great one, with a chance to relax during the day, etc. Is the walk to the Hojo that much farther than to DLH?

Bumbershoot - I am so impressed that DL is allowing us to upgrade still! I'm glad I asked and finally got to the right person! They will back date it to May 1, but that's fine by me. We really want to go for October and hopefully for at least 2-3 nights in December (want to go to see all the different holidays!). I'll have my AP for March 5-9 too, so good for the Ladies Only Trip! It might be nice to save the staying onsite until December and do a splurge then?

I'm not going to have a car, but might use a taxi for Lilo and Stitch? We'd certainly have the extra money if we stayed at the Hojo! I guess my problem is the DLH WORTH paying four times the price of the Hojo? For Mon-Thurs if the park is only open 10-8, we probably would not even need to go back to the hotel in the afternoon.....

I guess the other option is Hojo for Mon-Thurs to take advantage of the great rate, then switch to a DL hotel on Friday night (when we would be staying late anyway for Fantasmic, etc.) and take advantage of one MM from there??? Hmmm..... Why does it have to be such a hard decision??? I think too much, obviously!!

 

[avalon451]

About park hours-- I was looking on laughingplace.com for last year's hours during this week. Monday the 13th is Columbus Day. Last year during Columbus Day week, the hours were 9-11 on Monday, then 10-8 Tues-Thurs, then on Fri-Sun it was back to the high season hours of 8 a.m. to midnight. I'm guessing it'll be pretty busy.

Taking a taxi to your meals sounds kinda like a good idea! Should only be maybe 8 bucks, worth it for door-to-door.

BTW, I'm pretty sure that the walk from HoJo's is just about the same as to DLH. There's some website around here somewhere that actually maps out the distance in feet, and I'm sure I saw that it's quite close-- and if you end up in the far tower at DLH, it's farther than to HoJos.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I guess the other option is Hojo for Mon-Thurs to take advantage of the great rate, then switch to a DL hotel on Friday night (when we would be staying late anyway for Fantasmic, etc.) and take advantage of one MM from there??? Hmmm..... Why does it have to be such a hard decision??? I think too much, obviously!!

We did that that last week. We had 5 nights at Hojo's and our last night at the DLH. It was nice, and we were able to swim quite a bit that day at the Netherland pool.

Is it worth the money? Well that will vary among opinions here. I think it's absolutely worth the money to stay onsite. The walk may be close to the same as far as hojo's and the DLH go. But we enjoy the walk thru DTD more then on Harbor. Looking at all the stores, listening to the music and the lights, much more enjoyable! Plus there is the option to take the Monorail back and forth too. But our stays have always been better onsite then offsite, so for us if money isn't the problem, it's an no brainer!

 

[pixiewings71]

My advice, book the HoJo at the Ent Rate, then if Disney puts out a killer AP rate book that instead. That's what I would do.

 

[Queenbillabong]

Thanks for all your help. I did decide to book the Hojo entertainment rate and then see if anything spectacular comes up from Disney. Either way, we're going back to Disney and we get to upgrade to APs - yay!!

 

[bumbershoot]

My advice, book the HoJo at the Ent Rate, then if Disney puts out a killer AP rate book that instead. That's what I would do.

Now that's a good point. Queenbb, if one of the insanely good AP rates come out before October, you'll hear about it, so if you do, book it.

And you have it in writing that they'll let you upgrade, yes?

 

[Queenbillabong]

I don't have the AP thing in writing, but I do have the direct line and name of the supervisor who authorized it

Gail - I just read through and noticed you will be there with your DD12 at the same time and for the same reason I'm going with my DS12!!!

Do you know if Fantasmic will be on Monday - holiday - or just on Friday/Saturday??? It would make my life easier if it's on the Monday for sure! I wish the schedules were up on Disney!!

EDIT: I just looked at laughingplace.com and see that Fantasmic was on Fri-Sat-Sun last year in October, so perhaps I should change my dates to Sun instead of Mon....... Hmmmmm.....

 

[Michaelasmum]

I debated about staying at DLH and HOJO and I just couldn't justify the extra money (seemed pretty wasteful...but I was there for 9 days as well). The walk is not far at all, I had booked the House of Blues Gospel Brunch on the Sunday of our stay and I think we were able to get there in about 10 minutes (that is with a stroller walking at a quick pace). We also came back some afternoons to spend time in the pool and rest...we walked everytime.

Don't forget the new pool will be open at HOJO by then as well, that may make it more attractive to you.

 

[Queenbillabong]

OK - we switched the dates to October 12-17 to take advantage of Fantasmic on Sunday instead of Friday - yay!! I just could not make myself book something that was that much more for really not much more benefit. Got GREAT flights out of Seattle to Long Beach (about a third of what I was getting for YVR to LAX!!), so it's all good. Notice my LGMH??

 

[bumbershoot]

OK - we switched the dates to October 12-17 to take advantage of Fantasmic on Sunday instead of Friday - yay!! I just could not make myself book something that was that much more for really not much more benefit. Got GREAT flights out of Seattle to Long Beach (about a third of what I was getting for YVR to LAX!!), so it's all good. Notice my LGMH??

Woohoo! Enjoy my birthday while you're there!

 

[jessica52877]

We loved Hojo and I would have to say for the money it is the best value in California. We just loved it and it was a quick walk to the parks! I can't imagine that the DLH is that much closer (if you walked through downtown disney).

I just did a review of the hotel on video if you have never been there and want to see it!

http://www.expotv.com/videos/reviews/21/188/Howard-Johnson-Anaheim-CA/265980

 

[Cartersmom]

Stupid question- What is the "entertainment" rate?

It's my first time to DL and I just started researching hotels; it seems like Howard Johnson is the way to go. I am a bit scared (as some are kind of seedy) but its gotten such good reviews, and the location, and amenities can't be beat.
The lowest price I could find though was $91 for November (we are flexible..I'm an airline emp)
Thanks!

 

[pixiewings71]

Ent Rate is the rate you get with the Entertainment Book card. You can buy any Ent Book and get the rate, it's $59 for a pool view and $74 for a Disney view.

 

[Cartersmom]

Thank You!!

 

[avalon451]

Here's the link to the HoJo info board which has the Ent rate dates:

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

You would need to get the new Entertainment book for 2009 when it comes out (in Sept. or Oct, I think?), because this year's book expires on Nov. 1. You don't need the book on hand to make the reservations for the dates, though; you just need the card when when you check in. Also you don't need to buy the Anaheim book. You can buy it for your local area or wherever it's cheapest; I know it's more expensive for some cities than others. Ours is $40, new.

If you call to get the rate, you need to call the hotel itself (not the toll-free reservation line, which routes you to India or someplace)and ask for IN HOUSE reservations. Otherwise you will get the national line, and they won't know about the Ent rate or will deny it exists.

Hope that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

I did want to mention that last year in September, the entertainment book rate was $54. Then after the new books came out it was $59. So it is *possible* the rate might go up a bit... (please don't, Lorealle )