Hojo or BW Park Place?

[Mybananas]

For those of you that have been there, which hotel would you choose? Howard Johnson or Best Western Park Place Inn? Right now with all the deals I'm finding they cost almost the same.. I think maybe $60 difference between the two hotels. We'll have both our kids along with us (3 and 6 yrs old).

At first we were just planning on staying at Hojo, but then I got an equally great deal on BW Park Place too. I guess right now the only advantage I see to BWPPI is the shorter distance to DLR?

This will be our first time at DL so any help appreciated.

 

[connie107]

Good call! We are going on may 10th and booked the BW park place for the location! So unfortunately I cant tell you what its like but I like the thread you got going on!

 

[Kauinohea]

I am trying to make the same choice! I already have reservations at HOJO...but park vue and BWPPI is ending up much cheaper. Plus they are much closer. TOugh decision!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I think it depends on what you want. If it's just an uber convenient place to sleep, you intend to be in the parks most of the time and do not plan a lot of pool time, then BWPPI would be the better choice. If you are looking forward to good quality pool time then Hojos is the way to go. It's a little further and with little ones, I'd want a stroller or take the Art at the end of the night. It's a long walk back carrying a small child. Read the reviews on tripadvisor.com . They both have good reviews. Again, only you know what you really want in the hotel stay. Honestly, I tell myself every trip that we'll spend some pool time...and we never do. There's just too much to do at the park and not enough time left over. I'm not sure what time the Hojo pool closes now, but at one time it was 10pm-ish. So if the park is open til 12am, there's no way you could hop into the jacuzzi anyway even if you wanted to.
Good luck in your decision!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I am trying to make the same choice! I already have reservations at HOJO...but park vue and BWPPI is ending up much cheaper. Plus they are much closer. TOugh decision!

Did you book the buy 3 get 2 free room/ticket deal? I saw you on the other thread and wondered if you were booking directly though the hotels website or through wdtc. I still haven't decided what I want to do about that.... Of course, this year I bought an AP not thinking that would be offering such unreal deals!

 

[LuLusApple]

I would call the BW hotel because AAA website says the are doing a refurb till the end of may. Resurfacing and recarpeting. Could be noisy and dusty.
I was looking into it myself, but decided to look at some other properties
Good luck

 

[jory29]

Does anyone have bad backs, where a gloriously comfortable bed would be needed? If so, then the Hojo as long as you knew that you would be getting a newer bed. The bed and the pillows are pure heaven.

The kids will love the Hojo water park, which is something the BWPPI doesn't offer. Our kids didn't find it that hard to walk back there, but they were 12 and 6. I would say though, that when our DD was 4 years old, (the first time that we went to DL she was 4, and had no problems with walking all day long) I honestly think she wouldn't have had a problem making the walk.

I was really worried about it, I had stayed at the BWPPI 2 times, then last Sept. we stayed at the Hojo, and the walk really wasn't that much farther. We still walked back to our room for a mid day break. We didn't even take the short cut, as my spouse thought it is a taxi/bus area that we shouldn't be in. I told him the DIS'ers all told me it was o.k., but he still didn't think it was o.k. to be in that area. I don't mind walking on the busier street though, and at night, I still wouldn't want to take the short cut.

 

[avalon451]

I would double check on the rate you're booked for at HoJo's, as well. Call up the hotel directly, Mon-Fri 9-5 Pacific time, and ask for IN HOUSE reservations. You'll probably talk to Jennifer or Lorealle, both super-nice and helpful. You can get 15% off for being on the DISboards. And, they will make sure you are getting the best rate possible.

If it were just me and DH, and the hotels were approximately the same price, I'd probably consider BWPPI because of the proximity. But with our kids, I'd keep HoJo. The water play area (with the hot tub right there for you to lounge in while you watch them play) and the big garden pool are so great for kids who love to swim. And with your kids' ages, you will probably want to do the midday break thing.

Also don't forget that you might still get the Entertainment rate; sometimes they add dates in closer to the time, if their booking isn't very full. Just keep checking back: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

 

[Kauinohea]

it sounds like BWPPI is only 5-7 minutes closer than HOJO. ANyone know how the two hotels compare on the cleanliness and how well they are upkept?

 

[cccdisney]

it sounds like BWPPI is only 5-7 minutes closer than HOJO. ANyone know how the two hotels compare on the cleanliness and how well they are upkept?

I have never stayed at BWPPI so I can't compare the two. But I do know that HOJO is very clean. And yes, BWPPI is only 5-7 minutes closer, at most.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Hojos is very clean. I've only stayed in building 1, and we've never had a problem. The beds are awesome in bld1! Their customer service can't be beat. We've only had good stays at Hojo and that's why we keep going back. We've paid full price to stay at Hojo, and although I kind of balked at the ideaat that time, my DH just loves Hojos so no matter what, so we always stay there. I wouldn't mind checking out BWPPI though, as I've only heard good stuff about that place too. (Except for their free breakfast; I heard it's horrible at Capt. Kidds.)

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Last year was our first visit ever, for our family of 6. I googled the heck out of the distance and places to eat ect. Now as far as food choices I think that there are plenty of choices for whatever your budget along that street. (just thought I would throw that in!) We stayed at BWPPI last year (mini suite) and our room was litterally right across the street and let me tell you that was very convient... BUT the beds SUCKED! ( Pardon my french) All three of them. They were so lumpy and the comforter was old and ratty. They felt like at any moment they would fall apart! They didn't clean very well at all and they never left us enough towels or pillows! So I am really looking forward to the HoJo as recommended highly by this board and I am praying that it really isn't "that" much further! LOL!! If they really are renovating I would go with HoJo! Like I said I am very excited!!

 

[50sjayne]

The pool and the water park are open until 10 pm- the jacuzzi till midnight. We were just there 2 days ago. Very clean. The maids are like the cleaning bot in Wall E.. The beds were great-- I was sleeping in the room with 2 world class snorers and slept like a rock. Literally the minute my head hit the pillow- didn't wake until 7 am. The fan in the room helped too--great white noise. If you have kids HOJO is a must. My husband balked at the shortcut too, but after a few days of walking fell in line...

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

The pool and the water park are open until 10 pm- the jacuzzi till midnight. We were just there 2 days ago. Very clean. The maids are like the cleaning bot in Wall E.. The beds were great-- I was sleeping in the room with 2 world class snorers and slept like a rock. Literally the minute my head hit the pillow- didn't wake until 7 am. The fan in the room helped too--great white noise.

Good to know the Jacuzzi closes at 12am...On a side note, I never understood how people complain about the noise from the traffic on the I-5, because once I turn on the room fan for A/C or Heat, that's all I hear. Love the white noise!

 

[Kauinohea]

The pool and the water park are open until 10 pm- the jacuzzi till midnight. We were just there 2 days ago. Very clean. The maids are like the cleaning bot in Wall E.. The beds were great-- I was sleeping in the room with 2 world class snorers and slept like a rock. Literally the minute my head hit the pillow- didn't wake until 7 am. The fan in the room helped too--great white noise. If you have kids HOJO is a must. My husband balked at the shortcut too, but after a few days of walking fell in line...

Hey...what is the "shortcut"?

 

[avalon451]

Hey...what is the "shortcut"?

HoJo is one block north of the main entrance on Harbor, up at the stoplight across Manchester. So when we left HoJo building one in the mornings, we went out the side door, which is right next to Manchester, and jaywalked across Manchester (we're bad, but there was very little traffic) and then went to the stoplight and crossed Harbor there, instead of walking all the way down Harbor with all the rest of the crowds of people leaving their hotels. You walk on the west side of the street with far fewer people. You pass the service entrance where the employee shuttles come out, and you pass between the bus shelter and the hedge, and you go in through the hedge at a little marked crosswalk. It puts you on the second traffic island away from the hordes of people coming across the crosswalk at Harbor. You can then jaywalk across the 2 shuttle drives to join the throng just before the security tables... or if the northernmost security tables are open you can continue around the traffic circle. (We always jaywalked across because only the southernmost security tables were open while we were there).

Here's a map that shows the route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=88663

 

[Kauinohea]

Thank you! Looks like this would save us some time

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I don't know about that shortcut. We found it faster to jaywalk across Manchester and cut through Mimi's parking lot. So you're going in a diagonal line instead. Then follow along the regular path on Harbor. We tried the other way, and DH said never again. Manchester has very little traffic, so Jaywalking wasn't a problem for us. Some may feel differently about it...