HOJO or Desert Inn

[camouseketeer]

I am headed to DLR with my 2 DD's, 4 and 6, in mid-July. We will be there for 3 days with 2 MM days. My DH will be with one for one night.

I have two ressies, one at Hojo (Disney view room) and one at Desert Inn (one bedroom suite). I've never stayed at Hojo's but I have been to Desert Inn. It was plain but fine. Both are about the same price, and I am pretty sure there will be no entertainment book discount. I need to decide in the next week which ressie to keep.

HOJO:

Pros:
Nicer motel
Inside corridors
Nicer pool
view of fireworks

Cons:
Longer walk
One room for all of us

Desert Inn:

Pros:
Two rooms and three beds
Short walk

Cons:
Outside rooms
Small, inside pool (does that room have a/c?)
Beds and room not as nice
not fireworks

So which do I keep?

I plan on being in line for MM at 6:20 each morning, so that short walk is definitely appreciated. Plus I will be pushing a double stroller, so again, the less I push, the happier I will be. Also, with my DH coming for one night, the pull out sofa and extra room at Desert Inn will give us more space and privacy.

But, I plan on taking mid-day breaks to swim. I really wanted to stay somewhere with a nice pool. Having been at the Desert Inn, I know it is has a small pool and I'm worried that the indoor room it's in will be hot. Yet my DD's love the water and will swim anywhere.

So which do I keep?

The nicer room with less space, with a longer walk, fireworks view and nicer pool (HOJO)

or

The dingier room with more space, a very short walk and a plain pool.

Having a breakfast or food nearby is irrelevant since my DD has food allergies and we bring our own food.

TIA for your advice!

 

[bethy]

I stayed at the Desert Inn in April and was not impressed. I didn't want to touch anything. For me it was just too dingy and we will not go back if we can help it. In this weather I'd want a nice pool, too and for me an indoor one just doesn't cut it esp in summer time. We were in a one bedroom suite and I definitely wouldn't consider it a huge bump in privacy. The "extra" room in the front is pretty hot and stifling and there is a fan cut into the wall there to help with airflow but that also decreases privacy. About the only thing it gives you is the ability to read with the light on at night without bugging your kids. I would just use a flashlight instead. The bathroom is in the bedroom as is the fridge and sink and so I didn't really feel like my kids were all tucked away and down for the night.

As for the walk, for me DLR seems very compact and we never felt we were walking an insanely long way. Actually for me having a double stroller would increase my chances of being OK with staying a bit farther down the street since the kids wouldn't have to walk and I wouldn't have to carry them.

JMO.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we are staying at desert inn we got good deal on it i think the pool will be fine. I have heard many here who stay there alot. Hojos i would stay at some time if good deal and my feet werent a probblem. I think we will be planing next years trip at desert inn as well.
I think it will be perfect two tvs is a pluse too

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we are staying at desert inn we got good deal on it i think the pool will be fine. I have heard many here who stay there alot. Hojos i would stay at some time if good deal and my feet werent a probblem. I think we will be planing next years trip at desert inn as well.
I think it will be perfect two tvs is a pluse too

 

[Queenbillabong]

In July (hot, hot, hot!!!) I would go for a nicer, outdoor pool for sure. I don't think I would like the indoor swimming on hot days. I think it would be fine for cooler times, but not the summer.

If you get tired, the ART does go to Hojo, so you can catch a ride there.

 

[Denton]

I was at the Desert Inn June 9th-12th. My wife and I had no complaints. It is just a basic motel room but that was what we were expecting. The room appeared to be clean and the climate control system worked well.

I liked the indoor pool. It was a bit small, but whenever we were there, the crowds were small or non existent.

I really liked the closeness of the DI to Disneyland. We were in a standard room with a King size bed, and I read somewhere that those types of rooms were in the front of the motel. Well, we were in room 202 which is right above the breakfast room near the front, so our walk to the park was very short.

On our two previous trips, we've stayed at the DLH and Carousel Inn. If I ranked them regardless of cost: DLH, DI, and Carousel. If cost is a factor: DI, DLH, Carousel.


Our room with a king size bed. There's a small couch and coffee table to the left of the bed.

This photo was taken in front of the Desert Inn.

The view from the cross walk.

 

[mariezp]

Well, taking into consideration of what you have posted....

Desert Inn was sufficient on your previous trip so that's good. Pool is small but you said you DDs don't really care.

You might try weighing how much time you will spend in the pool versus how much back and forth walking to the park you will do. Hojo's is not a lot further but I know at the end of the day I have always been glad to not have to walk any farther than possible.

You can actually view the fireworks from the roof at DI. Nothing fancy but they do have a few chairs.

Extra room is definitely a plus at the end of a long day. Not sure which room you are looking at but you will probably end up with more than one tv at DI which might come in handy if you might want to watch something else while the kids watch cartoons.

Again, not sure about Hojo's but DI offers refrigerators, microwaves, hairdryer, iron and ironing board as well as a coffee maker in every room. They also have a handy convenience store downstairs for items you might need.

Guess the best reason to stay at Hojo's would be if you and DH would prefer something a little nicer. Good luck on your decision!



A little off the topic but...
Denton, I have always considered Carousel a second possiblitiy if for some reason DI is not available. Could you give me an assessment of your stay, as I see DI come in higher in your ranking. Thanks!

 

[Denton]

The three reasons I liked the Desert Inn more than the Carousel:

1) Our room with the King size bed was much larger than the comparable room at the Carousel.

2) The room at the Carousel was very stuffy. We had to run the A/C throughout the night to feel comfortable.

3) I did not like the bed at the Carousel. I thought it was too soft.

 

[mariezp]

Thanks, Denton. It's always good to here other opinions.

We usually adhere to the old saying "stick with what you know." So all the more reason to stay where we have not had any problems. I am still thinking it's good to have a back up plan if anything ever were to go wrong at DI.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I would go with the Desert Inn.

 

[camouseketeer]

I would go with the Desert Inn.

Jen, thanks for the input. Any particular reason why DI?

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We were disappointed in Hojo's. While the room was nice, we found it quite loud (freeway noise, street noise, Grad night, people talking loudly outside). Including the enclosed hallways, we had a lot of kids running/screaming up and down the hallway. Being enclosed just provided a loud echo! We also had housekeeping walk in on us while we were napping, after the room had been cleaned. Which was odd in and of itself. Then she told us to put the do not desturb sign out next time. Something we don't do, since we don't expect housekeeping to come back in to our room once it's cleaned! The walk wasn't bad, but at night we were wishing we had stayed across the street, with our tired feet!

We usually stay at the Tropicana, and like not having the longer walk back. The only time I think we'd walk further then across the street now is if were staying onsite.

We haven't stayed at DI yet, however I have looked in to it, and like the looks of the suites they have there. Pretty decent prices, for what you get, and of course the great location.

 

[camouseketeer]

Jen, thanks for your input. I remember reading about your HOJO experience.

My worry about the walk is less late at night, as my kids won't make it until midnight anyway, and more about the morning. I want to be in line for MM as early as possible, as with a 7 am MM entry, walking 5 versus 10+ minutes will be important at 6:15 am!

I'm still not sure what to do. The responses seem to be split, with maybe a few more leaning toward DI.

Where are all the Hojo fans? Is the discounted rate really the biggest factor?

 

[pixiewings71]

We love the HoJo but I think for you, I'd keep the DI ressies. For us the discounted rate is the biggest draw....last time we were there we had an end room and there was so much freeway noise, I really wasn't happy with it. But it was one night and it was $59 so we just didn't complain. We made our ressie very last minute (day of) so we didn't feel we could complain. We have stayed in the $74 room at the HoJo and they are much nicer. But really, for you I think the DI would be best, closer walk (the HoJo is about 7-10 min for us but we don't have strollers) and if the pool isn't important than stay at DI.

 

[RuthieT]

We stayed at HOJO in December. We had nothing to complain about. We stayed in Building 2 over looking the garden pool area. We never had any problems about highway noise or people noise.

 

[DangerMouse]

I am a loyal HoJo fan, but it really sounds like you are already leaning toward the DI because of the walk. It is about an extra 5 minutes to the HoJo. I've never had a problem getting to MM and being one of the very first in line at the gates, but I'm an early riser, especially when I'm at DLR. If you cross the street at Manchester, you can shave off a couple more minutes of walking time.

I've stayed at the DI and really did not enjoy their indoor pool area. It is small, hot and heavily chlorinated.

Hope you enjoy your trip, no matter where you end up.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think the Hojo is great and while I don't think the walk is bad by any means, for a mom with a double stroller and no dad along to help push it, I'd probably go with the DI. The extra space is also nice. One thought, if the outdoor pool is a concern, have you checked for suites at the Best Western Park Place Inn or the Tropicana? They both have them and they are also across the street right at the crosswalk and have outdoor pools. For that matter, I believe the Carousel also has suites, not sure about the Camelot. I have stayed at both Tropicana and BWPPI and they are both very nice, basic but clean, well run places based on my stays.

Good luck, you probably can't make a bad choice!

 

[Angie_Ohio]

We just returned from our first trip to DL and stayed at HoJo. Stayed in a Park view. didn't use the view. The main pool was being refurbished into a Pirate Theme. Sooo... one pool for all. My kids are 9-13 so walks were no big deal. It was quiet and close compared to WDW where we usually stay. With little ones I would stay at DI.

 

[camouseketeer]

Well, I just looked at the Entertainment Rate section of the Hojo board they added dates in July. My dates weren't there, but I now have hope of a discounted rate.

I've stayed at Paradise Pier before. Is the walking time similar to that?
My kids don't care that the walk is 5 min longer because they'll be comfy in the stroller. I guess I should just consider it some bonus exercise!

I'm leaning toward Hojo's because of the nicer rooms and pool.

Does anyone know if DI has free Wifi in the rooms?

Could someone also go over the best walking route to and from Hojo?

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would say the walk to Hojo is about the same as PP. It might even be a tad closer. Its not as pleasant (up Harbor vs. DTD), however, its always well travelled, well lit and safe. If you can get the entertainment rate that would be very nice!

Another nice thing about that walk, you have Mimi's (very nice place to eat) and McDonald's right on your way to and from the parks. The Hojo also has a very nice store that sells anything you would need and the grounds are very pretty. They have lights in the trees, lots of pretty flowers and there's really nothing like it on Harbor. If you don't mind pushing that stroller, go for it!