Hojo or Disney hotel?

[ktlm]

This will be our 1st family vacation to DL. We've been to WDW several times, and we always stay onsite. I got to spend one day at DL while on a business trip last year, but I stayed near my meetings in Irvine so I have no clue about any of the hotels around DL. I've narrowed it down to Hojo or 1 of the 3 disney hotels (probably the DLH or GC). I'd love some opinions from you DL vets. Is it really worth the extra to stay onsite when Hojo is right there? Are there any special benefits to an onsite hotel? How do the rooms, pools, and hotels compare? If someone thinks I should have selected something other than what I have it narrowed down to, feel free to chime in with that too. Also, we plan to spend a couple of days at the beach during our vacation. Should we just drive over to Newport or somewhere from the hotel by Disneyland, or should we spend a couple days at a hotel right by the beach? If by the beach, does anyone have any suggestions for a hotel? I know WDW, but I feel a little lost for the DL/ California planning and I could really use your help!

 

[ktlm]

I probably should have said it will be DH and I and our 4 year old DD in case that makes a difference in anyones recommendations. Thanks!

 

[julw]

Since it is your family's first trip I would stay at the DLH or GC if you can afford to. It's way more magical! The rooms and the pools are nicer. I've stayed at all of them and at HOJO. I like HOJO a lot (especially their prices), but we also go a lot, and we can't justify staying on property every time. Also, I know there are many who don't mind the walk from HOJO, but it does bother me a bit. It's a tad on the long side for me and my kids especially at night when our feet are tired.

As for the beach, I would get another hotel near Newport Beach, if that is where you are going. I think you will enjoy it much better that way and have the full beach experience that way. I don't have any suggestions on that one though.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

The only special benefit that I know of is you get acess to all MM when staying on property.

From my research, the walk is about the same distance between Hojo and DLR entrance and DLH and park entance. Heck for that matter, if you are in a far room at GC, the walk could be pretty darn equall as well. The benefit (to me anyhow) would be the walk through DTD vs Harbour Blvd. However a friend and his young family stayed at GC and his comment was how difficult the walk to the park was because the kids wanted to stop and look at every thing along the way. So, I guess in that case, the walk along Harbor is a no frills walk and the kids will certainly have no interest in stopping.

We have stayed at Hojo and we really liked it.

One thing we liked is at both the pool and water play area, DH and I can park ourselves in a central location and see the kids without having to be in the pool with them (kids on last trip were just turned 4 and about to turn 6). we could sit and relax while they played, which is a huge plus to me

I have no personal insite on the pools at GC or DLH.

I however, am always looking for good deals at DLH or GC, so far, I have not found a price deal that for our family warrents staying anywhere other than Hojo. And we are very happy to be staying at Hojo again this spring

 

[jory29]

For ourselves, a family of 4, we'd prefer staying at the Hojo's for a variety of reasons; lower cost is a huge advantage for us. We really can't seem to ever justify staying on-property when we consider that for a family of 4, the extra money we save by staying at Hojo's rather than on-site, pretty much pays for food for all of us during our stay (for a one week stay, when we are able to receive discounted rates such as the 35% or so off for the entertainment rate at Hojo's when available.) Even the DISboard member 15% off at Hojo's is a good discount.

The hotel itself is like coming home. I can't describe the feeling. We just feel so comfortable there. The hotel has lovely, *beautiful* grounds. The 7-8 min. walk to and from the Disney Parks is fine, (and was fine for our 4 year old when we went and stayed there the first time. We were in the Parks for 6 days, and we always came back mid-day for a brief 'down-time' and it worked out just fine. One day this past October the kids and I walked back and forth 3 times that day.) The staff is very friendly and they are a pleasure to work with.

The location, being very close to Mimi's, a great family restaurant, and also McD's, saves us tons of money, too... if we stayed on-site, we'd likely not venture out to the out of park food areas, and food pricing is very steep anywhere in the parks or Downtown Disney, etc.

Free wireless internet, and local calls. There's also a free in-room safe, I LOVE that feature!!

COMFY beds - very very comfy. (If you do select a premium room or family suite, etc.) Comfy pillows, and clean linens, too. House Keeping is excellent. We found that the rooms were very clean.

GREAT play area for your daughter. She will love the Pirate's Cove play area, as will you. The swimming pool is nice, too.

Keurig coffee makers, mini-fridge, and microwave in the room. (You can order from Von's to save more money on food.) Bottled water, too!

We have stayed at Hojo's 3 times now, and have loved it so much we'll be staying there the next time we go.

 

[DizMe]

I vote for a resort hotel. I would choose DLH or GCH (I would go with DLH as I think your 4-year-old would love the Disney touches!).

I love Hojo's but I hate the location. I can't stand Harbor Blvd and it really messes with the magic for me. However, since I go several times a year, I stay there at the Entertainment rate a couple of times a year. The rooms are great but the stay is nothing remotely close to the resort hotel experience for me.

At DLH there are characters walking around (usually Goofy), lots of great memorabilia, many good dining choices, the monorail, close proximity to lots of restaurants and shops, gorgeous grounds, and a much better pool than Hojo's. GCH has the most beautiful lobby, a great pool/spa area and fun dining places plus a great lounge, not to mention the CA entrance onsite. You can have purchases sent back to your hotel. You can use your room key anywhere in the resort for purchases (works like a credit card if you choose). There are activities exclusively for those staying at the hotel. You get MM every day it's offered (they use your room key to verify).

Your dd would love the Hojo pirate area but my girls are a bit old for it. They want to swim AND play in the water park but you have to go back and forth between the two since they aren't together. Each has a separate keyed entrance, so it isn't that easy to go back and forth.

Hojo's is a glorified motel--it's very nice, but it isn't a resort. It has plastic cups, formica counters and such. The rooms are very large and the top level of all but building 2 has rooms with high ceilings and skylights, so that's a big plus. But if you want the resort feeling, amenities, and you like the fact that you never have to leave the magic, then choose a resort hotel. If you need/prefer to save the money, knowing that your hotel is going to be clean, comfortable, and pretty, then pick Hojo's.

We don't do fast food so there is nothing much on Harbor that interests us dining-wise, although we do go to Mimi's sometimes. I have to admit that I only go there when I have a free breakfast coupon because the food is meh and the service is horrible. They're nice enough, but they never get our order right and it always takes forever to get out of there. I dislike walking past all of the hawkers and it does bother me to step over street people, but I don't feel unsafe, just unhappy. The walk seems worlds longer than to DLH because of that. Walking through DTD includes music, lights, fountains, and sights that are preferable to me. Well, I have done it at night carrying a sleeping 4-year-old and it did seem really long then

I'd say give DLH or GCH a try. You can always try one of the off site hotels next time, but who knows if/when you'll be back? Might as well go for the resort.

 

[Judy from Boise]

To get the answers for your beach questions, head over to the So Cal board....lots of good information there.

 

[KCmike]

Grand Californian or DL Hotel by far. It just feels more magical because it is! If you are budget conscious then by all mean go HOJO but if you can swing it and want to feel "in the magic" for the length of your stay than go resort. We've done both and the whole family agrees with me.

Don't listen to all the talk about distance. Who cares. I personally don't like walking across traffic, seeing the traffic, smelling the car/bus fumes, and all the other not disney stuff in the real world.

 

[booradly]

We just stayed at HoJo's and it was really nice. I think that Paradise Pier is nicer than Disneyland Hotel. My reason is that the room pat PP seemed bigger. I mean it was nice to be at the Disneyland hotel but I just felt that the standard room was bigger at Paradise Pier.

We liked HOJO's so much that we will most likely be staying there everytime now. I like the walk to this hotel better than walking through DTD. But that is just me. LOL

just my 2cents.
Michele

 

[ktlm]

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded! You are giving me great information! Comfortable beds and pillows at Hojo sound like a big plus! That is something that can really make or break a hotel for me. I don't think we would go to Mimis- I like to go places we don't have at home as much as possible when I'm on vacation. We have Mimi's here. We would probably mostly eat in the parks and at the Disney hotels. I already have my eye on several places I would like to try. I've also been craving the California Wrap at Farmer's Market at CA ever since I tried one when I was on my business trip last year- they don't have those anywhere at WDW. Dizme, you just about have me sold on DLH. It sounds great! You pretty much had me at characters showing up in the the hotel- I remember years ago when the hotels at WDW did that. Isn't Goofy's kitchen in DLH? I know DD would love a meal there. She is crazy about all the characters. Right now, I'm leaning toward DLH or Hojo. The GC looks beautiful, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra money when DLH and Hojo both sound so great (of course if anyone wants to try to change my mind feel free).

 

[CrazyDuck]

If comfortable beds is a deciding factor then you definitely have to stay at the Grand Californian. They have the most amazing beds in all of the land....

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

I have a quick question for Hojo, are you able to combine the ET and the DIS discount to make 50%(ET=35% DIS=15%?) off? cause if so...*goes to the hojos site*

 

[DangerMouse]

I have a quick question for Hojo, are you able to combine the ET and the DIS discount to make 50%(ET=35% DIS=15%?) off? cause if so...*goes to the hojos site*

No, you can't combine discounts at the HoJo.

However, the ET rate is already 50% off rack rates. Their rooms and lovely property are an incredible value when you get that rate.

To the OP: I have stayed at all 3 resort properties, and I still prefer the HoJo. The rooms are pretty comparable (HoJo's rooms are actually much larger than the GCH), the pillowtop mattresses at the HoJo are devine, and you get a microwave if you book deluxe or above. The Pirate's Cove splash park is the only one of its kind in the Anaheim resort area and rivals what you will find at the resort pools. But the biggest draw for me is obviously the savings. I like to have the extra money I save for special treats int the parks that we couldn't otherwise afford (character meal, tour, etc.)

 

[disney4metoo]

I vote for staying on-site. Either DLH or GC. We stayed off site for one night in June before we check into the Grand. We loved the hotel we stayed in, Embassy Suites South on Harbor, but we drove the boys in for that day. Parking in the parking lot...awful.
We did not realized how spoiled we had become staying at the Grand Californian. It is beautiful and so convenient!

I have also stayed at HoJo once for a night before our GC stay, and the cost cannot be beat. It is a comfortable hotel and the beds are good, the staff excellent. However, it is hard to compare to HoJo and the Grand Californian, the two are totally different. If you can afford it or want to have a special visit, I would choose the Grand, or DLH.

Here is a picture of the GC lobby and our view from our room. The wonderful GC beds. The last picture is the new DLH rooms.

The wolf in the distance is behind Grizzly Rapids.

The new renovated DL rooms. All rooms are not renovated yet.

 

[disney4metoo]

Here is the entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel to the parking lot in front of the hotel.

 

[KCmike]

Did the DL hotel update their carpets? It seems like that was the same carpet as before? Maybe I'm mixed up.

Those beds in the Grand Californian look comfortable!

 

[Mich123]

This post has been really helpful to me as I've been debating which on-site hotel to stay at for our first DL trip. Since many of the posters are familiar with GCH, I thought I'd throw this follow up question out there:

We are planning to stay at GCH in August and I was wondering if the room with two queen sized beds also has a daybed (as the rooms at the deluxe resorts at WDW do)?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[Mazzy]

This post has been really helpful to me as I've been debating which on-site hotel to stay at for our first DL trip. Since many of the posters are familiar with GCH, I thought I'd throw this follow up question out there:

We are planning to stay at GCH in August and I was wondering if the room with two queen sized beds also has a daybed (as the rooms at the deluxe resorts at WDW do)?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

We stayed at the GC 3 years ago, and had a room with two queen beds, and unfortunately the rooms are not large enough to have a day bed or rollaway bed, all they will provide is a sleeping bag, yes a sleeping bag, lol, to sleep in on the floor - that didn't quite fit in with the deluxe feel of this hotel, such a shame they didn't make the rooms a little larger.

 

[rony1434]

Hi.
I think that you must stay at DH as it is your first family trip.

 

[cari12]

I would recommend the DLH. We stayed there in Oct. with DD6 and DS4. It is magical from the moment you arrive until you leave. I love that the walk to the park is through DTD because there is no traffic to worry about - the kids could run around a bit and I did not have to worry about their safety. The walk from HOJO's would be hold hands all the way. DTD with either music piped in or a live band playing is very festive so pleasureable for the walk to or from the parks.
There are lots of dining choices both at DLH and in DTD. I love that after a long day and dinner in DTD, the walk back to the hotel was very short.
The kids loved the pool at DLH, especially the waterslide. They had 3 lifeguards and they were in the pool fast when a child appeared to be having trouble.
I loved being able to charge purchases/meals in the parks to the hotel bill with my room key. And MM is awesome especially if you plan to be there on busier days. You can get so much done in that hour without line ups.
I would go with DLH and watch for deals on the pricing. We booked through Expedia and got $149.00 per night (I checked daily for a couple of months for it to go down to that price).