HOJO Question - Updated with Answer

[prettyprincessbelle]

So we're planning our December Christmas/DBF's birthday trip and we both decided on staying at the HOJO. We always just randomly pick our hotels, but we're tired of not really knowing what the hotel will be like. So we decided to just start staying regularly at the HOJO based on all the wonderful reviews on here. So since we have never stayed here I have a question.

The Entertainment rate is not available on our dates, but we are going to use our AP discount and are still getting a good deal. I want to book as soon as possible and I read that the HOJO doesn't take out the hotel fee until you check in. Is this true? Do they hold the payment until you get there or just leave it until you check in then process it through your credit/debit card? I just want to know to see if I can book today or just wait until Friday when I get paid if they do hold the payment.

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

We use debit cards and so the question is important! They don't put a charge through until the end of your stay. Nothing when you book it.

There's a post from yesterday that says that they put a "hold" on the credit card when they checked in the other day, but I haven't had that happen thank goodness.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Thank you, Molly! I'm going to use my ATM card, I guess that's debit, right? It's a Visa through my bank.

I want to book as soon as I can so I won't have to worry about it.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Right, they don't take it until you check out. ATM and debit are the same, it's what we used as well in June.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Thank you so much! I'm off to call Hojo to make our ressies! Thank you again!!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

They may hold 25 bucks for deposit on the card and bill the rest at end of the stay.

I got there payed cash for mine up front but they wanted 25 bucks more for a deposit. I gave them my credit card and they held 25 bucks out and I got it back at the end of my stay.

Im thinking this is for movies or games or phonecalls is you make or buy them not sure.

 

[pixiewings71]

You know, the one time I paid with my check card Visa they put a hold on when I checked in and then charged me when I checked out. So, I had a double hold on the funds, that could have really messed me up but I got lucky and the hold dropped off. For that reason we always use a credit card when we stay at hotels, then we come home and pay off as much as we can on that card. Just my experience.

 

[jernysgirl]

I would ask when you call to make ressies just in case... that way you know for sure. Whatever you find out, please let us know since I am sure that many others are curious as well.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I would ask when you call to make ressies just in case... that way you know for sure. Whatever you find out, please let us know since I am sure that many others are curious as well.

I'm going to ask! I haven't called just yet because we changed our dates to go the week before when the entertainment rate is available, so I'll be calling sometime this week. I'll definitely let everyone know!

 

[NicksMommy]

We just got back, and when we checked in they ran our credit/debit card, which put a "hold" on the money -- then when we checked out they wanted to know if we wanted to keep it on the card or change payment. We kept it on the same card, 3 days later there was no charge and then lastnight it came through...

They also don't take checks if anybody is wondering.

 

[cedarparkgirl]

Does anyone know if they charge for parking?

 

[Gisele]

Parking is free.

 

[cedarparkgirl]

Awesome! Thanks for the quick response. Do people just walk to Disneyland from Hojos' or do they take the shuttle?

 

[Gisele]

You are welcome. Many people walk. However, some opt for shuttle service. Some people like to walk down to Disneyland, and then depending upon how they feel, take ART back, or some other mode of transport.

 

[pixiewings71]

We walk, for us it's faster and easier. We walk down the opposite side of Harbor though, less foot traffic on that side and it seems faster to us.

 

[avalon451]

We stayed in Building 1, the tower. When we came out in the mornings, we'd come out of the elevator, turn left and go out the side door of the building-- which was usually open, except for late at night. You're right next to the street, so we'd cross Manchester right there, jaywalking, basically, because there's usually hardly any traffic going by on Manchester, and why walk down to the crosswalk and wait to cross Manchester there, before crossing Harbor? It's a long enough light to cross to the west side of Harbor.

So you cross Harbor and walk down the relatively deserted west side. First you pass the entrance where the employees and delivery trucks pull in. It says no pedestrians, so we didn't go in there. Then you walk past the bus stop, and there's an entrance just past there where the shuttles and the taxis pull in, and a walkway. Across the driveway is the crosswalk for the rest of the hordes. So we walked up the shuttle entrance, and while normally I'd keep walking around the circle, while we were there the northernmost security tables were only open once. It was always the ones farthest to the left. So usually we ended up jaywalking again, across the shuttle driveway, which usually wasn't very busy at all, and join all the people who'd crossed at the crosswalk in front of BWPPI. The total walk took about 7-8 minutes.

Just a little visualization for those of you, like me, who like to know these things ahead of time.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Gail ~

We'll be in Bldg. 2, where would you suggest we cross Harbor. Which route should we take through HoJo? Where would we cross Manchester?

TIA!

 

[pixiewings71]

Gail ~

We'll be in Bldg. 2, where would you suggest we cross Harbor. Which route should we take through HoJo? Where would we cross Manchester?

TIA!

We are almost always in bldg 2, sometimes bldg 4 which is right next to bldg 2. Anyway, we don't cut across Manchester (we are big sticklers on following crosswalk signs when we are with the kids, alone we might cut though) we just walk to the crosswalk at the end. DD12 usually walks a little faster so she gets there and hits the button for us so we don't have to wait as long. We cross Manchester and then cross Harbor and walk down the "other" side of the road and cut thru where Gail suggested. We just follow the circle around and join up with everyone at the very end, unless the right side security tables are open, then we go thru those instead. It is about 7-10 min. depending on the lights and how fast you walk but it's very manageable. We like it, we get to walk thru the cast shuttle drop off so we can see a lot of CM's all dressed up.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

let me save you some pain from a past experience of mine...last year I was going to put part cash part debit card pymt down...I asked the front desk guy if they were going to put a hold for the entire amount or just part...he told me they only put down a hold for the amenities fee per night...WRONG they put a hold on the entire balance plus the amenity fee...it caused me to have $300 in overdraft charges because the fund werent available when the other charges I made came through...I never got that sorted with them...they wanted so much information and my bank didnt want to wait on them and it just caused a ton of problems...If I had known they would do that I would have done things differently...if anyone hasnt had that happen then its pure luck...I would go in expecting them to put a hold on the whole amount plus the room charges and btw it took 4 days for them to release the funds and only because I flipped out with the general manager...this incident has not kept me from coming back to Hojo...I love it..I just learned a lesson the hard way...

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

let me save you some pain from a past experience of mine...last year I was going to put part cash part debit card pymt down...I asked the front desk guy if they were going to put a hold for the entire amount or just part...he told me they only put down a hold for the amenities fee per night...WRONG they put a hold on the entire balance plus the amenity fee...it caused me to have $300 in overdraft charges because the fund werent available when the other charges I made came through...I never got that sorted with them...they wanted so much information and my bank didnt want to wait on them and it just caused a ton of problems...If I had known they would do that I would have done things differently...if anyone hasnt had that happen then its pure luck...I would go in expecting them to put a hold on the whole amount plus the room charges and btw it took 4 days for them to release the funds and only because I flipped out with the general manager...this incident has not kept me from coming back to Hojo...I love it..I just learned a lesson the hard way...

Bleh, that sucks Lynn. I'm calling tomorrow morning, so should I just expect them to take out the total amount? How much is the room charges?