Hojo vs Fairefield Inn - June 13 - June 19

[richfei]

We'll be heading to DL June 13 - June 19 and driving down from Northern California
We were thinking of staying at either Hojo or the Fairfield Inn
We'll have a car with us and 2 kids (with strollers)

I've stayed at Hojo before but not Fairfield Inn and we're trying to decide between the two
The thing going for Hojo for us is the ET rate and the Pirate cove (nice break for our young kids)
I know the entertainment rates haven't been released yet for June, but based on past history, I don't think there will be much if any of a 50% ET discount for the dates we have in mind
So that leaves the dis boards rate or AAA rate (we don't have APs)

So bearing that in mind, we were also looking at the Fairfield
Can I expect much of a discount here ?
I don't have AAA
Is there a good discount code to use ie disboards or something else ?
Is it better to book directly with the hotel. Any good websites to use ?

Does anyone know if the Fairfield has microwaves or we can request one ?
Any resort or extra fees ?
Anything else to consider between these 2 places I should consider ?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We have stayed at both, but our Fairfield stay was at least 4 years ago. The hotel at that time was fine. The room was clean but a little dark. We had only a standard and it was freeway side. We were awakened two mornings by the sound of the garbage trucks lifting the dumpsters down below. A nice thing about the room was that there were two beds and a chair that pulled out into a little bed, so my sons could each have their own sleeping spaces. I remember a fridge in our room but cannot remember if there was a microwave. Hojos has microwaves in the deluxe, premium, and suite rooms but not the standards.

When we stayed at Fairfield, we got a package deal through Get Away Today with Disneyland tickets. At the time, it was a good deal, but I have since found it less expensive to book hotel and tickets separately. These days we have annual passes, so it's kind of a moot point for us.

My mother-in-law has stayed at the Fairfield more recently than I since she is a big Marriott fan. She said her stay was fine but expressed surprise over how expensive it was compared to other Fairfields. I think the only direct booking discount is AAA or if you have Marriott deals through their membership program. I think the Fairfield now has a small daily parking fee. My mother-in-law checked the Fairfield rates each time she went down in the last year and a half (3 or 4 times I think) and usually found a better price at a different hotel within walking distance.

If it were me, I would stay at Hojos. Book now and keep an eye on the rates. Every time their rate drops, even for just one of my days, I call them up and ask for an adjustment. You can still continue to shop around for better prices at the Fairfield or other walking distance hotels, but if you can't find one, you'll know you've locked in something at the best rate you can expect. FWIW, you never know with the ET rate. I don't think your dates came up last year, but when we went June 20-24 in 2009, we got the ET rate for our whole stay.

 

[lwilkison]

We'll be heading to DL June 13 - June 19 and driving down from Northern California
We were thinking of staying at either Hojo or the Fairfield Inn
We'll have a car with us and 2 kids (with strollers)

I've stayed at Hojo before but not Fairfield Inn and we're trying to decide between the two
The thing going for Hojo for us is the ET rate and the Pirate cove (nice break for our young kids)
I know the entertainment rates haven't been released yet for June, but based on past history, I don't think there will be much if any of a 50% ET discount for the dates we have in mind
So that leaves the dis boards rate or AAA rate (we don't have APs)

So bearing that in mind, we were also looking at the Fairfield
Can I expect much of a discount here ?
I don't have AAA
Is there a good discount code to use ie disboards or something else ?
Is it better to book directly with the hotel. Any good websites to use ?

Does anyone know if the Fairfield has microwaves or we can request one ?
Any resort or extra fees ?
Anything else to consider between these 2 places I should consider ?

We recently stayed at Hojo and on our way to LAX at the end of our stay our shuttle stopped at the Fairfield to pick up another family on their way home via LAX as well.

We got to talking and compared hotels and it sounded like it was nice at Fairfield...they had room service where Hojo didn't BUT everything else they said was comparable, they didn't have the great Pirate's cove for kids that the Hojo does. Also, the outside doors or "motel feel" isn't something we liked. Hojo has great service!

For me I will definitely go back to Hojo. We have been 6 times over the last 15 years and well it is always a Hojo stay.

We hope you have a great stay! Good luck

 

[richfei]

Some good threads here, which I'll take a look at
Seems like I can't really go wrong with either place
But if Hojo had the ET rate for 2nd week of June, it'll sway me a lot more

Will you stay at Hojo for regular rate
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2029204&highlight=hojo+full+price

Hojo experience
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2202478&highlight=hojo+full+price

Hojo vs FFI comparison
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2312544&highlight=hojo+full+price

 

[kazbar]

We stayed at both places last September.

They were both good. The service and rooms are nicer at Hojo's but the Fairfield is that little bit closer (and every little bit counts at the end of a long day!)

There is a microwave in the cafe area on the 3rd floor for guest to use at the Fairfield but the hours that they are open is quite limited.

If I had to choose, I would go Hojo's

 

[Love Tink]

We stayed at the Fairfield in December 2007, and I remember that we could see the parks (and the fireworks) from our rooms.

Is that also the case at the HoJo?

 

[akcire]

My husband is a BIG Marriott guy. He travels extensively for work, and almost always stays at this chain.

We booked a trip a couple of years ago to this Fairfield Inn. We checked out within 10 minutes of visiting our room. Marriott moved us to the concierge level of the full service Marriott based on his report. Yes, the room was that bad.

I don't know anything about the HoJo (other than it gets lots of compliments on the Dis), but we are returning to Disneyland at the end of the month and the Fairfield was not a consideration.

We are currently debating between, the full service Marriott (where we did have a good experience), the Courtyard (next to the Fairfield), or the Candy Cane Inn (pretty much the reviews we have seen and the name of the hotel). We looked at HoJo, I believe they did not have our needed dates available.

That's all I know.

 

[richfei]

I think I'm going to research some more
Based on comments in this forum and on tripadvisor, there are plenty of nice hotels outside of Disneyland within reasonable walking distance

I'll check out the following
Hojo
Fairfield Inn
Park Vue Inn
Candy Cane

It's great to have competition

 

[mystic_path]

Hojo and the Park Vue Inn are right close to the park entrance. Both are basic, but clean. The Park Vue just did a renovation and upgraded their rooms. A friend of mine stayed there last year and didnt mind it one bit. The Hojo depending on your room can give you a good view of the Disneyland fireworks. The pool area is really lovely, and the service is good. However the Park Vue is directly on the Disneyland crosswalk and much closer then the Hojo. But only by minutes.

Here is a map I recently found of the hotels in the area. I would stay at anything on harbor in between the Howard Johnson and The Ramada Main Gate. Just so you dont have to shuttle back at the end of the Disneyland day when your tired.

I have stayed at the Carousel and the Tropicana as well and I would recommend either.