Hojo WTHeck!

[carebee21]

I've seen a number of posters who state that they wouldn't stay at HoJos without the Ent rate. I don't get it. Is the hotel only worth $59 per night? Or is this a case of people who know that the HoJo offers cheaper rates and outright refuse to pay more even if that means staying somewhere else?

TC.

IMO, yes, it's only worth $59/night. The water play area is fun and IMO that's why their rack rate is so high. The rooms itself are just rooms and nothing special. If the entertainment/AP rate isn't available, we use priceline and usually get the Hilton or Red Lion in the $55-$79 range. We find those rooms to be much newer and more to our liking....

 

[blackjackdelta]

That's exactly why I put the ! LMBO!! He is so out numbered!! I love having all girls! They're so much fun! I love watching my girls love on their Daddy! Or get all excited when he comes home from work! I wouldn't have it any other way!! LOL!
I'm not worried about the hotel size. We really just sleep there and we are all so exhausted after the park. We all pass out. If we were visiting Monterrey or something I would go with bigger. Just because you are in you room more. But with DL we are in the park from sun up until the boot us out!!! Can't wait to take them for Halloween!!

That is so cool. My daughters are the same way just older, I really miss them when they are away at school.

Jack

 

[starshine514]

Since I went to DL last, yes I have had my 5th daughter. She is about 2 1/2 months old. My oldest was 7 the first time we stayed. So I had a 7 year old, 6 year old, 3 year old and two year old at the time. My girls slept on the bed horizontally and my two year old was in a crib. Payton is still a very tiny kid she fit fine in the crib. I might still have my reservations that we printed out. I'll look for it! It doesn't matter though. Even if I used the "Retro rate" for the kids suite that's $99 a night. So I found a bigger room for cheaper and the bottom line is that I look for the closest hotel for the cheapest price.

So, in your original post were you complaining b/c they wouldn't let 6 in a room, or b/c they wouldn't let 7 in a room? I'm confused...

 

[californiamomof4grls]

That is so cool. My daughters are the same way just older, I really miss them when they are away at school.

Jack

Thanks! I don't want to even think about them going away to school! It makes me tear up just thinking about it!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Honestly we only stay onsite at the GCH. We tried HOJO once the summer before last. Didn't love it, didn't even like it. Felt ignored while checking out. The room wasn't very clean, visible dirt in bathroom, ceiling vent was almost gag inducing, dust up on the window ledges. Just gross. Our socks were also very dirty after taking our shoes off for all of five minutes. Having said that I am on of those "will only stay if it's uber cheap" people. We had two premium disney view rooms and weren't impressed enough to ever pay full price. The store was nice though, quite a lot in there. Also the pool play area was cute. I think the walk was a wee bit scary for us as well...felt very long at night. At least on the way to the GCH I have DTD to stroll through instead of bypassing scary bus stops and heavy traffic, dont get me started on the annoying time share people!!

I'm so happy for the OP that you found something that will work for your family! Having a larger family is such a daily blessing until you try to travel! But I hope your trip is very magical

 

[TiggerCat]

Honestly we only stay onsite at the GCH. We tried HOJO once the summer before last. Didn't love it, didn't even like it. Felt ignored while checking out. The room wasn't very clean, visible dirt in bathroom, ceiling vent was almost gag inducing, dust up on the window ledges. Just gross. Our socks were also very dirty after taking our shoes off for all of five minutes. Having said that I am on of those "will only stay if it's uber cheap" people. We had two premium disney view rooms and weren't impressed enough to ever pay full price. The store was nice though, quite a lot in there. Also the pool play area was cute. I think the walk was a wee bit scary for us as well...felt very long at night. At least on the way to the GCH I have DTD to stroll through instead of bypassing scary bus stops and heavy traffic, dont get me started on the annoying time share people!!

I can accept this since what you are saying is that the HoJo is an okay hotel but price is a big factor. This differs greater from my perception from reading many posts on these boards that this is the ultimate place to stay if you are not staying on site.

Thanks for your assessment.

TC.

 

[rune_74]

I can accept this since what you are saying is that the HoJo is an okay hotel but price is a big factor. This differs greater from my perception from reading many posts on these boards that this is the ultimate place to stay if you are not staying on site.

Thanks for your assessment.

TC.

It's strange that you accept an assessment like that and ignore the many more positive ones, somehow stating it has more merit. I disagree with the assesment that the hotel was dirty, or room was very clean...no visible dust. We had no problem(including the marathon walk people keep complaining about...which I wonder if some people walk much at home).

I would pay full price but in order to save on my trip I would prefer not to, I mean who wouldn't want to save money????

 

[TiggerCat]

It's strange that you accept an assessment like that and ignore the many more positive ones, somehow stating it has more merit. I disagree with the assesment that the hotel was dirty, or room was very clean...no visible dust. We had no problem(including the marathon walk people keep complaining about...which I wonder if some people walk much at home).

I would pay full price but in order to save on my trip I would prefer not to, I mean who wouldn't want to save money????

Not strange to me. I only accepted that the assessment explains why so many people are willing to talk up the HoJo when they can get the Ent (Retro) rate but flee when they have to pay the rack rate. I never agreed with the comments by Krissy Marissy. I've never been so I can't offer my personal assessment. You will note that I spoke positively of the hotel in my previous post (#21) and I was simply asking why it is that people run for the door when they can't get a cheaper rate.

As for me, I'm not discouraged and I am looking forward to going based on everything I've read both here and on Tripadvisor. That said, I will gladly give up my reservation for 40% off a Disney resort.

TC.

 

[brenda1966]

I book whatever I can find cheapest in that block on Harbor. In years past I was able to get Camelot or Carousel Inn cheaper so that's what I've done. In recent years Hojo's has been the cheapest, but I go in summer, so no entertainment rate for me. I book on price alone and have found all 3 places to be acceptable. My one rule is it has to be within walking distance. I have no loyalty.

 

[bumbershoot]

I only accepted that the assessment explains why so many people are willing to talk up the HoJo when they can get the Ent (Retro) rate but flee when they have to pay the rack rate.....I was simply asking why it is that people run for the door when they can't get a cheaper rate.

I could mention that I won't stay at PPH unless it's under a certain amount, either. I've stayed there at lower rates, and I just won't do it if it is above a rate that doesn't make me feel good.

It's all about value, which to me is the intersection of price and, hmm, "goodness" of a place or thing. Everyone's perception of value is different.

For me, the Grand isn't a value even when we got it on DVC points (in the last months when you could do that), because it has very little I WANT. The things I do want in the hotel are things that people just walking through can get. Other people value the things I dislike there (of course, other people had closer rooms LOL).

PPH has a lot of the "goodness", but it starts getting watered down when it cost more.

When the price of HJ gets closer to the more bargain cost of PPH...I go with PPH.


Anyway, it's not just HJ that people use their perceptions of value to determine when to stay there...

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Hotels are the reason I had to stop at 3 kids totally kidding!

Actually, that IS why we stopped at 3. We could have easily kept on going, but when you choose to do, there are issues like this that crop up. Even with 3 kids we run into persons per room problems, but not like the people who have 4 kids or or more.

 

[Amy&Dan]

The reason I will book the Hojo with the Ent rate and hesitate to book without it is the distance factor. Its not that terribly far but as you pass several other hotels, at night in particular, if I am paying the same or more at the Hojo, I tend to have buyer's remorse! Also, so many of the other hotels offer free breakfast that may be bare bones but it does help to at least save some money on the trip.

I am an onsite lover and our most recent trip to DL we switched to the Hojo from our original GCH reservation. Even with the pin code offer I had at GCH, by switching to the Hojo on the Ent rate, I saved almost $1000 for our five nights. My kids are much older than they were for our last Hojo stay so the walk was no biggie. Heck I even sent my 16yo son up there one afternoon to get me my jacket and save his old mom some steps! It was our first offsite stay since 2007 and it did reiterate to me we can save a lot of money and still have fun. But saving money is the key phrase to that sentence. I have to save big bucks to stay offsite. Full price the Hojo would have saved me far less and I probably would have stuck with GCH.

But yeah, in spite of the nice grounds, spacious rooms, nice pools and wonderful staff, if I don't get a really good rate, I might as well stay closer and eat free stale pastries for the same or lesser price. And the trafficnoise issue is another thing. If I pay $59 and listen to freeway noise and vibration half the night I am okay, if I pay over $100 a night and listen to that, I am annoyed. Some of those rooms at the Hojo are basically on the highway lol.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Why won't I stay at HOJOs without the ET rate? Because I can get a better deal elsewhere. It's nice but not nice enough to pay rack rate when I can get 3rd night free or some other deal elsewhere.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

I have decided to go with DI&S they are a little bit closer and offer a continental breakfast. I have to pay for parking but I am getting two queens and a pull out sofa for $79 a night. With taxes and fees it's about $532. We also get a continental breakfast which is one less meal to pay for while in the park. I think that this will best fit the needs of our family. [/FONT]

Which hotel is this?

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Which hotel is this?

Desert Inn and Suites