(Hotel) Decisions, decisions...

[PixiePowered]

I need to make a hotel decision... and VERY soon. We'll be at DL June 7-13. YAY... leaving Tuesday I currently have booked, a kids suite at HoJo's and a one-bedroom suite at Res. Inn Maingate. I booked HoJo's in January HOPING that the entertainment rate would come out for at least SOME of my dates, but alas, new dates were posted today and nothing for June (except the 30th)

DH would prefer to cancel HoJo and go with Res. Inn because we'd save $100 and gain a daily breakfast (which, of course, has some $$$ savings)... but lose one bathroom. I was really looking forward to staying in one of HoJo's kid suites for the first time... and am quite torn over which to go with.

I know individual opinions, about hotels, can vary greatly..... but I guess I'm just searching to see if there's anything from you all, the Dis-perts , that can help sway me one way or the other.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

Are your dd's too old to enjoy Pirates Cove?

Were you planning on walking, driving, or using a shuttle?

Did you factor in the cost of the shuttle at the Residence Inn?

The breakfast at the Residence Inn is probably one of the best around and the pool is very nice.

 

[PixiePowered]

Oh yea... they look at me crazy when I remind them of Pirate Cove

We'd likely walk, most of the time... but I can't rule out that we'd end up buying ART passes, so I would have to factor that cost in.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

I'm with your DH then. Residence Inn, $100 and free breakfast is very nice. But it will cost you a little time with the walk (it's a doable walk, but it's not fun), or dealing with the shuttle.

 

[jory29]

I would NOT give up the luxury of having 2 bathrooms, nor the spaciousness of the kids suite. (538 sq feet!) NOR would I give up the FABULOUS beds at Hojo's. The free breakfast is never enough to fill a person up -kids usually need fats, proteins and carbs at breakfast, and for vacations, McD's can be the way to go, OR Von's can deliver great breakfast foods at a very low cost.

The Pirate's Cove play area for the kids will be a HUGE draw as well.

The walk isn't bad at all, when DD was 4 years old, she walked there and back twice a day with no complaints. I doubt you would end up needing the ART passes.

Good luck!!

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

The breakfast buffet is HUGE at RI - eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes, make your own waffles, cereal bar, juice & coffee bar, fruit, bagels, oatmeal, and I'm pretty sure there is yogurt and danishes. There is also an afternoon snack of cookies in the lobby if you are there at the right time.

Someone else needs to comment on the beds compared to HOJOs since I have not yet stayed at HOJOs (will be there this month though and can't wait to try out their well-discussed comfy beds!), but the beds at RI are very nice.

I really wouldn't plan on walking from RI though. It's a little long and lonely. DDs 10 & 14 won't have anything nice to say about it! The shuttle will cost $4 for adults (they say that's anyone 10 and up) and $1 for children under 10 for an entire day, but I'm not sure how strict they are about it... so that could cost you $16/day.

Since DDs look at you crazy when you mentioned Pirates Cove, I don't think its playing too much into your decision, right? Or did I read into that wrong?

 

[Caroline NZ]

Without the Entertainment discount at Hojos I would stay at RI. Last trip we were going to stay at RI, but we got the ent rate for 11 of our 14 nights so went with Hojos. Our eldest was 9 this time around and Castaway Cove was definitely not the drawcard it was the last time we stayed when he was 7.
We don't have a problem with the walking distance to RI. We walked to Garden Walk and back from Hojos no problems. Next stay (the kids will be aged 9 &11) we will definitely try RI, as we like the idea of a free breakfast, plus a bigger fridge and kitchen area in the room.

 

[PixiePowered]

You are correct OnTheRoadAgain.... Pirate Cove is NOT a draw for this Disney-family.

And before we finally stayed at HoJo, for the first time, in October 2009... we almost always stayed at Res. Inn... so the kids are very familiar with the walk, and never really complained about it. The beds at HoJo were pretty comfy, but if I recall correctly so were the beds at Res. Inn.

The one-bedroom suite, at Res. Inn, is not too shabby at 525 square feet. But I agree, jory29, about the luxury of TWO bathrooms.

 

[jory29]

You are correct OnTheRoadAgain.... Pirate Cove is NOT a draw for this Disney-family.

And before we finally stayed at HoJo, for the first time, in October 2009... we almost always stayed at Res. Inn... so the kids are very familiar with the walk, and never really complained about it. The beds at HoJo were pretty comfy, but if I recall correctly so were the beds at Res. Inn.

The one-bedroom suite, at Res. Inn, is not too shabby at 525 square feet. But I agree, jory29, about the luxury of TWO bathrooms.

How old are your kids? That could enter into the factor; if they are older I would assume 2 bathrooms would be even more important. I didn't know that the beds at the Res. Inn were premium ones, or that the breakfast is good... my deciding factor now would be - cleanliness. I love how clean housekeeping at Hojo's maintains the rooms. I can also vouch for the main pool @ Hojo's being very warm on a colder day in Anaheim in Mid May. Everyone was commenting how warm the water felt. 525 feet compared to 538 is negligible, I agree. The savings over the course of a week is honestly, almost negligible. I also love the Keurig coffee, in room safes, bedding, pillows, gift shop, close to Mimi's and McD's, and microwave/fridge in the room. Does the other hotel offer similar?