Hotel Help?

[Raine88]

Dh and I are going to DL this december for our anniversary & new years. We already have a room booked at PPH. We figured we'd go all out this trip and make it really special for a special event BUT im starting to feel a little sick at the thought of paying that much for a hotel room. We aren't the type that like to sit around, we'll be up at the crack of dawn and in the park till it closes every night. So, I'm considering cancelling that and booking the HOJO instead. Thought maybe you guys could help make the decision.
*we'll be driving in from Tucson, staying 4 nights with three days in the park, and don't have kids*

- What are the "extras" you get at an onsite hotel and are they worth it?
- Can you still go to the toontown morning madness if you stay at an offsite hotel?
- Can you see the fireworks at all from the hojo?
- Will I be able to get my deposit back from PPH if i cancel?
**EDITED TO ADD**
- At PPH, if they know it is our anni, will they do anything special? I've heard they'll do nothing, or put rose petals on the bed, chilled bottle of wine, choco strawberries, cookies, etc etc.

anything else I should be considering? Anything i'll gain/lose that should make or break the experience?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

We love Hojos so I can tell you that YES, you can see fireworks from there. To go to TTMM you need to have the vouchers that come with packages.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Last summer we celebrated our 20th anniversary. We were going to splurge and stay at the GCH. But then I thought about it and realized since we already had APs we could stay a whole week at a very nice off site hotel for the price of a few days there. So we stayed at Embassy Suites South instead. We spent the same money, but we just changed our minds how to spend it.

So at this point we've never stayed on site. I'd love to sometime but I just can't bring myself to do it. I can't answer the questions about the advantages of staying on site, but I don't feel like I've missed out anything by staying off site. I'm not sure, but Hojos might even be closer than PPH. Someone else will know that.

 

[Leofoenget]

I suggest if you do stay offsite, you pick a hotel close enough to walk. Parking is a mess and during the busy holiday season it's going to be even worse. If money IS an object stay across the street and bank the rest, just my 2c

 

[rentayenta]

I love staying on site and think it adds a great deal to the entire experience- especially during the holidays. Having said that, if you choose to stay off-site HoJo is the only way to go.

 

[sway_559]

I can't give you too much personal insight, as this will be my first time back to DL since I was young BUT, my BFF who is an AP holder and is at DL pretty regularly, stays at both off site and on-site hotels. She swears by on-site hotels during Xmas season, she says any other time of year off-site is usually the way to go, but during the holidays on-site is a must! I'm just a newbie though and I'm sure you'll get much better input from some DIS vets Have fun!!

 

[bumbershoot]

You get TTMM vouchers when you book a package through disney (or a place that books through disney, like Costco). It's not something that comes with the hotel.

Staying onsite does give you access to Magic Morning each day it's offered during your stay, however. The other way to get *one* MM is to simply have 3+ day tickets (though not some convention type tickets, such as Gay Days or military tickets).

Since you're in the park until closing anyway, having a fireworks view from the room won't matter, right?

The deposit...if you booked room only, yes, as long as you cancel within the time they told you when you booked. If you booked a package, check your paperwork; it will tell you if they'll keep any of the deposit.

We went to PPH for our anniversary, and we got balloons (and they gave DS some balloons too) and the Happy Anniversary buttons. That's it! I would never never never expect anything more.

However, you can *order* stuff for the room, through Vacation Planning. VP acts like a normal fancy hotel's Concierge service, where they can help you book tours, meals, etc, and they also let you order things that don't come straight from Room Service.

HoJo and PPH (when taking the shortcut through the Grand) are about the same distance from the esplanade.

If you go to DLR regularly through the year, and you don't already have an AP, I would check the boards routinely for when people post that AP rates have showed up. The really good rates probably won't apply to your stay, but the rates might lower a bit, you never know. Then, if people mention that, you can always plan to buy/upgrade to an AP while there.