Howard Johnson Anaheim Question

[Kevenswife2]

DD11 and I have been to "The World" many times. This Christmas we'd like to see where it all started...Disneyland! Neither of us has been west of the Mississippi, so this is very exciting! (but a little scary, too)

I'm a recently single-mom (divorce was in August, so I'm not used to traveling without another adult) and I'm traveling with DD11. I'm a small town girl and a little concerned about our safety in Anaheim.

Do you feel the Howard Johnson Anaheim (right near the entrance to Disneyland) is a safe place to stay? Also, is the walk to and from the park safe? (especially at midnight?)

We'll be traveling Dec 19-26, 2009.

We made a trip to WDW alone in August and never felt unsafe, but we'd been to Orlando many times with others, so I knew what to expect. It's kind of scary doing all these things alone with DD!

Please help relieve my (and my mother's) fears.

 

[DangerMouse]

I have done the walk alone with my kids many, many times to the HoJo. I find it perfectly safe and you most likely will be walking with others. I prefer to walk to the parks on the West side of Harbor under the Monorail track. You can cross Harbor at Manchester in front of MiMi's Cafe. It cuts your walk time down by a couple minutes.

HTH!

 

[MichaelColey]

Disneyland and the area around it is perfectly safe. There will be tons of other families walking right along with you, too.

Since you've been to WDW and are taking your first DL trip, you'll probably find this thread very useful:

A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

 

[Kevenswife2]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies! It makes me feel better about our safety.

Am I crazy for even thinking about visiting around Christmas? I've made it a point to avoid WDW during Christmas week because of the crowds. But I feel this may be the last vacation DD11 and I can take before I graduate and start working fulltime. It may be a while before I can get a week off.

This is so exciting...and scary!

How many days do you suggest to see everything at both parks? I'm buying Hoppers...and visiting Christmas week, both which affect touring.

And thanks for the website. I've never looked at Disneyland info before this last week. I can tell you everything about WDW, but I'm confused (and learning) about Disneyland. Guess that's part of the fun.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies! It makes me feel better about our safety.

Am I crazy for even thinking about visiting around Christmas? I've made it a point to avoid WDW during Christmas week because of the crowds. But I feel this may be the last vacation DD11 and I can take before I graduate and start working fulltime. It may be a while before I can get a week off.

This is so exciting...and scary!

How many days do you suggest to see everything at both parks? I'm buying Hoppers...and visiting Christmas week, both which affect touring.

And thanks for the website. I've never looked at Disneyland info before this last week. I can tell you everything about WDW, but I'm confused (and learning) about Disneyland. Guess that's part of the fun.

well Im not going to say your crazy but if your going to go during Christmas at all I would say you are going at a better time because its not always horrible the week leading up to christmas but the week after leading up to the 2nd week of Jan its horrid....I can see just by what your writing that you are definitely used to wdw and are thinking like a "worldian" ...one of our regulars, Hydroguy, made a guide for wdw vets going to DL...I dont know exactly where it is in here but maybe someone who does could link it for you....staying for as many days as you are you should have no problems seeing everything...its much smaller here than in wdw and everything is compact pretty much.. but ours is the original one walt had his hand in every step of the way so obviously your gonna love it

 

[squidlet]

Hojo's made a video of the actual walk to DL.

I'm too new to post a link, but this is where to find it.

Go to hojoanaheim dot com forward slash boards; Disneyland category; 8 minute walk. Hopefully that makes sense.

It's perfectly safe, you'll be fine.

DL right before Christmas is typically very busy -- but if that is the only time you can go, you should do it.

 

[smiley_face2]

there is also the ART shuttle you can use, although it is not free....$3. per day per person last time I checked. There was one time, when family had gone back to the hotel and I wanted to stay and shop on Main street... the park had closed for rides, the last shuttle had left for the hotel and I had to walk by myself....there were hardly any people left walking to the hotels, and because HoJo's is the last walking hotel on that section...I was completely alone on the street for the last few minutes. I was nervous because of that alone.....it was stupid planning on my part. I did not see any "shady" people around at all, the area is well lit, but just being so alone on the street at that time of night made me very nervous. Old enough to know better comes to mind.... The area is very nice and very well lit... you will be fine, just don't pull a me and do that!
Oh...and my dear daughter and I spent a really lovely time in Disneyland on Christmas day....the rest of the family did not want to deal with the crowds, the weather was hot and sunny so they stayed at the pool... my daughter was 11 at the time.... we only rode a couple of rides that day, but did things like get icecream from Gibson Girl icecream parlor and get a good spot on mainstreet to watch the awesome Christmas parade. We went back to the hotel and went for dinner with the rest of the family, then back into the park again, got an awesome spot nice and early and ate icecream again while we waited for the Christmas fireworks on main street. during these waits, we met and chatted with some really nice people... one couple was right from the Anaheim area and said they came to Disneyland every year for Christmas day! they did not mind the crowds and just being there with so much atmosphere was great! and it is! with just the 2 of you, it is much easier to manouver through the crowds, and there is so much to just look at without having to do a lot of rides. Get fast passes early on so you will have at least a couple of rides that day....oh and you can go to the shows too.... Alladin and the Mickey and Minnie Christmas show.... You will have sooo much fun just the 2 of you!!

 

[Kevenswife2]

Hojo's made a video of the actual walk to DL.

I'm too new to post a link, but this is where to find it.

Go to hojoanaheim dot com forward slash boards; Disneyland category; 8 minute walk. Hopefully that makes sense.

It's perfectly safe, you'll be fine.

DL right before Christmas is typically very busy -- but if that is the only time you can go, you should do it.

Those HoJo uTube videos were great! I was ROFL! Corny music and hoaky acting...too funny. Seems as though the hotel isn't much farther than from the bus drop to the turnstiles at MK at WDW...very doable!

 

[Kevenswife2]

there is also the ART shuttle you can use, although it is not free....$3. per day per person last time I checked. There was one time, when family had gone back to the hotel and I wanted to stay and shop on Main street... the park had closed for rides, the last shuttle had left for the hotel and I had to walk by myself....there were hardly any people left walking to the hotels, and because HoJo's is the last walking hotel on that section...I was completely alone on the street for the last few minutes. I was nervous because of that alone.....it was stupid planning on my part. I did not see any "shady" people around at all, the area is well lit, but just being so alone on the street at that time of night made me very nervous. Old enough to know better comes to mind.... The area is very nice and very well lit... you will be fine, just don't pull a me and do that!
Oh...and my dear daughter and I spent a really lovely time in Disneyland on Christmas day....the rest of the family did not want to deal with the crowds, the weather was hot and sunny so they stayed at the pool... my daughter was 11 at the time.... we only rode a couple of rides that day, but did things like get icecream from Gibson Girl icecream parlor and get a good spot on mainstreet to watch the awesome Christmas parade. We went back to the hotel and went for dinner with the rest of the family, then back into the park again, got an awesome spot nice and early and ate icecream again while we waited for the Christmas fireworks on main street. during these waits, we met and chatted with some really nice people... one couple was right from the Anaheim area and said they came to Disneyland every year for Christmas day! they did not mind the crowds and just being there with so much atmosphere was great! and it is! with just the 2 of you, it is much easier to manouver through the crowds, and there is so much to just look at without having to do a lot of rides. Get fast passes early on so you will have at least a couple of rides that day....oh and you can go to the shows too.... Alladin and the Mickey and Minnie Christmas show.... You will have sooo much fun just the 2 of you!!

Sappy me...your Christmas Day brought a tear to my eyes. Those are the times you truely look back on and remember. I'm sure your DD remembers spending that day with mom.

I would have been so scared walking in a strange area alone like that. I know the area used to be seedy, so that was why I was concerned about safety. Good to know it's been cleaned up and more family oriented.

The more I read and you guys tell me, the more excited I get!!!

 

[Kevenswife2]

well Im not going to say your crazy but if your going to go during Christmas at all I would say you are going at a better time because its not always horrible the week leading up to christmas but the week after leading up to the 2nd week of Jan its horrid....I can see just by what your writing that you are definitely used to wdw and are thinking like a "worldian" ...one of our regulars, Hydroguy, made a guide for wdw vets going to DL...I dont know exactly where it is in here but maybe someone who does could link it for you....staying for as many days as you are you should have no problems seeing everything...its much smaller here than in wdw and everything is compact pretty much.. but ours is the original one walt had his hand in every step of the way so obviously your gonna love it

A previous poster (MichaelColey) gave me the link to Hydroguy's guide. It is soooo much help! That's one thing I love about the Disboards...strangers are so willing to help out another Diser! I love you guys!!

 

[Ariel224]

Another reason I really like HOJO is that the rooms are all interior corridor, which isn't the case for many of the "closer to the gate" hotels on Harbor. Just wanted to put that out there in case that aspect counts into your safety considerations.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Another reason I really like HOJO is that the rooms are all interior corridor, which isn't the case for many of the "closer to the gate" hotels on Harbor. Just wanted to put that out there in case that aspect counts into your safety considerations.

Thanks Cherie! When I stay at WDW I don't mind doors opening to the outside, as I feel comfortable there. Not having been to California, I appreciate the fact HoJo has interior corridors. It somehow makes me feel safer.

 

[Kevenswife2]

I did it! I just booked the HoJo AND my flight! I can't believe I'll actually be in California, at DISNEYLAND, for Christmas!!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I did it! I just booked the HoJo AND my flight! I can't believe I'll actually be in California, at DISNEYLAND, for Christmas!!!

Hurray! I hope you and your daughter have an absolutely beautiful and magical Christmas at Disneyland!

 

[Kevenswife2]

Hurray! I hope you and your daughter have an absolutely beautiful and magical Christmas at Disneyland!

Thank you! Now the hard part...telling my mother. She still worries about me

I see you'll be there too. What are your travel dates?

 

[carebee21]

We're going to Disneyland Decemeber 20-23. My husband has to work and can't go so my six year old and I are going ourselves. I've never gone with just myself and my child so I was nervous about safety as well. After checking on here and couple other boards, we decided to do the Hojo as well. Everything I've read says the street is well lit in that area, that there's lots of other hotels so lots of other people walking and if you really don't feel comfy there is the shuttle bus that you have to pay for, but still it's an alternative to walking. Maybe we'll see you there

 

[jennipooh]

Thanks so much for posting. I am considering a trip to DL with DS now 10. He will be 11 in Feb. One thing holding me back is the safety factor. We live in VA and have visited WDW many times, always staying on site. We have relatives in the area and will go off-site to visit them during the day, go to the beach, etc. While I was growing up, my family had a house on the beach. So I am in my comfort zone in FL.

I am more relaxed at WDW than any other place we vacation!

DS wants to visit Disneyland, Legoland, and possibly Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and a CA beach!!!

I am still deciding on our trip, but I am thankful you had such encouraging responses. The guide for WDW vets was very helpful!

BTW we are looking at visiting during Spring Break, so like you, I am worried about the crowds.

 

[MichaelColey]

DS wants to visit Disneyland, Legoland, and possibly Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and a CA beach!!!

Legoland, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Universal all felt as safe as Disneyland or Disney World. The one theme park in the area I wouldn't recommend is Six Flags Magic Mountain. It felt "ghetto" compared to the others. There were people smoking and cursing everywhere (even employes). We weren't even comfortable leaving our stroller sitting around. (We think nothing of it at any of the other parks.)

With the places you're considering, take a look at the Southern California CityPass. You can get them for around $200 from Costco. It doesn't include Legoland, but does include all of the others you're looking at (3 days at Disneyland, 1 at the zoo and 1 at Seat World) plus 1 day at Universal. All of them were great! Legoland was a blast for our kids (6 and 3 at the time), but I think it might be a little boring for a 10 year old. Maybe not, though, especially if he's really into legos.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Thanks so much for posting. I am considering a trip to DL with DS now 10. He will be 11 in Feb. One thing holding me back is the safety factor. We live in VA and have visited WDW many times, always staying on site. We have relatives in the area and will go off-site to visit them during the day, go to the beach, etc. While I was growing up, my family had a house on the beach. So I am in my comfort zone in FL.

I am more relaxed at WDW than any other place we vacation!

DS wants to visit Disneyland, Legoland, and possibly Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and a CA beach!!!

I am still deciding on our trip, but I am thankful you had such encouraging responses. The guide for WDW vets was very helpful!

BTW we are looking at visiting during Spring Break, so like you, I am worried about the crowds.

WDW is my 'comfort zone' too. This will be an adventure for sure! Up until August I always had a man traveling with us, and feeling safe wasn't an issue. Divorce sure changes things! I'm having to try things outside of my comfort zone, otherwise I'd sit in the house and do nothing. But I love to travel so I guess I have to put my big girl panties on and take charge. hehe

Anyway here's a link to all the tours and prices offered:

http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/us/anaheim.go?mode=activities&cd=DT&cat=Day+Trips

They give a 10% AAA discount and will pick you up at your Anaheim hotel. I'm just not brave enough yot to rent a car and drive myself around California...so these tours are a godsend!

Hope you and your son have a safe, wonderful time!

 

[jennipooh]

MichaelColey and KevinsWife2 thanks so much again for the great info.

I am feeling a little more inspired to move forward with our plans. Choosing the hotel (I can't believe I'm staying off-site) and deciding between a rental or the shuttle service are my big considerations now. Then I think I need to tackle what we will do off-site.

I think we can let go of Sea World because we will be visiting Fl beachside either at Thanksgiving or Christmas to see family and I think we will do Sea World Orlando then - and hope that will hold ds for awhile.

Please post a trip report once you return from your Christmas trip!!! I can't wait to hear how your adventure goes!