Howard Johnson Anaheim Review- STAY THERE!!!!

[DisneyD]

Thanks for the review. I'll be staying there--in 2 days! after having booked based on reviews on TripAdvisor. It's nice to know that it's a good choice.

If you remember, what building did you stay in?

We were in Building 2, on the farthest side from the hotel entrance. But, there is a pool over there (not for little ones, though; it's at least 4-4 1/2 feet at it's shallowest), and the walk to the main pool, store, check in was less than 5 minutes and it was a pretty walk through the courtyards.

We always watched the fireworks from DL, but I was told that on the parking lot at the HoJo you can see the fireworks really well, and I have no reason to believe you couldn't.

Try Mimi's cafe, especially for breakfast. I had the BEST tomato, spinach and feta cheese omelette! Plus, they give you this HUGE muffin!

I can't say enough about this hotel. I was worried, because HoJo's don't exactly conjure up great memories for me. But this hotel was beyond outstanding to our family. I really would have liked that Disney Hotel experience, but I was on a budget and just couldn't see spending nearly $200 a night for a bed when I knew we wouldn't be in the room that much.

 

[DisneyD]

We stayed at HoJo's in 2003, and I agree it is a nice hotel and you can get really good room rates there.

However, the distance was too much for us - especially since we take a long afternoon break each day and thus had 2 round trips pere day. One night we were leaving the parks at midnight and I had to hire a taxi for $10 to get us back to our room because it was clear it was too far for our tired bodies.

So on our two trips in 2005 we stayed at a closer hotel on Harbor near the crosswalk - and that was far preferable - at least for us. The hotel was not as nice as HoJo's but, frankly, we do not go to DLR to stay at hotels. We try to spend as little time at the hotel as absolulely possible. Or put another way, we try to spend as much time as possible at the parks.

Not everyone is like us, and if you want a nice off-site hotel, HoJo's is a good choice. But you will walk more.

Here is a map showing hotels around DLR:
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Did you ever use the Anaheim Resort Transportation System? We used that in the evenings when we were too tired to walk back. It took about 15 minutes before we got to the HoJo, but at least we got a chance to rest before walking to our room. The Resort system was free with our package.

 

[HydroGuy]

Did you ever use the Anaheim Resort Transportation System? We used that in the evenings when we were too tired to walk back. It took about 15 minutes before we got to the HoJo, but at least we got a chance to rest before walking to our room. The Resort system was free with our package.

No I didn't. What you report here is what I would have expected. Personally, I hate waiting for buses - and the time lost in waiting. But for others it is not as big of a deal.

If they had ART back in 2003 and I had known about it then, I would have used it -especially when returning to HoJo's.

For me I have become sold on the idea of not having to wait for any transportation at DLR - just using my feet and having a short walk. I doubt I will ever stay at hotel as fas as HoJo's again. The next time we stay at a DLR hotel, it will be GCH for that reason.

 

[amw]

For me I have become sold on the idea of not having to wait for any transportation at DLR - just using my feet and having a short walk. I doubt I will ever stay at hotel as fas as HoJo's again. The next time we stay at a DLR hotel, it will be GCH for that reason.

In all fairness to the readers who are not yet familiar with DL, I think you're making the HoJo seem much further than it is. Using your own website you quoted, it states:

Howard Johnson's: 2,648 feet
DLH: 2,413-3158 feet depending on tower
Paradise Pier: 2,454 if you cut through the Grand, otherwise much further than the HoJos

So being onsite (with the exception of the Grand) does not put you any closer to the entrances. Plus, if you were tired at the end of the night, there's no transportation to get you back to PP.

But, when it comes down to it... everyone has a different tolerance level for walking, and you have to be comfortable with your location. My DDs have always walked great distances with us -- we never used a stroller once they turned 2 and their little legs are accustomed to it We walk further than that to the soccer fields twice a week. I don't see HoJos being a problem.

Just to add: I agree there are much closer off-site motels/hotels. My concern was the lack of good reports for these places when problems arose. The need for good customer service and a "name" company made HoJos the place for me. I e-mailed the director of sales some questions, and he reponded immediately and with extreme helpfulness. These things give me peace of mind rather than the actual distance.

 

[SamIAm21]

I agree with AMW, I think it may be perception, but from the minute I got to Harbor Blvd, I could see the sign for the HoJo quite clearly and it's just not that far for me. From what I read, the walk to the DLR is nearly the same give or take a couple hundred feet.

The ART is a great service and even if you don't get it with your package, I think it's about $2.00 a day and it's free for kids under a certain age. I know my daugther who was 5 at the time rode free. If you really want more information on ART, check out this website. The HoJo route is actually the shortest route with only one or two stops before the HoJo.

Oh and if you want a great view of the fireworks, try the HoJo hot tub! Now that's a good way to watch such gorgeous fireworks.

www.rideart.org

 

[HydroGuy]

In all fairness to the readers who are not yet familiar with DL, I think you're making the HoJo seem much further than it is. Using your own website you quoted, it states:

Howard Johnson's: 2,648 feet
DLH: 2,413-3158 feet depending on tower
Paradise Pier: 2,454 if you cut through the Grand, otherwise much further than the HoJos

So being onsite (with the exception of the Grand) does not put you any closer to the entrances. Plus, if you were tired at the end of the night, there's no transportation to get you back to PP.

But, when it comes down to it... everyone has a different tolerance level for walking, and you have to be comfortable with your location. My DDs have always walked great distances with us -- we never used a stroller once they turned 2 and their little legs are accustomed to it We walk further than that to the soccer fields twice a week. I don't see HoJos being a problem.

Just to add: I agree there are much closer off-site motels/hotels. My concern was the lack of good reports for these places when problems arose. The need for good customer service and a "name" company made HoJos the place for me. I e-mailed the director of sales some questions, and he reponded immediately and with extreme helpfulness. These things give me peace of mind rather than the actual distance.

Oh, I agree the DLH and the PP are also as far as HoJo's, so I was not singling out HoJo's per se. Since this thread was about HoJo's, I focused on that. But the HoJo walk is a half-mile each way, give or take. And we stayed in the back tower, furthest away. I walked it a number of times in 2003 with my then DS11, DS10, DS8 and DS7. And I remember thinking, "this is too far of a walk for us".

The walk in and of itself is not bad, so I agree with you there. But when you add on 3-6 miles of walking just at the parks - which is common - any extra walking at all takes its toll. Plus if it is summer time - as it was for us - the afternoon walk for our break was in 90+ degree heat in the sun. So it was not a nice pleasant stroll at that time. Everyone was dying for the pool and an air-conditioned room. For me personally it was not so bad - I power walk 30+ miles a week for exercise. But I could see that it affected my kiddos.

My purpose here was not to say "HoJo's is bad". There was another post that said the walk was only "1 or 2 blocks extra". Since someone measured it in the link I gave, I gave the measurement. If people think that distance works for them, and you and others obviously do, then by all means stay at HoJo's. It was a nice hotel - much nicer than the Best Western we stayed at in 2005. I am not at all surprised it gets better and more consistent reviews than the other hotels on Harbor. And if the ART helps with the distance, that is all the better for you.

Regarding Sam's post about ART, I know about it - I included it in my "DLR Guide for WDW Vets" thread. But I have not used it - I am not sure if they had it in 2003. If they did, HoJo's did not tell us about it. I seem to remember it started in 2004.

But this is just me. I do not want to wait for a bus or tram if I do not have to. I did that at WDW because I had to - well, I could have gotten a car, but that has its own downsides. And for us personally - everyone is different - the hotel quality at DLR is not that important because we are not at the hotel very much.

 

[munchkinsmom]

And for us personally - everyone is different - the hotel quality at DLR is not that important because we are not at the hotel very much.

I agree with you on this. If it were just my DH and I visiting the DLR, we wouldn't be at the hotel very much during the day (if at all). Location and quality wouldn't be as big of an issue. Now that we have small children, we use the hotel room and the facilities (i.e., pool) much more so cleanliness, quality, room size, location and price are more important to us. And the HoJo meets all those requirements!

 

[wendithepooh]

We stayed at hojo for 6 nights in june.we booked one night on-line and booked 5 nights with getawaytoday.Hojo's a very nice hotel.I didn't feel like I couldn't let my kids sit on the ground like some hotels.Very clean and nicely decorated.We stayed in a room with a view.not worth the extra money it is definatley an obstructed view.We watched the fireworks from our room because we have a son with autism and he does not like the noise.They are much louder at the hotel then in the park.(He and I went shopping)the walk was long after a long day at the park.We are staying at a different hotel in october. Just be careful when checking out.They overcharged us -watch it.

 

[topjars]

Im staying at HOJOs and have never been to DL B4.
Im wrapped about the comments this thread has provided.
As Mimis cafe is nearby, I shall be going there for it appears to also have rave reports.

Im getting nervous about the quality of meals though. Here in Australia we live on fresh produce. Im hopeful the american cuisine doesnt dissappoint as my daughter is a vegetarian!

DisneyD Ill certainly try the fetta,spinach and tomato omelette....Is there a menu on this board?

Thanks....Gary

ps Flyout time is 8 days 21 hours and 44 minutes .....

 

[amw]

DisneyD Ill certainly try the fetta,spinach and tomato omelette....Is there a menu on this board?

Here's a sampling:
http://www.dlresortinfo.com/offsiteresturants/offsiterestaurants.html
Or here's the official website for the franchise:
http://www.mimiscafe.com/