If you've stayed both on & offsite, would you check my assumptions?

[akmomesq]

Especially if you've stayed at both the HOJOs (esp. kids' suite) and DLH, would you check my assumptions and let me know if I've got any of this wrong? We're struggling with the "where to stay decision" and I want to make sure I'm not working off any faulty premises!

1. The actual walk to the front gates from DLH and Hojos is about the same.
2. The kids suite at Hojos is much bigger than the std 2 queens + day bed rooms at DLH.
3. The monorail is only useful if we're going to Tomorrowland - if we're headed into DCA one day, it's easier just to walk to the front gates.
4. Staying at DLH, there's more stuff to do for the kids during our off-time.

Am I right about all of that?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I would say yes to all but the last. HOJOs has an awesome water play area for the kids.

 

[Queenbillabong]

Especially if you've stayed at both the HOJOs (esp. kids' suite) and DLH, would you check my assumptions and let me know if I've got any of this wrong? We're struggling with the "where to stay decision" and I want to make sure I'm not working off any faulty premises!

1. The actual walk to the front gates from DLH and Hojos is about the same.
2. The kids suite at Hojos is much bigger than the std 2 queens + day bed rooms at DLH.
3. The monorail is only useful if we're going to Tomorrowland - if we're headed into DCA one day, it's easier just to walk to the front gates.
4. Staying at DLH, there's more stuff to do for the kids during our off-time.

Am I right about all of that?

Almost - except if you are going to DCA, you can cut through the Grand California Hotel and use the entrance there directly into DCA which is MUCH closer than walking to the front gates or the monorail.

And I agree that there is much more stuff to do in your off-time at the DLH - you're right in DTD, so all that is at your doorstep, plus the actual hotel and restaurants.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Hojo too, but it is not quite the same experience.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yep, probably about the same distance, and from HoJo it's more straight-forward and doesn't take you through a temptation-filled mall.

Going to DCA, absolutely, the monorail is useless.

More to do...DLH has the RC boats, but anyone with a few bucks can play with them. If your kids are bigger and "strong swimmers" with no need for someone to wait for them at the bottom of the slide, then the big slide in the Neverland pool will work out well for them. If your kids are smaller, that whole pool complex is just a pool...can't play on the pirate ship (can't even touch it) can't slide on the big slide...it's just a pool, and you might as well go to the smaller pools at the edge of the property. Anyone can wander through and look at the koi (or feed them if you get there at the right time), play on their lawns, see pretty brides (a fave pasttime of my 5 year old), etc etc. At HoJo there's an arcade if memory serves, the pool, and the pirate themed water play area.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

And I agree that there is much more stuff to do in your off-time at the DLH - you're right in DTD, so all that is at your doorstep, plus the actual hotel and restaurants.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Hojo too, but it is not quite the same experience.

I agree HOJOs isn't the same experience, but the DTD stuff can easily be done in down time no matter where you are staying because it's right by the parks.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

What can you do at DLH as a guest that you can't do as a non guest (other than sleep )? The pool would really be the only thing I can think of that wouldn't be accesseble to non guests of the DLH. I've stayed at both ~ but not a Kids Suite at HoJos ~ and I prefer HoJo ~ #1 the cost, much much less with the ent. rate especially, nice grounds, easy walk. DLH's 1 benefit is MM ~ we don't get them (we're AP holders) ~ so for our 1 night early Dec. we might stay at the DLH (it is my fave of the 3 onsite hotels).

 

[goldies 5]

Although both hotels are nice, I agree with the previous poster. It is not quite the same. I really like not having to cross Harbor or leave the premises. HoJo's has a great set up for even the smallest of kids. But DL has amazing swimming premises. DL hotel has shopping, restaurants, and is much more convenient for DTD. You can also send purchases back to DL from the park instead of carting them around. The walk is of course not short from the DL hotel but the view is much nicer.

 

[DangerMouse]

I've stayed at both. Out of all the on-site hotels, I liked the DLH the best. However, it was a one time thing for us. I just can't pass up the money savings and truly enjoy the HoJo as much as the DLH. With the money we save, we can usually afford a couple extra days in the parks, or a couple special meals or even a tour or special seating for F!

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Judy from Boise]

there is no correct answer, you just need to know yourself and what makes you happy. Also understand that that may change. We went from a diehard harbor blvd family when my DD was little, to a onsite concierge family today.They are/were both right for the circumstances. It may change yet again during the college years (ouch $)

 

[jenpace]

Up until this month, we've always stayed onsite, at the GCH and DLH...haven't done PPH yet.

Anyway, we stayed at the Hojo, in one of their kids' suites a couple of weeks ago.

I really liked the Hojo, the hotel is great, the employees are all super helpful and friendly, both the pool area and the water play area were really fun for my two DD's (7 and 11 y/o). The suite was also great, except my girls ended up sharing the king size bed with me each night instead of sleeping in the bunk beds

My only gripe with staying that the Hojo compared to the DLH (or GCH for that matter) was the walk back to the hotel on Harbor. It's definitely not magical and Disney-esque like walking through DTD to get back to the room. This difference was okay during the day but walking back to the hotel down Harbor late at night was really disturbing a couple of those nights. There's a seedy element that went beyond what we're used to...and we're from Santa Cruz

My oldest had twisted her ankle a bit in P.E. at school the day we left for DL so one of the nights we were there I decided to just take a cab back to the hotel. None of the taxis lined up in the taxi loading area at DL would take us because it was too small of a fare. I would have compensated them for their time with a generous tip but we never got that far...I was not impressed

It all depends on what priorities you have on vacation. For us, the Hojo was better than great but the walk and the 'scenery' on Harbor will make me really think hard about staying there again.

I remember commenting to my kids that if the Hojo were on property then it would be my 1st choice over all the hotels, including the DLH and GCH.

 

[Queenbillabong]

I agree HOJOs isn't the same experience, but the DTD stuff can easily be done in down time no matter where you are staying because it's right by the parks.

Yes, but if you're at the DLH, you walk through it on your way to/from your hotel...... The other perk (well, one of the other perks) if it matters to you is that if you stay on site, you get as many Magic Mornings as they offer during your stay. If you stay off site and have a 3 day or more park hopper you get one. If you have an AP or less then 3 day hopper, you get none.

There are also other activities that are hotel specific on site and they will give you an activities sheet when you check in. At the DGC Hotel, there are several things offered to guests (power walk through the park before it opens, sessions in Sephora before it opens, special times at Build a Bear, activities and crafts for the kids, scavenger hunt, etc.). I'm not entirely sure what activities are specifically offered at the DLH, but you could phone and ask. If you like to shop, they will also deliver your packages to Bell Services for you to pick up, rather than having to tote them around with you.

there is no correct answer, you just need to know yourself and what makes you happy. Also understand that that may change. We went from a diehard harbor blvd family when my DD was little, to a onsite concierge family today.They are/were both right for the circumstances. It may change yet again during the college years (ouch $)

I agree We've done both and both were great for what they were. It depends on what you want from your vacation.

 

[gatorfreud]

I have stayed at both multiple times, but not yet in the kids suite... comments below....

Especially if you've stayed at both the HOJOs (esp. kids' suite) and DLH, would you check my assumptions and let me know if I've got any of this wrong? We're struggling with the "where to stay decision" and I want to make sure I'm not working off any faulty premises!

1. The actual walk to the front gates from DLH and Hojos is about the same. True. Although with DLH you can take the monorail - we never do at rope drop time, but we do sometimes in the afternoon to and from break.
2. The kids suite at Hojos is much bigger than the std 2 queens + day bed rooms at DLH. Pretty sure this is true. We just stayed in the DLH day bed room and it is just a regular room. I think the kids suite is actually 2 full rooms.
3. The monorail is only useful if we're going to Tomorrowland - if we're headed into DCA one day, it's easier just to walk to the front gates. True. We only monorail to DL - we walk to DCA.
4. Staying at DLH, there's more stuff to do for the kids during our off-time.
True. I love the grounds of DLH so much more. It is just more relaxing. I like the onsite food and bar, gift shop, the jungle boats, arcade, sand volleyball and pools. HoJo has the pirate area which was ok for awhile. The big pool I thought was too cold to swim in even in August and it was HOT out.


Am I right about all of that?

Good luck with your decision! We have a kids suite AND DLH booked for Dec. 19-23 - so we are still deciding. We have a weekend at HoJo this weekend again so maybe that will finalize my choice.

Kim

 

[farmfresh]

You've got me with the monorail question...can't say I find it useful at all, and wouldn't consider it as a deciding factor on or offsite.

Might have been a different story when it was actually close to DLH.....

Now I think that the small saving in walking really is nothing when you add up all the other footsteps you are about to take in a day!

 

[cari12]

We just got back and stayed at the DLH. We are contemplating going next Christmas and I would definitely stay at the DLH again. If you have small kids, its wonderful to walk to and from the park through DTD and not worry about traffic. It's also far prettier than walking down regular streets like you have at home. And with either live music or piped in music in DTD, it is a very festive walk. There are lots of activities for the kids at the hotel and you get MM.

 

[DizMe]

I really like Hojos. I really love DLH. I would absolutely pay the price difference as long as it isn't out in the stratosphere, which is why I generally go during times when there are great rates onsite.

Hojos is a hotel; DLH is an experience. You just can't compare the grounds and amenities because they're totally different. One is a resort complex and the other is a standard hotel. With one, you never have to leave the resort and with the other, you are staying in a kind of seedy neighborhood.

I've never stayed in a kid suite and they sound very cool. We'll probably try it out next summer since we usually stay elsewhere in SoCal for a week and go over to DLR for 1 night. For our annual fall family vacation, we like to stay onsite.

I love using the monorail, but it really can't be depended upon as a method of transportation. It is pretty cool, though, and my girls love it.

I never find the walk to/from DLH to seem nearly as long as the walk to/from Hojos. I HATE Harbor Blvd.

We like to eat at RFC, which is right next door to DLH.

BTW, the monorail has not changed its position in relation to DLH. The only thing that has changed is that the stuff that used to be between the monorail station and the hotel (shops and restaurants) is now gone, but the walk from your room to the station is exactly the same because the towers and the station haven't moved. Not yet, anyway.

 

[disfan07]

We've stayed at the HOJOs twice and we just stayed at DLH for the first time this past weekend.

While the HOJO is nice and we really liked the hotelus. (and the price) nothing beat staying at the DLH for us.

We only stayed there this time b/c we were able to get AP rates which came out to not much more than the HOJO. We loved not haveing to cross harbor blvd especially at night. We also loved how relaxing and vacationy DLH felt compared to HOJO. We liked tha there were 3 pools at the DLH. I was able to swim laps in one of the cove pools which was great. The rooms are soo nice and you can't beat hearing disney music everytime you walk out the door. We will probably not go again without staying at DLH. We are already making plans to go in Jan. and my mom automatically said that we were going to be stayign at teh DLH again.

Unless we are planning on going when there are no AP rates or the HOJO rates are extremely low, we will probably be staying at the DLH from now on

 

[TheZue]

We are at the grand right now for the first time. Generally we stay at the Best Western right across the street. Technically the walk is longer to our room, but it SEEMS so much shorter because it doesn't even feel like you are leaving the park anymore than mainstreet feels like you've left the park. Also it's wonderful having DTD right there. I honestly don't think I'll be staying off site again.

I would also say there is more for the kids to do in the off time. Yes you can access it all if you aren't a guest, but it's a little different walking 15 minutes out of your way to play with the stuff at the DLR hotels, than just deciding to go do it on the way to the pool, or back to your room, or on the way to breakfast. My son has done a ton of pin trading at the resort while waiting for Grandma and Grandpa...wouldn't have happened in an offsite lobby.