Keep HoJo or switch?

[tkitty]

I know there are many out there with opinions on Hotels, and I wanted to take advantage of that.
We currently have a reservation for HoJo for 2 nights in Feb. Disney veiw 2 Queen, entertainment rate of $79. Tried to get a kid suite, but they were booked.
Originaly we were to be DD, 2 grandkids and me. Then found out that DH would also like to go. So 3 adults, 2 small kids, 2 nights.
I was looking at Desert Inn Suites, and one of the well known travel sites has there Parlor suite (2queens, and sofa sleeper) for $89. The extra space would be nice (sofa sleeper), I hear they provide cont. breakfast, and it's a shorter walk to the parks.
If I knew that the weather would be nice, the kids absolutly love the Pirate Cove water play area and I wouldn't be considering another room.
We loved HoJo when we stayed for the first time in Sept. but just checking all options.

 

[kiwitravel]

Like has been said on other threads HoJos at the ent rate is hard to beat... You could get a one bedroom suite and breakfast for about the same cost and walk at The Best value Inn on Katella but Hojos has a big fanbase on this site, it has internal halls and is more of a hotel rather than a motel... If walking is an issue then stay closer...

 

[sukhakuli]

I've never stayed at the Hojo, even though we went to DL a ton when we lived in CA. Honestly, the walk was more than I wanted to do. We always stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn, or the Castle, if the Anaheim was booked. The Parlor suite rocks. And you can't beat the price and location. Sure, it doesn't have a water park. But when we go to DL we want to be in the park, or sleeping. We can go to a waterpark anytime.

Oh, and I have no idea about the breakfast. We always packed a cooler with things like frozen breakfast sandwiches and ate on our way to the parks.

 

[jory29]

I would choose Hojo for numerous reasons... better beds (SO comfortable, oh my gosh!!), Keurig coffee machines, in-room safes, outdoor pool/play area, great friendly staff, easy delivery of Von's groceries as I have found Hojo to be extremely accommodating about having food delivered there, inside hallways, McD's is half way from DL to the hotel, makes for a great pit stop to tank up for a bed time snack. Mimi's is close by, great food, great prices. I find we honestly call Hojo's 'home' when we are at the park, we will say, 'Let's go home now.' Our real home is over 5 hours away by flight, but it's nice to have a second home when we are there. I can't say I have ever felt that with another hotel. Also... keep checking for the kids suites, as sometimes people will cancel. You just have to keep phoning in-house reservations to see if any cancellations for the kids suites have come up for your stay.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

I've stayed at both and I prefer HOJOs. I think it's much cleaner than Desert Inn. I would never consider the walk to be a factor. I mean you walk miles inside the park anyway so what's wrong with a few more steps to stay in a cleaner much more comfortable place?

 

[tkitty]

Thanks for all the input. The walk is not an issue and I did love the bed at HoJo. (But what's with the strange pillows?)
I imagine we will stay put and hope for a warm day to injoy the water play area. We'll only be in the park one day any how, just using up some 1 day tickets before they expire.
I always wonder if somewhere else is better. Maybe I'm on here to much. hehe

 

[ashpinoza]

there are a MILLION reasons, as for many others, that i will stay ONLYYYYY at hojos lol. you could check and see if there are any other suites available? this place is amazing to me, took about 7 minutes to walk to gates. if you cant get a suite you can consider other options, many places around the same price i just find are not special like hojos to me.

 

[dmked]

Hojo's with the Entertainment Rate, I would never pass that up for something else. Best hotel around!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We are struggling with this choice as well. I have reservations for both for the end of the month. I got the ent. rate and booked a standard room for $59 for my two eldest daughters and I. Then a friend told me that I should try Desert Inn, so I made a reservation at the rate of $59 for a double bed room.

I did not realize Desert Inn did not have interior doors. I like that Hojo is more hotel like, but recently I've noticed that the exterior doors have always been propped open. I liked the aspect of a closer walk at Desert Inn, but I'm concerned about the security issue.

We have always stayed at Hojo and I am so comfortable staying there. My girls like the idea of an indoor pool, but I wonder how much time we would even spend at a pool.

I need to decide fast and cancel one.

 

[skiingfast]

I would switch. Saying because you got the ENT rate you should keep Hojo isn't a valid reason since you are going to end up paying more for food than you save on the room price.

Also if you found the price on the desert inn suite on a third part site, see if they will beat the price if you reserve it directly.

 

[kiwitravel]

Going in winter I would favour the Desert Inn if the same price as it is closer, has an indoor pool and includes breakfast....

 

[MommyWithDreams]

We have always stayed at Hojo and I am so comfortable staying there. My girls like the idea of an indoor pool, but I wonder how much time we would even spend at a pool.

I need to decide fast and cancel one.

If you can handle the overpowering smell of chlorine. We never do the pools but I certainly remember just walking past the pool at the DI and smelling the chlorine soooooooo strong. I couldn't imagine being closed up in there.

 

[rune_74]

Going in winter I would favour the Desert Inn if the same price as it is closer, has an indoor pool and includes breakfast....

If you seriously have to worry about it being closer as one of the reasons that is pretty sad..it is a total of maybe three minutes closer.

 

[kiwitravel]

If you can handle the overpowering smell of chlorine. We never do the pools but I certainly remember just walking past the pool at the DI and smelling the chlorine soooooooo strong. I couldn't imagine being closed up in there.

I totally agree, I definitely wouldn't stay there in summer but would put up with the chlorine for a winter swim as opposed to braving an outdoor pool...

 

[kiwitravel]

If you seriously have to worry about it being closer as one of the reasons that is pretty sad..it is a total of maybe three minutes closer.

Lol This is the subject of another thread.... The walk time is subjective and depends on where you are measuring the time from.... If you can walk from any room at Hojos to Desert Inn in 3 minutes i will eat my mouse ears...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

keep hojos heck tomorrow or tue im supose to call an add on another night or two because i saw the weekend has the ent rate too love hojo always will only other place would be a disney hotle but yah right cant aford it

 

[chrissiecutie]

We are struggling with this choice as well. I have reservations for both for the end of the month. I got the ent. rate and booked a standard room for $59 for my two eldest daughters and I. Then a friend told me that I should try Desert Inn, so I made a reservation at the rate of $59 for a double bed room.

I did not realize Desert Inn did not have interior doors. I like that Hojo is more hotel like, but recently I've noticed that the exterior doors have always been propped open. I liked the aspect of a closer walk at Desert Inn, but I'm concerned about the security issue.

We have always stayed at Hojo and I am so comfortable staying there. My girls like the idea of an indoor pool, but I wonder how much time we would even spend at a pool.

I need to decide fast and cancel one.

Growing up, my family and I always stayed at Desert Inn. With a family of 5, it just made sense...keep in mind that was a LONG time ago, well before the pirate water park and kids suites at the HoJo's.

It's been awhile since those days growing up but I will tell you from personal past experience that the free, continental breakfast is a JOKE! And the pool is the size of a small bathroom! Now, unless they've done some major remodel...I would not base your decision on the pool and breakfast. If anything, those are reasons NOT to stay at Desert Inn, IMO.

DH is obsessed with security and we both freely admit to being "hotel snobs". We LOVE the HoJo's!

Our family of 3 always reserves the standard room at ET rate and we request Building 2, top floor...which seems to be the quietest. Another mention in regards to security, at least for Bldg #2, there are sliding doors that lead to the elevators. These doors are locked after hours and you can only get in with your room key. I also suggest, if you are parking in the back of Bldg 2, that you take everything and I do mean EVERYTHING out of your car. As with all hotels near Disney, they have a theft problem. Don't give the thieves a reason to smash your car window, just take it all out with you and you'll be fine! We actually unloaded our car in the back near Bldg2 and then we try and find a parking spot in the front, near the reception desk- much safer that way!

And if your girls are anything like my DS, they are pool obsessed. So trust me when I say this will be a HUGE part of your vacation! I think DS enjoyed the pirate water park almost as much as DL! We now allow an entire day devoted to this...and frankly, I couldn't imagine spending an entire day at the dinky, smelly pool at Desert Inn!

 

[captsparrowslady]

If you seriously have to worry about it being closer as one of the reasons that is pretty sad..it is a total of maybe three minutes closer.

We (me and my parents) love the Desert Inn *beacause* it is right at the crosswalk. We all have knee and joint problems, as well as other medical problems, so we rent off site ECV scooters from Alan's and scoot out the DI lobby (where we keep them charging over night), then scoot right across the crosswalk and straight into the park. To us, being that close to the park is a definate bonus.

We are struggling with this choice as well. I have reservations for both for the end of the month. I got the ent. rate and booked a standard room for $59 for my two eldest daughters and I. Then a friend told me that I should try Desert Inn, so I made a reservation at the rate of $59 for a double bed room.

I did not realize Desert Inn did not have interior doors. I like that Hojo is more hotel like, but recently I've noticed that the exterior doors have always been propped open. I liked the aspect of a closer walk at Desert Inn, but I'm concerned about the security issue.

We have always stayed at Hojo and I am so comfortable staying there. My girls like the idea of an indoor pool, but I wonder how much time we would even spend at a pool.

I need to decide fast and cancel one.

We never had a secuirty issue with the exterior doors, and if you saw any doors propped open, it was probably unoccupied rooms being cleaned. We would put up the 'do not disturb' sign on the door to keep the maid out. Then we'd just let the maid take the garbage when we saw her go by the room. The first day we didn't have the 'do not disturb' sign out on the door, and when we came back the pull out couch was put back as a couch, which annoyed me, because that was my bed, and after a long day at Disney, I really didn't want to have to work at pulling out my bed again. So that was the main reason we put up the 'Do Not Disturb' sign. Then also you don't have to worry about your personal belongings being rifled thru by the maid staff, if you're 'paranoid' about that. (what? me? paranoid? no.... )

As for the indoor pool, I personally didn't have a problem with the chlorine smell, I didn't think it was that bad, but then I'm kinda wierd and like the smell of chlorine (up to a point).... It's not a huge pool, and it's really a 'no frills' pool, but it's still nice and relaxing... and I *think* I remember there being a hot tub... but I can't remember... so if I'm wrong, somebody feel free to correct me on that...

All in all, we have always had a great time at the Desert Inn. For me and my family, we're not very frilly. All we need is a microwave and a mini fridge, comfortable beds and tons of pillows for my mom. The pull out couch bed was actually very comfortable. We don't really spend a lot of time at the hotel. It's not why we're there... we're there for Disneyland! To us, the hotel is just a place to crash at the end of the night. We get up early, and enter the park as soon as they open the gate, and we stay there all day (maybe going back for an afternoon nap, or lunch in the hotel) and leave at closing. You do get a free continental breakfast and they have a cute little store next to the breakfast room which proved to be quite useful...

We were there in January, so it was cold and we were able to buy ponchos (cheaper than in the park) and a Tinkerbell fleece blanket (they had other disney designs too) and they sold over the counter medications, such as tylenol, motrin, Midol, etc. it was like having a little corner market right there at the hotel. They have a great A/C and a good heater too for the rooms.

 

[mellers]

This will be my first stay at the HoJo's, so I can't speak from experience, but I have stayed at the Desert Inn and Suites and didn't like it--I don't know what they treated the floors with, but we had black stuff on our socks and pajamas that never came out. It's been awhile since we stayed there, so more recent people might have a better handle on what it's like now.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

never stayed at hojos before but know a lot of ppl who have, i have heard a lot of good reviews! i stayed at the desert inn once and it wasn't that great. once was enough.