no free breakfast, further away...why hojo?

[ado121]

what abut families like mine with 2 adults and 4 little ones (ages 1(crib), 3 5 7) do you get 2 rooms?

 

[DangerMouse]

I am just so surprised that I see so few people use priceline. The last 3 times we have been to Disneyland we have used priceline and got GREAT hotels that are 3.5 to 4 star hotels. I stayed at the marriott with a beautiful pool and also stayed at the Crown Plaza which is right across the street from Target. Both offer a shuttle and with priceline fees and such we paid about $48 a night.

Mariners

priceline is always difficult for families of 5 or more because they don't guarantee beds, and there are often times hidden fees (resort, parking, etc.). I prefer to know I will be within walking distance, and not have to rely on any shuttle, so we plan our trips around the HoJo's ent. rate availability.

 

[samkj]

The absolute best customer service available!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I am just so surprised that I see so few people use priceline. The last 3 times we have been to Disneyland we have used priceline and got GREAT hotels that are 3.5 to 4 star hotels. I stayed at the marriott with a beautiful pool and also stayed at the Crown Plaza which is right across the street from Target. Both offer a shuttle and with priceline fees and such we paid about $48 a night.

Mariners

We stayed at the Crown Plaza twice last year via priceline ~ and paid in the $40s per night. I still prefer to be within walking distance though ~ however the shuttle service was pretty good.

 

[samkj]

I am just so surprised that I see so few people use priceline. The last 3 times we have been to Disneyland we have used priceline and got GREAT hotels that are 3.5 to 4 star hotels. I stayed at the marriott with a beautiful pool and also stayed at the Crown Plaza which is right across the street from Target. Both offer a shuttle and with priceline fees and such we paid about $48 a night.

Mariners

We refuse to shuttle (child with wheelchair) and driving and parking is a pain. I would rather pay a few dollars extra and be within walking distance.

 

[blabbermouth]

I don't know. When we stayed there last summer, it was 'fine'. The room was kind of dark as we were in a corner facing the pool. It was clean, but the bathroom wasn't sparkling or anything. I don't know about the customer service, all they did was check us in, nothing special at all, and it was our honeymoon. The pool was decent, but not quite big enough at busy times. The walk was fine for us, not TOO far, but don't want to walk much further!

But I think we paid about $90/night and we don't have kids, so maybe that's why we don't like it as much. Next time we will try something different I think!

Oh, and I forgot my bathing suit there and never got it back. Not their fault of course, but they never 'found' it. It was the only hotel we swam at and I hung it on the back of the bathroom door, so I don't think it would be anywhere else!

 

[Mouse13]

We've always stayed at the HoJo, but then we've always gotten the Entertainment Rate. This year I had a feeling that we weren't going to get the E rate and starting looking around to see if we could get more for our money. I ended up booking the Residence Inn Maingate. They have a full breakfast buffet and are within walking distance to the park. I got a great rate, comparable to the HoJo AP rate, and can't wait to try out our new digs. I guess it was time for a change. The HoJo is great but for full price I wanted more for my money. I've heard great things about the RI and am hoping to pass along more good news about this property after our trip. Good luck to everyone in their hotel quests!

 

[nana50]

I don't know. When we stayed there last summer, it was 'fine'. The room was kind of dark as we were in a corner facing the pool. It was clean, but the bathroom wasn't sparkling or anything. I don't know about the customer service, all they did was check us in, nothing special at all, and it was our honeymoon. The pool was decent, but not quite big enough at busy times. The walk was fine for us, not TOO far, but don't want to walk much further!

But I think we paid about $90/night and we don't have kids, so maybe that's why we don't like it as much. Next time we will try something different I think!

Oh, and I forgot my bathing suit there and never got it back. Not their fault of course, but they never 'found' it. It was the only hotel we swam at and I hung it on the back of the bathroom door, so I don't think it would be anywhere else!

I'm with you. I stayed there because of all the recommendations. It was clean, but kind of shabby. I usually stay at the Hilton and I'm spoiled. I don't like Disney Hotel either. It screamed 60's or 70's to me. The jacuzzi was so full of people drinking and kids swimming there was no place to sit. The staff was nice but as I needed nothing special I didn't really need their help. I've had nice staff at other hotels also. For me, part of the trip is the hotel. Someplace lovely to go back to half way through your day and room service in the morning. I am willing to pay for it also.

 

[jescal75]

with the free breakfast being such a big deal for people wonder why HOJO doesn't start offering a continental breakfast?

 

[DangerMouse]

with the free breakfast being such a big deal for people wonder why HOJO doesn't start offering a continental breakfast?

They currently don't have a room large enough to serve something like that, and no kitchen facility to support it.

 

[LuLusApple]

with the free breakfast being such a big deal for people wonder why HOJO doesn't start offering a continental breakfast?

Oh no, then they probably wouldn't give such great rates lol They would be like everyone else

 

[GinCar]

About breakfast...
I am happy with coffee, but the other 4 in my family have to have a hot breakfast. Even when we stay at a place that offers a "free" breakfast, it does not satisfy DH. We end up eating out anyway. (They all eat a plate full of carbs and sugar and I sit with coffee and maybe a piece of fruit, LOL.)

So for HoJo's not to offer a breakfast is fine by my breakfast eaters! As long as they have a coffee pot, I'll be happy.
With the great discounts they offer, I would rather have no breakfast than to pay more.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I have never stayed there, and now that we are a family of 3 adults, most likely never will.....I do not think adults are their special niche. But it sounds like an excellent value, and an especially good option for children the age that would enjoy the water play area. However no lodging will hit every demographic the same.

 

[50sjayne]

Comfy beds (same style as Westin's Heavenly Beds), fun waterplay area in a pirate theme, lovely pool in the "garden". Kid's suite that looks really cool (and I believe is eligible for its own entertainment rate). Very responsive management who is active on these boards and sponsors other disney message boards and gives discounts to disney fans and are Disney fans themselves.


I stayed at the Carousel, and their free breakfast was vile to me; even the fruit looked bad. And it opened just in time to make me later than I wanted to be to get to the gates. I haven't stayed at Desert Inn, but that was my experience with free breakfast. Since then, I'd rather snag a granola bar in the early morning, get to the gates, get a coffee or tea, have fun for a couple hours, then get b'fast in the parks.


As for its distance...it's literally only a couple more minutes walking away, and if you walk along the disneyland side, you avoid the hotel-side crowds.

What she said....

with the free breakfast being such a big deal for people wonder why HOJO doesn't start offering a continental breakfast?

I think the free breakfast is a big deal only for people not really savvy about Disneyland. It's really best to be there at gate opening and most continental breakfasts simply are not open early enough to accomplish this. They are also generally crowded, and run out of the best stuff first thing.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think the free breakfast is a big deal only for people not really savvy about Disneyland. It's really best to be there at gate opening and most continental breakfasts simply are not open early enough to accomplish this. They are also generally crowded, and run out of the best stuff first thing.

I agree! However, in low season when DL opens at 10AM there is time to have a leisurely breakfast. But we never go then. We always go when DL opens at 8AM. So we are out the door by 7:20 (or earlier on Magic Mornings) with our bagels and fruit and granola bars. We snack on those all morning and never do sit down breakfasts. Too much wasted time during precious morning hours.

The best time for a large sit down meal is lunch when the attraction lines are longest and, if you are there May-Oct, the temperatures are higher and you need some air conditioning.

 

[cats mom]

I am just so surprised that I see so few people use priceline. The last 3 times we have been to Disneyland we have used priceline and got GREAT hotels that are 3.5 to 4 star hotels. I stayed at the marriott with a beautiful pool and also stayed at the Crown Plaza which is right across the street from Target. Both offer a shuttle and with priceline fees and such we paid about $48 a night.

Mariners

I'm a priceline fan, but I think most folks want more control over location, transportation, amenities, breakfast options, etc. for a Disney vacation than you get when you roll the priceline dice. So I understand why folks may be hesitant to go that route for a family vacation.

Another consideration: most hotels I've stayed at via priceline have been willing to grant room requests, but not all. One Residence Inn I stayed at had a policy of only assigning studio rooms (1 queen, 1 sofa bed, all one room) to priceline customers. Bumping up to a 1 bedroom suite, let alone a 2 bedroom suite (best suited for families) was not an option at that RI if you booked via priceline.


HoJo's used to be our low cost hotel of choice for Disneyland vacations (long before it became popular on the Dis boards) But when we upgraded to AP's with parking, we usually opted for one of the Garden Grove hotels on Harbor, and just drove to the parks.

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

So I'm not finding a "great rate" at all for HOJO using the entertainment site. Do you guys call or how do you get the rate? We're going in July/Aug and this sounds perfect..

 

[M4travels]

So I'm not finding a "great rate" at all for HOJO using the entertainment site. Do you guys call or how do you get the rate? We're going in July/Aug and this sounds perfect..

There are no discount nights currently listed on HojoAnaheim Innsider Boards for July and August but keep checking it as they update it frequently.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

 

[blackjackdelta]

July/August dates did not come available until June/July last year. It is a busy time and if they can fill the rooms there will be no E rate.

Jack

 

[raftislander]

What she said....


I think the free breakfast is a big deal only for people not really savvy about Disneyland. It's really best to be there at gate opening and most continental breakfasts simply are not open early enough to accomplish this. They are also generally crowded, and run out of the best stuff first thing.

We stayed at the CCI last October when the park was opening at 8:00 am. We ate the free breakfast on all but our MM day and were always there for gate opening- and while not first at the gates- were within 10 or so people. I do agree with your general thought that it is more important to be at gate opening than to have a free breakfast, but I disagree that you have to give up one to do the other. The quality of the free breakfasts offered vary greatly and many are not worth eating, which is why boards like this are so wonderful. You can ask questions about when and what the hotel offers and decide it it works for your family or not.