No love for the Fairfield Inn?

[yupikgal]

I just checked the Fairfield's rates for my July trip and they are coming in at $116 as opposed to the Hojo at $136.
Is there something wrong with the Fairfield? I just see so much about the Hojo and not about the Fairfield, it had me wondering.

Nothings wrong with the Fairfield, it's great!

We have stayed at the Fairfield twice in the past few years & we like it just fine. It's really handy to have the Pizza Hut located inside! Our only compliant is that it's kind of a long walk back from the parks at night when you're exhausted & your feet are screaming. In the morning the walk is a breeze.

The Fairfield is closer to Disney then Ho Jo's, fyi

I prefer to stay at the Grand when I can, but our next choice is the Fairfield. I am a Marriott Rewards member so I like getting the points. They have the nice Pacific Coast down pillows like the full service Marriott's!

I didn't realize they have down pillows! Will have to check it out...

See that's what got me thinking. Fairfield came in UNDER the Hojo in price. So, with the cost factor eliminated, what would make the Hojo better? Is it cleaner, more refurbished?

Hojo isn't necessarily better, they are both clean, HoJo does have that water feature/pool area that is very nice, and they have an excellent gift shop and game room for kids, (Fairfield has this too though) Some of the rooms at HoJo at refurbed and others aren't, neither one is super up to date!

Hojo has the entertainment rate of 50% off the regular rate, with standard rooms at $59, so because of that, it makes the place really popular. I think that may be the reason that you have read so much about it. They also have great rooms, inside corridors, and a great staff, and we love it there, but to be honest, if the entertainment rate wasn't available and I could find a better rate somewhere else, I might go elsewhere. I don't have any young children so the water park at the Hojo wouldn't be a factor any longer. I've heard really good things about the Fairfield Inn, but I think if the entertainment rate is available at Hojos, that's why some people may choose to go there over the Fairfield Inn, along with the other reasons that I mentioned above.

We can't get the ENT rate for the time frame we are going, I checked, sniff, sniff

We stayed at the Fairfield a couple of a year and a half ago for a couple of weeks. We liked it. It was fine. There were only 3 of us in the room, but we had lots of space. the beds were great. the walk from the park to the hotel was no different than walking back to the HOJO. They are easy hop, skip and a jump to Mimi's for breakfast, just cut accross the parking lot. We found the staff to be really nice and friendly. We have never had a problem with them. There is a chair in the room that pulls out into a bed, thus allowing the room to easily sleep 5 if need be. We liked them because they allowed us to decorate the outside of our door with removable disney stickers. Our room really stood out with them on! You could even see it from the pool and we stayed 6 floors up!! Anyways, nothing wrong with Fairfield. We like to try new places to stay so we will not be with them for our next trip.

The beds at the FFI are comfortable, and there is a small pull out, not even the size of a twin though..for a small child at best. Mimi's is not to be missed, it has great food and service! We were also able to see the fireworks from right outside our room the first time we stayed there, and we didn't have what they call a "park view" we were pleasantly surprised! I like the idea of being able to decorate your room, especially because they have almost 500 rooms there! Easy to find!! Thanks for the idea! We like to try new places too, I just hope we don't miss the FFI...another thing I like is their free lemon/lime water, and sometimes lemonade in the lobby!

Right it's a little far, but Hojo is further. So unless the OP needs the Kid pool at Hojo, there really isn't any reason to stay at Hojo over the fairfield.

Both offer something rare on Harbor, interior hallways. But honestly in a safe place like the Anaheim resort area I don't think that makes a difference to choose them over the other motels.

This is true, Hojo is farther..Fairfield doesn't have interior hallways though..

Does Fairfield Inn have interior hallways? I could have sworn they have outside hallways.

they don't...

Sorry they do, but not quite like a traditional motel. Once off the ground floor you are more isolated from the exterior because it's a taller building with real elevators, instead of ones just used to make a place ADA compliant. The stairs get a fire access feal, rather than something you would always use at a 2 story motel.

the doors to/from the room open to the outdoors, but like skiingfast said, you are higher up, so it's not like you are on the ground level..you step onto the "balcony" hallway that leads you to the elevators or stairs.

Fairfield is great. Its closer to DL, has a McDonalds very close, a pizza hut express inside, and had comfortable rooms. It is our favorite of all on Harbor. We have stayed at HOJO, FFI, and BWPPI. Pool is very small though. If you want a pool then go to HOJO otherwise stay here.

I agree, we love the FFI! McD's is right there, Mimi's behind it, the pizza hut, Seattle's Best coffee, gift shop, game room, they allow you to store your bags in a locked room if you get there too early to check in, they have lime/lemon water in the lobby all day, small but nice pool, and nice lobby area!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Well, we liked the Fairfield Inn enough to go back next week for our FOURTH stay.

 

[Chauntae]

I'm new here, but I agree with the above. Our AC was like a swamp cooler, so everything felt wet. I wasn't impressed with the motel like rooms either. We're looking for a new place this time.

 

[tdashgirl]

The reason we keep going back to Hojo is ultimately price. In our case, since we have APs, we can get 20% off whatever the going rate at Hojo is. I rarely find a place that is within walking distance, that I don't have to pre-pay, and that comes out cheaper for the whole stay. That being said, if Fairfield came out cheaper, I don't see any reason not to consider it.

BTW, Hojo has a separate pool as well as the water play area. My 9 and 11 year old boys enjoy both.

If you want a pool then go to HOJO otherwise stay here.

Quoted above because they summarize my opinion on hotels on Harbor. We only stay at hotels that are walking distance, and usually just require a safe, clean hotel to sleep. The cheaper, the better - more money to spend at DLR Everytime I've stayed at HOJO's it's because it was under $100. Also if you're going in the summer months, I think HOJO's has the nicest non-Disney still within walking distance of the main entrance set of pools. Honestly, the other ones on Harbor are nothing more than rectangles set in concrete. When not looking for a pool, I'm fine with those hotels though.

 

[Mouse13]

OK, I have to get in on the conversation. I have a reservation here for June, along with ressies at the RI Maingate and Homewood Suites. I have the Fairfield reserved at a rock bottom rate but just can't make up my mind. I read somewhere that the showerheads are mounted at 5' 5". DH is 6' and I just can't see him stooping over to shower for 8 days. Also, I don't think the rooms have closets. I'm an overpacker and need a closet to hide all my extra stuff in so that I have more free space in the room. For those that know, how is the pool? Is it heated?

 

[luvsmickey1968]

We stayed at the Fairfield once and it was okay.
There was two things we didn't like about it:

The first thing was how you entered the hotel, went up the elevator and then had to go outside to get to your room. We found that strange but it wasn't that big of a deal.

The second thing was the pool. We didn't like the fact that the pool was basically in the parking lot! Very unrelaxing! It doesn't seem that big of a deal to other people however, since I don't hear many people complaining about it.

If we didn't have children and were not planning on using the pool, we would probably stay there if the price was right.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, now I'm in a pickle. DH likes the look of the Fairfield better than the Hojo. He can't get past the Hojo's dated look. I asked DS and he thought the water play area looked babyish.

So, now, I guess we're staying at the Fairfield. My biggest thing is cleanliness. Can anyone tell me for sure that the Fairfield room will be as clean as the Hojo. I know Hojo is known for it's superior housekeeping.

Also, what room type would you recommend? Disney view for a bit more?

 

[Vexorg]

I stayed at the Fairfield when I went last may, and liked it just fine. I'm not too picky about hotel rooms (just about anything that's clean and not falling apart is fine with me, but that happens a lot less often than I'd like) and I thought the pool was OK. Then again I was traveling solo and didn't have any kids with me, so YMMV.

 

[AustinTink]

Scratch my last post, we're sticking with the Hojo. I've read through far too many reviews tonight about the Fairfield and it doesn't match up to the Hojo on cleanliness and mattress comfort. Those are my two biggest needs.

 

[perrinej]

Does anyone know if Fairfield Inn will hold our luggage until check-in? We will arrive at LAX at 9:30 am. By the time we get our luggage, get our bus transportation and travel to Fairfield Inn, we will arrive way before their check in time of 4:00. We plan to take our time on arrival day, eat a late lunch at DTD and shop for the afternoon. We need a place to drop off luggage, since we have no rental car for the week!!!

 

[taaren]

We are also Marriott ppl, so when we don't stay at VGC, we usually stay at either the Residence Inn or the Fairfield, preference towards the Fairfield depending on how many ppl we have that trip. We like it for the easy walking distance, and its nicer than the BW's that are slightly closer, and we get the Marriott Reward points. However, its not as nice as Courtyard/Res Inns since its the Marriott 'budget' brand. Never stayed at HoJo since we're not really pool people on vacation - have nice enough pools here at home that we can go to when we staycation for the odd weekend.

I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn as a budget option - we have a room reserved with the AAA rate for a quick trip in mid-May for $98. When we do our budget trip, walking distance to the park, this is our top choice.

 

[yupikgal]

Yes the Fairfield will hold your luggage, we have done it twice, we always get there in the morning, (coming from Alaska on a red-eye flight) In fact, they have a separate, locked room specifically for this, you will notice all kinds of luggage in there when they open the door! We also will be getting there at 930a, are you coming from Seattle? They will take your cell# and then call you when the room is ready, very nice! This time we are heading to San Diego with Amtrak though, so we won't have to worry about this. We don't rent a car either, and we do just fine!

Does anyone know if Fairfield Inn will hold our luggage until check-in? We will arrive at LAX at 9:30 am. By the time we get our luggage, get our bus transportation and travel to Fairfield Inn, we will arrive way before their check in time of 4:00. We plan to take our time on arrival day, eat a late lunch at DTD and shop for the afternoon. We need a place to drop off luggage, since we have no rental car for the week!!!

Taaren, have you stayed at the BWPPI? I have a reservation for it this time, just to try something new, and it includes breakfast (although I do like to eat in the parks too though, and we plan on doing at least one character meal! Anyway, the difference is about $145 + tax between the BWPPI & the Fairfield, the FFI is cheaper. I just thought it would be nice to be right across the street. Now you are making me have 2nd thoughts! We are familiar with and like the FFI, would we be that miserable at the BW? We have two teens, btw. Thanks!

We are also Marriott ppl, so when we don't stay at VGC, we usually stay at either the Residence Inn or the Fairfield, preference towards the Fairfield depending on how many ppl we have that trip. We like it for the easy walking distance, and its nicer than the BW's that are slightly closer, and we get the Marriott Reward points. However, its not as nice as Courtyard/Res Inns since its the Marriott 'budget' brand. Never stayed at HoJo since we're not really pool people on vacation - have nice enough pools here at home that we can go to when we staycation for the odd weekend.

I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn as a budget option - we have a room reserved with the AAA rate for a quick trip in mid-May for $98. When we do our budget trip, walking distance to the park, this is our top choice.

 

[perrinej]

Yupikgal- thanks for your info on holding luggage. This will come in very handy for us when we arrive at Fairfield Inn. No we are not coming from Seattle but from Kansas City with a direct flight using Southwest Airlines. Arriving June 10 through June 18, our 1st trip to Disneyland and California. Can't wait the weather here is so cold and about 16 inches of snow on the ground and calling for possible more this next week!!!!!

 

[taaren]

Taaren, have you stayed at the BWPPI? I have a reservation for it this time, just to try something new, and it includes breakfast (although I do like to eat in the parks too though, and we plan on doing at least one character meal! Anyway, the difference is about $145 + tax between the BWPPI & the Fairfield, the FFI is cheaper. I just thought it would be nice to be right across the street. Now you are making me have 2nd thoughts! We are familiar with and like the FFI, would we be that miserable at the BW? We have two teens, btw. Thanks!

I have stayed at both. When we were doing a longer trip back at NY's Eve 2008, we stayed at BWPPI because we wanted a place we felt free to walk back to the hotel and nap at without too much effort, and it was good for that. The room was not dirty, but not great either. Fairfield Inn is nicer, but not by much. The included breakfast was continental-style at PPI, pastries and juice and such, which is about all we eat (though when we stay at FF we're okay with buying a costco pack of danishes and water bottles and we're happy with that, sometimes supplement with a mcd's oj on the way to the park).
I think the other reason we stayed at BWPPI was the room was cheaper that particular week (it was $120 and the FF at that peak week was like $140 - our friend stayed at the FFI that trip and just walked over to pick us up in the morning, but his roommate was even more hardcore Marriott than we are).

So the answer is, no, you will not be miserable at the BWPPI. The lack of walk is about as good as you can get without paying Disney-owned prices. Its okay, good to try, though I prefer the FF mostly for the Marriott points and it being slightly cheaper (plus a good excuse for us to go to Marie Callendars since they closed the one in my adopted hometown of Fairfield California). Either way, have a fabulous trip!

post script - Just saw about the 2 teenagers. We stayed in a room with 1 king + pullout couch. The only night we had a friend stay on the pullout couch at BWPPI he said it was not very comfortable, so reserve 2 queens if you can!

 

[yupikgal]

Yupikgal- thanks for your info on holding luggage. This will come in very handy for us when we arrive at Fairfield Inn. No we are not coming from Seattle but from Kansas City with a direct flight using Southwest Airlines. Arriving June 10 through June 18, our 1st trip to Disneyland and California. Can't wait the weather here is so cold and about 16 inches of snow on the ground and calling for possible more this next week!!!!!

perrinej, you are welcome! How funny that our flights get in at the same time, even if you are coming from KC! KC Kansas or MO? My inlaws are originally from MO...I hear you about the weather, can't wait for warm weather either, it's also cold here in Alaska, as you can imagine! You actually beat us with snow fall though, we haven't had a whole bunch, and if we get any, it blows away from the wind!

I have stayed at both. When we were doing a longer trip back at NY's Eve 2008, we stayed at BWPPI because we wanted a place we felt free to walk back to the hotel and nap at without too much effort, and it was good for that. The room was not dirty, but not great either. Fairfield Inn is nicer, but not by much. The included breakfast was continental-style at PPI, pastries and juice and such, which is about all we eat (though when we stay at FF we're okay with buying a costco pack of danishes and water bottles and we're happy with that, sometimes supplement with a mcd's oj on the way to the park).
I think the other reason we stayed at BWPPI was the room was cheaper that particular week (it was $120 and the FF at that peak week was like $140 - our friend stayed at the FFI that trip and just walked over to pick us up in the morning, but his roommate was even more hardcore Marriott than we are).

So the answer is, no, you will not be miserable at the BWPPI. The lack of walk is about as good as you can get without paying Disney-owned prices. Its okay, good to try, though I prefer the FF mostly for the Marriott points and it being slightly cheaper (plus a good excuse for us to go to Marie Callendars since they closed the one in my adopted hometown of Fairfield California). Either way, have a fabulous trip!

post script - Just saw about the 2 teenagers. We stayed in a room with 1 king + pullout couch. The only night we had a friend stay on the pullout couch at BWPPI he said it was not very comfortable, so reserve 2 queens if you can!

taaren, thank you for your information! I wonder if they have upgraded anything at all since 2008? (bwppi) The promixity to the parks is what I thought would be nice, and the extra bed space...as far as price, the FFI is actually cheaper, maybe because I got a mini suite at the PPI with 2 queens & a queen sofa? That being said, we did get a Costco discount, which is nice. In fact, I've thought about just booking the entire pkg through them, but I'm not quite ready to book it just yet. They do give premium meals for all 4 of us, $20 gift card, lanyard & pins and priority seating at certain shows. The other thing I thought about is, because the FFI is much larger, maybe it's not as noisey? Although come to think of it, we aren't in our room much anyway, except sometimes I come back for a nap during the day...oh well, herever we end up staying, I'm sure it will be just fine!

 

[perrinej]

Yupikgal -We are from KC MO. Actually 50 miles east of KC, right on I-70. We have a nice spring and fall, warm summers, and this winter has been about the worst I can remember. Students have been out of school 9 snow days since this January. Hopefully winter is about over - have a good next trip to DL! It is a small world isn't it?

 

[KCmike]

Yupikgal- thanks for your info on holding luggage. This will come in very handy for us when we arrive at Fairfield Inn. No we are not coming from Seattle but from Kansas City with a direct flight using Southwest Airlines. Arriving June 10 through June 18, our 1st trip to Disneyland and California. Can't wait the weather here is so cold and about 16 inches of snow on the ground and calling for possible more this next week!!!!!

Are you a fellow Kansas Citian?

 

[perrinej]

I have lived 50 miles east of KC all my life - right on I-70. Are you enjoying this wonderful "SNOW"? I am ready to head to California for our 1st trip to DL and warmer weather!

 

[KCmike]

I have lived 50 miles east of KC all my life - right on I-70. Are you enjoying this wonderful "SNOW"? I am ready to head to California for our 1st trip to DL and warmer weather!

Hey Neighbor!!!

You will love California. So much to see. So much to do. I will warn you though that the city is dirty, Hollywood is not worth seeing, and the highways can get bogged down. Once you get past that there is so much beauty in one state its truly amazing. My favorite things to see in the state: Disneyland, Yosemite National Park, San Diego/Coronado/Hotel Del Coronado,Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar and sunset cruises, Monterey, and San Francisco. Someday I hope you can drive up the coast on Hwy 1. Its spectacular. I still hope to see Catalina, Sequoia National Park, Hearst Castle, etc...

 

[taaren]

taaren, thank you for your information! I wonder if they have upgraded anything at all since 2008? (bwppi) The promixity to the parks is what I thought would be nice, and the extra bed space...as far as price, the FFI is actually cheaper, maybe because I got a mini suite at the PPI with 2 queens & a queen sofa? That being said, we did get a Costco discount, which is nice. In fact, I've thought about just booking the entire pkg through them, but I'm not quite ready to book it just yet. They do give premium meals for all 4 of us, $20 gift card, lanyard & pins and priority seating at certain shows. The other thing I thought about is, because the FFI is much larger, maybe it's not as noisey? Although come to think of it, we aren't in our room much anyway, except sometimes I come back for a nap during the day...oh well, herever we end up staying, I'm sure it will be just fine!

Its possible that they have upgraded; in general I remember the rooms being kinda dark. But, we didn't spend much time in the room other than sleeping and naps (tried the pool once, too crowded, but we aren't pool-on-vacation people). Fairfield Inn can be noisy with guests, but you hear less traffic since its farther from Harbor itself, and we've usually gotten high floor rooms which has nicer views of fireworks but longer elevator rides (which can be looong when everybody's heading to the parks in the morning).

I'm thinking the other reason we haven't been back to BWPPI is the next trip after we stayed there we'd bought into VGC, so that is our one "full price" trip where we stay for a whole week and stay very close to the park, whereas any other trips we make during the year are 'bonus' trips where we're looking for rock-bottom prices, which BWPPI I've rarely seen go below $120, and rightly so for its location.

I'd say if you're going for location, give BWPPI a try. Your feet will thank you!

And let me know how the Costco thing works out ... thinking we might not renew our AP's this fall and just buy the Costco SoCal tickets, wondering how the upgrade on that works cause we'd still want 6 Disneyland days ...