Of these hotels, which would you pick and why?

[disneylicious]

I've already booked rooms at HoJo and the CCI as I wait to see if ET rates come up for HoJo. If they do, it's a no brainer. But if they don't, which of the following hotels would you recommend at these rates?

There are two adults and my daughter will be turning 6 on the trip at the end of Feb. Going for 8 nights.

Prices include tax:
HoJo - $939 (one ET rate night, waiting to see if others come up)
Tropicana - $938
CCI - $1082
DI&S - $1074
FFI - $1124

I like HoJo for the view, the spray park (if it will be warm enough for DD to use) and mainly the price for what you get (stayed there 2 years ago). CCI - love the idea of breakfast & shuttle. FFI - a leeetle closer than HoJo, and DI&S & Tropicana even closer than that. BWPPI doesn't have any rooms available for 1 night of our trip (wonder why??).

We're not taking a stroller so I am a wee bit concerned about the walk after a day at the parks. My DD is known to get lazy and say her legs won't work. Breakfast isn't necessary but if it was a decent one, we'd probably use it. Need wifi (free - see that Tropicana charges $10/day - yikes). Pool will only matter if it's warm enough. It would be nice to have restaurants and amenities nearby - HoJo was a little out there.

What say you, oh wise ones?

Laura

 

[wvnative]

Well, we're kind of in the same boat. I've currently got reservations at both HOJO and Tropicana and I'm waiting to see if HOJO offers up any of our nights at the EC rate. I'm doubting they will as the list for March keeps gettign shorter. lol The kid has stayed at the Tropicana on a school trip and it is the same price, closer, and offers a breakfast even if it is a bit meager. My teenager doesn't care where she sleeps (yet). This is a child that can still sleep on my hardwood floors without pain.

I looked at DI&S too but their rate was higher. They used to be our favorite until we stayed at HOJO and I'd go there in a heartbeat for the right price.

I'm not overly concerned about wifi while I'm there. It would be nice. IF either of us needs to do work for our online classes while we're gone, we'll go with our HOJO reservation. If not, and HOJO doesn't offer up the good rate, we'll likely go with Tropicana. We'd rather stay closer for the same price.

I can't offer opinions on CCI or FFI (they never have any rooms when I try to book) as I've never stayed at either. However, I'd take the cost savings if it were me. IMO, more money for in the park is always better.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Fairfield Inn. It has free wifi and very close to area restaurants, and a good 3-5 minutes closer than Hojos depending on how fast you walk. If I were you, I would bring a stroller anyway. I remember taking my DS when he was 8and he still got so tired that he would sit in it. (He was small for his age.)When he wasn't in it, we used it to roll our junk around so we didn't have to carry it. CCI is a very good motel but it's just as far a walk in the opposite direction as Hojos. OTOH, they do have the free shuttle and free breakfast. I think you can't go wrong with any of these: Hojos FFI or CCI... Not sure if CCI has free wifi or not.

 

[ttds17]

Well, I'm always going to recommend DI&S for folks. I know many here are HOJO fans though. I guess it all comes down to what matters most to you.

Based on the rates you listed, I'd gladly pay $135 more for DI&S if it means 8 days of free breakfast for my family and a closer location to the park. I never used a stroller with my kids at age 6, but every kid is different. I also know that even though they walked, it was still a long treck for them at the end of the night to get back to our room. The closer the better in my opinion.

As far as the breakfast goes, it's nothing fancy...but it's food and it's free. We are always fast and light breakfast eaters anyway, so it's perfect for us. Toast, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and we're good to go. It's open early, so we always have time to eat before heading to the parks. The hotel is also very close to other restaurants if that's what you prefer.

Free WiFi is a must for my husband and DI&S provides it. The rooms have always been clean with plenty of room for us and I've never had a noise issue. We tend to have odd check in and check out hours when we travel and DI&S has always accommodated us with no complaint.

We usually get the largest room (C2), but I've stayed in the Deluxe rooms as well with 4 people and it's a comfortable stay.

The pool is nothing to write home about, so if you're looking for a place to hang out at the hotel, this is not your place. We are not pool goers while on Disney vacations. We are die hard park goers and the hotel is simply a place for us to sleep at night, get ready in the morning and rest during the day if neccessary. I figure I can swim anytime. I'm not paying for tickets to Disneyland so I can hang out at the pool. But that's just me.

There's my two (or ten) cents. Good luck with your decision!
Allyson

 

[LavenderPeach]

Out of those choices, I've only stayed at the CCI so I can only comment on that one. We really like CCI. I think it's the nices looking hotel in the immediate DLR area. They did a really good job with the landscaping. The breakfast is actually really good for that kind of free breakfast. There was bagels with several flavors of cream cheese, bread for toast, several kinds of cereal, fruit, muffins, hot chocolate, juice. There might have been oatmeal but not sure since we didn't get any. We also really like that it is close enough to walk to DLR but there is also a shuttle. That gives us the best of both worlds. Sometimes we didn't want to wait for a shuttle (although they run every half hour) so we would walk other times we were tired and wanted a ride. It worked out really well. Not sure about wi-fi there. The pool area looks really nice but the pool is small. We didn't swim so don't know how the temps were. Oh and we liked that CCI had free parking.

Good luck making a decision!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I also suggest bringing the stroller ~ my DD hasn't used a stroller outside of Disney for several years, she didn't have one on our most recent trip ~ 2 short days early Dec. and she survived, but still ~ I plan to bring one (Mac Volo) for her B-day trip (early July - she'll be 7!) you wouldn't have to have it with you all day, store it somewhere and check on it every once in awhile, it'll be there when she needs it. Have fun ~ HoJo would be my pick although I'm sure any will be fine, I appreciate HoJo's "indoor" entrances, I like that I open the door to a hallway, not outside.

 

[disneylicious]

Hmmmm... now you guys have me re-thinking the stroller thing. I was hesitant about leaving it, as like I said, my DD sometimes has all the energy in the world and at other times, is a sloth. But I also didn't feel like worrying about it for the flight down (although it wasn't an issue at all last time). I have a Mac Volo as well. Guess we'll probably take it just for peace of mind. My DD is quite tall for her age tho... (46"). I'll bring it up from the basement and see if she looks ridiculous in it!

Thanks for all of your comments - it's hard to choose when they're all around the same rate. If HoJo goes for the ET rate, this is a moot point, but I want to have a back-up plan!

And now I've added FFI as the third possibility. Decisions, decisions. I've actually created a whole spreadsheet with various hotels, their prices, the rooms, the amenities, etc. DH thought I was nuts!

We booked a package last time and this time, we're doing everything separate (used airmiles for flights) so I have a little more wiggle room considering I don't have to pay for everything up front!

Any other comments are greatly appreciated!

Laura

 

[LavenderPeach]

I've actually created a whole spreadsheet with various hotels, their prices, the rooms, the amenities, etc. DH thought I was nuts!

Welcome to the nut house!

 

[PoohBearFriends]

My kids are getting big but even last year at WDW we used the stroller for the 7 year old. She needed it for the end of the day and we love having the other seat, it's a double, to store rain ponches, sweaters and food. I am a firm believer in taking one for that long trip back to the hotel at night.

 

[cirquelovers]

I know when my son was younger we really appreciated having the shuttle at CCI. The breakfast was really good and we always took an extra muffin or banana as a snack for later. You can take the tray from your room and bring breakfast back to the room for the family. That was really helpful considering my family is slow to get started in the mornings.

There is a small market next door and a 7-11 next to that. Across the street was a Subway and a few other little eateries but it was handy and cheaper than eating in the park sometimes.

The staff was always friendly and very helpful. They've kept the laundry open late for us, gave us extra pool towels for the trip home for a sick child and they even let my little guy sweep when he had such a fascination with the gardener I really liked the security guy at night time, it made me feel very safe that he was there.

I hear great things about HOJO but I love the CCI. This year we were out at Embassy Suites because we used reward points for our stay.

 

[NVDisMom]

I've only stayed at HOJO and CCI from your list. Like you, if HOJO goes ENT Rate its a no brainer. CCI is my favorite though. I love the shuttle in the evenings especially. My feet have thanked me every time And the continental breakfast is absolutely perfect for our family. Unfortunately, price usually wins and we go to Anaheim Plaza when their isn't an ENT rate at HOJO. We bring our breakfast items and eat on our jaunt to the park, but my feet really would prefer the shuttle at the end of the day...

 

[Rosanne]

Um, what does CCI stand for? ... Carousel?

I tried to figure it out but can't. Thanks!

 

[kc10family]

Well, I'm always going to recommend DI&S for folks. I know many here are HOJO fans though. I guess it all comes down to what matters most to you.

Based on the rates you listed, I'd gladly pay $135 more for DI&S if it means 8 days of free breakfast for my family and a closer location to the park. I never used a stroller with my kids at age 6, but every kid is different. I also know that even though they walked, it was still a long treck for them at the end of the night to get back to our room. The closer the better in my opinion.

As far as the breakfast goes, it's nothing fancy...but it's food and it's free. We are always fast and light breakfast eaters anyway, so it's perfect for us. Toast, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and we're good to go. It's open early, so we always have time to eat before heading to the parks. The hotel is also very close to other restaurants if that's what you prefer.

Free WiFi is a must for my husband and DI&S provides it. The rooms have always been clean with plenty of room for us and I've never had a noise issue. We tend to have odd check in and check out hours when we travel and DI&S has always accommodated us with no complaint.

We usually get the largest room (C2), but I've stayed in the Deluxe rooms as well with 4 people and it's a comfortable stay.

The pool is nothing to write home about, so if you're looking for a place to hang out at the hotel, this is not your place. We are not pool goers while on Disney vacations. We are die hard park goers and the hotel is simply a place for us to sleep at night, get ready in the morning and rest during the day if neccessary. I figure I can swim anytime. I'm not paying for tickets to Disneyland so I can hang out at the pool. But that's just me.

There's my two (or ten) cents. Good luck with your decision!
Allyson

I agree.
We love his hotel, have stayed in different room types and love them all.
We have stayed at others on the "strip", but love this one most.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Um, what does CCI stand for? ... Carousel?

I tried to figure it out but can't. Thanks!

It stands for Candy Cane Inn.

 

[CrazyDuck]

FFI.... MMMMmmmmm Pizza Hut...... I'm drunk right now..... so my opinions suck!

 

[nottellin']

I would go for the Tropicana. The location is right across the street from Disneyland. Last time we went we stayed at the DLH and Dh and I were saying that the Tropicana feels closer than the DLH.

 

[Rosanne]

It stands for Candy Cane Inn.

Thanks so much!!!!

 

[raftislander]

We stayed here in October and loved our stay. It was two adults and our 15 year old daughter in a standard room with 2 Queen beds. The rooms are comfortable, but not overly spacious. If you have lots of suitcases or like to sprawl, you may find it a tight fit. The beds were great. We stayed many years ago at the Tropicana and I hated the beds. I think the distance to the park from CCI is roughly equivalent to that from HOJO or FFI, but with no major streets to cross so easier to negotiate with young kids. As mentioned by others, the dedicated shuttle is wonderful; we used it often. I think having a good free continental breakfast is a huge advantage in choosing a place to stay. It saves you money and time. There are lots of choices here: toast, bagels, danish, muffins, cereal, instant oatmeal, fresh fruit. There's peanut butter and several varieties of cream cheese to provide some protein options. Juice, coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate to drink. Since you are staying for several days, having a free breakfast with some variety is important so you are not eating the same thing day after day. We used the pool and hot tub. Again the facilites are very nice but not overly large. The hot tub was hot. The grounds are lovely. The people working here definitely have a Disney attitude. If I can't stay on property, this is where I want to stay (although, like you, I will go to HOJO if the Ent. rate is available b/c the $$ difference makes it a no brainer). Subway Sandwiches is across the street and the Gardenwalk is nearby if you want to eat off property. Did you check into discounts at CCI? We got a AAA discount that reduced the rate by 10 or 15%.

 

[seadd67]

So I have been reading thanks for all the great Info,we where looking at the DLH but after reading it looks like we might just go for one of theses.That leads me to my choice,sorry for walking in on the op thread,but I wanted DLH for Its closness and Disney feel so of the mention opptions what ones would you suggest?

 

[dawnrose]

Another vote for CCI...stayed at Hojo last summer and enjoyed the large rooms and pool options, but still like CCI better...the small, garden feel of the place is more to my liking, and while the pool is small, it's nicely heated and really pretty...and I am a fan of a really HOT hot tub...plus the shuttle and the free breakfast...the location is right next door to 7-11 and a small market and across the street from panda chinese and a short walk to Garden Walk, where we had dinner on two nights of our previous 4 night trip...the staff have always been fabulous to us, as well...highly recommended.