Paradise Pier vs. HOJO, help for a WDW vet

[Tink60]

I am sure this topic has been beat to death already, so forgive me for resurrecting it one more time.
For all you DL veterans out there. Say, if both hotels ( Paradise Pier and HOJO) cost the same, ( I know there is a major difference) which would you choose and why.
Planning a trip Nov. 10-15 2012. 5 adults,1 one-year old. I grew up going to DL until 1978, haven't been back since, due to living next to WDW. No one else in the family has been to DL.
Now we live in Colorado, so DL is going to be easier to get to. I have read Hydroguy's reports, compared distances and all the other stuff. Now I just need
that "what would you do" advice.

 

[Argento]

Paradise Pier, if the cost is the same. I don't ever price the two for comparison but I'd been under the impression that PP was the pricier of the two.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

wow!! the same price??? i adore hojos but if they are the same price its gonna be on property all the way for me...you'll get emh every day its available and you wont with hojo's...so my vote goes for PP

 

[MommyLove]

Wow! You either got a high price for HoJo or a low price for PP. Or both!

We love HoJo, but for the same price, we'd have to give PP a try. And the on-site perks would be extra bonuses!

 

[Tink60]

It's not even close to the same price, actually it will be about $1200 more at PP with needing two rooms due to size of our party. I have the OK from DH to stay at PP but I then think of the money and I am all confused again..
So that is why I was trying to take the extra money out of the decision making process. Just playing mind games with myself I guess.

 

[Tink60]

Maybe I should pose the question another way.... Is PP worth $1200 more for 5 adults to stay onsite? I know this is a " to each his own" type answer. I just want to squeeze all the magic into this trip I can....
I hate the "wish I had made a different decision" when at Disney. I feel like a fish out of water with DL, compared to knowing alot of the little details of WDW.

 

[MommyLove]

If hubby says it's ok to spend that much more money, I would make the jump to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. I don't think I'd do it for PP. The DLH is so magical .

But then again... I'd do that for the kids. If it was just 5 adults and no kids, I'd choose HoJo.

 

[SomeDude78]

For the length of time you're staying and number of guests, I'd personally say yes, the extra $1200 is well worth it, especially if you don't get out there often and this is the first trip in 30+ years for you and the first trip ever for everyone else. I'd spend it and not look back. (Disclaimer: I've stayed at Hojo, DLH, and GCH, but never PPH, so I'm extrapolating a bit here as to what PPH is like based on its appearance, location, and reports from others.)

The only thing I'd double check is how much DLH or GCH cost for the same stay, because if you're going to pony up the dough, then might as well consider going all out, right? The other thing to consider is that technically, hotel amenities are only for use by guests of that particular hotel ... meaning if you stay at PPH, you're only allowed to use the facilities there and can't use the pools at DLH or GCH, for example. Not saying everyone abides by those rules in practice, but that's how it's supposed to work. Possible consideration, I guess, if you anticipate lounging out by the pools and what not for any real period of time.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think much of HoJos attraction is their play area for children.......If I had mainly adults in my part I would look at Candy Cane Inn. The other missing piece of info is what are your standards.....do you usually stay at a WDW value, mod, or deluxe ?

 

[rramstad]

We had the same quandary and decided to go with Ramada Maingate. (OK, not exactly same quandary, but you get the idea.) I could not justify $1700 extra in our particular case -- needing two extra rooms and with spotty availability at PPH having to spring for Theme Park View rooms, even with a senior discount.

The $1700 is more than we're spending on airfare for the entire trip for six of us... it represents double the cost of staying at the Ramada.

Of course, we're planning on going back to DLR sometime, maybe even next year, so the loss of four hours of EMH (we get one MM with a regular park hopper staying off site) isn't terrible... I can't justify the $1700 for four hours.

 

[lwilkison]

I am sure this topic has been beat to death already, so forgive me for resurrecting it one more time.
For all you DL veterans out there. Say, if both hotels ( Paradise Pier and HOJO) cost the same, ( I know there is a major difference) which would you choose and why.
Planning a trip Nov. 10-15 2012. 5 adults,1 one-year old. I grew up going to DL until 1978, haven't been back since, due to living next to WDW. No one else in the family has been to DL.
Now we live in Colorado, so DL is going to be easier to get to. I have read Hydroguy's reports, compared distances and all the other stuff. Now I just need
that "what would you do" advice.

From what I understand if it is just value for money then Hojo...just because spending that much for a room where you will spend, what, 6 hours each evening?! No way I can say yes to that for us. Maybe if it was a special event and not just going to DLR/DCA...an anniversary or something but $1600?!

I would rather spend all that on other things...because goodness knows I would rather eat really good food then stay at an expensive hotel...but that is just me.

Either way you go I hope you have a great trip

 

[Zbugz]

Last September we stayed 7 days in Garden View room in Building 2 at the Hojo followed by 4 days in a Standard (parking lot) View room at the PPH. Here are the things we preferred about each:

HoJo - pool, free parking, restaurant (Mimi's Cafe), coffee, elevator, staff, walking distance, room cost, & gardens

PPH - View of fireworks from pool, room decor, rice krispie treats, bath products, couch bed, DCA entrance thru GC, EMH

Overall we liked the HoJo better, but if the price was right, we'd pick PPH just for the EMH.

HTH, Zbugz

 

[rramstad]

Overall we liked the HoJo better, but if the price was right, we'd pick PPH just for the EMH.

I think that's kind of where I ended up too. If it was just $100 more per EMH, I could see that. I could even see $200 more per EMH given that we've got six people. But $300 more per EMH? Wowsa. That's $50 per person per hour! It's sort of like buying concert tickets for the entire family every day. $1800 would pay for a really really nice ski trip, or season passes for pretty much everyone, with season rentals (at a local mountain, not a fancy spot, of course).

Heck, we're going to Sonoma in late July and our entire trip budget for travel, lodging, food, transportation, and so forth is less than that for the whole thing!

 

[Zbugz]

I think that's kind of where I ended up too. If it was just $100 more per EMH, I could see that. I could even see $200 more per EMH given that we've got six people. But $300 more per EMH? Wowsa. That's $50 per person per hour! It's sort of like buying concert tickets for the entire family every day. $1800 would pay for a really really nice ski trip, or season passes for pretty much everyone, with season rentals (at a local mountain, not a fancy spot, of course).

Heck, we're going to Sonoma in late July and our entire trip budget for travel, lodging, food, transportation, and so forth is less than that for the whole thing!

Yep. When I start calculating out what that extra hour costs, it changes my perspective.

I was blessed to get PPH for $168 per night with 2 extra fastpasses per person last September. That made it worth it, IMHO. Hopefully DLR will come up with another nice discount this fall, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Maybe I should pose the question another way.... Is PP worth $1200 more for 5 adults to stay onsite? I know this is a " to each his own" type answer. I just want to squeeze all the magic into this trip I can....
I hate the "wish I had made a different decision" when at Disney. I feel like a fish out of water with DL, compared to knowing alot of the little details of WDW.

We had the same quandary and decided to go with Ramada Maingate. (OK, not exactly same quandary, but you get the idea.) I could not justify $1700 extra in our particular case -- needing two extra rooms and with spotty availability at PPH having to spring for Theme Park View rooms, even with a senior discount.

you cant even compare the ramada maingate with either hojo or PPH...just an fyi...they have been doing refurbs in all their rooms and not all of them are done yet...there are A LOT of people who have been complaining that they are getting the older rooms and those rooms are gross...so if you havent already, you might consider calling them and putting a request in for the new rooms and just hope and pray you can get one

I think much of HoJos attraction is their play area for children......

im sure thats true for a lot of people but it isnt for me...my reasons are listed below this next quote

From what I understand if it is just value for money then Hojo...just because spending that much for a room where you will spend, what, 6 hours each evening?! No way I can say yes to that for us. Maybe if it was a special event and not just going to DLR/DCA...an anniversary or something but $1600?!

I would rather spend all that on other things...because goodness knows I would rather eat really good food then stay at an expensive hotel...but that is just me.

im with you on this one...besides hojos has awesome beds that are so very comfortable and the rooms are nice...they have keurig coffee makers and bldg 2 is the best bldg of all of them because its quieter and in the back away from all the bustle and in Nov. there wont be people out in the pool at night...and you can get premium rooms that show fireworks too...

 

[jacs1234]

If it were up to me. I'd pay the extra money for pph.

 

[Tink60]

Everyone's comments and suggestions have been wonderful and has given me alot to think about.
One poster had asked if we stayed value, moderate or deluxe at WDW. We lived about 12 miles from the MK soooo we only stayed onsite for my daughters wedding, and that was the Polynesian for two nights. Maybe the fact we never had to choose hotels at WDW is making this choice seem sooooo hard.
Anyway I ran all the numbers and thought you all would find this interesting. These are quotes from the disney site. 5 nights, 2 rooms, 5 adults and 1 one year old. 5 day park hoppers:

$6042 Grand Californian
$5200 Disneyland Hotel
$4200 Paradise Pier
$2800 HoJo's

So I think it will be HoJo's for this trip. After all, with the savings I can start planning on our return trip!!
One last question. between HoJo's and Disney property is it clean and safe? or do you see alot of seedy characters?
Thanks again to everyone for helping me make this decision. I'm sure you'll see me posting some other panicked question about something silly before the trip.
Funny, how I wondered how people could get all wound up in the tiny details for their WDW trip. Now I am turning into one of them

 

[silence]

One last question. between HoJo's and Disney property is it clean and safe? or do you see alot of seedy characters?

We LOVE the HoJos. The rooms are so clean, some of the cleanest we have stayed in. Their beds are super comfy!

The only "seedy" characters we encountered on our many stays are positioned out front of the properties right across from the park, trying to get you to come listen to their time share spiels. We like to walk on the other side of the street to avoid them

We have stayed at both PPH and HoJos, and for those prices, I agree, HoJos all the way.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

The only "seedy" characters we encountered on our many stays are positioned out front of the properties right across from the park, trying to get you to come listen to their time share spiels.

aint that the truth!!!


OP I think you made a wise choice and you will def. like hojo's

PS...2 things OP...if you are booking through disney direct you might want to check to see what kind of room it is...they have standard, deluxe and superior rooms and I dont know which one you will get...if you booked it separately you will can get the character call for free...all you have to do is be registered for disney online http://disney.go.com/charactercalls/piccolinismiles/questions.html#5 ...using a discount tix service like getawaytoday.com and by putting your request for TTMM here on the boards http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1594648&highlight=ttmm ...it would be same thing, same price, but a guaranteed superior room...the superior rooms are in bldg 1 so you get an unobstructed view of fireworks (if you're even in your room during that time) but I myself prefer bldg 2...i think i mentioned that...but whatever you choose to do, put in a request for bldg 1 or 2...NOT 3 or 4...those are older and frankly i dont like them.....i think this being your first time that you will like one of the other 2 bldgs a lot better

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Originally Posted by Tink60 View Post
One last question. between HoJo's and Disney property is it clean and safe? or do you see alot of seedy characters?

Harbor Blvd is well lit and well traveled by both vehicles and walkers. You have more chance of the timeshare vultures trying to sucker you into a presentation than you have of being mugged.