Please compare the walk from Hojo's and convention area!

[kittycruize]

Can anyone help me with this? We are trying to choose a hotel, and are considering either Hojo's or possibly the Homewood Suites Convention, or Residence Convention area. What would the walk be like from either resort area? It looks like Hojo's would be pretty quick and easy, but what about safety coming back at say 11 at night to either resort area? What would the walk be like back to Homewood at 11 at night? We are concerned about safety since we will have children with us also. Does either talk longer? It looks like they may each be only about 3 or 4 blocks away? What about traffic etc? We are WDW vets and always stay on property there, so are having a hard time deciding on a hotel with all the different factors involved. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Fwiw with Homewood Suites you’d want to catch the Toy Story shuttle to/from the parks. That walk is about 15-20 mins. The parking lot for the shuttle is next to the hotel. I haven’t done the walk from HOJO but you are looking at about 10 mins for Res Inn Convention Center. I believe HOJO is closer.

It’s safe. Hundreds of people walk the streets there to/from Disneyland every day/night and most have children. Unless you’re out walking at 2am I wouldn’t worry.

 

[EscalatorKid]

I walked the Residence Inn Convention Center(at the corner of Katella and Harbor) last year, and the hotel next to it before. It's about two blocks. It took the same length of time to walk to the Toy Story bus pickup lot as to the gate for Res Inn, so we opted to walk to the gate.

It's about a ten minute walk and it is perfectly safe. There are always groups of people walking to and from. There are panhandlers, but they generally don't bother you. I walked back at 11 and it really wasn't bad and I wasn't totally alone either. There were plenty of tourists around, and a lot of cop cars go by frequently.

Res Inn is a very nice hotel, too. I was impressed.

 

[Malcon10t]

The distance from Hojo's to the bag check is .45 miles. The distance from the Residence Inn on Katella to bag check is .72. The distance from Homewood Suites to bag check is .91 miles. You can use gmaps pedometer maps to figure distances. Just put it on runner mode.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The Hojo is definitely the shortest walk and my preferred location to stay. We pick the kids suite when we want a good amount of space. My brother likes the Homewood at the Convention Center but found the walk day after day with little kids exhausting. My in-laws like the Residence Inn but are pretty tired after a day or two walking to and from that location. Both my brother and in-laws tend to skip afternoon breaks when staying that far out.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We prefer the RI Convention Center (and hotels in that area). For us, the walk isn't long (about 15 minutes at a non-stressful pace) and we have always felt safe, day or night. In the morning, we go by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Katella (or we can run across Harbor to Starbucks). At night on the way back, we can stop at the A Mart convenience store, 7-11, or the 24/7 CVS to pick up snacks, drinks, and anything we need for the next day in the parks. We stay often at the Sheraton Park, which is a little further south than the RI, and that walk is not long for us either -- good warm up in the morning and good cool down at the end of the day.

 

[tink89]

We have only walked over from Hilton Anaheim, which is next to the convention center.
It took us a good 20 min all the way from the hotel into the park. DD was 6 at the time and we were walking with about 6 other people so we were definitely not running there. It is only about two blocks but Disney blocks are not the same. We did feel very safe in the AM. We also went out to eat from the Hilton walking at night and we felt safe. There are always people walking back at all times.

We only walked there one time all others we just took ART or Toy story bus.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

HOJO is a quick walk. I do it in 6 minutes alone and about 10 with my whole family. It's generally my go-to offsite hotel as they usually have good deals and the water play area for my kids. I've stayed at Homewood before. If you do that, take the Toy Story Lot bus. It's easier on the feet. The walk from there is about 15-20 minutes. I haven't stayed at RI, but I have run to the store on the corner of Katella and Harbor and that's about 15 minutes. I want to stay there and might give it a try next year if we don't end up staying onsite. I've heard nothing but good reviews.

 

[bumbershoot]

It’s safe. Hundreds of people walk the streets there to/from Disneyland every day/night and most have children. Unless you’re out walking at 2am I wouldn’t worry.

Yep.

Even at 2am it’s pretty much going to be people sleeping on bus benches and people driving to and from work.

 

[PairOfDice]

We stayed at HOJO a couple of years ago and we liked it. It was clean, comfortable, and close by. I clocked the walk at 8 minutes. Sorry I have no info or opinion on your other options so I can't compare.

 

[BrianL]

It's a pretty safe area overall and I've done the walk from the Hilton Convention Center many times. Personally, I recommend being closer as the walks do get draining after a while.

 

[kittycruize]

Thank you everyone. I am still not clear on the walk I guess. Someone said not all Disney blocks are the same. Could you please elaborate on what you mean? Does that mean even though it may be 2 blocks from the Hojo, or 2 blocks from Residence, it is not the same as far as time it takes to walk it? Due to crossing streets etc? Most seem to say here it is much more of a walk to the convention area hotels, but not sure why? We would prefer not to deal with ART or Toy Story buses, but most here seem to think we should do that. Is that because it is a much longer walk from that area? Do we cross busy roads coming from convention area?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Thank you everyone. I am still not clear on the walk I guess. Someone said not all Disney blocks are the same. Could you please elaborate on what you mean? Does that mean even though it may be 2 blocks from the Hojo, or 2 blocks from Residence, it is not the same as far as time it takes to walk it? Due to crossing streets etc? Most seem to say here it is much more of a walk to the convention area hotels, but not sure why? We would prefer not to deal with ART or Toy Story buses, but most here seem to think we should do that. Is that because it is a much longer walk from that area? Do we cross busy roads coming from convention area?

If you stay at homewood suites you need to cross Harbor. It's a 6 lane road if I recall. You also have to cross Katella and one other stop light that only the buses use. There are crossing signals at each intersection. You do not have to use the Toy Story Shuttle. We were there with our 2 toddlers and it would have been more work to unload them from the stroller, fold it up, then get in, etc. We just walked back-it took 20 minutes. We took a long break every day after lunch; around 1 p.m. HS has free meals Mon-Thursday so we'd go back to the park after 5 p.m. for a couple of rides and then to bed at 8.

When we'd go to the park without kids we definitely took the shuttle. It takes about the same amount of time 15ish minutes. A bus was always waiting. I think we had to wait on a bus one evening going to the parks.

After 5 days of that we did get quite sick of the walk. No breaks wasn't an option as our kids are disabled. My sis and I are staying at Best Western Park Place Inn in December if that gives you any insight as to how we felt about the walk. LOL But we had to have a suite with breakfast provided for the kids.

Other options for you include Camelot INn & Suites, Park Vue Inn. They both have suites with kitchens I believe.

 

[smartlabelprint]

This may help: https://www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-dlr-area-hotel-for-you.3656512/

 

[Ross3half]

We have stayed at HoJo and Homewood, and HoJo is definitely a shorter walk but either walk feels safe. That being said, I'm going to be in the minority here since I know there are a lot of HoJo fans on this board but we didn't like the HoJo at all...the room was dark and musty and the bathroom was terrible. Homewood is newer, spacious, feels fresh, and provides a free breakfast. Our kids are a bit older now so the walk was fine for us but it's not as convenient as some of the other options, especially if you want to go back and forth during the day. Have you looked at the Hyatt House Anaheim Resort? It's newer as well and will be closer than Homewood.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Thank you everyone. I am still not clear on the walk I guess. Someone said not all Disney blocks are the same. Could you please elaborate on what you mean? Does that mean even though it may be 2 blocks from the Hojo, or 2 blocks from Residence, it is not the same as far as time it takes to walk it? Due to crossing streets etc? Most seem to say here it is much more of a walk to the convention area hotels, but not sure why? We would prefer not to deal with ART or Toy Story buses, but most here seem to think we should do that. Is that because it is a much longer walk from that area? Do we cross busy roads coming from convention area?

That might have been me about.....the blocks....you see....when I read Dick and Jane Books, there blocks had only 3 or 4 houses, then another block. In the great State of Oregon, must be code, every city I was in.....a block was 3 or four houses. In 2011 toook a trip to Palm Springs, wife wanted real cream for her coffee, so no car and advice from front desk on the west side of urban Palm Springs, yes the nearest store is two blocks or more away. I can do that!!!! Thankfully it was overcast,......a California block is not an Oregon block or the midwest block that Dick and Jane played ball with their friends. 15 houses to a block, three of those blocks to the store. A Disneyland block is not a mid-west block.....ever been to NYC, now those are Disneyland blocks.

 

[BrianL]

So, I can elaborate on the walk from the Hilton Convention Center to the Harbor entrance. You would be coming from the Homewood, so across Harbor, but basically the same after that.

From the Hilton I would walk to Harbor (or to Katella down the service road but the walk to Harbor is more pleasant) then turn toward Katella. This is about a block really, and you would do the same from the Homewood. Katella is probably as good a place as any to cross Harbor (and Katella of course). At this corner you are basically in line with the very back of DCA, so the following walk could be described as "one theme park" in distance. You will actually walk by some stores and hotels because that corner is carved out. Anyway, the only other street to cross is Disney Way and you will be on the buses only side. There is a crossing signal here as well. Once past that, it's pretty straight to the Harbor entrance, past the pick-up/drop-off area.

The walk from the Homewood Suites is 0.9 Miles (to about the bus loop area inside the entrance - closest anchor I could find). This will be a long walk after a full day at the parks. It is very safe and well lit, with nice, wide sidewalks. There will be plenty of other DLR guests making this walk at all hours. The streets are busy streets though, and quite wide, so use those crossing signals. The HoJo is only 0.5 miles and the area is similar. You would only have to cross Harbor which is also a plus.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thank you everyone. I am still not clear on the walk I guess. Someone said not all Disney blocks are the same. Could you please elaborate on what you mean? Does that mean even though it may be 2 blocks from the Hojo, or 2 blocks from Residence, it is not the same as far as time it takes to walk it? Due to crossing streets etc? Most seem to say here it is much more of a walk to the convention area hotels, but not sure why? We would prefer not to deal with ART or Toy Story buses, but most here seem to think we should do that. Is that because it is a much longer walk from that area? Do we cross busy roads coming from convention area?

Refer to Malcon10t's post above (#4). She lists the distances. Depending on walking speed, sounds like Hojo takes people 6-10 minutes. Our family does it in 6-8 minutes regularly. Homewood is twice the distance, so if you are able to maintain the same pace then figure on twice as much time to walk. Residence Inn falls in the middle so a shorter distance than Homewood but a little more than 1 1/2 times the distance of Hojo making for a 9-15 minute walk.

I have generally felt fairly safe walking from any of these locations, even when returning at night. I haven't stayed at the other two hotels but have passed them by when we stayed at the Doubletree during Thanksgiving week. There is good lighting and a lot of activity. Some suggest returning to Disneyland on the Hojo side of Harbor rather than the Disneyland side of Harbor after dark, but I personally have not had any scary or uncomfortable encounters when using the DL side of Harbor to return and there are often at least one or two other groups doing the same.

 

[kirstie101]

Hojo's is consistently about an 8 minute walk for us...thats with 2 kids in tow. I've stayed there on solo trips and I can make the walk faster on my own. Also, walking back solo at night has never been a problem for me. Lots of people walking the same way.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Refer to Malcon10t's post above (#4). She lists the distances. Depending on walking speed, sounds like Hojo takes people 6-10 minutes. Our family does it in 6-8 minutes regularly. Homewood is twice the distance, so if you are able to maintain the same pace then figure on twice as much time to walk. Residence Inn falls in the middle so a shorter distance than Homewood but a little more than 1 1/2 times the distance of Hojo making for a 9-15 minute walk.

I have generally felt fairly safe walking from any of these locations, even when returning at night. I haven't stayed at the other two hotels but have passed them by when we stayed at the Doubletree during Thanksgiving week. There is good lighting and a lot of activity. Some suggest returning to Disneyland on the Hojo side of Harbor rather than the Disneyland side of Harbor after dark, but I personally have not had any scary or uncomfortable encounters when using the DL side of Harbor to return and there are often at least one or two other groups doing the same.

Closer to Hyatt there are more homeless on the non-Disney side of the street ime. We stay on dl dude until Hyatt house. Never felt unsafe.