PP or HOJO

[godalejunior]

OK, my husband does not want to talk to me about hotels with him because I keep changing my mind daily about where to stay.

This is our first trip with our 5 year old son. I have reservations with HOJO at this point. We are going 1/30-2/3, which should be a slower time except the Craft and Hobby Show is going on for the first day and a half we are there.

The PP is $400 more than HOJO. Take out the $150 you get back on the gift card, it is then $250 more.

I want to know where all you veterans would stay and why? The walking distance appears to be the same. Not sure how much we will get to use the monorail if it is on limited use............Help me make a final decision and stop driving my hubby nuts. Ha. Ha.

 

[godalejunior]

Does PP have fridges in the standard rooms?

 

[lucky1]

Do you think you will want to do early entry each morning? The only day EE is not operating while you are there is Wednesday. With most packages you get 1 EE day, but if you stay in a DLR hotel, you get it each day it is offered.

You have to figure if this is worth the additional $250. The walk is a bit different, because you will be walking next to a busy street (Harbor)from HOJO , crossing a street and then past the ART stops to get to the HUB of DLR. From PP, you would be walking either through DGC (crossing street) into DTD to get to the HUB or past DLH into DTD.

The monerail for us was never a quick mode of transportation.

 

[godalejunior]

We wont use EE on Tues. since we get there in the afternoon. We plan on using it on Thurs. I did not know it was an option for Friday? Is it?

 

[hlbtimes2]

No, EE is not a Friday option.

Personally, I would stay at hojo and spend the $250 on fun things in the park! I would rather eat a couple nice meals and take a tour then pay more for a room that I'm rarely in.

 

[PrincessSitka]

I thought that the monorail was only for the people that stay at one of the DH. Is this correct?

 

[hlbtimes2]

I thought that the monorail was only for the people that stay at one of the DH. Is this correct?

Anyone with a valid park ticket can ride the monorail. It is a park attraction. The stations are in Downtown Disney and tomorrowland. It can be a quick way to get to the Disneland hotel or part way to Paradise Pier. It will be on a limited schedule/ shuttle mode until the subs open this summer.

Guests of the hotel have priority boarding, especially in the early morning and the last couple leaving the park at night.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would stay at the Paradise Pier, but only if that didn't mean I couldn't do something else I wanted to do, like a character meal or souveneirs. I really love staying onsite but if it makes the trip tight, I stay offsite and am happy. The Hojo is nice, just make sure you ask for a non freeway side room. Its right next to the I-5 and some of the rooms are really noisy. Oh, and if EE is offered more than the one day your hopper will get you in, that would be another deciding factor. Not worth the whole $250, but when staying onsite its a lot of little things that add up. Another good thing about the Hojo are the offiste dining options right there, especially Mimi's which is wonderful and so much cheaper than eating each meal in the park.

 

[XTinabell]

No, EE is not a Friday option.

Personally, I would stay at hojo and spend the $250 on fun things in the park! I would rather eat a couple nice meals and take a tour then pay more for a room that I'm rarely in.

I agree with this. We were hardly ever in our room and that includes going back a couple of days in the afternoon for a feet rest. Save the money and spend it on something nice in DL.

 

[EnnEss]

I love not having to leave the park the entire time, which makes the PP well worth it for me. Also its very nice to be only 3 or 4 minutes away from DCA, its a nice way to end or start the day. Finally, I usually do return to the hotel at least once a day, so it's nice to have it close and have the walk back be just as fun as being in DL (not just as fun, but immersed).

Having said that, Hojo is not far away at all, and you are closer to off site food (cheaper). My parents stayed there last year for the 2nd time, this time they hated it, Hojo was renovating and they got stuck by the freeway, which they said was impossibly noisy. This is something considering they live 14 floors above a 12 track trainyard that literally shakes the building at times. Apparently they won't be going back. The renos must be done by now though, so maybe the rooms are new, also, I did not have a bad experience there when I stayed there years ago. My parents may just be overly picky .

For me, the 250 extra would definately be worth it. PP isn't the best hotel, but I still love starting my vacation with CMs retrieving all my tickets and information.

 

[princessdaisy]

I love the Disneyland hotels but HOJO would be my choice as it is a easy walk and there is a very nice Mimi's Cafe next door that serves excellent breakfast/lunch/Dinner and very reasonable price...the pool area at the HOJO is nice and water is warm...the 250 price diff. would make me choose HOJO.

Have a wonderful time

 

[abby]

We have stayed at the DLH and at HOJO. Loved the magic of DLH and the feeling you never left disney, loved the walk down downtown disney, loved having room service, and (for mom a bar in the hotel)

Loved HOJO, the walk was about the same, missed the disney of downtown disney but food much cheaper along there. Some suggested mimi's we did not have a good experience there but did at the other one, who'se name I can't remember but also I think starts with an M. McDonald's always a fav for my dd, especially to pick up a quick breakfast. The gift shop at HOJO had a big variety, including stuff for breakfast, and much cheaper then DLH.

I know I am not much help, but it all depends on what is best for your family. For the price difference I'd probably stay on site, but only if financially it didn't impair what else we could do, if that extra means not so many extra's at the park or one less character meal, then stay off site.

Either way you will love it. Be sure at HOJO to request a no freeway room....

 

[lulubelle]

I agree with Abby in that you cannot really go wrong either way.

We stay both on and off site.
It always boils down to a financial decision. When trying to save $$ we stay at Sheraton Park or Sheraton Anaheim using SPG points. When we can afford it, we stay onsite, taking turns with the three onsite hotels. Last time was Grand Calif, next time in Feb is Paradise Pier and then in April, Sheraton Park.

On site really does make it more magical, but you do pay dearly for it. Good luck deciding and have a wonderful vacation

 

[disney-super-mom]

I think we would stay at the Paradise Pier, especially since my kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the slide and pool there.

But you're going during a cooler time of year, so it may be too cold to swim.

Hmmmmm, that's a tough one...

...well, for a $250 difference, we would still choose the Paradise Pier. It has the pool with a great slide, queen size beds (beds at HOJO are double beds unless you get a premium room), on site restaurants and lounge, room service, and offers great views of the fireworks from the pool deck with piped in music/narration.

But, those things may not be that important to you. If not, than the HOJO is a great place to stay.

 

[EnnEss]

Dont worry about the pool at PP. In the winter its very warm. I actually found it too warm to actually swim in, kids will love it though, and if you just want to relax in it, its amazing. I really like the hot tub there and watching the fire works from it.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Dont worry about the pool at PP. In the winter its very warm. I actually found it too warm to actually swim in, kids will love it though, and if you just want to relax in it, its amazing. I really like the hot tub there and watching the fire works from it.

I agree. When we were there in late October, the pool was most definately heated and very warm. It was heaven!

(I'm a wimp though when it comes to cold or cool pools. I like them nice and warm, so needless to say the PP pool wasn't too warm for me. It was perfect.)

 

[poconoboatniks]

Just my 2 cents. We stayed at HoJo last year and The Candy Cane Inn in Dec. CCI is so much nicer and they have a free shuttle and continental breakfast. The room was a little smaller than HoJo, but it was more up to date. They also have free wifi.