Specific questions about HoJo

[twinspluscade]

So, I'm pretty sure we're going to switch from the Disneyland Hotel to Howard Johnson for our September trip. I've giving myself one more day just in case I change my mind again (I'm notorious for doing that ). I've got some questions about staying at HOJO, seeing I have done zero research on it. Forgive me if these have been asked before; the kids just woke up so I have very limited time .

1) Do they allow a family of 5 to fit in one standard room? If so, do they have a sleeper sofa, or a cot we can rent? Or room on the floor for a child-sized air mattress?

2) We'll be walking to DLR/DCA. Is the walking route well-marked (it would be just like us to end up going the wrong way )?

3) Is it safe for me to be walking back to HOJO by myself at night?

4) Do they have a gift shop in the hotel where we can buy a quart of milk? If not, where is the nearest place to get milk?

5) Is the parking lot decent? How much do they charge to park there? Self-parking or valet?

6) On our last day, we'll be checking out of the hotel before the parks open, and then spending from opening until 2 or 3 in the afternoon at the parks. Can we leave our vehicle parked at HOJO during that time, or would we have to park in the Disneyland parking lot?

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll have more questions--with switching hotels, I feel like I'm starting my trip planning all over again!

 

[DangerMouse]

1) Do they allow a family of 5 to fit in one standard room? If so, do they have a sleeper sofa, or a cot we can rent? Or room on the floor for a child-sized air mattress?

Yes, we fit our family of 5 into a queen/queen room each time. We either let the kids sleep sideways on the bed so they all three fit, or one of them goes on the floor. They do have plenty room for a rollaway (no sleeper sofa or futon), but I believe they charge for them.

2) We'll be walking to DLR/DCA. Is the walking route well-marked (it would be just like us to end up going the wrong way )?

Yes, my preferred route is crossing Harbor at the Manchester light, and then walking up the West side of Harbor to avoid crowds and cut through the taxi area and into the shuttle drop off area. Kind of hard to visualize, but you'll understand once you are there.

3) Is it safe for me to be walking back to HOJO by myself at night?

I have always felt safe walking on Harbor to the HoJo.

4) Do they have a gift shop in the hotel where we can buy a quart of milk? If not, where is the nearest place to get milk?

They have a great gift shop that sells milk and many other breakfasty type things as well as snacks, water, souveniers.

5) Is the parking lot decent? How much do they charge to park there? Self-parking or valet?

Huge parking lot, well lit with security. No charge to park. Self park.

6) On our last day, we'll be checking out of the hotel before the parks open, and then spending from opening until 2 or 3 in the afternoon at the parks. Can we leave our vehicle parked at HOJO during that time, or would we have to park in the Disneyland parking lot?

You can keep your car there until park closing on the day you check out.

 

[scrappinmama22]

We just stayed there. Loved it and would stay again. Staff were super.
Were there 11 days. The first 6 were in a Standard room with 2 oversized double beds and there was a cot in the closet so definately would sleep 5. Then we requested a move for a Disney view and spent the next 5 nights in building 1 which was even better - 2 queens but would have room for a cot or floor bed.

 

[avalon451]

Good questions, I'm glad you thought of them because we're staying there in Oct. and I hadn't thought of those. And good answers, DangerMouse, thank you!

 

[julezdisney]

Yea, thanks for asking, twins....and thanks for answering so thoroughly Danger! We're also staying there in October, Avalon- what dates? We'll be there from the 9th through the 13th.

 

[avalon451]

Yea, thanks for asking, twins....and thanks for answering so thoroughly Danger! We're also staying there in October, Avalon- what dates? We'll be there from the 9th through the 13th.

We'll just overlap, Julez, we're going to be there Oct. 12th-16th! Staying in Disney facing room in building one (thanks, Lorealle!) Look for mom 43 and DD13-- we're doing a mom-daughter trip. Our family of 5 went a month ago for the first time, for all of us-- but DD13 got very sick and missed most of it. So, REDO!

Can't wait!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Look for mom 43 and DD13-- we're doing a mom-daughter trip. Our family of 5 went a month ago for the first time, for all of us-- but DD13 got very sick and missed most of it. So, REDO!

Ahhhhhh, that's so cool. What a great mom you are!

 

[avalon451]

Ahhhhhh, that's so cool. What a great mom you are!

Aww, thanks! Of course, you notice it's MOM taking her... not Dad, though he'd enjoy it too. Not that I have any ulterior motive, wanting to go again in 6 months... nope, I'm just VERY altruistic.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Ally_DeVille]

twinspluscade, the way to the park is easy to find, as soon as you get to the HoJo's you'll see the route; it'll take about 10 minutes at an easy stroll to get there.

My family loved the HoJo's, we had 2 queen premium rooms (4 beds total) plus a crib and plenty of room to park my brother's motorized wheelchair and 2 full size strollers; we weren't cramped at all.

I highly recommend requesting rooms in building one so you can see the fireworks from your balcony.

I don't know if they are still doing it but I have to say buying an Entertainment Book and getting the discount on the premium room more than paid for the cost of the book itself. We were there last September for 11 days, paid $69 a night per room due to the entertainment book hotel rate; the rates sell out fast so reserving now works in your favor.

 

[bumbershoot]

They do still have the Ent Book rate. IT's now 59 for a normal room and 74 for the fancier room.

And hojoanaheim has forums now with a page that lists all the dates that have the rate available. It's quite convenient.

 

[lillygator]

how close is it to the DL hotels?

 

[Jenn1116]

It's on the other side of the park from the DLR hotels.

 

[bumbershoot]

"Is the walking route well-marked (it would be just like us to end up going the wrong way )?"

It'll be obvious. When you leave the HoJo grounds you will SEE DL on the other side of the big wide boulevard. You'll see that going on way on Harbor would take you to the freeway, while the other way has Mimi's restaurant, McD's, many hotels...go that way.

Then you'll be with the "herd" anyway especially if you walk on the hotel side, and soon you'll see the big sign that looks like this, and it will be even more clear to you.

 

[Ally_DeVille]

They do still have the Ent Book rate. IT's now 59 for a normal room and 74 for the fancier room.

And hojoanaheim has forums now with a page that lists all the dates that have the rate available. It's quite convenient.

Thanks! I'll bookmark the site for the next trip that I need to start planning.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

how close is it to the DL hotels?

Here's a good map of where everything is at:

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I pretty much knew all the answers to the Hojo questions, but it's nice to read them again. Makes me excited for our stay in just a little over a month now!

 

[lillygator]

how far is the walk from GC to HoJo's far??

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, "far" is such a personal idea.

You'd walk to the bag check area, and either go into DCA then out the special exit into GCH, or just cross the esplanade out the other bag check, to the DTD entrance of GCH.

 

[ozvisiter]

Another Ho Jo Question. We are thinking of going to San diego for a few nights however as I am the only adult travelling with 3 kids I was thinking to leave some of our luggage at the hotel until we return to the hotel. Do they let you do this???