Spread the love but it didn't work out

[Brancaneve]

I told my favorite grocery clerk that we had just returned from DLR and she mentioned how much she wanted to take her daughter for her birthday. She is a single mom, and with her hours being cut, she can't afford to splurge on this trip. Of course, I mentioned HOJO's, told her about the entertainment rate, and boasted up and down about the hotel and the Pirate Zone(name??)

She went at the end of April and came back disappointed. She could not get the ent. rate, and she turned down the Embassy Suites($104) and paid $129 at HOJO's JUST so her daughter could use the water feature, after being enamored with it from viewing the website. They planned to spend Saturday at the pool, only to find that it had been blocked off for use due to a group's reservation of the area!!! She said the group did not use it until 6:00 pm, which meant her daughter could of enjoyed it all day long. They did not advise them of this until the evening before.

Now, I feel bad spreading the love, and then having someone not receive it!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

I told my favorite grocery clerk that we had just returned from DLR and she mentioned how much she wanted to take her daughter for her birthday. She is a single mom, and with her hours being cut, she can't afford to splurge on this trip. Of course, I mentioned HOJO's, told her about the entertainment rate, and boasted up and down about the hotel and the Pirate Zone(name??)

She went at the end of April and came back disappointed. She could not get the ent. rate, and she turned down the Embassy Suites($104) and paid $129 at HOJO's JUST so her daughter could use the water feature, after being enamored with it from viewing the website. They planned to spend Saturday at the pool, only to find that it had been blocked off for use due to a group's reservation of the area!!! She said the group did not use it until 6:00 pm, which meant her daughter could of enjoyed it all day long. They did not advise them of this until the evening before.

Now, I feel bad spreading the love, and then having someone not receive it!

Well it certainly isn't your fault. We love HOJO's and I would recommend it as well so it is unfortunate that they weren't able to use the facilities and HOJO should have let them know that. I'm sure she isn't upset at you.

 

[jenpace]

Yes, I agree: not your fault at all. I'm a little surprised that the fact that their main child oriented amenity was off limits because of a private party. And to not notify guests of this, not good at all! My kids loved their water park area. If it had been off limits when we stayed there then I would have had 2 very upset kids on my hands!

 

[Brancaneve]

Jenpace, We have so much in common. We both love Snow White and we are both from Santa Cruz(I grew up there).

I forgot to mention that they did complain, and got one night free, but she is writing a letter to the higher ups to see if she can get another free night at least! She felt that she could of stayed at the Embassy Suites for so much less, with a hot breakfast and cocktails in the evening.

I know...not my fault, but I felt like all the air came out of my Mickey balloon!

 

[jenpace]

Jenpace, We have so much in common. We both love Snow White and we are both from Santa Cruz(I grew up there).

We DO have a lot in common, small world, eh?

I sure hope you can let go of feeling like any of this was your fault It just happens sometimes, sadly it happened to the person you made the recommendation.....

So, did you grow up on the Eastside of Santa Cruz or the Westside? I'm a Westside girl

 

[Gisele]

I agree, do not feel bad, nor guilty for giving rave reviews for a property that you and your family really do enjoy. After all, it really is not your fault at all, that your friend was disappointed. I am sorry that she was. It would have been nice if her DD could have used the pool area, during the day. Seeing how apparently it was not reserved until the early evening. It could have been far worse though, really in retrospect. So for as long as she and her DD did have a nice time overall during their stay at Howard Johnson, and their visit to the land, then that is the important thing, right? ..........

 

[bumbershoot]

The activity there was a huge event with a red carpet set up and I'm sure took all day to prepare for, for micechat.com's Gumball Rally. While it's a bummer that they didn't tell people ahead of time, since it's now clear to me that they did know they were doing it there, I"m sure they have info that says that any of their public spaces might be closed at any time.

Did the woman use any of the discounts out there? Even if ent rate isn't available they give you SOME discount, and just mentioning a few of the disney message boards gets you a discount as well.

 

[Brancaneve]

We DO have a lot in common, small world, eh?

I sure hope you can let go of feeling like any of this was your fault It just happens sometimes, sadly it happened to the person you made the recommendation.....

So, did you grow up on the Eastside of Santa Cruz or the Westside? I'm a Westside girl

Oooh...I'm Eastside(Seabright area) but UCSC resides in Westside so I guess I belong in both worlds. And now, a part of my heart is in Disneyland!

 

[Brancaneve]

The activity there was a huge event with a red carpet set up and I'm sure took all day to prepare for, for micechat.com's Gumball Rally. While it's a bummer that they didn't tell people ahead of time, since it's now clear to me that they did know they were doing it there, I"m sure they have info that says that any of their public spaces might be closed at any time.

Did the woman use any of the discounts out there? Even if ent rate isn't available they give you SOME discount, and just mentioning a few of the disney message boards gets you a discount as well.

Thanks Bumbershoot. She did get 15% discount. Thanks!

 

[50sjayne]

Honestly this irks me. She can't afford to go, so she went anyway and her 'cheap' hotel was over $100 pff season? You can always get a 3 star priceline room for under $50. And I understand people being upset about the pool thing but really isn't the main fun part about going to Disneyland actually going to disneyland? If that happened to me on our "off day" there I'd simply go to the park and take the off day the next day. If it was their only day they could have an off day then there is plenty to do cheap or free around anaheim. We did it. We went to Hollywood, Griffith observatory and Forest Lawn (which I really loved) I'm getting kinda tired of hearing about HOJO and the pool. I'm sure next time they will handle it better. I think they had the gumball rally event last year at HOJO too and it went smoothly. Makes me wonder if someone is just trying to mix it up on the board in hopes of a personal refund...

 

[farmgirljen]

There was a big discussion a week or so ago about the hojo and closing the pool, and the lack of prior notification given to guests. I don't think it is just one person trying to stir up the boards- alot of people who were put out by it chimed in on the other thread.

 

[Feistygirl916]

Another huge thing that is better about the HoJo is that it's DIRECTLY across the street from DL. Embassy Suites can't touch that!

I am a single mom as well, and if I needed a "budget" trip I would get ENT dates at the HoJo... If they weren't available, I would wait. Or possibly do the Priceline thing that someone was mentioning. You have to do your homework in regards to a Disney trip, plain and simple.

 

[Brancaneve]

Most of us on the boards go to DLR more than most. If you have never gone, or go infrequently, AND you have limited funds, you want it to go just right. For me, I'm not too picky if things don't work out because I know I will most likely be back. But it's not a reality for others. My grocery clerk happens to be the nicest, most positive person, so it took a lot for her to write a letter.

It's always scary to post a thread! Never know which way it's going to go.........

 

[Somegirl]

Most of us on the boards go to DLR more than most. If you have never gone, or go infrequently, AND you have limited funds, you want it to go just right. For me, I'm not too picky if things don't work out because I know I will most likely be back. But it's not a reality for others. My grocery clerk happens to be the nicest, most positive person, so it took a lot for her to write a letter.

It's always scary to post a thread! Never know which way it's going to go.........

I've never stayed at Hojo and I know that they have their fans, but it seems to me that they could of told people the pool was going to be closed when they made their reservations. I can imagine it was a big disappointment.

BTW, hi from another fellow Santa Cruzan.

 

[Brancaneve]

I've never stayed at Hojo and I know that they have their fans, but it seems to me that they could of told people the pool was going to be closed when they made their reservations. I can imagine it was a big disappointment.

BTW, hi from another fellow Santa Cruzan.

Hi Somegirl from Santa CRuz!

 

[ACDSNY]

Brancaneve - I would feel the same way as you do. Like you we know we will be returning to DL so we don't sweat the small stuff, but for those that seldom go I'd want them to have a magical time.

Well I didn't live in Santa Cruz, but my Grandparents used to rent a house for the summer and take me too. Some of my aunts and uncles are not too much older than me. We always had a great time.

 

[DisneyMax74]

Honestly this irks me. She can't afford to go, so she went anyway and her 'cheap' hotel was over $100 pff season? You can always get a 3 star priceline room for under $50. And I understand people being upset about the pool thing but really isn't the main fun part about going to Disneyland actually going to disneyland? If that happened to me on our "off day" there I'd simply go to the park and take the off day the next day. If it was their only day they could have an off day then there is plenty to do cheap or free around anaheim. We did it. We went to Hollywood, Griffith observatory and Forest Lawn (which I really loved) I'm getting kinda tired of hearing about HOJO and the pool. I'm sure next time they will handle it better. I think they had the gumball rally event last year at HOJO too and it went smoothly. Makes me wonder if someone is just trying to mix it up on the board in hopes of a personal refund...

Actually Ive seen many people mention it and they were angry about it. Ive seen it mentioned here, on facebook, Ive seen it from multiple people in their reviews on trip advisor and a few other hotel review sites.

Lots of people were upset about this. I wasnt one of them as Ive never stayed there but I cant say I blame them. My daughters are water bugs and would have been very sad if they had missed the one day planned to play in that water feature.

 

[heatherleigh]

So sorry to hear about that. What a bummer. I felt awful for the DISers who were posting about this a few weeks ago...

 

[jenpace]

Hi Somegirl from Santa CRuz!

Yes! Hi Somegirl I guess I'm not the only Disney geek here in Santa Cruz after all