Staying with Hojo Dec. 7 - 15...

[lwilkison]

Hey DIS'ers:

We are taking our daughter for her 1st trip to Disneyland this Christmas and staying with our fav hotel Hojo...but we didn't get the 2 double queen premium Disney view room...unfortunately.

Anyone stayed in the 2 double standard room before?

I am sure it is good...as it is Hojo. I am just nervous!

Our daughter is 2 1/2 yrs old so if there is anything else that frequent visitors might suggest for her 1st visit we would love all the help!

We have booked Ariel's grotto for a Disney princess breakfast for her as she is a little princess!

Our fingers are still crossed that someone else might cancel their room and we can get a 2 queen Disney view room though!

Thanks for all the help! We love the DIS board! Great ideas and helpful hints!

 

[jescal75]

Have you looked into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique make overs?

 

[jemilah]

It is a very nice room, how long will you spend looking out the window?

 

[Feistygirl916]

Don't be nervous, it's the EXACT same room, except that you can't see the fireworks from your room... Oh, and the deluxe rooms have microwaves. Not a big deal, in my opinion. The beds are SUPER comfy, and the HoJo is always amazing regardless of which room type you have. It's not worth the extra money for us to stay in one of those rooms.

 

[specialks]

I would definitely recommend the BBB if she is good at sitting still and doesn't mind having her hair pulled on some.

Also, make sure to stop by City Hall on your first day and ask for a "My First Visit" button. The CMs will see it and many will comment on it. If CH has a long line you could try one of the Main Street stores. We got them for our daughters completely by accident when we were checking out at a store and I mentioned it was their first visit. I hadn't known about asking for them and they only had them for about 2 hours at the parks (it was our final day), but still a cute memory.

We are going to be there during the same time (Dec 7-14). Hope you guys have a fabulous trip!

 

[smiley_face2]

Hey DIS'ers:

We are taking our daughter for her 1st trip to Disneyland this Christmas and staying with our fav hotel Hojo...but we didn't get the 2 double queen premium Disney view room...unfortunately.

Anyone stayed in the 2 double standard room before?

I am sure it is good...as it is Hojo. I am just nervous!

Our daughter is 2 1/2 yrs old so if there is anything else that frequent visitors might suggest for her 1st visit we would love all the help!

We have booked Ariel's grotto for a Disney princess breakfast for her as she is a little princess!

Our fingers are still crossed that someone else might cancel their room and we can get a 2 queen Disney view room though!

Thanks for all the help! We love the DIS board! Great ideas and helpful hints!

Hello fellow BCer!! these rooms are actually hubby and my favorite rooms to stay in! these spacious rooms have oversized double beds that are to die for comfy soft, they all have a balcony with glass door that opens out onto it. They have no elevators in these buildings, but the stairs are very easy, they are only 2 story buildings. Our favorite building is number 4 on the second floor, at the end closest to Disneyland. I think the room number is 9. It looks out over the water play area which would be really fun for your daughter to watch, and you can see the monorail going by regularly! In the early morning before they start up the water bucket, and it's nice and quiet, you can hear all the sounds coming from Disneyland! We like to open our door, and sit at the table they have there and have a muffin and coffee for breakfast while listening to the sounds of the monorail going by, the train, etc. It gets you very excited to get going over there and makes you feel so much a part of the park! The only thing in your case is that up on the second floor, the rooms have the large double skylights that let the light in as soon as the sun comes up, and lets a fair amount of light in at night from the water play area. We actually like it, and find the light at night is a good night light, but for napping purposes you may want a room on a ground floor so you can darken it. I'll post a couple of pictures here, of the view out our second story room, and one of our grand daughter having her breakfast on the balcony of the same room location, but ground floor, you can just see the monorail track over the right edge of the balcony wall. These are also our son and daugher in law and grand daughers favorite rooms! As you can see they moved their table and chairs right out onto the balcony! You can phone Hojo's on the direct 714 phone number to request your preference. In the last pic you can see the big skylights I'm talking about. Also when you leave this building, you leave out the door at the end going to the parking lot and you are right at the corner of the street to cross over to walk to Disneyland. It may not seem like much, but at the end of the day walking back, it saves a lot of steps! you can also step out this door way to see the fireworks at night. Another thing we like about these rooms, is that the sun shines in them all day, and you get a beautiful sunset! and coming from where we do, getting that sun in winter is a special treat!

 

[lwilkison]

Thank you everyone for your help!

We cannot wait to take our girl to Disneyland!

 

[lwilkison]

Yes, we have. BBB says not until she is 3 yrs...which is okay it just means = go back in a year or so

 

[lwilkison]

I would definitely recommend the BBB if she is good at sitting still and doesn't mind having her hair pulled on some.

Also, make sure to stop by City Hall on your first day and ask for a "My First Visit" button. The CMs will see it and many will comment on it. If CH has a long line you could try one of the Main Street stores. We got them for our daughters completely by accident when we were checking out at a store and I mentioned it was their first visit. I hadn't known about asking for them and they only had them for about 2 hours at the parks (it was our final day), but still a cute memory.

We are going to be there during the same time (Dec 7-14). Hope you guys have a fabulous trip!

We will make sure to grab her a button!

 

[lwilkison]

Hello fellow BCer!! these rooms are actually hubby and my favorite rooms to stay in! these spacious rooms have oversized double beds that are to die for comfy soft, they all have a balcony with glass door that opens out onto it. They have no elevators in these buildings, but the stairs are very easy, they are only 2 story buildings. Our favorite building is number 4 on the second floor, at the end closest to Disneyland. I think the room number is 9. It looks out over the water play area which would be really fun for your daughter to watch, and you can see the monorail going by regularly! In the early morning before they start up the water bucket, and it's nice and quiet, you can hear all the sounds coming from Disneyland! We like to open our door, and sit at the table they have there and have a muffin and coffee for breakfast while listening to the sounds of the monorail going by, the train, etc. It gets you very excited to get going over there and makes you feel so much a part of the park! The only thing in your case is that up on the second floor, the rooms have the large double skylights that let the light in as soon as the sun comes up, and lets a fair amount of light in at night from the water play area. We actually like it, and find the light at night is a good night light, but for napping purposes you may want a room on a ground floor so you can darken it. I'll post a couple of pictures here, of the view out our second story room, and one of our grand daughter having her breakfast on the balcony of the same room location, but ground floor, you can just see the monorail track over the right edge of the balcony wall. These are also our son and daugher in law and grand daughers favorite rooms! As you can see they moved their table and chairs right out onto the balcony! You can phone Hojo's on the direct 714 phone number to request your preference. In the last pic you can see the big skylights I'm talking about. Also when you leave this building, you leave out the door at the end going to the parking lot and you are right at the corner of the street to cross over to walk to Disneyland. It may not seem like much, but at the end of the day walking back, it saves a lot of steps! you can also step out this door way to see the fireworks at night. Another thing we like about these rooms, is that the sun shines in them all day, and you get a beautiful sunset! and coming from where we do, getting that sun in winter is a special treat!

Thank you very much fellow BC'er! Looks great! Love the idea of moving the table and chairs onto patio!

 

[specialks]

Yes, we have. BBB says not until she is 3 yrs...which is okay it just means = go back in a year or so

They will do younger kids if they can sit through it. I know because our 2.5 year old wasn't booked due to me reading about the 3 yr minimum and when we showed up for our 5 yr old's appt they said my youngest could get a makeover as well. I remember reading that someone else was told by a CM on the booking line that they will allow younger kids to have a makeover if the parent deems them able.

 

[pixiewings71]

We always stay in the pavilion rooms, they are our favorites. Our fave buildings are 4 & 6 and we prefer the 2nd floor. The bday button is great and so is the meal at AG, she will love that!! I personally wouldn't do BBB until the age of 3, not because my kids wouldn't sit thru it but because I don't feel quite right letting someone do it who is "under" age. lol maybe that's just me tho. You can get her face painted tho, they do that in DL and in DCA, we did it once with the girls and they thought it was pretty cool.

 

[lwilkison]

We always stay in the pavilion rooms, they are our favorites. Our fave buildings are 4 & 6 and we prefer the 2nd floor. The bday button is great and so is the meal at AG, she will love that!! I personally wouldn't do BBB until the age of 3, not because my kids wouldn't sit thru it but because I don't feel quite right letting someone do it who is "under" age. lol maybe that's just me tho. You can get her face painted tho, they do that in DL and in DCA, we did it once with the girls and they thought it was pretty cool.

The face painting sounds great. I know she can handle that.

As for BBB, we know we are going back to DLR next year or January 2012 with extended family so I think it would be better for her then. She is okay with having her haircut most times but there are times when she has a melt down and I don't think I want to go through that with her when I know she will like it when she gets a little bit older.

I will keep in mind those buildings 4 & 6. Thanks again, gotta go-bedtime!

 

[lwilkison]

It is a very nice room, how long will you spend looking out the window?

True, I doubt we would spend all that much time looking out towards Disneyland. Maybe 10 minutes!

Good point!

 

[lwilkison]

Well, so far with all of the great ideas for our daughter (aka our little princess)

We will go over to the Walmart the first day (as we are flying in early) and grab a stroller from there and maybe a Mr. Potato head body so we can visit the Imagineers (in DCA) and get a box of Mr. Potato head parts...we have Ariel's grotto booked. We will take her for an early morning opening, Peter pan's flight as well as all of the wonderful other ones.

A peppermint pot cake.

As well as watch fireworks from Main street to watch the castle light up and see it snow

Build a Bear in DTD. Face painting in DLR.

Go on her first morning and get her a "my 1st visit" button.

Oh, we can't wait.

36 days 23 hours to our Christmas Disneyland trip

Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice!

 

[pixiewings71]

Face painting is in DCA on the Pier, they just have it set up in a little stand.
At DLR they have it over by the Matterhorn and I think they have it over by the Princess Fantasy Fair as well. We found the prices reasonable and the face paint lasted all day for our girls.

 

[smiley_face2]

Face painting is in DCA on the Pier, they just have it set up in a little stand.
At DLR they have it over by the Matterhorn and I think they have it over by the Princess Fantasy Fair as well. We found the prices reasonable and the face paint lasted all day for our girls.

Dear Grand daughter with her facepaint from the area of Pixie Hollow, near the Matterhorn

 

[AussieCaribou]

How exciting! I love first times.

DH and I took our DD to DL for her second birthday (and the opening day of DCA...). We did a few things that made for great memories on that trip.

1. Take it slow (don't feel that you have to make every attraction). We didn't worry about much more than getting on the Fantasyland Rides and ended up getting on a lot more. But it also gave us time to take DD in her Jane jacket and Mickey ears to do some quieter things that gave us GREAT photos. Like we went to the wishing well beside the castle. We spent two or three run throughs with her facinated. We also wondered into Toon town early and have a great photo of her playing with Pluto (angled the photos so it's just the two of them in the entire frame. Looks like they are the only ones in TT).

2. Another great photo op (photos are my life), is up in the pilot house of the Mark Twain. Just gotta ask at the dock if you can go up there. DD got to 'pilot' the MT and ring the bell...which she was over joyed to do when the train passed and the entire staff waved at her.

3. get one of the super large lollypops (you know they ones at the candy shop...the ones that no parent would willingly give their small child for fear of over sugar hyper...). After all, it's a specail day! oddly, this is the one thing that my now 11 year old remembers most. Maybe it's because we don't have a lot of lolly type items in the house. lol

4. Play in the animation building at DCA. Still have some of DD's 'animation' artwork on the fridge.

5. And the best piece of advice my mom gave me: let your princess choose some of the things to do. We walked into Fantasyland (through the drawbridge of course) and let her lead the way. We ended up on Dumbo first and then Casey Jr. Neither are my favourite but she loved them.

Have a great time and don't forget the first timer button. Let DD lead your group so that the cast member has the best chance of seeing that she is extra special.

~AussieCaribou

 

[lwilkison]

Thank you pixiewings71 and smiley_face2 for the great facepainting ideas and the great pic!

That is a beautiful pic of your dear granddaughter!

 

[pixiewings71]

Thank you pixiewings71 and smiley_face2 for the great facepainting ideas and the great pic!

That is a beautiful pic of your dear granddaughter!

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No problem, I hope you have a GREAT time!!