Tell me it's going to be okay

[Dobby]

My mom just called, because she was going through all of her Disney papers/information. Turns out that when she called the # for the Howard Johnson, she asked to make sure we would be 'closest' to Disneyland as we have 2 kids and an infant, and wanted to be able to hop to the hotel for breaks. Someone on the line booked us into the wrong one! We are at the HJ Express Inn - Orange, which is blocks and blocks away

Apparently, to cancel costs us a night's stay. But I'm thinking that bus passes for 5 of us would cost about that much anyway. She's still hesitating about cancelling and finding something closer.

So, how much time is this going to waste every day? And is public transport going to be able to get us to the park before opening, even for Magic Morning??

 

[Judy from Boise]

call and ask to speak to reservation manager at HoJo's corporate 800 ressie line, and tell your story, I would be shocked if they didn't change it without penalty.

 

[Dobby]

I'm hoping she can get the cancellation fee lowered or waived, but I checked the HoJo online, and there's nothing available for those dates. So they wouldn't be able to switch us over to there anyway.

 

[WonkaKid]

call and ask to speak to reservation manager at HoJo's corporate 800 ressie line, and tell your story, I would be shocked if they didn't change it without penalty.

No doubt. It sounds like it was their mistake. Even if it wasn't, moving to another location shouldn't be a problem. If they hassle it, I'd take it up with corporate HQ ... although it seems likely that they'll be reasonable.

Best of luck!

 

[Judy from Boise]

the hotel it'self most likely has some rooms blocked for their own use....I don't think they release everything to book. You have nothing to lose by working up the chain and being very pleasant but persuasive

 

[tdashgirl]

Sending over some good and to you ... give in-house reservations a call also?

 

[glara]

Definitely speak to someone senior. I worked in hotel res for over 7 years and am sure that despite what's showing available online, the hotel will have some other rooms up their sleeves.

 

[skiingfast]

You may need to do this or threaten to do this which can get things moving for you. Threaten to do a charge back on your credit card. Since you are not getting what you have paid for you are fully able to do this.

A charge back is when the credit card company takes the money back from the business and then credits the users account. They also penalize the business which would be incentive for hojo to make things right.

Of course this would only be if you can find a room elsewhere.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If you can get HOJOs to let you cancel the other reservation, I would recommend contacting HOJOs Anaheim directly.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

You need to ask for inside sales.

 

[aristocat65]

I really hope it all works out for you. In the meantime, have you considered other hotels that are walking distance (if you can't get HoJo's)? Candy Cane Inn is really nice and includes breakfast http://www.candycaneinn.net/. They also have good AAA (or CAA) rates. I would think that since you are still 43 days out you should have a lot of options. Candy Cane Inn is also an easy walk and has it's own shuttle bus as a back up.
Good Luck

 

[Dobby]

It's solved! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. They got the reservation cancelled without penalty, and we found another hotel about the same distance away, with the same type of room (we needed one with a separate sleep area for the kids).

I'm so relieved!!

 

[tdashgirl]

It's solved! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. They got the reservation cancelled without penalty, and we found another hotel about the same distance away, with the same type of room (we needed one with a separate sleep area for the kids).

I'm so relieved!!

Where did you end up booking?

 

[Dobby]

The Portofino...I've heard good and not so good reviews, but they had a kids' suite like we wanted.