To stay in a Disney Hotel or not? And meal plans?

[Mandysue1976]

I was pretty sure we wanted to stay at one of the Disney-owned resorts. If we do, we'd probably stay at the cheapest one. Now that I've looked at a map and lurked around the forums, I'm wondering if a hotel across the street might be a better option.

We are arriving on a Tuesday evening and leaving Friday morning next June, 2013. I was planning on getting a 3-day Park Hopper pass. That would be 3 nights lodging.

How much do you think we'd save by staying at HoJo or another good neighbor hotel?

What would we be giving up? Someone already mentioned Magic Mornings...we would get one either way with the 3 day pass, but only the 2nd one if we stay at a DLR. Another thing that I've realized we'd give up is a nice pool with slides and stuff like that. If we are spending 2 days and an evening at Disneyland, will we have time or energy to utilize a water park? (Our kids will be 10 and 6).

As for meal plans, I'm almost certain we want to get this because I don't want to carry more than some snacks and I don't want to leave the park every time we get hungry. Am I right in my thinking and what would you suggest we get? The 2 day plan? We could eat off-site before we go in on the first evening....or not.

 

[skiingfast]

With a year to go, you should observe what happens this Summer with the Magic Mornings.


You are planning a short visit I would not expect to get a lot of use out of a pool.


The Meal Plan will not help you. Just expect to pay for what food you want.


The Paradise Peir Hotel is the cheapest onsite. The Hojo is usually 25% to 35% cheaper. You can check if Hojo offers and Entertainment rate later this year, it's possible but unlikely.

There are lof of oter good options to stay at along Harbor.

 

[sonnyjane]

Boarding a plane so can't write much... Just had to say NOOOOOOOOO dining plan! Huge rip-off! Someone else will explain I'm sure haha.

 

[BayAreaMom]

I've been to Disneyland/DCA 19 day since 6-6-11 and I've never been tempted to stay on site. We love the Howard Johnson on Harbor and we usually pay $129-140/nite for the kids suite which is huge. I don't know rates for the DLH and PP off the top of my head, but PP does not interest me at all. DLH is super cute with "disney" touches, and the pool is pretty amazing, but I don't know if we'd have the time to enjoy the pool anyways. We don't like to take pool breaks because it tires the kids out and they need all their energy for the parks.

 

[I'm mikey]

I was pretty sure we wanted to stay at one of the Disney-owned resorts. If we do, we'd probably stay at the cheapest one. Now that I've looked at a map and lurked around the forums, I'm wondering if a hotel across the street might be a better option.

The least expensive Disney hotel would be Paradise Pier. many of the harbor blvd hotels are actually closer and as skiingfast has said, will be 25-35% cheaper.

As for meal plans, I'm almost certain we want to get this because I don't want to carry more than some snacks and I don't want to leave the park every time we get hungry. Am I right in my thinking and what would you suggest we get? The 2 day plan? We could eat off-site before we go in on the first evening....or not.

The Disneyland meal plan does not save you any money, the way it works is you are purchasing vouchers at face value, dollar for dollar, so if you use a voucher worth $15 and your bill is only $13..... you lose $2 dollars. you dont get change.

 

[pixiewings71]

Ya, don't do the dining plan. It's not like WDW and won't save you money, it may in fact cost you money. You get set vouchers and if you don't spend them all you don't get change, but if you spend more then you have to pay the different OOP. Say you have a $5 snack voucher, but your snack is only $3, you lose the remaining $2. Say you have a snack voucher for $5 but your snack is $7, you have to pay the extra $2 OOP or give them $10 in snack vouchers thus losing $3. Not worth it IMO.....

 

[Mandysue1976]

Ohhh, I'm learning so much! Keep the advice coming!!

 

[I'm mikey]

Another thing that I've realized we'd give up is a nice pool with slides and stuff like that. If we are spending 2 days and an evening at Disneyland, will we have time or energy to utilize a water park? (Our kids will be 10 and 6).

if you have only 2 days at the parks, you may want to spend all your time
there. but if you would like water play area for the kids, take a look at
howard Johnson hotel (HOJO), they have the nicest water park of the
harbor blvd hotels.
heres a link.
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

 

[BayAreaMom]

if you have only 2 days at the parks, you may want to spend all your time
there. but if you would like water play area for the kids, take a look at
howard Johnson hotel (HOJO), they have the nicest water park of the
harbor blvd hotels.
heres a link.
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

I agree- we have stayed at HoJos 4 times since last Sept. BUT the water park is best for younger kids. My 6 year old likes it, but I can see her outgrowing it in 1-2 years.

personally, with 2-3 days, I would just avoid the water play and pool. They are FUN, but they take us away from the park, and drain the kids. Not ideal if your main goal is to enjoy the parks!

 

[mydisneymoney]

Totally agree with avoiding the pool. You can go to a water park anytime you want. You will want to stay at the parks as long as you can and your kids are old enough that they should be able to handle a long day. Why waste you time in a POOL??? We go for a week with our DS6 and we never see all that the parks have to offer.

PPH is nice but not worth the money other then the MM and for the price, I am not sure having an extra MM is worth it. If you were staying a week and had several MM oportunities, then it would be worth it, especially in the busy season.

 

[mydisneymoney]

Oh, one mroe thing. If you are willing to deal with vouchers and don't want to deal with a bunch of cash, use a disney gift card. We do that all the time. You buy them at just about any gift shop in the parks and put whatever amount you want on them. Each time you use it, it will say on the reciept what amount is left on the card. Quick and easy.

 

[Hound 109]

Comments below:

I was pretty sure we wanted to stay at one of the Disney-owned resorts.

Have you been to WDW? Where do you like to stay & why?


If we do, we'd probably stay at the cheapest one. Now that I've looked at a map and lurked around the forums, I'm wondering if a hotel across the street might be a better option.

Not better....cheaper. Most of the Harbor Blvd motels are fine, but they're not "better" than staying on site. (


We are arriving on a Tuesday evening and leaving Friday morning next June, 2013. I was planning on getting a 3-day Park Hopper pass. That would be 3 nights lodging.

You should plan on 4 days minimum, 5 would be better. WDW vets ALWAYS underestimate all that there is to enjoy at DLR & all of them that visit for 2 or 3 days ALWAYS state that they had wished they had tacked on an extra day.....& that was BEFORE the opening of CarsLand.


How much do you think we'd save by staying at HoJo or another good neighbor hotel?

Probably Alot.


What would we be giving up? Someone already mentioned Magic Mornings...we would get one either way with the 3 day pass, but only the 2nd one if we stay at a DLR. Another thing that I've realized we'd give up is a nice pool with slides and stuff like that. If we are spending 2 days and an evening at Disneyland, will we have time or energy to utilize a water park? (Our kids will be 10 and 6).

Only two days & an evening.....for Walt's park!!!!!


As for meal plans, I'm almost certain we want to get this because I don't want to carry more than some snacks and I don't want to leave the park every time we get hungry. Am I right in my thinking and what would you suggest we get? The 2 day plan? We could eat off-site before we go in on the first evening....or not.

As everyone else said, the current meal plan stinks (& there's no benefit). Maybe they'll come up with a modified WDW plan by next summer?

Have you read Hydroguy's DLR for the WDW veteran thread yet? If not you should....in fact read it twice.

 

[mamaofthree]

We stayed at PPH this winter, at a promo rate, and i can say that for me personally it was not wonderful and I won't stay there again. We will be back at HoJo's or splurge for DLH.

 

[Mandysue1976]

You all have helped me so much! I am excited to go to Disneyland AND make the best use of our budget! No meal plan for us unless things change, and we will most likely stay at Howard Johnson.

Yes, we are there to focus on the parks, NOT the hotel ammenities and unless we can afford one of the nicer Disney properties, I've decided it's not worth the extra dough!

I realize that we will be rushed by only spending an evening and 2 full days at the park, but we will be maxing out our vacation time as it is. We are driving from Iowa, seeing the canyons in Utah on the way out and then stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way back. We'll be gone 11 days. I know it's packing in a lot of stuff, but we're trying to get the most out of our time and money.

We had a family meeting tonight and everyone is on board with my itinerary and the proposal of staying at a different property! I'm really excited now!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im the only one who like the meal plans and i normaly use them i dont see it as a waist it pays for the meals i need, i make sure to use a voucher up to the last cent ive never seen it a rip off as others say. This time my dads payign fro us so i didnt do the meal plan but i know when i do them i get every meal i want amnd i like bb and charcter meals. this time we have to scrap money together to buy food besieds the two meals we paid for by getting disney gift cards

 

[pixiewings71]

im the only one who like the meal plans and i normaly use them i dont see it as a waist it pays for the meals i need, i make sure to use a voucher up to the last cent ive never seen it a rip off as others say. This time my dads payign fro us so i didnt do the meal plan but i know when i do them i get every meal i want amnd i like bb and charcter meals. this time we have to scrap money together to buy food besieds the two meals we paid for by getting disney gift cards

Jade, I think you're the only person who feels it's a good deal and not a waste. Tell us how you use them, educate us.......I'd like to know.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I wanted to add my 2 cents on getting a retro/entertainment rate for June at the HOJO. I've done it!! I called back in January and got a retro rate for June during the weeknights. If you're checking out of a Friday, you might be able to do it, too. If that doesn't work, my backup plan is now the name your own price on priceline. I haven't spent more than $75/night (usually $69) for a 3 1/2 star hotel. Most of the hotel walking distace to DL are 2 1/2 - 3 star and you're paying an average of $119/night. I may be staying a bit further away, but there's a shuttle that picks us up in front of our hottle lobby and drops us off inside the pedestrian entrance.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Hi! i was reading your thread and noticed you wanted to stay on-site for extra MM- and you said your 3 day park hoppers come with MM- then looked at your days- and staying on or off site- you still only qualify for 1 MM. You said you was arriving Eve Tue and depart Fri morn.... this means MM will only be avail on Thursday. so if that helps.... not sure.
Also the water park area at Hojo's is way better then PPH. Although, the DLH has just remodeled entire hotel- if this is your once in a lifetime trip i would splurge with that.
Every hotel seems to close their pools and hot tubs early... like around 10 pm... the only place that stays open 24 hours is Hotel Menage- which was a great relaxing pool. You can also watch Fireworks right in the pool! Good luck!