WDW "semi-vet" needs TONS of DL help!!

[Cindy's Mom]

Hello All

I'm in the first stages of planning a DL trip for next summer. I am learning (although I must admit its very hard to swallow) that it is not necessary to stay on-site at DL. I'm reading a lot about HoJo.

I've looked at the web-site and it seems decent....do you all really stay there? In WDW terms how would you compare it? Would it be a moderate or a value styled hotel?

This is a culture shock for me by even considering not staying on-site and let's not even discuss that I probably won't be getting a dining plan

I love the look of the GC, do "experienced" Disney travellers stay there or is that just for "tourist"? KWIM I think that actually staying in the park would be awesome.

I'm a so confused

 

[DangerMouse]

Cindy'sMom, if you look at my siggie, you'll see how often I have stayed at the HoJo. I've also stayed on-site at the DLH and GCH when I was able to snag some extremely low rates. But even if I was able to get those low rates again, I would not stay on-site. I prefer the HoJo. I've never been to WDW, but I have heard other's compare the HoJo to a moderate there.

They have large clean rooms with fridge and micro (in premium and deluxe rooms), new pillow top beds with new linens; the best customer service (Lorealle rocks!); gorgeous grounds with 2 pool areas. One with a swimming pool, the other with a kiddie pool, giant Pirate ship splash area called Castaway Cove with a water slide and jacuzzi.

On top of that there is MiMi's Cafe across the street which is the best off-site family dining within walking distance of the parks.

When you compare the entertainment rate of $59 a night at the HoJo to the GCH rate of close to $400 + resort fee a night (which will get you a smaller room with no micro), I just don't even play the comparison game anymore.

Hope this helps with your decision.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I agree, hojo's customer service was great. THey tried to get me in there, but were just flat out booked on one of the days. But went to the effort to try whatever they could.

Honestly, i have NEVER EVER stayed on site. I would rather save the money and do a cool dinner somewhere, or buy extra souvineers or treats.

It seems like it'd be fun..but I really don't have lots of money to waste, so I'm all for staying off site.

I think it's all about you and what your wishes are.

 

[gatorfreud]

We stayed at the HoJo in January... it was a fine hotel. I think they just re-did the pool... we didn't look at it or use it since it was cold in January!

As a WDW vet also, I will tell you that staying in the HoJo is nothing like staying at WDW on-site. It was a fine hotel with pretty good service, and it was easy to walk to the parks (that part was cool!). But it is just a hotel. As you have stayed on-site at WDW before, you know the full immersion that it brings. This is nothing like it. I'm not saying that it is good or bad, but just be prepared for it to be very different. I have never stayed on-site at DLR, so I have no idea how it compares (we'll be one night at GCH for an upcoming no-kids trip). It is kind of weird to just walk right along the street past McDonalds to get to the parks. The convenience of that is really nice, it's just a very different experience altogether.

As the hotels here in CA are so outrageously priced, I do not know if you could justify the cost of staying on-site. It seemed to me that PPH and DLH are as far (or farther) walking that the HoJo. Although I think you can monorail in. Our couples trip coming up is 2 nights, we are staying 1 off-site and 1 at the GCH... we couldn't justify that cost even for 2 nights, but I really wanted to stay there! I guess it depends what your budget is.

Anyway, not sure that was helpful, but the cost difference is pretty steep. I think staying off-site at DLR is a great way to go (I would never stay off-site at WDW). But just be prepared that it is nothing like being at Coronado Springs or Pop or whatever. The hotels are just hotels.

After my October trip I can let you know how different (if any) it feels staying on-site!

Kim

 

[jlmarr]

I am learning (although I must admit its very hard to swallow) that it is not necessary to stay on-site at DL.

At DLR off-site is literally across the street, so it's quite manageable. Here's a view of the area, via Wikimapia. Also, be sure to read Hydroguy's tips at the top of the page - there are threads especially for WDW vets.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Cindy,

You might want to, if you haven't already, check out HydroGuy's sticky on top of the thread. He discusses about DL for WDW vets.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

 

[samkj]

Well we have stayed both on-site and at Hojo. If money was no issue, then there's no question we would stay on-site everytime. I love the feeling of waking up at the resort, not just at a hotel nearby. However budget is a huge concern, so its Hojo for us. Our kids have no interest in swimming while at DL, so we don't go back to the hotel except to sleep at night, so its a little easier to accept the fact that it is not a Disney hotel. For our Christmas trip we have premium view rooms reserved, which I think will help with the Disney feel.

The staff at Hojo is by far the best I have ever encountered (and I'm a travel agent, so I've dealt with many hotels!) and the rooms are wonderfully clean, large and comfortable. The quality for the money is far superior to anything else within walking distance.

 

[avalon451]

GCH is fabulous. We stayed there for our first trip and loved it. I've heard it compared to the Grand Floridian at WDW. Since we had never been to DL or any Disney park before, we splurged and just did it, and I don't regret it!

That said, it'll never happen again. I just can't justify the cost. We paid over $350 a night for a standard room with a courtyard view.

If cost is not an issue for you, I would certainly look into staying onsite. However, I think I would choose HoJo over Paradise Pier or Disneyland Hotel. Some people disagree, because they really love the "immersion" of Disney atmosphere.

This time, we are staying in a deluxe, park view room at HoJo, with a balcony and view of the fireworks. We'll have a fridge, microwave, and comfortable beds with new pillowtop mattresses. We're spending about $300 for 4 nights' stay... less than what we paid for EACH night at GCH. No contest!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

thank you for all the insightful replies.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

hojos even tho i havent stayed there yet (am in oct) i think id chose it 74 with ent rate with firework view. I may try on site in a few years just one time tho and a special time but other then that ill stay off site.

camolot inn was grate last year saw fireworks from room 404 but it was i think 120 a night we got it from the disney package

 

[poohnpigletCA]

I would say it depends upon your group. Even though we have heard wonderful things about the Hojo it is just to far of a walk for us. Our youngest still needs her nap during the day. The Camelot is about as far as we would go. Once we can go all day without naps, then we might try the Hojo.

We have stayed at many Hotels. Our most recent was the Paradise Pier with a resort view. When you go back for a nap it is so nice to look out at the park and read a book.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I would say it depends upon your group. Even though we have heard wonderful things about the Hojo it is just to far of a walk for us. Our youngest still needs her nap during the day. The Camelot is about as far as we would go. Once we can go all day without naps, then we might try the Hojo.

We have stayed at many Hotels. Our most recent was the Paradise Pier with a resort view. When you go back for a nap it is so nice to look out at the park and read a book.

This is what I'm thinking too. While we don't do "naps" we do go back to the resort for swimming. We are the furthest that you can get to being commando style.

 

[avalon451]

I would say it depends upon your group. Even though we have heard wonderful things about the Hojo it is just to far of a walk for us. Our youngest still needs her nap during the day. The Camelot is about as far as we would go. Once we can go all day without naps, then we might try the Hojo.

We have stayed at many Hotels. Our most recent was the Paradise Pier with a resort view. When you go back for a nap it is so nice to look out at the park and read a book.

If you look at this article, How Far Is It, http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as You will see that Paradise Pier is actually FARTHER than Howard Johnson's, even cutting through GCH lobby. Likewise, DLH's closest rooms beat HoJo distance only by about 200 feet (the farthest tower is farther by several hundred feet). So distance between the onsite hotels and HoJo is negligible, unless you're talking GCH.

The difference between HoJo and Camelot, or any of the "crosswalk" motels, is a matter of about 4-5 minutes. The main part of the distance is the same one everybody takes, which is that walk from the Esplanade out to Harbor, and over the crosswalk. Once you are there, it's literally only 3-5 minutes farther to HoJo.

Besides which, when you are staying at HoJo it works better to take the "shortcut" by crossing Harbor at Manchester, and going down to the taxi entrance and up the other side of the entrance walkway, away from all the crowds. Bumbershoot did a great photo visual of this path here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1766695&page=9
This cuts a few minutes off your walk, and keeps you out of the crowds. Bumbershoot also did a photo visual of the walk on the hotel side of Harbor, and you can see 1. How close the hotels all are, and 2. how freakin' crowded it is on that side.

This is what I'm thinking too. While we don't do "naps" we do go back to the resort for swimming. We are the furthest that you can get to being commando style.

If you go back to the hotel for swimming, again, I'd vote HoJo. They have the nicest pool areas of any on Harbor. There's the large Garden pool near building 2, then the new Castaway Cove water play area near the kiddie pool and the jacuzzi. It has been reported that adults and teens are becoming big fans of that water play area, not just little ones!

Hope that helps!

 

[tofubeast]

I just commented on the WDW onsite hotel thing vs staying off site at DLR in my trip report. Click on the link, it is my most recent post.

I would say that the Hojo's is somewhere probably closer to a value..but with some hints of a mod resort at WDW.

 

[samkj]

If you plan on swimming, then there really is no contest. Hojo will take a few minutes more to walk(and I did whine a bit on our last trip when walking past the other Harbor motels), but will be 100 times better in terms of pools. The Sheraton Park also reportedly has an amazing pool(with poolside bar), but this is even further away, although it does have (I think)the ART shuttle available.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I think this map gives a great view of the whole area.

http://www.anaheim411.com/2008_mapFRONT_xl.jpg

We're staying WAAYY down Harbor at the Cortona, and it's still less than a 15 minute walk. We're all adult guys. so no kid issues. Just remember, there are similarities between rides and shows, but the experience will be quite different, from hotel/resort to spacing to dining. Even character interactions will be different.