What's the advantage of a good neighbor hotel vs. not?

[Amy&Dan]

It actually is necessary if you want to feel immersed in Disney. I have stayed at all 3 on property hotels, as well as many motels/hotels on Harbor Blvd., and there really is no comparison in experience. It makes a difference--but the problem is we can't always afford that difference.

Exactly! I am so excited for our onsite stay but know this probably won't be happening again anytime soon. Just too darn expensive.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

For those of you who have stayed at WDW...do you think we will be disappointed not staying on property at DL? I guess that's my main concern.

 

[skiingfast]

For those of you who have stayed at WDW...do you think we will be disappointed not staying on property at DL? I guess that's my main concern.

No.

 

[CrazyDuck]

For those of you who have stayed at WDW...do you think we will be disappointed not staying on property at DL? I guess that's my main concern.

Depends where you stay when you stay at WDW... If you stay in the immersive resorts (Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom) then the reality check when you get to the crosswalk on Harbor Boulevard may be disappointing. If you normally stay in the value resorts, the credit card bill at the end of your vacation may be an even bigger dissapointment!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Depends where you stay when you stay at WDW... If you stay in the immersive resorts (Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom) then the reality check when you get to the crosswalk on Harbor Boulevard may be disappointing. If you normally stay in the value resorts, the credit card bill at the end of your vacation may be an even bigger dissapointment!

We almost always stay at Pop Century, so a value. We like the theming because it really feels like we are at Disney World even when at the hotel. So I may have to let that go for this trip because when you are getting two rooms the DL rooms add up really really quick! If a standard view room at PPH comes available with a Military discount I'll jump otherwise I'm going to pick between the HOJO and the Holiday Inn Express. The only reason we would lean toward the HiEx is we have reward points we can use there and the free breakfast (with seven people that saves a chunk of change, too).

Thanks for all the help! That was invaluable info about the dining plan. I assumed it was a good deal like at WDW, so that is really really good to know.

 

[Butterfly123]

Just to mention again, the HI Ex does take about 12 minutes to walk, whereas the hotels right across the street on Harbor can take just a few minutes. We are trying Park Vue Inn this summere...a 3 Q suite for $163 (two rooms with a connecting door, one bathroom). They have a free breakfast, and a free light dinner (things like tacos or mac & cheese) that help take an edge off the costs. I think it is maybe a 2-3 minute walk to the gates. Best Western Park Place Inn & Suites is next door...we stayed there last summer. The mini suite was two Q and a pull out sofa...one longish room with one bathroom. That was about $ 156, and had free breakfast. Those hotels are as close as you can get to onsite...right at the crosswalk. Just something to think about...12 minutes at the end of a long day feels like a really long 12 minutes!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

For those of you who have stayed at WDW...do you think we will be disappointed not staying on property at DL? I guess that's my main concern.

We never have been *and remember we've spent nights at all 3 DLR hotels* We stayed @ POP when we visited WDW *10/09* For our most recent visit to DLR we stayed @ Stovall's Best Western *$60 per night Thanksgiving weekend last year, I enjoyed the walk, far fewer cars then on Harbor, quiet, lots of trees and plants. Looking at that map I posted earlier, we'd walk along Disneyland Dr. and enter the Grand and head to Disneyland from there.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

We never have been *and remember we've spent nights at all 3 DLR hotels* We stayed @ POP when we visited WDW *10/09* For our most recent visit to DLR we stayed @ Stovall's Best Western *$60 per night Thanksgiving weekend last year, I enjoyed the walk, far fewer cars then on Harbor, quiet, lots of trees and plants. Looking at that map I posted earlier, we'd walk along Disneyland Dr. and enter the Grand and head to Disneyland from there.

Btw, that map is awesome, thanks. I'm sure it's just something I'll have to experience but it seems so strange to me walking to the parks and from a non-Disney hotel. Seems like the way to go though for this visit.

 

[Hound 109]

We almost always stay at Pop Century, so a value. We like the theming because it really feels like we are at Disney World even when at the hotel. So I may have to let that go for this trip because when you are getting two rooms the DL rooms add up really really quick! If a standard view room at PPH comes available with a Military discount I'll jump otherwise I'm going to pick between the HOJO and the Holiday Inn Express. The only reason we would lean toward the HiEx is we have reward points we can use there and the free breakfast (with seven people that saves a chunk of change, too).
Thanks for all the help! That was invaluable info about the dining plan. I assumed it was a good deal like at WDW, so that is really really good to know.

I don't think you've listened to most of us. 4 out of 10 of us would recommend staying on site. 6 out of 10 of us would recommend a Harbor motel. None of us would recommend the Holiday Inn express. (which i'm sure is nice, but is a LONG walk around or you'd be stuck riding a stinkin' bus if the kids can't handle the walk.)

Since you stay at Pop, you probably would be OK at Hojo, BWPPI, CCI, Fairfield or one or two others on Harbor Blvd. (Walking distance to the turnstile & all recommended by many here.)

If you can snag the PPI for less than $80 per night more than the Harbor motels, you might enjoy the immersion the higher rate would deliver. But if $160 per night more.....I'd go with one of the Harbor Blvd hotels mentioned above. And with your crowd, definitely stay either on site or on Harbor.

Read Hydroguy's tip threads & have a great time at Walt's park.

 

[staley7580]

I would really think about the Hojos. Its awesome. We stayed there even before they have the kids water park area, or the pirate themed kids rooms. and we LOVED it. My husband and I are staying there for our anniversary trip in june. And when we go back in october with the kids, we will most likely stay there again.

We stayed at Pop when we went to WDW, and loved it. I would say that the beds at hojo are more comfy, and the rooms are WAY bigger. Plus, you can get a park view room, which is super fun for the kids when they are getting ready for bed and they can watch the fireworks! We have stayed at Paradise Pier, and we really liked it.. BUT.. We only had two kids, and could stay in one room... and we would get killer rates.. and we have stayed at the Grand. Which I liked, but my husband felt uncomfortable in. He's fully redneck, so posh isnt his thing!

Anyways.. CHeck with any discount you can get.. I know they have and annual pass discount, and the ENT. card discount.. Plus I know at one time they had a dis boards discount.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I too would very much recommend the Hojo over that Holiday Inn Express.

I have stayed at all four levels of WDW resorts (not each resort, but all the values, all the mods, one deluxe and three DVC's).

The best offsite trips we have had have been when we stayed at the Hojo. Those two trips were heads and above better than the other offsite trips which were also still great, but felt more "out of the magic" even though they were a bit closer to the parks than the Hojo. Bear in mind, when you stay right across the street on Harbor, you can hear the train whistle, see the monorail, the fireworks etc. The Hojo is closer to DL than the Contemporary is to Magic Kingdom. Even though its "further" than a few other motels on Harbor, it still takes less than 15 minutes to walk there. The Hojo also does have theme park view rooms. It has grounds, not like the ones at WDW but very pretty. The staff as I said earlier have always reminded me of Disney cm's with their excellent customer service. The rooms are nice sized and they have these heavenly beds that are heavenly with very nice bedding. I also love it that they have the water playground for young kids and a very nice garden pool that is lovely and feels very away from the action of Disneyland and the city around it. There is no other offsite hotel that I know of that has that sort of feel and amenties. We love the Best Western Park Place Inn and the Tropicana for their closeness to the parks, but their pools are inside parking lots and its motel all the way. The Hojo has a more resort type feel to it even though its a motel.

So being "offsite" at Disneyland is really just a term. Yes you do walk up Harbor and yes I do prefer to walk up DTD to the onsite hotels, but given the way prices to stay onsite have risen, its getting harder and harder to justify doing so.

I will also say that even while I enjoyed the Paradise Pier and its very nice, it may be onsite but it really feels like a Marriott. It was not built by Disney, it has no grounds at all and it has a nice pool area with a very cool slide (very similar to Boardwalk's slide) but its just a square pool surrounded by concrete. Dh and I both agreed that we won't pay the rates for onsite at DLR unless we can do the DLH or GCH. Again, PPH is nice, but its a distant third in the onsite choices at DL. Frankly, I would rather stay at the Hojo vs. PPH.

Again, as much as I love being onsite at Disneyland, this will very likely be our last onsite stay. The first time we took our son to DL he was 8 and we stayed at the DLH. Now he's almost 18, about to join the Marines so I am pulling out the stops and paying for the DLH. In some ways, I am almost regretting this since I know how much more we are paying!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I would rather be at the HoJo...it looked like fun for my three kids, but I have several free nights at the HiEx plus the free breakfast for seven people, I can't really pass both of those up.

And I really do hear what everyone is saying--go for HoJos! So I'll keep an eye on the rates and if something great comes up, I'll save our HiEx points for a different time.

Thank you for the input, though! If I could get one of these $69 rates at the HoJo I'd jump on it because that would be worth it!

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I too would very much recommend the Hojo over that Holiday Inn Express.

I have stayed at all four levels of WDW resorts (not each resort, but all the values, all the mods, one deluxe and three DVC's).

The best offsite trips we have had have been when we stayed at the Hojo. Those two trips were heads and above better than the other offsite trips which were also still great, but felt more "out of the magic" even though they were a bit closer to the parks than the Hojo. Bear in mind, when you stay right across the street on Harbor, you can hear the train whistle, see the monorail, the fireworks etc. The Hojo is closer to DL than the Contemporary is to Magic Kingdom. Even though its "further" than a few other motels on Harbor, it still takes less than 15 minutes to walk there. The Hojo also does have theme park view rooms. It has grounds, not like the ones at WDW but very pretty. The staff as I said earlier have always reminded me of Disney cm's with their excellent customer service. The rooms are nice sized and they have these heavenly beds that are heavenly with very nice bedding. I also love it that they have the water playground for young kids and a very nice garden pool that is lovely and feels very away from the action of Disneyland and the city around it. There is no other offsite hotel that I know of that has that sort of feel and amenties. We love the Best Western Park Place Inn and the Tropicana for their closeness to the parks, but their pools are inside parking lots and its motel all the way. The Hojo has a more resort type feel to it even though its a motel.

So being "offsite" at Disneyland is really just a term. Yes you do walk up Harbor and yes I do prefer to walk up DTD to the onsite hotels, but given the way prices to stay onsite have risen, its getting harder and harder to justify doing so.

I will also say that even while I enjoyed the Paradise Pier and its very nice, it may be onsite but it really feels like a Marriott. It was not built by Disney, it has no grounds at all and it has a nice pool area with a very cool slide (very similar to Boardwalk's slide) but its just a square pool surrounded by concrete. Dh and I both agreed that we won't pay the rates for onsite at DLR unless we can do the DLH or GCH. Again, PPH is nice, but its a distant third in the onsite choices at DL. Frankly, I would rather stay at the Hojo vs. PPH.

Again, as much as I love being onsite at Disneyland, this will very likely be our last onsite stay. The first time we took our son to DL he was 8 and we stayed at the DLH. Now he's almost 18, about to join the Marines so I am pulling out the stops and paying for the DLH. In some ways, I am almost regretting this since I know how much more we are paying!

You convinced me and we just booked the HoJo instead.

Thanks, everyone, I feel good about it!! Now I can start planning all the really fun stuff

 

[Amy&Dan]

I really think you made the right decision. And if you don't like the Hojo, well you can blame me and the other disboarders!

I just find that WDW regulars who go to DL seem to be pretty happy with the Hojo, myself very much included. Its not the same as being at WDW, but for offsite, its as close as it gets. And being able to walk over to the parks is so nice.

I hope you have an awesome trip. And keep an eye out for entertainment rates at the Hojo. I think its actually called the Retro Rate now. For your dates, I am not too confident it will come up, but you never know. For our last trip I think we got it two of our five nights. I see by your ticker, we will just miss each other! Just tonight dh and I wondered yet again if we should just go with the Hojo vs. the DLH reservation we have because we honestly feel like we aren't getting our money's worth.

Here is the link you can use to check that. http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14 Check often because they come up at will and leave very quickly.

Have fun with your planning!