Why does everyone love HOJO?

[CandCMommy]

Almost everyone on this board seems partial to the HOJO. What makes it so special and why do you stay there when possible. Just want to know what I'm missing out on.

 

[DangerMouse]

Well, for starters they have the best pool areas of all the off-site hotels. They have a large pool area with a spa, zero depth entry kiddie pool and splash playground, as well as a quiet pool toward the back of the property. Their rooms are larger than what you will find on-site. They have the most excellent customer service. Their grounds are lush with twinkly lights in the trees and fountains in the walkways. They are within a 10 minute walk to the front gates at DLR. All of this, wrapped up in a neat little $59-$74 entertainment rate and it becomes a nice little budget hotel.

 

[jacky b]

We love the customer service too. Everyone was great when we stayed there in December! Love the bedding too. Love working with their on-site reservation personnel

 

[disney-super-mom]

There's many reasons why I love the HOJO.

1. They have large, clean, comfortable, BRIGHT & CHEERFUL rooms.

2. They offer great Entertainment Book rates many times throughout the year. You can't beat a $59 rate for a standard room, or $74 for a premium room.

3. They have very attractive landscaping and twinkly lights around the property (whereas most of the other hotels/motels on Harbor Blvd are surrounded by concrete/blacktop/parking lots).

4. They have superb customer service and management who actually care about their customers comfort and happiness.

5. They have nice pools that are large, along with a zero entry kids pool and a little splash park. Nothing like being in their awesome main pool area and watching the monorail go by with the Matterhorn in the background.

6. They have a great Entertainment Book rate. (It's such a great thing that it makes it on my list twice.)

7. They have plenty of parking, and it's free.

8. They have superb customer service! (Yep, it makes my list twice too!)

 

[kiwitravel]

We certainly will consider it next trip, the only negatives were no microwave in the room (they are putting microwaves into some rooms now), no breakfast supplied and a bit further to walk than some. Other than that the rest of the hotel and facilities seem to be the best of the offsite hotels....

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I haven't stayed there yet, but I have the Entertainment Book and am looking to stay there at least several times this year after this first big trip where we are forking out the money to stay onsite for the kids and because I really really want to try it out. But after that we are going to have to do some cheaper trips and it seems like HOJO is a great place to do that.

The continental breakfast issue doesn't really bother me because there is McDonald's right there, or I can pick up some muffins or bring some pop tarts or pastries of my own. It's not really a deal breaker for me.

 

[ShawnaF]

Well, I'm still partial to the DLR hotels and that's where we have stayed for the past 4 years. BUT, I agree with others about HoJos - if you don't have a napping child and can get a little further for naps, the distance to the parks is so fantastic, it's clean and the service is great, and with rates like that you can't lose!!!!

 

[spazzyjazzy]

I just love it. This will be our 9th summer stay at the HoJo. My son loves the pool, the rooms are big, the beds and pillows are comfy, the staff are super nice, the Disney view is great, the price is great, and it's just all around great.

I am pretty sure that someone will come around and state the negatives about it. That's how it usually works on here.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well I won't be the one to be negative about it.

We barely had contact with the staff, we didn't even *see* the main pool, I have NO clue what building we were in, and still it's been my favorite value of our trips. (in terms of liking the *room* that goes to the Anabella, b/c the first floor rooms have wooden floors)

We had just stayed 4 nights at a perfectly decent Paradise Pier, but when we moved to HoJo for the next 2 nights we breathed a sigh of relief. Since we were walking the WRONG way to the parks from PP (out the back, behind the theaters, all the way along the side of DLH, and all the way through DTD), we found HJ to be much closer, and more straightforward. And the value couldn't be denied, especially b/c our room at PP had no toiletries, a used washcloth in the hamper (bonus that they have a laundry hamper, though), and a faint smell of smoke (we checked in late and I had a strong feeling that there had been a guest checked in then OUT of that room b/c of smoking that day), and it was costing a TON more than $54 a day (the ent rate last Sept).

And just the fact that they have such a fabulous deal available some of the time for entertainment book holders, and have extended great discounts to AP holders and even to Dis members makes them a favorite.

 

[Barbday62]

I had a negative expierience but in HOJO defence they did come through with support. We checked into our room at 7PM afterA 5 HOUR Drive from Arizona. We dropped off all our stuff in (I thin building 2) room and went to the park for dinner on main street. We never noticed the problem until we got back at 1am. First I got ready for bed and I had to kill 2 mosquitoes in the bathroom. I thought nothing of it. Then I got in bed. When i laid down a few more mosquitoes. I was too tired to notice the ceiling before this. The ceiling when I looked had at least 50 or more mosquitoes. We called the front desk and all they could do was move us to a handicap room (My husband does use a wheel chair) Security came and helped us move all our stuff. OF course I had to get dressed and re put everything away in the suitcases we had out.

I will stay there again but be more careful about room inspection no matter how excited I am to get to the parks. I thought the pool was way to cold to swim for me but the hot tub was nice. It was about 80 outside but too cold to swim in for me but the hot tub was perfect!

 

[Sophie_2003]

Which version (region) of the entertainment book do you need? I am looking to purchase it online...

tks!

 

[spokanemom]

Which version (region) of the entertainment book do you need? I am looking to purchase it online...

tks!

You can use any version. Buy the one for your area and just use the card from the front of it.

 

[mousiemom]

well, i have our airline tickets purchased, and our hotel booked at hojos!! i feel so excited after reading all the comments about hojos. now, just counting down now - 4 1/2 more months!!!
mousiemom

 

[Zoemakes5]

I have to ditto the great staff, the comfy beds (love, love, love the extra pillows). I also like having the great view of Disneyland to be able to watch the fireworks. We will typically spend one day watching fireworks at the park, but it's really nice to be sitting in your jammies and robe watching from your hotel room, maybe even with a glass of wine.
I don't think the walk is long at all. And I did it a few weekends ago with my DD who is 5. I personally think the walk to PP is longer (we went there for the Lilo and Stitch Breakfast.) I've heard many who stay at Fairfield, and HoJo's is right across the street. Having stayed at a few of the other hotels, I think it might even be faster (even if it is a bit farther), as we cross the street down there and avoid all the crowds crossing right at DLR.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We've never stayed there, I have tried to get the entertainment rate a few times. But it was never available for our dates when we call. What they did offer us was more than what we were paying for a place closer.

But I might consider staying there if I got the entertainment rate. The pool does look nice! Otherwise for us the extra walking just isn't worth it to us when we can stay so much closer.

 

[bumbershoot]

We've never stayed there, I have tried to get the entertainment rate a few times. But it was never available for our dates when we call. What they did offer us was more than what we were paying for a place closer.

But I might consider staying there if I got the entertainment rate. The pool does look nice! Otherwise for us the extra walking just isn't worth it to us when we can stay so much closer.

FYI, keep trying to get the rate, and if you're looking online, split your stay up day-by-day (I read that they are trying to change their system so you don't have to do it, but for now, it will only show you rates through your entire stay, not split it up). It's possible even having the good rate for part of your trip, and perhaps the Dis boards discount (or AP discount if you have that) could average out to less than somewhere else.

I made the mistake of not checking when I was 2 weeks out from my last visit, and I didn't pay attention to the cancelation policy of the hotel I was booked with, so when I went in to check 48+ before checkin and I saw that suddenly the Ent. rate was available, I couldn't take advantage of it b/c I had a 72 hour cancellation time.

So keep checking, if you wish, until you're at your hotel's cancellation limit. You never know what might pop up!

 

[CandCMommy]

We did it! We went ahead and booked the entertainment rate for Memorial Weekend. Can you believe it was actually available? We booked the pool view for 59.00. Do you think it's worth it to pay the 15.00 extra dollars for the DL view? If so, I will call and see if I can change it. Thanks all, looking very forward to staying at this property.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

The HoJo has free internet access, which is very convenient.

And I liked the giftshop/convenience store. They sold cereal, milk, OJ, other foods and snacks, and the usual "souvenears." It's a little thing, but I liked that they sold stamps for postcards, and the people in the giftshop were friendly.

It all adds up to a very pleasant stay.

 

[jemilah]

JenDisneylandlver we are going about the same time and reserved with the ent.rate Monday. You may want to try again..........just say you have an sd50 code. I saw it available on line also.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

Hojo's is always our first choice for hotel. The staff is great. It was after midnight and my mom dropped something behind the armoire. The night manager himself came right away to my parent's room and retrieved the item. Also, we love the free high speed internet and the interior corridors in building 2.