Yes, I'm sorry, another HOJO thread

[mermaidwannabe]

It's HOJO mania, folks!

Seriously, I have ressies for a Disney facing room and getting the ent rate, it's $79 per night. Last year when I stayed at HOJOs, we stayed in a pool-facing bldg 2 room that was great, which would now be $69 with the ent rate. Just wondered if everyone thought the extra $10 per night was worth the Disney view.

Thanks!

 

[kty]

good question I will be awaiting answers as well. Are all the pool view rooms in bldg 2? are they all quiet, or do we have to request?

 

[avalon451]

I only stayed in building one, in a premium room, with a Disney view. But we loved it. I specifically requested 7th floor (and we got it, mostly because we booked months in advance and also asked for a room without so much tree-blockage on the view. We got room 1713, and we LOVED it. It would have been even more important if we wanted to watch fireworks from the room, but we didn't need that. As it was, we really liked the room, the view, the micro and fridge, and quick access to the water play area and hot tub (although that's on the other side of the lobby building, and there was no noise interference.

The one other thing we liked was the proximity to the street. In the morning, we'd take the elevator down and turn left and exit out the side of the building. Manchester was right there, and we'd jaywalk across it, since there was never any traffic, and head down to the stoplight to cross Harbor.

Be advised that there is freeway noise, but the hotel rooms are very well insulated, so you really don't hear it from inside in the premium rooms. You certainly hear it on the balcony. In the mornings, I could hear a dull rumble in the distance from rush hour, but nothing to disturb or wake me... I just heard it when I listened in the silence of my still-sleeping DD.

Here's a link to my TR post #63. I took a video from the balcony of our room one morning. So you can see the view, although the matterhorn is nearly washed out in the early morning light.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1966863&page=5

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks for your post! Maybe I'll try asking for a room on the top floor as well. It can't hurt! I like that it's so close to the play area as my DD6 is going to love that, I'm sure.

 

[lntsmom]

Hm...well, I dunno. We usually get back to our room so late when Disneying that all we'd get to see is the empty monorail track!

For my family it's not worth the extra $10 to upgrade from standard. We have a room facing the pool in building 4 that is going to cost me $59 a night. All we need is a place to sleep and eat breakfast.

I think the answer to your question depends on what type of family you are. If you'll get home and feel gyped because you didn't have a park view, pay the extra money. If your family is like mine, stay with the cheaper room!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

The one other thing we liked was the proximity to the street. In the morning, we'd take the elevator down and turn left and exit out the side of the building. Manchester was right there, and we'd jaywalk across it, since there was never any traffic, and head down to the stoplight to cross Harbor.

We go the same way. It's so much faster and there are rarely any cars that come by. We tried the other popular Dis way of crossing to the DL side of Harbor and walking to DL that way and Dh said "Never again!" It takes much longer to get there than just crossing/jaywalking at Manchester and cutting through Mimi's cafe parking lot to the sidewalk.
OP:
If you look at this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1745747&page=2 and scroll down that page, I have pictures of my room in Bld1 and and the view from the room posted.
On this past trip I had to somewhat crane my neck to see through the trees even though we were on the 6th floor. I waited too long to book, and the 7th floor was sold out. I think we were in room 1615. Anyway that room did not have a 2nd sink (boo!) and the view wasn't as good due to the trees. The offered to let us change rooms the next day, but it wasn't that important to us because a) we were hardly in the room and b) I got sick and didn't want to deal with it. I think I have photos of that room/view somewhere. If I can find them, I'll post...

ETA: They have since done away with the desk with high speed internet acces to provide a small table with 2 chairs. Boo! It's a little uncomfortable trying to use your laptop on the bed. However, they did provide a longer cable when asked, so we drug the table over to the side of the bed and DH was able to sit up and use the laptop on the table. IMO they should have kept the desk and provided a small table in the area near the door to the patio is. Lots of room there... When I call the Front desk to inquire, the guy told me, "Wow, you haven't stayed with us for a while huh? We finished renovations a while ago." I told him "The last time I stayed at Hojo in a newly renovated room was January of '08 and they still had the desk in that room." He could offer no explanation ??? Strange... They put in a whole humongous set of drawers w/ a built in sitting area which is totally inadequate for doing make up (due to the poor lighting) or using a laptop (due to the distance from the modem). That huge drawer/sitting area/desk? thing made them have to take out the real desk. I never unpack my clothes at DL so that was a waste of space in my opinion. I'd rather have the desk w/ ethernet acess like before. I suppose families may like it though... Oh yeah and because of how the desk/drawer thing is configured, the TV is shoved all the way to one end f it. It's not in the middle of both beds now. So that means the people furthest away from it have to lay on their sides or crane their neck to see it. It was better in the armoire. It was higher up and in the middle so no need to crane the neck.

 

[DangerMouse]

I have stayed in both, and actually prefer Bldg. 2 because I don't risk the chance of getting a room on the NorthEast end of the Bldg. 1 where you hear freeway traffic. If I was going to request Bldg. 1, premium, I would make sure to note on the reservation that you want to be closest to the elevators so that you won't deal with traffic noise. I have also noticed that the upper floors in Bldg. 1 are the noisiest because they are above the freeway wall. The closer you are to the elevators, the farther away from the freeway.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Pezalicious]

Silly question related to HoJo's.. my mom is a bit older and the walk at the end of the night kills her, so she wants to stay at one of the hotels across the street. I'd prefer to stay at HoJo's, but she says it's much too far for her. Would a cab be possible, or is the route so short they'd turn her away (that's happened here in San Francisco, when our destination is a mile away)?

 

[Chickysmom]

Silly question related to HoJo's.. my mom is a bit older and the walk at the end of the night kills her, so she wants to stay at one of the hotels across the street. I'd prefer to stay at HoJo's, but she says it's much too far for her. Would a cab be possible, or is the route so short they'd turn her away (that's happened here in San Francisco, when our destination is a mile away)?

I think the ART system runs to the HoJos from the shuttle pick up area....

 

[DangerMouse]

I think the ART system runs to the HoJos from the shuttle pick up area....

which is closer to the esplanade than the taxi cab waiting area. Probably cheaper too, but I believe the HoJo is the last stop going back to the hotels, so the ride will be a bit long.

Cabs will be happy to take her back the .25 miles from the cab waiting area. They'll charge her a lot more than the ART will, I'm guessing between $7-$10.

 

[nutshell]

How far is HOJO from the maingate?

 

[DangerMouse]

How far is HOJO from the maingate?

Just under half a mile. Approx 7-10 minutes based on walking speed.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/7280/How_Far_Is_It

 

[pixiewings71]

Silly question related to HoJo's.. my mom is a bit older and the walk at the end of the night kills her, so she wants to stay at one of the hotels across the street. I'd prefer to stay at HoJo's, but she says it's much too far for her. Would a cab be possible, or is the route so short they'd turn her away (that's happened here in San Francisco, when our destination is a mile away)?

They refused your fare??? Wha???? How insane.....while we've never taken a cab to the HoJo I know that the cabbies will be happy to take you. We took a cab back to our hotel on our January trip. Don't say "how much to the HoJo?" Just say "who is available for a quick trip to our hotel?" make them run the meter, you will pay less that way. And the cabs are not that much farther than the shuttles, I'd rather take a cab than a shuttle anyday.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Hmmm...I'm torn now. I know that bldg 2 that faces the pool is $69, so I'll have to research what the $59 rooms are since that would save $100 for us. I do like the idea of nice bedding, but we didn't mind the other beds last year. I don't want to risk freeway noise. Thanks for the info!

 

[DangerMouse]

Hmmm...I'm torn now. I know that bldg 2 that faces the pool is $69, so I'll have to research what the $59 rooms are since that would save $100 for us. I do like the idea of nice bedding, but we didn't mind the other beds last year. I don't want to risk freeway noise. Thanks for the info!

The std. $59 rooms don't have micros. Add that to the new bedding, and the $10 is worth it for me.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks Dangermouse for the helpful info. Maybe I should stick to what I know at bldg 2. I better decide fast before there aren't any!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I'm all over the map now. Are the NQQ3 rooms bad for $59?? I was just about to click on modifying my ressie to the pool facing, and then indecision kicked in even more. Maybe I need to step away from the computer and go feed my kids dinner!!

 

[Mouse13]

Silly question related to HoJo's.. my mom is a bit older and the walk at the end of the night kills her, so she wants to stay at one of the hotels across the street. I'd prefer to stay at HoJo's, but she says it's much too far for her. Would a cab be possible, or is the route so short they'd turn her away (that's happened here in San Francisco, when our destination is a mile away)?

My mom and dad and I took a cab back last October on a day when the temperatures were about 100 degrees and my mom was really worn out. We paid the cab driver $10 and that included a really nice tip for him. We just took the first cab in line and didn't have a problem.

As for the Disney facing rooms in Building 1, I think everyone should experience staying in them at least once. The view is really special and the balconies are really nice. We choose Building 2 now because it is our personal favorite, but Building 1 creates a memory.......

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm all over the map now. Are the NQQ3 rooms bad for $59?? I was just about to click on modifying my ressie to the pool facing, and then indecision kicked in even more. Maybe I need to step away from the computer and go feed my kids dinner!!

The NQQ3 rooms are freeway facing rooms in Bldg. 1. You don't want those. Trust me.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Sorry I dont know the room codes (NQQ1, nQQ2 etc)

$59 rooms-
1- freeway facing
or
2-- standard rooms-- no microwave, "oversized" double beds, standard bedding, in 2 story building

$69
Building 2, microwaves, queen size beds, pool facing, most/some w/ updated bedding

$79
all the $69 rooms offer, plus Disney View and most with 2 sinks (one in bathroom, one out)

Personally
I dont want a freeway side room, I want a larger bed and a microwave, so saving the money with a $59 is not worth it to me.

I still debate about disney view vs pool view, currently we have a pool facing room and will most likely stick with that.

But you just need to decide what is important to you and is $100 worth the extra cost or the savings