Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Ok so my boyfriend and I planned a last minute trip to Disneyland to surprise his sister for her 15th birthday. She has never been to Disneyland and really wants to. So we booked a room at HoJos. We always stay at the Grand but were looking to go cheaper since it's our second trip this summer. And I was kind of looking forward to trying out HoJos after hearing all the wonderful reviews. However, last night I saw that I could get a pretty good AP deal at the Disneyland Hotel and was really excited at the opportunity to stay on-site. However, by the time I called it wasn't available anymore. So now I am bummer. I feel like maybe she won't have the same Disney experience since we are staying off-site?? Am I just worrying about nothing?
Originally Posted By 73baloo From my side, yes. My son-in-law's first trip we stayed at HoJo's on recommendation of all the people on this site. I so regret that. I have stayed at HoJo's 5 times but never again will I stay off property. I like the "magic" to continue. To me it is worth the money. I seem to be in the minority but hey...
Originally Posted By Ursula ^ There really isn't a minority or a majority. People have different tastes, different pocketbooks, and different reasons. I like Hojo's and I find the experience very Disney simply because I've run into more Disney-like people at Hojo's! HA! I remember checking into the Grand once and the room wasn't ready. It would be ready after 4 pm...I felt like I had to ask info on getting a bell-hop to store bags, etc. I felt really like a member of a cattle-call, the way I was treated. Upon coming back after 4 pm, I was told the room STILL wasn't ready and to check back after 6 pm. Considering the price, I expected better service and at least an apology or some show of concern. Heck, why not offer the hotel services of the restaurants or point out the shop? Something instead of answering my question then a switch to "ignore the guest" mode would have been nice. I'm not fussy by any means but I just didn't feel the love, know what I mean? I did like my stay at the DLH and the PPH. They were just fine even with a room-check-in delay and had the wherewithall to offer up hotel amenities while I waited. If you truly want the full Disney experience, take a DLH room. But do know that Hojo's rooms tend to be larger in the bathroom areas.
Originally Posted By liveforvacations She won't know the difference because she has never been and therefore, she has never experienced on-site or off-site! You will notice the difference because you have experience staying on-site! We usually stay at Hojos and we find it just fine as we spend all our time at Disneyland and DTD so we really only sleep, shower and dress at the hotel! We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel last trip and although it was very nice, we felt really torn because we wanted to spend all our time at Disneyland and DTD as per usual, but we felt we should be spending time at the hotel! In my opinion, she will just be happy to be at Disneyland as long as you don't point out the difference in staying on-site and off-site to her.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Here's my opinion... This is a 15yr olds first trip - the park has extended hours and she will want to see all she can. If the park was closing earlier and you needed alot of down time then the hotel might matter. Just remember to let her lead this trip and form her own opinion... it should be fun no matter where you stay.
Originally Posted By mater4 I am in agreement with Villains on this one. We have stayed at the Grand and PPH with our kids and Hojo's on the last several trips. To them DL was more important than where they were sleeping. We always get the theme park view rooms and the magic stays with us.
Originally Posted By 73baloo I have always gotten the view rooms and just not the same. But then I spent 2 weeks every summer at the DLH. Even my grown kids prefer that to PPH or GCH. I am all about saving money too but sometimes and this is a vacation spot I do not mind spending the extra for.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Ah see 73B... I go about every 6 weeks and I would rather go that often then stay at the resort hotels....We did stay at the DLH last sept and frankly it wasn't worth it - we really only slept there...
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Thanks everyone for the comments! It turns out we decided to leave tomorrow and we were able to get a room at DLH with the AP rate! I think HoJos would have been perfectly fine but since this is her first trip and maybe last trip for a while it was worth the splurge. Also my mom is going with us and she has been having knee problems so I think we will be spending a bit more time in the hotel than usual.
Originally Posted By Khiori Wow, I would love to hang with all the geeky Disney peoples at Hojo's But I'm sure this surprise birthday at Disney is going to knock the socks off the 15 yo! Boy, I'd love to see her face when she finds out!!
Originally Posted By Elderp We usually don't stay at a hotel when we go to DL, but now with gas the way it is we have found for multi-day DL trips a hotel pays off. Hojo's has always been good to us, they are attentive and have all the amenities we want.
Originally Posted By NJ AP With the Mimi's Cafe next door, I can't even hint at suggesting we stay on site. Back to your question, you bring up a good point about your mom. By staying onsite, she can take the monorail back and cut back on some of her walking. Enjoy!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice <<But I'm sure this surprise birthday at Disney is going to knock the socks off the 15 yo!>> Yep! And that would be my take on it. She may have not known the difference, but she WILL know now that you've made her first Disneyland experience EXTRA special! When I planned a DLR vacation for Mr. Alice's first-ever visit I felt it HAD to be the Disneyland Hotel and so it was. Now we mix and match our stays with off-site and on-site properties, depending on the rates, though it's gotten easier for us to stay at DLR since we learned about the deep discounts always available for hotel industry people (Mr. Alice works at Bellagio here in LV)... Woo hoo!
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf <<With the Mimi's Cafe next door, I can't even hint at suggesting we stay on site.>> Seriously? I don't always stay onsite but I find the restaurant choices in DtD to be a lot better than Mimi's. Just my opinion of course...
Originally Posted By liveforvacations I have to say that unless you are quite patient, I don't think the monrail is a "plus" to staying onsite! When we were there in May, everytime we took the monorail to Disneyland, there was at least a 20 minute wait and we were taking it well after opening time. The fact that it was so busy and they did not make all the people get off in DTD made my husband angry. One monorail came in and there was a huge line and sixteen people were allowed to board!!! We never took the monorail from Disneyland to DTD because it was either too much a hassle to go all the way to Tomorrowland, the line was so long or we stayed until closing and it was no longer running! I also really like entering Disneyland on Main Street. I guess it is just what I am used to and on the monorail, I feel like I have been plunked down in Tomorrowland. It is weird but I don't mind it after I have entered Disneyland for the day but in the morning, I want to enter via Main Street!! In my limited experience, I did not find that the monorail is a very good method of transportation! I do agree, however, that the walk through DTD is more enjoyable than down Harbour Blvd. I agree with NJ AP that we love having Mimi's next door too! I love going over and getting coffee in the morning and that wonderful carrot bread! There is more restaurant choices in DTD but they are more expensive and I always found there is quite a wait!
