My family is going to Disneyland in April. Which hotel is better? We want comfort and definitely room not to mention CLEAN. We have kids so a pool is a must for them. How great the pool is doesn't really matter as long as it is clean and deep enough to jump in and swim.
Thank you for your help with our decision.:)

My family is going to Disneyland in April. Which hotel is better? We want comfort and definitely room not to mention CLEAN. We have kids so a pool is a must for them. How great the pool is doesn't really matter as long as it is clean and deep enough to jump in and swim.
Thank you for your help with our decision.:)I'd probably say they are about the same, BUT Park Place is closer, and Hojo's was roomier. And Hojo's pool area is nicer.

Ahh, I am wrestling with this question as well. I have never stayed at the PPI, but I have stayed at Hojo's a couple of times.

Hojo's is very nice. It's more of a "hotel" than a "motel." There are two pools, the customer service is great, and the rooms are nice. It's right next to Mimi's Cafe, which is excellent, and a short walk to the park. (It really is a short walk, we're talking a couple blocks) BWPPI is more of a "motel." Outdoor corridors, smaller, darker rooms, etc.

HOWEVER, this year when we go, we're probably going to try out the BWPPI. We never have tried it before, but we are intrigued by the proximity to the park and the continental breakfast (which some reviews say is good and some say is bad-- I think it's probably your average crummy continental breakfast, but it's still a free breakfast, and if we can just grab some toast or something on our way to the park, we're good with that.)

As it stands now, I have ressies at both, but I think I'm going to bite the bullet and give BWPPI a try. I'm not going in with any delusions-- I know that the rooms and the pool are not as nice. I'm just going to see if I like the location well enough for it to make up for those things.

I've been glued to TripAdvisor's ratings of the BWPPI... That's a good way to get candid opinions I think. From what I've read on there, I gather the pool at Hojo's is much nicer (Reviews for BWPPI's pool say that it is small and in the shade) and that the rooms at Hojo are nicer (i.e. furnishings and things are newer) I haven't read any complaints on cleanliness from either hotel though. For what it's worth, our room at the Hojo in September was VERY clean.

However a selling point to us, besides being able to pick up a quick breakfast for free, is that the BWPPI has a fridge AND a microwave. The microwave is key. Our room at Hojo didn't have one, and we had no way to re-heat or pizza from Naples Ristorante!!

Good luck with your decision!

The BIG drawback of the free breakfast at the BWPPI, it is at Captain Kidd's, which gets constantly AWFUL reviews.

All of HoJo's Deluxe rooms now have both a Microwave and Fridge.

That would be the deal breaker for me, if you can get a room with the mini fridge and microwave at the HoJo then that would be where I'd book. As for toast, do like we do, I have a bagel toaster that travels with us...even in rooms that offer the standard free breakfast, a bag of bagels, a carton of cream cheese and coffee and we're out the door for the parks in no time and very economical.

FYI, the Microwaves are available in the NQQ1's [Premium Disney Rooms] at HoJo's.

Here is the link to the MousePlanet discount page.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/mouseplanet/

Also, you can contact the hotel directly at...

(714) 776-6120

or by e-mail at

stay@hojoanaheim.com

It is usually Lorealle that is the contact person, and she gets rave reviews from guests.

I don't know the BWPPI - locations seems super nice - but I do know the HoJo after 3 stays in the last 6 months! :D:p

The deluxe room we just stayed in had a microwave and little fridge - and the best of all . . . brand new wonderful pillow top beds with all new bedding! Clean, great service. . . and if you can get Entertainment Book rates it is unbeatable, imho.

Also, there was a great view of the fireworks direction from the room we had except we were never in the room at the fireworks time.

Hojo's is now sporting a great discussion board hosted by Loreal. One of the topics is the remodeling of their pool area, which is tentatively scheduled to be closed April though June.

So, technically, Hojos sponsors this forum. I realize as a MP staff member, any pro-Hojos comment I make now may look like I'm pandering to Hojos. Well, before they supported this forum, I stayed at Hojos three or four times for the past three or four MouseAdventures, so I do have actual experience staying in the Hojos.

I also have SOME experience at BWPPI because I visited friends when they stayed there for previous MAs.

If I could get an amazing rate at BWPPI, I might consider it. Having seen both and slept at Hojos, I'd stay at Hojos for the same reasons already mentioned: Pools are great, no Captain Kidd's breakfast (this is a benefit - to not feel like I'm wasting my money NOT eating at CKs,) interior corridors. I just didn't get the same comfortable feeling inside a BWPPI room as I do at Hojos. I don't know about BWPPI, but Hojos also offers free internet. It's not wireless, but I would rather have free ethernet connection than pay-for wireless if you ask me!

Adrienne

I don't know about BWPPI, but Hojos also offers free internet. It's not wireless, but I would rather have free ethernet connection than pay-for wireless if you ask me!Best Westerns offer free wireless. The positive part of knowing this is if you are staying at a close hotel (front rooms of Desert Inn or Park Vue Inn, rooms on the south side of the Tropicana) you can catch their wireless.

DLR Junkie, thanks for the heads up about the Hojo discussion board and the pool closure! It's got a lot of info. We'll be there in mid June and looks like we're out of luck poolwise.

Rojasboys, I know nothing about BWPPI, but we love Hojos.

Best Westerns offer free wireless. The positive part of knowing this is if you are staying at a close hotel (front rooms of Desert Inn or Park Vue Inn, rooms on the south side of the Tropicana) you can catch their wireless.

If BW's offer free wireless, why do Hyatts and Embassy Suites make you pay at least 10 bucks a day for it? :mad:

Adrienne

DLR Junkie, thanks for the heads up about the Hojo discussion board and the pool closure! It's got a lot of info. .


Ditto! good to know about the pool. . . glad we changed a trip from June to August for the kids' sake. They love to swim almost as much as being at DL. :eek:;)

DLR Junkie, thanks for the heads up about the Hojo discussion board and the pool closure! It's got a lot of info. We'll be there in mid June and looks like we're out of luck poolwise.

Rojasboys, I know nothing about BWPPI, but we love Hojos.

Note, HoJo's has two seperate pool areas, one of them (The main one with the kids Splash area) will be undergoing a major upgrade, but the more traditional pool area will be open.

If BW's offer free wireless, why do Hyatts and Embassy Suites make you pay at least 10 bucks a day for it? :mad:

AdrienneWhy do Marriots offer free wifi, but Hilton's charge (Embassy is a Hilton.) I have no clue. But, if you stay at Camelot towards the back of the building, you can catch Fairfield's wifi. OK, so I like my wifi. Another reason I like Residence Inn!

That would be the deal breaker for me, if you can get a room with the mini fridge and microwave at the HoJo then that would be where I'd book. As for toast, do like we do, I have a bagel toaster that travels with us...even in rooms that offer the standard free breakfast, a bag of bagels, a carton of cream cheese and coffee and we're out the door for the parks in no time and very economical.


Good advice. I'm flying, so I wouldn't want to bring a toaster, but I could grab something else.

no Captain Kidd's breakfast (this is a benefit - to not feel like I'm wasting my money NOT eating at CKs,)

Food point Adrienne-- If we eat there once and it's gross, we will feel like we're wasting our money by not eating there..

Hmmmm... Now I am leaning more towards HoJo...

Good advice. I'm flying, so I wouldn't want to bring a toaster, but I could grab something else.



Food point Adrienne-- If we eat there once and it's gross, we will feel like we're wasting our money by not eating there..

Hmmmm... Now I am leaning more towards HoJo...My personal choice? Hojo's. (But, if I could get Carousel for the same price, then Carousel!)

My personal choice? Hojo's. (But, if I could get Carousel for the same price, then Carousel!)

I stayed at the Carousel years ago and liked the hotel very much, but I hated the pool area-- I really like a soak in the hot tub after a long day at the parks! I wish they would add one, if they would I would stay there ALWAYS. :)

Hojo's is now sporting a great discussion board hosted by Loreal. One of the topics is the remodeling of their pool area, which is tentatively scheduled to be closed April though June.

Where do I go for this discussion board? No pool would be a big deal to the kids. Thank you!!

Where do I go for this discussion board? No pool would be a big deal to the kids. Thank you!!


FYI, Hojos has two pools. So if the main pool area is down, the other will probably be open.

Hojo's is now sporting a great discussion board hosted by Loreal. One of the topics is the remodeling of their pool area, which is tentatively scheduled to be closed April though June.

I called the HoJo and they said they are currently working on the garden pool which is closed but, the main pool is open. When they are done with the garden pool the main will close but, they will always have one pool open. I hope this helps everyone planning to stay at the HoJo.

Having stayed at both, I'd say HoJo's hands down. The only advantage PPI has is location, IMO. But if I were going and had only those two to choose from, I'd happily take on the extra 5 minute walk.

It has been a few years since I stayed at the BWPPI, but the "free wireless" wasn't all that great. When I checked in I asked about wireless and they said yes they had it but that if you had a room toward the back of the hotel you might not be able to get it and if that was the case to come to the lobby where it would work. She showed me my room on the map and said I was on the cusp and may or may not be able to get a signal. Well I was only about three rooms back from the lobby which is almost the front of the property and it turns out that I could not get a signal and had to go to the lobby to get one. This means that only a few rooms actually get wireless connections. Like I said, that was a few years ago so maybe it has changed.

It is a motel and the pool is small and not all that nice. Picture that the building is a long thin rectangle. Now picture a cut out in the side of that rectangle that is the size of a small pool with a bit of walkway space around it. That is the pool.

If you stay here, you are doing it for location.

Here is a satalite photo of the BWPPI, the pool is that notch in center, lower part of the building:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=33.809444,-117.914157&spn=0.00142,0.002256&t=h&z=19

Here is a similar view of HOJOs:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=33.813391,-117.914119&spn=0.00142,0.002256&z=19

I saw an article a year or two ago (although I can't find it now to link to it), that surveyed elementary school children who had gone on vacations to WDW or Disneyland and asked the children what had been their favorite thing. Some very high percentage like 80% said their favorite thing had been the hotel pool. LOL!

Katprint