Alright...trying to figure out what to do...

About us (and our travelling habits)...we will have four adults and two kids ages 4 & 6 (boys if that matters). I will be using an ECV. And we'll have a stroller along. We generally do the parks opening to close. Though occasionally we'll come back for a nap during the afternoon - usually it's just one of us with the younger kid. We have never stayed far enough away to use a shuttle.

Our trip isn't until September (4th-17th for 13 nights) - but we have two hotels booked...

Hojo for $59/night - 2Q beds. 356 sq ft. If we stay here, we'll put the kids on the floor in sleeping bags. We will also bring along a microwave (we're driving down) since the rooms don't have them - and it will be a must for us to have one. I like that this is walking distance and we'd have free parking at the hotel. Wondering if we'll have space for the ECV with all of us in the room?? Do you think I could park (and charge) it in the lobby each night?

Homewood Suites - $98.10/night. We'd have more space - 600 sq ft. Free daily hot breakfast is a big plus. Also the free dinner M-Th (though I'm not sure if we'd want to tear ourselves away from the park just to have a free dinner...not sure how long it would take via ART to get back and forth...so we might only take advantage of this twice a week - so maybe four times on the entire trip. Though breakfast we'd do everyday. So either way here we'd have to pay for ART or parking...and the ECV could be an issue - I heard you can take it on ART, but I'm not sure with all of us we could get it in our minivan.

One other question...most people have raved about breakfast at Mimi's Cafe right there near Hojo's...what is the general cost for breakfast there? Two in our party have had gastric bypass, so really meals will be more like four kids and two adults...

I would love to hear your thoughts on all of this.

~Annie

Here is the link for menu's at Mimi's - http://www.mimiscafe.com/menu.aspx That will assist in pricing breakfasts.

Just my 2c, I'd recommend the larger hotel room for so many nights. If the kids are taking naps, etc, you would be able to shut them off from any noise. Else, perhaps something a little closer like Park Place Inn, in a min suite that appear to have a separate living area. If at Homewood, you will need to drive or take ART.

Can you stretch the budget any further?

I think that for 99 dollars I'd check into the Desert Inn and suites. They have a microwave and mini fridge, the free breakfast is 'you get what you pay for' but it's right next door to the cross walk, for 99 bucks you might be able to get one of the parlour suites....the bedrooms have two queens and are spacious the parlour has a sleeper sofa ....room for all of you and the ECV and no art or long wait. You can buy milk and cereal and eat breakfast in the room and cover that expense and be right at the park... That would be my suggestion.

Hi can i ask how you got such a good deal at homewood suites? also i would pick homewood suites over hojos unless i got a suite at hojo's , as the regular rooms will only sleep max 5 and with our family of 6 we would have to either do 2 rooms or a suite
But both look like great hotels

Hi can i ask how you got such a good deal at homewood suites? also i would pick homewood suites over hojos unless i got a suite at hojo's , as the regular rooms will only sleep max 5 and with our family of 6 we would have to either do 2 rooms or a suite
But both look like great hotels

I would like to know that as well. :)

We stayed at Homewood last Summer and loved it. The free breakfast and light dinner were good and so was the rest of the hotel.

My kids (ages 7 and 6) asked if we could stay in the same hotel, so you can tell they loved it.

I am just very curious how you got such a good price. I would love to get the same deal.

Hi can i ask how you got such a good deal at homewood suites? also i would pick homewood suites over hojos unless i got a suite at hojo's , as the regular rooms will only sleep max 5 and with our family of 6 we would have to either do 2 rooms or a suite
But both look like great hotels

the deal for homewood suites is a length of stay rate for 6-13 nights. and we're going off season in September.

How and where did you get that $59 rate at Hojos? I will be there those dates and got a rate of $99?

the deal for homewood suites is a length of stay rate for 6-13 nights. and we're going off season in September.
Oh okay
Thank you

IMO, I would do Homewood. We have stayed here before and really like it. The rooms are pretty spacious. Sleeping bags on the floor and 6 people in close quarter might be rough for that long of a trip. The free breakfast saves time & $. We only made it back to the dinner once. It's not a lot, so I wouldn't count on it if everyone is really hungry. Being that it's off season, the ART should be somewhat empty and that might make it easier to get the ECV on.

How and where did you get that $59 rate at Hojos? I will be there those dates and got a rate of $99?

It's the entertainment rate...promotion code sd50. If you can't get it for all of your days, I would check each day individually to find out what dates it's available for and make reservations for those dates and call to add on the other dates.

Does anyone know, do you have to have the entertainment book for Orange County, or will the entertainment card from any entertainment book work?

ETA: I love this site. I just called Hojo and got my rate changed to the $59, now I just need to get the entertainment book. I'm just not sure if I can get a Seattle area card, or if I need the Anaheim area card.

You can get the Seattle area card. We always use the Denver area book, any one will do. Congrats on getting the rate!

You can get the Seattle area card. We always use the Denver area book, any one will do. Congrats on getting the rate!

Woo Hoo! Thanks for letting me know about it! You just saved me over $200.00 :D

I second Desert Inn, otherwise, I vote for Hojo's. Closer. Mimi's is good, we really enjoy breakfast there.

Also, 6 people in a room is against the fire code. I doubt you would get questioned about it, but I would feel uncomfortable about it, but that is just me.

I have stayed at both HoJo's and Homewood Suites, and like them both a lot.

With 6 people, I would definetely go for a suite hotel. Just having two t.v.s at night so the kids can watch cartoons and the adults can watch the news is nice. And Homewood has a full kitchen, and Target is across the street, so you can load up on supplies. Homewood also offers grocery shopping service, but we never used it, so I don't know the details.

I also thought the breakfast at Homewood was very good.

Both HoJo's and Homewood Suites get very good reviews on TripAdvisor.com.

Have a great time whatever you choose!

Woo Hoo! Thanks for letting me know about it! You just saved me over $200.00 :D

Can someone explain to me how I can get this deal as well?

Is there are particular entertainment book I need to get?

Thanks!!!

Can someone explain to me how I can get this deal as well?

Is there are particular entertainment book I need to get?

Thanks!!!

This rate isn't available all the time. The simple answer to your question would be to call Hojo directly and talk to their in-house reservation dept. -- 714-776-6120. To check online for your dates use the promo code SD50.

There have been a lot of threads lately that deal in some way with the Entertainment rate at Hojo. I'd do a search of threads and you should get a lot of information.

About us (and our travelling habits)...we will have four adults and two kids ages 4 & 6 (boys if that matters). I will be using an ECV. And we'll have a stroller along. We generally do the parks opening to close. Though occasionally we'll come back for a nap during the afternoon - usually it's just one of us with the younger kid. We have never stayed far enough away to use a shuttle.

HOJOs!!! You spend very little time in the room, so that makes space less of an issue. You have the stroller and ECV which make shuttling more challenging. It doesn't sound like you would use the Homewood enough to justify the price difference. Stay close and spend the extra money on other things!

Can someone explain to me how I can get this deal as well?

Is there are particular entertainment book I need to get?

Thanks!!!

You can get any entertainment book.. What you actually need is the entertainment card, which comes in all of the books.

The one for the Seattle area was only $12.50, and that card is going to save me $200!

I just called the Hojo Directly and asked them if that rate was available. Online, it looks like Carousel also offers a 50% off the rack rate deal.

This rate isn't available all the time. The simple answer to your question would be to call Hojo directly and talk to their in-house reservation dept. -- 714-776-6120. To check online for your dates use the promo code SD50.

There have been a lot of threads lately that deal in some way with the Entertainment rate at Hojo. I'd do a search of threads and you should get a lot of information.

Thanks ... I would much rather stay at Homewood, so maybe I will call them directly.

Thanks ... I would much rather stay at Homewood, so maybe I will call them directly.

Looks like the time you're going, Homewood Suites is gonna be around $140-160/night. I am not sure if Hojo's will have an Entertainment rate for the dates you're going - since it's the beginning of the summer season.

If you choose Homewood, I would consider driving over to Mickey & Friends parking every day. It's $11 per day. A group of 4 adults and 2 children on the ART shuttle would be $14 per day. Now the only drawback is that you do not have "in and out" priviledges when you park. But if you are planning to spend the entire day there, this would be the better way to go. Also, you will have less hassles with your ECV and strollers because the parking lot trams are set up for those sort of things.

Good luck and let us know which way you decide to go.

Now the only drawback is that you do not have "in and out" priviledges when you park.

Wait a minute - I thought you do have in and out privileges? If you keep your receipt you can reenter later in the day?

It's not CONVENIENT to do that but you have it.

Adrienne

Actually, that would be great to know. I thought the parking ticket said no in and out. Can someone confirm whether or not you get in and out priviledges at Mickey and Friends?

I am an AP holder and usually go with a friend who has parking on his AP, so this has not been an issue. But I'd love to know for the times I may go alone or with friends who don't have the annual parking.

Keep the ticket, you have in and out.