I have stayed at HOJO's at DL and loved it. Nice hotel, we had a top floor room overlooking DL! Pool was fun and the walk to the park was easy. Mimi's Cafe is right there too.
The one time I went to Universal, my sister who lives in So Cal, picked us up from DL and drove us, so I can't be much help.
If you have little kids, I would stay near Disneyland. If just big people, maybe staying near Universal will be more grown up.
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