Within the ultimate decade-plus, we now have stayed at over 65 resorts close to Disneyland and Disney California. First as vacationers on journeys, then as SoCal locals short of to box check lodging, then childeless millennial vacationers once more, and in the end as folks dwelling in Orange County. We’ve stayed at the entirety from sketchy inns to kin suites to luxurious hotels.
Our enjoy led us to create the great Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Scores again in 2015. It began as a ‘work-in-progress’ listing in accordance with the 2 dozen resorts we had stayed at then. It briefly grew over time as we made a concerted effort to stick in and evaluation resorts, particularly as construction was once booming in Anaheim and new resorts have been opening and others final or being made over.
All over the primary few years, there have been a number of other #1 selections. There was once a time when Barren region Inn, Lodge Indigo, Sweet Cane Inn, Fairfield, Tropicana, and Park Vue Inn all jockeyed for best spots. And a number of other of the ones stay sentimental favorites from a bygone generation of Disneyland visits. Alternatively, our best variety has remained unchanged since Fall 2017: Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn.
So much has came about within the ultimate ~7 years. (Understatement of the century.) That’s doubly true with regards to resorts close to Disneyland. With out in truth counting, I’d danger a wager that no less than two-dozen model new resorts have opened in Anaheim throughout that time frame, together with a few luxurious heavy-hitters and no less than a half-dozen kin suites inside strolling distance. Numerous different resorts had been made over as a way to stay tempo with the evolving lodge scene and visitor expectancies.
For higher or worse, the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn has no longer modified in significant tactics within the ultimate ~7 years. The rooms have been these days renovated once we ultimate stayed there. They continue to be the similar to at the present time, however are actually not-so-recently renovated. The construction remains to be outdated and the Absolute best Western remains to be very a lot a roadside motel-style belongings. That’s the “for worse” phase.
The “for higher” factor is that the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn has no longer moved. I imply, I suppose technically it has. Because of tectonic shift or no matter, Anaheim will ultimately fall into the Pacific Ocean over an extended sufficient timeline. However you recognize what I imply. This Absolute best Western is the closest lodge to Disneyland, without delay around the boulevard from the parks. It’s nearer to Walt Disney’s unique Magic Kingdom than Grand Californian, Disneyland Lodge, or Pixar Position Lodge.
That location was once the main foundation for our #1 score and it stays unchanged. Despite the fact that the lodge has shifted via a pair inches since we ultimate reviewed it, the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn remains to be the nearest lodge to Disneyland. Nonetheless, we’re within the means of revisiting and refreshing lodge critiques, and idea it sensible to check-in on the Absolute best Western once more to peer if our sentiment has modified after 7 years of extra lodge remains somewhere else in Anaheim. Therefore this submit.
The proximity promoting level of the Absolute best Western can’t be overstated. The lodge is actually on the Disneyland pedestrian intersection. You’re beneath 60 seconds (relying upon the site visitors gentle) from lodge to the Disneyland Lodge gateway and being enveloped within the cheery Esplanade background song loop.
From room door to park turnstile, the Absolute best Western is, on the very maximum, a ten minute stroll. It’s the next-best factor to in truth staying on-site, and it’s possible you’ll even argue that it’s higher than being on-site on the Disneyland Lodge or Pixar Position Lodge, because it’s nearer to each parks than either one of the ones. As with Park Vue Inn, it’s principally simply crossing the intersection and also you’re there.
In our Park Vue Inn Assessment, we famous that whether or not it or Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn is a shorter stroll to Disneyland in reality will depend on your room. The resorts themselves are just about equidistant to the primary front. Truly, despite the fact that, we’re speaking a few distinction of a dozen steps or so. Each resorts are without delay around the boulevard, and each are lovely flippantly matched.
Those aren’t the one two resorts on this cluster around the boulevard–simply the 2 closest to Disneyland. Others come with the entire following:
- Absolute best Western Anaheim Plus Inn (a distinct Absolute best Western)
- Camelot Inn & Suites
- Del Sol Inn
- Anaheim Barren region Inn
- Tropicana Inn
- Fairfield via Marriott
- Grand Legacy on the Park
Apart from their proximity to the parks, probably the most notable factor about each access in this listing is they’re usually the similar form of motel-style homes. Certain, some had been refreshed or renamed during the last decade, however they’re all essentially nonetheless the similar.
They’re additionally distinct from the more recent era of Anaheim resorts, all of which might surpass the rest at the above listing with regards to visitor rooms and facilities. The variation is the site. Those have it, the ones more recent resorts don’t. That’s almost certainly additionally why the hoteliers running the above homes as disinclined to raze and change. They don’t want to–the site sells itself.
Let’s flip to the rooms on the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn to peer in the event that they’re nonetheless as much as snuff…
Realizing that not anything had in truth modified concerning the lodge, we opted to modify issues up with this keep via choosing the Mini-Suite with 2 Queens and Settee Mattress. That is the biggest room sort on the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn, and the best choice able to sound asleep 6 folks.
Our pondering was once that possibly this is able to bridge the space between a typical lodge room on the Absolute best Western and the spacious kin suites which can be to be had farther down the street from Disneyland.
It in reality does no longer. No less than, no longer in our opinion.
Those better mini-suites on the Absolute best Western do supply slightly of respiring room as in comparison to same old rooms, and clearly there’s the adaptation of having the ability to sleep 6 versus 2-4 visitors. So strictly from a capability viewpoint, they’re an improve.
That’s undeniably true in case you have a bigger kin that may’t do a typical room and will best use this as a ‘crash pad’ and don’t seem to be serious about spaciousness. That would be the viewpoint of many households visiting Disneyland, and for that demo, those rooms are a win!
We pay attention from many households of five, upset via the loss of choices around the boulevard from Disneyland. The mini-suites on the Absolute best Western are nice for them. They’re additionally excellent for fogeys plus a grandparent, and a kid or two. (Our precise situation–with the exception of child didn’t want her personal mattress!) I’m positive there are different events of 3-4 who would like the 3-bed setup. So we’re no longer dismissive of this configuration–it’s a excellent person who makes the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn viable for lots of events!
What we’re merely announcing is that it doesn’t bridge the space between the outdated motel genre and the brand new kin suite genre that’s proliferated in Anaheim.
The ones new rooms normally have separate sound asleep and dwelling areas (and on occasion kitchens). There may be incessantly, however no longer all the time, a wall and door between the dwelling and bed room. This makes it more uncomplicated for placing children to mattress whilst folks keep up and decompress, do grownup actions, and whatnot.
I almost certainly don’t want to give an explanation for this–the pictures must discuss for themselves–however that’s no longer imaginable on the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn. The little quarter wall factor (with the cut-through) simply doesn’t lower it for subdividing the gap. Everybody goes to mattress on the identical time, and tasty in the similar family-friendly actions. Right here’s a video room excursion to raised display you across the house:
Past that, the rooms at Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn are high-quality. Now not “newly” renovated, they’re certainly appearing their age as in comparison to the brand-new resorts which were constructed within the years since we ultimate stayed right here. It very a lot has the glance of an older motel looking to keep “recent.”
This isn’t to mention there’s the rest dangerous concerning the rooms. On the contrary, there are little touches right through the room, from the carpet to the artwork to the headboards. Similarly as vital, we discovered the lodge room to be blank and well-maintained. It additionally doesn’t odor find it irresistible was once freshly carpet-bombed with Febreeze or used copious quantities of cleaner to masks years of deterioration.
You may chuckle, however in staying at 65+ Anaheim resorts, we’ve noticed stuff you folks wouldn’t consider. The Absolute best Western aspires to be one thing extra and makes an effort. It doesn’t simply telephone it in and relaxation on its laurels of being the nearest lodge to Disneyland.
Circling again to the fundamentals, those mini-suite rooms on the Absolute best Western function two queen beds and queen settee sleeper provides a flat display screen TV, alarm clock/radio, microwave, mini fridge, espresso maker, iron/board and hairdryer.
The queen beds are plush and comfy. The sheets and pillows likewise felt top of the range. The settee sleeper is a distinct tale, however I feel that’s to be anticipated. Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn will get top marks relating to the room convenience.
Having a Keurig, even of the knockoff selection, may be great. Most of the inns within the space have in reality dangerous and inexpensive espresso makers, and probably the most repulsive espresso possible. No longer that “Donut Store” is the head of small-batch, sustainably grown, artisan espresso roasters…however no less than it’s no longer terrible.
A mini-fridge may be great. It’s simple to get groceries close to Disneyland or you’ll be able to–and I’m no longer condoning this–grasp an additional yogurt or different merchandise from the loose breakfast and stash that within the refrigerator for a noon or past due night time snack. Going again to the room right through the day is straightforward because you’re so on the subject of Disneyland.
Then there are the bogs, which might be a weak spot and really identical amongst all Anaheim inns. As I’ve written ahead of, I may just use a unmarried inventory photograph for 75% of the resorts in Anaheim, and no person would ever know the adaptation.
There’s not anything essentially improper with any of those bogs…there’s simply not anything proper about them, both. They’re all persistently undersized and underwhelming.
Even supposing it’s infrequently a functional design function (since they’re all this fashion, irrespective of length), the only excellent factor I’ll say about those bogs is that the bathe/bath and bathroom are cut loose the sink and reflect.
For those who’re in a room that sleeps 6 and are coming on the subject of maxing out that capability, having separate areas for more than one folks to get in a position concurrently is almost certainly a excellent factor. Which may be why it’d be great if that wall keeping apart the beds from the sofa have been slightly extra wall-ish.
Most likely the largest trade since our ultimate keep on the Absolute best Western isn’t the lodge itself, however that Captain Kidd’s has been changed via Calaca Mamas Cantina, Anaheim’s Day of the Lifeless impressed Mexican eatery that’s family-owned and serves selfmade delicacies. It’s an evening and day development over Captain Kidd’s, however alternatively, so would’ve been an airport Sbarro. (However in reality, this is far better.)
Talking of which, the Absolute best Western’s loose continental breakfast is served upstairs at Calaca Mamas Cantina. It’s high-quality. Inferior to the formidable breakfasts on the more recent kin suites, however above-average via Harbor Street motel continental breakfast requirements.
The pool at Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn may be not anything particular. Swimming pools at those resorts don’t in reality subject to me since I by no means use them, however in case you have children and wish to take a noon ruin for pool time, this may increasingly go away one thing to be desired.
What I can say this is that no less than the pool is flanked via the lodge constructions, which isolate it from the out of doors international to a point. (Neatly, till some weirdo in one of the vital rooms above creeps on sunbathers…) A large number of Anaheim inns have swimming pools within the parking so much and that is higher than that. Nonetheless inferior to the most suitable choice, which is rooftop pool decks.
No doubt, pricing is the largest trade for the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn during the last 7 years. You used so to get rooms right here within the $150 to $200 in keeping with night time vary. That was once at the upper finish of the Anaheim common, however no longer too dangerous.
Now, you’ll be hard-pressed to e-book the Absolute best Western for less than $300 in keeping with night time. Costs have exploded right through Anaheim, besides, that is above pattern. Greater than anything, that is what offers us pause in protecting the Absolute best Western in the number one spot, particularly as its pageant has no longer larger this a lot in worth. (Click on right here to examine Get Away Nowadays for present offers on the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn and evaluate its pricing to different resorts close to Disneyland.)
As with maximum different resorts in Anaheim, you’ll additionally now pay for parking. That’s a double-whammy that makes the Absolute best Western a lot more of a tricky promote.
In the long run, the query is whether or not the ‘closest lodge to Disneyland’ can triumph over the upper worth level and the development of over a dozen new resorts that do the entirety higher than the outdated roadside inns on Harbor Street. That’s nearly unattainable to respond to. Inquire from me very first thing within the morning once we’re filled with power and feature problems strolling a couple of blocks, and I’m almost certainly announcing no. Once we’re past due for nap time or on the finish of an overly lengthy day when each step counts, I’m announcing sure–unquestionably.
Something we’ve discovered over time of doing this and receiving reader comments is that proximity to the parks is paramount. Extra of you care about location than every other unmarried high quality–almost certainly than the entirety else mixed. Clearly, no recommendation is one-size-fits-all, and your celebration might prioritize otherwise and no longer care as a lot about location. By which case, the Absolute best Western isn’t going to be the number one lodge close to Disneyland for you. Heck, it almost certainly wouldn’t be best 20!
For lots of (maximum!) different Disneyland guests, being without delay around the boulevard is a large merit for Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn. This makes it simple for a noon nap, pool ruin, going again for snacks, and even grabbing my tripod and different lenses. The time spent leaving and returning to Disneyland or DCA is minimum from the Absolute best Western, while the resorts previous the Harbor/Katella intersection are a lot more of a bother.
Whilst we nonetheless need to revisit a number of the different resorts on Harbor, the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn stays our #1 pick out and advice for now. That’s the case for individuals who closely weigh proximity to the parks. It nonetheless moves the most efficient stability of location, room high quality, and facilities. Whether or not that continues to be the case will depend on costs and up to date rooms (or no longer) somewhere else.
Any of the above inns on that bullet-point listing close to the highest may just declare the number one spot in the event that they’ve redone the rooms and fee extra cheap charges. (Tropicana Inn straight away involves thoughts as a powerful contender for the throne.) Within the interim, the Absolute best Western Plus Park Position Inn remains to be the easiest position to stick for a park-centric holiday, particularly one this is prone to come with noon breaks, or for individuals who wish to save their ft. You simply could be overpaying for saving a couple of steps and staying on the closest lodge to Disneyland.
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Pointers for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Scores. For the place to consume, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Critiques. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll fortify your travel, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. After all, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal towns!
Your Ideas
Have you ever stayed on the Absolute best Western Park Position Inn? What did you call to mind the site, rooms, and facilities? Assume it’s the number one lodge close to Disneyland when closely weighting the scores for location? Does proximity to the parks triumph over the astronomical worth for what’s principally a glorified roadside motel? Do you settle or disagree with our overview of this lodge? Any questions? Listening to comments about your reviews is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas or questions beneath within the feedback!
