While I do love Walt Disney World, there is something extra magical about the original Disney park, Disneyland. While Disneyland is much smaller than Walt Disney World, it’s also easier to manage.
Many hotels and resorts are located within walking distance for an easy vacation. This past week, I had the opportunity to stay at the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance, a family-friendly hotel that is part of the Marriott brand of hotels.
As the name would indicate, the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is located a quick walk away from the entrance of Disneyland. It’s close enough that you can easily walk, even if you decide to take a break at your hotel during the day. The hotel is located on South Harbor Boulevard, near other hotels and restaurants in Anaheim.
Disclosure: I paid for my own stay at the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
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Review of the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance Hotel
So, with so many hotels in the area, why book the Courtyard Anaheim? Several things make it stand out!
First, the adorable water park is a big plus with kids – the children I saw heading to and from the water park loved it. In addition, the guest rooms can accommodate up to six people with two queen beds and a set of bunk beds.
Amenities at the Courtyard
As mentioned above, the highlight of the Courtyard Anaheim is the Surfside Waterpark, located on the second floor of the resort and available exclusively to hotel guests. Reservations are required and can be made up to 30 days in advance of your arrival. Guests are allowed to reserve up to three time slots per day based on availability and can have up to six guests per reservation.
The Surfside Waterpark includes a hot tub, an outdoor swimming pool, water slides, a splash area, and a wading pool. A bucket up above dumps water regularly. There’s seating around the waterpark, so you can sit while your kids enjoy splashing around. Surfside Waterpark is open year-round.
If you’ve forgotten something, or need a souvenir, there’s a small shop and a convenience market. The gift shop includes some Disney merchandise, so you can grab some last-minute gifts before you head home.
Want to work out on vacation? The Courtyard Anaheim offers a fitness center available to guests. It includes lots of equipment and was always pretty quiet when I walked by.
In addition to these amenities, the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance also offers a conference room and a small business center area where you can print out your boarding passes.
Room types at the Hotel
The rooms at the Courtyard Anaheim are fantastic for families. I had a guest room with two queen beds, a set of twin bunk beds, and a view overlooking the Surfside Waterpark (and the Disneyland Park fireworks!). This room is a great option for families – especially those with more than two children.
The room includes the following features:
- A Keurig coffeemaker with Wolfgang Puck coffee
- A mini fridge
- A microwave
- A separate shower
- A shower/tub combo
- Double sinks
- Free Wi-Fi (with a higher speed available for Marriott Bonvoy gold and platinum members)
- A small seating area for snacks and meals in the corner of the room
- A desk
- Two queen beds
- A set of bunk beds
There are other room types. These include suites, rooms with balconies, and rooms with various views (or no view).
You’ll be able to reserve the exact room type you want, so if you want a specific view, make sure you reserve that room type. I did love seeing the fireworks from my room, but if you aren’t going to take advantage of that, you can save some money by getting a room with no view.
I found that with the bunk bed, the queen beds, the smart TVs, and the large bathroom with two showers, these rooms are a step up from the traditional hotel room when traveling with kids. Although you probably won’t want to spend too much time in the room, it’s nice to be able to have space, especially when getting ready in the morning.
Dining at the Hotel
While there are lots of dining options in the area, including at Disneyland and Downtown Disney, you may want to get some food right at your hotel. The Courtyard has The Bistro, an on-site restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While they don’t offer in-room dining, you can call down to order takeout to pick up from the Bistro.
During my stay, I had several meals at the Bistro and loved all of them. I tried the Cobb Salad, the hot honey chicken salad, and the loaded tater tots. There’s also a kids’ menu, including pizza.
There’s seating within the Bistro area, by the lobby. There are also tables outdoors, including a firepit table in the evenings.
The Bistro also has a coffee counter with Starbucks coffee – the perfect stop before visiting the theme parks. Although the rooms do have Keurigs, I couldn’t resist stopping at the coffee shop for an extra cup of iced coffee before starting my day. You can also get some quick grab-and-go items as well as a hot breakfast at the Bistro.
There are other restaurants in the area, including a Mimi’s Cafe in the parking lot, and a Panera Bread next door.
Getting Around at the Courtyard Anaheim Hotel
Several airports in the area are convenient to Disneyland and the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. These include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Long Beach Airport (LGB), John Wayne Airport (SNA), and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). While John Wayne Airport is the closest to Disneyland, you may find more flight options through LAX.
A rental car can be helpful, but isn’t entirely necessary, especially if your plans just include Disneyland. The Karmel Shuttle offers transportation from LAX and John Wayne Airport to Anaheim. If you decide to rent a car, you can compare prices and book here.
If you drive your vehicle or a rental car, you’ll need to pay for parking. The resort offers valet only with no self-parking. There’s a fee for valet parking each night.
If you are ready to book your stay, visit Get Away Today to book your Southern California vacation package at the best rates, including your hotel and Disneyland tickets.
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