Accommodations
When it comes to hunkering down in The OC, visitors usually gravitate towards hotel properties near Disneyland, or they have a strong desire to go coastal and do a little California dreamin’ at a seaside resort. And, with 500 hotel properties and nearly 55,000 guest rooms, chances are you will find a hotel, motel, boutique inn, or private cottage to fit both your needs and budget.
In the last decade Orange County has given birth to a wave of plush, coastal properties. Four- and five-star resorts with their ocean views, out-of-this-world amenities, fine dining, and spa sanctuaries, aside from the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and Surf and Sand Resort, simply didn’t exist before 2000. The same can be said about the Disneyland Resort area in Anaheim, which for many years consisted of the Disneyland Hotel and countless kitschy motels with faux snow-covered roofs and candy-cane icons surrounding the theme park. But, in the last decade, Disney has also freshened up its look with a head-to-toe makeover of its original hotel and the addition of the Grand Californian, an upscale lodge-like property and the centerpiece of Downtown Disney. The hotels surrounding the theme park have also been given a facelift, and a new signage program implemented by the city of Anaheim has given what was once a hodgepodge of motels and tired buildings a crisp, uniform look.
But if you’re willing to stay a few miles inland, rather than right on the coast, or can be content with a non-Disney hotel or one that’s not within walking distance of the park, you’re more likely to find a better rate. It’s like the old saying among realtors: “location, location, location.” But, don’t forget, location usually comes with a price. In this chapter, hotels and resorts are listed in alphabetical order by region or city.
1. Anaheim Harbor Rv Park
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 535-6495
Address: 1009 South Harbor Blvd.
Description: Anaheim Harbor RV Park is the closest RV park to Disneyland and is a clean enclave with accommodations for 40-foot RVs plus tip-outs, full hook-ups, 30 and 50 AMP service, a heated swimming pool, laundry room, new bathrooms, free wireless Internet access and cable TV hook-ups, a five-hole putting green, and video arcade. There is also shuttle service to Disneyland and several restaurants within walking distance.
2. Anaheim Rv Village
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 318-5520
Address: 333 West Ball Rd.
Description: This may not be the closest RV park to Disneyland (it’s a mere 4 miles away) but it’s the newest and the largest with 293 sites including 23 premium sites for 64- to 70-foot vehicles, free Wi-Fi, playground, swimming pool, arcade center, laundry facilities, and convenience store, plus it’s pet-friendly, too.
3. Candy Cane Inn
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 774-5284 or (800) 345-70
Address: 1747 South Harbor Blvd.
Description: Gone are the kitschy red and white ornaments that once gave credence to this former motel’s name. While the name is here to stay, most of the candy cane embellishments are gone or at least discreetly displayed. The inn has transitioned nicely from a roadside motel into a value-oriented inn just 250 yards from Disneyland’s main gate and is a Disney Good Neighbor property. There are 171 rooms including a collection of new premium rooms, which are a bit more spacious with newer appointments. Each stay includes a complimentary breakfast buffet, free shuttle to Disneyland, parking, and a fitness room. There are also a heated swimming pool and children’s wading pool.
4. Disneyland Hotel
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 778-6600
Address: 1150 Magic Way
Description: The original Disneyland Hotel features nearly 1,000 rooms and suites housed in a trio of towers. It, too, is conveniently located to Downtown Disney with magical touches, such as an oversized Sorcerer’s Hat and the Never Land themed pool. The hotel also offers 19 “Character Quarters” with either a Mickey Mouse or Disney Princess motif and ample space for families of five or more. Despite its age (the hotel opened in 1955) it has undergone several renovations over the years and offers contemporary and comfortable surroundings. There are also several casual, themed, and upscale restaurants within the hotel and poolside, with more dining options at neighboring Downtown Disney.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1600 South Disney Dr.
6. Disney’S Paradise Pier
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 999-0990
Address: 1717 South Disney Dr.
Description: This hotel, the furthest from the entrance gate, was once the Pan Pacific Hotel before Disney acquired it several years ago. Disney’s Paradise Pier is a three-diamond property offering standard rooms or suites with a single king or two queen-size beds. The concierge level features priority check-in, cabana or poolside rooms, assistance with vacation planning, complimentary continental breakfast and evening wine and cheese reception, nightly turndown service, DVD players, and complimentary movies. While it’s not as close to Downtown Disney or the theme park’s main entrance, it is still within an easy walking distance.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 1221 South Harbor Blvd.
8. Knott’S Berry Farm Resort Hotel
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (866) 752-2444
Address: 7675 Crescent Ave.
Description: Located along the fringes of this popular Orange County theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel is convenient for those visiting Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City, and even Disneyland. The hotel rises nine stories and houses a collection of nice rooms including Snoopy theme rooms where Snoopy himself pays a visit and provides tuck-in service. Telephone bedtime stories are another feature of these novelty rooms. The hotel features a decent size pool plus an all-day dining restaurant. Nearby are additional themed eateries including Medieval Times and Pirates Dinner Adventure. Disneyland is just 6 miles away and can be reached via car or by public bus.
9. Radisson Suites Hotel
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 739-5600 or (800) 395-70
Address: 7762 Beach Blvd.
Description: With 200 rooms offering 500 square feet of living space plus separate bedroom, living area, and bath, the Spanish-style Radisson Suites Hotel enjoys a central location just blocks from Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City, and Beach Boulevard’s themed restaurants. The hotel has an atrium lobby and a swimming pool, plus a complimentary breakfast buffet is served each morning and there is a restaurant on the premises, too. There are also coin laundry facilities on the property. Free shuttle service ferries guests to Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm, eliminating the need to pay for parking at either place. You can also purchase tickets to Disneyland at the front desk, saving you further time at the park’s front gate.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 500 Anton Blvd.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 686 Anton Blvd.
12. Hyatt Regency Orange County
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 750-1234
Address: 11999 Harbor Blvd.
Description: Technically, this 654-room hotel is located in Garden Grove, but it borders the city of Anaheim and is just down the road from Disneyland. A glass atrium grounds this semi-high-rise hotel where the 87 Kids Suites, separated from parents’ rooms by French doors, offer a few added amenities including bunk beds, an activity table, and a second television. The hotel also features a restaurant and lounge plus two pools, an equal number of Jacuzzis, a fitness center, tennis courts, basketball hoop, and free shuttle service to Disneyland. There are some restaurants within walking distance and the hotel sits midway between the 22 and 5 Freeways.
13. Doubletree Resort
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (714) 634-4500
Address: 100 The City Dr.
Description: This clean, centrally located hotel sits next-door to the Block of Orange, which provides plenty of shopping and entertainment. It’s also close to the 5 and 22 Freeways as well as Disneyland, which is a few miles north via surface streets. Armed with a AAA Three Diamond rating, the linear hotel features three categories of rooms, including standard, suites, and an executive floor, plus accommodations for disabled guests. There is an on-site fitness center, tennis court, basketball hoops, and a swimming pool. The hotel also features an all-day, upscale dining restaurant plus a casual cafe serving Starbucks coffee. Happy hour takes place in the hotel’s atrium lobby bar, which also offers casual dining and a pub-like setting.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Address: 274 North Glassell St.
15. Blue Lantern Inn
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (949) 661-1304
Address: 34343 Street of the Blue Lantern
Description: One of Orange County’s few bed and breakfast inns, this three-story hideaway, part of the Four Sisters Inn portfolio, teeters high above a coastal bluff and looks as if it belongs on the Eastern seaboard. Tapped as a Top U.S. Seaside Inn by the editors of Travel + Leisure, the Blue Lantern Inn features just 29 rooms with varying appointments, such as fireplaces and jetted tubs, and most have mini-fridges stocked with complimentary soft drinks. A handful of rooms also boast private decks. The nightly rate includes a full breakfast plus afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres, all-day refreshments, turndown service, pet-friendly rooms, and a snug spa for massage and body treatments. Children are welcome. The inn is located within walking distance to restaurants and shops.