In December 2019 I went to Ellen’s 12 Days of Giveaways. One of the things that I was given at the show was a two-night stay at a Wyndham Resort. I had already been planning to spend my birthday at The Disneyland Resort later that month. When I realized I could use my certificate to stay at The Howard Johnson in Anaheim I was thrilled. It ended up being the perfect addition to my special day.
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I want to start off by sharing how much I love staying on property at Disney. You can read more blog posts about my experience staying at The Disneyland Hotel. I know that not everyone can fit those hotels in the budget or they can be fully booked and you need another alternative. The Howard Johnson in Anaheim is not the closest hotel to the park but it is within walking distance. Plus, it is a great hotel for families.
I highly recommend getting a room in the tower building, my boyfriend had a room in the smaller building and they were completely different. I felt bad that our room was so much nicer. I was also very excited to be able to get a room with a view. We could see the top of the Matterhorn and hear the train. It rained during our stay but from what I have heard you can see the fireworks from these rooms as well. My Mom called and let the hotel know it was my birthday so they set up a little surprise in the room.
While the Howard Johnson in Anaheim is not a Disney hotel it does still have artwork that fans will enjoy.
There is a mini-fridge, Keurig, and microwave that are all available for you to use in the room. I have been in so many hotels in the past few years where I couldn’t put anything in the mini-fridge so this was a treat!
Do you like Disney food and recipes? Be sure to check out the books Eat Like Walt and The Official Disney Parks Cookbook.
The beds and pillows were very comfy! I slept really well while I was here.
I liked that there was a table with a bench where you could eat, play a game, or just hang out. This room is so comfortable after an exhausting day at the park. I love being close enough that I can come back to the room for a break in the middle of the day too.
For $10 they will have balloons in the room to celebrate a special occasion.
Since it was December when I was there I did not visit the pool area. From what I could see they have a fun play area in the water for the children.
My Favorite Reasons to Stay at the Howard Johnson in Anaheim
- Free Parking
- Clean and Comfortable Rooms
- A View of Parts of Disneyland & the Fireworks
- Microwave and Mini Fridge that you can use
- It is within walking distance of The Disneyland Resort
If you want food outside of Disney you can go to the nearby Mimi’s Cafe, Panera Bread, McDonald’s, or many places like The Cheesecake Factory at The Garden Walk. If you have a car I would recommend going for a meal at the Anaheim Packing District for a fun experience.
I have loved my experiences staying on property at The Disneyland Resort. In fact, I’ve stayed at all three of the hotels. I have even blogged about The Disneyland Hotel. However, those hotels are very expensive and they book up at various times of the year. The Howard Johnson in Anaheim is a fantastic alternative depending on what your budget/needs are.
