THE PERFECT HOTEL FOR THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH
Yay!! You just decided you’re going to Disneyland! THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH. All is right in the world!! WRONG. Where do you stay?! Nothing can bring down the magic of a Disneyland vacation faster than staying in a horrible and villainous hotel. Well, lucky for you all… I have found the most magical hotel to rest your little head after a long day of pixie dusted fun. My hotel of choice, is none other than, the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel.
The Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground is a true gem among the Disneyland “good neighbor” hotels. What is a good neighbor hotel? A “good neighbor” hotel is a hotel nearby the Disneyland Resort, that maintains magical Disney touches and standards. These hotels are not technically on Disney property or Disney hotels… but they have a working relationship with Disney. These hotels are great options if you are looking for a more affordable place of lodging for your Disney vacation, or if the on-site Disney hotels are all booked.
Why is the Howard Johnson the perfect choice for your Disneyland vacation? Why is it so perfect that it’s the only “good neighbor” hotel I’ll stay at? Just keep reading to find out!
THE HOTEL
The second you walk onto the Howard Johnson property, you know it’s a special place. From the sound of children laughing, to the beautifully colored swaying flowers… this is the place to be! My favorite part?? All the cute Disney touches around the hotel. I particularly fell in love with the retro Disney wall prints! I mean, how cute are these?!
Something else that is fabulous about the Howard Johnson? EVERYTHING that is located on hotel property!! Within the hotel, there is a gift shop (Main St. Market), Mimi’s Cafe Restaurant, a handful of vending machines, 2 coin-operated laundromats, and a game room. So, even when you’re not at the Disney parks, there’s plenty to do on the hotel grounds.
But wait… isn’t there like some cool water park here? YES!!! The Howard Johnson has a water playground on property! With a buccaneer type pirate theme, this water playground is perfect for kids, of all ages, to splash around in! If you’re looking to spend some time at the water playground, here’s what you can expect to find: a toddler and big kid water slide, a 200 gallon drench bucket, 4 mini water cannons, a water curtain, 2 water umbrellas, a wading pool, Speedy the water fountain turtle, and a whirlpool. Want to know a secret? You can watch the Disneyland fireworks from the whirlpool!! Talk about true magic!
Not looking to partake in the water playground fun? Don’t worry! The Howard Johnson also has a pool geared more towards adults, and for those looking to get a little relaxation. This is the garden pool. This pool is nestled among palm trees and other lush greenery. So, grab a complimentary towel, lay down on a cushioned lounge chair, and doze off…
One of the many special aspects about this hotel are all the small and thoughtful touches surrounding the Howard Johnson. One of those special touches being complimentary tattoos for little ones. Do you have small children tagging along with you to Disneyland? Then just quickly stop by the front desk and ask for however many tattoos you need! Not only is this an important safety feature, but I’m pretty sure your kids will love getting all tatted up! Hehehe!
Also!! Don’t forget that you can purchase your tickets for Disneyland at the hotel for a discounted price!! Purchasing your park tickets beforehand can help save time, stress, hassle, and money!! So, when you’re ready to hit the parks, you’re all set to go! And don’t forget!! Don’t EVER throw away your tickets! You use them for fast passes… unlike Walt Disney World.
What is something you always look for when booking a hotel? AMENITIES!!! Here are the amenities included in your stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel…
Wi-fi in public areas and rooms
Internet stations with printing
Parking on-site (for 1 car… a second car would have a daily charge)
Certain TV channels, such as HBO, Disney, ESPN and Nick Jr
Keurig coffee and tea maker
Laptop safe in room
Hair dryer
Mini-fridge and microwave
Iron and board
Certain streaming devices, like Netflix, Hulu and Pandora
Pillow-top mattress
THE ROOMS
So… where will you be falling asleep like Sleeping Beauty? In some of the cutest rooms ever!! For my stay here, I lodged in building 1, which is one of the newly remodeled buildings. It’s absolutely beautiful, with extra touches of magic! What are some of these magical touches?! My favorite is most definitely the Mickey portraits, and vintage-type Disneyland art pieces.
But… if you think all I’m doing in my room at the Howard Johnson is sleeping, you’re absolutely mistaken! My favorite non-sleeping activity (hehehe)? Setting up an entire hot chocolate bar with the Keurig machine in my room!! A bonus? Timing it just right to watch the Disneyland fireworks from the balcony!
Let’s continue with how amazing this hotel room is! Within this standard queen hotel room, there are…
2 queen beds
Nightstands by the beds
Large closet with a safe, and ironing board/iron
An outdoor balcony
Dining table with couch
TV console with 2 stools
Desk area workplace with office chair
Dresser drawers
Multiple outlets around the whole room
Full length mirror
Bathroom with toilet, double sinks, bath tub/shower, and lighted mirror
Kitchenette area with Keurig, fridge, and microwave
Multiple lights throughout the entire room
Now, let’s talk about the vibrantly colored bathroom! How fun is this space?! What caught my eye first? The super cool rubber ducky wall piece! And not only are the rubber duckies on the wall… there’s an actual rubber ducky for the tub!! This little duck is perfect for a relaxing and soothing bubble bath after a long day in the parks. The Howard Johnson provides delightful PAYA soap products… but if you’re looking for something with a little extra Disneys style, I brought along my own sop and bath bomb from Basin.
Just a disclaimer… if you are specifically looking for the Disney Basin products… these can only be found at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. But everything else is sold online!! Basin has so many wonderful non-Disney inspired products, as well!
THE STAFF
And to place a cherry on top of the Howard Johnson sundae, I cannot forget to talk about the amazing staff that made my stay extra fantastic! As soon as I checked into the hotel, I was greeted with smiles and warm welcome vibes. Everything was explained to me and all my questions were answered. From management to housekeeping, I truly felt cared for. And really, that’s what honestly makes such a different between different hotels.
THE AREA
I think, without a doubt, one of the best perks to staying at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel is how close it is to the Disneyland parks! When I walked there, I clocked myself at only a 6 minute walk!! How awesome is that?! Want to relax at the pool for a little during the afternoon? No problem!! It’s an easy walk back to the hotel!! Want to change into something a little warmer for night time? No worries!! Just quick skip on back to the hotel, change, and skip right on back to the parks!
So, what are you thinking?! Are you looking to make the Howard Johnson your next home away from home? Then make sure to use this booking link to receive 15% off your stay!! When you get to check out, enter promo code: 1000022077. But WAIT!! If you’re an annual pass holder to Disneyland, you get 20% off! When you get to check out, enter this promo code: 1000025935. If you have any issues with booking, please contact Howard Johnson, and someone would be more than happy to assist you!
Thank you so much to the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel for gifting me a hotel room for 2 nights. All thoughts and opinions within this blog post are true to myself and are my own.
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