New Family-Friendly Hotels Near Disneyland

The reopening of Disneyland Resort in April jump-started the return of family vacations in Anaheim, Calif., and four of the city’s newest hotels are ready to welcome them.

Located in the Anaheim resort area surrounding Disneyland’s theme parks, JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, Hotel Lulu, Element Anaheim Resort Convention Center and The Westin Anaheim Resort offer options that fit every client’s travel style and budget — and the best news is they are all less than a mile from the “Happiest Place on Earth.” 

“In the last few years, Anaheim has seen tremendous development with even more on the horizon,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO of Visit Anaheim. “From new lands at Disneyland and new luxury hotels to upcoming state-of-the-art entertainment districts, Anaheim has visitors seeing and experiencing the destination in a new way every time they visit.”

While all four properties cater to families, three of them are also Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels (Disney-approved hotels close to the parks) that offer extra perks on vacation packages booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company.

In the last few years, Anaheim has seen tremendous development with even more on the horizon.

JW Marriott Anaheim Resort

One of three AAA Four Diamond resorts in Anaheim (the others are Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and The Westin Anaheim Resort), the entirely new 466-room JW Marriott Anaheim Resort — a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel — opened in August 2020, providing a luxury retreat close to the theme parks.

“We recognize Disneyland is the original happiest place on Earth,” said Maribel Denner, director of sales and marketing for JW Marriott Anaheim. “But after the hustle and bustle of being in Disneyland, we want our guests to feel the warmth and tranquility of the hotel and discover a kingdom all their own.”

The hotel’s 11th-floor Parkestry Rooftop Bar (the highest in Anaheim) offers unobstructed views of Disneyland, while the Tocca Ferro Italian Chophouse and Citriculture lobby bar provide other dining and relaxing options.

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“Our clients who have stayed at the JW Marriott have been happy with the hotel, staff and location,” said Sue Ellen Knebel of DreamFinder Travel in San Marcos, Calif. “Obviously, location is a big plus because it’s a short walk after a long day, but benefits that give this hotel a step up over others in the area are that it is connected to Anaheim GardenWalk and it has a chic rooftop bar with a nice view of the fireworks.”

Hotel Lulu, BW Premier Collection

The remodeled and rebranded 308-room Hotel Lulu (a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel) opened in May 2021 as part of Best Western’s BW Premier Collection. The boutique-style property is an affordable, family-friendly option just a short distance from Disneyland’s turnstiles with a fun Southern California beach vibe.

The Lulu Coffee bar in the lobby is the perfect spot for breakfast on the go — serving Intelligentsia direct-trade coffee and sweet treats from Crema Artisan Bakers, including a modern version of the classic breakfast favorite, raspberry Pop-Tarts.

“Hotel Lulu is a fabulous place for families to stay when visiting the magic of Disneyland,” said John Chan, manager of the hotel. “The location is amazing — literally a seven-minute walk to the main gate of Disneyland — with newly renovated rooms featuring Disney fireworks views.”

Element Anaheim Resort Convention Center

Open since July 2021 and featuring 174 spacious suites with fully equipped kitchens — including 75 kids’ suites with bunk beds — the new Element Anaheim Resort Convention Center is a good choice for clients looking for a “home away from home” close to Disneyland.

“Extended-stay properties sometimes have a bad rep, but this is a luxurious extended stay,” said Julienne Shimono, director of sales and marketing for Element Anaheim. “It’s totally different than what we usually think, and it’s amazing for families.”

In fact, the brand might be the best-kept secret for multigenerational groups, with a heated saltwater pool and a complimentary breakfast buffet that includes healthy options such as vegetables and egg whites. (Not to worry, Shimono notes there are also plenty of items for guests who are not counting calories on vacation.)

The Westin Anaheim Resort

The newly constructed 618-room The Westin Anaheim Resort — the brand’s first newbuild in Southern California in nearly 25 years — opened in July 2021. It features a resort-style pool and seven signature dining options, including the guest-exclusive Rise Rooftop Lounge, which offers a front-row seat for Disneyland’s fireworks spectaculars.

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“We look forward to welcoming guests to experience this beautiful property directly across from Disney California Adventure Park,” said Carmine Iommazzo, general manager of the hotel. “We provide a sense of relaxation and escape for every type of traveler.”

All guestrooms at this Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel feature Westin’s signature Heavenly beds and rain showers, plus state-of-the-art technology (including plenty of plugs for devices). Rooms with theme park views also help clients feel like they are right in the middle of the magic.

“One selling point of our hotel is that you can’t get much closer to Disneyland,” said Lauren Ruiz, marketing manager at The Westin Anaheim. “A lot of guests who stay in park-view rooms have dinner from in-room dining, and their kids watch the fireworks from their balcony.”

The Details
Element Anaheim Resort Convention Center

Hotel Lulu

JW Marriott Anaheim Resort

The Westin Anaheim Resort