When planning our Disneyland trip, the hotel decision required almost as much thought as the park tickets.
For four nights in February, we considered three options:
- Disneyland Hotel
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground
- JW Marriott Anaheim Resort
For our dates, pricing looked like this:
- Disney hotel: about $1,600
- JW Marriott: about $1,200 after Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit statement credit
- Howard Johnson: about $900
Here’s how we decided — and how it worked out with a five-year-old.
Why We Didn’t Stay at a Disney Hotel
Disney hotels are immersive.
The Disneyland Hotel has a very nice water park area. In summer, I would absolutely consider staying there and planning a dedicated pool day.
At the Pixar-themed pool, you can even watch fireworks from the pool deck. For families with little kids who don’t plan to stay inside the park late, that’s a real advantage.
But during our February visit, the Pixar pool was closed. And we weren’t prioritizing pool time anyway.
We previously stayed at a Disney hotel during our previous Disney World trip. At that time, there were strong perks:
- Early park entry
- 60-day FastPass booking (instead of 30 days)
Many of those benefits have changed or been reduced over the years.
Another small detail I remember from our Disney World hotel stay: when you checked in, they asked what you’re celebrating and give you buttons.
First visit. Anniversary. Birthday.
I wore three buttons at once during our wedding trip — first time, just married, and near both our birthdays. I wasn’t expecting surprises, but it made everything feel personal.
You can still get celebration buttons inside the parks even if you’re not staying at a Disney hotel. But when you receive them at check-in, it’s effortless.
This time, we never stopped to find them inside the park. We were moving on a schedule.
Convenience matters.
Still, for this February trip, we decided immersion wasn’t the priority.
Disney hotels do not cover breakfast. So you will need to pay for your breakfast.
Why We Didn’t Choose Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson is closer and more affordable. The water playground is attractive for younger kids.
But:
- Room layout (one queen + bunk bed) felt tight for four nights.
- Reviews mentioned squeaky bunk beds.
- No breakfast included.
I also prefer quiet hotels.
When your room faces a water park or splash area, it can be loud — especially in the afternoon.
Midday naps were central to our strategy. Noise would have worked against that.
For us, comfort and quiet outweighed proximity and splash features.
Why We Chose JW Marriott
JW Marriott felt like the balance.
Room setup:
- King-size bed
- Pull-out twin for our daughter
- Large bathroom with shower and tub
The bed was genuinely comfortable.
After rope drop mornings and nighttime shows, that mattered more than theming.
The hotel environment felt calm and modern.
Not magical.
Just restful.
Breakfast: The Most Valuable Feature
Breakfast was included through our booking benefit.
It was substantial — not continental.
There were around 10 hot options:
- Eggs and egg whites
- Pancakes and French toast
- Bacon, sausage, ham
- Omelet station
The fruit station had berries, watermelon, pineapple, and more.
There was also a bagel bar with smoked salmon and Prosciutto.
My favorite was an egg white dish with tomato and spinach.
My husband preferred the omelet station.
Because breakfast was strong, we:
- Packed snacks
- Ate lighter in the park
- Avoided expensive sit-down lunches
If breakfast had not been included, I would have ordered groceries.
This single factor changed our daily spending rhythm.
Pool Reality
The pool is clean and modern.
But it is simple.
In February, the water felt cold. Our daughter swam briefly on arrival day and we did not return.
If your trip revolves around water time, this may not be the best choice.
If your trip revolves around sleep and recovery, it works.
Location and Walking Strategy
The hotel is walkable to Disneyland — about 10–15 minutes depending on pace.
One important tip:
Use the back gate exit of the hotel that connects to the mall/back street.
Do not walk out the main front entrance.
Going through the back significantly shortens the distance and makes the route more direct.
That small navigation detail makes the walk feel much easier.
In February weather, it was comfortable.
In summer heat, it would feel longer.
Housekeeping (A Small but Important Detail)
Housekeeping was consistent and timely.
Our room was always cleaned before our midday nap.
Many hotels are slow or unpredictable with cleaning schedules.
For us, this mattered. It kept our nap routine smooth.
Who This Hotel Is Best For
JW Marriott Anaheim works well if:
- You value comfort and quiet
- You plan midday naps
- You want a strong breakfast
- You are visiting in cooler months
- You are optimizing balance over immersion
It may not be ideal if:
- You want Disney theming 24/7
- You plan heavy pool afternoons
- You want to minimize walking at all costs
Final Thought
The magic happened inside Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
The hotel’s job was to make that sustainable.
For this February trip with a five-year-old, JW Marriott supported our plan:
- Rest
- Breakfast
- Quiet
- Predictability
If we were going in summer and prioritizing pool time, I would reconsider Disney property.
But for this stage of life — and this season — balance mattered more than immersion.
And for us, JW Marriott delivered that balance.