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Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground: Best Hotel For Disney Trip or Family Getaway
Updated: Jun 30
Updated: 2022
Disneyland is a huge tourist attraction from all around the world. With Disneyland Parks opened again and the return of the Magic Key Passes many are anxious to visit their happy place again. People are constantly looking for hotel accommodations for their next Disneyland visit and it is not an easy thing to do without breaking the bank. There are so many things to take into considerations like; price, distance, hotel features, reputation, cleanliness & safety, the list can go on and on. I myself look at all of this when booking any hotel stay wether it be a long week vacation or a one night stay. Well I have done all the work for you! Look no further my friend! I'll list all the reasons why Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground is the perfect hotel for your next family Disneyland getaway or even just a weekend getaway to enjoy the hotel and waterpark! Want a discount? Of course you do, who wouldn't! I've Include a discount code just for you down below!
Location
Howard Johnson Anaheim (Hojo Anaheim) is conveniently located right across from Disneyland. When I say right across I mean it's an easy 8 minute walk that takes you right into the main entry plaza. My family and I have taken the 8 minute walk and I can guarantee it's true! You don't need to worry about paying for parking or waiting in lines to get on the tram. Have a stroller? Stroll right into the parks without having to worry about taking the kids out of the stroller to get on the tram. The location surrounding the hotel is clean, safe, and you will see people all times of the day walking to and from Disneyland to the hotel. Don't feel like walking? Not a problem! The hotel provides a Resort Trolley system for a minimal fee.
Facilities
Besides having 7 acres of beautiful architecture, lush landscaping and recently renovated rooms, there is so much more to this hotel. Here are all the reasons why Howard Johnson Anaheim is the perfect hotel for a family getaway or for your next Disney visit!
A Garden Heated Pool (Reservations are required. Link down below)
A pirate themed outdoor water playground (More on that down below)
iMac internet kiosks
Main St. Market (More on that down below)
Game Room
2 coin-op laundries
Parking- $20 + 17% tax per night (parking only valid until 12:00pm on the day of check out)
Complimentary Wi-Fi in room and property.
Castaway Cove
My daughter Alexia has had the opportunity to visit and play at Castaway Cove Water Playground several times and she loves it. The playground is clean, safe, and big enough for kids to play in but small enough that you can have your eyes on them at all times, which I love. It is gated and only hotel guests can enter by using their key making it a great safety feature. Wristbands must be worn when inside at all times. Castaway Cove is open all year long from 10am-10pm. Inside you will find:
Toddler and big kid curvy water slide
200 gallon drench bucket
4 mini water cannons
Water curtain
2 water umbrellas
Toddler wading pool with beach style entry
Friendly turtle and 13 water fountains
Bubbling spa-reservations are required. Only one family at a time permitted.
Complimentary swim pants offered at front desk upon request for the kiddos who are not yet potty trained
Complimentary towels
Update 2022: For Safety and social distancing purposes HOJO has implemented a new seating reservation system for Castaway Cove. The new system allows guest to guarantee seating and limits attendance. One 2 hour time slot at Castaway Cove will be available per day for all families. Masks are not required inside Castaway Cove but social distancing from members outside your family is highly encouraged.
You can reserve a dining table with chairs or up to 5 lounge chairs per room.
Important: reservations open 30 days prior to your check-in-date, so be sure to reserve your spot before your arrival. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED make them HERE
Garden pool does NOT require reservations, however seating is limited and once at capacity you will have to wait for someone to exit before you are allowed in.
Main St Market
Located inside building #1 and has everything you could possible need. They have souvenirs, snacks, adult beverages, water bottles, personal items, clothes, glasses, newspapers, Disney ears and so much more. They are open from 7am to 11pm. Definitely worth stopping by and paying them a visit before heading to the park.
Rooms
Hojo has been completely renovated! Ok lets talk about the rooms! Let me start off by saying there is a microwave, fridge and Keurig in all the rooms, yes ALL rooms. Having a fridge and a microwave is a great way to save some money on breakfast and snacks, especially if you have kids and are planning to stay for several days. The Keurig is so nice to have for the mornings especially when you are visiting the parks and have a fun but long day ahead of you.
The hotel has 296 superior rooms and suites. All the rooms are bright with contemporary decor and Disney paintings hanging on the wall. The rooms are air conditioned and either have 1 King, 2 double or 2 queen beds and even have bunk beds in the kids suits. There's tons of options for all the family to stay together! The rooms also come with a hairdryer, iron, ironing board and safe. They have a 37" Hi-Def TV where you can watch HBO, Nick JR, ESPN, and of course Disney Channel (insert cheering). Also included in your stay is FREE Wi-Fi internet access. Plus Hulu, Pandora and Neflix!
There are some rooms that are Disney Facing rooms with views of the Disneyland fireworks and the Matterhorn. During our stay we stayed on the 3rd floor of Building 1 with a balcony overlooking Matterhorn, as well as the water playground. This whole building was completely renovated as of March 2018. We have also had the pleasure of staying in building 2 and it's equally amazing. All the rooms are clean, spacious, bright, and updated with all appliances fully functional. Some of the questions I have been asked frequently are "how were the restrooms and the beds?" Im happy to report the restrooms were spotless as was the bathtub and the beds were very comfortable to sleep in. For the kiddos, rollaway beds and cribs are available for an additional small fee. Children up to 17 years of age stay free when using existing bedding with adults. This is another great way to save some money.
Check out is now at 11am
Check out these awesome bunk beds for the kiddos with adjoining room for the parents!
Cleaning and Safety Protocols
As discussed above, guest are now required to make reservations for Castaway Cove and Garden pool to promote social distancing. But they are also doing so much more! They are spraying rooms with hospital grade sprayers following checkout, disinfecting wipes with your key card at check in, complimentary travel size hand sanitizer for each room, frequent cleaning, masks are required indoors, and you will find hand sanitizer stations throughout the hotel. They are taking all the necessary precautions!
Dining options
Having all your meals at the park can get a little pricey so its nice that there are so many restaurants walking distance from the hotel. They are actually on the same path you walk to and from the park. They have restaurants like Mimis Cafe which is just across from the front desk and is open 7am-11pm. They also have Panera Bread, McDonald's, Starbucks, IHOP, and Tony Romas all which are about a 3 minute walk from the hotel. We personally love Panera Bread so we decided to stop there for dinner after the park and on our way to the room.
Additional features
"If lost please call" temporary tattoos complimentary at the front desk.
Complimentary face painting every Saturday morning.
Airport transportation (Disney Express) available at an additional charge. Pick up curbside at HOJO. For more information and pricing go to the front desk.
How to Save Money On the Room Before You Book
After my last stay at HOJO Anaheim I was able to get a discount code for you to use on your next HOJO Anaheim visit! Here is what you have to do, it's very simple. Simply click this link Personal HOJO link . Once there, go to reservations and enter the number code below to the corporate code section to receive the following discount.
20% off Disneyland Magic Key Passholder Discount - Corp code: 1000025935
15% off Discount for everyone! Corp code: 1000022077
If you're a Magic Key Passholder call directly and they can override the minimum length of stay. Tel: (714) 776-6120
As soon as you enter the code your discount will be applied. Told you it was easy!
This hotel has been perfect every time we have had the pleasure of visiting. It's the perfect family friendly hotel for families and kids of all ages. Having a mid day nap or a splash pad break in the middle of a park visit with little ones is amazing... and did I tell you its only an 8 min walk! I'm excited for you to visit and to hear about your amazing experience. Not planning a Disney visit, this hotel is perfect for a family getaway all on its own! They have the pool, the kids water playground, fun Disney themed decor in the rooms...it's perfect for some family fun! If you have any questions don't hesitate to leave a comment or message me privately. Hope you find this review informative and helpful.
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Address
1380 S. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92802
Talk To You Later!
