The perfect hotel near Disneyland does not exist. Trust me, I’ve stayed at and reviewed over 50 of them. Every single one has weaknesses that’ll be a dealbreaker for many guests. The Disney-owned hotels are insanely expensive. The 5-star luxury resorts all suboptimal locations.
The across-the-street accommodations are mostly motels, and many of them are ancient. And expensive! This has been the biggest change we’ve witnessed over the last several years, upending the top of our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. Many of the budget-friendly hotels across the street are now anything but, as tourists are willing to pay a premium for the prime location.
Another development during that time that’s causing us to reevaluate our rankings and reviews more and more is hotel horror stories. This isn’t a change to the hotels, but rather, our frame of reference. Now that we have a daughter, our patience for this has decreased. The old school motels have a much higher propensity for problems and hotel horror stories than the modern properties around Disneyland, and we’re less willing to chance it.
These potential issues run the gamut, ranging from major red flags like reports of bed bugs to excessive noise to rugged rooms to a lack of amenities. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, even seemingly inconsequential things like a cheap coffee maker now catch my ire.
I’m hardly a hotel snob or diva. We’ve stayed in some questionable places over the years. It’s one thing to tolerate crappy coffee or run-down rooms or scratchy towels or whatever when paying less than $100 per night.
It’s another entirely when that hotel that was under $100 per night a decade ago is otherwise exactly the same as it was a decade ago, except triple (or more!) the price. The fact is, many of these motels are completely phoning in the guest experience while charging exorbitant prices and resting on the laurels of their location.
So part of this is cost changing the calculus, and expecting quality commensurate with the ever-increasing prices. But another part is our own point of view as parents.
Granted, I can’t say that I’ve ever wanted bedbugs, but there was a time when my risk appetite for them was higher. As we often pointed out back in the day, there have been reports of bedbugs at virtually every hotel in Anaheim, so it didn’t really seem like anything you could actively avoid.
I still mostly believe this to be true, but I also think it’s directionally accurate that many older motels have had more annual incidence than the modern hotels. That’s my anecdotal perception; I cannot corroborate it with hard data. It’s enough, though, to give me pause about staying at an older motel with lower hygiene standards.
Noise is a more acute issue and one with which we have extensive experience at the old motels. Whether it be from the rooms above, which seem to be occupied by a herd of hippos, or the exterior hallways, which are veritable hippo highways, we’ve constantly had issues with noise at the motels.
For me alone, this actually isn’t an issue. I could sleep through an earthquake (quite literally–I’ve slept through several). The only reason I know it’s an issue is because I wake up early to work, and it’s always noticeable just how paper-thin the walls are.
Like her father, our toddler is a heavy sleeper…except when she’s not. She once slept through an ear-piercing fire alarm, but somehow, the light creak of our bedroom door at home can wake her. I can’t even begin to explain this, I don’t think science has an answer. Regardless, we try to move around the room like we’re avoiding the velociraptors in Jurassic Park so we don’t disturb her. Very similar consequences.
Optimizing for all of that, one hotel that has been in our top 10 for the last decade, but has slowly crept further up the rankings is the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance by Marriott.
This is a hotel ~5 minutes from Disneyland, featuring large family accommodations. This features fresh thoughts on the newly-redone rooms, common area changes, and our experience revisiting this hotel ~10 years after it first opened. We’ll cover whether it’s still worth staying at this hotel if your visit to Southern California is primarily for visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
We first reviewed this hotel back in 2016, shortly after it opened. At the time, we were impressed. The rooms were spacious and the design felt chic. The Courtyard set a new standard for off-site Disneyland accommodations. We’re revisiting it a decade later to see how it’s held up, and offer a verdict on the recent renovations.
Spoiler alert: it’s complicated. We didn’t bury the lede in our opening line. The perfect hotel near Disneyland (still) does not exist…but the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance might just require the fewest compromises for families.
Courtyard Anaheim’s “New” Rooms
Let’s start with what hasn’t changed. The rooms are still 530+ square feet, which remains significantly larger than standard Anaheim hotel rooms. With the ability to sleep 6 people (two queen beds plus twin bunk beds), these rooms continue to be ideal for families that would otherwise need two separate rooms.
Structurally, the Courtyard is the same as before, meaning it’s a modern ‘big box’ chained-brand hotel built a decade ago as opposed to 60+ years ago. It feels like a fully-featured deluxe(ish) hotel. It has interior hallways, thicker walls, upmarket amenities, and upgraded fixtures and decor as compared to the Anaheim norm.
The accommodations are likewise comfortable and upscale(ish). It’s not the Westin or JW Marriott, but there’s also nary a scratchy towel or cheap coffee maker in sight. When we first started staying at Anaheim mom & pop hotels, most had mattresses salvaged them from the Goodwill dumpster. Now, an increasing number have plush bedding. Even among the hotels with high-quality bedding, the Courtyard ranks near the top in terms of bedding comfort.
It’s a similar story with the bunk beds (albeit not as comfortable) as well as the workstation, booth seating, and pretty much everything else.
We’ve now stayed at the Courtyard a few times, and every single stay we’ve had a view overlooking the water park with Disneyland in the distance. I’m sure there are worse views, but this is lovely. It’s also a testament to the hotel’s soundproofing that it’s loud with the balcony door open, but completely quiet with it closed.
The rooms have a host of other amenities: Keurig machines, microwaves, mini-fridges, Netflix, and more.
Here’s where things get disappointing. The hotel underwent room renovations last year, which would normally be a good thing. There are dozens of hotels that would benefit tremendously from a room refresh!
We often complain that Disney fans complain too much about new rooms being bland and boring. Most of that criticism is misplaced, as average guests (rightly or wrongly) don’t want garish and over the top designs. Well, well, well, how the turntables.
Below are two photos, one of the old/original rooms and another of the new rooms:
Can you tell which is which? The original room is first, the circa-2026 room is second.
Sadly, the Courtyard was not one of them. Gone is the chic coastal California design with personality that we praised in our original review. In its place is what Marriott calls “modern decor with cozy finishes.” Corporate speak for “we made it look indistinguishable from every other mid-tier Marriott.”
The original rooms had a nice blend of modern and timeless, with design elements that felt thoughtful plus pops of color. All of this was punctuated by the feature wall wave art. The Courtyard was distinct, and I could recognize it in an instant when reviewing photos.
This, on the other hand, is instantly forgettable. The renovated rooms are generic. They’re clean, functional, and…fine, I guess. It’s not even that they’re chasing trends or whatever!
These new rooms look older just by virtue of their ho-hum style. Maybe I lack taste or a discerning eye, but if you asked me to point out which of these rooms were the newer one, I’d guess the old rooms. They look cooler, more modern, and hip. Or at least, hip-adjacent. Why on earth can’t a hotel within walking distance have fun room designs?!
Here are more photos of the new rooms:
The bathrooms, thankfully, remain solid.
We still love the walk-in showers, and the overall bathroom size makes mornings manageable for large parties. The presence of both walk-in showers and tubs is a thoughtful touch, especially given the practical realities of getting ready for rope dropping Disneyland with a party of 4-6 people in one room.
Cool Courtyard Common Areas
The good news is that the common areas have also been renovated, and the refreshes made to these areas are actual upgrades.
Everything feels a bit more polished and updated, lighter and breezier. Sure, you could accuse this of looking “corporate” and similar to other Marriotts, but it’s nice. We spotted several business travelers and families alike lounging around the public spaces, which are nice and inviting.
I consider all of the refreshed lobby level area to be a big win. I really like this space, especially the indoor-outdoor nature. It feels like the Courtyard leaned into this with the refurbishment, and it’s quite lovely.
As someone who inevitably ends up in the lobby to use my laptop early in the morning and late at night, nice common areas are an outsized selling point to me.
The Surfside water park is still there, and we’re still hesitant to call it a water park. It’s a glorified pool and water play area—significantly better than a standard pool, but far shy of an actual water park.
Still, it is light years ahead of almost every other pool in Anaheim, so it doesn’t feel fair to even poke fun at Surfside. By Anaheim standards, it is a water park. If this were Orlando, it’d be more like a puddle. (Seriously, the pool disparity between the coasts is enormous.)
Courtyard Cuisine
The dining scene around the Courtyard has also changed in the last decade. All around Anaheim, new options are popping up. If you stayed on the other side of Katella, or even down Disney Way, you’d have a wealth of new options.
Here, not so much. Pizza Press moved (several years ago–this is not new news) and nothing on par with that has filled the void. The closest thing is Calaca Mamas Cantina, a Day of the Dead-themed Mexican restaurant, replaced the infamous Captain Kidd’s buffet.
Otherwise, there are a lot of convenient and reasonably-priced options, including but not limited to Mimi’s Cafe and Panera in the parking lot, as well as McDonald’s, Denny’s, and IHOP all between the Courtyard and Disneyland. I’m a big fan of using the McDonald’s app to mobile order–it’s a great way to score deals (and is hassle-free).
Aggravating Elevators
The Courtyard has only 2 elevators serving 6 floors and 221 rooms. When the hotel was brand new and presumably operating at a lower occupancy, this flew under our radar.
In 2026, with the hotel regularly at capacity? And now that we have a toddler?! (Okay, that last one isn’t the Courtyard’s “fault.”) It’s not ideal.
Wait times of what seems like forever (probably 5-10 minutes) during peak periods are common. We’ve watched families with strollers, exhausted kids, etc., crammed into lobbies, waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more. I feel like Roz, watching, always watching (the waiting). And we have been those families, unable to pivot to the stairs due to a sleeping child in a stroller.
This is a fundamental design flaw that becomes more apparent as the hotel ages and occupancy increases. Budget extra time for vertical transportation. Ironically enough, that can increase the walking distance time to Disneyland–or at least make it enough of a wild card–that a few hotels that are technically farther away become “closer.”
Maybe this isn’t a big deal to some of you. Like I said, it wasn’t even on our radar before. But the last two times we’ve stayed here, it has been noticeable. And one of those was pre-baby, so it’s not just our new dynamic with a stroller and toddler. YMMV.
Another frustration is that parking is valet-only, and it’s jumped from $20/night to 46.80 per night. That’s not a typo, it’s nearly $50 per night to park here, and there’s no self-parking option. This is absurd for Anaheim. It’s not as if there isn’t space and they’re trying to make do, either. The hotel sells parking to day visitors (also $50) as an alternative to Disneyland’s parking structures.
Courtyard’s (Surprisingly) Competitive Pricing
Speaking of pricing, now for the good news! A decade ago, we noted that the Courtyard was one of the more expensive non-Disney, non-suite hotels in Anaheim. Back then, we thought $200+ per night was steep, but justified given the room size and quality.
Fast forward to 2026, and rates are now routinely above $300 per night depending on the season. That might seem like a significant increase, and it is. Or it would be…if the motels right across the street weren’t charging even higher rates!
In my searches, the Best Western Park Place is more expensive than the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. Despite it being slightly farther away, having aggravating elevators and bland rooms, I’m still taking the Courtyard over the Best Western every single time if the prices are even remotely comparable. It’s not even a remotely close call.
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We also recommend Get Away Today in our Guide to Buying Discounted Disneyland Tickets—booking a vacation package makes an already great deal even better.
Alternative Anaheim Accommodations
The most direct comparison is the Element Anaheim Resort Convention Center, which is our overall favorite family hotel near Disneyland. The downside is that it’s a slightly longer walk; the upside is that it’s newer and nicer. In our view, the Element is all about balance, straddling the line between extended stay features and upscale accommodations. We usually book the Element over Courtyard, but we don’t mind a bit more walking. Either are great.
Less comparable is the Westin Anaheim, which is our favorite luxury hotel in Anaheim. This edges out the JW Marriott thanks mostly to the easier walk, and it’s where we stay if spending a good mix of time at the resort and in the parks. It’s a great “staycation” option when the primary purpose isn’t parks non-stop. It offers good value for money considering the fact that it’s a luxury hotel.
Our next go-to pick is the Tropicana Inn & Suites, which is our #1 overall pick near Disneyland. This offers an unbeatable location, competitive pricing, and remodeled rooms. It’s directly across the street, a 5 minute walk to the parks. At the end of the night, that 5 minute walk can be so worth it–especially if you’re pushing a stroller or carrying a sleeping kid. We usually do the Tropicana when park time is top priority, especially during late Halloween and Christmas seasons, or during the winter.
Other contenders:
- Fairfield by Marriott Anaheim Resort
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground
- Best Western Park Place Inn
- SunCoast Park Hotel Anaheim
- Park Vue Inn
None of these are perfect comparisons, especially for larger parties. There’s a mix of locations that check the right boxes for proximity, room & amenities quality, modernness, and spaciousness. Each have their own distinct pros & cons, as well as differing dealbreakers for some Disneyland visitors.
Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance Verdict
Ultimately, the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is not the perfect hotel near Disneyland. Remember, that’s not a thing! There are ways that we like it less than our first stay here a decade ago. The room renovations are devoid of character, the elevator situation is more irksome, as is the valet-only parking now given that it approaches $50 per night.
At the same time, the fundamentals remain strong. These are the most spacious and modern rooms in the ‘across the street on Harbor district’ of hotels near Disneyland. The new lobby is lovely; a great common space. Although the price has gone up, the increase is less noticeable than the nearby motels. Not only that, but our personal tolerances for the weaknesses of those motels has decreased, and to a greater degree than our tolerance for the annoying elevators.
The end result is that I think the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is actually a worse overall hotel than it was a decade ago…but at the same time, most of the other nearby hotels have gotten “more worse.” So the Courtyard has actually become better by comparison, if that makes sense. As the title says, the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park entrance is the best family friendly hotel across the street from Disneyland.
This falls apart for me once expanding a search to the hotels that are slightly farther away, though. As someone who doesn’t mind walking about ~5 minutes or so, the Element or SunCoast remain our top choices in this category. Of course, not everyone is us, and there’s absolutely something to be said for these hotels right across the street. That’s precisely why they all command premium prices in the first place!
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!
Your Thoughts
Have you stayed at the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Thoughts on the redone rooms or common areas? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
