HOJO’s Anaheim

 

Being DVC (Disney Vacation Club) Members, we rarely check out hotels beyond Disney property. When Hojo’s invited us to come check out their digs, I thought it would be the perfect way to kick off a summer staycation and a great way to save my reservation points for a near future WDW trip!

Arriving to the hotel was quick and easy. I exited Harbor Blvd instead of the much busier Disneyland Drive. Not sitting traffic at the freeway exit was a relief! There was ample parking in close proximity to check in. Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly and reassuring smiles. The kids were treated to pirate hats and pirate sword balloons! Our room was not ready but they held our bags so we can get out vacation started. It was Vie’s 10th birthday weekend so I wanted to treat the kids to a new restaurant I had caught wind of in Downtown Disney. I was so surprised to find that the walk to the Disneyland Resort was a very easy and quick 8 minutes. We entered off of Harbor Blvd. where the security lines were minimal and before we knew it we were standing in front of Disneyland! We walked into Downtown Disney where we found Downtown Disney’s newest restaurant, Blacktap Brewery. It really is a must do if you’re looking for a mind blowing treat! Their shakes are over the top incredible!! I was very excited to try their shakes after learning that they have VEGAN options! The littles are dairy free, so I usually worry about finding them an alternative. I was so happy that they were able to enjoy the same treat as the birthday girl and no one felt left out. This trip, I didn’t have to say no and the littles had their very first milk shake! They couldn’t believe their eyes!! The taste was so good too! The dairy free option did not fall short to the original. Both shakes were creamy and overflowing with fun toppings. The kids were so happy that the calories didn’t even cross my mind! Whatever they were, they were well worth it!

We popped into California Adventure to walk off our hearty lunch and check out the new Philharmagic 3D movie experience! It is one of my favorites at WDW and I was so excited to find Disney brought it to DCA! I couldn’t wait to share this experience with the kids. It is a fantastic compilation of Disney music that any Disney fan would love! Soon after, our room was ready so we headed back to enjoy the afternoon sun in the waterpark!

“When we walked into our room, I was shocked!”…

When we walked into our room, I was shocked! I didn’t know where to look first! I could not believe the view! Our room had the most perfect view of the Matterhorn! But also, the room was bright and beautiful! AND to top it off, Hojo’s had a surprise gift for Vie to celebrate her birthday!! The room was large and spacious and CLEAN! Everything was perfectly neat and in perfect working order. I even noticed the remote control for the TV was flat with no spaces between buttons. Something that had to be thought of for easy cleaning. Having small kids that touch everything I appreciated that so much! The vibe was Mid Century Modern and the vintage Disney art on the walls touched my vintage MCM loving heart!! We had a premium room in the newly renovated building 1. Check out some pictures of the room before the kids got to it! The room even came with the famous Hojo’s rubber ducky on the bath tub that Levi quickly named Donald Duck!

After running through the room oohing and ahhing, the kids threw on their bathing suits and we were on our way to Castaway Cove. Hojo’s has a wonderfully appointed pirate themed waterpark that is sure to please kids of all ages. Castaway Cove has something for everyone! Kiddie slides and splash pad, bigger slide and a huge water dump for the bigger kids all on a water fun play structure. Even a hot tub for those looking to relax. Not in the mood to get wet? They also have fun oversized lawn games to play!

After the waterpark, the kids got a warm bath and we walked across the street to pick up dinner. We brought it back up to the room to enjoy the most perfect view of Disneyland fireworks! After the fireworks, I was getting the kids ready for bed when I realized I had forgotten to pack my toothbrush! I looked at the kids toothbrushes trying to decide which would be the least gross to borrow… when I noticed a sign on the bathroom counter, Hojo’s had my back! They have an assortment of toiletries at the front desk! All I had to do is call! They were knocking on the door with a toothbrush within 5 minutes!!

The view from our room was spectacular!

We slept on clouds and in the morning we were ready to tackle a full day at the Disney parks doing our favorite things! Okay, let me get real and tell you why I like staying at a hotel when we go to Disney. I realize, it’s not a necessity – I live in L.A. about an hour away from Disneyland (with no traffic) but when we go, most of the time, I’m alone with the kids. I have little kids that still nap and have early bedtimes. Staying at a hotel that is SO close to the parks makes it so easy to pop back into our room for a nap or bedtime. Not having overtired kids makes managing all 3 at a theme park all day manageable. It’s the secret to a successful trip where everyone is equally having an enjoyable time and everyone is making beautiful and fun memories to last a lifetime.  Our stay at Howard Johnson Anaheim is one we won’t forget for all the right reasons! We will be back not just for the proximity to the parks but for the hospitality that Hojo’s Anaheim offered us throughout our stay. They really made this L.A. mama feel a part of the Hojo’s family.

 

If you are looking for great and affordable accommodations for your next Disney getaway, consider Howard Johnson Anaheim! Their hospitality and service is excellent. They have so many fun perks like balloon animals at check in and thoughtful gift baskets in your room on your fifth stay! It’s no wonder why Disney names Hojo’s Anaheim a friendly neighbor hotel! I have a discount code for you! Hojo’s is offering a 20% discount for Disney annual passholders using code LNAP, and a 15% discount off of your regular rate! I’ll add a link* right here!

Also, if you sign up for their emails they offer up to 50% discount on last minute getaways!

*affiliate link