Overall Disney Mama Rating:
5 out of 5
Let me be honest. When my roommate for the D23 Expo suggested that we not stay at an official Disneyland Hotel for our trip I wasn’t sure how to respond. You see, I’m a Walt Disney World girl, and learned the hard way that staying off-property is just not for me. But, when she pointed out how much closer to the convention center The Anabella was than the three Disney Resorts, I opted to give the hotel a chance.
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.
The Anabella Hotel is a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, and is situated between Disney’s California Adventure and the Anaheim Convention Center. The walking time to the convention center was less than 5-minutes, and about 10-minutes to Disney’s Grand Californian Resort. Even late at night it felt quick, and there was always quite a bit of foot traffic on the sidewalk to make you feel comfortable walking alone. The hotel features one restaurant with a nicely appointed bar and patio, and a single swimming pool. The lobby was well equipped with comfortable armchairs and sofas, and the front desk staff was warm and friendly.
Guest rooms at The Anabella are laid out in smaller unit buildings, but all quite close together. The hotel reminded me a bit of the layout of Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort at Walt Disney World. We stayed on the second floor of the San Francisco Building in a corner room. Our room was nicely sized and featured a queen bed, a double bed, granite vanity area, granite bathroom, loveseat, refrigerator and flat screen TV. The layout was unique, with the queen bed in the main room and the double tucked into a space next to the bathroom with its own nightstand. I loved it! The side location made the area feel private without being closed off. Had my husband and son been on the trip with me I know my little guy would have loved having his own space in the hotel room. And the bed. The single most comfortable bed I have ever slept in in my life. Seriously. The bed alone makes the hotel worth trying!
I frequented The Tangerine Grill & Patio throughout the trip and found it to be a lovely dining location. I ate at the patio bar upon my arrival, and enjoyed the atmosphere, food and weather. The bartender was attentive and polite, and my California Caprese Salad was amazing (I will never make a Caprese without Avocado again). My roommate and I enjoyed breakfast in the Tangerine Grill Dining Room each morning, and I enjoyed my fruit and pastry selection each day. The pastry varied from a croissant to a muffin, and the fruit was always fresh and delicious. The wait staff was also kind enough to give me a to-go coffee in the mornings on our way out. We did have one less than enthusiastic morning waiter, but overall the service was outstanding.
On Saturday evening MiceChat.com was hosting a get-together on the Patio of The Tangerine. Having been to many conventions and expos in my lifetime I have been a part of many after-event parties…and many have been less than pleasant experiences. The Anabella, on the other hand, handled the crowd, which included several Disney Celebrities such as Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump and Mark Silverman, with ease. The patio was completely full throughout the evening, and never once did I hear a member of the wait staff complaining. The handled the crowd with ease, keeping track of each persons tab effortlessly (at least it seemed that way to us!). A few members of the management team were even on hand to ensure that all guests were enjoying themselves, and they made it a point to stop by each grouping and chat for a few minutes, far beyond the standard “is everything going okay here” line. It was clear that they took extreme pride in their hotel and their guest satisfaction. I enjoyed the California Caprese Salad again, but this time I added Blackened Chicken on the suggestion of my roommate, and it only served to enhance the salad. But, be warned, it was a tad spicy!
I was truly pleased with my experience at The Anabella, and can’t wait to revisit with my family. I look forward to taking my little boy to the pool while my husband and I relax and enjoy the California sunshine. The easy walk to the park, the wonderful staff, and the most comfortable bed in the world all add up to create the perfect California Getaway.
Disney Mama’s Category Ratings:
Rooms:
5 out of 5
Activities: Not Rated
Pools, Playgrounds & Other Public Areas:
4 out of 5
Value:
4 out of 5
Cleanliness:
5 out of 5
Dining:
4 out of 5
Themeing & Atmosphere:
4 out of 5
This hotel is suitable for all ages, however, I feel it may be less suited to families who need a lot of activities at the hotel. While there is a very nice pool there is not much else for them to do at the hotel itself. It is the perfect size for families with very young children, teens who want to simply hang out at the pool, romantic getaways and fun trips with friends.
I would highly recommend The Anabella!
Please visit the official website for The Anabella.
Disclaimer: While all the hotel room photos are mine, the photos of the hotel exterior, restaurant and bar are taken from The Anabella website.
