Why is Howard Johnson Anaheim the Best Disneyland Hotel for Families?

Last updated: June 2026

I have heard so many great things about the Howard Johnson Anaheim over the years that it was always my first choice when we finally made it to Disneyland. And when that time came, it still managed to exceed my expectations. I have been recommending it to every family heading to Anaheim ever since, and I stand by that recommendation today.

The Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground, affectionately known as the HoJo, sits just an 8 minute walk from the entrance to Disneyland Resort. It is a six-time winner of TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Hotels for Families in the United States, and honestly, it earns that recognition every time. Keep reading to the end because I also have an exclusive discount code that gets you up to 20% off your stay.

Disclosure: The HoJo Anaheim provided discounted accommodations for review purposes during our stay. All opinions are entirely my own.

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Rooms at the Howard Johnson Anaheim

The HoJo is spread across 6 buildings and can accommodate families of up to 5 guests. Not all buildings are created equal, so pay close attention when booking.

Buildings 1 and 2 have been fully renovated with a fun retro Disney vibe. Think bright colors, Mickey Mouse wall art, and rooms that feel like an extension of the Disney bubble you just came from. These are the rooms you want. When making your reservation, specifically request Buildings 1 or 2 and choose a Deluxe room type to guarantee you get the renovated experience.

Buildings 3 through 6 are currently undergoing a full renovation, scheduled for completion in June 2027. If you are visiting before then, just be aware that some areas of the property may look a little rough around the edges. The rooms themselves are clean and functional, just not as polished as the newer buildings.

Room configurations available:

• Standard Rooms: 1 King ADA or 2 Doubles in Buildings 3 through 6
• Deluxe Rooms: 2 Queens ADA in Building 2, 1 King, 1 Queen/Junior Bunk, 2 Queens in Building 1, and 2 Queens in Building 2
• Premium Rooms: 1 Queen/Bunk ADA, 2 Queens, and 2 Queen/2 Room Bundle
• Suites: House of the Future Queen Suite, King Suite, and Kids Suite

Every room comes equipped with a microwave, mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, and a breakfast nook, making it easy to grab a quick bite before heading to the parks. Rooms also have smart TVs with Netflix, Disney Channel, Nick Jr, and premium HBO, plus free high-speed WiFi throughout. Many rooms in Buildings 1 and 2 have balconies with pool or park views, which is a huge bonus, especially if you want to catch the Disneyland fireworks from your room.

One fun newer addition: the Queen/Junior Bunk room types in Building 1 now have a Baby Shark theme, complete with themed decor that kids absolutely go wild for. If you are traveling with little ones, this room type is worth looking into.

Amenities Offered at the Howard Johnson Anaheim

Castaway Cove

This is the one that kids talk about for weeks after. Castaway Cove is a pirate-themed water playground that is genuinely impressive for a hotel of this price point. We are talking curvy waterslides, water cannons, 13 spray fountains, a giant 200-gallon drench bucket, and a toddler-friendly beach-entry wading pool for the little ones. There is also a large hot tub spa for the adults who need a moment of peace after a long day of chasing kids around Disneyland.

Fair warning: if you tell your kids about Castaway Cove before you arrive, that is all they will want to do. Plan accordingly.

Garden Pool

If Castaway Cove is for the kids, the Garden Pool is for everyone else. It is a heated outdoor pool tucked into 7 acres of lush, park-like grounds. The deck has plenty of lounge chairs for sunbathing, umbrella-covered tables, and two outdoor showers. Towels are provided. It is the perfect spot for a midday reset between park sessions, which is honestly one of the best things about staying at the HoJo. You are close enough to actually use it.

Food Options

The HoJo does not serve breakfast, but you have good options nearby. Mimi’s Café is right next door and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. It is affordable and convenient, especially on your first morning before you have had a chance to stock your room.

Speaking of stocking your room, my biggest tip is to stop at the Walmart about a mile away when you first arrive and grab breakfast items to keep in your mini-fridge. Yogurt, fruit, granola bars, juice pouches. You will save a significant amount of money over the course of a multi-day trip by not buying breakfast at a restaurant every morning.

On your walk to and from Disneyland you will also pass a Panera Bread and a McDonald’s, both great options for a quick and easy meal without going out of your way.

The hotel also has Main Street Market, an on-site convenience store in Building 1, stocked with snacks, fruit, ice cream, sundries, and even some souvenirs. Note that it closes at 11pm, so plan ahead if you think you might want late night snacks after a long park day.

Other Amenities at the Howard Johnson Anaheim

• Free WiFi throughout the property
• Parking available at $25 plus tax per night per car
• Coin-operated laundromat on site
• Vending machines conveniently located throughout the property
• Video game room with arcade games, great for kids on a rest day
• 24-hour front desk with scooter and stroller rentals available
• Themed activities for guests including a scavenger hunt, perfect for keeping kids entertained on non-park days

My Review of the Howard Johnson Anaheim

I will be honest with you. When I first started researching hotels near Disneyland, I was skeptical. The prices around Anaheim are no joke, and I was fully prepared to end up in a sad, overpriced room with thin walls and a view of the parking lot. The HoJo completely changed my expectations of what a budget-friendly Disneyland hotel could be.

The location is the real star of the show. You are literally across the street from Disneyland. I cannot overstate how much this matters. When you are used to the Disney World experience, where getting to and from the parks involves shuttles, parking lots, and a small miracle, being able to walk back to your hotel in 8 minutes feels like cheating. We took midday breaks every single day of our visit. We went back, napped, changed out of our sweaty park clothes, and came back to the parks completely refreshed. That midday break is actually built into my Disneyland one-day itinerary strategy because it makes such a difference, and it only works if you are staying somewhere close enough to make it practical.

The rooms in Buildings 1 and 2 are genuinely lovely. Bright, clean, and full of those little Disney touches that make Harmony feel like the magic does not stop at the park gates. The beds are comfortable, the pillows are fluffy, and after 10 hours of walking around Disneyland you will not care about anything except how fast you can get horizontal. The breakfast nook is a nice touch too. We kept it stocked with snacks and breakfast items from Walmart so we were never scrambling in the morning.

And then there are the fireworks. Select rooms in Buildings 1 and 2 face Disneyland, which means you can watch the nightly fireworks show from your own room or balcony.

Castaway Cove was a bigger hit than I expected. I assumed it would be one of those hotel water features that looks great in photos and disappoints in person. It did not disappoint. We spent a full afternoon there on our rest day and Harmony did not want to leave.

Is the HoJo perfect? Not quite. The walk back from the parks at the end of a long day feels longer than the walk there, as it always does when your feet are screaming at you. Parking is $25 plus tax per night, which adds up on a multi-day trip. And if you end up in Buildings 3 through 6 while renovations are ongoing, the rooms are clean but nowhere near as charming as the renovated buildings. My strong advice is to book Buildings 1 or 2 specifically and choose a Deluxe room type when you make your reservation.

But for the location, the value, the amenities, and those fireworks from the window? I would book it again without hesitation. And I have recommended it to every family I know heading to Anaheim.

Special Discount

If you have read this far, I hope I have convinced you to book your next Disneyland family vacation at the HoJo. And if I have not, maybe this will do it.

I have exclusive discount codes that get you up to 20% off your stay. All you have to do is head to this link and use the appropriate codes below

💜 20% off for Disneyland Magic Key Holder
Corp code: 1000025935

💜 15% off for everyone
Corp code: 1000022077

These are custom codes that I have negotiated directly with the hotel, so they are not something you will find just anywhere. If you run into any issues using them, drop a comment below and I will help you sort it out.

So, Should You Book the HoJo?

The Howard Johnson Anaheim is one of those rare finds in travel: a hotel that genuinely delivers on its promise. Great location, family-friendly amenities, comfortable rooms, and a price point that does not make you cry when you are already spending a small fortune on Disneyland tickets.

Whether this is your first Disneyland trip or your fifth, the HoJo makes the whole experience easier, more relaxed, and honestly more fun. And trust me, once you experience walking back to your hotel for a midday nap instead of fighting crowds all day, you will never want to stay anywhere else near Disneyland again.

Have questions about the hotel or the discount codes? Drop them in the comments below. And if you are still planning your Disneyland day, make sure to check out my step-by-step guide on how to do 25 rides at Disneyland in one day. It pairs perfectly with this review!

As always, thank you for reading xx

FOR MORE DISNEY PARKS, READ:

• Disney World: How to do Disney World on a budget?
• Disneyland: How we did 25 rides at Disneyland Resort in one day?

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• Los Angeles: Ultimate guide to the best things to do with kids in LA
• Big Sur: 5 must stops on a Big Sur road trip