Disneyland's Good Neighbor Hotels: A Review of the Fairfield Inn Anaheim by Marriott

Are you considering a trip to Disneyland but can't swing a stay at a resort hotel? How do you determine which good neighbor hotel to visit during your vacation? During a recent trip to Disneyland, I stayed at the Fairfield Inn Anaheim by Marriott which is situated just a short walk away from the main Disneyland entry gate.

We made our reservations at this resort based on two major concerns: walking distance to Disneyland as we were traveling with young children and price. We needed to be able to walk back to the hotel for a naptime each afternoon, and we wanted want the extra walking time to wear us down over a five-day stay. The actual walk time to Disneyland is about five minutes, if you discount the waiting time to cross Harbor Boulevard. The wait time at the light was usually five minutes or less, but a sizable crowd can build up quickly.

Price was another major consideration, and this hotel was in the $100 to $130 range during our stay in August. The Disneyland Resort website (www.disneyland.com) rates the Fairfield as a moderate hotel with some upgraded amenities as compared to budget hotels. We definitely needed a mini-refrigerator and access to a crib in our room and some of the cheaper hotels either charged extra for these services or simply did not offer them.

Upon check-in, we noticed the hotel lobby area was very clean and a pitcher of ice water accented with lemons was available to guests. The check-in process itself was quick; however, one aspect of our reservation was incorrect. We had booked two rooms and requested that they be connecting rooms. I called one week before arrival to confirm the connecting rooms. However, the connecting room request was not honored but we did get rooms with a view of the firework show only three doors apart.