Hilton Anaheim

The lounge had a great atmosphere, with really good drinks and food. Our renovated room was excellent too, and the beds were unusually comfortable, even for someone as picky about mattresses as I am. I also loved having a walk-in shower instead of the tub-and-shower setup common in older hotels. Disneyland is just over a mile away, an easy 15-20 minute walk. I’m surprised the hotel gets such mixed reviews.

I’d give it three stars, maybe three and a half. Check-in was easy through the Hilton app, which also worked as our room key and TV remote. The room was nice and bright, with a large window and blackout curtain. But the sheet had a nasty spot, the pillows were very flat, and the showerhead kept sliding back down when raised because it hit the wall, making showers difficult. There was no microwave. When we asked, they quoted $35 plus tax to bring one up, though with just one night left I couldn’t tell whether that was the whole charge or per night. I’ve never stayed somewhere that didn’t include one. Parking was $40 a day, a charge I hadn’t seen while booking and only learned about at check-in. Housekeeping also woke us at 9:17 a.m. to ask whether we were checking out, even though checkout wasn’t until noon. We’d gotten back from Disneyland late and gone to bed after 1 a.m., so being woken nearly three hours early was not welcome.

There are plenty of food choices at the hotel and nearby, and there’s a shuttle to Disney. The location works really well for either Disneyland or the convention center next door, or both. Staff were friendly and the service was great. My one frustration was that everything seemed to cost extra, from early check-in to room upgrades, even as a long-time rewards member. We paid to upgrade so we could check in early. I miss when upgrades were based on availability.

The rooms were clean, and the location is extremely convenient. Still, $450 a night, especially during a convention, bought very little beyond the room. The coffee maker was basic and barely worked, and there weren’t any snacks or extra amenities. It felt pretty bare-bones for that price.