Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim Resort

The walk to Disneyland or DCA took us about 15 minutes, though I’m guessing since I didn’t time it. The location was great, and the front desk kindly held a Doordash order until we got back from the park. We’d absolutely stay again. The hotel was very clean, felt fancy, and the staff were wonderful. They gave us breakfast coupons, worth $4 off per person. The buffet was delicious, with a good selection and some allergen-safe choices. It’s all-you-can-eat, so the discount might be especially useful for kids or bigger appetites. Our dog was welcome too, and there’s a small nearby potty area with artificial turf, a bag dispenser, and trash can. A shady tree makes it hard to spot on the map. The only small pet-related snag was that there wasn’t an easy-to-access stairway, and our dog is afraid of elevators. The front desk offered to have maintenance unlock the stairwell, but I declined and worked on the elevator anxiety instead. We didn’t use the pool, though given the rest of the hotel, I imagine it’s nice.

After a six-hour drive, I lay down for a nap and realized the bed was wet with fresh urine from the previous guest. The front desk and housekeeping responded quickly, replacing the sheets, comforter, pillows, and bed cover. But I had only one set of pajamas, so I lost an hour and a half of sleep washing the contaminated clothes, at my own expense. The urine was on the cover, comforter, and sheets, so clearly none had been changed before we arrived. Disgusting. That’s why I gave service one star. I’ve spent over 205 nights in Hilton hotels this year, and this was easily my worst hotel experience. Management can expect a complaint to Hilton. We were also blindsided by mandatory valet parking at $38 per night. Like other low reviews mention, we didn’t learn about it until arrival. It makes grocery and supply runs, or going out to eat, a pain, especially at a place marketed for longer stays with a small kitchen and medium-sized fridge. It cancels out the convenience of those kitchen amenities.

The hotel felt clean and new, and the staff were really friendly. Disneyland is about a 10-minute walk if you cut through the Mimi's parking lot. My only real gripe is the beds. They were nowhere near queen size, double at best. I’ve noticed a lot of hotels advertising queens but putting in doubles.

We got back from Disneyland around 9 p.m. and managed to order room service before the 9:45 last call. The food arrived about half an hour later and was so good. We had the fancy grilled cheese, pepperoni flatbread, and turf tacos with pulled pork. It was pricey, but delicious, and the grilled cheese leftovers were just as good the next day. The breakfast buffet was $15 and had a decent spread, including French toast, eggs, bacon, huevos rancheros, oatmeal, cereal, pastries, and more. The hotel was clean-smelling, spacious, and had a nicely sized room. One bedsheet smelled like body odor, though, which cost it a star. Check-in after the park was smooth, as was checkout and getting our car back. Donald greeted us and took our valet details; valet cost $35, and he was patient while I searched for my keys. Frankie handled check-in just as smoothly. We found the place easily, about half a mile away behind the Courtyard Marriott by the freeway, and used our Hilton Honors card points to book.