Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center

For our one-day birthday trip to Disneyland, we wanted somewhere nearby so we wouldn't have to rush there or drive home after a long day. The easiest part was how close the park is: the shuttle pickup was a five-minute walk across the street. We chose Lyft instead, and it picked us up at the hotel and dropped us right at the entrance, then did the same on the way back. Breakfast was great, with a large dining area that stayed well stocked. My vegetarian friend enjoyed it. The room was clean and well maintained; I used the Peloton in the gym, and my friend liked the Jacuzzi. It was getting a bit cold in October, but a few kids still went in the pool. Check-in and checkout were smooth. One thing to know: parking costs extra, and you tap your room card to exit. We didn't know and paid separately, but Oswaldo kindly credited the charge to our room.

The kitchen room was clean, room service was great, and the gym was very nice. The pool was clean with plenty of loungers. Breakfast was basic but good, though there was no bacon. Construction on floors two and three didn't affect the stay, but the hallway smelled musty for the first couple of days. Parking cost $40 plus tax per day, while a few hotels nearby had free parking at about the same price. The bar shut at 8:45 p.m. Friday, and I was then told it wouldn't reopen for another two weeks, so I had to walk to Walgreens for a beer. The Jacuzzi was warm on four of our five days and finally got hot on the fifth night. A street-side room has a nice view but lots of traffic noise. If you're below the top floor, expect to hear every move from upstairs; there's no sound barrier between floors.

The hotel was clean and comfortable, and the complimentary breakfast was appreciated. It's a short walk to the Toy Story parking lot, where you can catch the Disneyland shuttle. On the day we arrived, the front office supervisor texted that she'd added a free room upgrade for my daughter's birthday trip to Disneyland, and left a surprise gift for her in the room as well. We'll stay again on our next Disney visit.

The distance to Disney was good, breakfast was great, and the staff were awesome. Beyond that, our stay was rough. There were hidden fees, parking charges and taxes that felt like another hit to the wallet, and the laundry service was gross. The construction was dusty enough that we coughed a lot. There was no body soap, shampoo, conditioner, or bathroom fan, so the room steamed up after a shower. The homeless people around were scary. With a car, I wouldn't recommend staying here. It felt like they took a lot of money for very little in return.