Hotel Review: Residence Inn (Anaheim Convention Center)

(640 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802 Katella Ave/S Harbor Blvd.)

Disneyland August 2024

12 min Walk to Disneyland Security

Experience the luxury of an upscale hotel at a moderate price, just steps away from the parks!

Although I aim to keep every trip within a strict budget, I love enjoying a comfortable stay with decent amenities. This hotel is now on my list of reasonably priced options that provide more than just the basics.

#1: Location

Location

This is the closest to Disneyland we have ever stayed as a family. During a heat wave, it was truly a luxury to stay so close, though now that I’ve been bitten by the “staying close” bug, I want more. How can we stay EVEN CLOSER next time?...

The walk from the lobby to security was about 11-13 minutes.

The CVS.

There is a CVS at street level that you must pass in order to get to or from the hotel, and we took great advantage of it. The CVS is UNDOUBTABLY superior to its neighboring Walgreens with more variety and a more vacation-y vibe. Snacks, supplies (hello zippy plastic bags!), and souvenirs (the mug that I fell in love with and promptly broke upon its second use).

#2: Insides and Outsides

Lobby, halls, view, breakfast area.

The lobby was clean and bright. Reception was friendly. Felt a bit higher end than I expected.

All rooms were accessed via indoor hallways (not motel style) and the hallways were clean and well maintained.

We did not pay to upgrade our view, but I did ask the front desk if there was a way to get a “decent” view. The person helping me said he’d give us the highest floor he could. We did overlook the neighboring parking structure (it wasn’t that bad actually) with a peekaboo view of Harbor Ave (and therefore a teensy view of Carsland). It worked because it felt bright.

The free breakfast was solid. Though very few vegan options (not surprising and we weren’t expecting much) they had good potatoes, cereals, oatmeal (with Silk Soymilk available!), bagels, and fruit. The actual eating area was SO bright and spacious. It felt like a really pleasant start to the day.

The Pool.

The pool was delightful. Though I’m a sucker for zero entry (and this pool did not have that), the pool was on the larger end for area hotels and the hot tub was HUGE. Felt luxurious. 

There was a small splash pad area that we didn’t use, but the other kids seemed to enjoy it.

The Room.

We booked a one bedroom suite, with a king bed, and a door that separated it from the rest of the suite. Living area had the worst sofa ever and a kitchen with full size refrigerator, cooktop, microwave, and dishwasher. No oven, which I didn’t notice until we went to cook the frozen Daiya pizza. (we used the microwave instead. not amazing, but edible).

The sofa was a vinyl/pleather type material and therefore meant it was extremely uncomfortable. Try to sit down and you’d slip off. Try to snuggle and it felt cold and hard. It sounds crazy, but I’d not book here because of this dumb sofa. I love a cozy place to relax and this was not it. After kiddo fell asleep in the bed, we chose to sit on the kitchen bar-height chairs instead of the sofa. 

Storage was off. The drawers were VERY shallow. I love to take all packing cubes out of the suitcases and drop them in drawers, and for the three of us, there were not enough drawers to accommodate all our stuff. Made it harder to settle in. Closet was small, but it worked. It’s just that those darn drawers were ridiculously shallow and annoying.

The bed was large enough for the three of us (two grownups and one 4yr old), but it wasn’t particularly lush. Rather flat and unsupportive. 

#3: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Location (11-13 min walk to security)

• Room type (1 bedroom suite w/ kitchen)

• Pool (large + splash pad + BIG hot tub)

• Quality (Inside hallways, updated rooms, CLEAN, moderate to high end feel)

• Price $239 per night

Cons

• The sofa (for real)

• Lack of storage space

• Mattress quality

  
  

#4: The Final Score

Overall, this is a great hotel. Even with the few annoyances, I’d stay here again. I’d pay for a better view. And maybe opt for two queens instead of one King so that we’d have another place to cozy up when we don’t want to sit on that sofa. Note: I wouldn't call this a "budget" price point, but for the area, this is moderate and very reasonable.

4 out of 5 stars

Price: $239 per night booked via Hotels dot com.

Travelers: Two parents (early 40's) + one kid (4yo)

UPDATE: Pricing for Summer of 2025 ranges $215-$819 per night. Average seems to be closer to $300. These rates are too steep for our budget.