Just steps from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and next door to the Anaheim Convention Centre, the Hilton Anaheim has long been a popular hotel destination for travellers to the region. It opened back in 1984 just in time for the last Los Angeles Olympics. So it’s fitting that they just completed a multi-million dollar renovation – the most substantial since they opened – less than three years before the Olympics returns.

When it opened, with 1,574 rooms and over 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space, it was the largest hotel in Orange Country and the entirety of Southern California. Though its latter title was recently taken over by the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, which opened in San Diego earlier this year, 40 years on it remains the largest in Orange Country.

Last month, just weeks after the renovations officially finished, we had the chance to spend a night at the hotel while we were visiting Disneyland. So how do the changes stack up? And what can you expect from this new look Hilton? Read on to find out.

Checking In

We arrived before 9am, so the room wasn’t ready yet, but the concierge kindly took our bags while we headed into the parks ahead of check in.

The only sticking point for me was that after we tried to check in, we were immediately approached by a sales person who was trying to get us to sign up for one of the Hilton Vacation packages. Which, at 8.30am after a long trip was not welcome. And the guy wouldn’t take the no. I appreciate that hotel chains are a business, and we did get some Hilton Honors points for even starting the conversation, but that level of eagerness needs to be toned down. Especially when your guests may have just arrived on a long flight from Australia and are just wanting to get to Disneyland.

But this aside, the experience with the staff was fantastic. And in spite of the sheer size of the hotel, we never had to line up to see someone at the front desks. For check in, nor for check out. And once we were able to properly check in later in the day, it was a painless experience.

The Renovation

While the hotel has enjoyed some updates in the past, there has been nothing to the extent of this current renovation, which started a little more than a year ago. Any complaints about the hotel being dated are now a thing of the past, with every inch renovated and reimagined. And it impresses from the moment you arrive in the hotel lobby.

The lobby now has a communal hub, with open seating, textures that are “nature-inspired”, and “a custom LED lighting system evoking a California sky” – which I didn’t quite see, but it was fantastic lighting nonetheless. There’s also a central bar – Poppy’s Lounge – which is elegantly designed, with an impressive lighting rig that sits above the bar and surrounds the TVs showing local sports. The bar offers bites, comfortable seating and handcrafted cocktails.

Photo by John Ellis

Elsewhere in the hotel, every single room has been renovated. All 1,574 of them. And the 105,959 sq. ft. of meeting and event space has received a complete update, too. Enhanced lighting and design elements run throughout, alongside brand new modern desks, chairs and AV capabilities.

But it’s the fifth-floor pool deck that will take the eye of most guests. With a 1,200 square foot pool, two hot tubs, and a kids’ splash area, this will be a destination you’ll need to fit in during your visit. There’s plenty of room for activities in the Anaheim Rooftide Terrace around the pool, too, with lounges, fire pits and games on offer, making the hotel feel closer to a resort than a traditional Hilton destination.

Photo by John Ellis

The fifth-floor facilities also offer a new alfresco dining option, Saltflower. Saltflower‘s menu features light bites of coastal-inspired and seasonal fare, alongside hand-crafted tiki-style cocktails (popular of the area), and fresh-pressed juices made on-site. The restaurant, the pool and the terrace are open year round.

“Completing this renovation, the most significant transformation in our history, is a major milestone for our hotel and our entire team,” said the hotel’s general manager Sergio Bocci when the renovation was completed. “For over a year, we navigated construction, while keeping our commitment to serving guests, reimagining every space for the future, and honoring the legacy of what this property means to Anaheim. This transformation has allowed us to celebrate the property’s role in Anaheim over the past 40 years while creating a hotel ready to welcome guests, neighbors, and partners to gather for years to come.”

The Room

With every single room in the hotel renovated, this was the part we were most excited to see.

Like other areas of the hotel, the rooms have been designed with California landscape in mind. There’s new bedding, carpeting, lighting, and warm wood accents that are accompanied by “vibrant accent blues” that sit consistent through the space. They’ve gone for elegance and comfort over playfulness, which you wouldn’t expect of the area. And for some, that may not be what you’re looking for when you’re coming to a hotel next door to Disneyland. But it’s exactly what you need. And they’ve also given guests plenty of room. You are not going to feel cramped in here.

Though not every room is as sizable as ours. We had a corner suite which had views of the Disneyland Resort, with the parking structure for the Anaheim Convention Centre sitting between us. You can see a photo below from our window. On the other side of the room you’ll also be able to see the new fifth-floor pool area.

The beds are incredibly comfortable, with fantastic pillows. Everything they have done here to increase the comfort of guests – from the warm lighting, to the tones of the carpet and the beds themselves – has very much paid off in making a warm and inviting atmosphere.

There’s a massive smart TV on the wall opposite the beds, and a Cuisinart coffee machine that sits in an open area that I assume is where additional beds would go for families. Otherwise it sits as a pretty open space – one where you can sprawl out your suitcases if you need to.

Complimentary tea and coffee are available here, and bottles of water for $5. Though Hilton Honors members (Silver and above) will be offered free RAIN water bottles from Hansen’s Market, which you can bring up with you after you check in.

The bathroom was comfortable with lots of room beside the sink for toiletries. There’s a hair dryer in the room, and fantastic water pressure in the shower. And it gets HOT. Crabtree & Evelyn provide the excellent refillable toiletries in the shower. A couple more hooks would be appreciated in the space, especially if you’ve got a full family in the room, but other than that there are no notes on this very well designed and comfortable hotel room.

Lobby Dining Options

In addition to Saltflower, there are a number of other dining options on site, which have undergone a complete overhaul under Executive Chef Prabeen Prathapan.

In the lobby, you’ll spot a renovated 3,000 sq. ft. Starbucks, and an “elevated grab-and-go marketplace” in Hansen’s Market. This is where you’ll come for your complimentary bottles of water if you’re an eligible Hilton Honors member.

But they also sell “fresh sandwiches, organic fruit, local coffee, California wines, and curated snacks, reflecting Anaheim’s local tastes and regional specialties.”

Photo by John Ellis

We went for breakfast to Hansen’s and enjoyed their well sized breakfast sandwiches, which they heated up for us. Though they very much needed some hot sauce. Unfortunately, they only had Tabasco, which doesn’t cut it for me. So they recommended we go next door to Poppy’s, who very kindly gave us some fantastic hot sauce of their own. And that really brought the dish together.

And indeed, next door to Hansen’s you’ll find all-day dining at Poppy’s Restaurant. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that serve everything from California avocado toast and breakfast grain bowls in the morning, to artisan streaks and desserts later in the day. There is an impressive craft cocktail and region wine list offered, as well.

Getting to Disneyland

It’s a 20-25 minute walk to Disneyland’s pedestrian entry, which is just long enough that you’re going to want to get an Uber/Taxi or jump on the ART Bus more often than not.

The ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation) connects the hotel with the park, and other attractions in the area. The hotel sits on routes 4 and 5, and the schedule is available on their official website. Though this is not a complimentary service, you can get one day passes for $6 for adults and $2.50 for children. Otherwise single rides are $4, which can be paid with exact change or contactless pay.

I was surprised that they don’t have their own complimentary shuttle bus, however, to the parks. Many hotels do and given its size, it would make sense to run a regular shuttle between the park and the hotel. Especially as they are a one of the “Good Neighbour Hotels” for Disneyland. So that was a bit disappointing. But we got to and from the park pretty easily nonetheless.

Final Verdict

While not that long ago you would have been forgiven for thinking the hotel was dated, following its complete overhaul and renovation, the Hilton Anaheim has positioned itself to be one of the best hotels in the region.

And outside of Disney’s own hotels, you’re not going to find many better locations than this for visiting the park. Plus, if you’re attending a conference, it’s just a minute from the entry to the neighbouring Anaheim Convention Centre, making it an obvious choice.

Could they have done more to make the rooms a bit more… exciting? Could they have added a complimentary shuttle service? Could they have left us alone with the hard sales pitch first thing in the morning? Certainly, on all counts. But they have done a sensational job with the renovation, ensuring this is a hotel that puts the guests comfort above all else.

The beds are as cozy as they come, and all the amenities included are superb. The pool is fantastic, as are the dining options. And the staff are wonderful.

We absolutely recommend this hotel for your next visit to Anaheim.

FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

To book your stay at the Hilton Anaheim, head to hiltonanaheimhotel.com.

Address: 777 W Convention Way, Anaheim, California 92802

All prices in USD and were correct at the time of printing. The author stayed as a guest of the Hilton Anaheim for one night. All photos by the author unless otherwise credited.