You probably know all about the Disney-owned hotels surrounding Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
The accommodations are nice, your room is a short walk or monorail ride away from both Disneyland and California Adventure Park, you have the chance to see Disney characters hanging around the hotels.
And, of course, the nightly rates are going to put a huge dent in your vacation fund.
You probably also know about the cluster of hotels just across the street from the main entrance to Disneyland Resort, on South Harbor Boulevard, and if so, then you know you’ll pay fairly big for close proximity to the park at these modest lodgings, as well.
But did you know that just a block or two farther north you’ll find hotels with impressive amenities that are still within walking distance to the park but cost a fraction of the aforementioned lodgings?
Hotel Ménage
Hotel Ménage has the feel of an expensive hotel, from its hip lounge just inside the main doors to the tiki bar next to the outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. Rooms here are generally cheaper than those near the main gates at Disney Way and South Harbor Boulevard.
The hotel is actually north of Interstate 5, which gives the appearance, on a map, that it’s too far from Disneyland to walk. However, Hotel Ménage is less than half a mile from the esplanade that separates Disneyland from California Adventure Park. You’ll walk across the I-5 overpass, and will be at the front gates within 10 minutes.
The rooms are nice, with high ceilings, king-size beds and 42-inch flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls. The swimming pool and hot tub are open 24 hours, as is the fitness center, which features treadmills, stationary bikes and weight-lifting equipment.
K’ya Restaurant, near the main lobby, serves a variety of dishes, with a “street food” menu that features cuisine from around the world.
If there’s a knock on Hotel Ménage, it’s that the location, on the corner of South Harbor Boulevard and Ball Street just north of I-5, can make for a noisy stay if you’re in a room at either end of the property. Request a room somewhere in the middle of the building’s two main wings and you won’t notice any traffic noise.
Hotel Ménage
1221 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
888-462-7275
hotelmenage.com
The hotel does offer shuttle service to and from Disneyland, but you can save about $10 per day for a family of four by just hoofing the four blocks.
The Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel offers rooms and suites with options for two double beds, two queen beds or one king bed. Microwaves and private balconies are available in some rooms.
Aside from its close proximity to Disneyland Resort, the hotel’s greatest attraction is Castaway Cove, a water playground that features a pool, slides, water cannons, a pirate ship, a toddler wading pool and a hot tub.
