If you are looking into taking a luxurious trip to The Happiest Place on Earth later this year, today’s your lucky day because we’re resuming our series of Disneyland-area lodging reviews with a look inside the upscale Westin Anaheim Resort, direct from the brand-new Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2022.
The Westin Anaheim Resort (1030 W. Katella Ave.) is a gorgeous from-the-ground-up replacement for the old Anabella Hotel that gives the JW Marriott a run for its money as the area’s most luxurious off-site hotel. From the dramatic driveway with Vegas-style marquee and the opulent lobby staffed with ever-attentive concierges, it’s instantly clear the Westin is a cut above the hotels that share its corner.
Start by watching our video tour of the Westin Anaheim, featuring a standard king guest room:
As you can see, rooms are a moderate size but immaculate, with Heavenly beds and double-nozzle showers that live up to their names.
High-quality details abound: the Keurig coffee makers are supplied with bottled water and Starbucks pods, there are USB charging ports in both the alarm clock and nightstand, high-tech touchpads handle environmental controls, and the huge televisions with streaming services are neatly recessed in the wall.
Our only complaints about the accommodations are that the desk chairs aren’t great for long laptop sessions, and that a mini-fridge is provided (plus wineglasses and corkscrew) but no microwave.
Park-view rooms overlook Pixar Pier for a premium price, while standard rooms see the back side of the convention center.
The Westin’s amenities are just as expertly executed and feature an Olympic-size fitness room, with everything from free weights to an automated recovery massager, plus an organically shaped heated pool and hot tub with massaging waterfalls and private cabanas.
Multiple dining options are available on-site, including a high-end Flemming’s steakhouse, the RISE rooftop tapas lounge, and the Tangerine Room, a terrific choice for a leisurely breakfast or special dinner.
Located inside the Westin’s luxurious lobby, the Tangerine Room shares the hotel’s generically upscale decor, with high ceilings and hard surfaces. An open-show kitchen is complemented by wooden artwork, purple accents, and glowing geometric chandeliers hanging overhead.
Although aimed at convention-goers and hotel guests, Tangerine Room makes food that rivals Disneyland’s fanciest
tables at a slightly more palatable price. In the mornings, you can order a fancy avocado toast with soft-boiled eggs à la carte, but the expansive full American breakfast buffet is a better bargain.
The short ribs, which are cooked for 10 hours, fall apart when you look at them, and the salmon is served medium-rare with its crispy skin still attached. We also recommend the old-fashioned butter cake topped with fruit and house-made sorbet as a perfect meal-ender.
Its pleasures may be wasted on theme park commandos who only want a cot to crash on, but the Westin is so relaxing that you may decide to ditch rope drop, stay wrapped up in your robe, and order room service.
We rate the Westin Anaheim Resort 4 1/2 stars and give its pool 4 stars.
For all there is to see and do at Disneyland, check out The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland by Seth Kubersky with Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa, and Guy Selga Jr. All Disneyland fans should also check out The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney’s Dream by Sam Gennawey.
If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
