The Anabella Resort in Anaheim

 The Anabella 

An Anaheim Resort

When taking the milestone family vacation to Disneyland where you stay is just as important as your experience at the park. Lets face it, while most of your day is spent making memories and walking miles upon miles through the most magical place on Earth the type of rest you get at the end of your long day is pretty important. This time around, my family and I chose to stay somewhere we've never stayed before, the conveniently located Anabella. Sitting on 7 acres of lush landscape, Anabella offers 358 rooms ranging from the charming Bella Rey room (King bed, the basics needed for a comfortable stay) to the spacious Concierge Premier room (The largest of the suites, robes and slippers included with complimentary breakfast). My family and I stayed in the Kids Suite so that will be the focus of my review. With an onsite restaurant, bar, gift shop, frozen yogurt store and 2 swimming pools you technically don't have to leave the property for anything other than a day of fun at Disneyland. 

In this review:

¨     Evaluation of the Kids Suite

¨     Pros

¨     Cons

¨     My verdict

Some of the amazing, courteous staff

Anyone else want to sit by the fire with a drink?

Great breakfast at Tangerine, you definitely need to experience this at least once during your stay.

Kids Suite

When we travel my mom usually comes with us. It's amazing to make so many great memories with her and have a baby sitter on hand at anytime (thanks mom!). It's nice when we can get a hotel that offers my mom a little privacy apart from us without having to purchase a separate room. The Kids Suite at Anabella is the best experience we've had so far. It has a functional layout that gave us all room to breathe (you can view the layout here http://media.anabellahotel.com/d/anabellahotel/media/pdf/CKSU_KIDS_SUITE.pdf) and yet kept us all close enough so we could enjoy our vacation together. The 390 square foot area offers two private bedrooms (both decorated with Disney decor, one with a bunk bed - fun for both dad and kids!), a private bathroom, refrigerator and a spacious common area with an additional bed. I love that everyone in our family had some available privacy if needed. The only downsides I found with Kids Suite were the minimal counter space in the bathroom and that the A/C units were quite loud. Overall, this was a great experience and we were all very comfortable.

The day bed room has it's on A/C unit and television which is great for older kids or grandparents tagging along.

PROS

¨               Excellent Staff - everyone we came across was friendly, thoughtful, warm and did everything they could to accommodate us. We had an issue with the plumbing in our first room and the bathroom flooded. Someone was in our room immediately to address the situation and we were moved promptly to a new room. They were even nice enough to bring some fresh cookies for the inconvenience.

¨               Atmosphere -  I absolutely adore the ambiance of the Anabella. It is a classic Spanish Mission decor with beautiful colors and dramatic embellishments. The lobby area is one you will easily linger in with your cocktail you purchased from the onsite Nectarine Bar. 

¨               Tangerine Grill & Patio - This onsite restaurant presents a beautiful atmosphere all its own. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner you will experience delicious food at an affordable price. Chef Dustin Taylor, winner of Food Network's "Cutthroat Kitchen", created the California -fresh menu when he joined the team in April 2016.

¨               Location, Location, Location - The Anabella is about a mile from the Disneyland entrances. It's easy to walk if you would like to; however, there is also the convenient ART bus transportation service to and from the park. It's close to Downtown Disney, shopping and a myriad of restaurants.  

¨               Free WIFI - Do I really need to explain this? Who doesn't love free WIFI?

CONS

¨              Space and Sound - Minimal counter space in the bathroom seems to be a complaint throughout all the rooms as does a noisy A/C unit.

¨              Parking - The parking fee is a bit pricey at 19.89 per night (a $17 rate plus a $2.89 tax).

¨              Noise - The noise level tends to be loud in the rooms as there is wood flooring (which is beautiful) that only seems to amplify any sound. This is not something the hotel can control and the appearance of the floor, in my opinion, is worth it but with little ones this could be a challenge.

My Verdict

¨               Location: 10/10

¨               Rooms: 9/10

¨               Design: 9/10

¨               Service: 10/10

¨               Food: 9/10

¨               Overall: 9/10

The Anabella

1-800-863-4888 

http://www.anabellahotel.com/

As a disclosure, in exchange for my review I received a discounted rate.

Ages 13-17, Maximizing Your Disney Vacation by the age of your children

Maximizing Your Disney Vacation

by the age of your children

Part 5 - Ages 13-17

Adentureland:

The Enchanted Tiki Room - Teens will like this audio-animatronics show that displays exotic birds, tikis and flowers that sing songs and teach you about the Pacific Islands.

Jungle Cruise - Hop on a boat and enjoy a relaxing ride that will take you into the depths of the wild to see animals, plants and settings native to South Asia, Africa and South America.

Indiana Jones Adventure - Will you survive the Temple of the Forbidden Eye? This thrilling ride will take you through unbelievable circumstances as you hunt for the famous Indiana Jones who has gone missing!

New Orleans Square:

Pirates of the Caribbean - This slow boat pirate adventure is a staple for all of us who went to Disneyland as a kid. With a never ending show of visual effects the Pirates of the Caribbean is the perfect smooth ride for the entire family to relax and enjoy together.

Disney Railroad -  Get on board for this grand train tour! The train offers an 18 minute long ride and is an easy and fun way to get around the park. It has 4 different stops (New Orleans Square, Main Street U.S.A., Tomorrowland and Mickey's Toontown) for you to choose from and with the trains departing every 5-10 minutes you'll never have to wait too long to hop on.

Haunted Mansion - A frightening and fun ride through an old abandoned mansion will leave you at the edge of your seat. Venture through 15 rooms each with their own super natural occurrences for a mystifying experience.

Critter Country

Splash Mountain - Float along the bayou in a log and take in the colors and sounds of a variety of critters but this ride isn't boring by any means. You will plunge down a 5 story waterfall and get soaked along the way. Pick your seat wisely, those towards the front of the log will get the most wet.

Frontierland

Mark Twain Riverboat - This escapade is enjoyable for the big and small! Kids will love floating down the water in this half mile journey and will have a fun and educational experience as the riverboat takes you back in time to the old American frontier. You will see old cabins, charming Native American villages, wild animals and more! This 15 minute ride also offers up a great break for everyone to relax and enjoy their tour of the spectacular sights as you listen to Mark Twain tell you about a time long ago when new discoveries and exploration made up the American Frontier.

Sailing Ship Columbia - A full-scale replica of the original Columbia Rediviva (the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe in 1790) this fully-rigged ship floats you along the Frontierland River in the same manner as they Mark Twain Riverboat but offers a little something special. You will still float past the old cabins and charming Native American villages so you can enjoy some relaxation but underneath the deck is a wonderful surprise! Go ahead a journey below to find displays of the living conditions for 18th-century sailors. This museum offers a fun and educational experience for teens.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Board a high speeding train as it carries you through the remains of an old mining shaft. Be prepared for big turns, sudden drops and try to out run the unforeseen circumstances you will encounter at this eerie quarry.

Fantasyland

Mad Tea Party - This fun attraction reflects the kookiness and vibrancy of the famous Alice in Wonderland. As you step onto the platform you are transported to a world of color and eccentric decor. No matter how old your kids get they will always love the spinning tea cups at the Mad Tea Party.  

Matterhorn Bobsleds - Race down a replica of one of the most famous mountains in the world, the Matterhorn. Hang onto your sled tightly as you speed through icy scenery and cross unsteady bridges all while trying to avoid the much feared Abominable Snowman.

Tomorrowland

Disneyland Monorail - This monorail is a great opportunity for everyone to rest and get some spectacular views of the entire park. The ride lasts about 15 minutes and even goes all the way to Disneyland's California Adventure Park for even more to see.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - Board a space cruiser and help save toys everywhere as you defeat the evil Emperor Zurg! Take your laser gun and aim at all the targets you possibly can in short bursts of time. With vibrant colors and engaging story lines you will feel transported into the Toy Story world. At the end of the ride everyone can check their Star Command Rank based on their total score.    

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - This expedition takes you under water to enjoy and experience the story of Nemo. You will see underwater volcanoes, scuba divers and Nemo himself. Go on this exciting ride to participate in some of the most adored scenes from the movie Finding Nemo.

Autopia - Autopia lets the teens take the wheel and become a racecar driver. With a real working gas pedal and steering wheel their dream feels like reality. They can race their own times or go up against a family member to see who will be victor in this fast paced competition.

Space Mountain - One of the most beloved rides at Disneyland. Experience a rush of energy and excitement as you board a spaceship and blast off into space for an unforgettable adventure.

Star Tours - Star Wars comes to life in this exploration of the most outer depths of space. Encounter famous movie characters and alien worlds as you accomplish your mission.