Looking for the ultimate family-friendly hotel near Disneyland? In this episode of Let’s Just Go, Kayla and Chris dive into the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance—a top pick for families traveling with kids. From spacious rooms with two queens and a bunk bed to a full-on outdoor waterpark (yes, really!), this hotel is built for convenience and fun. They discuss who it's best for, how it compares to other Good Neighbor Hotels and Disneyland Resort Hotels, and what to know before you book. Whether you're a group of five needing more space or just want a splashy rest day between park visits, this one’s worth considering

Hey adventures.

Welcome to Let's Just Go podcast.

I'm Chris,

and I'm Kayla.

And today we're talking about Disneyland, good Neighborhood Hotels.

So our last episode we talked about Candy Cane Inn, which is my

favorite boutique family owned.

Been around forever.

But today we're actually gonna talk about Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim

theme park entrance, and it's important that we specify that it's that one,

right?

Because there are a couple different Courtyard Marriott.

Yes.

Before we jump in, if this is just the first and only episode you're listening

to, well, first of all, why, but what's

wrong with you?

Yeah.

Second of all, um, we're talking good neighbor Disneyland hotels because

there are so, so many, and they're all.

In some cases closer than even the Disneyland resort hotels.

So, uh, we're talking about just a few of our favorites that get us good

access without compromising quality.

So

yeah,

courtyard Marriott theme park entrance.

Super fancy name.

It is, isn't it?

It makes, it makes you think it's at the entrance to a

theme park or something wild.

Totally wild.

Couldn't, can't believe it.

Of which it is.

Right.

So we are.

Well within walking distance.

Yeah, it's, I'd say may, I said this about Candy Cane too.

It's maybe a 10 minute walk.

I don't even think it's that far.

It just depends on how long it takes you across the street.

'cause you're waiting to cross and it's a busy street that you can't

just jaywalk like I do here in Philly.

It's not gonna feel like 10 minutes.

'cause as soon as you step outside you see Disneyland,

you could, yeah, you can see the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.

Right from you.

Actually, they have theme park view rooms at this courtyard, which is cool.

It's not a category technically, but they do exist.

You can see the theme park from some of these rooms,

right?

Yeah.

It's wild.

So what do you, what do you love about it?

So this is a option that is great if you have younger kids.

So I'm gonna say.

Like preteen or younger because they have a waterpark, which is really cool.

They also have bunk beds in the room, so every room is two queens and a bunk

bed, and their bathroom is actually.

Yeah, large enough that two people could be getting ready at the same time

because they have a shower tub combo and also a shower on its own, which

is really great.

That that is huge.

Right?

I mean, you're one

toilet though, so like if If somebody's gotta

go, you gotta figure it out.

Someone's getting into the tub.

I guess

you can pee in the shower.

Yeah.

Yep.

But this is a great property.

If you are a family, let's say a family of five, right?

I know we were talking about candy cane inn and the fact that you

can't sleep five at candy cane inn.

You can sleep more than five at Courtyard, which is really

great, and kids love a bunk bed.

I know that I had a bunk bed as a only child and I was obsessed with it.

I had a bunk.

I had a bunk bed too.

Yeah.

Yep.

There's such a, there are a novelty.

If you don't have one, I feel like.

As a, as I like, didn't have a bunk bed anymore.

I was like, bunk beds are stupid and I hate this.

But if you don't have a bunk bed and you get to go somewhere,

that does, that's exciting.

And so bunk bed's huge.

Right.

And which would be fun for the kids, but the, I think the thing you caught

my attention with is the water park.

Mm-hmm.

That's a big deal.

'cause that Disneyland doesn't have a really many water feature

experiences inside of it.

So, mm-hmm.

Yeah.

There are a couple different good neighborhood hotels that

have some form of waterpark.

I'm putting that in quotes.

There is actually a great Wolf Lodge down the street if that's really your

jam and you really want waterpark.

Uh, but this is a great outdoor waterpark.

Yeah.

If you want a waterpark in chlamydia, you can go to Great Wolf Watch.

Right?

Yeah.

We'll, so I do think that the.

The last I had heard, you had to make a reservation to go to the waterpark.

So it wasn't like a free for all.

Like you have to let the front desk know when you'd like to go

and then they give you a pass.

But still, if you are the kind of person, I like to do four days

when I go to parks and have a, a rest day when I go to Disneyland.

So I'll do three park days and then one rest day.

This is the perfect place to be for a rest day because not only do

you have the waterpark, you've got some great dining options really

close by that you can walk to.

Um.

You've, you're on Harbor, which is the main stretch of road, um, near Disneyland.

So like, there's just a lot that you can go see and do.

You've got the garden walk nearby, so you could go see a movie if you wanted to.

Like, there's just, it's in a good spot that, uh, gives you good access to the

park, but also isn't very far away.

If you wanted to go to, I don't know, Ruth, Chris Steakhouse or something,

right.

Right.

So price points,

it's gonna be a little more expensive because of the fact that

you have this waterpark, you have these bunk beds, you have these

larger rooms with the larger bathroom, but it's still gonna be cheaper

than staying at a Disneyland hotel.

So if you are looking at pricing out, staying at Pixar place

versus the courtyard, courtyard is gonna come in cheaper.

Not by a ton honestly.

Um, but by enough that.

The perks will probably outweigh it for you to be at Courtyard in terms

of the larger space for your family.

Because if you're a family of six, you can stay at Courtyard.

If you're a family of six, you can't stay at fix their place.

Right,

right.

And you're getting the water park still very close to the theme parks.

Yeah, exactly.

So what don't you like?

Here's the thing, I don't have kids, so I've never actually

stayed here and I don't like that.

I feel like I. Can't justify staying here because of the fact that I'm

like, every single room has a bunk bed.

I feel like I'm taking away space from like families, like it's,

it's definitely only families.

Place.

It's not somewhere that you're gonna go as a group of adults

or like on a couple's trip, a

romantic weekend in Disneyland.

Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

This is not, and I, I, again, have not stayed here because of the fact that I

don't have children, but I just gonna take a guess that it is so loud all of the time

with the children in every single room.

I'm just taking a guess.

Probably.

Probably.

I mean, we are going to a Disney theme park, so

Right, right.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I think that's fair.

We need to find some people with kids that would appreciate the

bunk beds, so we can go test it out.

We should, should do that.

Your kids are too

old now.

Yeah.

They're like, eh, I don't want that.

Damn, damn it.

So you've never stayed, but anything negative the, the.

The rooms are renovated or not?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, it's a relatively new hotel.

Um, I think it was re themed as a courtyard within the last maybe 15 years.

Okay.

Um, but like they're good size rooms.

They are still carpet.

I know how you feel about carpet.

I know.

I'm so sorry.

Yeah, no, I am looking at pictures of the.

The waterpark though, it looks pretty cool.

I mean,

right.

Yeah.

For someone who doesn't like waterparks, do you

think it looks pretty cool?

I'm okay with these like splash area things.

I'm fine with that.

Yeah.

The sitting water of that,

like I said, it's definitely, uh, it's a waterpark for younger kids.

Like your teenagers are not gonna appreciate 10, 10, or

younger.

Yeah,

yeah.

Yeah.

I think that if your child is an adult price Disneyland

ticket, this isn't for them.

Right, right.

Yeah.

But it is it, I mean, I think it looks like a good time too.

You said you were looking at pictures and now I'm also scrolling pictures.

It's just, it's a really cool spot.

Like I think about when I was a kid.

How much fun I would've had if this existed.

There's also, like, the room is not only a good size, but it has a, a decent

amount of seating in it for how big it is.

There's, uh, like a U-shaped, not u-shaped, an L-shaped couch with a table.

So they've kind of, it almost feels like a retro diner vibe.

Um, but it's nice that they have that option for you for sitting, um, right,

because of the fact that, again, if you've got a bunch of kids with you.

You need all the space you can get.

Yeah,

so certainly good square footage, good location, good price point.

Does it include breakfast?

Nope.

I know you can't want 'em all, but there is a McDonald's, there's a Panera.

There's Mimi's cafe, like there's a lot of different, uh, dining options

right there that you can grab something pretty quickly on the, literally,

you walk past McDonald's and past Panera to get to the park, so you

can just mobile order, pick it up.

The prices will be higher because it's next to Disneyland.

So like if you think you're gonna get, I was gonna say the dollar menu.

Dollar menu doesn't exist at McDonald's.

No,

but I want, if you think you're gonna get the dollar 50 large

fountain Diet Coke, you're wrong.

It's not gonna happen.

It's not

gonna happen.

Yeah.

So I think that, again, it's a matter of what is most important to you.

And if you are traveling with a couple of kids, or maybe it's grandparents

are coming and you've got the kids and it's an extended family, but you all

wanna stay in one room, I think that this is, is a good option for you.

Well try it out and let us know.

Yeah, we're gonna And invite Kayla

so she can creep in the bunk beds.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So here's the thing, guys.

If ever you have children that you would like to let us borrow for things like

the Octo Flyers at Universal or Orlando

Yep.

Um, or situations like this, clearly child friendly hotel.

I'll take 'em for a night.

It's fine.

Do it.

Do it.

As much as I don't like kids, I am good with them.

They like me.

You can give 'em back.

Unless you're Chris's kids, they don't like me.

But that's 'cause they're teenagers now.

Yeah, exactly.

So Exactly.

But if you are interested in learning about some other good neighborhood

hotels, we're gonna talk about 'em.

So keep listening and until next time, let's just go.