Hotel Review: Sheraton Park Hotel Disneyland

I am not too often impressed with domestic hotels. I have found that they are frequently less likely to offer elite benefits to guests, and the overall experience, compared to their international counterparts, have been lacking.

To say the least, the Sheraton Park pleasantly surprised me. From a few days before the stay until checkout, I had a rather good experience with this Marriott branded property. This was much better than some of my prior stays at nearby properties and a hotel that I can truly recommend for guests wanting to go to Disneyland in California.

This review is part of my Trip Report: Southern California 2022:

• The Final Companion Pass Flight: DCA-SNA
• Hotel Review: Sheraton Park Hotel Disneyland
• The Happiest Place on Earth: My One-Day Disneyland Experience
• Lakers vs. Nuggets: Box Seats
• Hotel Review: Hilton Checkers Los Angeles

*The next post in this series was supposed to be about my experience flying Southwest earlier in December but due to recent events (Southwest’s operational meltdown) that article will be postponed to a later date*

The Room

While we had booked a Two-Queen standard room at the hotel, we actually got an upgrade to a King Executive Suite. Although some parts of the room were funky, it was definitely one of better suites that I have experienced in the U.S. The downside was that we happened to be on the 2^nd floor of a 14-floor building, but it was a worthwhile tradeoff for the space.

Upon entering, there was a bathroom to the right (the first of two). Straight ahead there was the living room with a sleeper-sofa with end tables and lamps, as well as a chase lounge chair. Behind the lounge chair were sliding glass doors that opened up to the balcony.

The first bathroom had a tub (which I am sure families headed to Disney would appreciate), a large vanity, and even another table with a marble counter and art above it. The little details definitely showed.

On the marble coffee table awaited some welcome gifts including Mickey-shaped chocolate chip cookies (which according to my dad were good) and two Voss waters. It is always a nice surprise when hotels leave a little surprise in the room.

The wall had a large TV mounted with nice lighting elements on either side and above. The wall opposite to the windows has a small bar-area with a sink, mini-fridge (abet empty), a coffee maker, and storage. There was also a closet-like cabinet that had a typical iron and ironing table, but it seemed like one of the panels on the door was broken.

Upon entering the bedroom, it seemed like a typical hotel room. There was the large king bed with oversized nightstands on either side. While the glass doors and balcony setup were identical to the living room, there was a nice chair near the doors.

Additionally, on that side of the room, there was a table and chair setup that was quite unique. I have yet to see a hotel table that moves up and down with the press of a button, but I’m sure it would be a pleasant benefit for those who like to work standing up.

The front of the room had a similar TV setup, only with a bench for your bags. Next to it was a similar wardrobe/coffee station as the living room, adding more storage to the room.

Around the corner, I was surprised to find another door that led into a hallway. This made me think that prior to the hotel’s recent renovation, our suite was likely two separate hotel rooms that they combined into one larger, multi-room suite. This theory would also explain why there are two full bathrooms.

Near that door, there was the main bathroom. It was nicely finished with a stand-up, glass shower, which I always appreciate. There were some shelves with tissues and towels next to the shower. My only complaint is that for a suite of this size, the vanity counter is quite small, but that did not cause a major issue for two travelers.

The lighting in the bathroom was also good, with a nice little touch to have a nightlight feature on the mirror, which is great for late-night runs to the bathroom.

Overall, the hotel suite was great. I really liked the light wood tones and art throughout the unit, especially the Disney themed art, but, for me, the lighting and nice materials tied it together. While I should point out that there were no closets, this seems to be a common trend among newer hotels, and it did not bother me.

The unit is very big and could comfortably sleep a family of four with the bed, the pull-out sofa, and it even had room for a roll away bed. Between the two bathrooms there was more than enough space for everyone to get ready for a day in the park.

The Property

While I will admittedly say that I did not get too much time to explore the property during my one-night stay, this renovated property seemed very nice.

It only took us a second to make it from the parking lot to the lobby, and, it had nice decorations and similar lighting and openness as the guest room. The large lobby had a bar, concierge, and front desk.

The pool area looked nice despite having a relatively simple pool. I recall that there was also an outdoor fire pit, which would have been nice to sit next to on that surprisingly chilly, California night.

I did not get a chance to use the gym or enjoy the hotel restaurant, but assuming they were consistent to the rest of the property, I doubt they would have been poorly done. There was also a gift shop in the lobby for anyone who wanted more Disney merchandise for their trip.

Also, the club lounge was a nice perk. We had access to the lounge with Marriott Titanium status, although you can also pay for access or enter with any elite status above Platinum. Compared to most club lounges I have experienced in the U.S., this one definitely stood out.

The service was prompt, and the lounge was well designed with multiple seating options. There was even an outdoor patio area for those who wanted to sit outside. We opted for points instead of breakfast at the restaurant as our check in amenity, so we had our breakfast in the club lounge.

There was a good size selection for a club lounge, as well as choices between warm and cold options. I personally appreciated the fruit options. We did not get a chance to go back to the lounge for the evening happy-hour reception snacks, but I’m sure it would have been well equipped for a pre-dinner snack. Breakfast was from 6-10am with happy hour was from 5-7pm.

Finally, the property itself is in a great location. Only a 7–8-minute walk from the entrance of Disneyland and even closer to the Anaheim convention center, the hotel is very walkable to nearby attractions.

The Service

I will cut to the point. I was genuinely impressed with the service at this property. For a property of this size and the fact that it is domestic, I was very happy with all of my interactions from before arrival to checkout.

A few days before arrival, an operations manager reached out and let us know that they were looking forward to welcoming us at their hotel and to let us know to reach out if there was anything at all that we needed. This is not something I typically experience in domestic hotels, let alone in non-luxury (Conrad, Ritz Carlton, Etc.).

We asked if it was possible to get a suite and he was able to upgrade us to the previously mentioned suite just a few days before arrival, thanks to our Marriott Titanium status.

Upon checking in, not only did the front desk representative thank us for our loyalty, but made sure we understood all there was to know about parking, breakfast, and the club lounge. An easy check-in is always a good start to a trip.

The service of the check-in snack and drink made the experience even better.

Booking

We had a paid rate for out hotel stay, although you can use Marriott points, which would be a good option if the hotel gets more expensive. Our rate, with tax, came to $167 per night, which is a really good for a hotel so close to Disney.

We booked the hotel roughly a month, and compared to properties located nearby, it was less expensive, even compared to many select-service properties that don’t offer nearly as many amenities and are located in a less ideal location.

On points, a stay would cost anywhere from 31,000-42,000 per night looking at current rates, which may be a good deal if cash rates are sky high, but if you are able to find a good price, you will be much better off saving your points for a different redemption.

The Last Point

I’m sure I have made this abundantly clear at this point, but it is not often that I rave about domestic properties. Although the rate was very good for the location and the property, the room, and the service from all the employees is where the hotel truly shines.

I would not hesitate to book a stay there again, and it will likely be my go-to option for future trips to Disneyland. Maybe it’s the magic of Disney, but I was very happy with my stay.