Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort

Rooms and decor

Picture driving into Anaheim — neon signs, fast-food joints, traffic everywhere — and then turning into a hotel tucked behind the trees, the street noise fading into tall palms and a small waterfall. That's the first impression of Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, where the buildings are designed to wrap around a pool deck and tropical garden in the middle, so it feels like you've slipped into a private resort rather than a city hotel. Up in the rooms, what families love most is the space — the family-style rooms are built to sleep several comfortably in one space, with warm, easy tones, soft beds, clean and tidy bathrooms, and room enough to set down bags and kids' toys without feeling cramped. Many rooms open onto garden or pool views below, setting a relaxed mood from the moment you wake up, and some higher floors look out over Anaheim stretching into the distance. Overall the decor leans toward comfort and a warm family-resort feel rather than sharp luxury — ideal for anyone who wants a wide room to rest in after a full day on your feet at the parks.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is, without doubt, the pool deck. It's a heated pool, comfortable even when the air turns cool, with a hot tub at the edge for adults to soak away the day, rentable cabanas around it for some private California sun, and — the part the kids scream for — a game corner by the pool they never get bored of. The grown-ups get a swim-up bar for a cold drink without leaving the water. A late afternoon by this pool, sun softening and breeze picking up, is heaven for a family wanting a rest day between park runs. Food is sorted too: the building holds 3 American restaurants, from proper meals to poolside snacks, so on the days you're too tired to go anywhere you can refuel right here. There's also a fitness room and clean shared spaces, and plenty of reviews agree the overall feel is quiet, friendly and genuinely restful — a change from the usual crowded park hotels.

Location and getting there

Sheraton Park sits in the Anaheim Resort district on the side next to the Anaheim Convention Center, the city's big convention venue. It's an interesting balance, close to both the sights and the work crowd at once. For families heading to Disneyland, the park entrance is a short ride away — about 5 to 10 minutes — and it's within reach of the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) shuttle, so you don't have to drive in and find parking at the park every day. If you're here to work or attend a conference, staying right by the Convention Center is hard to beat — you can walk over easily. There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores around the Anaheim area too. Getting here is straightforward: fly into nearby John Wayne (SNA), or LAX a bit further out, and the drive to Anaheim is easy enough. In short, if you want a location that balances Disneyland access with a quiet resort feel, and still works for a convention, this place covers it all in one spot.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the first thing to know is that this hotel is not inside the Disneyland Resort gates, so there are no in-house Disney guest perks and you travel to the parks yourself. The distance isn't far and the ART shuttle is there, but on days when the kids are walked-out or want to come back for a midday nap before heading out again, the back-and-forth still isn't as easy as an on-property hotel. If quick in-and-out park access is your top priority, weigh this one. Second is the building itself, which is classic in style — clean and well kept, but some reviews feel the corridors and lobby carry an older-hotel air rather than spotless modern polish. Anyone expecting a brand-new design may need to adjust expectations a touch — the charm here is the resort feel and the pool deck, not cutting-edge architecture. Third, it's a large hotel hosting both park-going families and convention groups from the Convention Center, so at peak times — school holidays, long weekends, or big events — the pool, lifts and restaurants can get fairly busy, and don't forget to check extra costs like parking and the resort fee at Anaheim rates before you book. Overall these limits are part of the trade for the good value and relaxed feel, rather than dealbreakers.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort nails the pitch of "a private resort feel, a fully loaded pool deck for families, and wide rooms at good value near Disneyland." If the trip in your head is bringing the kids to Disneyland for several days but wanting a quiet, leafy place to come back to — somewhere you can soak in the hot tub, order a drink at the swim-up bar, let the kids loose on the game corner, and all sleep comfortably together in a family room without paying in-gate Disney prices — this is a value-packed, memorable pick. It's also a fit for anyone working at the Anaheim Convention Center within walking distance. But if you want a location you can walk straight into the parks from, in-house Disney guest perks, or a brand-new, cutting-edge building, you may need to look at the pricier in-gate resorts. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for families after a good-value resort with a relaxed feel, close to Disneyland and the Convention Center in one place.