Mickey, meet Marriott. In 2020, despite the challenges of the pandemic, Orange County welcomed JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, joining more than 100 JW Marriotts across the globe.
Today, the property is in its full glory. It also happens to be walking distance from Disneyland and the ultimate for families, couples and friends to get away in style whether planning a visit to the House of Mouse or not (more on that later).
There are 466 guest rooms from which to choose, several with theme park views and all with marble bathrooms. Seeking to make a visit extra special? Splurge on one of the 19 suites. Of note is the Griffin Suite, which boasts more than 1,554 square feet of space, a king bedroom, two bathrooms and an open floor plan that seamlessly flows from a bar/kitchen area to the dining and living rooms with style and flair. Both the bedroom and living room have 65-in. LCD smart televisions, and there are modern wood elements throughout.
The contemporary look, of course, extends beyond the rooms to the entire property. Upon entering the lobby, dazzling chandeliers and chic accent lighting illuminate the space, revealing floor-to-ceiling wood and furniture with lovely pops of color as well as an overall warm and rustic look. While modern, there are clever nods to the area’s rich agricultural history, relaxed vibe and commitment to sustainability on bold display as well. At the entry, do not miss the steel art installation. It may look like an intricate design, but at the right angle, it comes together to show a farmer planting a seed, which itself disappears in a cool trick of the eye.
And then there is the JW Garden onsite. Wow. Just wow. If unfamiliar, in addition to JW Marriotts being named for the original Mr. Marriott, there is a program to create JW Gardens at select locations to honor the original Mrs. Marriott – Alice – and her love of gardening. Each is designed to be a serene sanctuary and features herbs used in culinary operations onsite. Sustainable in every way, the spaces are meant to connect guests directly with nature. At the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort garden, expect succulents and a Zen theme as well as a breathtaking butterfly sanctuary, and even a digital forest with outdoor-inspired art installations that take guests on a journey from seed to sapling to tree.
Beyond the garden, there are other major areas to note before talking Disney (yes, it is coming!) in the pool, which has three large, ultra-luxe cabanas as well as daybeds; the fitness center, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and Peloton bikes; Family by JW kids club, which has games and activities tailored to kids of every age; and the eateries.
The signature restaurant at the hotel is Tocca Ferro Italian Chophouse. Named North America’s Best New Restaurant in 2022 at the World Culinary Awards, Tocca is led by Chef Adam Haverland and takes great pride in its seed-to-table offerings as well as hand-cut steaks, fresh hand-rolled pastas and locally sourced seafood delights. Taking advantage of its location less than a mile from Disneyland, there is also a rooftop bar and lounge called Parkestry, which in addition to killer cocktails and dizzyingly delicious small bites, offers a bird’s-eye view of the Disney fireworks each night in an elegant, upscale setting. There is also a full-service indoor-outdoor lobby bar that is perfect for al fresco dining all year round.
OK, now it is time to talk Disney. The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is an approved Good Neighbor Hotel by Disney. As such, Disney has specialized resort packages at the JW Marriott that include tickets and other experiences regularly posted here. The resort itself also has packages that include Disney gift cards here, and the concierge team is happy to help in the planning to ensure a perfect visit for the entire family. Another bonus: there is no need to deal with parking when visiting the park, as Disney is a short, beautiful and safe walk door to door. For most, it takes about 15 minutes. Anaheim Regional Transportation (ART) also has two shuttle stops near the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort to take guests to and from Disneyland for a small fee. Of course, parking is always an option as well.
For more information, visit www.JWMarriottAnaheimResort.com.
1775 S. Clementine St.
Anaheim, CA 92802