The Hilton Anaheim is a massive property. As such, there are amenities galore for everyone in the family. It is the largest hotel in Orange County with 1,572 rooms. Conveniently located next to the Anaheim Convention Center, the hotel is about 10-15 minutes walking distance to the Disneyland Resort.

THINGS WE LOVED * amazing amenities * lots of food choices * super-fun water play area on the pool deck * awesome service * excellent location

THINGS WE DIDN’T LOVE * the Hilton Anaheim charges you for several of the same amenities that you can get for free or for less at other hotels in the area * the rooms are a bit smaller and lack storage

SO MUCH TO SEE & EXCELLENT SERVICE
The lobby is huge with an inviting cocktail lounge, ATM, UPS Store, 24-hour business center, concierge station, dedicated Disney desk, and rental car desk. Downstairs hosts a Laundromat, salon & 25,000 square foot fitness center with steam rooms, saunas, classes (Zumba, Yoga, Piloxi & Cycling) and a full-service spa offering massages, facials, body treatments, manicures & pedicures.

The service was impeccable, from Ann-Marie at the check-in desk, to Keith, the Concierge. Everybody went out of their way to be helpful and professional. When we checked in, we asked for a corkscrew to be delivered to our room, as we had brought some wine with us. It actually beat us to the room! Inside, we were greeted by a lovely welcome gift of the most insanely delicious cookies, a fruit basket, an array of waters & sodas, tickets to the breakfast buffet and even a Tinkerbell backpack and water bottle for my daughter!

COMFORTABLE ROOMS, ALTHOUGH A BIT ON THE SMALL SIDE
We had a 2 queen bed room with a Disney view. Where we were situated on the 14th floor, we were mainly overlooking the pool deck and had a view of the back part of California Adventure. So, if you’re paying extra with the hopes of seeing the fireworks from your room, be sure to clarify that when you check in. The floor-to-ceiling windows are a nice touch & maximize your view while making the room feel larger. The room went for $119 a night in early March. The non-Disney view rooms were $109 a night.

The rooms appear to have been recently renovated. They have been done in earthy, modern color tones which are very appealing. The bathrooms are small, but have nice Koehler fixtures and large sinks. The duvet covers and pillows are to-die-for comfortable. The beds are a little hard, though. The main complaint I have about the rooms is the lack of storage and seating. Other than the desk chair, there was a small sitting chair and nothing else. If there are more than two people staying in the room, you run out of chairs. For storage, there was a smallish closet that was already about 50% full with extra bed linens and a safe, two dresser drawers and a couple of shelves on the nightstand. Again, larger families (we had three people) would find it cramped.

PRICEY PARKING
Valet parking cost us $22 a night, plus tips. Self-parking is $16 a night. There is a shuttle to Disneyland, but it will run you $4 per adult and $1 per child. Other hotels in the area provide free Disney shuttles and less expensive self-parking.

DINING OPTIONS TO PLEASE EVERYONE
There are several dining options at the hotel. The Mix Restaurant and Lounge is a pleasant sit down option. It is decorated in the same modern, earthy style of the guest rooms. Kids staying at the hotel eat free, which is a nice little $7 savings. The kid’s menu is quite large with the usual fare as well as healthier options like grilled chicken & veggies and a kid’s chef’s salad. The food is priced as you would expect at a hotel. We shared a nice California Cheese Tray ($16) and absolutely delicious Caprese salad ($9). I had Saffron Parpadelle for $16, which was a little overcooked. My husband had a Mushroom Burger for $15 that he said was delicious. Heracio kept bringing my daughter fresh a glass of lemonade every time we turned around and the service was very nice.

In addition to the Mix, there is a food court on site that offers Baja Fresh, Sbarro, Submarina and Just Grillin’. There is also a full-service Starbucks in the lobby, which is an awesome choice for a cheaper breakfast on your way to Disneyland. Finally, there is a grill located on the pool deck that offers tropical cocktails, smoothies, sandwiches & burgers. However, it is seasonal and closes the end of September for the fall/winter.

We had the breakfast buffet at the Mix on Sunday morning. The buffet runs $23 a person. It has eggs, bacon, sausage, a pastry & cereal station, yogurt & fruit, an oatmeal station with trimmings, a fresh omelet station, and you get unlimited pancakes, French toast or waffles delivered to your table by your waiter.

SPECTACULAR POOL DECK & WATER PLAY AREA
The pool deck on the 5th floor is awesome. There is a heated pool, 2 Jacuzzis, sundecks, 3 fire pits, a towel stand and the most amazing water play area for the kids. The water play area is fully fenced in within the fenced in pool area so that the adults can lounge on a deck chair poolside while the kids play on the mini waterslide & get drenched by the huge bucket of water that fills up & dumps on the kids at intervals. We had a really hard time getting our daughter out of the play area!

Overall, the Hilton Anaheim is a good pick if you do your homework and get a good deal.

*This review is based on a two-night complimentary stay at the Hilton Anaheim. I received no other compensation besides the room, breakfast and a welcome gift and the hotel did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.

I really did enjoy this little road trip! There is so much to see that you simply won't find in a brochure....Seven Sacred Pools, hidden waterfalls, beautiful hiking trails, tucked-away beaches...but it definitely isn't for younger ones. The roads are frighteningly narrow and a bit perilous. The trip is LONG...all day if you stop to see stuff...and you are in the middle of nowhere. There's not a lot to do if you're under 13. Otherwise, it's a great adventure with lots of fun discoveries. Pack a lunch/snacks, your swimsuit & towels and do the self-guided tour. You can get a map in any ABC shop on the island or online. Your car rental agreement probably has a clause stating that you will NOT take the road to Hana, but if you have a small car with 4-wheel drive (we had a Jeep) then you'll be fine.

I found out a great way to see the show without having to get fast-passes, wait in incredibly long lines or pay for reserved seating.....

We were leaving the park just as the late showing was beginning (9:00 pm-ish). As we walked by the back side, just past the Toy Story Mania ride, I noticed that the show was starting and that the "wet zone" was absolutely empty. My daughter and I walked right up & stood at the rail. We had the best seats in the house. The best part is...we did not get a single, solitary drop of water on us! Awesome view, no wait, no hassles!

The show was magnificent. The colors & water dancing are amazing, as are the pyrotechnics & music. It is loud & the best seating was for the late show. Also, you can really feel the heat from the explosions when you're on the rail, so it's not necessarlily good for very little ones. It is a truly remarkable show, though!

What's more fun that ice skating in 80-degree weather? It's the best of both worlds! Ice skating in Temecula is an annual seasonal event that runs from mid-December through the first week of January. The cost is $10 per hour of skating plus $2.50 skate rental. The ice is manufactured, but it's just as cold & wet if you fall on it! The rink can get crowded, so the best time to visit is mid-day during the week. Children under 8 must be accompanied by a skater 16 or older. The employees are very nice & willing to help you learn to skate. Bring a change of clothes if you plan on staying in Old Town afterwards. The heat makes the ice melt fast, so when you fall, you usually end up in a substantial puddle!

I've lived in SoCal my whole life & never went here until last weekend. Have I been misisng out!

The CA Science Center is a huge (3 story) science & discovery museum in LA's Exposition Park. There are tons of exhibits - many of them hands on. The best part---it's FREE! I grew up going to the museums in Balboa Park in San Diego - at about $10 per person plus parking - and this place blows them out of the water.

The only cost is $10 to park at Exposition Park. You can also take public transportation & bypass the parking.

Entrance to the museum & all exhibits is completely free. There are some extras that cost, such as IMAX movies (about $8.25 per person) and riding the tightrope bicycle (only $2) three stories above the ground. However, you can save $1 on any activity by grabbing a free paper "passport" by the elevator & getting it stamped throughout the museum at different exhibits.

There are so many cool things for the kids - an entire wall made of ice that you can touch, a huge fish tank that takes up an entire room (and a tube that you can walk though so that the fish are all around you), a touch pool full of starfish & other sea creatures, a "goop making table" where kids learn about chemical reactions while making their own goop to take home (free), an incubator with live hatching chicks, real space suits & even the Gemini 11 space capsule!

There are even several family areas with exhibits & activities strictly limited to kids 7 & under.

You can take a break downstairs for lunch at either McDonald's, Taco Bell Express or the Rose Garden Cafe - all inside the museum.

We were there for over 5 hours & still didn't see everything. Exposition Park is also a great place to wander around. There are rose gardens (free), the Natural History Museum (entrance fee), and African American Museum (free), as well as walking paths & green areas.

This is deifinitely one to see if you're looking for a cheap way to pack in tons of entertainment!